Law and Other

DENISE

She wore her favorite suit that day. She was going to be the first female senior partner at her new law firm. She strived to make a name for herself around the country. Having graduated top of her class from Harvard, she knew she was a force to reckon with. She tied her hair in a ponytail and straightened her skirt as she walked out of her house into her car to Tucker Millstone, her new workplace. Tucker Millstone was one of the top law firms in Seattle and she was shocked when they sent her a letter asking her to join their firm. Before that, she had been working in London where she spent her late teens and adult life and coming back to Seattle meant a lot of memories were going to come back.

She arrived at the firm 30mins prior to her introductory meeting. She walked into the elevator and looked herself in the mirror one more time just to make sure she wasn’t looking messed up. “Miss Bailey?” a fine young man in suit called her once she came out of the elevator on the 21^st floor of the building. “Yes please” she responded in her mixed accent. “I am Rob Jones and I am your associate, I am to lead you to your office once you arrive and prep you for the meeting” He said. “Thanks Rob and Call me Denise” She replied. “Sure ma’am”

IDUN

He sat going over his last case file and trying to figure out what the prosecutor had against his client that made him so confident about taking the case to trial when there wasn’t enough evidence to incriminate her. He saw a figure passing and he felt something strong inside. She looked so familiar but he just guessed it could be one of the faces he’d seen around or one of the partners he had been crushing on. Idun was a man who knew what he wanted and always went for it but mostly stopped wanting after sleeping with them once or twice. ‘He had to find this woman’ he made a mental note and he packed up in preparation for the senior partners meeting.

 “Clarisse?” he called his secretary. “I am expecting some files from the DA on the Heigl case, please put them in the evidence folder after going through them and see what next you can do” he told her and walked out of his office. The meeting was on the 27^th floor and he made his way there. A few punctual partners were already seated and he took his seat. A few minutes later. Michael Tucker walked in with the lady he had seen earlier and the feeling came back. He felt he had known her his whole life.

Michael took his seat at the head of the table and the lady took hers next to him. They knew Tucker’s wife and that definitely isn’t her. Then it clicked. “Denise Bailey!” he said louder than he expected. All eyes turned to him then to the lady whom everyone seemed to have recognized. A few had smiles on their faces while a few murmured in disbelief. But she recognized her way more differently.

DENISE

After the three-hour meeting where she knew most people didn’t agree to the fact that a lady was joining their table, she felt tired and wanted to go to her office. She was the best Criminal Defense Attorney in the UK and would strive to be the best here. This is the 21^st century and she wasn’t going to allow any man to bring her down. She sat in her office where a few case files were and six associates waiting at her door for her to invite them in when a familiar face appeared. He just entered without knocking. “Mr. Idun, I’d prefer if you knocked before entering my office” She said. “Mr. Idun? Now it’s Mr. Idun, interesting” He replied. She didn’t understand what he meant but she knew he was driving at something. “I don’t get you please” She replied trying to understand. She looked out a noticed a few more heads had turned up trying to see what was going on in the office. She raised a brow at them. A few walked away but a few remained and if looks could kill she’d have died about 5 minutes ago.

“You know; I was really sorry when it happened. Breaking our promise wasn’t what I actually expected but we both wanted it that day and liked it so I don’t understand why you had to leave” He said, then it clicked. She raised her head and looked into his eyes, “Fiifi Idun?”

Denise and Idun have been best friends since they learnt to walk. Growing up next to each other, they have shared a lot of memories together. They always fought together, cried together, laugh together and spent their boring times together. They made a list of promised to each other and one of which was never to get romantically involved with each other and they abided by it.

10years earlier

After classes that day, Denise was down because she failed her math test and Idun didn’t know how to comfort her. He always cracked jokes to keep her spirit up but today it wasn’t working. He held her hand as they walked home. She was devastated and wouldn’t talk and he was already out of options. He held her close and tried talking to her but she wouldn’t reply. So they walked in silence. A few of their mates tried to help but she wouldn’t listen. She barked at some a few times but after she didn’t say a word especially to Idun. They were 16 and in their second year of high school. Denise was the brightest student in her class with a squeaky clean and perfect record and her failure in this math test just didn’t make sense. She tried to approach Mrs. Archibald but she only shouted at her embarrassing her in the process. And that has made her day so bad.

Upon arrival at home, Denise’s parents weren’t around and her sister wasn’t back from school. Idun took her to her room and laid her on the bed. That was when she began crying. She tried to console her but it didn’t seem to work. She hugged him for a while and then their hormones took over which to them kissing and taking things two steps further causing them to take each other’s virginity.

Not long after did the Bailey parents arrive. It was normal for Idun to be in Denise’s room so they didn’t budge but that day he didn’t stay for dinner and didn’t come over for about three days so they confronted Denise. “I’m sorry mum” She said crying. Her parents try to comfort her but she didn’t stop and they decided the best option was to move away.

Present Day

IDUN

She recognized him and he felt a soft inside. His best friend stopped coming to school after about a week and he feared he might have gotten her pregnant so he decided to go and check up on her only to find out they had moved without a word. He felt betrayed but realized he was the first person to betray her. “I really am sorry” He apologized. Her eyes were filled with tears when she stood up to hug him. “Your mascara would be ruined” he laughed and she did too before getting tissue to clean her tears. He hadn’t noticed the audience he had started outside her office door. “I guess I have to leave now” He said as he walked out back to his office.

He got a few stares on his way back but that wasn’t his worry. His best friend was back. He finished his case study and asked his secretary to book a table for dinner at one of the fanciest restaurants in Seattle and ask Miss Bailey to join him. He quickly packed up, got Denise a gift from the mall and headed home to get prepped. His best friend was back and he had to make sure she never left.

A few hours later, he sat waiting for Denise but it seems she won’t be coming. He got a bit worried but he just thought she’d be fashionably late.

DENISE

She watched him walk away. The memories started crawling back. The best and the worst. She smiled. A young lady knocked on her door and she gestured her to come in. “Mr. Idun has asked you meet him at Winchester restaurant at 7pm, he wants to speak with you” the lady said and Denise nodded. She watched as the young lady walked away. She took her pen, wrote a note and gave it to one of her associates to deliver to Mr. Idun’s office. She then typed a letter and sent to Michael Tucker after which she packed her desk and walked out.

Getting home, she knew she had made the best decision so far. She packed her bags and drove to the airport. She came to Seattle thinking she can face her past but she realized why she run away and for now, she wasn’t ready. Not at all.

IDUN

He sat at the restaurant, the whole night and She never showed up. He looked at the diamond necklace he bought and placed it in his suit and drove home. She stood him up without a message. He didn’t bother to take her contact earlier because he thought he’d meet up with her in the evening.

The next morning, he put on his best suit. He was going to confront her about last night. Not in an angry way but as a gentleman. Upon arrival, Tucker approached him. “What happened between you and Bailey yesterday?” “Nothing that should be of concern” He replied. “Oh I think it’s of concern because she turned in her resignation last night.” Idun’s eyes became watery. She was gone. He didn’t want to create and emotional scene so he just ignored Tucker and walked to his office where he saw an envelope.

“Fiifi Idun,

                  For years I have known you, you made my childhood a meaningful one and was my first everything but some decisions have to be taken. Growing apart doesn’t change the fact that for a long time we grew side by side; our roots will always be tangled and I’m glad for that. You’ll always be my best friend. But I am not ready to face my past yet.

                                                                                                                                    Denise”

He allowed the tears to flow. He run away from his past only for it to catch up and tear him up. He thought all his puzzle pieces had come together but he then realized Denise Bailey was the last piece and until she’s ready. He can’t complete the puzzle.