The Charm of Lou Miller

The First Glance of Lou Miller

The door swings open, you and Deb walk in.

"This is Y/N, she knows you all pretty well... make her welcome." Deb says loudly.

They are all smiling at you but you only count 7 people, you notice Lou isn't there. Suddenly, you get a wave of anxiety going through your body. The rest of the group makes you feel welcome.

Tammy comes over and gives you a hug, you know each other from Debbie's past, you have a catch up, the drinks are flowing and you are fitting right in. However, your eyes are darting around the room waiting for Lou to appear. Maybe she's not coming tonight, you think to yourself trying to calm yourself down.

"Deb, where's the bathroom?", you say shaking.

"Just down the hall, to your left. What's the matter? Calm down, everyone loves you!" She looks at you, with her hand on your shoulder.

The cold water hits your face, you stare at yourself in the mirror and take some deep breaths. You can't quite figure out why you're so shaken up. "Y/N stop being stupid, go back out there. Everyone loves you..." reassuring yourself.

Walking back down the hall, you go to get a drink.

You feel a hand on your back...

"Y/N, isn't it? Lou... about time that we met."

You turn around and meet her ocean eyes looking into what feels like your soul. And for the first time, you're speechless.

"Er...Yes I'm Y/N. Heard all good things about you, apparently we have a lot in common according too Deb." You giggle.

Debbie catches your eye, she's stood with Rose. They're both looking at you and Lou smiling.

This is a setup you think to yourself... you roll your eyes at Deb and smile.

You look at Lou, she's wearing a velvet green suit that accentuates all the best parts of her. There is a brown tie hanging loosely round her neck with her blonde short hair just teasingly reaching for her shoulders. Your eyes come up to her face, where her cheek bones are so prominent and her lips as soft as silk and her eyes...

"Did you get a good look?" Lou laughs, winking at you.

Your cheeks flood with blood, they go hot...

"You're blushing Y/N." Tammy whispers.

"Right..." Rose breaks the silence.

"How do you and Debbie know each other?" You change the subject because you feel like the whole room knows you like Lou, they couldn't mistake it for anything else.

"While Y/N was working her butt off in law school, I was being a criminal... Lou and I use to go to the bingo games... didn't earn much but it was something to do. She's our partner in crime Y/N, that ok with you?" Deb questions for your approval.

"I wouldn't have it any other way," turning towards Lou.

"Damn, law school. You're smart then?" Nine ball glances up from her laptop.

"I suppose so, basically I can argue my way out of many things." You smile.

"But Y/N couldn't help but come back to being a criminal. It's in our blood, isn't it. Y/N, has been an Ocean since she was born, we have never been apart. She's family." Deb has her hand on her heart.

"I fight for the people I love and respect." Lou's eyes catch yours.

You look down, she's going to think I meant her, that I love her. I looked straight into her eyes. Come on Y/N, where's your game.

"Busy day tomorrow, the work plan starts. Tammy you have your interview at Vogue; Rose, you can start making the dress for Daphne and Nine ball you're going to look at the cameras for the MET and work with Constance to make sure there is enough room for her to get the necklace and for Debbie to be seen the whole time."

"Oooo, she's good." Constance says to Debbie.

Debbie nods agreeing.

"And what will you be doing, Y/N?" Lou questions with a smirk.

"Me? I am going to take a visit to an old 'friend' of ours... Claude Becker."

"No! Y/N, I already went to see him at the gallery. He's already scared of you, we don't need anything throwing the plan off." Deb says worried.

"I'm not going to do anything rash, but your my family. He's not getting away with what he did!"

"I'll come with you, I never liked him..." Lou backs you up.

"Great, that's sorted then, everyone knows what they're doing. Deb will be here, making sure everything goes to plan. Lou and I will go out and sort out Claude... and in the end Deb, you'll get your revenge. It's the last part of the plan."

"It's a date." Lou says to you and then instantly looks like she regrets it.

What if she feels the same way, we are going to be together the whole day tomorrow... alone. You get butterflies.

"Ok, thank you Y/N. Knew you'd be the best!" Deb smiles "Always have been my person."

Everyone goes to bed, your first day is done. You lie awake going through what has to be done tomorrow and the rest of the plan. The thoughts in your mind are whizzing round like go karts. You look out the window and see New York looking right back at you, with all the lights dancing around. Slowly, you drift off to sleep, thinking of your day with Lou when you wake up.