Worth the fight

was seeing William.

Chapter 30
     
    Elle
    I haven’t seen or heard from William since the night at the bar when Nico decided to out us as a couple by kissing me purposefully right in front of him.  Now I’m going to sit next to him in an all afternoon deposition with Nico’s scent on me and my underwear still damp from our mid day romp.  I should really be pissed off at Nico for being such a neanderthal, but I can’t help but smile when I think about him wanting to mark me as his.  It’s archaic and adolescent and the man is turning me into a foe for the women’s liberation movement, but god damn it, the man may well be my kryptonite. 
    Our c o-clients are here early, earlier than William, which is unusual.  He is normally the first one to arrive for everything.  I put our clients in one conference room and the opposition in another room and go back to my office to review my notes.  Regina buzzes me from the desk to let me know that William has arrived and I go out to the lobby to greet him with a little trepidation. 
    Unlike last time, and every other time w e’ve seen each other over the last few years, he doesn’t kiss me hello, not even a kiss on the cheek.   He’s professional, but distant.  Immediately I can tell that he doesn’t want to talk about anything but business.  Even my attempt at cordial small talk when I greet him is met with resistance.
    “How are you?”  I ask, in an attempt to put a feeler out for how things are going to be between us.
    “Fine. Are our clients here?”  He’s not even going to reciprocate my polite banter to inquire how I am.  
    “Yes, they’re in the conference room.  Do we need to put together a game plan before we start?”  We work well together and it’s usually not necessary, but we always spend a few minutes talking before we meet with our clients.  Go over strategy or pitfalls we want to review. 
    “No.  Unless you’re not ready.”
    So that’s how it’s going to be?  I straighten my spine and stand tall. I can do impersonal with the best of them. “I’m ready.”
    ***
    An hour into our deposition, the ice between William and I thaws.  Twice, we both went to ask the same question at the same time.  Then we both grabbed for the water pitcher at the center of the table at the same moment.  Even opposing counsel got a kick out of how we can finish each other’s sentences.  We really are good together.  Or were, I should be thinking were. 
    We are almost ready to wrap up for the day and I watch William as he finishes up the last of his questions.  He’s intelligent and well-spoken and undeniably handsome.  Financially sound, stable, and dependable.  I don’t know what was missing.  William catches my stare as he turns to me to ask if I have any other questions to ask, and I become a little flustered at being caught admiring him. 
    We make our way to the reception area to see our clients out and Regina tells me s he’s going to head out on time for a change.  She has a hair appointment.  I smile and lie when I tell her that I’m not that far behind her.  Both of us know I’ll be here for hours more.  William walks back to the conference room with me and we spend a few minutes talking about the case.  There really weren’t any surprises, but I’m glad we have the chance to talk before he goes.  He’s friendly and less guarded and we easily slip back into our usual banter for a while.
    I excuse myself and head to the ladies’ room.  When I get back to the conference room, William is almost done packing up both our files.  I’d have to unpack it and reorganize my files if it was anyone else, but I’m sure that William packed it away just as I would have. We’re a lot alike, both methodical in our work habits.  I still have to speak to him about Nico’s contract, but it feels almost awkward to bring him up. 
    “Umm.  I have a fight contract for you to look at.”
    William stops packing the case and looks up at me.  He seems confused for a second and then recognizes what I’m referring to and nods.
    I walk next door to my office to get the envelope where I’ve stashed it with some of the notes I jotted down while I was with Nico.  I’m surprised when I look up and William is standing in the doorway of my office.  I walk to him and hand him the envelope.  He doesn’t move from the doorway.
    “Is he why we stopped spending time together? ”  William’s voice is quiet when he speaks.
    I’m