"Yes, Miss Rosenberg, you must understand that this is a highly sought after post in a very prestigious firm. I was not even aware it had been advertised."
"I was- made aware of the vacancy and I believe that I am the woman to fill it."
"Wolfram and Hart, as a rule, pick their own. Despite your very high credentials and shining references, you must realise that your chances of being offered this position are slim. There is much competition and the Senior- and Junior- Partners are biased towards applicants who have been with the firm for a while, and the post is most likely to be offered to one of those hand trained by those loyal to the corporation."
"Mr MacDonald. I am not in the business of failure. I intend to fight for the job. Clients I have represented in the past have always been satisfied with my services and I have failed to win only one case in the course of my career- when both my client and the prosecuting client were killed under mysterious circumstances- and you can hardly call a complete adjournment a failure. Aside from this, I have other talents beneficial to the firm. The security system at my old firm is impenetrable- unless you're me- and I can find information on a wide variety of subjects within minutes if given a computer."
"That's as may be, Miss Rosenberg, but there are other considerations for those making the final decision to take into account."
"I can be advantageous not only to the firm, Mr MacDonald, but also to all its clients, in a way that few people could. I am equipped to deal not only with humans but many other species also. I am the woman you're looking for." Having put her case across, Willow Rosenberg stood to leave, gathering her briefcase and jacket, before walking out of the door. As she left the building, she reached into her pocket and pulled out a cell phone
"Spike, it's me. Where are you?… You need to get your ass to LA, I'm gonna need your help."
***
"What was so important as to make you late, Lindsey?"
"We have an unexpected applicant for Tika’s post."
"I wasn’t aware there were and applicants as yet, either unexpected or otherwise. Which wing is she with?"
"None."
"Pardon?"
"She’s not from Wolfram and Hart. I have heard of her though. Very respected lawyer, works mostly in Europe. She’s beaten our Asian partners too. An impeccable record and she’s just turned up in my office telling me in no uncertain terms that she intends to fill this position and that she knows the different natures of some of our clients."
"Her name?"
"Willow Rosenburg."
"Her papers?" Lindsey handed the documents over, giving his superior a moment to glance over them "They’re impressive."
"That they are sir."
"Invite her to a cocktail party next Tuesday evening. Perhaps the post won’t be filled by Lilah as originally planned. I want to see the two of them together. Also, dig up her past. I want everything, right down to the first time she sneezed. This takes priority over everything, understood?"
"Yes sir."
"Good. Dismissed."
***
"Look Junior, you had to hit a rock somewhere."
"I’m not losing this job, Spike. I’ve been after this kind of post for years. And with Wolfram and Hart! This is the big one, I can feel it, and I’m not going to lose it just because you were stupid enough to get caught by your sire."
"I did not ‘get caught’ by Angel, I got cornered by your wolf."
"Oz? What’s he doing in LA?"
"Helping the bleedin’ poof and his posse."
"Do they know I’m here?"
"I haven’t’ told them if that’s what you’re asking, but I’d keep a low profile if I were you. They’ve got a pretty extensive network of informants throughout the city. If they hear you’re here, they’ll be after you."
"Damn it. I’m not gonna give up now, I’m too close. Why didn’t I change my bloody name?"
"Have you been in England again?"
"Ha ha."
"I’ve gotta go, I can hear them all getting back. I’ll phone when I get a chance." Switching off the cell, Willow kicked off her shoes and went through to the hotel bathroom. She ran water into the tub and took down her hair. She was in the process of finger combing it out when she heard a knock on the outer door. She was surprised to see Lindsey McDonald on the other side
"Mr McDonald."
"Miss Rosenburg. I hope I’m not disturbing anything."
"Nothing of astronomical proportions." Willow stepped to the side of the door, allowing Lindsey to enter, and then followed him through to the seating area of the three-room suite.
"This isn’t a social visit."
"I’d guessed as much."
"I’ve been asked to invite you to a cocktail party. It’s a viewing of prospective replacements for the recently vacated position within the firm. It’s an unusual event, but the this is an unusual case."
"You don’t usually have applicants from outside the firm."
"No."
"When?"
"Tuesday. 7:30 onwards."
"May I bring a guest?"
"A date?"
"A client."
"From your old firm?"
No, an independent. One I’ll bring with me if I am offered the post."
"I’ll arrange for an extra invite."
"I’ll see you Tuesday then."
***
[Spike, Tuesday, 7:30, Cocktail party, W&H- Applicants inc. me! I got you an invite. Make sure you’re free. Pick me up at 7:00 outside usual place. Dress smart.]
Shutting down the computer, Spike laid down on the so-called bed his sire had provided him with. Both dreading explaining to Angel and his cronies where he was going, and eagerly anticipating seeing Willow again, Spike was startled when there came a knocking on his bedroom door. Quickly hiding his phone, computer and other business accessories, he called out a lazy invitation. It was the wolf who entered
"What d’you want?"
"Angel sent me, there’s news."
"And I’m supposed to be bothered, why?"
"Because whether you like it or not, you’re fighting with us now."
"Oh joy. Tell me the bloody news then."
"Tika Bayanam." Spike tensed at the name
"And she is?"
"Junior Partner at Wolfram and Hart. Word is she’s dead. Attacked by the new group of vampires Gunn’s been having problems with. The firm’s unstable, if we can get our way in now, before they fill her place, it could topple."
"That’s risky."
"Agreed, the favourite for replacement, Lilah Morgan, is a strong force, but selfish and greedy, Cordy’s meeting with her, making her an offer. This could be our big chance."
"Sounds smooth. Where’s the hitch?"
"There’s another candidate. The firm’s keeping their identity very hush hush, if it goes to them, we’ve lost. All we know is that the applicant is strong, determined and loyal. Whoever it is will be a huge boost to the firm- make it even bigger. Their only disadvantage is that they’re new to the firm- they won’t have the trust Lilah does and so are less likely to get the job. We have to feed that distrust."
"What do you want me to do?"
"Find out who they are, how they can be manipulated, what their past hides. The usual."
"And I’m supposed to do this how?"
"However you want. You have free reign of the city. Just find them."
"Whatever." Oz left the room and Spike reached for his phone
"Hello?"
"It’s your personal back scrubbing service, calling to apologise for the absence."
"How d’you do that?"
"What?"
"You can always tell where I am as soon as I answer the phone."
"Well the sound of water droplets trickling over your gorgeous breasts give away when you’re in the bath."
"So you called to hear the sound of dripping water? Why don’t you just go outside, it’s raining cats and dogs out there."
"I told you, too long in England."
"I’ll come back cockney for you next time."
"We have trouble, Junior."
"I guessed as much."
"I’ve just been assigned the task of finding out everything about you."
"I’m a threat?"
"To the state of LA apparently. They’re going to be watching you with a hawk’s eye. You’re not gonna be able to hide forever."