Cal stood shell-shocked in his office for a moment. He'd just been duped, hook, line and sinker and he hadn't spotted it. She was right when she said she'd learn quick. So right that he wondered if she hadn't already learned it somewhere else. She'd waited until he was engrossed in a case and wouldn't have really noticed her game. He shook his head. What had he gotten himself into? He needed a drink.

He passed Foster's office on his way to the lift and he stopped in. She was on the phone but held up a finger to tell him to wait. He came in, sat down and swung his feet onto her desk. She frowned at him and he swung them back down again, pulling a face as he did.

"Yeah, that's fine, I'll get on it as soon as possible. Bye." She hung up the phone and sighed.

"Someone giving you grief?"

"Just a client following up on a report…one that's been on your desk for the last week waiting to be signed off" she added quickly, letting him know she meant business. He held a hand out.

"Give it to me first thing in the morning and I'll do it."

"I bet you say that to all the pretty investors." Gillian retorted with the triumphant smirk on her face. Cal couldn't help but chuckle despite being a bit shocked at Gillian's interpretation of his sentence. She was supposed to be the good girl wasn't she? That one was good though, he had to give her that. But then he remembered that it was no laughing matter.

"Gillian, you don't seem too bothered by the fact that we just got played." Gillian looked up, pushing the papers in front of her away.

"I know Cal. And I am a bit worried. But if it keeps the company going long enough to get things moving again, how can we say no?" Cal pursed his lips and shook his head. They were silent for a moment.

"Do you fancy a drink?" he asked suddenly.

"I don't like it Gill. She tricked us, me. And I didn't spot it." He took another sip of the whiskey he had in front of him. Gillian sipped her wine calmly.

"That's the part that's bothering you, isn't it? The fact that for once, you didn't realise what was going on. It bothers me too Cal, it does. I mean, she's not a majority holder or anything but, we can't afford to make her unhappy so she's as good as." Cal nodded.

"I know. And I don't like the sound of that 'cash-cow' line. I am not going dirty-spouse hunting again. It's bloody painful." He signalled the barman for another round despite Gillian's attempt to protest. She shrugged and nodded when the barman stopped to make sure she wanted another. Why not? It wasn't like she had anywhere to go. She was about to speak when his phone rang on the counter. He looked at it.

"Oh brilliant." Off Gillian's look he muttered 'Zoe'. He picked up the phone and answered.

"To whom do I owe the pleasure?" he smirked at Gillian and she took another sip of her wine.

"God Cal, considering all the favours you've called in over the years I would say half of Washington." He could practically hear the grin on his ex-wife through the phone.

"Let's not talk about favours love. Thanks to the last one you asked of me, I've just ended up between two very high stools." Gillian frowned at him. He mouthed back 'what'? But she shook her head, never mind. She was about to tell him not to tell Zoe but it wasn't her place to decide that.

"Why? What's happened?" The teasing in Zoe's voice had been replaced with genuine concern. It was the one thing about her that he still missed, her ability to know when to stop messing about.

"I'll tell you another time. What's up?" Gillian swallowed another sip of wine at that remark. 'Another time'. She wondered if there would ever not be 'another time'. It seemed to her that while Cal and Zoe couldn't stand living together, they couldn't stand not sleeping together. She shrugged, supposing it was honest enough in ways. Cal sighed suddenly on the phone.

"I did not get her involved Zo. That bastard police team did. And it's not going to stand on her record, the captain's seen to that." Gillian knew then that they were talking about Emily. She stood up and went to move past him but he caught her wrist, giving her a quizzical look. She mouthed that she was going to the bathroom and he slowly released her hand. She smiled warmly and walked on.

"What? No I didn't manage to get underage drinking off the record. That was a different bloody department! And she DID do that one!"

Gillian touched up her mascara as the last other person left the bathroom. She sighed. They hadn't really talked in full about what was sure to be a takeover of their company. The only question that remained was how hostile it would be. Cal didn't like being fooled so she knew he'd resist as much as possible. Clara, on the other hand, had never had anyone say no to her. Gillian was the middleman, the one who was going to take the most flak from both sides.

She sighed again as she closed over her handbag. A tornado was about to collide with a hurricane. She just wondered what it was going to throw out.

Like? Hate? Want to kill me for starting a new story when I haven't finished the other? Valid argument. But please, tell me whether I should continue.