Chapter 11 – The Bitch Is Back
Over the next two weeks, it became my sole responsibility to get the new office setup and running. I worked with Nikki to order new furniture for each of the offices and schedule when it would be best to move each of the ladies. I had the electric turned on at the new office and ordered a new sign for the front of the building. I had the phone lines installed but did not have the numbers moved yet, since most of the business was still being done in the other office. The computer network was wired as well and was just waiting to be utilized.
I had new laptop that I was carrying with me as I was working at both locations, ensuring that things progressed for us smoothly. I would sit with Nikki at the old office and I would sit at the circular workstation in the center of the new office when I was there. I believed I had all our ducks in a row with Nikki's wonderful assistance. We had organized a schedule of who was to be moved based on when the new furniture would be arriving and everyone seemed to be on-board with our plans.
As luck would have it, Penny was the first to move. Her office furniture arrived on a Friday and I moved a lot of her boxes and computer equipment over that weekend. So, the following Monday was Penny's first day in our new office. It was decided that once Penny was going to be working there full time, she would not be left in the office alone. I would not be going back to the old office anymore, unless Penny needed to go there for a meeting or assignment.
We drove to work together that first Monday, officially opening the new Law Offices of Adams and Cartwright. Penny laughed as I unlocked the door. She loved her new office and spent a lot of that first day getting organized. I had to laugh as she strutted around office like the queen bee for a day.
The next day was a little chaotic as the new furniture for Leslie's office arrived a week ahead of schedule. I spent the morning getting the furniture situated and called Leslie around noon.
"Hey there," she answered her office line.
"Hey back, beautiful," I greeted her. "You may want to start packing your shit. Your furniture arrived today. I know it's early, but we should still move you as soon as possible in case any other stuff arrives ahead of schedule."
"Ok, I will have a few boxes packed up that you can come and get tonight," Leslie complied. "You can take my computer Thursday night and I will be there full time on Friday."
"That works out great," I revealed. "Thank you for being so flexible about this."
"You'll find that isn't the only thing I am flexible about," she teased before hanging up on me.
Ah, Leslie always played the game differently which kept me on my toes. When Penny decided to call it a day, I locked up the office and headed over to the old office to pickup Leslie's boxes. After I had them loaded in the car, I headed home.
The next morning, as I was moving the 7 boxes of books Leslie had packed up from my car into her new office, I was surprised to see the furniture truck pull up. They weren't due for the next delivery until Friday. After speaking with them, I signed for the furniture for Brooke's office, two days early. This was getting to be a habit with these guys, one I hoped would not continue though I feared it would.
I got Brooke's new furniture settled in her office and unloaded all of Leslie's boxes from my car by day's end. When Penny headed home, I went to the old office to collect Leslie's computer system and remaining items. When I arrived, Leslie was waiting for me. She was great about helping and getting everything done in one trip. She followed me over to the new office and we began setting her up.
I had her computer up and running in no time flat. She began situating her office as I brought in the remaining boxes from her car. After delivering the last one onto one of the new chairs, I left Leslie to sort out her stuff. It was going to be nice having her here now as I was really starting to grow attached to our new space.
I sat in my current chair in the circular workstation in the middle of our office. I was about to call Brooke to tell her she could start moving her stuff in anytime she wanted but I was interrupted by a strange voice from behind me.
"New partner, new office, same gopher," the soft yet aggressive voice stated.
I turned in the chair to see Sienna standing behind me. I sprung to my feet and did a double take to ensure it was really her I was seeing and not just my imagination gone awry. I stared at her, in grand disbelief. I surveyed her up and down. She still looked great. She was wearing a simple blue button-down blouse and black skirt. She held her purse in her hands, just above her waist. The crooked grin on her face told me she was not here to apologize for her past misdeeds. I couldn't find anything to say, clever or otherwise.
"Not happy to see me," she toyed with me.
"What the fuck are you doing here," I asked bluntly.
"Oh, you know, loopholes, blowjobs and bribes go a long way in our legal system," she laughed. "I had a good enough lawyer to get me a short sentence and early release. You knew I would be back."
I didn't say a word. I continued to stare a hole through the sultry sadistic redhead.
"Is my friend Emma around," she asked mischievously. "She and I need to have a talk."
"She's not here," I answered honestly. "I thought you two had come to an agreement when you were originally arrested?"
"Well, times change and deals must change with them," she postured.
"I agree," an authoritative voice boomed from behind me.
I turned to see Leslie standing at the door of her office, her eyes burning a hole through Sienna. Leslie strode over to where I was standing and comfortably moved close to me. I stepped forward so that I was between the two women in case of anything.
"I have a deal for you," Leslie proposed. "You leave now and never return to this office again and I won't have your ass arrested for trespassing."
"You have no idea who I am, girl," Sienna retorted.
"Actually, I know more about you than you should be comfortable with," Leslie corrected her sharply. "Now, YOU WILL honor your original agreement with Emma. Case closed."
"You are a lucky boy," Sienna snickered at me. "If you didn't have these women to protect your weak ass, I would have you for lunch."
"It's time for you to leave Ms. Deville," Leslie announced.
Sienna turned around, her long, curly red hair following the snap of her head as she did. She headed for the door and as I watched her walk across the floor I was stunned to see that Penny was standing just inside the front door.
"Bitch," Sienna growled at Penny as she passed her.
"Cunt," Penny responded as Sienna made her way through the front door and out of the office.
Penny turned to stare at both Leslie and I. She walked slowly across the floor to where we were standing. I had no idea how long she had been standing there or that she was planning on coming back to the office tonight.
