Corrupted Constructs

Chapter 9

The next three weeks fly by and before Clarke knows it, it's the first Friday of the new month and she is gathering her things from her desk to go to that same nearby bar once again.

Strangely, Clarke had actually somewhat been looking forward to spending some more time with her colleagues and with Alexandria outside of work. Professionally of course, since this was yet another perfect occasion to see if anyone, including Alexandria, was more willing to talk now that they had all known Clarke for a little longer.

Once again, Clarke is one of the last ones to arrive since her position as Ms. Evergreen's personal assistant requires her to work later than most of the other employees. So, most of her colleagues are already a glass or two deep and they immediately inform her she has some catching up to do.

Thinking back to the last time she drank alcohol on her business trip with Ms. Evergreen, Clarke walks up to the bartender, orders a diet coke, and takes a seat with the others, immediately joining the excited conversations around her without any issues.

About half an hour later, surprisingly early, the beautiful brunette with the green eyes struts into the bar as well and she orders a drink, seemingly an old fashioned, before joining her employees.

Clarke senses some tension in the brunette's jaw and shoulders, but she seems to be smiling and talking and listening to everyone's stories and conversations, so Clarke focuses back on her own conversation a few moments later.

In fact, Clarke is so caught up in her own conversations that she doesn't realize Lexa getting up from her seat, but the next time the blonde looks up, the brunette is nowhere to be seen. Not at the bar, talking to the bartender, not in another seat, not near the restrooms as far as Clarke can tell. But her bag is still sitting in her seat.

So, when Lexa still hasn't returned eight or so minutes later, Clarke excuses herself from the conversation and walks out of the bar, leaving her own purse in her seat as well.

She finds the brunette outside of the bar, her back leaning against the front wall of the building, her phone in her hand, and a lit cigarette between her lips. Her posture is not nearly as rigid as she leans like this and on her face, there is a barely noticeable frown.

Clarke studies her for a few seconds before walking closer to the brunette.

"I didn't peg you for a smoker," Clarke speaks, causing Lexa to startle and look up from her phone for the first time since the blonde got outside.

Clarke takes a breath, waiting for Alexandria to respond. The chilly air smells like rain and the streets are still wet from the downpour that only stopped right before they made their way to the bar.

"Everybody's got their vices, Ms. Grinfield," Lexa retorts dryly, sliding the phone in her pocket after one last glance, then taking the cigarette from her mouth to blow out the smoke, before putting it back again.

"Even you? The infamous Alexandria Evergreen? I never would have guessed," Clarke says teasingly.

"Even me. There are a lot of things you don't know about me," the brunette responds, gazing at the streetlights and the bustling street.

The streets in downtown Chicago were always lively, no matter the weather or the time of year, especially on a Friday evening.

Clarke takes another step towards her boss and rests her shoulder against the wall next to Lexa, her body turned towards the brunette. She lifts her arm, then carefully but firmly takes the cigarette from between Ms. Evergreen's lips before putting it between her own and leaning her back against the wall, mirroring her boss' stance, their shoulders only a few inches apart.