"Have you tried turning it off and back on again?"
Simon looked away from the static-filled screen of his computer and up at Clary, who stood over his cubicle watching him, as if she'd just suggested he throw himself out of the window and see if he could fly. "Really? That's your great advice?"
"No, my great advice was to tell you to back up your data onto a USB or something because these paralegal computers are crap and unreliable." Clary stated.
"But I'm not a paralegal!" Simon argued.
"No, but you're working in the space where one would normally be."
"Crap, I'd nearly finished editing that contract too. Is there any chance some of it saved?" Simon asked.
"From experience, I'm gonna tell you to accept defeat, briefly mourn and start over." Clary said sympathetically, patting Simon on the back.
"Great." Simon sighed, leaning back in his chair with his head in his hands.
"You could always try going to the IT department." Clary suggested.
"No."
"Why?"
"I don't know where it is. And I'm not good with strangers."
"You don't say?" Clary smiled.
"Why are these computers so cruddy anyway?" Simon asked.
"The big bosses spent too much on plants and wallpaper for their offices and one day thought 'oh, we still need to buy equipment for the paralegals to use but we don't have much of a budget left – still, they'll make do'." Clary replied.
"That's pretty unfair."
"The law is hard but it is the law." Clary shrugged as she sat back at her desk.
"…Crap. Better get back on it then." Simon groaned as he rebooted the computer. As he waited for it to start up, two hands grabbed the edge of his cubicle. He looked up to see Jace looking down on him.
"Finished going over the contract yet?" Jace asked.
"No, the computer crashed on me." Simon grumbled.
"And you didn't save any of it to a USB or something?" Jace wondered.
"I did tell him to do that." Clary commented as she continued working at her desk.
"See? Your neighbour here clearly has a little something called common sense. I'm sure there's a book on it you can read so it can stay in that mad little head of yours. At least you bought a better suit. Oh, wait. No you didn't." Jace smirked.
"I'm getting the feeling this job is gonna be sixty percent you taking the piss out of me." Simon sighed.
"Only sixty? Note to self: must try harder."
"You'll only make enemies if you tease everyone you ever meet." Simon warned.
"I'm a lawyer; I make a new enemy every day. Today it was the cat that nearly knocked me off my feet as I walked out of my apartment this morning. If I see that little bastard again, I won't miss." Jace recalled.
"Miss? What did you do to the cat?" Simon grew worried.
"Nothing! Like I said, I missed."
"Was there anything else you want to make fun of while you're here?" Simon wondered.
"Hmm…I feel like there must be a joke about your glasses floating around." Jace said.
"I call him Harry Potter because his glasses are round." Clary chimed in.
Simon groaned while Jace laughed. "Yes! Harry Potter, nice one Clary."
Clary looked shocked. "You…you know my name?"
"Yeah; my secretary Jocelyn has sung your praises a few times. She told me to keep an eye on the pretty redhead on floor 35." Jace explained.
Clary looked around. "I'm not the only redhead."
"But you are the only pretty one." Jace smiled and turned to Simon. "Walk with me."
Jace headed for the elevator. Simon quickly got his things together and followed, smirking as he saw the bright shade of red Clary's cheeks had gone as she pretended to be busy working.
"How do you do it?" Simon asked Jace as the elevator doors closed and headed up.
"Do what?"
"Talk to women like that. You make it look so easy." Simon said.
"It is easy when you look like me. Not so easy when you look like Harry Potter." Jace smirked.
"…That nickname's not going anywhere anytime soon, is it?"
"You're a wizard, Harry."
The elevator doors opened and Jace and Simon walked past Jocelyn and directly into Jace's office. Simon noticed the vast amount of decorating supplies in the corridors and even in the offices, Jace's included. "What's all this?"
"Robert, Maryse and Luke are redecorating their offices but can't make up their minds on anything so ordered too much crap and with nowhere else to put it, it gets dumped anywhere. There's this guy who works on this floor, Frank. He's got OCD, had to take a few sick days. Bless him." Jace said as he sat at his desk.
"So, is there a reason for me coming up here, or did you just think I could use a walk?" Simon wondered.
"You could use a trip to Specsavers, Harry." Jace chuckled.
"That was awful."
"Just like your vision then, Harry. How's Ron doing these days? He was always my favourite."
"Come ON…"
"Fine, fine. You won't hear this next bit very often, so savour it: I need your help." Jace said sternly.
"Woah." Simon said, taking a seat on the opposite side of Jace's desk. "What with? A case?"
Jace laughed. "Please! No. Turn right out of this room, three doors on the left. Where would you be?"
"Alec's office."
"Before today, you'd have been right. Now he's relocated to the floor below. Maryse insists it's temporary but I know he has no plans of coming back up here." Jace said.
"He wants to get away from you." Simon said.
"Me, Robert and Maryse. I have a feeling we're not on his Christmas card list anymore."
"I'm sorry. This is my fault. I only did come here to be a paralegal." Simon said.
"Man up, Harry; no one likes someone who unnecessarily burdens themselves with guilt. Robert and Maryse's relationship with their son is none of my business, but mine is. This firm will crash and burn if a big player like Alec isn't on board with the rest of us. I want to patch things over with him, see if we can get back to being good friends like we used to be." Jace explained.
"Careful, this makes me think you may actually have a heart." Simon grinned.
"I do when I need to." Jace shrugged.
"So what does this have to do with me?" Simon asked.
"You've been here, what? Two weeks? You and Clary act like you've been best friends for years." Jace commented.
"We get along really well, so?"
"So, somehow you actually seem to be able to get on with people. I was hoping that you might come through for me and offer some ideas as to how I can fix this with Alec. I know Isabelle isn't happy about her position either, but she doesn't hold it against me like Alec does. Any suggestions?"
Simon took a moment to think. "This kinda thing depends on the person more than anything. When you were totes BFFs was there anything you did together that you can look back on fondly?"
"First, say 'totes BFFs' again and you're fired. Second…we used to go to dinner once a month. Just us two, a few beers and a good laugh."
"Okay…then invite him out to one of those dinners, give him a way of reflecting on the good times you've had." Simon said.
"There's no way he'd say yes to spending an evening with me, Simon, he can't even share an office on the same floor as me."
"Okay, then invite Isabelle along too. She can keep things calm and relaxed since she seems to be the only one Alec can actually stand and listen to. She could convince Gollum to give up the One Ring if she put her mind to it." Simon chuckled. Jace stared at him blankly. "Lord of the Rings? No?"
"…I didn't like the ending. They're heading to that Mount Doom place and then it ends? What happened next?" Jace asked.
Simon looked appalled. "There are TWO MORE MOVIES after that!"
"Really? Eh, those kind of things are all the same anyway aren't they?"
"You?...did you just?...hmm…okay…okay, you're not very well informed, I'll let it go." Simon sighed.
"It's rare that I'm a sequels kinda guy. Except Shrek 2, that's even better than the first one." Jace nodded. After a moment of silence he looked at Simon. "You can go, you know? Thanks for the idea."
"Oh. I didn't…we're done?" Simon asked, standing up.
"Did you not feel the natural end? I felt the natural end. Get that contract done." Jace ordered.
"Uh…okay." Simon said and headed out. After a few moments he rushed back in. "Is there really no franchise you've seen all the films of?"
Jace smirked. "Harry Potter."
Simon sighed. "I opened the door for you for that one. I hate myself."
…
Jocelyn very cautiously stepped over decorating equipment and open paint tins before finally stepping inside Robert and Maryse's office; she didn't care how long she'd taken, there was no way her new heels were getting ruined. "You wanted to see me?"
"Jocelyn, yes. Teal or navy?" Maryse asked, holding up two strips of wallpaper cuttings. Robert stood in the corner, exasperated.
"My heart says teal, but my head says navy. Why did you start redecorating before deciding on what you were exactly going to do?" Jocelyn wondered.
"Thank you!" Robert said. A glare for Maryse silenced him.
"I like to actually see it before I can truly decide. I've always respected your honesty." Maryse explained.
Jocelyn smiled; it was true, Jocelyn's admission to Robert and Maryse that she wanted to the job solely to get money to raise her child as a single mother earned their respect right away. That was why she was the first person outside of the Lightwood family to be hired for the firm years ago, before they even had a skyscraper of their own. Over the years, the adults had all become very close friends and could share anything with one another. Jocelyn started out as Robert's receptionist, but she didn't put up too much of a fight when they asked her to keep Jace in check; young eye candy was still eye candy.
"Well, I just think the navy might be taken more seriously. Plus, the sunlight on that glossy teal might just blind you both." Jocelyn added.
"…Okay, I trust you. Can you get the workers from downstairs and tell them?" Maryse asked Robert, who nodded and headed out. "Luke's redecorating his office too; I'm sure he'd appreciate some help from you too."
"I'll check in on him. Can I offer some other advice since I'm here, speaking as a friend and a mother?" Jocelyn asked tentatively.
Maryse sighed and looked at Jocelyn with sad eyes. "Alec?"
Jocelyn nodded and took Maryse's hands in hers. "Jace is trying to make amends and you and Robert should too."
"I don't know how." Maryse admitted, close to tears.
"'The harder the work, the greater the payoff', as you've always said. There will be more offices and wallpaper…you only have one son. After Max…" Jocelyn began, but the lump in her throat and tears stinging in the back of her eyes stopped her from finishing the sentence. "…You couldn't have prevented losing Max. You can prevent losing Alec too."
Maryse nodded understandingly as she let a tear fall.
…
The restaurant was relatively quiet, but that's how it always was when it was just after the lunchtime rush and the food was ridiculously expensive even for New York. Jace found himself to be uncharacteristically nervous; he still thought Alec and Isabelle were playing a prank on him and were going to stand him up. He was pleasantly surprised when, after ten minutes of waiting at the table he'd reserved, Alec and Isabelle approached him and sat down.
"Thanks for coming." Jace said to them both.
"Izzy said you were paying and I like it here, so…" Alec grumbled, not looking Jace in the eye.
Silence.
"Well as exciting as this conversation is, I'm gonna order some drinks." Isabelle declared, standing up. "I'll leave you boys to chat."
Isabelle's departure was met with another long silence.
Jace took a leap of faith. "…Do you remember the time here when I threw up on the bar?"
To Jace's delight, Alec actually smirked. "You had to change the parting of your hair just so they'd let you back in."
"I thought coming here would help. To remind us of how things used to be." Jace said.
Alec finally looked Jace in the eyes. "The past isn't the problem, it's what's going on now. Mom and dad would tell us 'the world of law is terrifying, but no better way of living'. That isn't the world I'm living in right now; I'm not terrified, I'm angry. I'm angry all the time."
"I know, and I want to fix that. I'm sorry about how it all went down with me hiring Simon, but there was a time when you trusted my instincts." Jace pleaded.
"That was before you were made junior partner, and then senior partner. I know I come across as a jealous jerk but that's not all there is to it. I can't deny being jealous but it's frustrating to know that if I were at another other law firm I'd be a senior partner by now but if I left I'd be abandoning my family and working against them." Alec revealed, the stress on his face seeming to vanish as he finally said what was on his mind.
Jace looked at him carefully; with Alec you always had to choose the words carefully. "I never thought of it like that."
"That's because you're not a Lightwood. One day we'll inherit the firm and it'll be amazing, but I don't know if I'm willing to be bound by blood and not be able to progress for much longer." Alec said. "I took it all out on you and your new guy…?"
"Simon."
"Simon, yeah. If he impressed you he must be good, but I was kind of a jerk to him." Alec said.
"That's what you do best." Jace smirked.
"Shut up." Alec chuckled lightly, playfully kicking Jace's leg. "I guess…I'm sorry. I wish I could see it the way Isabelle does and play the long game, but seeing you achieve everything I want to is a constant reminder that I could anywhere else."
"I get it. And I'm sorry for snapping at you too. I know I probably don't deserve half of the things I've gotten." Jace said.
"No, you've earned it. I was just being petty." Alec shrugged.
"…I miss you, that's all." Jace admitted.
Alec smiled. "I miss you too. I can't promise I can be okay with everything, but I can promise to try."
"I'll try and get Maryse and Robert to see sense. I promise." Jace grinned.
Isabelle returned with a tray of drinks, and noted the happy expressions on both the men's faces. "I like the look of this."
"Tentative first steps, Izzy. Tentative first steps." Jace smiled.
"Couldn't have put it better myself." A new, silky voice remarked as two suited men approached the table.
The man who had spoken wore an extravagantly expensive burgundy suit with some understated patterning around the lapels. He was Asian, tall and there was something mysteriously inviting about his eyes. His was the face you'd have a tough job getting tired of looking at. He looked young and yet experienced, just like the second man, who was dressed in a much simpler black suit. Something about the colour of his skin looked off, almost a sickly appearance, and the wind from outside seemed to have blown his hair around significantly, with two patches sticking up at either side like horns.
"Who are you?" Isabelle asked.
"Magnus Bane, senior partner at Morgenstern Starkweather." The extravagant man declared, the words filling Jace, Alec and Isabelle with disdain. "This is Ragnor Fell, junior partner. We know Mr Wayland here, but who might you two be?"
"Isabelle Lightwood. This is my brother Alec."
"The Lightwood children! Excellent to finally put a face to the name, especially when your face looks like that." Magnus purred towards Alec with a flirtatious wink. Alec grew instantly uncomfortable.
"You know who I am?" Jace asked, confused.
"No need to be coy, Mr Wayland. We've got the contract for you here; you just need to sign it." Ragnor stated, opening up his briefcase and pulling out a document.
"Contract? What contract?" Isabelle questioned.
"For his new role as senior partner at Morgenstern Starkweather, of course. You haven't told them you're leaving yet?" Ragnor asked.
"Excuse me? I don't know what you're talking about!" Jace said.
"…Oh, I'm sorry! We've made this terribly awkward doing this in front of your soon to be ex-colleagues, haven't we? I'm sure it's not personal; he'll just be getting twice as much as senior partner for our firm. It's all business, no pleasure. Unfortunately." Magnus explained.
"What?" Alec asked, standing up and looking at Jace. "…Did you set this up? Just to humiliate us?"
"Alec, I didn't, I swear I've never met these two before. Izzy, you've gotta believe me."
"How did they know you'd be here?" Isabelle asked.
"I…I…they must've followed me. I don't know!" Jace exclaimed.
"You have an answer for everything, you always do. And you don't have one now?" Isabelle asked. The fury that had left Alec's face had returned stronger than ever.
Jace was silent for a long time. "…I don't have an explanation right now, but -"
Isabelle turned and stormed out. Jace called out to her to no avail.
"This is low, even for you." Alec seethed.
"Alec, this is a set-up. I swear." Jace said.
"I know it's a set-up, thanks." Alec said furiously.
"No, I'm being set up!" Jace stated.
Alec snatched the document out of Ragnor's hand and examined it. "The contract is legit. Can you explain why there's an email in here between you and Valentine negotiating this deal?"
Jace's eyes widened. "What?"
"That is your private email, right? The one only you have the access passwords to?" Alec was shaking with fury as he threw the document into Jace's lap.
Jace looked it over; it was his private email and all the usual signs of forgery weren't there. "I…I don't understand…?"
"I think I understand perfectly. You got the top jobs, but you know you won't make name partner at the firm so you take the next best deal that comes your way." Alec stated.
"No, that's not true!"
"THEN EXPLAIN, JACE! EXPLAIN THIS TO ME!" Alec shouted, silencing the whole restaurant.
Magnus and Ragnor shared a short glance as Jace looked at Alec in desperation. "…I'm sorry. I can't."
"Get out of my sight." Alec said, pushing Jace into the table as he stormed towards the bar. Jace turned to Magnus and Ragnor, his face red with anger.
"Problem?" Ragnor wondered.
"You sons of bitches set me up. I don't know how, but you did and I'm gonna prove it. I didn't think even Valentine and Hodge would sink this low. You'll regret this. Mark my freakin' words." Jace warned, stood right in Magnus and Ragnor's faces before rushing out of the restaurant.
"…That went spectacularly." Ragnor smiled.
"I don't agree with ripping friends apart, but it did do the job. I'll meet you in the car; you don't drink alcohol and it'd be a crying shame to let these go to waste." Magnus said, gesturing towards the three drinks on the table. Ragnor rolled his eyes and headed out; Magnus finally noticed the tufts of hair sticking up on his colleagues head and chuckled.
He examined the three drinks carefully. He could tell from where Isabelle had placed them on the table whose was whose; he quickly drank Isabelle and Jace's before noting Alec still stood at the bar, his head down. Taking Alec's drink in his hand, Magnus cautiously made his way over to Alec and placed the drink in front of him. Alec turned to look at Magnus.
"Get out before I drag you out by your satin suit."
"You noticed it was satin? Good eyes, and not just because they're blue." Magnus smiled flirtatiously.
"Forgive me for not being in the mood for conversation, especially with the likes of you." Alec hissed.
"…I was just doing my job."
"I don't give a crap what you were just going. Go hang out with your newest colleague and I hope I never have to see any of you again." Alec said, taking a big swig of the drink.
"I'm trying to be nice. I don't like many unnecessary enemies. How about we just forget about work life, relax and try to be friends?" Magnus suggested.
"I don't have friends, I don't need friends and I don't tend to like anyone or anything."
"Ooh, challenge accepted." Magnus purred.
"Just leave me alone. And go tell your bosses to go fuck themselves." Alec groaned.
"That's a bit rude, don't you think?"
"You can go fuck yourself, too."
"I'd much rather you helped me out with that." Magnus said suggestively, pulling a business card out of his pocket and sliding it along the bar and in front of Alec. "My card. Tonight I'll dream of what's under those clothes and hopefully soon my dreams can become reality."
Alec winced. "I…I'm…I'm not gay."
Magnus stood upright, looking Alec up and down. "…I see. I must have…misread the signals."
"Yeah. Y-You must have." Alec said sternly, his focus back on the floor again.
"Well, I better go and check on Ragnor. I did let the window down a little bit for the poor dear, but I should dash. I hope to see you again, Alexander."
"No one calls me Alexander."
"I do." Magnus smiled, looking Alec up and down again before heading for the door.
Alec tried using all of his strength to not take another look at Magnus as he walked out. He failed.
…
When Jocelyn walked into Luke's office, even she was surprised by the mess. Wallpaper scraps, paint pots, stepladders, and all sorts of furniture were littered all over the floor. "…Wow."
Luke, who was flicking through a catalogue while leaning on his desk, looked up at the sound of Jocelyn's voice and his face lit up. "Hey. I've finished redecorating, you like it?"
Jocelyn laughed. "Absolutely. Very modern."
"That's what I was going for." Luke chuckled as Jocelyn stood next to him and peered into the catalogue.
"What are you looking at?" She asked.
"I was thinking of getting some hooks put in the walls. I got a great family photo taken at Amatis' birthday party last month that I'd really like to hang up."
"What are you going for with the rest of the room?" Jocelyn wondered.
"Black and grey."
"Okay, definitely go for a chrome hook then. Gold would stand out best."
"That sorts that then, thank you." Luke smiled, shutting the catalogue and throwing it aside. "I'm looking forward to the decorators coming in. I love the smell of fresh paint."
"Me too, obviously." Jocelyn nodded.
"Do you still paint?" Luke asked.
"Not as much as I'd like. Too busy sorting out the messes you and the Lightwoods make." Jocelyn teased.
"Hey, Robert and Maryse cause much more trouble than I do." Luke smirked.
"That's true. I'm trying to get them to patch things up with Alec." Jocelyn revealed.
"Yeah, the whole floor heard that little screaming match the other day. I warned them promoting Jace would cause trouble." Luke said.
"He's a good guy. Deep, deep down." Jocelyn grinned and Luke laughed.
"I'll take your word for it."
"Very wise of you."
"…Man, don't you miss the days before you lot all had kids?" Luke chuckled.
"Sometimes, but being a mom is my greatest achievement. And there's still time for you to join the parent club." Jocelyn smiled.
"Yeah, we'll see." Luke nodded.
Suddenly, Isabelle practically flew past Luke's door and onward down the corridor.
"Isabelle?" Jocelyn shouted, concerned. She turned back to Luke. "I'll check on her. See you later."
"See ya." Luke smiled as Jocelyn rushed after Isabelle. He watched her go until he couldn't see her anymore.
…
"Done AND saved to a USB just in case!" Simon grinned, raising the USB stick high as if it were a trophy.
"Congratulations, you used common sense." Clary laughed.
"Jace'll be so proud."
"Speak of the Devil…" Clary said as Jace stormed over to Simon's desk.
"Contract done?" Jace asked.
"Yep, just finished printing." Simon said, handing it to Jace.
Jace practically snatched it from Simon's hands. "Don't be such a moron next time and actually take care over the work I get you to do."
"He's been working really hard on that all day. He got it done faster than most people here would even with having to start over." Clary said.
"Did I ask for your opinion? Be a good little paralegal and get back to work." Jace hissed and headed towards the elevator.
Clary turned to Simon with disgust on her face. "What's wrong with him?"
"I think I know," Simon said, "and I don't like it one bit."