Chapter Text
It had been a little under half a year since you and Jerry had seen each other face to face. In your positions it wasn't uncommon for either of you to hear word about what the other was doing - however - it was always from a distance.
There was nothing personal involved in what you knew about the other. It was only what the other decided to display to the public or what you knew from years prior. No matter if you're the Mayor or the City Comissioner, you only see what you're allowed to see.
Neither of you is above publicity.
Jerry has been out of office for about 5 months, and the Mayoral debate for the next election has been all anyone can talk about. Not that Jerry has any real competition in the form of opponents; his real enemy is his mouth, as you like to say.
He's always been one to bend the truth in his favor, twist a lie into a misunderstanding and gaslight anyone into believing his word is law. Even though he's a stranger to you now, a simple poster-boy you see on a billboard, you like to think you know him a little better than anyone else might.
College was a confusing time, but if the knowledge you obtained then was worth anything, it was worth stopping Jerry before he could head the development of an extremely environmentally dangerous and ignorant project.
It was Jerry's 2nd year of his first term when you took office as the City's new Comissioner. Unbeknownst to you Jerry was.. excited. Someone he knew? In an office he could directly work with? Score! On top of that, it would be nice to reconnect with you.
Also unbeknownst to you, you ruined that idea the very moment you started investigating Jerry's Beltway Project.
It was you that brought media attention to it.
You that investigated the lack of environmental observation and precautions taken in the area where he planned to construct.
You that brought it to court.
And you that got it temporarily dismissed.
Two yesrs later, the city still craved something new and exciting. You knew the Beltway wasn't off the grid, only postponed.
Thats why you insisted you needed to be in this meeting today. You needed to set firm expectations of Jerry in office or he might take free reign of the project and do lord knows what.
You had made it your personal mission to save the wildlife and nature of Beaverton.. even if it meant at the extent of Jerry.
___
Your mind doesnt get the chance to wander any longer through those thoughts as you approach your office, reading the gold placard of your name reverently as Jerry takes long strides to catch up behind you.
"With haste, if you will, Mr. Generazzo." You encourage cooly, waiting to grab your door handle before Jerry is a respectable distance away.
"You got a head start, Ms. Y/L/N, not my fault." Jerry quips back just as nonchalantly from a few paces away, making his suave approach.
You open the door, gesturing him to enter first. "I'd just like this to be over quickly is all."
"You and I both." He spares you no glance as he walks within your office confidently, chin held high and his face stuck in that stupid arrogant expression of his that smirked on every. Single. Promo. Poster. Ever.
You scowl after him, entering behind him.
The space isn't crowded but isnt grand - just spacious enough to be comfortable. A large window behind your desk lets early morning light spill through the blinds. Two chairs sit angled infront of your desk which is somehow chaoticly organized with files and paperwork.
You crowd him from behind, ushering him in by glaring daggers into the back of his skull.
"Please, take a seat." You encourage, rounding your desk and sitting down decently in your rolly chair.
Jerry shuffles into one of the two seats, looking like a frightened intern wearing a mayoral costume.
You two stare for a moment.
"Coffee?" You pry, hand underneath the desk, hovering above the buzzer button for your secretary.
Jerry perks up almost instantly, interest apparent. His facade was intricate and complex and he only let this moment show briefly before he looked collected again. "I'd appreciate it." He tries to look comfortable, leaning back and folding his hands over his stomach.
You buzzed the button, speaking into the microphone on your desk. "Goodmorning Selena, make sure Mr. Generazzo and I are signed in for the day. Bring us two coffee's please - cream and sugar packets on the side for him. You know how I like it. Thank you."
You take your finger from the buzzer, instead opting to organize a stack of papers that probably didnt need to be organized.
For some reason, you felt nervous too. Maybe it was because of the sour feelings you knew Jerry had towards you because of taking him to court. It had to be that.
Too bad it was making things awkward.
Jerry cleared his throat suddenly, catching your eye as he coughed into his fist. "Ah- ahem. Uh. Spoke with her on the phone."
You raise a brow.
"Selena." He completes, making a phone gesture near his ear with his thumb and pinkie. "Lovely lady.. uhm. Told me about whats happening today. I suppose that's also why I'm sitting in here with you?" For a man that presents himself so arrogantly, he feels very soft-spoken when its an unfamiliar and tense environment.
"Yes, I'm leading the meeting today." You confirm, not quite partaking in eye contact. "Also, with the limited time we have, I suggest we get right to it rather than beat around the bush."
"Yes, lets." Jerry agrees unenthusiastically. You hold his gaze for a long moment, figuring out where to start.
.
.
"The Beltway-" You're immediately interrupted.
"Here we go- how did I know? How did I know this is exactly why you decided to stick your nose all the way back into my area.!" Jerry immediately gets heated, flailing his arms in exaggeration. His anger immediately sparks your own.
It was court all over again.
"Oh dont start with me, you know that the construction would be completely unsanctioned!" You talk over him.
"So what if it lacks some sanction, I can work around that!" He talks over you.
"You cant work around an ecosystem Jerry!" And so on.
"Oh so you do know my name still? I thought it was just Mr. Generazzo." And so forth.
"That is completely irrelevant-! This is about your blatant disrespect of civil law!" Until the end of time.
"Law shmawl, and you- you can't quote that! People want something big, like the Beltway!" As we know it.
"All you seem to care about is the next biggest thing, you cant expand without stability." You sneer.
"And people aren't satisfied without expansion. Bigger is better!-" You cut him off.
"At this point I feel like you must be compensating!" You blurt out just as your office door opens.
Its Selena.
With the Coffees.
Shit.
You both immediately collect yourselves, you moving to make space for the paper cups on your desk and Jerry moving to straighten his tie and smooth his hair.
"The. Uhm. The meeting is in 5." She moves over to your desk with the cups of steaming liquid.
"Here is fine, thank you so much Selena." You send her a sweet smile as she leaves, the door clicking shut quietly. Your expression plummets, staring at the intricacies of your desk instead.
.
.
"That was completely unprofessional of me." You say softly.
"I'll say." Jerry confirms in a grunt. "And you call me bad-"
"-You yourself are no better." You instantly cut him off, causing his mouth to snap shut and his eyes to avert.
He takes a coffee, putting copious amounts of cream and sugar into it. You note that his preference hasn't changed much from his college days. You shake that thought away instantly.
You desperately look for a way to shift this back into a professional conversation. "I understand you've recieved multiple, personally written, complaints from residents of Beaverton, yes?"
"I can assure you thats all from one individual." Jerry says humorlessly.
"Whomever they're from, they dont like your Beltway operations. That is evidence of disapproving citizens. More importantly, voters." You lean forward on your elbows.
"I'd hate to threaten this but if you try to do the Beltway again, which I know you will. If I take a look again and find exactly what I did last time I will take you to court again and I will shut this entire thing down for good." You speak precisely with an edge to your voice that clearly shows youre not messing around.
"Do I make myself clear?" You pry.
Jerry is unresponsive, he scowls at the floorboards.
"Look, Jerry, I don't want to do this anymore than you want to deal with it. Back in college you were a force to be reckoned with." His eyes flicker up at your words.
"I'm proud to work with you in a similar field like this but I fear the problem is that you refuse to work with me. I tell you this is clearly unsanctioned and it goes in one ear and out the other. I can't have that." You try to explain on a more empathetic level.
"The logistics will be further explained in the meeting, I'm just trying to eliminate hard feelings here. I dont want to fight you on this but I will if absolutely necessary." You conclude.
"Don't make it absolutely necessary." You add in warning.
Jerry is as still as a statue, his only tell being the flexing of his fingers on the armrests. He stiffly moves an arm to check his watch, huffing through his nose. He abruptly standing brushing himself off.
"I think we're done here, I'll see you in the meeting." And with that, he pivots on his heel and leaves without another word.
Your head falls into your hands.