Estelle sat on the couch in their apartment, absentmindedly flipping through her notes while Mia paced around the room, munching on an apple. The past few days had been tense, to say the least. After that intense encounter with Celeste at the café, Estelle had been feeling conflicted. The constant back and forth between the two of them, the tension simmering just beneath the surface—it was all too much.
But today, Mia seemed to have something else on her mind, and she was clearly working her way up to it.
“You know,” Mia said casually, leaning against the kitchen counter and tossing the apple core into the trash, “I heard Miss Scarlett is looking for an intern for her law firm.”
Estelle blinked, turning to face Mia. “Miss Scarlett? The lawyer who spoke at the conference last month?”
“Yep,” Mia confirmed, sitting down across from her. “She’s one of the top five in the city. Not number one like Professor Thorne, but still a big name. It’s a solid opportunity.”
Estelle’s interest piqued, but she hesitated. “I don’t know, Mia… Miss Scarlett’s firm is incredible, but…”
“But what?” Mia interrupted, leaning forward with a grin. “This could be huge for you, Estelle. You’ve been killing yourself over Thorne’s internship and, let’s be honest, she chose Pierce. She made her choice. Her loss. Miss Scarlett’s firm could be a fresh start for you.”
Estelle bit her lip, the idea starting to take hold. “I mean, it’s true. Scarlett’s firm is still one of the best. It’s not as high profile as Thorne’s, but it’s a great place to grow. I’ve always admired her work.”
Mia nodded enthusiastically. “Exactly! This could be the perfect opportunity for you. You deserve this after everything with Thorne. Don’t let what happened with the internship hold you back. Scarlett would be lucky to have you.”
Estelle frowned slightly, her thoughts still lingering on the complex dynamic with Celeste. She knew Mia was right—Celeste had chosen Pierce, and no matter how intense things were between them on a personal level, professionally, that decision had been made. Still, the idea of Celeste’s reaction to her moving on to another top firm gnawed at her.
“I don’t think Professor Thorne would be happy if I applied elsewhere,” Estelle admitted, a hint of doubt creeping into her voice. “Especially with someone like Miss Scarlett.”
Mia rolled her eyes dramatically. “Who cares what Professor Thorne thinks? It’s not her decision. She didn’t choose you for her firm, and that’s her loss. Let her get pissed about it if she wants to. You’re your own person, Estelle. You don’t owe her anything.”
Estelle stared at her notes, the logic of Mia’s words sinking in. Mia was right—Celeste had made her choice. She had chosen to keep things professional, to distance herself from Estelle after everything. Estelle couldn’t keep waiting around, hoping that things might change. She had her own career to think about, and Miss Scarlett’s firm was an incredible opportunity.
“Maybe you’re right,” Estelle said slowly, feeling the weight of her decision starting to lift. “Maybe I should apply with Miss Scarlett. It’s a chance to start fresh, without all the complications.”
Mia grinned, nodding vigorously. “Hell yes, you should! You’re one of the best in your class, Estelle. You’ll impress Scarlett in a heartbeat. You don’t need Thorne’s approval to move forward.”
Estelle smiled, a small spark of excitement building in her chest. The thought of working under Miss Scarlett—one of the most respected lawyers in the city—was exhilarating. She had been so caught up in the whirlwind with Celeste that she had almost forgotten how many other doors were open to her.
“I’ll look into it,” Estelle said, her mind already racing with possibilities. “I’ll send in my application today.”
“Atta girl,” Mia said, beaming. “This is going to be great for you. You’ll see.”
But even as Estelle’s excitement grew, she couldn’t help the small voice in the back of her mind wondering how Celeste would react. Would she even care? Would it bother her?
Why do I care what she thinks? Estelle thought to herself. This is my career, not hers.
With newfound determination, Estelle grabbed her laptop and pulled up Miss Scarlett’s firm website. The application process was straightforward, and as she typed out her personal statement, the possibilities of what this new path could bring began to excite her.
Mia leaned over her shoulder, watching her type with a satisfied smile. “You’re doing the right thing, Estelle. Scarlett’s firm is going to be lucky to have you.”
Estelle smiled, feeling more certain than she had in weeks. “Yeah. I think you’re right.”
Later that night, Estelle sat in bed, her laptop beside her, thinking about the whirlwind of changes that had happened in just the past few weeks. Celeste had pushed her away, and though she still couldn’t shake the pull she felt toward her professor, she knew it was time to stop waiting for something that might never happen.
Applying for the internship at Miss Scarlett’s firm was the first step toward moving on—toward focusing on herself and her future.
But as she lay there, staring at the ceiling, Estelle couldn’t help the lingering question that kept tugging at her: What will Celeste think when she finds out?
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