Actress/Character One-Shots (WLW)

Don't Lie to Me - W. Venable

TW: Mentions of death of a loved one

"I'm sorry I can't come over sweetheart."

"It's alright, Mom. I should get going. I don't want to be late for work," Brielle replied.

"You're not going to call in? Today's going to be tough." She shook her head, even though her mom couldn't see it.

"I'll be fine. I gotta go. Bye, love you," she said quickly, her mom saying a quick 'love you' back before hanging up. Brielle took a deep breath, moving to her closet to pick out her clothes. She went with a navy skirt and matching blazer, a white blouse tucked in. She twisted her black hair back, clipping it with a large black claw clip and pulling a few loose pieces to the front. She didn't bother with makeup, knowing she'd probably cry it off during her break anyway. Grabbing her purse, keys, and phone, she slipped on her white heels and headed out the door.

Brielle climbed into the car and headed to the coffee shop, grabbing herself a caramel macchiato and a flat white for her boss. She placed them both in the cupholders as she drove, and a song came on the radio that made her stomach flip: I Loved Her First by Heartland. It was the song she was supposed to dance with her grandfather to at her wedding. He had practically been her father since hers walked out when she was a baby, but that dance wouldn't happen anymore. Tears were streaming down her face as she pulled into the Kineros Robotics parking lot. She parked her car, grabbed the coffees, and headed in after drying her cheeks. She was greeted by Jeff and Mutt as she walked up to her desk.

"Hey, Elle," they called in unison. She simply nodded as she set down her bag and coffee and continued to Ms. Venable's office. She'd been the woman's assistant for nearly eight months now. She knocked two times.

"Enter," Ms. Venable called stiffly. Brielle entered, pushing the door open and walking up to the woman's desk.

"Here's your flat white, Ms. Venable. I'll be at my desk if you need me," she said quickly before turning and walking out the door. She flopped down into her desk chair and logged into her computer. Emails and notifications immediately started flooding her screen, and she set to work.

It was almost ten at night when she saw she only had a few emails left. She had eaten her lunch at her desk today and hadn't taken any breaks in an attempt to distract herself from the news she'd received this morning, but it was finally catching up to her. Her vision started to blur as she tried to read, and the words were all starting to blend together. She started to get frustrated with herself, wiping at her cheeks aggressively, eventually putting her forehead on the desk with a pitiful thud of defeat. Brielle put a hand over her mouth and let out a small sob, her shoulders shaking as she cried. All the memories of her and her grandfather flooded her mind, and guilt plagued her conscience as she thought about the time that had passed since she last visited him. She straightened up when she heard the double-tap of Ms. Venable's cane against the floor.

"What in God's name is going on, Ms. James?" she asked harshly. Brielle wiped her cheeks, brushing away the fresh and dried tears.

"I um, I'm sorry, Ms. Venable, it's been quite the day. I just have a few more tasks to finish and then I'll- I'll be going." She cursed herself internally for crying out in the open and waited for Ms. Venable's reprimand.

"That won't be necessary, Ms. James. You may finish them tomorrow. As for going home, that won't be happening either." Brielle gave her a confused look. "You're coming with me to get a drink. You obviously need it." The young woman didn't have time to answer before the redhead strode off, leaving her to quickly collect her stuff and follow her.

"I don't understand, Ms. Venable," she said when she caught up to her. They walked side by side as the redhead replied.

"Get in the passenger seat." Brielle followed her instruction, not wanting to anger the woman. She set her purse on the floor, crossing her left leg over her right. Ms. Venable got in the driver's seat, setting her cane in the back, and pulled out of the parking lot. They rode in silence to the bar down the street and continued their silence until they both had a scotch, neat, in hand. Brielle quickly threw back the whole thing, motioning for another before Ms. Venable spoke. "You mind telling me what's going on, Ms. James?"

"It's nothing, and please, call me Brielle. Ms. James makes me sound like my mother," she answered, slowly sipping on the new scotch in hand.

"Don't lie to me, Brielle. It's obviously not nothing when you break down at your desk over it," Ms. Venable scolded lightly. "And if I'm calling you Brielle, you may call me Wilhemina, but only when we're alone." The dark-haired young woman took a deep breath before speaking.

"My grandfather died last night. He was the closest thing I had to a father," she practically whimpered, her eyes filling with tears once more. Wilhemina inhaled sharply at the news. She knew what loss felt like, and it wasn't a good feeling.

"Are you serious?" Brielle only nodded. "Why didn't you call in?"

"There's too much to be done," she replied quietly, taking another sip of her drink. "I couldn't leave you with all of that work to do on your own." She met Wilhemina's gaze for the first time that night and saw something she'd never seen before. The redhead's face was softened completely and held a sad smile.

"Brielle, you are too kind for your own good. You are taking the next few days off. We will manage without you," she demanded. Brielle's eyes widened.

"But-"

"No buts. When we're done here, I'll drop you off at home, and someone will bring you your car in the morning. You are not to come into the office until Monday. Do I make myself clear?"

"Yes, Ms. Ve- Wilhemina," she said, her cheeks flushing slightly at the way the woman's name rolled off her tongue.

"Good."