Amelia's Pov
"Why can't Linda do it, she's already good from what I've seen ,"i say rubbing my temples. "Because she's not Partner and the client specifically requested for you. You can go back to your remote working after,"he says firmly. I wasn't as surprised when i made partner because of good i was with the clients and how much money i was bringing to the firm because of how many clients requested for me. I started law school a month before i graduated highschool in because of my dad. That was the only time i let him use his connections to help me out."Okay I'll take the next flight out,"i say before he hangs up. Fabiana has already left and i don't know whether to stop by her company and tell her in person or leave a note. Her phone was always on Do not disturb on weekdays especially when she was working.
I don't carry clothes or anything because luckily the client is in London and so is my home. I check for flights and I'm just lucky that the next one is in two hours so i had enough time to get ready and drop by Fabiana's before I leave. I didn't know exactly how long the client would have me staying there depending on how big the case is, but knowing Charlie he never gave me the soft cases. Once I'm ready I call the driver telling him the plan so he'd be prepared. I didn't know how she'd react to all this but i didn't need her permission. I just wanted to tell her because we're friends and I'd feel bad if i didn't.
"Umm miss do you have an appointment?"a brunette woman asks eyeing me down like i made a mistake. "I'm here to see my wife,i don't need an appointment,"i sass knowing damn well i could have ended it at my wife but something about putting her in her place felt good. From her reaction i could easily tell Fabiana had had a one timer with her and she was maybe clinging on to the hope of something more.
Sad what girls like her go through. "Miss you still need an appointment,"she says giving me her best smile after fumbling with the keyboard. "You look like a Sarah, can i call you Sarah? Okay, how do you think your boss will react if she found out you made her wife wait out here this long when we could be having lunch by now? I have a busy day too love,"i say and she quickly picks up the phone before showing me the way to her office and even opening the door for me. Was she that scary? I find her seating at her huge desk with glasses on and i can't help but gawk at the scene. Her shirt sleeves folded neatly with her tattoos on display and a pen in her hands focusing on the laptop screen. "Boss she insisted on seeing you,says she's your wife?"Sarah asks in a rather unsure tone.
Like she was confirming something more than me being her wife which draws her attention to us. "I pay you to get work done not ask questions Olivia,"she says sternly. So her name is Olivia, Sarah would suit her best. I think to myself. "Why are you still here,get out or do you want to join my wife and i in the conversation?"she asks irritated and i can tell she won't be coming back tomorrow. I watch her get up and walk from around her desk to lean on it infront of me. "You missed me too much huh?"she asks cockily making me subconsciously roll my eyes. She was a different person with me and today confirmed it. "Im leaving Fabi,"i say watching her face drop and immediately regret how suspenseful that sounded.
"I meant I'm leaving for London to handle a case with a client and i don't know how long it'll be. Probably a day or two,"i say. She has an unreadable face which makes it harder for me to choose the next words that come out of my mouth carefully. "Okay have a safe flight,"she says simply walking back to her desk and resuming what she was doing. That's it? I was hoping for something more like a hug or at least more talk but then again this was emotionally unavailable Fabiana. Nothing new. I walk out leaving her to it. So much for being friends. For some reason it annoyed me that she was so nonchalant about it yet when i flirt with someone her mouth is full of words all of a sudden.
After waiting for a while i get on the plane and focus on the trip ahead but that's made impossible by an abnoxious man chewing like this is the last day for gum to exist on Earth. Since i didn't have anyone to pick me up i get a taxi and head home to change before meeting the client at the firm. The house is just as i had left it with a fresh scent of detergent. It's daytime so I'm assuming ava is in class or just staying at her dorm. I freshen up happy that everything is just as i had left it with a few things replaced just to keep the house up to date. Once I'm done i drive off to the firm grabbing a bite on the way.
All this was feeling foreign to me. Like it wasn't my life anymore and if it was it was lacking something or someone. I get an unexpected call from Brianna and i don't know if it's fate or charlie told her I'd be here. They hit it off when i introduced them and immediately became friends. "Hey Bria,"i say
"Hey Lia, you're in London?"
"Yes i just got here, why ?"
"Can we have coffee later,for old time's sake?"
I bite my lip nervously because all the feelings i buried down just came up. Anger, fear ,regret ,love all of them."Sure I'll text you after my meeting,"i say. Did i forget how she treated me that quickly? I walk into the building with everyone acknowledging me and even asking where i was but i don't have time to chat. I wasn't ready to be back and it showed from the way my heart pounded each time someone asked me how i was or said sorry about the engagement. "Amelia,finally!this is Miss Isla,"he says introducing me because she already knows me if she requested for me. Her Ash gray shoulder length falls perfect on her shoulders with emerald eyes with a perfect side profile.
"Shall we get started?"
"What?"i ask getting out of my daze. This woman would cross everything off everything i wanted in a person. "Can we start?"she says carving her face into a smile and i can't help but feel my cheeks burning.
"Uh yes sorry,"
"i want to sue the Gianmarco cooperation for breaching a contract they made with us. I have solid evidence and papers to prove it,"she says sternly which makes it Abit harder for me to concentrate. Her lips are moving but her voice is music to my ears. "I'll look over the papers today and arrange everything. Wait did you just say Gianmarco?"i ask realising just now that that is Fabiana's company. "Yes I did and the files are too many are you sure i can't help you?"she asks surprising me. She was similar to Fabiana with how serious she was when it came down to work. "I was planning on taking them home because I'm not fully back at the office. I came here for your case,"i say and see a her cheeks burn pink if I'm not wrong.
Was she blushing? Did i do that?
"I'll bring my own bottle there then,if that's okay,"
"sure I'll text you the address and everything,"i say as she grabs her back before walking past me leaving me to watch her walk away. I snap out of it knowing she might be as straight as a needle and I'm in an awkward place right now with my love life. I get a text from Brianna on where to meet and that's where I go with a box of files in the back. I couldn't talk to Fabiana about it because she wasn't actually my wife and client confidentiality is something i value.
"It's great to see you,"she says breaking the silence as we drink our coffee. I don't know why she thought i came back but i wasn't just about to jump into being friends with her or anything. If so i agreed to meet her so i can tell her to move on from me.
"I actually wanted to be honest with you because i couldn't live with myself if i didn't,"
"You were breathing just fine when you cheated on me,"i retort.
"I didn't sleep with my business partner. I...slept..i slept with your sister. I got carried away but it meant nothing,"
"....."
"I ended it with her recently because it wasn't fair to you,"
"You..WHAT?!! RECENTLY?!!" "Calm down Lia,"
"Don't you fucking tell me to calm the fuck down when you and that ungrateful bitch played me in my own house! I don't even know why i thought we could work everything out,"i finish yelling at her infront of everyone who's now invested in what is going on but i don't care. Why should I spare her dignity when she ironed mine flat on the ground till it was in line with the floor. "I'm so done Bria, honestly go fuck yourself or my sister if that's what rocks your sinking ass boat,"i say pouring the rest of my coffee on her not caring whether it's hot or not. And to think someone out there wants to start dating women because they think it's easier.
I pull up to my house grabbing everything including two bottles of wine because i couldn't have the hard liquor even if i wanted to. I find the door unlocked and realise that Ava is here. Not when i just found out about her sneaky sister dearest play. "Hey Lia I'm making ramen noodles,"she says on the other side of the kitchen counter and it's taking everything in me to not breakdown infront of her. "Get.the.fuck.out.of.my house,now,"i say trying to be calm.
"Why what did i do?"
"All this time you were Brianna's mistress?my own sister?"i ask throwing a glass on the wall a safe distance from her. I was so angry and felt so stupid and deceived. "Get out! And never ever call or text me. You and i are nothing short of two people who share DNA from now on,"i say watching her cry as she walks past me. I don't care anymore. All this time i was taking care of everyone but who was taking care of me?
"Is this a bad time?"Isla asks as soon as I open the door a crying mess thinking it was the food delivery guy. "No not really just my scheduled i hate life session,"i say making her chuckle lightly as she walks in with the same pant suit as before. "I'll go freshen up and come back. Feel free to browse around and avoid the kitchen,there's broken glass,"i say rushing to the bathroom to take a quick shower and get into a pair of sweat shorts and a crop top to feel comfortable.
"I love your house, it's so comfortable," she says genuinely. We spend the rest of the night talking about stuff nothing related to the case and i pick up that she might be interested in me as well. But i wasn't sure this whole love thing was for me right now. "Isla you're hot and check off everything on my list but i don't think I'm ready to start dating yet,i hope you understand,"i say sounding as gentle as possible and she just smiles back. "I understand,i just had to try my luck,"she says and i lean in to kiss her cheek at how sweet she's being about it. "For what it's worth picked you because you're a great lawyer not because i wanted to pursue you,"she says clearing the doubts i would have had about working for her.
"I'm a mess right now and i know what I'm about to ask is unprofessional but can i cuddle with you for a few minutes before you go?"i ask and she doesn't hesitate to position herself properly on the couch patting the empty space next to her and when i lay down she rubs my back softly. "Friends?"she asks making me chuckle. "I haven't made a female friend since i got here,"i say genuinely and she kisses my forehead, "well now you have" she says. What's with these forehead kisses? I'm such a mess. I think to myself. How did my client end up being my cuddle buddy?