India ran around her apartment with her toothbrush held in her mouth and her shirt halfway on. She still didn't see how she had woken up so late. She had made sure to set an alarm. Seven of them!! She must have been really tired because she slept through five and silenced one. When her last alarm went off at 7:20 she didn't have near enough time to get ready.
She blamed that on the fact she had went to sleep two hours late last night. She had set herself a strict bedtime, determined to be early. If there was one thing she had remembered her mother saying to her was "Your first day on a job, you should be the first one in and the last one out." Her face fell thinking about her mother, but then she immediately sobered when she passed by her bedroom clock. 7:48. She groaned as she ran into the restroom. She only had an hour and twelve minutes to finished getting dressed, grab breakfast and coffee, and get to Thomas and Jefferson.
She rinsed out her mouth and ran back out into her room. Grabbing her pants from the bed she wiggled into them and threw on her shoes. She pulled the rubber band from her wrist and pulled her hair back into a puff ponytail. Rushing to the door, she grabbed her purse, wallet, and brand new phone. Making it down to the first floor, she threw a "Hey" to the desk clerk, Bridget, and flew out the door to hail a cab. When she had plopped herself into the seat of the cab she finally relaxed. It was only 8:15, and she had fourty-five minutes to eat and get coffee before she had to be in the office. Just enough. Giving the driver directions to Jules Café, the little shop next to T&J, she melted into the seat, and thought about the week she had had.
After Monday and the incident with the man in the hoodie, India had, obviously, been on the paranoid side. Everywhere she went, she saw him. Or his hoodie. Even the slightest bit of black clothing scared her senseless. She hadn't even wanted to leave the house at one point. She would have killed to see his face. Because her nightmares were horrible because he never took off his hoodie. One of her dreams of him was just him standing in darkness, unmoving, hood over his head, just looking. That was the worst one.
She had actually achieved her goal of never leaving the house for about two days. Brian had come by, and even Bridget, but she had acted as if she weren't home. She felt horrible for it but every time someone knocked on the door she completely shut down and pushed herself into the farthest corner of her apartment.
By Thursday she was a bundle of nerves. She had about two days left of willful solitary confinement before she would be forced to leave the four walls of her safe haven. Then a quick trip to her mailbox changed her entire perspective. Her new card and check book had been sent in the mail. She decided she was being crazy. What happened with that man was just a coincidence. And even if it wasn't she couldn't let some crazy person run her life. She had gotten enough of that at Light Strokes.
She went to T-mobile and signed up for their services and ordered a new phone, then she went to the furniture store. She picked out every piece of furniture she wanted for her living room and decided the rest could wait until she got her first paycheck. The furniture was to be delivered the following Tuesday and she'd get her phone as early as Monday.
She spent her entire weekend getting to know Bridget. They went shopping and to the movies Saturday and some nut even had a party Sunday night. In hindsight, it probably wasn't the best idea to go to a party the day before your first day. Whenever a sensitive subject involving India's past came up she just subtly changed the topic. She had almost been found out when Bridget started to talk about her family life.
Bridget herself was the baby of the family and had three other siblings. Everyone was two years apart and they were all poster children for good looks. With their smooth porcelain skin, blonde hair, and pristine baby blue eyes. India was almost jealous.
Almost.
Growing up with so many people in the house actually sounded like a headache. But either way hearing about Bridget's life caused her to think of her own.
Thinking of them was actually what kept her sane. Both her adoptive family and her biological family. Though thinking of the former made her miss them all the more. Her dad with his wide shoulders, shiny bald head, and booming laugh. And how they would sit down every Sunday to watch football. A sport India wasn't particularly fond of but enjoyed watching with him. If only to see him have a fit when someone dropped the ball or "kicked the ball like a sissy."
Her mom. With her long brown hair that fell just below her shoulders, her kind brown eyes, chocolate brown skin, and the way she could make you feel with one of her warm hugs. She could talk to her about any and everything and not worry about her looking at you like you were weird or crazy. And of course she missed her cooking. Man she made a mean Sweet Potato Pie.
And last but not least her adorable little sister. Although now she probably wasn't as "little." But that's the only way India could remember her. When she last saw her she was seven and short enough for India to rest her arm on her head. She had big forest green eyes, creme colored skin, freckles, and long brown hair. And she wasn't even mixed. She was fully black. She was so sweet and full of life and she could always make you laugh. She had this innocence about her that she envied. She only saw the good in everything and refused to see the bad. Because she was also extremely stubborn. But she knew it was there. She never judged and she found good in the worst of places, situations, and people. And boy did she miss her.
And naturally, when she thought about the family she did know, she thought about the one she didn't. Where were they? Were they still alive? Were they looking for her? Did they already know where she is? Had they already replaced her? If she found them, would they want her back?
When she was in the Institution, she'd sometimes sit up late at night, staring at the ceiling above her bed, or early in the morning while the orderlies where making their rounds to wake everyone, she'd think about what they were like. How they looked. What they wore. How they acted. What jobs they had.
She imagined her mom as a short plump woman with short curly hair, kind brown eyes, and chocolate brown skin. She wore thick rimmed glasses and always had a huge smile on her face. Her outfit would usually consist of long skirts and sweaters, no matter the weather. She was always cold anyway. She was a house wife. Or more a community wife. She was full of energy and volunteered to do whatever needed to be done. She was really in loved in the community. Which was a small one. They lived in a small quiet town.
Her dad was a chubby man himself. He had no hair and dark brown skin, dark almost black eyes, and always sported a thick freshly cut beard. He mainly wore plaid shirts and jeans. He didn't smile much but when he did, he barred big white teeth and you couldn't help but smile right along with him. And like all dad's, he had a booming laugh and loved sports. He had this air about him that made it so when he walked into a room he seemed as if he owned the place. She always imagined him owning his own business. Like sales. Or he was a mechanic.
But those where just theories. There was no telling what they were really like. And she had tried to find them before. When she was thirteen and had become really curious, she went to the adoption agency she had been adopted from and asked for information about them. They said they couldn't give it to her because she was too young and even if she wasn't, they had asked to not have any of that information disclosed. Especially to her.
That should have discouraged her. The fact that they didn't want her to find them. And they probably didn't want to find her. But she didn't jump to conclusions. And she didn't lose hope. She still hoped they were looking. There was a part in the very back of her brain that knew they weren't, but she could dream. And she did every night. She dreamed that they were sitting around a long dining table somewhere in the country, eating a large dinner laughing and talking about any and everything. Old memories, the days events, and plans for the weekend. Like she used to do with her adoptive family.
All these thoughts had plagued her mind when Bridget had asked about her family. She had zoned out and was lucky she didn't start to tear up. And she had answered her question with a simple, "I haven't talked to my family in years." Bridget, thankfully, sensing she didn't want to go there, instead asked if she had wanted another beer. And she gladly accepted.
She regretted it now as she ordered her coffee and tried to fight off the pounding headache she had. She had only had two beers but, unfortunately, she was a real lightweight. She was tipsy by the end of her first. Knowing nothing but truth spills out when you get to much of the liquid courage, she cut herself off. Luckily she wasn't hung over, like poor Bridget who had been slumped at the desk this morning being yelled at by angry tenants.
But she still had a nasty headache though.
She took her drink and egg and biscuit sandwich from the cashier with a smile and a "Thank you" then headed to her usual spot near the window. She had been coming here every morning since she discovered the place. Man did they have good coffee.
She sat silently staring out the window, munching on her biscuit and sipping her coffee, thinking about the day ahead of her. She was nearly done with her biscuit when a familiar voice pulled her from her thoughts.
"Mind if I join you?"
She paused mid-chew on her last bite of her biscuit and looked up at the handsome man staring down at her. His lips were pulled up into a smile and he had an amused glint in his eyes. Probably at the Chipmunk cheeks she had produced when she had stuffed the last piece of her food into her mouth.
With her hand covering her full mouth, she spoke through the food and her fingers and said, "Not at all. "She motioned to the seat in front of her. "Make yourself comfortable." Realising how un-lady-like what she was doing was, she swallowed her food and took a nervous sip from her still warm coffee to wash it down. And hide her red cheeks.
Brian chuckled before sitting in the seat across form her with his own coffee and cheese and ham croissant. "You're cute." He said unwrapping his food.
India placed her cup down and rested her elbows on the table top. She kept her head down as she felt his eyes on her. Man was he making her nervous.
After the day they had kissed, she had cursed herself for being so stupid. For many reasons. For telling him so much about herself therfore essentially opening herself up to get hurt. For flirting with him and allowing him to kiss her. For kissing him back. And worst of all, for thinking they could be anything shy of frineds. There was no way she could be in any type of intimate relationship. Not without her past coming to light. There would always be secrets and he'd always be suspicious and asking questions. Questions she wouldn't and couldn't answer. And then he'd have to find out on his own. And that would be worse. He'd find something he didn't want to. That she didn't want him too. And then anything they had would be long forgotten. And she'd be an outcast yet again.
And she didn't want that. She wanted to forget about her past. To start over. And that would be pretty hard to do if everyone knew who she really was. Yeah she knew you couldn't run from your past forever but she'd run for as long as she could. Even if that meant picking up and moving at the first sign that someone knew something. Even if that meant never settling down. Even if she had to run forever.
She had already made the mistake of getting too close to Bridget. She wouldn't get to close to Brian too. Because she knew leaving someone you had been with romantically was a lot harder than leaving a friend.
Brian began talking and pulled India from her thoughts. "So you ready for your first day?"
She looked up at him as she answered but stopped mid sentence as she saw him. She burst into laughter.
His expression changed to confusion, with his brows furrowing and his lips bawling onto his mouth. His expression only caused India to laugh more. "What's so funny?"
"Your...face." She managed through fits of laughter.
He feigned hurt and placed his hand on his heart with eyes wide. "Are you trying to call me ugly?"
"N-no," she stuttered as she continued to laugh.
He sat back and frowned crossing his arms. "Well then what other reason would you have for laughing at my face?" He asked confused.
"I'm sorry," she said as she wiped tears from her eyes and grabbed a napkin from the dispenser. She pulled her free hand from her clenched stomach and motioned him closer with her index finger, an amused smile on her face. He smiled, a michevious glint in his eyes, and complied. She leaned forward in her seat as he did. As they came close, only inches away, his eyes flicked to her lips. Her eyes were on his too but for different reasons.
He began to cock his head and India looked at him, lips balled as she tried to keep from laughing. Then she reached up and wiped the cheese from the corners of his mouth with the napkin. He sat back abruptly and his eyes grew wide as he began to wipe at his mouth.
India yet again burst into laughter and leaned back in her chair to hold her stomach. Brian continued to wipe at his mouth and then reached for napkins to wipe his hands. His cheeks were slightly tinted no doubt due to his embarrassment but his brows were furrowed in disappointment.
"Who...who taught you....how to eat?" She asked in between breathes.
He scowled as he popped the last of his croissant into his mouth. He turned to throw the wrapper into the trash but India didn't miss him reach up to wipe his mouth with the crumpled napkin in his hand. He threw that away too and turned to sip from his coffee cup. India had significantly calmed her laughter and was giggling.
"I'm sorry. That was just too funny."
He smirked. "What my horrible table manners?"
She giggled again. "Yeah you should really work on that. You wouldn't wanna be sitting at a business dinner with the appetizer all over your face." He glared at her and she laughed again. He could only fight it off for so long but her laugh was so adorable he couldn't help but smile at her.
She stopped laughing, a smile still on her face as she looked at him. He was staring at her a curious expression written on his face. "What?" She asked feeling suddenly self conscious.
He continued to look at her curiously. "You're accent. It's...different." Her face fell immediately and her guard went up in instinct. She knew this would happen. The questions. Questions she couldn't answer without revealing who she was.
"What do you mean?" She asked pulling the sleeve of her shirt and blazer down over her bandage. She had wrapped her arm the night she had gotten cut and it had already started to scab over but she didn't want to risk infection. She had unwrapped and disinfected it every morning and let it breathe all day and disinfected and re-wrapped it at night. She didn't want to walk into work on her first day sporting a nasty cut but nor did she want to be wearing a bandage. She had decided to wear the bandage and cover it with sleeves. Mainly why she was wearing a long navy blue shirt and black blazer.
But a cut was the least of her problems right now. The biggest one facing her now; Brian was getting curious. And being curious led to asking questions. questions about her. Questions she wouldn't answer that would lead to suspicion. And when you're suspicious you start finding answers on your own. And that would be worse because he would find the answers everyone else had. Which would most likely only be opinion. Therfore he would start judging her on what may or may not be the truth. And since she had stayed her full time in the Institution she doubted the truth was in the news.
Her thought process was interrupted when he asked, "Where are you from?"
She could answer that. There was no harm in him knowing where she was from. Her voice cracked as she said, "Russellville," she carried her throat as she grabbed for her coffee, "It's...uhm...a small town in Arkansas." She took a sip from her coffee to ease her suddenly dry throat. "Everyone heard of it?" Please say no, please say no Pease say-
"Oh yeah, I've heard of that place." Damn. "They were all over the news a couple years back. Some crazy girl had tried to kill the family that had adopted her two years before right?"
She swallowed. "Yep," she said her voice cracking.
"Did you know her?" He asked. "The girl that bored the house down? What was her name again?" He sat back as he thought about it. "Madison, Mallory, Maggie..."
"Melody." India squeaked as she gripped onto her coffee cup.
He jumped up as if he had made some revelation and snapped his fingers. "Yeah that its. Melody." His face scrunched in thought. "But she said it was, uhm..." He thought for a moment massaging his chin. This time he didn't need her help to remember. "India. She said her name was India."
"Mhm hm." She replied taking a nervous gulp from her coffee. She threw the rest of the still warm coffee down and then slapped her hands on the table. "Boy look at the time. Maybe we should go."
She hadn't noticed the scrutinizing stare she was under until she looked at Brian. His eyes were narrowed in in India and his brows creased in thought. "India. She said her name was India." He repeated. "Your name is India."Thanks captain obvious.
"Yep," I said as I began to stand, pushing away holding the table top.
"What was her last name?"
For a split second, her body conveyed what she was feeling. Her eyebrows raised, her eyes went wide, and her mouth came open slightly. Her palms became sweaty and her hands held tight to the table top. Her body completly froze and she was stiff as a board. Her body language was giving way to what she felt. And in that moment she felt complete and utter panic. But, on instinct her body changed to convey nothing but calm and consideration.
She went slack and slumpped in her seat; Her eyebrows furrowed in confusion; The corners of her lips went in and she balled her lips into her mouth. She leaned forward on the table and put her elbows up. "You know I can't remember."
"Mhm." He agreed.
After another moment. She sighed an exaggerated sigh and threw her hands slightly off the table. "I've got nothing." Then she sat back and crossed her arms. "Sucks. I went to school with her for a whole 4 months and I can't remember her name."
"Man. This is gonna kill me all day." Just when India feared he might start doing his research a little sooner than planned he shook his head and shrugged. "Oh well." He pushed from the table and threw his cup into the trash as he stood. He pushed his chair in and straightened his jacket and tie. "Well we should be getting you to work." He smiled. "Wouldn't want you being late on your firstly day and you're boss thinking you were incompetent," he said with a wink.
No. We would hate that.
<><><><><>
"I wanna go home," India said as she plopped into a seat and dropped her head onto the table in the break room. Gina, the receptionist from her interview sat at the table eating what looked to be Chinese food. She looked at India as if she were crazy. Of course India didn't see it since her forehead and the table top were becoming good friends.
"What's wrong with you?" The receptionist asked.
"I'm tired, hungry, frustrated, depressed," she rattled off. And when she ran out of words to describe her mood repeated, "Tired."
Gina giggled. "So you said." India groaned from her spot on the table. "What have you been doing to give you such a...colorful, mood."
She looked up at her wide eyed, palms flat on the surface of the table. "What haven't I been doing?!" She slumpped in the chair and pouted. "And I thought this job was supposed to be fun."
☆☆☆☆☆
The second India and Brian stepped into the office building of T&J Law Firm, it was a bustle of activity. People were running about yelling and shouting over the other people who were yelling and shouting to talk to each. Papers were flying about the room, phones were ringing off the hooks, and people were flying into each other. Everyone was moving so fast all she could see of them were their flailing clothes and wild hair. And they hadn't even got onto the elevator yet.
India was stood in the doorway and so engrossed in the activity she hasn't realized Brian hadn't stopped walking. Walking quickly to catch up to him she said, "'Another big case?"
He shook his head and smirked. "We take nothing but big cases. They are the best, and hardest, ones and nothing but the best for T&J." He said rising his arms as if he had just pulled the cover off of a time machine.
India smirked. "Conceited much?" She muttered crossing her arms.
"Excuse me?" He asked.
She smiled a big innocent smile. "Nothing continue."
He gave her a skeptical look before turning his attention back to the task at hand. As he began to speak he took on an authoritative tone that let you know he was in charge. He stood straight and tall with his shoulders wide and took long leisurely strides. "Ok. Well obviously this is the lobby or reception. And as you can see it is extremely busy. So you can only imagine the rest of the building." Who are you telling? From as far as she could see, it looked as if she were on a football field and not in an office building. They walked over to an elevator just as some people were getting off. They quickly stepped on and the doors closed after two people joined them. It was two girls in about their mid to late twenties.
Each sported short pencil skirts with slits up the thigh and tight fitted shirts. India suddenly felt under-dressed in her slacks and black blazer. None of which ecentuated the little curves she had. Each girl said 'good morning' to Brian and India couldn't help getting jealous. But she immediately pushed the feeling down. He's not yours, her subconscious reminded her. And even if he was, he clearly doesn't even want them.
Looking to Brian she knew her subconscious was right. The girls were ogling him and trying desperately to make conversation but Brian just waved them off. Saying he was busy showing India around. At the rejected looks on their faces India stood straighter and smiled at them as they threw glares in her direction. She tuned back in to what Brian was saying as they stepped out of the elevator.
"This floor is Administration and sits right above the lobby. Above this sits the offices. And since this is a law firm and detective agency, there are two or so extra floors for that." The floor pad on the elevator wall started from B4 and ran all the way to 20. They were going up to the ninth level. The same floor Mr. Thomas' office sat on. "These two floors are break rooms, the cafeteria, and an extra copy floor closer to the chaos." He said motioning to floors three, four, and five. "Then these are all detective offices." He motioned to six, seven, eight, and nine. "Then you have Paralegals" ten through thirteen. "Then Associates," fourteen through sixteen. "Right before you get to the partner offices you have two floors dedicated to conference rooms and war rooms." Seventeen and eighteen." And then partner offices." Nineteen and twenty. He motioned to the buttons below the first floor. "These are the mail room, copy room, storage room, and IT room." He turned to look at me. "You'll need to become familiar with those." Why?
He had been talking so fast India could hardly keep up and they were off the elevator before she could ask any questions. They stepped onto the familiar ground of the floor she had been on when she had first come to interview. Gina was sitting at the reception desk with a headset on working vigorously with a pen and paper and the computer in front of her.
She didn't even glance up when they walked by so India was amazed when she said, "Good morning Mr. Thomas. Miss. London." And she was still typing away at her computer.
India quickly pulled herself from her moment of awe as not to miss anything Brian might be saying. "This floor might look familiar. Back that way are the private offices," he said pointing a finger behind us. Not bothering to turn around to do so. "Up her are the 'cubicles' so to speak." It was really only desks scattered about the floor. "And further on you have the big private offices."
"Where is yours office Brian?" She inquired. She had been scurrying along to keep up with his long strides, looking at her feet as so not to fall. So when he abruptly stopped she hadn't noticed and ran right into his back. "So -" she stopped mid apology as she looked up and saw his face.
His face was emotionless and cold and nearly made India pee her pants. He looked down his nose at her his chin still held high. She took a step back as she looked down at her fingers. "You are to call me Mr. Thomas or Sir. Never Brian. We are not friends, I am your boss," He practically spit, venom lacing his tone. "You shall not speak while I am speaking and you shall not ask me any unnecessary questions. When I am talking you shall not interrupt and you shall do what I say when I say it with no qualms about it. Are we clear?"
She looked up meekly still nervously toying with her fingers. "But-"
"Are we clear?" He interrupted, his already booming voice rising louder to mute her own. She involuntarily flinched and for a second she saw a glint of guilt in his eyes. But then it was quickly masked by the cold facade he was putting on. Her mouth opened and closed like a fish gasping for air. She was speechless. She had never pegged Brian for the 'I am your boss so you do what I say' type. And now she knew he was, she didn't like it. When she still hadn't answered, he leaned in and repeated again slowly, "Are. We. Clear?"
She dropped her head and slowly nodded. "Yes, sir," she said meekly.
He glowered at her a few seconds more before turning on his heels and walking off. She stood stock still watching him walk away. Then he yelled over his shoulder, "Are you going to continue to stand there like an idiot or shall we continue about our days?"
Her mouth dropped as she now glared at his back. Then her feet slowly began to move again. "I shall not Mr. Thomas, sir," she mocked throwing her hands about.
He quickly turned and she smiled sweetly and clasped her hands down in front of her. "What was that?"
"I said Coming, Sir." He raised a brow but turned around all the same and continued walking. She glared at him again. "I would'st want to anger the king." She continued to mock. She regretted it as she turned to her side and saw a red head looking at her an eyebrow raised and a phone pressed firmly to her ear by her shoulder. India smiled as she chuckled nervously and waved and hurried to catch up to Brian.
He had long since entered the office she had been interviewed in and was now leaning against his father's desk with his arms crossed across his chest and legs crossed at the ankles. Him and his father were talking and joking and he was laughing. He was laid back and loose, a complete difference to the cold, ass he was just seconds before.
India took the time to actually look over him, as she had not really had the chance. With him making her nervous and not wanting to make eye contact in the coffee shop and then him moving so fast she hardly had time to see anything on their way up.
He was dressed in a nicely pressed navy blue suit with a white shirt and black tie underneath. He had on shiney black dress shoes and from the way his pants had slightly risen up India could see his black socks. There was a giant silver watch on his wrist that she could bet cost more than her entire apartment. Furniture and all. His brown hair was slicked back and he had parted the front to the side and it bubbled up so that even his hair gave him the sophisticated look of a real business man.
As she stood in the doorway, with her eyes roaming over his body, she had completely forgotten where she was, and who he was. And that ogling your boss probably wasn't the best way to start off your new job. She noticed this when she felt his father giving her a quizzical stare from his desk and then as she saw him also realized Brian was looking at her the same, not bothering to hide the smirk on his face.
She blushed and ducked her head as she yet again toyed with her fingers. "S-sorry." She stuttered, hardly above a whisper. "Good morning Mr. Thomas."
She heard a deep chuckle and her head rose up slightly to look at the source through her long lashes.
"Quite alright Miss. London," Mr. Thomas said standing from his chair. He came around the desk and slapped a hand down onto Brian's shoulder. "Brian here must be used to it by now. All the female attention." He looked to her a sparkle of amusement in his eyes. "Female coworkers are no exception. And I believe I told you to call me Vincent," he said with a wink. India couldn't help but blush more.
"Yes. Sorry Mr.-Vincent." She quickly corrected herself. He smiled and motioned her further into the office. She closed the door behind her as she walked into the familiar office.
Vincent was friendlier than she had imagined. Her first impression of him was cold, cross, and strictly business. She was quite overjoyed when she discovered he was anything but. He was funny and really cool. Of course he most likely wasn't like that all the time but he was when it counted. Like when nervous, anxious young women walk into his office looking for a job though they have no credentials what so ever.
She sat down in the same chair she had the day of her interview and sat as straight as possible with her hands crossed in her lap. Vincent went around to the other side of his desk and sat down and immediately sat back and propped his feet up. Brian stayed as he was when she walking in eying her, his features laced with curiosity. She was uncomfortable to say the least under his scrutinizing stare.
Vincent noticing her unease leaned forward and hit his son on the arm. "Don't scare the girl away son. She may be pretty but you don't have to stare." India laughed nervously as Brian narrowed his eyes at her but then complied with his father's wishes. He removed himself from the desk and came to sit in the chair next to hers and picked up the folder she hadn't noticed sitting on the table between them. Vincent once again made himself comfortable and sat back in his chair, his hands crossed on his stomach.
"Well India it seems you have a very long day ahead of you." He nodded his head towards Brian who was filing through the papers in his hands. "My son here plans to keep you busy all day."
"Oh?" She asked raising a brow. Finally contributing more than just chuckles and stares to the conversation. Brian grumbled a reply that India took as a yes. She sat back in the chair and crossed her legs and her arms. "And what will I be doing," she smirked, "Sir."
He glanced up at her, that same curious expression on his face. Then he smirked and looked back down to the thick Manila folder in his hand.
"Well, you can't start at our academy until next week, we're still getting some things in order. And once you start, you'll need to do something to earn your keep." He closed the folder in his hand and looked up smiling, handing it to her. "So you will so graciously take on the job of calling the DA and court house to obtain warrants for our officers upstairs, write up some reports for some cases, and fill out some forms needed during trial."
She took the folder from his hands and nearly dropped it from the weight of it. She pulled the folder into her lap and shuffled through it. "For what case exactly?"
"Well that specific file is for the Morrison case. There were so many accusations and theories made it got a little...heavy." She couldn't help but pout then she realized what he had said.
"This specific file? Are there more?" He smiled. And her eyes grew wide.
He stood and began to walk to the other exit in the room. "Come. See you later this afternoon father." India stood the file still in her hand and followed Brian from the room.
"See you later. Don't work her to hard son." He yelled after us as we were already out the room and the door was slowly closing behind us.
"Where are we-"
"I said no unnecessary questions." He said interrupting her, holding up a hand but not turning around. India bit her lip to hold back from saying something she would, wouldn't, regret. "You'll see when we get there."
She kept her mouth shut as he led her through the crowded office. She tensed as she walked, feelings eyes on her. But as she looked around she saw no one paying any attention to her. She shook the feeling and sped up slightly to catch up to Brian.
They stopped in the back of the office in front of an empty desk. It was a simple metal desk with a matching rolling chair. It was faced toward the back of the office, toward the windows. She had the perfect view of the street below the building. Her desk seeming to be the only one placed neatly in the middle of the office as if at the end of a row. The only thing it held was a computer, monitor, mouse and pad, and a cup holding pens and pencils. And of course stacks and stacks of folders on the desk and in crates and boxes on the ground.
"This is your desk, and these," he said picking up what had to be four thick folders, "Are the reports and forms you need to fill out and write." He put the files back down and put his hands in his pockets. "And a little heads up?" He said smiling. "Most of those are a mess and some aren't even a little filled out." India looked down at the folders upon folders and for a second looked horrified. But realizing that's what he probably wanted, straightened up and put on a straight face.
"Is this all?" She asked motioning her hands over the files.
He furrowed his brows in confusion. "You want more?"
She shrugged. "If there is more to be done and no one else can do it."
His expression changed from confusion to a curious stare. "Really?" She shrugged again and nodded her head. Then he smiled, surprising her, and pulled his hands from his pockets to clap them together. "Great. We have plenty. I'll have Gina send them over shortly."
Her expression faltered but then she jumped back quickly with a strained smile. "Great."
"Great." He said again before turning and walking off, hands stuffed back into his pockets.
The second he was far enough away, India allowed herself to fall into her chair with a scowl like pout on her face. "Great."
"First Day?" Someone asked from beside her. she nearly got whiplash turning to look at the source. She turned to face a girl, about mid to late 20's, with a brow raised and a phone to her ear. She was blonde with olive skin and big brown eyes. She was wearing a tight white button-up, brown skirt, and nude tights. She wasn't wearing any shoes.
"Yeah. Long morning?" She said nodding to her feet.
The girl scoffed. "I wish. Long night. I've been here since two o'clock last night."
India's eyes widened and she could only imagine her face mirrored nothing but horror. "10?" She said again slowly. The girl nodded, flipping her long hair over her shoulder. "And what, pray tell, have you been doing for the last...eleven hours!?"
The girl rolled her eyes. "You name it. Phoning court houses to ask for warrants I know they won't give me. Calling witnesses and suspects alike to let them know they're needed for questioning, just to have them get scared and hang up in my face. Running around copying and re-copying reports and records. Writing up entire case files, from nothing but eye witness statements." She let out an exaggerated sigh and hit her hand to her forehead. "I swear if I hear or see one more word like 'jurisdiction' or 'M.O' I. Will. Kill. Someone."
India couldn't help but laugh at that.
"I'm serious. My hands are still cramping and I've been on hold for like...twenty minutes!" She exclaimed throwing her hands in the air.
India laughed again. "If you hate the job so much why do you stay?"
"I'm trying to put myself through med school and the pay is amazing."
India shrugged. "Makes sense. Except for the part about you being in med school. How could you possibly have a job and go through med school?"
"I work part-time."
India raised a brow and smirked. "Really? Do you work eleven hour shifts often?"
The girl frowned but then she shot up from the slouched position in her chair. "Yes. Hello?...Uhm-" She shuffled around her desk and pulled a pen from under a stack of papers. Then she grabbed a pad and plopped it onto the mess on her desk. She began to scribble furiously on the pad. "Yes...uh huh...yes ma'am....will do," she finished clicking the pin. "Uh huh...You have a good day room ma'am. Goodbye." She plopped the phone into the receiver. "And good riddens," she muttered. "It's a really good thing she picked up because I was this close to picking up," she said displaying with her thumb and forefinger how close she was.
"Who was it?"
"Oh just a witness from this case we've been working on for a couple of weeks," she said waving her hand in a dismissive gesture.
"Oh yeah," India said standing and walking closer to the blonde. "What case would that be?"
"The usual. A murder case. A girl was stabbed to death is all. Nothing exciting." India stepped back, horror written on her face. The blonde, realizing what she had said, turned and looked at India her mouth agape. "I'm sorry. In this line of work you just hear and see so much and kinda become...numb, to it all."
India stood staring at the girl in awe. Was she going to be thinking and talking like that one day? Hear the word murder and say 'Not this again.' Or see someone stabbed to death and think 'I wish people would be a little more creative.' Would she one day have to explain her casual nature on the subject of murder as 'Seen it all and waiting for more?" She had to admit the thought unnerved her. For obvious reasons.
She was still staring dumbstruck even as the blonde stood. "Look. I'm sorry but I have to get this to Detective Roberts before I get a boat load of other paperwork thrown at me. And you staring at me as though I'm a murderer is not really working for me." She turned to leave and that's when India shook from her stupor.
"Wait!" She said a little too loudly. But lucky for her it was just loud enough that the people around her were used to the yelling. The blonde turned around, one perfectly trimmed brow raised. India put her head into her head then moved them down her face to her chin. "I'm sorry. It's just...I'm just not as used to the whole 'murder' subject. And I have to admit it's a little unnerving that after a while of working here I might be."
The blonde chuckled. "A while? I've only been working her like 6 months."
India's eyes widened. "Ok not helping."
The girl winced. "Sorry. I wish I could blame my insensitivity on the job too but that just has too do with the fact I have no filter at all."
India chuckled nervously and ran her hands over her hair. "It's fine, uh," India frowned. "I'm sorry, I never caught your name."
The girl looked confused for a moment but then realization crossed her features. "Sorry." She came closer and stretched out her hand. "Ryan. Ryan Rivers."
India took the girl's hand and shook it. "India London."
"India," she repeated her voice scrutinizing. "That name sounds familiar."
"Well it is a common name," she tried becoming panicked.
"Yeah," she said still a little uncertain. She thought a moment and then she snapped her fingers. "My best friend in 2nd grade was named India." She scowled and crossed her arms. "Little bitch only liked me cause I always had good snacks."
India laughed again and so did Ryan. After their laughter died down India looked to the girl. "I honestly have no idea how I'm going to survive here if all they plan on doing is having me sit at a desk making calls and filling out paperwork." She said turning and motioning over her new desk.
Ryan chuckled. "You'll live." She placed her hand on India's shoulder. "Stick with me and you'll survive. We'll get through it together." She added with a wink. Then she turned and hurried off to deliver the new information she had gathered.
☆☆☆☆☆
India sat pouting as she flexed and cracked her fingers and knuckles and finished her red count of her days events. She had long devoured the little hot pocket she thought would fill her up. And the chips she had bought with it. And boy was she still hungry.
"And that's what I've been doing all day. Filling out paperwork and making calls. And Bri-Mr. Thomas," she corrected sarcastically rolling her eyes, "made good on his promise to find me more work. And I've been to the copy floor at least five times already. Most of those reports make no sense and don't even get me started on the handwriting."
Gina laughed cutting her off. "Whoa. Better not let the boss hear you complaining like that."
India groaned. "I'm not complaining. Just...expressing my dissatisfaction and annoyance about the affairs and events I have taken part in today." She said sitting back and crossing her arms.
Gina raised a brow. "You mean complaining."
"No! Just..." She pouted as she couldn't come up with anything. "Shut up."
Just then the chatter in the room stopped abruptly and India, from her spot in the back of the room, turned to see what the cause was. Looking around the people in the room, India could see Brian standing in the doorway of the break room.
She frowned and turned back to Gina, taking a sip of the strawberry Fanta she had on the table. "Why'd everyone get so quiet. He's just a person."
"No." Gina said matter-of-factly. "He's not 'just a person,' " she said mockingly. "He's the boss. And he's never been in the break room before."
India looked at her incredulously. "You're kidding me?" Gina shook her head. "How is that even possible?" She asked before taking a sip from her Fanta.
"Because I have more important things to do than spend my time socializing in break rooms." India spit her pop out at the sound of his voice so close to her.
"Jesus, don't do that," she said grabbing for a napkin from the dispenser. "You nearly gave me a heart attack. Weren't you ever taught not to sneak up on people?"
Gina's eyes widened and they nearly popped out of her head. Her hand tightened around the fork in her hand and the cup she had begun to pick up. But she didn't look near as surprised as when he replied.
He chuckled. "Yes actually I was but the results when I do are always too rewarding," he said motioning to the napkin in her hand. Now covered with the pop she had wiped from her chin and chest.
She scowled. "Not funny."
"To you. Come on. You have someone to meet." He turned to walk out of the room not giving her time to question him. She gathered her trash and half empty can of Fanta and tossed it on her way out of the room. Ignoring the many stares she was receiving from the people about the room.
"Who?"
"Unnecessary question." He turned to look at her as she finally managed to fall into step with him. "You just love asking them no matter how much I tell you not to, huh?"
India shrugged and looked ahead of her. "Let me guess. I'll see when we get there?" She looked at him smirking and he was already looking at her curiously. As he seemed to be doing a lot today.
They walked towards the elevator and rode up to level Seventeen. India raised a brow. "Conference room? Are we having a meeting I'm not aware of?" He turned to look at her but before he could speak she said, "I know, I know. I'll see when we get there," she mimicked crossing her arms.
He gave her another curious stare before turning and stepping off of the elevator as the doors opened. The conference floor was really nicely decorated. The halls were lined with with walls with wood and metal boardings in the middle and the floor was covered in gray carpet. There were two areas adorned with couches, rugs, coffee tables, potted plants, and floor lamps. Then there were four or so doors that she guessed must be the conference rooms.
They walked to the end of the hall and came to one of the wooden doors. Upon closer inspection the doors were mahogany wood and had a metal strip running along the side and thought the handle. The handle itself was sleek and gold. Brian grabbed the handle and pushed the door open. Stepping into the room India was awed.
The room was big to say the least. At least three fourths the size of her apartment. The walls were wood with a metal strip going along the middle and the floor was carpeted the same grey as the rest of the floor. All along two of the walls were ceiling to floor windows, showcasing the area outside. Which from this side was a beautiful beach tucked away in a secluded area almost completely shielded by trees. A long wide circular table sat in the middle of the room, chairs sat along the length of the thing. One chair sat at the head. A makeshift projection screen stood at the front of the room and next to it sat a cart.
When India stopped marveling at the room, she noticed Brian had made his way over to two people she hadn't noticed in the room.
Vincent sat on the table with his left knee up and his left foot on the ground. His arms were crossed and he had a huge care free smile on his face. In that moment India saw Brian looked a lot more like his father than she originally thought.
Then she noticed the girl he was talking to. She was faced away from her so she couldn't really see her face. From what she could see she had strawberry blonde hair, that fell to the small of her back in curls, and sparkling creme skin. She sat with her arms stacked atop each other in the table and her legs crossed at the ankles. Her outfit consisted of a white skirt and pale pink sweater with matching heels.
A feeling a familiarity washed over her, startling her. she cocked her head slightly as she looked at the girl. Do I know her, she thought to herself.
She was pulled from her thoughts as Brian called her name. "India? You ok?"
Her head popped up and she looked at him. "Yeah. Fine," she said forcing a smile.
He looked at her skeptically for awhile but then shrugged it off. He then turned toward the girl and smiled. "India I'd like you to meet Hailee. She's the head of our training program."
The girl stood and turned smiling. She walked toward Brian and his outstretched arms and wrapped her own around his waist. "Aw. Is that all I am?"
"That voice," India whispered.
"Well she may or may not be my sister too," he said looking down at her fondly.
She hit him playfully as she pulled away from the hug. "Whatever. You know you love me."
"I guess." He turned toward India. "Hailee, this is India. She just started today and we plan on putting her in one of your defense classes."
Hailee turned to India and trained her sparkling green eyes on India's brown ones.
"Hello. Nice to meet you India," she said stepping closer, hand outstretched. The feeling of familiarity became stronger. Almost painful.
"Those eyes," India said, yet again in a whisper.
"Excuse me?" She questioned eyebrow raised.
"N-nothing. You just...look really familiar."
Hailee smiled. "Well I probably just have one of those faces."
India shook her head. "No, no. I've seen you before."
She shrugged. "Nope I doubt it. I think I would've remembered you."
"Hm."
The girl smiled. "But even though we just met," her smile grew bigger, more sinister, and she grabbed both of India's hands and pulled them to her chest, "I can tell we're gonna be besties."
With just that one word, India knew who she was. And it struck fear into her entire body. Her eyes grew wide and she began to shake violently, involuntarily.
This was the girl that had come into her life, years ago, and stole every single one of her friends. The girl that convinced an entire town that she was a normal, innocent, couldn't hurt a fly, little girl. The girl that turned her best friend against her. The girl that single handedly convinced her entire town she was a murder. That burned down her house. Tried to kill her family. Sat in court and testified she had heard her talking about doing horrible things to good people. Convinced an entire courtroom and jury she was innocent and India guilty. Got her committed to a Mental Institution. Wasted eight years of her life. Took away her chance of a normal life; the chance to live the best years of her life. The girl who took her away from her family; turned them all against her. The reason she had to move and start all over. The girl who did sinister things to people for no good reason. The girl who was actually a monster in a wig.
"Melody."