The elevator hummed softly as it climbed to the fifth floor, a slight jolt signaling its stop. The silver doors slid open to reveal the sleek cafeteria space—brightly lit, stylishly designed with soft earth tones and minimalist decor. The scent of grilled vegetables, baked pastries, and something distinctly Italian wafted into the elevator as Rozenn stepped out with her colleagues trailing behind.
"So this is where all the lunch magic happens," she murmured, eyes sweeping the wide space.
"It's also where people cry into their soup after a morning with Miss Lent," Lisa deadpanned, making Alan snort.
Rozenn smiled as the group found a long table near the window. Soren slid into a seat beside her, placing her tray down with a sigh. "I still can't believe this place has grilled salmon salad in a law firm cafeteria. My old office had stale bagels."
"Well, Grey doesn't do average," Edna added, sipping from a tall glass of iced tea.
Just as Rozenn was about to unwrap her sandwich, a familiar voice called out from across the room.
"Zenny!"
Rozenn's face lit up, and she turned quickly to see a tall girl with long chestnut curls bouncing as she made her way over. "Tammy!!"
Tammy slipped into the seat beside Rozenn, immediately pulling her into a quick hug.
"You made it!" Rozenn said, eyes shining. "You said orientation would run till evening."
"It got pushed earlier. I figured I'd surprise you. Turns out cafeteria spaghetti isn't half bad," Tammy grinned.
Rozenn beamed. "Guys, this is Tamara Lee, my best friend and partner in crime since undergrad. She's just started here too—Corporate Department."
Tammy gave a little wave. "Hi! Rozenn has filled me up with so much about you all just this morning on text. Especially the guy who's madly in love with his boss."
Alan raised his hand sheepishly. "Present."
Everyone laughed.
"You're all lucky, honestly," Tammy said as she pulled a salad closer. "My department's all polished shoes and hushed voices. I've barely had a full conversation today."
Lisa raised her brow. "Welcome to the other side. We're the slightly more dramatic, caffeine-fueled mess of the firm."
"Truly," Rozenn chimed in. "I've been here half a day and already got buried under files by Mr. Grey."
"Evan Grey?" Tammy whispered. "Is he as hot as the gossip says?"
Rozenn tried to hide her blush. "He's… tall."
"That's not a no," Lisa teased.
They all burst into laughter again, and Rozenn felt the warmth of something she hadn't felt since law school—belonging.
Over the next twenty minutes, the table buzzed with shared stories—first impressions, hallway awkwardness, printer malfunctions, and the almost mythical wrath of Mr. Collin. Tammy and Rozenn leaned in toward each other, exchanging glances, their laughter genuine and easy.
As the lunch crowd thinned, Lisa stood up and stretched. "Alright, who's coming for coffee?"
"I'm in," said Larry. "Can't digest anything without a caramel latte."
"Same," Rozenn said, grabbing her bag.
They headed down to the lobby-level café, a cozy, industrial-style nook with exposed brick and warm lights. The rich aroma of coffee beans and vanilla filled the air.
"One large black, one caramel latte, one espresso with a shot of guilt," Lisa listed off.
"Add two iced hazelnuts," Alan called from behind.
"I've got it," Rozenn offered, stepping up to the counter. "My treat, remember?"
Alan leaned on the counter beside her. "You're either the kindest person here or you're trying to buy our love."
"Maybe both," Rozenn smiled.
When the drinks were handed out, Rozenn waved off the others and whispered to the cashier, "Keep the change."
Back at the general office, everyone slowly returned to their desks. The lively buzz from earlier faded into the steady clicking of keyboards and low phone conversations. Rozenn had barely sat down when the internal line on her desk rang.
She picked up quickly. "Rozenn Eirwen speaking."
"Come to my office. We're going out," Evan's voice said coolly before the line went dead.
Rozenn stood, heart kicking up its pace, and grabbed her notepad. The others noticed her brisk walk.
"Field trip?" Lisa mouthed.
Rozenn just nodded.
Inside Mr. Grey's office, Evan was already putting on his coat. "We're visiting a client."
"Oh—yes, sir," she said, following him to the parking garage.
They didn't speak much on the ride. Rozenn kept glancing at him from the passenger seat—stoic as ever, focused on the road, a slight tension around his jaw.
Twenty minutes later, they arrived at the county detention center. Rozenn stared up at the grey walls and barbed fences. Her chest tightened.
"This place is sad and…." she started.
"Gloomy?" Evan finished. "That's generous."
Inside, they went through security—scanners, pat-downs, ID checks. The sterile smell of disinfectant and metal filled the air. Rozenn's footsteps echoed slightly as they walked toward the meeting room.
Inmates in orange jumpsuits sat behind glass partitions, some speaking into phones, others just staring.
"This way," Evan instructed.
They were led to a small room with a table and two chairs on one side of the plexiglass, a single chair on the other.
A man was brought in—mid-thirties, tired eyes, calloused hands. He sat heavily and picked up the phone.
Evan mirrored him, Rozenn beside him with her notepad ready.
"Mr. Leary," Evan began, voice calm and measured. "We're moving forward with your defense strategy, but I'll need you to clarify a few things from your statement."
Rozenn observed the interaction with sharp focus. Mr. Grey's tone was firm but not cold—precise, professional, yet not devoid of empathy. She scribbled notes furiously, highlighting key phrases: timeline inconsistency, witness uncertainty, alibi verification.
Mr. Leary's voice cracked once when he mentioned his daughter. Rozenn paused, pen hovering. She looked up and caught the faintest flicker of emotion on Evan's face. Not pity—something heavier.
They stayed in the room for nearly an hour. When it was over, and the client was led away, Evan stood silently for a few seconds before walking toward the exit.
Outside, the afternoon sun was muted behind heavy clouds. Rozenn fell into step beside him.
"That was intense," she said softly.
He didn't answer at first. Then, "You did well. You listened. Took good notes."
"Thank you, sir."
They got back into the car.
Rozenn looked out the window as they drove. "You've done this a lot, haven't you?"
"Yes."
"And it never gets easier, does it?"
"No," Evan said. Then, after a pause, "But it's not supposed to."
Back at the firm, Evan returned to his office without another word. Rozenn made her way to her desk, dropped her notepad beside her files, and exhaled deeply.
"Everything okay?" Alan asked, eyeing her expression.
"Yeah," she nodded. "Just… seeing the other side of the law. The one that doesn't sit in clean offices."
"Welcome to Grey," he said again—but this time, his voice held something gentler, more grounded.
Rozenn looked down at her notes—filled pages, tight handwriting, underlined emotions.
She had chosen this path.
And now, she was truly walking it.
***********************************
The office buzz had dulled into a quiet hum. Monitors were dimmed, files were stacked, and tired sighs filled the open floor like a shared lullaby. It was finally the end of the day, and everyone knew the unspoken rule—no one left until their superiors did.
Rozenn leaned back in her chair, stretching her arms over her head with a soft groan. "My spine is filing for a divorce," she murmured.
"You're not alone," Soren said, rubbing his neck.
They all watched the hallway like anxious schoolchildren waiting for the final bell. When Mr. Collins' office door finally creaked open, heads subtly turned.
The senior attorney marched toward the exit, briefcase in hand, eyes narrowed behind thick glasses. As he passed by the general office, Onda dared to speak up.
"Goodnight, Mr. Collins!"
His response came swift and sharp. "Goodnight to you too. Try not to burn the place down tomorrow."
Laughter erupted in his wake.
"That man is a menace," Lisa chuckled.
"A charming menace," Alan added.
"An iconic menace," Edna agreed.
Just as the laughter settled, Evan Grey's office door opened. The air shifted.
The mood always did when he stepped into the room—composed and quiet, but with a presence that made you straighten your spine and fix your collar.
Evan moved toward the exit, his coat draped over one arm, keys in hand. His gaze passed over the room until it landed on Rozenn.
"Miss Eirwen," he said smoothly, pausing just by the door, "Would you like a ride home?"
The entire room fell silent.
Even the hum of the air conditioning felt like it had stopped to listen.
Rozenn blinked, heart skipping, then quickly stood. "Thank you, Mr. Grey, but I brought my car today. I'll be going home with my best friend."
Evan gave a small nod. "Very well. Have a good evening."
"You too, sir," she replied, trying to ignore the six pairs of eyes boring into her back.
The door closed softly behind him.
"Did that just happen?" Soren whispered.
"I thought I was hallucinating," Lisa added.
"Did you save his dog from a fire or something?" Alan grinned.
Rozenn gave a helpless shrug, laughing as she grabbed her things. "No idea. Maybe he just felt generous."
They all gathered at the elevators, exchanging hugs and goodbyes like soldiers after their first mission.
"You were awesome today," Lisa said as she squeezed Rozenn's hand. "Tomorrow's gonna be smoother."
"Thanks, I hope so."
In the parking lot, the sky had deepened into hues of navy and ash. Streetlights flickered on one by one, casting golden halos over the rows of cars. Tammy was already waiting, leaning against her sleek Black Mercedes Benz S-Class, waving as Rozenn approached.
"There she is!" Tammy called.
Rozenn smiled and jogged over, tossing her bag in the back seat. "Hey, partner."
"Missed you all afternoon. Looks like someone's already lawyering hard."
"You have no idea."
The two girls slipped into their car and pulled out of the parking lot, the law firm shrinking in the rearview mirror.
Their shared apartment sat in a quieter part of the city, tucked between an old bookshop and a plant-filled café that always smelled like cinnamon. The apartment was big—two bedrooms, high ceilings, mismatched furniture, and shelves that overflowed with textbooks, novels, and half-dead succulents.
Once home, they both made a beeline for the bathroom, laughing and tripping over each other.
"You first," Tammy said, already pulling off her blazer. "I need ten minutes to mentally prepare for hot water."
After quick showers and a change into oversized T-shirts and socks, they met in the kitchen. Dinner was leftover lasagna and sparkling water, eaten at the kitchen island while music played low from Tammy's phone.
"Alright," Tammy said, twirling her fork. "Spill everything."
Rozenn leaned back, stretching. "Where do I start? My boss is a silent storm. The other lawyers are either too grumpy or too intense. But my team? They're amazing. We laughed so much at lunch, which you were there to witness. And gosh the jokes never end."
"And Mr. Grey?"
Rozenn paused. "He's… intimidating. But not cold. Just extremely precise."
Tammy narrowed her eyes. "Precise, huh? That's a sexy lawyer word."
"Don't even start."
They both burst into laughter just as Rozenn's phone buzzed loudly on the counter.
"Mum," she said, picking it up and putting it on speaker. "Hi, Mum!"
"Rozenn Eirwen, don't tell me you forgot to call after your first day!" came her mother's exasperated voice.
"I was just about to—"
"Give me that," another voice interrupted. "Hey sis, how many people did you sue today?"
"Raymond," Rozenn groaned. "Why are you even there?"
"Because Mum bribed me with food and said I could stay if I didn't distract you."
"Well, you've already failed."
Laughter erupted on both ends of the call.
"Hi Aunt Lydia!!" Tammy called out.
"Tammy dear, how are you. I just even finished speaking to your mum."
"I'm doing fine thank you."
"Darlings," her father chimed in. "We just wanted to hear how your first day went. We're all so proud of you two."
Rozenn smiled. "It was good. Busy. A little overwhelming. But I think I'll be okay."
"You will be okay," her mother confirmed. "And don't let those high-brow senior lawyers intimidate you. Your father is a Judge!"
"Even the one with the permanent scowl?" Rozenn asked.
"He's just constipated," Raymond said.
"Ray!" their mum scolded.
Tammy was doubled over with laughter.
They chatted a bit more—her parents asking about her desk, the parking situation, whether she ate enough. Raymond tried to convince her to smuggle him into the office one day "as an intern."
"I'll wear a suit. No one will know."
Rozenn rolled her eyes. "You're seventeen."
"Exactly. Prime intern age."
Eventually, goodnights were exchanged and the call ended, leaving the apartment in a peaceful hush.
Rozenn moved toward her room, switching off the hallway light.
"Hey," Tammy called from the couch. "You did great today."
Rozenn paused in her doorway. "So did you." She said and went into her room closing the door shut.
She changed into her nightwear, slipped under her duvet, and stared at the ceiling for a while.
Images of the day flickered through her mind—Lisa's dry humor, Alan's dramatic monologues, Onda's constant groaning because of Mr. Collins, Mr. Collins' grumbling wit, the way Evan Grey had looked at her just before offering her a ride.
Why did he do that? she wondered.
Not in a romantic sense—though she'd be lying if she said she hadn't noticed the way his shirts fit or the quiet power in his voice—but more in curiosity. It wasn't like him. From what she'd gathered, Evan Grey didn't do personal.
And yet… he had asked.
Her lips curled slightly.
Interesting.
She turned onto her side, pulling the blanket up to her chin.
It wouldn't be an easy journey. There would be stress and paperwork and early mornings and long nights. There would be intimidating courtrooms and more coffee than sleep. There would be expectations to meet and mistakes to recover from.
But there would also be friendships, inside jokes, late lunches, and… maybe, just maybe, something else blooming quietly beneath all the chaos.
Rozenn closed her eyes, whispering softly to herself, "Let's do this."