Love & Redemption

“Hello, is Ms. Lily Knope there?” I smiled into the receiver of my office phone.

“This is her, may I ask who is calling?” I heard her youthful voice fill the line.

“Lily, this is Spencer McMichael, I was wondering if you had a minute to chat?”

I heard a muttered ‘oh my gosh, oh my god, breathe, oh my god’ before she collected herself enough to speak. “Yes, sure I do.”

With a chuckle, I started. “Well, as it turns out Ms. Knope, my colleagues along with myself, believe that you would be the perfect fit for our design team. You’re a very talented girl, and the youthful spirit you showed is exactly what we were hoping to find in an intern. So, I’m offering you the position as the intern and the scholarship, what do you say?”

“Oh, yeah I understand the other candidates were probably…wait…” she paused, fully registering what I said. She had thought I was calling to reject her. “Oh my gosh, I’m an idiot, I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be sorry! I mean it when I say, we’d love to have you aboard the team.” I smiled, she reminded me of myself when I met Igor. “So is this something you’d like to accept?”

“Oh my gosh, would I ever? I mean.” She cleared her throat. “Yes, I would absolutely be honored to be a part of your company. Thank you so much!”

“Don’t thank me, Lily, thank your hard work and talent for this.” I was happy to find someone so passionate about the business, but we’d have to work on her confidence, I felt.

“I can’t believe it. I’m so excited, thank you again.”

“If you’re free today, I’d like for you to come into the office and get some things settled and all the boring paperwork out of the way, if not, we can plan for a different day.” I shrugged.

“No, today is fine.” The excitement was undeniable in her voice, this was definitely the right choice.

“Just come in whenever you’re free and ready, we’re here all day!” I smiled, sometimes I forgot I was a boss, in charge, owning this entire business.

“I’ll be there as soon as I can.”

“Great, see you soon!”

“Bye!”

I hung up the phone with a huge smile on my face. This was going to be great, I was changing a young girl’s life and giving her the chance of a lifetime. I made my sad phone call to Jason, letting him know we regretfully had decided to go with another candidate. He wasn’t happy, I could tell but that’s life. With a proud smile on my face, even after Jason’s sour reaction, I headed to Josh’s office.

“Did you make your calls?” he asked as I stepped in.

“Yes, did you?”

“Ugh! Yeah. I hate being the one to tell someone bad news. How elated was Lily?”

“She stuttered, thought I was denying her, only to realize I was actually offering her the internship, then freaked out, called herself an idiot and said she’d be in as soon as she could.” I snickered. “She was so excited, we certainly made the right choice.”

“And what did Jason say?” Josh cocked an eyebrow.

“He wasn’t happy in the slightest and he wasn’t shy about letting me know saying something like ‘whatever I’m the best with or without you’. And I just laughed and he didn’t know why but I think he forgets, I’m Spencer McMichael and I could ruin him before he even begins.” I chuckled. “Which I’m not going to do, but he still should remember that, accepted or denied, he needs to be professional because a lot of people are going to say no to him in the industry.”

“Yeah, cause you’ve had so many people say no to you.” Josh rolled his eyes.

“I don’t know, people have.” I shrugged.

“Name one.” he stared me down.

“Okay, fine. I’ve had a pretty easy rise in this industry. But I earned it.” I looked at him, daring him to question me.

“I’m not saying you didn’t earned it Spenc, I’m just saying you’ve had it pretty easy considering how hard it could have been.” He shrugged.

“I know, and I’m truly appreciative for everything. I don’t think people realize that.” I slumped down farther in the chair I had taken up. “I think a lot of people believe that I’m where I’m at because of my mother, or worse, because of Harold.” I shuddered. “He did absolutely nothing for me, and my mother did even less.”

“Yeah, but I don’t think you being in a relationship with Satan at the time hurt.” Josh eyed me.

“You’re probably right, but at the same time, I have to have some talent to know how to make this garments and perfumes.” I giggled. “Maybe I’m not. I don’t know.”

“No, you’re talented. You have an eye for things that I don’t even think the top designers who have been around for decades even see.” Josh said, as his intercom rang through. “What’s up Karen?”

“Lily Knope is here. I figured Miss McMichael was with you when she didn’t answer hers.”

“Spencer, call me Spencer!” I chuckled. “We’ll be right out!”

Josh clicked the intercom off and looked at me seriously. “Why are you so down on your own work today?”

“I’m just sad. I dropped Pete off at the airport this morning.” I shrugged. “I miss him when he’s gone.”

“I think it’s natural to miss your boyfriend when he’s halfway across the world.” Josh smiled sincerely at me.

“I guess. I don’t know, I guess part of me feels guilty.”

“Did you cheat?” he looked at me.

“What? No. Hell no.” I laughed. “I guess it’s just that even after 3 years, I still have a lot of unanswered questions and didn’t really give…Harry… the same chances I’m giving Pete.”

“You miss him?” Josh nodded, asking but also more so stating the obvious.

“I do and I don’t.” I sighed.

“Explain.”

“I miss how alive and fun I felt with him. I miss how much crazy wild sex we had. I miss, I don’t know… I miss…” I trailed off.

“Him.” Josh finished my sentence for me.

“Yeah, but at the same time I don’t miss things. I don’t miss all the childish fighting. I don’t miss world tours. I don’t miss him accusing me of cheating. I don’t miss his mood swings or temper. I don’t miss his crazy ex that caused so many problems. I don’t miss the drugs. I don’t miss a lot of things about him.”

“Pete is healthier for you. We all know that.” Josh chuckled. “Pete is fun, Pete makes you feel alive, you have crazy sex with Pete, he’s good for you, and you’re good for him.”

“I guess I’m just saying I’m not used to the mature side of being in relationships. I know I was engaged to Harry and everything but that was different. I knew I didn’t want to be, but I was just so blinded by what seemed like so much fun of being with a smoking hot, British popstar, that I honestly really never did step back to look at my true feelings.”

“But you’re worried because Pete is older, and is going to want to be married and have a family and all that soon?” Josh studied me.

“Maybe, I don’t know. I’m still so young, but I feel way more mature in the aspect of this relationship, but I still don’t think I’m ready to be married. We’ve been together almost 2 years now, I don’t know how much longer Pete will wait around.”

“Honey, Pete would wait any amount of time. He is so painfully in love with you. If you decide you never want to marry and just have a long term partnership, he would do that. I’m sure of it. This is where the maturity comes in handy with Pete. He respects what you want, and isn’t going to push you into marriage, like I feel Harry did.”

I shrugged standing up. “I don’t know, Josh. I just still wonder, what if, ya know?”

“No, no. No what if’s. Pete makes you the happiest I have ever seen. No what if’s. No more thinking about Harry and no more questioning yourself or your relationship. Pete is awesome, he loves you and you are undeniably in love with him.”

“I am.” I giggled like a school girl. “That man drives me wild.”

“Good, I’m glad you realize that.” Josh rolled his eyes. “Now let’s go get the intern settled in.”

I walked out of Josh’s office, feeling better about Pete leaving once again. I always got myself into this odd slump with he left or I left him. It reminded so much of why Harry and I didn’t work out and it just tugged at my heart in ways I couldn’t even verbalize myself. But Josh was right, Pete was different. Pete knew what I wanted and respected that. But something inside me told me Josh was wrong about Pete waiting forever.

When we’d go out, Pete would always make subtle comments about how cute families were, or how adorable our children would be, just little things that at the time, I never thought anything of it. But when I was alone with my thoughts, that’s when I’d overthink it. I would worry Pete and I were in two truly different places in our live. He was 33, I was 24. He was past his young, wild days, I was still in mine. He was seeing us in the far future, I was planning only until the next day. Part of me hoped that we could make work and I’m sure we would. But there was always that small nagging part of me that said, you couldn’t make it work with Harry, and he wanted different things, just like Pete.

But that was the problem, I had to stop comparing my relationship with Pete to my relationship with Harry. Josh was right, Pete wasn’t Harry, and he never would be. He was mature enough to know that we were, in fact, in two completely different places. And at the same time, he was mature enough to respect that and work through it.

I wasn’t saying I never wanted to be married or have kids. I just needed a few more years. I wanted kids before I turned 30, which was six years. But at the same time, in six years Pete would almost be 40. I knew I wanted two kids, both before 30. But even having a kid at 30 would make Pete 39. I wasn’t sure if wanted to wait that much longer. He knew the vague guidelines of my life goals, personal and professional. He also had timelines though. I knew that.

I shook myself from my daydream, only to find Josh blankly staring at me.

“I was waiting for you to return.” He snickered.

“Shut up.” I rolled my eyes, shoving his shoulder as I walked past him, towards the lobby.

As soon as Josh and I came into view of the lobby, Lily was standing to straighten her skirt and smiling widely. Her big eyes showed every single emotion she was feeling: excitement, nervousness, anxiousness, wonder, and giddiness.

“Lily! I’m so glad you could make it today!” I smiled

“Thank you so much for even giving me this opportunity.” She stuck her hand out as I reached her, for a shake.

I threw a glance at Josh and chuckled. He knew I was more of a hugger than a hand shaker. “I’m not really into handshakes.” I started.

“Oh I’m sorry, I shouldn’t of…” I cut the poor girl off.

“I’m more of a hugger.” I smiled. I opened my arms and she quickly caught on. I gave her a quick hug and a part on the back. “Welcome to team McMichael!”

“I…oh my... I’m sorry, I promise I’m not usually such an idiot.” She blushed. “I’ve just never had the opportunity to meet, let alone work with someone so talented and famous. So I apologize.”

“Girl, you’re one of us now! I’ve never had the opportunity to meet someone so young, talented and driven! So really the pleasure is all mine.” I smiled, looking over at Josh whose mouth mirrored mine.

“It’s lovely to see you again, Lily.” Josh smiled, mimicking my hug.

“Hi sir, thank you so much.”

I stifled my laughter as Josh’s eyes widened. “Whoa, whoa, whoa. No. No, please call me Josh and never ever sir.” He motioned over to me, “and that’s Spencer. Not Miss McMichael.”

“Are you sure? I wouldn’t want to overstep my boundaries or anything.” Lily looked at the floor timidly.

“Babe, you. Are. One. Of. Us.” I smiled, slinging an arm over her shoulder. Let’s go get some paperwork sorted out and show you around, how’s that sound?”

“Awesome, actually.” She smiled, relaxing a little.


After showing her around the place and finishing up her contracts and legal work, like making sure her work visa was going to last the duration of the internship, and that the scholarship would take full effect when she returned to school, we were all in the conference room, eating the food I had ordered.

The room had mostly cleared out, leaving me, Josh and Lily. I really enjoyed having Lily here today, she was a breath of fresh air. She reminded me so much of myself 5 years ago. She was exuberant, willing to learn, and overall just a fun person. She surely was going to fit in well and if all went as planned, I had secretly been planning to hire someone new and she may just be it. But I’d keep that to myself for now.

There was a slight knock on the conference room door causing us to all stop talking and look over. My eyes bulged out of my head, as I jumped out of my seat.

“What are you doing here?” I smiled. “Shouldn’t you be halfway to New York?”

He wrapped his arms around my waist, bouquet of flowers still in hand. “My flight got delayed until tomorrow, so I thought, ‘instead of wasting 24 hours in the airport, why not come see my beautiful girlfriend?’ and here I am.” He placed a chaste kiss on my lips.

“Well I’m happy to see you! Come sit!” I smiled, dragging him to the table, taking the flowers he brought. “Lily, I’d like for you to meet my boyfriend, Pete. Pete this is Lily, the new intern!”

“It’s great to meet you Lily, I’ve heard so much about you.” Pete smiled, extending his hand, ever the businessman.

“Oh you have?” Lily shook his band, blushing.

“Hell yeah! Spenc couldn’t stop gushing about how excited she was to bring you in on the team last night. You got some talent, kid. I know because Spencer will only work with the best. That’s why she brought this fool into the business.” He nodded towards Josh.

“It’s true.” Josh pretended to toss his hair. “I am the best.”

“Look at what you’ve done now.” I laughed at the two men.

“Anyways, how’s your first day going?” Pete asked Lily.

“It’s been the coolest day of my young life so far.” She giggled.

“I’m sure it’s only going to get better from here.” Pete smiled.

“So Pete, since you’re here for the night, we were just talking about taking Lily out to celebrate tonight, car to join?” Josh asked.

“Yeah! I’m up for it!” he smirked, he always loved a good night out, filled with drinks. “Where we going?”

“Well, Lily hasn’t been out in London yet, so we thought maybe Terrace?” Josh asked.

“Yes, Terrace would be great.”

“We were just going to go after work.” I smiled, placing a hand around the back of Pete’s neck. “Is that okay? I can take you back to the airport in the morning.”

“Works for me, and if worse comes to worse, I’ll get a cab.” He smiled.

We sat in the conference room for a few more hours, deciding against anymore work the rest of the day. It was nice to just sit and chat with Lily and really get to know her. Her mother was a nurse, her dad had passed away when she was 10 in a car accident. She had one brother and one sister, both older. She was paying for school entirely on her own, she was a dedicated person no matter what the cause. She didn’t have a boyfriend, but had a few in high school. She was a free spirit, with an open mind. She was honestly just a down to earth girl who was trying to make it in this crazy world.

Around 5, I decided to head back into my office with Pete and Lily, to show her some actual business ropes, Josh tending to his own matters, and get some paper work in order for a new client when Karen stopped me in the lobby.

“Hey, Mr. Malik called while you were in there, I didn’t want to interrupt and he said you didn’t answer your cell.” She smiled. “I told him you’d give him a call back. He said it was nothing important.”

“Thanks Karen!” I nodded. “I’ll give him a call and see what he wanted.”

We continued on to my office when Lily broke the silence. “I don’t mean to sound like I’m invading or a fan girl, but did she mean Zayn Malik?”

“Yes indeed, she did.”

“As in Zayn Malik, from One Direction?” Lily’s smile grew wider and wider with each word.

“Yep, the one and only.” I chuckled. “It’s okay to freak out a little. He’s one of my closest friends actually, so he’ll be around a lot.”

“He’s a chill dude, you’d love him.” Pete smiled at Lily, who was still basically hyperventilating.

Sitting down behind my desk, I dialed the number I had called so many times it was memorized. Placing it on speaker phone, I waited for the rings to become a voice.

“Love, how are you?” I heard his cheeky accent.

The thing about Zayn was, no matter who I was with or where we were, he always called me love. When I first started dating Pete, I had to reassure him one thousand and one times, that Zayn was strictly a friend. Nothing more, nothing less. Zayn was just a cheeky bastard and it was something Pete just had to get used too.

“I’m great, just getting some paperwork in order before the days over. You?”

“I’m splendid. High as kite, wait, higher than a kite actually, but splendid. So what do I owe this pleasure too?”

I chuckled. “Zayn, you called me, I’m returning your call.”

“OH bloody hell.” He giggled. “I forgot, my bad.”

“You forgot you called or forgot why you called?” I rolled my eyes.

“Both, I guess.” Everyone was now laughing at and with him.

“Well then while I have you, we’re going out tonight to Terrace, you busy?” I smiled, Lily’s eyes went wide.

“Nah, I’m free. What time?”

“Around 7, right after work.” I said.

“Yep. See you there.” He said, I could tell he was smiling.

“Alright, bye bye.”

“Bye, love.” He said, signature smirk involved in his voice.

“I…I…I can’t.” Lily stuttered out, she’s been doing that a lot today.

“Honey, he’s a normal guy. I promise. He might have the genepool of a human god…” I glanced at Pete. “Sorry babe.”

“No, he does have the genepool of a human god. I second that.” Pete joked.

“But anyways, he’s just a down to earth kid. He’ll come baked out of his mind, have a few drinks, sneak outside to smoke another blunt then come back in and drink one too many drinks, he always does.” None of that made her seem to relax. “You’ll be okay!”

She nodded, silently. She looked terrified at the idea of meeting Zayn Malik. Little did I know, she had a big night ahead of her. She was in for a night that I couldn’t even prepare her for even if I knew what was coming. Tonight would be a night in Lily Knope’s life, which she would certainly never, ever forget.

Notes