To say the least, Jane and Erin sat in the restroom for about and hour and a half. It should also be noted that the women's restroom on the 8th floor of the networking section was unavailable for that same allotted time.
But when Erin and Jane walked out of that restroom. Something happened to their friendship. Something new. It felt as if they had reached a whole new level in their friendship, and both had to agree it was for the better.
"Hey, you guys okay?" Jay and Lena asked Jane when both women came back to the office and went to their respective desks.
Jane smiled, remembering their entire conversation. "Yeah, I'm okay."
"You were what?" Jane asked in a low voice. Erin looked nervously at Jane.
"I was engaged to Zachary Joshua Benning." Erin repeated. Jane just stared at Erin, and Erin couldn't help but feel like fidgeting under Jane's intense gaze. To say Erin was worried that she had lost a friend was an understatement.
"His middle name is Joshua?" Jane's face scrunched up in disbelief. When Erin heard it though, she couldn't help but start laughing. Of all the replies that Jane could have said, she had to pick that one.
"What?" Jane asked as she stared at Erin like she's gone mad. "Seriously, you don't find that odd?" Jane asked in all seriousness, but Erin continued to laugh. All of a sudden, Erin didn't feel so nervous telling Jane her shady past anymore. She knew she could definitely trust Jane.
"I actually find it quite adorable." Erin smiled. Jane shrugged one shoulder with a suit-youself look.
"Well, any way," Jane began, "what's this with Zach making you hate business presentation parties?" Erin's smile died down a little and she nodded.
"Yeah, well, it was after we had broken our engagement. I just started working for Mr. Manx as an actual advertising director. It was my first job. You weren't at Manx Co. yet, since you didn't start working for him until a month later." Erin explained.
"I had one of the best presentations ready. I was nervous, but not to the point that I wanted to break down. Everything was going well when all of a sudden someone in the crowd shouted, 'Hey! You're Erin Kae! Zach Benning's ex-fiance!' I didn't know what to say. I didn't think anyone would really recognize me, since we broke it off about two years ago at that time. I was horrified to say the least. Of course, Zach being Zachary Benning, one of the most sought out bachelor, had his own share of fan clubs, and they just so happen to be there at the party." Erin stopped. She couldn't help but remember in detail what happened. She didn't want to remember, but she knew she had to finish the story for Jane. Her best friend would understand.
"In the middle of my presentation, those psychotic bitches started calling me a whore and a skank and all these stupid names. I tried so hard to not be bothered by it, but by then they had ruined the atmosphere of the presentation. Not only did I feel humiliated, I felt like I couldn't ever escape Zach and his big name." Erin's tears started to fall and Jane handed her a tissue. She took it and started wiping her tears away.
"Mr. Manx called security, because they caused a big scene, but by then, the clients found it too hard to forgive what happened and placed the blame all on me for ruining the business presentation party. Mr. Manx wasn't mad at all though. He defended me with everything he had to the clients, but they wouldn't budge. They left with their eight digit account and went to another advertising company. Ever since then, I haven't done a business presentation party." Erin sighed and couldn't help but feel relieved for letting it out. She turn to look at Jane who had a smile on her face.
"I'm glad you told me Erin. I really am." She gave Erin a hug, which Erin gladly took.
Jane then pulled back. "Now what's this with you and Zach being engaged?" Erin laughed and started telling Jane the entire story.
______________________________________________________
"Hey Erin." Zach went into Erin's office.
It was the day before the party and Zach had yet to ask Erin to be his date. He felt like an idiot school boy. He was a grown man for goodness sake!
"Oh, hey Zach." Erin said aimlessly as she continued to work.
"So, you excited about the party?" Immediately Zach felt like a complete bone-head for asking that. It was three weeks ago when Erin had the complete melt down after hearing there was a party she had to attend to.
Erin looked up at Zach with a are-you-stupid look. "Umm...sure." She replied and continued with her work.
"Heh, right. Well..." Zach kept slipping his hands in and out of his pockets.
"Zach what is it?" Erin asked with a bit of impatience laced in her voice. She didn't have time for his useless antics. She had work to do.
"Oh, um, right." Zach started muttering. Erin continued to stare at Zach while he stood in nervous silence. "Zach." Erin said. The impatience was now apparent in her voice and face.
Zach snapped out of his thoughts and look at Erin. "Do you need something?" She asked. Zach sighed. "Look, do you have a-"
"Mr. Benning?" Jane interrupted.
Zach heaved an impatient sigh. He was so close on asking Erin. He looked back at Erin who was only looking at Jane.
"Um, yes Ms. Turn?" Zach said in the most pleasant voice he could muster.
"I needed to talk to you in private, if that's okay?" Jane asked nicely. Zach didn't want to talk with her. He wanted to talk with Erin. He looked back at Erin and she gave him an expected look. He knew that Erin cherished her friendships, and that meant he had to treat Jane with the utmost respect.
"Umm...sure." Zach grudgingly walked out of Erin's office.
"What did you need Ms. Turn?" Zach asked.
All of a sudden, Jane's sweet deposition turned into a down right bitch look face.
"Look. I heard what happened between you and Erin. And all I have to say is that I'm so not your biggest fan anymore." She pointed at him while she lectured. Zach just stood still. He was too shock.
"I know you were about to ask Erin out, and as much as I want Erin to be happy and date, you are not Mr. Right at the moment. So, don't ask her out. She doesn't need anymore stress than what you've already given her." Jane turned on her heel and left.
Zach just stood there.
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Jane and Erin was at the mall shopping for a new dress for the party. Of course, Jane had to drag Erin away from her work to do this, which was a great accomplishment on Jane's behalf.
"Erin!!! GET THE HELL AWAY FROM THE COMPUTER!!!!!" Jane yelled out loud. Erin only continued to type away on her laptop. Of course, everything was done, but Erin wanted to make sure everything was perfect. She wanted to impress everyone at the party, considering her first and only one was a complete disaster.
"ERIN KAE!!! GET AWAY NOW!!!" Jane continued to yell. "WE HAVE TO GET YOU AN OUTFIT!!! AND IF YOU DON'T, I'M GOING TO CHOOSE THE OUTFIT AND YOU WILL BE FORCED TO WEAR IT!!!!" Erin still not listening at her perturbed friend. Jane growled and rushed towards Erin's laptop and pushed the power button.
"HEY!!!" Erin yelled. "You just ruined ALL my work!!!" Erin thought frantically. She started to hyperventilate.
Jane only rolled her eyes. "Hello!!!! I backed up that data on Jay, Lena, Dean, and my computer. I also made three copies of it!!! JUST RECENTLY TOO!!! So, you didn't lose anything!! Now come on!" Jane grabbed Erin's wrist and pulled her off her seat. She then stuff Erin's paper messily into her briefcase and then closed it with some papers still stuck out and threw it at Erin.
"Now let's hit the malls!!!" Jane said happily, relieved she can finally do something she loved to do. Erin was in a state of shock when Jane had messily threw everything in her briefcase.
"But-" "No 'buts'!!! I'm kicking your ass if you are about to shorten my time at the mall!!!" Jane dragged Erin to the parking lot and pushed Erin into her car.
"So what did you talk to Zach about?" Erin asked as she entered a store and look through the racks. Jane followed suite. She gave a half shrug.
"Oh, just your usual work questions." Jane said. Erin nodded absentmindedly which Jane was all to glad that Erin was actually not paying attention.
"So do you have a date for the party?" Jane asked. "Huh? Oh, no. I'm going to be too busy with the presentation and talking to the board to have a date along my side." Erin explained.
"Yeah, I totally understand, but...if a guy happens to hit on you...you..."Jane leaned in towards Erin and gave her a suggestive look. Erin gave her a weird look in return.
"Tell him all the great things about Benning Corp.?" Erin finished. At least, that's what she thought.
"No!" Jane yelled and Erin couldn't help but back up a bit. "You hit on him. Of course that's only if he's really good looking." Jane finished.
"Shallow much?" Erin asked. Jane just gave a happy smile and continued on looking through the racks.
"Well, it doesn't matter anyway. Like I said I'll be too busy to concentrate on anything, but the work." Erin said in a finalizing tone. She continue to look through the racks and still found nothing interesting to her.
"You're such a...what's it called...spinster!" Jane said as she snapped at her fingers for getting the right word.
Erin gave her a shut-up look and saw that Jane had about five dresses on her arm.
Erin sighed, "I can't find anything, let's go home now, I'm totally worn out." Erin sighed. Luckily, she didn't have to babysit the little kids today, because their family went to the amusement park today.
Jane turned around to look at Erin and saw that she didn't even have one dress to try on. "Erin. You didn't even look for a dress." Jane marched up to Erin. "Yes, I did. See?" Erin started to push one dress to another, finishing the circular rack in ten seconds.
Jane heaved a sigh, "What am I going to do with you? It's only been," Jane glanced at her watch, "four hours Erin! We have another two hours!!! You've wasted so much time Erin!!"
"What do you mean!?! You don't even have a dress!" Erin turned around walking around the store.
"At least I tried on some stuff. You tried a total of four dresses!!!" Jane cried out loud.
"I know what's my style and what's not." Erin stated stubbornly. Erin plopped down on the seats near the dressing rooms. Jane only sighed and entered the dressing room.
"You know," Jane shouted over her dressing room door, "I don't think Zach's gonna give up on you so easily." Jane opened the door wearing a navy blue strapless dress. Erin only shook her head and Jane stepped back into the dressing room.
"Unfortunately, I know that." Erin stated, closing her eyes. Erin heard Jane clearing her throat and opened her eyes to see Jane in a soft shade of yellow dress.
Erin shook her head. "Too short." Erin stated. Jane huffed and stepped back into the dressing room.
"Are you gonna take him back?" Jane stated as she stepped outside with a white dress.
"I don't know." Erin whispered. Jane stared at her friend. "Erin?" Erin looked up and just gave her a full fledge smile.
"White is too innocent for you." Jane's caring face turned into a frown. She glared back at Erin's smirk. "You're mean." Jane stated and stepped back into her dressing room.
Erin's eyes wandered around the store. She turned her attention back to Jane.
Jane stepped out with a red cocktail dress. A halter with a low V-neck line. Right where the V-neck line met, was a set of rhinestones shape like a pair of pointed down feathers, which show some of her skin below her breast because the feather shape was outlined. The length of the dress ended just below the middle of her thigh. Jane's blonde hair complimented the red, giving her a seductive look.
Jane spun around for Erin to see. Erin smiled. "I like it. I mean it's a bit too short, but it looks great on you." Jane smiled at her compliment.
"I guess this is the dress!" Jane smiled happily as she skipped back into her dressing room.
Erin sighed. She continued to look around the store, bored out of her mind. She stopped at a corner of the store. There she could see a dress she liked very much. Jane stepped out of the dressing room ready to buy the dress. Erin stood up, eyeing the dress.
"I guess all we have to do now is find a dress for you Erin." Jane stated as she headed towards the cashier. "No." Jane stopped when Erin started to head towards the corner of the store.
"I think I just found the dress." Erin took the dress and went into the dressing room to try on a dress she was sure that looked good on her.
Author's Note: Sorry for the slow update. I'm still in the process of moving. Sorry the chapter wasn't so great. I know it was basically filler, but I really wanted to establish where Jane stood as Erin's friend.
I hope you enjoyed it!
The next chapter will be the party!!! yay!!
Please review!!!