Queenie has been staring at her laptop screen for the past forty-five minutes in shock, her heart hurting and her throat feeling choked; tight—like a hand had reached out of her screen and wrapped itself around her neck.

Her eyes have read and re-read her computer screen more times than she can count, she can practically recite the words from memory and yet, it still doesn't seem real.

Queenie,

Hope you're well.

It's come to my attention that you have been catching quite the attention online due to a person in your life being such a high profile public figure. This was previously assessed and allowed by our team under the impression that it would not affect your work with the firm, nor the firm's relationship with its clients.

Until recently, that was true.

We've received some feedback from a client that has been with the firm for years that has changed our perspective on having a member of our family here at Clyde Solicitors have the potential of damaging the team's reputation by the comments that are currently being made online.

This is no reflection of your own work. We pride ourselves in having you at Clyde Solicitors, and have loved working with you over the last four weeks, but our board of directors are becoming increasingly worried that any bad press that follows having such a public relationship could involuntarily attach itself to the firm.

Unfortunately, the firm feels that we are at a crossroads. While we cannot tell you how to live your personal life outside of Clyde Solicitors, we do hope you reconsider a more private relationship in order to retain and restore our clients' faith in you as their solicitor, as well as in us as their chosen firm. If these measures are not put in place, we may have to suggest a different work environment for your skills.

Best wishes,

Jennifer Dawn

Managing Director of Clyde Solicitors

Queenie feels sick.

Her head spins enough for her to finally give up another try at reading the email, expecting the words on the screen to change—better yet, disappear.

Her eyes move above her computer screen to the almost all-glass office across the floor with the silver plaque screwed into the mahogany door.

J. Dawn, Managing Director.

Queenie has only met the woman twice; the first day she arrived for her induction week and a random day the week following to get an update on how she's getting settled into the office.

The woman intimidated Queenie from the beginning, her powerful nature almost swallowing the youngster whole the first day that they'd met. She's always been kind to Queenie though, never exchanging anything but kind words on the occasions their paths had crossed.

Blinking doesn't fully pull the twenty-one-year-old from her trance but she manages to turn to Violetta at the desk beside her own and beckon her to move her chair closer to Queenie.

"What's wrong?" The older girl asks, eyebrows furrowing in concern.

Violetta has become one of Queenie's closest friends at the firm over the four weeks that she's been working there. The girl is only a few years older than Queenie and, much like the brunette, began working for Clyde Solicitors through one of their graduate schemes.

There's a lot to say about Violetta Barrios, 'a breath of fresh air' is one that Queenie likes to mention. She and Violetta are the youngest of the pack at the Law firm but that's not what brought the pair together. Violetta found herself instantly taking Queenie under her wing much like an older sister would, feeling like she needs to protect her from the harsh reality of the legal industry for a little longer.

Seems as though Clyde Solicitors have opposite plans.

"Are they even allowed to do this?" Queenie whispers, turning her computer screen so that Violetta can read the email.

Violetta immediately sighs, wheeling her chair closer to the younger girl so that she can wrap an arm over her shoulder. "They can warn you against things that may affect the firm but they can't fire you over a relationship outside of the office."

"That's what she's threatening to do, Leti!" Queenie whines.

Violetta nods, feeling her heart ache for her friend. Violetta had grown to know the background around Queenie's relationship with Lando after the girls went out for dinner one night after working late at the office. She knows how head over heels the girl is for the racing driver and she can't help but grimace at the thought of being in Queenie's shoes right now.

"I know," Violetta agrees. "And if they do, you have a case... but they won't."

"How did she even find out about this?" Queenie frowns. "Lando and I have literally been together not even a whole week yet and his fans have only just been catching on to us being friendly online."

Violetta shrugs. "Maybe she's paid off the FBI people in our phones to look at our private messages" She jokes... she tries to anyway, her joke not really gaining much of a response from the younger brunette.

"Could it affect my career if I don't take this as a warning?"

"It's possible," Violetta sighs with a slight nod, a sad smile lining her lips. "They shouldn't but they tend to have favourites, and those favourites are decided by how far up the board's arses the person is."

Queenie groans, rubbing her eyes in an attempt to knead away the migraine she can feel begin to form. "So, what do I do?"

"That's for you to decide, unfortunately." Violetta frowns, rubbing the girl's back in an attempt to comfort her.

"What would you do?" Queenie sighs. "If you were me, if you were put in this position?"

"You can't base your decision on what others would do."

"Because you'd choose your career?"

Violetta is silent for a moment, just watching Queenie's face fall at the realisation of what she's more than likely going to do. Then, the girl offers Queenie a weak smile and wheels back towards her desk. "Yeah," She nods slowly. "I would. That's not to say that would be the best decision for you, though."

"I'd be stupid not to."

"You'd be brave not to," The older girl corrects. "You wouldn't be stupid."

Queenie knows one thing for sure, regardless of whatever decision she makes; she's screwed.

.... oops? 😬

another new character alert!!!

KATERINA BEREZHNA

as VIOLETTA "LETI" BARRIOS

katerina is so unbelievably beautiful,

i just had to use her in at least one of my

books' casts and thought she suited leti's

character quite well.