Practice Makes Perfect (LovelyxSpade & Justice)

[justice]

In front of a building designed and built to project power was a single young lawyer with a messenger bag around his back a just slightly too skinny tie down his chest. He wore his hair in a manner that showed it was important to keep it at least tame, but not on his list of priorities in the morning. Like a stone in a creek the flood of business and busy doers walked past him with a small parting so they didn’t run straight into him. The young man’s name was Devin and the building in front of him was where his new job was. He looked down at the old beaten up watch on his wrist and saw that he had exactly twenty minutes before he had to be in the building and on the 58th floor.

“Time to get started.” He said to himself. He had spoken aloud which seemed to creep out several people around him. In an effort to not seem completely crazy Devin began to pretend he was talking into a Bluetooth. This seemed to cause several people to shake their heads. ‘I guess other people hate them as much as I do.’ He thought to himself. Thankfully none of the people around him seemed to be heading into the building with him. ‘First day of work and I already feel like I am on the wrong coast.’ He thought moving into the lobby.

Inside the building was just as impressive and imposing as the outside. The lobby was almost complete lit by natural lighting from the glass walls. The clean marble was also striking as it accented the entire upper portion of the room. Smiling and making his way up to the main lobby desk he inquired about how best to reach the upper floors. He then found out he would need a key card. Since he didn’t have one he was going to have to wait until someone came down and delivered one to him. So while waiting Devin popped his headphones in his ears and started to pass time the best way he knew how. Sitting in a lobby chair he tapped his toes to the song “Boom Boom” by John Lee Hooker. It was a personal favorite of his.

While waiting he noticed that he was not alone in the waiting game. Several others he noticed scattered around the lobby seemed to be waiting to go up instead of just waiting for someone. A few were checking their watch which he noticed was a pretty penny more expensive than his own. Still this didn’t bother him. After all a scholar ship student had to get pretty comfortable with extravagant lifestyles especially at Columbia. Continuing to scan the room he fell onto a small group of people waiting by the security line.

Instead of getting up he waited a few moments until a few other people followed his same path and first made their way to the desk and then found a seat. Sitting next to him not five minutes later was a young man by the name of Desman Simmons. He was another new associate and seemed to be a stand up guy. Not two sentences after they introduced themselves to each other were the two talking about sports like friends of decades. This seemed to continue for several minutes. Finally he Devin looked back at his watch and saw that his first work day was supposedly going to start in less than five minutes. “Think everyone is here?” he asked Desman who just shrugged in reply.

[LovelyxSpade]

Annalise looked out the windows of her studio apartment while drinking her morning coffee. To day was the first day of work for her, and she was ready to start working already. How could she not get the job with her prerequisites? After getting dressed, she had the most common thing in her closet. A suit. She wore an all black suit with a blue blouse underneath the black blazer. Her heels were about 5 inches, and her hair was up in a neatly done bun. Grabbing her Luis Vuitton briefcase, she had her car keys in hand and was out the door.

For her last birthday her parents bought her a new S-class Benz. It was all white just the way she liked it. She has to look the part of a lawyer right? The drive to her new law firm wasn't bad at all. She was sure once people saw her last name questions were going to fly at her. Sure she could go work for her father, but this way she could be more independent. There was nothing wrong with having connections though.

As Annalise parked her car she was practically praying that there wasn't going to be any type of lawyers she disliked. To sum it up she had a strong disdain towards lawyers who were overly nice to their clients. She always thought those were the types of lawyers that gave the business a bad name. A lawyer shouldn't get to know his client too well or else they will loose their professional image. Trying to be friends with a client was a waist of time as well. Knowing your clients favorite food will not help you win a case. She believed hard facts and evidence will.

Arriving at the office building, she parked her car in the parking garage before having to walk through the front doors. A quick once over and she assessed where she should be at. It was clear the group of people to her left were all waiting for the same thing she was. She took her sunglasses off and took a seat next to two males. We're they talking about sports? Why get to know the competition? Just from their conversations, she knew they were the type of people she couldn't get along with.

Just in time a man with short brown hair came towards the group and smiled. "My name is Richard Thomas and I will be taking you all to the first phase of this process. Follow me please." Annalise was one of the first ones to stand up and follow the man. They all got onto an elevator vast enough to fit everyone, and went up to the 20th floor. When they arrived at their designated floor, the man lead them to a conference room that had a wall of windows on one side. He sat at the head on the glass table, and Annalise sat in the middle facing the windows. Just as she was going to place her bag on the floor her eyes caught something. Was this a sick dream? Or was that Devin?

[justice]

"So what are you looking forward to the most with this whole next step in life?" Devin asked Desman. The two had now moved past sports and were starting to talk about personal stuff. A clear sign that they were already going to be friends for the foreseeable future. After all they both had the same taste in sports, cars, family, and as it turns out woman. After asking the question Devin watched Desman's eyes start to follow the sound of clicking heels. Instead of turning to see the eye candy Devin just started to laugh and shake his head. "Good luck with that my friend. Maybe Boston is suffering from a severe case of Jungle Fever." He laughed as Desman joined and then came back with his own quip.

"Do not doubt that. If left uncheck I hear it can make a woman go crazy. Means it is my god given duty to help a woman in need and trust me Devin you and me are the true cure for these Boston girls." Desman saw a slightly confused look on his friends face. It made him laugh again only this time it was more to him than before. "Look man we are young and already on the fast track to being major players in one of the nation’s best law firms. You know what that says to a woman?" Desman didn't wait for Devin to reply before continuing with his explanation. "It means we own suits and when woman know a guy owns suits it is the same as when we know they own lingerie. It's all they can think about. I mean look at me!"

Desman took a step back and spun in a way the clearly showed he had more than a few dance lessons. "I mean in this suit any man would look good, but on me it doesn't look good it also looks right. You can't tell if this suit was made for me or if I was made for it." He then looked back at Devin. "Course it does look like we are going to have to go shopping for you." he then flipped Devin's tie and shook his head. "A tie should always show force." Devin then quickly looked down at the tie and was lost.

"This tie doesn’t show force?" He asked with a slight bit of insecure.

"Maybe if you were serving a kid on the playground." Desman said. "Look I got a few extra ties in my bag when we get our little cubes in the office floor we can get you set. For now I want to get this tour under way. Should have started five minutes ago." As if he had heralded some sign it was just then that a loud voice seemed to call everyone around and gather all the new recruits. His name was Richard Thomas whom Devin remembered from one of the early information packets he had been sent when he got the job at the firm. Thomas ordered everyone to find their way into an elevator and after the first few fought to get into the same elevator as the guide. All eager to already start making an impression on the upper management. Desman and Devin on the other hand just made their way to another elevator and met the group up on the 20th floor.

Once everyone was in the conference room they spread out. Some took a seat while Devin hung near the back with his new friend. "Damn where did some of these people graduate from? Bahama Mama U?" Desman's comment didn't go unnoticed by his friend. Even he had to agree that there were more than a few extraordinarily beautiful women in the room. Devin looked around and then FROZE.

“Holy shit!” Looking away and over towards Desman there was a look of near horror in Devin’s eyes. Even Desman who had little prior knowledge of what Devin looked liked terrified could tell something was wrong. He asked if Devin was okay and got back a series of questions in response.

“Right behind me. Tall and completely drop dead beautiful?”

“Yea, she was the girl I saw in the lobby.”

“Brunette, tan,…”

“And looking right over here at you man. What is going on.”

“Shit Shit Shit that is my…” Devin was about to say ex, but stopped himself before the word came out. “She and I have a history.” He said finally and with that came the onslaught of comments from Desman.

“Man what I wouldn’t give to have a history with a woman like that. You know that almost makes me want to try out those skinny ties.” Desman then started to laugh until several people walked in and started to take the meeting into its opening stages. For the first ten minutes it was your basic stuff. Welcome, now don’t fudge up.”

It was easy enough to say, but Devin was already feeling like some how he was already messing up.

[LovelyxSpade]

Annalise stared at the male at the end of the table in shock. Was this really happening right now? It was almost like everything stopped. Never in a million years did she think that she would meet him again. Temporarily she tuned Richard out and just watched Devin. He seemed nervous, but how did she feel? Love? Hatred? The best answer would be nothing but astonishment. How come she didn't have any type of feelings? To think back in the past, she used to feel so passionate towards and now...there was close to nothing. Maybe she was just trying to fool herself into feeling nothing.

She turned her head back around to look at Richard who was going over company policy, which was something she went over the night before. Annalise had to prove she was going to be the best lawyer this country has ever seen. So far she was doing a pretty decent job at that. In her short career she has only lost one case. Before this she was a lawyer in Los Angeles, but then she heard that one of the biggest law firms in the country was looking for new recruits. Least to say she left her life in California to come here. Though she has been in Boston for almost three months now. She has gotten a hang of how things flow on the east coast. "Well that was all for this phase. I will have my assistant hand you guys and ladies the firm's contract, and you all must read every single paragraph." Richard stood up and fixed his suit. "The next names I call off must follow me." Richard paused to make sure he had everyone's attention.

"Devin, Desman, Annalise, Jill, Lily, Michael, and Roman. You all follow me. The rest of you my assistant will take care." Richard motioned for the aforementioned people to follow him. Annalise had a small smirk on her lips as she stood up and gathered her things. She had a feeling she wouldn't be seeing the people in that room again. Unless one of them becomes her client. She caught one last glance at Devin before leaving to follow Richard. As the small group of people followed Richard, they traveled down the office passing many different offices and cubicles, only to arrive at another conference room only much smaller then the one before.

"Now you all may have a seat." Richard smiled a typical lawyer's smile before sitting down again. This time Annalise took a seat next to Richard and placed her bag at her feet. "Well I'm sure you all have guessed by now that the people we were just with won't be working here. Based on skill and some background checks, the firm has selected the seven of you to work here. Did you really think we were going to hire all of those people?" Richard laughed and Annalise didn't hesitate to join him. "Now while the other people are signing contracts that say they won't discuss anything I told them, you all will be signing ones to actually work here." Just as Richard finished his sentence, another assistant walked in with the contracts in her hands. Each of the final seven got a contract and a pen to sign it with.

Annalise grabbed the pen and signed the agreement. This was going to be her chance to become the best. "The last thing is, six of you will be working here only til the first quarter. Only one of you will be able to work here for a long term. On the last page of the contracts you all sighed is a paragraph saying you agree to leave if you don't get the full-time job." Richard stood and shook everyone's hands. "I wish you all the best of luck, and you start working tomorrow." With that Richard turned around and left with his assistant not too far behind him. Just as Annalise was going to leave Lily started talking to her. "This is exciting huh? I can't believe I got the job." The girl beamed with happiness.

"What do you mean? Your job will only last til the first quarter, the full-time spot is mine." As Annalise finished the statement the girl looked like sh could cry. Why was such a fragile girl trying to be a lawyer? Annalise stood up and decided to leave. She wasn't going to be friends with anyone in this room. Not even Devin. Maybe.

[justice]

After leaving the conference room Devin had thought about attempting to remove himself and Annalise for a moment and figure some things out. Like how in the hell she ended up here and what the heck was going on. His mind was running faster than when he had taken the Bar exam and it made him feel off balance. Not that this was anything new. After all from the first time he met the woman he had always felt like she had him just a little off. He figured that out when she walked and talked with him while delivering mail one day. Not a single person got the right mail stack. Still this was a whole different ball game. They were both here to work and now it seems they were here to compete. Devin tried to glance back at the first conference room where the other people had been left, but they were far enough away that it was impossible.

"Welcome to the shark tank my friend." Desman said under his breath. It was a perfect term to describe the situation the young lawyers were in. He figured they did this little exercise to see how they worked under the constant pressure of 'one slip up and you’re out' sort of environment. All the same he wasn't going to let it change him. Besides he was confident in his work and that was going to speak for itself. All he had to do was stay clear of any overly unnecessary rivalries and he should be able to move forward no matter what. He paused before signing the paper, but finally did so.

Devin listened as the young woman across him made a comment about being happy about getting the job opportunity. The room then collectively heard Annalise fire back with her own opinion of the situation and it went silent. Not one to like a room full of awkward silence Devin figured he should step in and defend his classmate. “Sheath the claws Annalise. I would warn against being too forward with Jill. You’re talking to last year’s Mock Trial champion. Which she earned by beating Harvard.” Devin then saw Annalise get up and start making her way out the door.

His comment carried a few bits of knowledge for which he had figured out since this whole mess started. For starters he had known the woman Annalise had commented to from Law School. They were in the same year and shared several classes every year. Second he also knew for a fact now that his old summer fling had attended Harvard since this law firm only hired from Columbia and Harvard. Since she didn’t go to school with him he had to figure she went to the juggernaut. All of that gave him a great chance to point out his schools victory of the other.

Jill seemed to beam with a smile aimed at Devin. “I didn’t win by myself Devin.” She said. Then looking over at the woman she heard being called Annalise who was already nearing the exit of the conference room. She didn’t seem interested in talking to the back side of someone so she kept quiet. Devin on the other hand didn’t like the idea of Annalise making her own little exit and stood up. Quick stepping out he told Desman he would meet up later and plan for drinks. When he caught up with Annalise he saw she was next to a copy room and took a chance.

“A moment counsel?” He said grabbing her wrist and guiding her into the room. He didn’t wait to close the door before he started to ask the biggest question he had on his mind. “What the hell are you doing here?” he blurted out. There was no use hiding what he was thinking. Her here made this whole battle for a job situation a mess. She had every advantage against him and he privately knew that and it was because of one simple reason. She had broken his heart and he wasn’t completely healed. Even after 4 years.

[LovelyxSpade]

Annalise cut a sharp look at her ex-lover and glared for a moment. She didn't like the fact that after not talking for so long, he felt the liberty to say anything to her. A small frown danced along her lip line, but she was able to suppress it. She didn't feel the need to comment on anything. "I think I will determine for myself rather she is a good lawyer or not." She cut a fake smile then left the room for good. She had to prepare for her first day of work as well as go to dinner with her parents later. The last thing she felt like dealing with was arguing over how good some girl is at her job. All lawyers are supposed to be good. Annalise knew she could beat Jill in any court case though.

She had a great education anyways, by one of the top schools in the whole country. How could she fail at anything she wanted to do with her track record. The only reason Harvard lost was because of one slip up. That's it. It wasn't even Annalise's fault, it was her classmate Jason's faux pas. Sighing she already felt like she needed to prove her point that no one in that room was as good as her. But the main point here was that who was Devin to say anything to her. They had a summer fling and that was it. Annalise wasn't the same as she used to be in the past. That means nothing back then matters to her now. Only becoming the best lawyer was. Besides Devin probably dated Jill anyways. Jill reminded Annalise of herself in the past, so how could Devin not like her?

Annalise was cut off when Devin approached her. Just as she was about to say something, he pulled her into an empty room. She crossed her arms over her chest and for a moment felt like she was back in the past again. Shaking her head clear of all thoughts she looked at him disbelieved. "Excuse me? What am I doing here? I think I should be asking you that. Is it a surprise to see me at a top law firm?" She didn't know how she should feel right now. This wasn't the conversation she would to like to have with him after all of this time. "Is your coming here to tell me to go easy on you because of the past, then you should leave and go to your happy girlfriend in the other room. I plan on beating you and everyone else to get that one spot." There was nothing but confidence in her voice.

"Let's make this little meeting of ex-lovers stop here because I have some where I need to be right now."

[justice]

People change.

The powers that be make us change and while some is for the better there are other times when that change seemed to make a some colder. The woman who stood before was not the young woman who used to sneak down to the mail room for a quick lunch. Talking about how she was bored of all the suits in the upper floor. There was the same fire in her he had seen when she used to talk about what she wanted to do with her life, but it was different. Cultivated in law school was a much sharper blade of competitiveness.

Her short and sweet message had cut though several layers of Devin’s armor, but he had tough skin behind it. The comment about Jill being his girlfriend was unwarranted, but he decided to ignore it. He knew she wasn’t the jealous type and after all she seemed to have thought less of their summer together than he did so why business was it of hers who he had former relations with. Of course Jill and him had never had any such relationship. Friends and fellow students was as far as it went between the two.

As Devin grouped his thoughts he listened as she started to end the conversation. The power play was seen and stopped in a few moments. Putting his arm up between the door and Annalise he looked down and straight into her eyes before talking. “This little meeting isn’t over. As far as I am concerned we have a few things I want to talk about.” The strength underneath his feet instantly started to waiver for a moment as he truly realized how close his face was. He had leaned forward as he talked and before either of them knew it there was very little distance between their lips.

In a moment of complete insanity Devin almost kissed her before reeling himself and his thoughts back to the present. “I’m not surprised to find you at a top law firm I just don’t see why it had to be this one.” Devin knew it sounded a little childish, but after all the time and energy it took to get over the woman he occupied a room with he felt a complete mental exhaustion unlike any he had felt before. And to get where he was now Devin had to do plenty of all nighters. “I’m sure you’re busy just like all of us will be in a matter of minutes. Just make time to meet the mail room boy. I’m sure he is just as easy to toy with as I was.”

With that final word Devin turned and left. He knew somehow that what he had said was wrong. He didn’t want to think that he was just a summer boy toy to her, but what else could it have been. For awhile now he had figured he was just something to distract her from the summer work she had to do. A kind of stress break. Sadly, for him there was a lot more meaning to their time together and that wasn’t something he could stop. Leaving the room and Annalise alone in the copy room the young lawyer made his way back to the conference room and called out Desman. The two left the room together and started to head towards the first years cubicles.

[LovelyxSpade]

Annalise was a bit taken aback by his words. What else did they possibly have to say to each other? Better yet what was he wanting from her? She couldn't say that she loved him anymore. Those feelings for him for dead along with the old her. She had no problem in admitting the fact that she doesn't have that much fun anymore. She had no problem in not having fun anymore. Life wasn't meant to be one big party.

"What do you mean not over? I have nothing else to say Devin." Annalise sighed heavily. She wasn't in the mood, nor would she ever be in the mood for this type of conversation. Especially in their new work place. She has no problem with eye contact with him. She was sure her eyes looked like icebergs. She was for once in four years caught off at how close he was to her. She glanced down at his lips then blinked several times before regaining her composure. What the hell was he saying to her? Why wouldn't she be here right now?

"I am, we'll within my legal rights to be here." She interjected. Annalise was about to say something else when he cut her off again. Was Devin really talking to her like this? This was the first time she was speechless in a while. Did he really just go there with her? She watched as he walked out of the room leaving her behind. Was this a feeling of being hurt? Taking a couple deep breaths she was shocked that she felt hurt for once. Of course the only person who could hurt her would be her ex-lover.

Annalise felt anger rising within her. She has to beat them all now. There was no way she was going Tom let such a comment go. Gathering her composure she walked out and went to her cubicle. She placed her papers and files into order before leaving the firm. As she walked to the car she had Tom calm down more. She just could not believe what happened. As soon as she got into the car she received a phone call from her mother. "Hello? Okay, I will see you tomorrow." She hung up then drove off. Now that her parents postponed til tomorrow, she had extra time to get ready to go to a restaurant with her friends. Or friend.

Annalise went home and took another shower and took her time getting ready to go meet her friend Karly. As she was blow drying her hair she heard the doorbell ring. She put on a robe then answered the door. "Glad you could make it." Annalise smiled briefly then let her friend in. "I know. Every since I started working, I haven't had time to see you." Karly reciprocated the smile as she entered the apartment. Karly and Annalise went to Harvard together, but Karly was two years older then Annalise. Karly worked at a top firm as well and had a good reputation already.

It didn't take long before Annalise was dressed in a lovely black cocktail dress. Her hair was down and it came past her shoulders. She had black heels to match the dress, plus a matching purse. The two girls headed out to one of the nicest restaurants in the city. The best part was the location of the restaurant was on the 20th floor of an office building. Maybe it was the rarity of the location that attracted so many customers. "You will never believe who I saw." Annalise spoke up as they took a seat at a two person table right next to the window. "I saw Devin. He is going to be working at the same firm as me." Annalise frowned a little remembering what he said to her.

[justice]

“Devin I hate to say this, but you have without a doubt the worst luck out of any guy I know.” Desman said. “I mean you find the woman of your dreams and not only does she ‘without a trace’ you, but comes back into your life four years later in what is looking to be one hell of a competitive job opportunity.” Shaking his head and finally getting the bartenders attention and with the skill of a versed bar hopper got their drinks ordered and on their way to their owners hand. Devin had left the drink of choice to his new friend who came back with two dark beers. A big smile found its way on his face.

“I don’t need a rerun of my life Desman.” Devin said while looking down at the bar. Over the past few hours the two of them had gotten to their cubicles and found that they were both assigned to the same senior partner. They also had a long conversation about how Desman was not in fact looking to get hired by the firm. For him he just wants a good letter of recommendation that could get him a job back in California. Seems that is where he always dreamed of working as a lawyer and once he had the chance he was heading out the door.

“Look I am just saying this is something out of Casablanca.” Desman said. He looked over at Devin and saw a look of confusion. “You know that scene where Bogart says to his friend Sam. ‘In all the gin joints in all the world she had to walk into mine.’”

“I do like the idea of that law firm already being mine.” Devin said as he raised his glass.

This comment seemed to jump start a big grin on Desman’s face. “Now that is the talk of a champion!” He said and then after clinking glasses the two started to really get into the spirit of the night. After all as Desman had said earlier. “This night is all about forgetting past mistakes!” The two turned back as Desman started to see that in this particular bar there was a cornucopia of attractive woman all of whom had personally seen Devin and Desman walk in.

A few hours later…

Being a person who isn't entirely used to the night life Devin had started to get tired. He looked over at his partner in crime and saw that despite it being almost 1 am he was easily ready to go for another three hours. Not being one to take the wind out of his sails he made a point to exit the bar after giving a basic excuse to leave. That way he could head home while leaving his friend to enjoy the spoils of his flirting and conversation. Finally outside in the cold Boston night Devin looked for a taxi. As he waited he found himself needing some food. So after getting a taxis attention he got in the back and asked for the driver to take him to what he thought was the best ethnic food in the neighborhood.

Not ten minutes later Devin found the taxi stopped in front of what looked like a hole in the wall Moroccan place. Walking in he found it surprising that such a restaurant would be open so late at night. Still he wasn’t one to complain so after sitting down and ordering from the menu something he honestly didn’t recognize he sat back in his small booth and completely took in what had taken place today.

It wasn’t for another five minutes that he found his thoughts materializing into some sort of declaration of sorts. He knew what he wanted and what he had given up. He wanted this job. He wanted to work at this firm and no matter what he was going to get that job. Even if Annalise was his competition he was going to take her down and after it was all said and done. Maybe he could finally move on. At least that was what he hoped and thought. He allowed himself a break from the stressful thinking when his food arrived and after taking a few bites the spiciness of the meal made it hard to not think of anything other than how good, but completely hot the meal was.

[LovelyxSpade]

Karly faked a shocked expression. "Really?!" She gasped dramatically. "You seem like you already knew?" Annalise questioned her friend. "Of course I did. I heard about all the new people your firm was hiring a couple days ago." Her friend smiled happily as she continued to eat her dinner. "When exactly were you going to be telling me this bit of information?" Annalise stopped sipping on her wine to ask another question. "I thought it would be nice for you to meet up with him again. Hearing how you ended things because of your father is so heartbreaking." Karly was more like an older Annalise when it comes to business, but a younger one when it came to love.

"I told you I feel nothing for Devin anymore." Annalise sighed as she finished the rest of her dinner. "You don't mean it. When you were talking about him I saw a hint of sadness in your eyes. I didn't even see that when we went to our friends funeral." Karly was trying to get her friend to put down her guards already. "You are lying. I never showed sadness in four years and that won't stop now because an ex-lover has walked back into my life. I'm going to beat him out for this job along with everyone else." With that last sentence the two friends paid for their food then left.

Annalise and Karly went their different ways after a short exchange of hugs. It didn't take long for Annalise to arrive back home and change into her night wear. She climbed into her bed and hugged the covers close to her. Did her friend see something that maybe she refused to see? No. Definitely not. There was no way she had feelings for him still.

A loud moan escaped her lips as she stirred awake to her alarm lock. She stuck her arm out and shut the alarm clock. She went and took a shower. Today she was wearing a white blazer with black trimming, a black pencil skirt, and black heels. Her hair was up in another bun only today there was a side bang. After a brief breakfast she headed out to her car. She was happy she didn't have to be stuck in city traffic for too long, because she lived in the city. When she arrived at the firm she was happy that she had her own card now to get into the building.

When she got up to her office everything was just as she left it, only this time there was a file on her desk. She placed her things down and looked at the file to see that it was her first case. Her specialty was in criminal law. Most found it strange that a female represented criminals, but she found it more interesting then anything. This time it seemed like her first client had one charge against him. This was going to be easy for her. Refuting one charge shouldn't be but so hard.