My dreams were filled with visions of Connor. They weren't normal dreams though. The closer I got to him the more predominant the blood stains were and an enormous wolf appeared behind him. I tried to run and a red cloak wrapped around my legs. I stumbled and fell to the ground struggling with the crimson cloth. The wolf stood over me, hot saliva hanging from its jowls. It placed a heavy paw on my chest and sunk its fangs into my throat. I woke up in a cold sweat. I glanced at my alarm clock; only three in the morning. I lay against my pillows too terrified to fall back asleep. The dream didn't even feel like a dream. More like a memory. I slid out of bed and headed for my shower at least I would have time to stop for coffee before my first day.

***

I stood outside One PPG Place staring up at the massive glass structure. It reminded me of a giant, reflective castle. A very modern castle. The building seemed to fit Belinda's personality. The perfect location for a titan like her. My mouth went dry and my heart sped up as I entered the office. My nerves were on edge. I had no idea what to expect.

"Good morning." I smiled at Blanche who glared at me with daggers shooting from her eyes.

I hurried past and through the doors behind her. The long corridor leading to Belinda's office seemed to get longer from the previous day. I took a deep breath and walked along the padded floor. I peeked through Connor's window only to see his lights off. My heart felt slightly crushed that he wasn't there. I was excited at the prospect of seeing him again.

"Good morning," the voice like warm honey behind me said.

"G-good morning." I smiled trying to suppress the giddiness that was plastered on my face before turning around.

"Caramel salted cappuccino?" He handed me a tall cup as his cheeks turned bright pink.

"Thanks. I completely forgot to stop and get my coffee this morning to."

"Have you seen Belinda yet?" He lifted the cup to his delicious lips.

"Not yet. I was about to go in."

"Here, give me your stuff. I'll stick it in your office. That way you can be fresh and prepared." A smile spread across his face as he held out his hands for my jacket, coffee, and briefcase.

"You are quite the welcome wagon, Connor. Where is my office?"

"Doing my part to make the new gal feel welcomed," he mumbled. "It's right across from mine. Right there." He pointed to a small door with a large window on each side of it next to us.

"Thank you. You are more than making up for the grouchy one out there." I motioned toward the doors that lead to the lobby.

"Yeah. She's not very pleasant."

"Well how do I look?" I asked, doing a quick twirl.

"Perfect."

"Thanks. Here goes." I took my briefcase back and knocked on Belinda's door.

"Enter!" she bellowed.

"Good morning."

"Morning. Sit. Are you ready to get down to business?" she asked not even looking up from her papers.

"Absolutely."

"Good. I have a brief I need finished and a few contracts I need drafted." She dumped a few files on her desk and went back to the papers in her hand.

"Okay." I grabbed the papers and vacated the office as quickly as possible.

By noon, I couldn't help but stare at the clock anxious for five.

"Did you stock the kitchen?" a low, ear-grating hiss asked from behind me.

"What?" I asked in return.

"The kitchen, is it stocked?"

"Isn't that your job?" I snapped.

"You're the new girl, you do it."

I looked at her, I mean really looked at her. Her nose turned up, her lips pursed into a permanent sneer, and her eyebrows stitched together in an angry V. I couldn't help but wonder if she was born with that sour puss look on her face, or if she had to learn it.

She curled and teased her bottle-blonde hair to no end. She kind of reminded me of an angry poodle.

"Look, Blanche, I'm not the office bitch. I'm not the receptionist, and I'm not a stock girl. I am Belinda's intern. I have a desk full of documents that need researched, contracts that need drafted, and briefs that need finished. If you don't want to do your job, then quit," I said through clenched teeth.

The anger bubbled in my gut. I could feel the hatred seething in me and I didn't hate people. I wasn't the type of person to put my foot down with anyone, but Blanche pushed me. She snorted at me and walked away. For the first time today, she didn't have some witty, smart-ass remark.

"The only way to deal with her is to just ignore her. She's miserable," Connor said from behind me.

"Connor!" I gasped, spinning on my heels and meeting his piercing blue eyes.

"Sorry, didn't mean to scare ya." He flashed a big grin at me.

"You didn't. You, um, startled me. Th-that's all," I stammered.

"Oh, okay. Hey do you have plans for lunch?" he asked.

"Not really. I'll be sitting somewhere alone. Why?"

"Would you like company?" he inquired.

"Yes, of course." I smiled shyly.

"Great. You like Primanti's?" he asked.

"Yeah. Who doesn't?"

"Alright. Great. That's where we'll go." His smile seemed to widen and take up his entire face. I couldn't help but smile back. It was infectious.

"We? We who?"

"Us."

"You and me?" I asked nervously.

"Yeah," he said laughing. "You act like you've never had a guy ask you out for lunch?"

"Of course I have." I laughed back nervously.

I bit my lip and attempted to swallow my heart as he turned away and went into his office. I slumped into my chair and stared at the door. The cappuccino had long grown cold but I didn't care. I sipped it slowly and closed my eyes. The inner school girl in me giggled and squealed. I'm not entirely sure why I acted so silly. I bit the inside of my cheeks to suppress the smile that ached to spread across my face. I kept peeking out the window facing the hallway trying to steal glances of my lunch partner. I knew anything more than a crush and flirting would be a bad idea. I already had one work romance sour and turn bad; I didn't need another. This internship was more important than a relationship. The thought of jeopardizing the internship for some guy was absurd.

But oh what a guy!

I caught myself checking the time every five minutes; I was too excited and it wasn't just for a pastrami with fries, slaw, and malt vinegar. I needed the break from staring at law books, dictating notes, and organizing Belinda's caseloads. Not to mention that meant a glorious hour away from Blanche's gum chewing. I wished the office was bigger.

I somehow managed to last until lunchtime without going insane. Connor and I slipped out the door without anyone noticing and into an almost empty restaurant. I slid into a booth and picked up the small menu. The agony of awkward silence fell over us. I looked up at him and saw that he chewed on his bottom lip lightly. Every now and then he glanced up at me but quickly turned his eyes back to the menu. Our waitress finally came around to get our orders, so no more distracting menu to keep us from talking.

"So, how's your first day going?" he asked with just the slightest hint of nervousness in his voice.

"It's good. I can't complain. At least I'm not in class."

"Yeah, I can understand how that is. How old are you?"

"I'm twenty-one."

"Oh, that's cool. I'm twenty-one. I was the intern last year, but not with Miss Hexe, with the old web developer."

"Oh."

Awkward silence again.

"Elysse?"

"Hmm?"

"Your last name is Grimm. Right?"

"Uh, yeah. Why?" I asked.

"So, your father's last name is Grimm?" he asked.

"My father isn't in my life. He took off before I was even born," I snapped.

"I'm sorry. I didn't realize..." his voice trailed off.

"It's fine. You didn't know."

He quickly changed the subject. "How did you end up in law?"

"My grandfather was a lawyer and my best friend's father is the district attorney for our small town. It seemed to just make sense that we would follow in their footsteps."

"What's the big plan when you finish up school?" he asked.

"She plans on us opening up a law firm together," I replied, sighing heavily.

"She plans? You don't want that?"

"Not really? I mean, I do. I love Anna, but eventually, you have to do your own thing right?"

"Does she know how you feel?"

"Not yet."

"When do you plan on telling her?" he looked out the window and watched as the snow continued falling outside.

"I suppose sometime before we graduate." I laughed.

"You guys were a team before, huh?"

"Yeah. We were inseparable." I dumped malt vinegar on my sandwich and took a big bite. "What about you?"

"I finished school a few months ago. The old web developer quit without notice, and Belinda asked if I wanted to stay on full-time."

"Why would he quit like that?"

"We have no idea. He stopped showing up, never answered his phone or his door. I was set to move to New York, but decided to keep the job here."

I chewed my sandwich slowly. Trying to drag out our lunch; I didn't want it to end. I glanced up at Connor and saw a light smile playing at his lips.

"What?"

"Um, you have a bit of mayo on your chin." His eyes lit up when he laughed.

I could feel my cheeks heat up. Oh no!

"I don't!" I dropped my sandwich and grabbed a napkin swiping at my chin. Sure enough there was a glob of gooey white mayo.

"Don't worry about it."

"Well, it's slightly embarrassing."

"If it makes you feel better I dropped a steak sandwich on Belinda." He laughed shaking his head.

"You didn't!"

"Oh I did. Greasy peppers and all."

"And you have your job?"

"My job? I'm surprised she didn't take off my head! I bought her a new dress and groveled for three months. That happened last year and I think she still remembers it."

"I guess getting mayo on my chin isn't as bad as that."

"Nope. It's not nearly as bad as that."

"I guess we should probably get back, huh?"

"If it were any other job I'd say let's ditch, but yeah we should get back."

"I had a great lunch, Connor."

"So did I, Elysse."

I sat in my office staring at the unfinished briefing for the rest of the afternoon. But as luck would have it, mine is shitty. Blanche and I ended up on the elevator together, again.

We said nothing; just rode the thirty-nine floors down. Out of the corner of my eye I couldn't help but watch her. She seemed to have a permanent scowl. Honestly, if she smiled or stopped teasing her hair, she could be really pretty. Hell if she tried being a little nicer I might try being friends with her or at the least a friendly acquaintance. She caught me watching her because her head suddenly snapped toward me. Her eyes bugged out, and she looked like a rabid animal.

"Why are you looking at me?"

"I'm not," I whispered.

"You're weird," she snapped.

"What is your problem?"

"I don't have a problem," her spittle landed on my face.

"Yes, you do. You've had this serious chip on your shoulder since my interview."

"I don't have a chip," she sneered.

"Whatever you say," I mumbled.

"Oh and stay away from Connor. He's mine."

My heart sunk a bit but it made sense he had a girlfriend. His good looks could not be denied, had a great job, and had the most pleasant attitude. No man that good-looking is ever single. Ever. What baffled me though, how could she be his girlfriend? Why would he have asked me to lunch if she was his girlfriend?

The more she talked, it made me just blink slowly and shake my head.

"Don't shake your head at me. You girls always throw yourselves at him. It's pathetic really." She continued.

"I haven't thrown myself at him and I don't plan on it."

"I'm just letting you know," she said as she exited the elevator.

"He never told me he had a girlfriend," I said.

"When would he have told you? At the coffee pot?"

"At lunch today," I said quietly.

"He went to lunch with you?" Her voice shot up an octave.

"He asked me. I said yes."

Her face turned four shades of red, and I could tell she was pissed.

"If I had known the two of you were dating..." I let my voice trail off.

"We're not!" she sputtered.

"Okay, then why are you getting in such a tizzy?" I knew it, you crazy bitch!

"I'm not. Just stay away from him. I will date him."

That girl had serious issues; some real psycho, stalker issues.

At the bottom floor Blanche shot me a look of death, almost knocked me over, and stormed out of the building. I was really making an impression on the people around here. One thought I was nuts and another hated my guys. Once again I walked slowly across the square to the bus stop. I sighed, and realized that my first paycheck was going to be paying for a damn parking lease.

Screw this bus shit. It's too cold.

I stood a few blocks down from Blanche, and saw her light up a cigarette. I could see the glowing, red end through the snow. She stood there puffing away with her arms crossed. She had to be one of the most miserable, awful people I'd ever met. How does someone like that live each day so angry at the world?

I almost felt bad for her. Something at some point in her life must have gone horribly wrong for her to be so bitter. I did not want to imagine what that was or could have been.

Yes, I felt a twinge of sympathy for the badly teased poodle.