Is There Somewhere?

Part 17

Lexa was seated in her office trying to focus on the brief sitting before her and having very little success with getting past the first couple of sentences. She was too preoccupied with wondering what Clarke was up to and remembering that Costia was sitting in the office just a couple of doors away from her own.

She was saved from reading the next line for the fifteenth time when there was a polite knock on the door and Costia entered without being granted permission. Lexa had thought it would be louder, maybe an explosion of emotion from the other woman when she finally decided to confront her at work. But, she should have known Costia wasn't one for fiery emotion and spontaneity. She was calculating and analytical, more likely to search for a weak spot in a person's argument or personality and hone in on it, using it against them. She was much more like Lexa and her family then Lexa cared to admit.

"I can't do this anymore, Lexa," her voice was calm and low as she stood over Lexa's desk. The fingertips of one hand spread over the desk top and the other placed an envelop on the desk, addressed to Lexa in loopy cursive. "This is my letter of resignation and consider it to be in effect immediately."

Lexa squeezed her eyes shut, but before Costia could let go of it, Lexa placed her hand over hers, "Can you wait until we find a replacement? How am I supposed to find someone to do what you do on such short notice?" She knew it was a long shot, but she was practically begging. She had already informed parts of the board that she trusted they were going to need to find a new COO, but she didn't exactly know when. She just hadn't thought it would be this soon.

"I don't know, Lexa. Why don't you ask Clarke? She seems good at doing what I used to do." Brown eyes flashed with anger and Costia ripped her hand way from Lexa's before turning to leave. "I don't care anymore, Lexa. Goodbye."

She left with one last flip of her hair and the door closed firmly behind her.

Lexa didn't even bother opening the letter. She knew what it held and didn't care for its bitter words so eloquently written that she wasn't sure if they were truly meant to hurt her or not. Her day had already been long enough, her head was pounding and there was still a stack of papers that either had to be signed or read over and responded to. The likelihood of her finishing it was slim and she rested her head in the palms of her hand.

In the privacy and loneliness of her own office, she allowed herself a moment of weakness. A long sigh escaped her and she bumped her head against the desk several times, not hard enough to damage herself, but hard enough to jostle her brain around in her skull. It felt better than the numbness settling into her bones.

Her phone rang on her desk and she lifted her head long enough to note the name.

"Hey, Anya," she mumbled into the receiver, resting her head back on the edge of the desk.

"How are you doing, kid?" Anya's voice was soothing and less harsh than normal. Obviously, she knew Lexa was hurting and was gong to walk on eggshells around her for a while. Lexa hated it with a passion.

"I'm busy, Anya. What do you need?" Lexa sat up, spinning in her chair to look out the window. The sun was setting, casting the sky in pastel colors, purple and black stretching into pinks of all different shades. It reminded Lexa of Clarke because she knew the other woman would have admired it. Once again, she was wondering how Clarke was doing and if she was admiring the sky right now too.

"Come over tonight, we need to talk."

"Maybe you didn't catch it, An, but I am busy. I can't just...come over."