Chapter 5
Lexa gestured for Roan to enter the elevator first then stepped in after him. She was feeling good and as if all the pieces in her life were falling into place. Feeling heated anticipation at knowing there were only five floors to go until she saw Clarke for the first time since the weekend, she unbuttoned the first button of her shirt.
“Are you ready to poke holes into Loft’s defence?” Roan asked.
Her lips curved into a satisfied smile, her mind already whirling with the points made from the defence team and the arguments she would make in return to dismantle them for closing arguments. “I love knocking down corporate assholes who forget their humanity.”
Roan let out a small noise of agreement. “It’s difficult to believe that their entire line of defence is basically ‘We did issue the recall… Eventually.’”
It was redundant to reiterate Loft’s self-sabotage. There was no way they would fool the judge when the metadata of the original recall statement was created on the day of the drugs release ; when considering the actual release of said statement was two weeks after the fact.
But her grin grew bigger. “Even mummy knew they screwed up, and still made false statements in court.”
“And you know this, how?”
The elevator dinged, the doors sliding open. Lexa stepped through them and gave him a side glance. Costia had provided her with the knowledge; yet, it was Nia’s protege Ontari that would be providing her with evidence this very evening. “They’re called contacts, Queen. You should try to get some.”
Evidence she was booked in to collect later in the evening.
“Is that what we’re calling them now?”
Lexa smirked amusedly, while refusing the man any more of a response. They passed the entrance doors to the firm as the jitters set in, and she frowned at seeing Raven leaning over Clarke’s work counter, blocking what would have been a pleasurable view of the blonde. Raven was gesturing rather animatedly, as the two seemed to be in a heated conversation.
He scoffed suspiciously, and as they got closer to the women he muttered, “What’s up with them?”
“Yes, what ‘is’ up with you two?” Lexa echoed with a grin once they were within hearing range.
Finally up close to the blonde, she stood next to Raven and leaned over the counter to finally get her first good look at Clarke since the morning.
Clarke’s blue eyes shone with mirth and her full lips were twitching with the apparent refusal to let the smile out that was fighting to break free.
“My soon to be ex-friend,” The blonde’s husky voice began, “Has decided that I’m sleeping with somebody.”
“‘I decided?!’” Raven scoffed, seemingly scandalised that the topic of conversation was a speculation at all. “Clarke hasn’t been home at all this week and she’s practically been glowing! But you probably haven’t noticed that since finishing off Loft has become your whole world. Whatever… Your sight will return after your newfound tunnel vision goes away.”
“Hmm, you’re right. She’s radiant today.” Lexa let out as she leaned further over the work counter glancing down to the cleavage that lay hidden beneath her assistant’s shirt. She readjusted the watch on her wrist that had ridden up higher than she preferred. “Are you sleeping with someone, Clarke?”
Clarke shook her head slightly before turning those brilliant blues stared up at the brunette thoughtfully, her mind apparently losing the battle since those lips finally titled into a subtle, yet satisfied smile. “You have the wrong girl, Reyes. Woods here, has an unbuttoned top and she’s doing that wrist thing she always does after a ‘good night.’”
“Who’s to say it wasn’t a morning quickie?” She quipped back, not wanting to acknowledge the lack of smugness that would have usually accompanied this kind of jesting.
“Please tell me it wasn’t Costia again.” Raven groaned, shaking her head dramatically.
The blonde nodded her head in agreement, making sure to keep those blues away from her friend. “Talk about gloating. I’m pretty sure all of the customers at that cafe around the corner all know who ‘Lexa Woods’ is and just how much of a service top you are.”
The lawyer faltered for a moment and continued to stare into those blues, trying to figure out what was happening.
“You’d think your fingers are God's gift to humanity with the way she carried on.” Raven chimed in.
“Care to give them a trial run, Clarke?” Lexa quipped, trying to keep things as normal as possible.
“I’d hate to burst your melons, babe; but I’m supposed to be working - and if the look Mr Queen is giving us is anything to go by, he agrees.” The blonde replied smoothly, and spun her chair 180 degrees and plucked something out of the file cabinet located against the wall before spinning back around and handing it to Lexa. “You know, ‘work’? That thing you’re supposed to be doing, Raven?”
Raven threw her arms up in the air. “Seriously, I don’t get either of you. Why the hell are you both sleeping with other people?! The tens-”
“‘-People’ could be changed to ‘pers-’” Lexa began to talk over her, slyly.
Only to be cut off by Roan who gently gripped her arm and started guiding them both to her office. “-Miss Griffin has a point; it’s a wonder anything gets done around here, excuse us, ladies.” He grumbled.
“Toodles!” Clarke called out to them cheekily.
The brunette looked over her shoulder at the blonde with her best charming smile and wink in response.
“Relax, Queen.” Lexa said once they were in her office, glancing down at the papers Clarke gave her, before offering them to him. “Why don’t you do the honours after the verdict for Loft comes in?”
The man did a few seconds of speed reading before lifting his eyes up in surprise. “You want me to file for the investigation against mum?”
“I could file them, or Clarke could. It really doesn’t matter to me who does it as long as mummy ends up disbarred.” She shrugged, “By the way, I have a pro bono case with your name on it. Client claims he spied on his boss having an affair - it led to being unpaid, then to being fired when he went to follow up. His wife is currently receiving medical treatment after being mugged on the way home from work. This needs to be checked out.”
Roan looked displeased by this, “We have closing arguments due in two days.”
“If you give me your notes on today's session, I’ll work on it tonight and send it to you by tomorrow afternoon. Start on the pro bono.” Lexa replied, shortly.
He stared at her, she could practically see the cogs turning in his head. “Planning on claiming the glory for yourself, Woods?”
She arched a brow at him and scoffed, “Despite what you may believe, I’m not always chasing skirts and reputation. If you want to conduct closing arguments, you can - but I’ll still work the arguments themselves on paper first. The glory can still be yours.”
Was it really that impossible to believe she might have wanted to free up some of her schedule? Maybe to spend time with people (or maybe someone) unrelated to work?
“But not senior partner.” Roan grumbled right back, placing his own notes from their day in court on her desk and turning to leave her office. “Send me the details along with Loft’s closing arguments.”
“Mhmm.” The brunette acknowledged, watching the man leave.
If Queen kept this up, along with a slight attitude adjustment, he’d be getting a raise sooner than he expects. Despite his grouchy demeanour, his honesty was so unlike his mother’s, who went out of her way repeatedly to mislead the court.
She glanced down at the notes he left and then up at the window that showed Clarke typing away, a pretty shade of pink and shaking her head at whatever Raven was saying.
Of course, Lexa would prefer the blonde to be that same pretty shade of pink for an entirely different reason. She let out a sigh and removed her blazer before hanging it over the back of her chair.
There was zero chance of that happening unless she sat down and got some work done herself.
The lawyer’s back was aching from being hunched over her desk for too long as she proofread the finished draft, when the sound of her door opening caused her to look up. “Clarke.”
“Hey, trouble.” The blonde greeted softly, “It’ll be dark soon. Do you want to take a break and go get a bite to eat?”
Lexa glanced at her watch, surprised at how late in the day it was getting. There wasn’t much time before she had to leave. But that didn’t mean she was foolish enough to pass up her remaining time with the woman in front of her.
She leaned back into her chair, grinning salaciously as an answer.
The secretary’s raspy chuckle filled the room with warmth. “I’m talking about actual sustenance, you perv.”
“I’m all up for taking a break, but will you take a raincheck on dinner? For let’s say tomorrow evening? I promised to feed Ontari tonight, in a little over an hour to be more precise.”
“Isn’t Ontari Nia’s -”
“-Yep, and she has direct access to Nia’s servers. If she pulls through, Nia will never legally represent again.” She explained eagerly. “Roan’s already set file file, but this will just cement it in stone.”
“I see.” Clarke cocked her head thoughtfully, voice sounding a million miles away. “Well, it was fun while it lasted.”
Lexa scoffed, keeping her tone light despite the onset of tiredness. She needed to focus. Coming to an agreement with Ontari probably wasn’t going to be as easy as it was with Roan.
“On the contrary, the fun never stops.”
But it would be fantastic for things to slow down.
It would be even more fantastic to be able to readjust her priorities - sooner rather than later.
“That must be nice.” The assistant drawled, “Is there anything you need before you head off then?”
“I still haven’t secured a promise for dinner tomorrow night.” She reminded Clarke, feeling hopeful.
“Rain check,” Clarke said, throwing her words back at her. “You’re going to make me fat. Speaking of tomorrow, do you mind if I take a personal day?”
She blinked, “Is everything alright?”
Clarke taking a day off was the same as Clarke going on a date.
But that wasn’t true anymore.
They had gone on a date and they kissed (Finally).
“Yep,” Clarke replied, the ‘p’ sound popped loudly as if to punctuate a point that completely passed her. “Don’t you worry a hair on that pretty head of yours.”
“I love it when you call me ‘pretty,’”
“That’s my compliment quota met for the day, enjoy your dinner tonight.” the blonde quipped, slipping out of the office.
The sound of the door quietly clicking shut had Lexa staring at the previously occupied space.
Strange.
Very strange.
Lexa glanced at her watch again.
Strange was also going to be if she were late. She was definitely going to be late if she didn’t walk out of here within the next ten minutes.
*
Anya was loud as she barged into her office and planted her hands on her desk.
“Fix it.” Her sister hissed at her.
Lexa, who had been scribbling her own notes over Roan’s changes, frowned in frustration. “I have forty-five minutes before we’re delivering our closing arguments. What do you think I’m doing right now?”
“Not that, dummy!” Her sister huffed, tearing the stack of papers out of her hands, “Clarke!”
“I’d hate to break it to you, but I can’t fix the flu.”
Though, she had intended on heading over to the blonde’s apartment with some soup at the end of the day.
“Lexa…”
The lawyer leaned back and gave her sister her full attention, “Can you just tell me what’s rubbing your cheekbones raw?”
Anya glare wasn’t as effective as the words that left her mouth, “The problem is that I haven’t seen my girlfriend outside of this office for two days because your girlfriend is upset with you!”
Lexa blinked slowly as she tried to make sense of what actually made sense, “You mean to say that you’ve come in here yelling at me because you need to get laid..? That sounds like a you problem.”
“You clueless buffoon, One, Raven isn’t coming home because she’s sleeping over Clarke’s who two, hasn’t been coming in because she doesn’t want to see your face. That makes it an ‘our’ problem!”
“As far as I know, I haven’t done anything. Do you know what’s wrong?”
“Raven is sworn to secrecy. So as soon as the judge dismisses you, you better get your ass right over to blondie’s and sort it out.” Anya demanded, whirling around and stomping right out of her office.
What the fuck?
*
No, Lexa didn’t ‘get her ass right over to blondie’s’ when they were free to go. Now knowing that her girlfriend wasn’t actually sick, she stopped in at the grocery store to pick a few things up first.
With one hand holding a bag, her other tapped on Clarke’s door in three succinct knocks.
There were sounds of footsteps before the doorknob was turned and the door eased open an inch, revealing a Raven who visibly groaned in relief, “Thank god, now you two can actually communicate!”
“What did I do?” Lexa whispered, wanting a heads up on what to expect.
The Latina shook her head, “Look, there’s a jar of nutella on the counter. Trust me, that’s her go-to, then tell her that dinner with Ontari didn’t mean shit.”
“But it didn’t!” She confirmed, becoming more confused.
“Seriously, you two are the biggest idiots.” Raven sighed, facepalming. “Anyone with a pair of eyes could see you’re both -”
“-Raven?” Clarke called out questioningly.
“Wrong door!” Reyes gestured for Lexa to move back (which she did), before pushing passed her and giving the lawyer a shove into the apartment.
With Raven now having made her exit, Lexa began to unpack and prepare the food.
It gave her time to think.
“Reyes -?” Clarke meandered into the kitchen, freezing as she saw her, “You’re not Raven.”
“I certainly hope not,” She replied, wincing at Anya’s temporary sexual repression. “Are you hungry?”
“I’m sick.” Clarke deadpanned.
“Sick of me?” The lawyer asked, playing along.
“No. Are you thirsty? I bought whiskey.”
Lexa placed the knife she was using down carefully, and gave Clarke a perplexed kind of look. “You bought whiskey?”
The blonde rounded the kitchen island, reaching for a glass, “Yep, it reminded me of you.”
“So you took a personal day and called in sick just to avoid me, but then bought whiskey because it reminded you of me?”
“Don’t you lawyer me with the facts, Woods. I’m well aware of how silly that sounds.” Clarke griped, placing the now filled glass in front of her. “Sit, you’re the guest, I’ll finish cooking -”
“- Clarke -” She interrupted.
“ - Can tell me about your big day in cour -”
“ - Clarke!”
“What, Lexa?” The blonde stopped her bustling, eyes wide and lost.
The ‘lawyer’ wondered how missed it (and how her sister and Reyes saw it before she did).
She knew what to do.
Sitting down on the stool she leaned her forearms onto the island and grinned. “I missed you in the office. Ontari really pulled through. She handed me the transcripts of Nia advising Wallace. Mummy Queen, it seems, tried to fabricate a scenario and tried to coach him through it.”
Clarke paused her stirring of the sauce, lips tried to tilt up into a grin but it came out as more of a grimace, “Nia’s final nail in the coffin, that’s great.”
“Ontari’s price… Was to be seen with me.” Lexa murmured against her own smirk.
“Lex,” Clarke stared down into the pan, “I know we joke about this stuff all the time, but this isn’t funny anymore.”
“Oh yes, she just thought it was the greatest thing to humiliate Nia just that little bit more. The food wasn’t up to the restaurant's usual standards, I mean what chef confuses medium with well done?”
“What are you trying to say, Woods?”
Lexa grinned, wide and proud.
She reached over and yanked the back of Clarke’s shirt. “I’m saying it was only a business transaction. Appearance and food only. You know, you’re cute when you’re jealous.”
“I’m not jealous.” The blonde denied, weakly. “I just thought we were together.”
“That’s what I’m trying to say, princess!” The lawyer laughed, “Why would I pick Cos or Ontari when I knew I had you? Seriously, we’re going to be the capital of ‘U-haul’”
Lexa watched Clarke flounder for a minute, her mouth opening and shutting several times before snapping shut, “We’re not u-hauling anything. There’s only so much good news I can take.”
“You know, every day could be a fantasy if you wanted to take the risk.”
“Are you worth the risk, Woods?” This time, Clarke’s tone wasn’t insecure.
It was cocky, teasing and familiar.
The lawyer pulled the blonde onto her lap, “You take care of me at work and I’ll take care of you here. There’s no risk involved. There’s no one else involved. Just me and you.”
“You know, I like the idea of every day being a fantasy day.”
“Me too, Clarke. Me too.” She murmured, tilting her head up to seal the sentence with a kiss.