your_talents (your_talents) wrote,
@ 2011-08-07 20:13:00

AU - This is What Happens When You Don't Keep People Informed
Lisa was enjoying her afternoon off. Julian's secretary had informed him he'd stepped out for a few hours, so she'd taken it upon herself to slip into something less comfortable but a lot more interesting, and wait for him in his office. She made herself comfortable, setting herself up in his chair with the laptop he'd gotten her, and a bottle of good scotch.

(Post a new comment)

yourtruecolors
2011-08-07 09:55 pm UTC (link)

After that lovely homecoming, Julian had been so busy that Minnie hadn't heard a thing about his little show that wasn't from seeing it. He was all right with her reviewing his files, so she let herself into his office.

And there's that girl from the show, in specialty clothing she could have stood to have tied better. But surely it wasn't the poor girl's fault. Arrived early for a snack for Julian, no doubt. He'd hardly need one after last night. "Oh, hello," she said pleasantly. "Julian won't be in a for a while. Maybe the two of you should reschedule."

(Reply to this)(Thread)

your_talents
2011-08-07 10:21 pm UTC (link)

Lisa raises an eyebrow as someone else enters. She must be some employee of Julian's to have gotten past the secretary. She watches her approach and listens, somewhat incredulously, to what she has to say as she finishes her scotch.

"No, I don't think I'm the one that needs to reschedule. I don't believe we've met." She puts down the glass.

"I'm Lisa Graves. Julian's significant other."

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	yourtruecolors 2011-08-07 10:24 pm UTC (link)
	Minnie blinked. "I'm Minnie, Julian's assistant, Miss Graves," she says politely, then her voice gets more gentle. "And I believe there's a misunderstanding. He... really should have been more clear with you about the nature of your friendship. Julian doesn't have 'significant others'." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

your_talents
2011-08-07 11:08 pm UTC (link)

"Oh, so you're Paolo's replacement?" Lisa tilts her head, curious. Her expression then starts to stiffen. Julian's gal Friday has some nerve.

"Hm. Apparently nobody told him he doesn't have them, as those were his exact words to me, when I asked him to define our relationship." Lisa takes her feet off the desk, sitting up straight now, but not rising.

"And the signet ring I had designed for him is a bit more intimate than I'd have made just for someone I was sleeping with." She's still rather proud of how well he took to that gift. "And I don't think he'd have brought up how his father had one like it with someone he was just fucking." Julian was too privacy-minded for that.

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

yourtruecolors
2011-08-07 11:12 pm UTC (link)

"Yes, I'm replacing Paolo. Before that, Paolo replaced me, except in certain significant capacities. Which did not carry with them any ridiculous labels, because Julian doesn't do that. So you talked to him at a vulnerable moment and got him to Mr. H. Well done. I'm impressed. We should trade notes on a few things. That doesn't mean you should go making up silly stories about the nature of the relationship."

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

your_talents
2011-08-07 11:35 pm UTC (link)

Now? Now Lisa is standing up, pouring a bit more scotch, even as she keeps her eyes on Minnie.

"Call me a hopeless romantic, but I don't think someone of sound mind and emotion telling you that 'only one person can be truly significant to you' is the result of a vulnerable moment."

A pause, as her smile twists.

"I hope being jealous doesn't affect the quality of your work."

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

yourtruecolors
2011-08-07 11:40 pm UTC (link)

Something goes bright and brittle in the back of Minnie's eyes. Julian didn't say that. He wouldn't say that. He wouldn't give up on Minnie. Not when Minnie was doing it all for him.

At first, there's something quiet and...well, dead in her voice, as she says "No, the quality of my work won't be affected...." but the pressure builds as she speaks, and it ends in a snarl, "You lying little gold-digger!"

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

your_talents
2011-08-07 11:49 pm UTC (link)

Lisa can't help but just laugh as the calm breaks, raising her glass to Minnie as she quells her amusement. "I'm sure he'll be glad to hear it." She brings the glass to her lips, as her gaze stiffens.

"I'm going to ask you once to take back calling me a liar. 'Gold digger', that I'm used to hearing... from insecure bitches who just wish they were in my position."

Accenting the word 'position', she leans forward, bracing herself on the desk and pushing her hips backwards, towards Julian's chair.

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	yourtruecolors 2011-08-07 11:50 pm UTC (link)
	Minnie winced, but looked up, staring at Lisa intently. "I have no grounds to take anything back. Your statements fly in the face of 16 years of experience." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	your_talents 2011-08-07 11:51 pm UTC (link)
	Lisa arches an eyebrow. "Well apparently all it took was one year to outgrow you. Take it back, or get the hell out." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	yourtruecolors 2011-08-07 11:52 pm UTC (link)
	There's tears in Minnie's eyes, but she keeps them fixed on Lisa. "I'm not going anywhere." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

your_talents
2011-08-07 11:59 pm UTC (link)

Lisa stands again, and starts walking around the desk, keeping her gaze fixed on Minnie.

"Security-wise, we've got equal rights to be here, so you have two options.

You take it back, now, and we wait around to see who Julian wants to reschedule, or I make you leave."

And that's when Lisa gets just the inch closer she needed to, to notice something different about Minnie.

"Oh... I see."

	yourtruecolors 2011-08-09 01:19 pm UTC (link)
	Minnie didn't sleep. 'All it took was one year to outgrow you ... and he didn't even think you mattered enough to tell you.' The words echoed in her head. As did Julian's, of disappointment and humiliation. She sat on the floor in the darkness and wondered if she'd ever have his touch again. She wasn't sure anymore. (Reply to this)

	Re: Four Days Later your_talents 2011-08-09 11:42 pm UTC (link)
	Lisa slips into something classy, but modest, and heads over as quickly as she can, stopping at the elevator to smooth herself over before heading upstairs. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	Re: Four Days Later yourtruecolors 2011-08-09 11:47 pm UTC (link)
	Minnie is not looking her best. Food and sleep have scarcely happened in the past four days at all. She's hardly even tried. She's tried to dress appropriately, wearing her work formals, though. She doesn't look up if she arrives at the door at the same time as Lisa. She doesn't look up immediately when Julian answers the door. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	Re: Four Days Later hellfireprince 2011-08-09 11:52 pm UTC (link)
	"Ladies, please come inside and have a seat." Julian says, opening the door for them. "Dinner is served. I hope you'll both enjoy dinner and dessert. Then we'll talk afterward." he says, turning to go to the kitchen. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	Re: Four Days Later your_talents 2011-08-10 12:18 am UTC (link)
	"Sure." Lisa walks forward as confidently as she can manage, not quite daring enough to go to him on the way to the table. She hesitates, then pulls out Minnie's chair for her, then seats herself. "Hey." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	Re: Four Days Later yourtruecolors 2011-08-10 12:21 am UTC (link)
	Minnie's in too much turmoil trying to figure out for sure if this means Julian forgives her to feel patronized by Lisa, as she might otherwise have been. "Hello," she says, hoarsely. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	Re: Four Days Later your_talents 2011-08-10 12:28 am UTC (link)
	Lisa sets in on her steak when Julian starts eating, trying to calm her nerves. "What percentage? They giving you any say on who makes the team?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	Re: Four Days Later yourtruecolors 2011-08-10 12:35 am UTC (link)
	Minnie starts to look up and say that she would think those decisions would be better left to professional managers, in such an alien field, but stops herself and concentrates on making herself eat. Contradicting Lisa might be too antagonistic, and she's still not certain she's been forgiven. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	Re: Four Days Later hellfireprince 2011-08-10 12:38 am UTC (link)
	"Only ten percent. The Steinbrenner brothers want to a lot of hands-on control like their old man did, but I've got more of stake right now than anyone else. They also think that having X-Factor at a game or two might boost ratings." Julian says, shrugging his shoulders as he eats. "How are you, Minnie?" Julian asks warmly. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	Re: Four Days Later yourtruecolors 2011-08-10 12:42 am UTC (link)
	"Can't complain," she says, trying to sound less hoarse from tears and mild dehydration, and failing. "Congratulations on the acquisition; it sounds like it could work out well" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)