Chapter 2 The journey

At the office Amelia's day was filled with meetings, court appearances, and negotiations. Amelia's courtroom prowess was unmatched, and her colleagues began to realize that her gender was irrelevant to her ability. Slowly, the skepticism faded, replaced by admiration for her legal acumen.

But not everyone was ready to accept Amelia's rise. In a pivotal scene, during a heated partner meeting, John Randall, a senior partner, openly questioned her presence in the firm. "Is Wall Street no place for a woman?" he challenged.

Amelia's response was swift and unyielding. She presented a case she had meticulously prepared, outlining how her contributions had not only equaled but surpassed those of many of her male counterparts. She spoke of the importance of diversity and how her unique perspective added value to the firm.

The partners were silenced, and Amelia's star continued to shine.

Over the following weeks, Amelia delved headfirst into her work. Early mornings and late nights became the norm as she devoured case files, analyzed legal precedents, and prepared meticulously for every meeting. She was determined to be more than just another lawyer at Hawthorn & Associates; she aimed to be the driving force behind change.

One evening, as she was engrossed in reviewing a complex merger deal, her phone buzzed with a text message from her colleague and close friend, Sarah. It read, "Happy hour tonight, Melia? You deserve a break!"

Amelia hesitated for a moment, torn between her work and the desire for some respite. But she knew that building her way to the top meant finding balance and making connections within the firm. She texted back, "Count me in, Sarah. Let's meet at The Barley & Vine at 7."

The Barley & Vine was a popular watering hole among Wall Street lawyers, a place where deals were unofficially sealed over glasses of whiskey, and alliances were forged in the dimly lit corners. It was also a place where Amelia intended to make her presence felt.

That evening, as she walked into the bar, the chatter and laughter of colleagues filled the air. She spotted Sarah at a corner table, waving enthusiastically. Sarah, a brilliant litigator with a sharp wit, had been a source of unwavering support since Amelia's arrival at the firm.

"Melia, you made it!" Sarah exclaimed, pulling Amelia into a warm hug.

They settled into their booth, and over cocktails, they began to unwind. Sarah regaled Amelia with tales of office politics and shared insights about the various partners at the firm. Amelia listened intently, taking mental notes of the dynamics at play. Sarah took a moment and stared at Amelia in awe of her outfit and exclaimed "If I knew u would be smoking hot today, I would have chosen a place with a pool" Melia laughed and wondered if there was anything exciting to see here in her words "Aren't there any hoties on wall street"

Just about that time a breath of fresh air walked in a young dashing group of men on shirts and jeans and while Melia was still staring one caught her eyes and gave her a wink and she blushed.

Sarah was shocked and surprised that Amelia would blush at a guy and even spend 10seconds looking at a guy considering how focused and serious minded she was back when they were in school studying for the bar exams Amelia stayed away from guys and even when she was asked out, she would say she's in a very serious relationship and that relationship is with her dreams, in school she was referred to as Melia the dreamer but she didn't care because her eyes were fixated on something bigger than they could imagine and that was her dream to work in one of the biggest law firms in the city and that dream has been fulfilled.

Sitted there with Melia, Sarah had her eyes on one of the gents there and he also reciprocated the vibe, then the made a weird gesture with their eyes and the next thing she excuses herself to go to the restroom, which just about that time the handsome gent also had to go to the restroom. Melia smiled because she knew how crazy and naughty Sarah was, the only thing she said was please use a condom you know what happened last time.

Rewind to law school, they went to a club after Sarah managed to emotionally blackmail Melia into going and when they get back Sarah told Melia how she hit it off with a couple of guys precisely 4 in one night and Melia was shocked because her friend is busy hitting it off with four guys and she has been a virgin for as long as she can remember. Two weeks gone and Sarah missed her period, she was so scared that she thought she was pregnant. She didn't even want to go for the test she assumed since she missed her period, she had to be pregnant.

Amelia got tired of having to convince her of taking a test and just let her believe what she wanted, but the issue now is she doesn't know who the father is because she hit it off with different guys at the party and she wasn't sure when the child was conceived. So, she mailed baby clothes to the four men she had sex with and in the box was a letter and her photo. In the letter she explained to them that she is pregnant and they are the father.

They all individually reached out to her and then she found out that two were married with kids and didn't want anything jeopardizing their family so they asked her to get rid of the baby, the other one reached out and said he is impotent which means he couldn't be the father so the final one actually paid a visit and told her that he also is married but he doesn't have kids, for 12 years of being married to his wife no kids and he would love it if she could give birth to the child and hand over his custody to him and his wife.

Melia laughed and just couldn't help but say 'You don't know if you are the father' he was puzzled so Sarah had to explain better and he immediately requested a DNA be done with him now. They got in his car and drove to the hospital after which the test result showed she wasn't even pregnant in the first place. He stared at her with tears in his eyes because for the first time in his life ever since he got married, he knew what it felt like to be a father, even if it was a false alarm, it felt really good for him. Sarah scarred she was going to get an earful got a hug and a thank you and he said to her;

'Thank you for making me experience what other fathers feel when told they are going to be

fathers'

Sarah apologized for the false alarm and they parted ways, ever since that day Sarah promised never to be in that situation again instead, she was going to carry condoms in her bag to make sure nothing like this ever happens again. Melia laughed they both hugged and went home.

Fast forward to today while Melia was waiting on Sarah her phone rang and it was a butt dial from Sarah and all she could hear were moans filled with ecstasy and she shouted Sarah!! Sarah shocked because she heard Melia's voice stopped her activity and asked if he heard anything, he said no, so she continued.

As the night progressed, more colleagues joined their gathering. Amelia made sure to engage in every conversation, demonstrating her legal acumen and ability to hold her own in discussions ranging from high-profile cases to the latest stock market trends. She could feel the respect of her peers growing with each exchange.

At the center of the room, the firm's senior partners held court. Charles Hawthorn's booming laughter echoed through the bar as he clinked glasses with his inner circle. Amelia watched them closely, her mind racing with ambition. She knew that to reach the top, she would need allies among the most influential figures in the firm.

Melia got carried away mingling with like minds that she didn't notice Sarah had been gone for thirty minutes, Sarah came back and she gasped for air saying "Thirty minutes of sheer pleasure" Melia exclaimed thirty minutes! All Sarah could do was smile because at that point the only thing in her mind was the long-lasting pleasure, she feels from the sex she had just experienced.

The hours slipped away, and the gathering at The Barley & Vine began to thin out. Amelia, determined to make an impression, approached Charles Hawthorn, who was finishing his last drink.

"Mr. Hawthorn," she began, "I wanted to express my gratitude for the opportunity you've given me. I'm fully committed to making a difference at this firm."

Charles Hawthorn turned to her, his eyes appraising. "Actions speak louder than words, Ms. Grayson."

"I understand that, sir," Amelia replied with unwavering resolve. "And I plan to prove myself through results."

Charles Hawthorn gave her a nod of acknowledgment before excusing himself. Amelia knew that the road ahead was still long and filled with challenges, but she also knew that she had taken a significant step in solidifying her presence in the firm's hierarchy.

Melia also decided to call it a night and asked Sarah that they leave since she had to be at the office in the morning. They got up and while they were leaving Sarah kept on blowing kisses at her prince charming and he did the same, Melia dragged her away and they exited the club.

Just about that time the tall dark handsome gent who gave Melia a stare earlier turned around and didn't see her, filled with disappointment he rushed out to she if he can get her but she has already left then as ever focused as Melia she forgot about him just like that while he hoped for an opportunity to see her again, impossible yes! but he hoped.

As the days turned into weeks, Amelia's dedication and drive were evident to all. She tackled cases with a fervor that left her colleagues in awe and continued to build relationships that would become her foundation. But she was also acutely aware of the obstacles she faced, not just as a young lawyer but as a woman in a male-dominated world.

In the quiet moments of reflection, Amelia often found herself thinking about the journey that had brought her to this point. She remembered the sacrifices, the late nights spent studying, and the countless hours honing her legal skills. She remembered the voices of doubt and skepticism that had only fueled her determination further.

The desire that had burned within her on that first day at Hawthorn.