CHAPTER 2- FIRST CONFRONTATION

 

Alex's gaze moved on as if Emma were just another face in the room, another junior associate whose name she'd learn eventually. But Emma had seen it. That moment of recognition, of surprise.

Alex hadn't known Emma worked here.

Which meant this nightmare was just as unexpected for her as it was for Emma.

Somehow, that made it worse because now she cannot accuse Alex of stalking her.

The meeting continued around her. Emma sat frozen, her hands gripping the edge of the table so hard her knuckles went white. She needed to get out of here. Needed to leave before—

"And I'm pleased to announce," Morrison said, his voice cutting through Emma's panic, "that Alexandra will be taking lead on the Bennett Pharmaceutical case I mentioned earlier."

No.

"Emma Parker, our top junior associate, will be her second chair."

The room tilted.

Emma looked up to find Morrison gesturing at her expectantly. Everyone was looking at her now. Including Alex, whose professional mask had frozen into something that looked almost like dread.

"Ms. Parker?" Morrison prompted.

Emma stood on legs that felt like water. Forced words through her constricted throat. "I look forward to the opportunity, sir."

"Excellent. Alexandra, Emma, please coordinate after this meeting to begin case strategy."

Emma sat down before her legs gave out.

She couldn't do this. Couldn't work with Alex. Couldn't spend eight weeks in close quarters with the woman who'd destroyed her.

She had to get reassigned. Had to talk to Morrison, explain that….

What? That she and the new senior partner had history? That they'd had a relationship in college? That Alex had broken her heart so thoroughly Emma had spent years learning how to function without one?

Morrison would never understand. He'd tell her that’s in the past and their office does not approve of gay relationship or any kind of romance at all, tell her she has to be professional, and to get the job done.

The meeting wrapped up. Attorneys filed out, chattering about cases and court dates. Emma stayed seated, gathering her laptop and files with shaking hands.

"Emma."

David appeared at her elbow, concern written across his face. "You okay? You look like you've seen a ghost."

"I'm fine," Emma lied.

"That's her, isn't it? The one from college."

Emma's head snapped up. "How did you—"

“— never mind, I must have told you during one of our drunken nights right?”

"I've known you for three years Em, we’ve had drinks together and gotten drunk together too, remember, secret have been revealed too. I know when something's wrong." David's voice dropped lower. "Is she the one who—"

"Yes." Emma cut him off before he could finish. "Yes, she is. And I just got assigned to work with her for the next eight weeks."

David whistled low. "Shit."

"Yeah."

"Are you going to be okay?"

Emma grabbed her bag, stood up. "I don't have a choice. This case could make my career. I'm not letting her take that from me too."

She walked toward the door, head high, shoulders straight. Professional. Composed. Unaffected.

It was all a lie, but she'd gotten good at hiding how she feels over the years.

In the hallway, she made it exactly three steps before she heard that voice behind her.

"Ms. Parker."

Emma's spine went rigid. She turned slowly.

Alex stood a few feet away, close enough that Emma could see the tension in her jaw, the way her hands were clasped too tightly in front of her.

"Ms. Richardson." Emma kept her voice neutral.

"I didn't know you worked here."

"I gathered that."

Silence stretched between them. Other attorneys passed by in the hallway, greeting Alex, welcoming her to the firm. Alex only acknowledged them with a grunt.

"Emma…."

"It's Ms. Parker. In this building, it's Ms. Parker."

Alex flinched. "Of course. I apologize." She paused, seeming to struggle for words. "I'd like to schedule a meeting to discuss the Bennett case. Are you available this afternoon?"

"I'll check my calendar and send you my availability." Emma took a step back, putting more distance between them. "If that's all—"

"It's not all. We should…we need to…"

"Discuss case strategy. That's all we need to do." Emma's voice was ice. "I'll see you at the meeting, Ms. Richardson."

She turned and walked away before Alex could respond, before the cracks in her composure could show, before eight years of carefully constructed walls came crashing down in the middle of Morrison & Associates' twenty-second floor.

She made it to the elevator. Hit the button. Waited.

Behind her, she could feel Alex’s gaze burning a hole into her back.

The elevator arrived. Emma stepped inside.

The doors started to close.

At the last second, Alex's hand shot out, stopping them. She stepped into the elevator.

They were alone.

The doors closed.

Emma stared straight ahead at the polished metal doors, watching their distorted reflections. Alex standing too close. Emma rigid, holding herself together by sheer force of will.

"Emma, please—"

"Don't." Emma's voice cracked. "Don't say my name like that. Don't look at me like—" She stopped, swallowed hard. "We're going to work together. Professionally. That's all this is."

"I know we have history—"

"History?" Emma laughed, sharp and bitter. "Is that what we're calling it?"

The elevator descended. Eighteen. Seventeen. Sixteen.

"I'm sorry," Alex said quietly. "I'm so sorry. If I'd known you were here, I would have…"

"Would have what? Turned down the job?" Emma finally looked at her. "Don't lie to me. You wanted this partnership. You've always wanted the career more than—"

She cut herself off. Couldn't bring herself to finish that sentence.

More than me.

Ten. Nine. Eight.

"That's not fair," Alex whispered.

"None of this is fair." Emma's hands clenched into fists. "You don't get to show up here after eight years and expect… I don't even know what you expect."

"I don't expect anything. I just…"

The elevator dinged. Ground floor.

The doors opened.

Emma walked out without looking back.

But she could feel it. The weight of Alex's gaze. The unfinished conversation hanging between them.

Eight weeks. She had to survive eight weeks of working with Alexandra Richardson.

Emma headed for the parking garage, needing air, needing space, needing anything but the memory of Alex's reflection in those elevator doors.

Her phone buzzed.

Sarah: Lunch today? I have a break at 1.

Sarah. Her girlfriend. Sweet, gentle and uncomplicated Sarah who'd never broken her heart.

Emma typed back: Can't. Work emergency. Dinner instead?

Sarah: Of course! You okay?

No. She wasn't okay. She was very far from okay.

Emma: I'm fine. Just busy.

Another lie. She was getting good at those.

Emma made it to her car, slid into the driver's seat, and finally let her hands shake.

Alexandra Richardson was back.

And Emma had no idea how she was going to survive this.