Bound by law

Chapter 22: First Day Recap

Later that evening, Estelle walked into the apartment she shared with Mia, her head still buzzing from the whirlwind of her first day at Scarlett & Associates. She dropped her bag by the door, feeling a strange mix of excitement and exhaustion after hours of meeting senior associates, diving into case files, and sitting in on her first briefing.

Mia, curled up on the couch with a bowl of popcorn, immediately perked up the moment Estelle entered the room. "There she is! The newest intern at Scarlett & Associates! Come on, spill everything!"

Estelle grinned, dropping onto the couch beside her and letting out a long sigh of relief. "Oh my god, Mia, it was... incredible. But also so intense."

Mia's eyes lit up with excitement as she shoved the bowl of popcorn toward Estelle. "You've got to tell me everything. Start from the top—what was Miss Scarlett like? Was she as intimidating as they say?"

Estelle chuckled, grabbing a handful of popcorn. "Well, yeah, but in a really professional way. She's tall, blonde, and sharp as hell. The second she walked into the room, it was like everyone instantly respected her, you know? And her office—so modern and sleek. I was completely intimidated at first, but she was surprisingly nice. Professional, but not cold."

Mia wiggled her eyebrows. "So, no ice queen vibes like a certain other professor we know?"

Estelle rolled her eyes but couldn't help laughing. "No, not quite like Celeste. Miss Scarlett's strict, but she's warm in a way that Celeste isn't. She really listened when I spoke, and she was super clear about what she expects from me. It was... different."

"Different good, I hope?" Mia asked, popping another piece of popcorn in her mouth.

"Definitely good," Estelle said with a nod. "I'm going to be working directly under her for some upcoming cases. I'll get to help with research, prep legal briefs, and maybe even sit in on court proceedings."

Mia let out a low whistle. "Damn, Estelle. That sounds amazing. And on your first day? That's huge!"

"I know!" Estelle said, her excitement bubbling over. "I thought I'd just be doing a bunch of menial tasks, but Miss Scarlett seems like the kind of person who wants to throw you into the deep end and see how you swim."

"And knowing you, you're gonna swim just fine," Mia said, giving her a playful nudge. "You were made for this kind of pressure."

Estelle smiled, feeling a surge of gratitude for Mia's constant support. "It feels good to be working at a place that challenges me. There's no tension, no weird power dynamics... it's all about the work. And I love that."

Mia raised an eyebrow, giving Estelle a knowing look. "Speaking of weird power dynamics... has Celeste said anything? I mean, I know she's not exactly the type to just ask how your day went, but has she mentioned anything about you joining Scarlett's firm?"

Estelle's smile faltered slightly, her mind drifting back to Celeste and the confrontation earlier in the week. "No, not yet. But I haven't told her."

Mia gave her a curious look. "Why not?"

Estelle sighed, leaning back against the couch. "I don't know. Part of me feels like it's none of her business, but another part of me thinks she'll be pissed when she finds out. I mean, Scarlett and Thorne aren't exactly best friends in the legal world. I don't know how Celeste will react, and I'm not really sure I'm ready for that confrontation."

Mia raised an eyebrow. "Estelle, you can't control how she reacts. You've got this amazing opportunity, and if she gets mad, that's on her. You've got to do what's best for you."

"I know," Estelle said, her voice quieter now. "It's just... complicated. We've had so many weird, intense moments, and I don't want her to think I'm doing this to spite her."

Mia shrugged. "Maybe it'll make her realize what she's missing out on. But either way, this is about your career. Not her feelings."

Estelle nodded slowly, knowing Mia was right. This was her moment, her chance to shine in a new environment, and she couldn't let her complicated relationship with Celeste overshadow that.

"Yeah," Estelle said, her voice firming with resolve. "You're right. This is my shot, and I'm not going to let anyone—including Celeste—take that away from me."

Mia grinned, clearly pleased with her friend's resolve. "Damn right! So, what's next at Scarlett & Associates?"

"Well," Estelle said, excitement bubbling up again, "I'm going to be working on a major case next week—a huge corporate litigation case. Miss Scarlett wants me to help with the research and some of the initial prep. It's a high-profile case, and I'm nervous, but also really excited."

Mia's eyes widened. "That's incredible, Estelle! First week and you're already jumping into something huge. This is exactly what you needed."

Estelle smiled, feeling more confident than she had in weeks. "Yeah. It feels right."

Mia raised her coffee mug in a mock toast. "To Estelle Brooks—future legal badass!"

Estelle laughed, clinking her mug with Mia's. "To new beginnings."

As they sat there, chatting and celebrating the start of a new chapter in Estelle's career, she couldn't help but feel a weight lifting from her shoulders. For the first time in what felt like forever, she wasn't worried about Celeste or the complicated mess between them. She was focused on herself—on her future.

And for now, that was more than enough.