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The small smile widened a fraction, as if the other woman's approval was all Olivia wanted. Well, technically, it was. At times, Olivia found herself being more at ease working under people rather than striking it out on her own. Of course, it usually depended on the people she was working under. Lucky for her, her previous employers had been good to her.
She was hoping this one would be as well.
The question was generic but Olivia didn't mind. She liked answering simple, predictable questions because they were that. "I'm honestly quite comfortable with the research portion of this work. I have no designs to become a lawyer right now, if that's what you're asking." She paused, chewing the inside of her cheek as her eyes drew away from Teddy, finding her smile rather distracting. "But I'd be happy to assist any of the practicing attorneys with whatever they need."
Generic questions seemed to work for the both of them. The generic answers were always the worst to get; they were easy to spot and predictable at best. Given the course of the small conversation they'd had, Teddy was hopeful she wouldn't get that today.
She lost her eyes so suddenly that it sparked obvious curiosity in Teddy.
"Not a lot of people would be happy to do the grunt work." Teddy pointed out. So she seemed glad that someone was willing to understand the importance of it. It was even better when people understood their limits and when they were and weren't ready for something. "Though, if I'm being honest, I do wish you were further along in your development." She added lightly. That would come with time, she was sure.
"Still, I'm happy to facilitate your growth here." She continued on, just as lightly; "It's nice to be nice and help people, Olivia, but you have to put your own learning and experiences first sometimes too. Always remember that." Lawyers were sharks, and that was how they got ahead. Surely she knew that already, "For example, if I asked you to do the research for my first case at this firm, would you be able to?"
Pursing her lips before giving Teddy a smile and a sideways glance, Olivia leaned to her right as she crossed her legs over the other. "It's mostly because it takes a lot of balls to stand in front of a panel of people to state your case. Something I don't quite have as much." She shrugged. She wasn't afraid to admit to her flaws and frankly, she was happy with them too. They kept her grounded.
Nodding as Teddy continued to speak, Olivia did understand what it meant to be a lawyer but she wasn't there to become one. At least not one like Teddy, anyway. She didn't think it was necessary to climb up the ranks. It was naive of her to think that way but Olivia wasn't ready to cause a stir. She was, after all, a mere human.
Teddy's question felt like a challenge and Olivia straightened her back as she thought of what to answer. "I guess it would depend on what the case was but I'm still just a junior assistant here." She admitted before chancing a glance at the other woman.
The little joke she made - at least, Teddy was fairly certain it was a joke - drew a sliver of humour from the usually stoic lawyer on the other side of the table. Teddy even laughed, offering another small hit of a low chuckle. Again, at least she was honest. She had to give her that.
The answer she got? It wasn't what she expected. Perhaps because it wasn't the answer she would usually get with such a glorious offer on the table. Her eyebrows rose and for once, she showed legitimate confusion. It was gone in a matter of moments.
When she caught her gaze completely, Teddy made a point of holding it in silence. She looked at her in those mere seconds like she was looking for something. Eyes barely narrowed before they looked at her brightly again. "Surely to work here you have to know what you're doing. You haven't quit or been fired, so you must be good at it." She explained. These were assumptions, but she was sure they would fall under the category of educated guesses.
"And don't say it's because it's only been two months. This is the kind of job that forces the wrong people out in two weeks." Teddy shot out quickly, hoping to get the jump on any more negative self depreciating activity.
Olivia already had trouble holding people's gazes on a regular day but having her boss, who had to be one of the most intensely beautiful women around, hold hers, even if it was just a few seconds, made the thirty year old paralegal sweat. Furrowing her brows once more, she leaned forward and tried to keep their eye contact but failed halfway in. She decided to focus on Teddy's defined cheekbones instead.
"I'm not saying I'm not good at what I do. I came here for the sole purpose of making mut...meta humans' lives less difficult. I'm just sure there are a lot more qualified people to do the job." She paused and closed her eye for a brief moment before looking back at Teddy.
"I'm more than happy to help you with your research, Miss James. I'm sure you'll have a lot to teach me."
Teddy lost her gaze. When it came to the intensely focused studying of another person's features, she often won that staring contest. It likely came from years in the business she was sort of maybe looking to flourish in. She pressed her lips together again to keep herself from grinning at the usual effect her own stare carried.
A twitch of her eyebrows was offered for the way this woman corrected herself. Teddy supposed if she intended to work in such a field, it was safer for her to defer to the politically correct terminology. But it felt more personal when she didn't. At least they ended on the note Teddy had been expecting. Because of course, who would genuinely say no to such a golden opportunity? Pursing her lips slightly, contemplating the next part of this conversation given its importance.
"My first piece of advice to you is to take what you have above everyone else and use it." Teddy explained, unable to halt the way she leaned inward at the emphasis. Eyes narrowed on her a fraction, like this was a piece of information better kept secret, but she was willing to share it anyway. "I'm all but telling you that your unique lack-of superhuman abilities is the exact thing I'm looking for in an assistant. I'm willing to forgo people who might be better qualified because you've got an amazing edge for this particular part of law." She had to wonder what about that idea was difficult to grasp. Or perhaps it was that Olivia wasn't used to such recognition from a stranger.
Being a commodity sounded a lot better than being an outcast, especially in a firm where Olivia was obviously the minority. She knew having her boss as an ally might probably make it a little complicated with her colleagues but she also knew she needed to seize the opportunity she was presented.
Not to mention, the idea of spending more time with Teddy appealed to her a lot more than she initially thought.
Olivia ran her fingers through her hair and gave Teddy a smile. "Thank you, Miss James. I'm grateful for this opportunity. And I'll try to remember your advice." She leaned forward and uncrossed her legs. "Is there anything else you'd like from me?" She asked, wondering how much of Teddy's time she'd wasted already.
Teddy was absolutely ready to continue to sell her argument. She already had various points she'd yet to cover, if it became necessary. Given who she was, it should have been no surprise that she was used to getting her way. This was just another one of those instances.
She looked again at the smile offered to her, already knowing how different it seemed to the rest. She wouldn't go so far to say it harboured confidence, but it looked a little like acceptance. It wasn't as if Teddy expected having to talk someone into working with her, but somehow, she difference was humbling. Polite undertones washed the regular statements she offered next, and it had Teddy falling back in her seat. It was probably the first instant of the threat of relaxation she'd shown.
"Actually, I was going to ask you that." She admitted then, a slight tilt of her head mixing with a friendlier smile; as if they could get any friendlier. "It's only fair. I had a lot of questions ans you answered them. What about you? This might be your best opportunity to ask me anything." And in that moment, she wondered if the rarity of such an offer would actually reach her.
The offer to ask her new boss whatever was quite tempting but Olivia wasn't good at coming up with things on the spot. She sucked her bottom lip into her mouth and chewed on it as a nervous grin twitched at the corner of her lips.
The darker brunette's friendly and seemingly open smile was not helping either.
Admittedly, now that she knew she was going to spend more time with her, Olivia was starting to get nervous about how she was going to conduct herself around her. She'd always been professional in all three of the companies she had worked for before, even as a personal assistant to one of her previous employers where she went to his house every day of the week and worked late nights. It helped that he was a devoted family man but with this one, Olivia wasn't so sure anymore.
"What are your expectations of me?" She finally asked. It was perhaps a broad and general question but it was one that gnawed at Olivia's mind.
Putting someone who seemed unsure on the spot was the best way to see what they were capable of. Here she had such a golden opportunity - the chance to ask her boss whatever she wanted - and it deserved a lot of thought. Thankfully, it seemed as if she knew that. It took time before she asked Teddy anything, and that wasn't bad.
In fact, it was a good question. It was self-satisfying from the perspective of their workplace as opposed to anything personal. She'd already gotten away with one of those today when she asked about her meta-human status. It was nice to see she didn't see the question as something worth wasting, because she'd absolutely been asked some dud questions in her time. They were painting with a broad brush, and Teddy could choose to answer however she liked. She gave equal silence for equal thought.
"I expect you to... Find whatever you think your limit is, and just... Be better than that." A broad answer, surely. "Because I expect you to grow - quickly - so I expect you to push yourself to that growth. I expect you to take every amazing opportunity and get the best out of it. I expect you to ask me questions every time you don't know something, but want to." That was always the biggest thing never done. People felt too overwhelmed to ask the things they wanted to, and that could only force their downfall.
She laughed, lightly. Gracefully, if that were possible. "I expect you to answer your phone when I call." She added, with the hint of a grin at her lips; "And, I expect you to stop calling me Miss James. Teddy is fine; there's no reason why we can't remain on a first name basis."
Though general, Olivia thought Teddy's expectations of her could be easily met. Olivia was self-motivated and if given the opportunity and space, she knew she would be able to flourish. And if this conversation they had been having was any indication, Teddy was the type to push her out of her comfort zone, so that would help quite a bit, she suspected.
Olivia was hardly new to law but when it came to this specific law, she could do with some help and Teddy, being a mutant herself, was more than capable of teaching her whatever it is she needed to learn. So Olivia was definitely going to take advantage of Teddy's offer.
The next portion of Teddy's answer felt personal and Olivia couldn't help the rising heat on her cheeks as she was called out for the addressing issue. "Alright, Teddy." Olivia responded, trying it out. She wasn't quite used to calling her superiors by their first name and they usually made her call them by their honorific. Teddy clearly didn't operate on the same level. It was something Olivia needed to get used to.
"People usually call me Liv. If that makes things easier for you." She offered before giving Teddy a small smile. "Does the work start now?"
Despite how she probably should have been shying away from her ability, Teddy couldn't help the way her eyes flicked south a fraction to catch the colour of her cheeks. It was faint enough to miss completely, but there it was, clear as day to the Brit who couldn't help but find it intriguing. Her preferred name sounded good in the air between them. It mightn't have been conventional for most in the workplace, but that was her choice and she was happy for it.
In return, she was given a nickname that seemed to hold some significance. A small smile had her glancing down at her mouth before catching her eyes. She offered another one herself in return. When she asked about the work, Teddy had to shrug. "As soon as something lands on my desk, I'll let you know." She replied, sounding hopeful as she tacked a short sigh to the sentiment. She certainly hoped she wasn't waiting long for something significant.
"So, people call you Liv, but do you like it?" She asked then. Something about the way the offer was phrased had her questioning whose choice it was.
As astute as she was when it came to her work, Olivia often dropped the ball on cues from people. So she missed the glances Teddy gave her but she did not miss the smile. That only made her cheeks heat up even more. At that moment, more than ever, she wished she had the ability to control her emotions. Which were, for reasons she was still not entirely sure of, out of whack right then.
She managed to nod when Teddy assured her of the work. She was about to take her leave when Teddy asked her a question she didn't really ever have the time to consider before. Nobody really ever asked her that question before either. A small frown creased the middle of her forehead and the corner of her lips quirked up slightly.
"I never really thought of that." She answered at first before shrugging. "I think I got used to it because I've been called that for so long. But I do prefer Olivia." She admitted with a small smile. Briefly, she wondered why she was being so guarded. She wasn't like this with her previous employers. It was becoming a little maddening.
Perhaps it was a pointless question. Most probably wouldn't have cared what she wanted to be called. Teddy had known she had every intention of leaving; this meeting was over, after all. Was that surprise in her eyes? It looked like she was frowning instead until her mouth threatened a smile. Immediately, Teddy considered that she should have left well enough alone, but it looked as if she was in the clear.
So it hadn't been something she was asked, but now it looked like she was considering it. The answer she got was sort of what she expected the answer to be, but she didn't think she'd get it from the woman she'd only really just met.
"Then I'll call you what you like." She replied, her smile growing on instinct. It was only fair, considering she was asking the same of her; "Olivia."
Olivia wasn't about to admit that her name sounded a lot better coming from the woman sitting before her. Especially not when this wasn't the first time she said it. She took a short breath and smiled, standing up and drew her hand out.
"Thank you for the opportunity, Teddy. I won't let you down." She promised, one she intended to keep. She was sure she would be able to. She'd already done it before.
"I'll take my leave if there's nothing else you would like to discuss."
