Second Ave Offices: Labor Day (WLW)

Banter, Banter, Banter

At about thirty minutes past five, Maya walked into Natalie's and surveyed the area for someone who fit her aunt's description on the car ride over when she realized she had no clue how this Rose Johnson woman looked. She finally eyed someone who sat alone in a booth toward the end of those lining the wall of windows to her left and noticed a docker cap stop their head. With a quickened pace, she made her way over and stood in stunned silence at the handsome, yet somehow cute face that looked up at her. Maya outstretched her hand as the woman stood up, being about her same height, which was a nice reprieve from the people she'd been around recently who were all taller than herself.

It wasn't as if Maya was short. In fact, she was about average height, but the people she knew just happened to be larger than her and not having to crane her neck to look at this woman was a nice benefit. As she realized she was doing an appraisal of her own with a heated grin, Maya cleared her throat and caught her eyes again. Hers grew wide and she rubbed the back of her head, causing the cap atop it to shimmy back and forth, which in turn made her glasses shift with it.

With an easy smirk, Maya finally broke the ice as she became lost in the dark eyes meeting hers. "Maya Joshi. I assume you're Rose Johnson?"

A dazzlingly white smile met her and Maya mentally acknowledged the gentleness in the woman's expression before she verified her name. "Yes, it's good to meet you. Josephine says you're taking over the firm when she retires and I'll be your first client?"

Rose gestured toward the booth opposite where she previously sat and Maya took it as she replied, "Yes, ma'am. So any legal proceedings you may feel warrant discussion let me know."

"Ma'am?" With a snort, Rose reclaimed her place across from her and splayed her arms along the back of the seat. Maya felt a nudge under the table and realized she was also spreading out her legs, turning her gaze upward as she heard a huff. "I haven't been called that in a long time."

"I can refrain from using it in the future if you'd rather that. It's just hardwired in me at this point to address my clients with respect." Maya raised her hand as a waitress passed and took her purse from her shoulder.

"What can I get you, hun?" The older woman asked as she pulled out a notepad and eyed them with wiggling eyebrows. "Shared milkshake? Maybe a slice of peach pie?"

"I appreciate it, but this is a business dinner. I'll have some hashbrowns, one egg -- hold the yolk -- a slice of the house bread and just keep the coffee coming, please." After the server nodded and walked toward the kitchen, Maya turned back toward Rose to find her having grown somewhat puzzled. "Is something the matter?"

"Huh? No, it's just that..." Rose shook her head and sat forward, picking a few fries from her almost forgotten plate. "Nevermind. So where do we begin?"

* * *

Rose chuckled as she watched Maya squint at the document in her hand. It was adorable. Her nose moved like she was a mouse sniffing a piece of cheese, or better yet a bunny looking for another treat. Apparently, she'd forgotten her reading glasses in her overnight bag as she had yet to unpack and she was now jutting out her chin as she read the main document outlining the condensed points of her case. Taken aback the first time she saw her, Rose was rather hypnotized as she watched Maya's microexpressions.

She looked quite fetching in her business attire, all of which was designer clothing with names similar to the designs her mother wore, but for once they weren't irritating. Typically, Rose never found herself attracted to women who wore high end clothing. They were too much maintenance, but with the practical way her aunt-in-law described her, she knew there must be more to Maya than met the eye. She'd been pleasantly surprised by their light banter after her food arrived and watched as she skewered another piece of egg with some hash browns, taking it into her mouth.