Jordan walked out of his room to the sight of Simon sat on the couch staring into space, still in the same clothes he was wearing the night before.
"...Have you even moved from there since I went to bed?" He asked.
Simon shook his head.
Jordan sighed. "Si, you need to sleep."
"I have work in an hour." Simon said, the exhaustion evident in his voice. "Do you think I should try calling her again?"
Jordan sat down next to him and put a hand on his shoulder. "You need to give her some space. She hasn't answered any of your calls for a reason."
"I need to make it right." Simon said, growing teary again.
"...I think you need to prepare yourself for the possibility that you can't." Jordan said softly. "This is still gonna be raw and shocking for her, Si. It's a lot to take in. It's only been a few days. And in the nicest possible way, you look undead."
"That would be nice." Simon sighed.
"...Okay. We are going to get some coffee; I am going to watch you eat and drink something and then I'm going to make you promise me you'll give Isabelle her space. Okay?" Jordan said sternly.
"...Fine." Simon said timidly. He slowly got up from the couch and rubbed his eyes. "I'll try and freshen up a bit."
"Probably best. Not every day I look more presentable than you." Jordan grinned, trying to tease Simon. Simon said nothing as he walked into the bathroom.
…
"There you are! Feeling better?" Jace asked as Simon walked into his office. "At least a bit better, maybe. You still look like crap. No offence. Wouldn't have killed you to answer any of my texts, you know."
"I know I took a few sick days, but I wasn't sick. I just needed some time." Simon explained emotionlessly. "Isabelle found out about me."
"Shit." Jace panicked, running a hand through his hair. "That's why I haven't seen much of her recently either. How did she find out?"
"Robert kind of told her when he was drunk." Simon revealed.
"Son of a...okay, okay, let's not panic. She clearly hasn't told anyone else, so that's good." Jace said.
"Yeah, thank god for that." Isabelle's voice entered the room, having rushed past Jocelyn to walk straight into the office.
"Isabelle, listen…" Jace began.
"I was waiting for Simon to have the guts to show his face again before we talked this out. I assumed you'd have to have known too." Isabelle said. "Anyone else? I'd be surprised if mom doesn't know if dad does. Luke too? Jocelyn's giving me quite the look in the reflection of the glass so I take it she knows as well?"
Isabelle turned back and glared at Jocelyn, who lowered her head and confirmed Isabelle's suspicions.
"Yeah, they all know. It wasn't the plan for them to find out, but they did. They're not okay with it, by the way." Jace said.
"Oh, they're not okay with it? That's alright then." Isabelle hissed. She suddenly seemed to be filled with worry. "…Anyone else know I should know about?"
"Alec doesn't know, since that's what you're asking. Neither does Clary." Jace said. "Simon's roommate does and that paralegal Maia."
"And Dorothea." Simon added, finally mustering the strength to speak.
"Oh, he talks!" Isabelle exclaimed, directing her gaze at Simon before stepping closer to the two men. "How the hell do you both get out of bed every day? Any of you, for that matter?"
"I know it's gotten messy, and I know it's all my fault, but with the merger happening and the strengthening of the firm I'll be gone in no time. Luke, your parents…they're all pushing for it. Even more so with Camille and Raphael at risk of finding out. You can all pretend I never existed." Simon said.
Isabelle let out a light laugh and shook her head. "Easy as that? Jace, give us a minute."
"…This is my office." Jace said.
"I don't care. Give us a minute." Isabelle demanded. Without another word, Jace made his way out the room and closed the door.
"I know there's no forgiving me for this, but don't hold it against anyone else. This is all because of me." Simon pleaded.
"I am sick of everything in my life being built on lies. We met because of your lie, so everything we had was a lie. How do I hang out with Clary now? I can't tell her, can I? It would destroy her!"
"That's why we never told you! Or anyone! Whenever someone found out it was by accident. I didn't want to drag anyone into my mess." Simon said.
"...This was why, wasn't it? Why you ended things between us?" Isabelle noted.
"...Yeah. It was selfish to let things go as far as they did."
"Well, I hope it was worth it. I found out anyway. I ended up suffering through more than if you'd just told me. You really think I'd have told anyone?" Isabelle asked.
"I just didn't want you involved in case it all went wrong and I couldn't have protected you. I'm sorry for everything I've done to you, Izzy. You deserve better. I just...this was my dream. I couldn't say no to Jace's job offer."
Isabelle took a moment to gather her thoughts. "...We settle into the merger, and then you're gone?"
"Yeah."
"...Okay." Isabelle sighed. "I'll be professional if we need to be for as long as you're here. But on a personal level, we're done. No contact, understood?"
"Isabelle..."
"No. Just stop. If you've ever cared for me like you say you have, even a little bit, you'll stay out of my way as much as you can and then you go without a goodbye. I...I need to get used to not having you around." Isabelle said, nearly choking on her words. "Please. Just do that for me."
Simon blinked back tears and silently nodded. Isabelle took a deep breath then turned and walked out, leaving Simon alone in his sadness.
...
"...and Emma's desk should be right around this CORNER!" Magnus exclaimed happily as he and Alec turned the corner to see a startled Emma sat at her desk staring at them. "I knew I'd get there eventually."
"I'm very proud." Alec said as they approached the desk. "Magnus can finally navigate his way here from the front entrance without any reminders."
"Your finest achievement yet." Emma grinned.
"I agree." Magnus beamed.
"Anything I need to know?" Alec asked Emma, who looked through a schedule on her computer.
"Maryse wants confirmation you're still good for the proposed date for the board dinner Simon Lewis is organising."
"I forgot that was back on. Yeah, whenever it is will be fine." Alec nodded. "I feel like I'd scheduled a quick meeting for anytime now, right?"
"With Julian Blackthorn, yes." Emma said very quickly, tucking her hair behind her ear and looking down at the floor.
Magnus' eyes widened. In all the time he'd known Emma, she'd never appeared so shy. He wondered why for only a few seconds until a figure emerged from around the corner and Magnus turned to look at them. A very handsome man with brown hair and kind eyes approached them. Magnus turned to look at Emma, who was clearly forcing herself to not look at who he assumed must be Julian.
"Hello, sorry I'm a bit early." Julian smiled, looking at Emma with a hint of disappointment in his voice.
Magnus smirked; Julian was probably early in the hopes of some alone time with Emma before the meeting. He looked at Emma and Julian in turn. This should be fun.
"No problem. Sorry for making you wait a few days before we could do this. The merger's left most of us with next to no time." Alec said.
"It's okay; honestly, I wouldn't have been offended if things didn't work out. I only really wanted to properly introduce myself and that's not exactly the highest of priorities right now." Julian said.
"I was actually really impressed. Most associates are too scared to even look at me as they pass me in the corridor, much less actively seek out a meeting." Alec explained.
"That's because you're very intimidating, my love." Magnus smirked.
"Well, I just wanted to say that I'm a huge admirer of all you guys. I chickened out of applying for a job here after law school but turns out going to Santiago Belcourt led me here anyway." Julian revealed. "I think this merger is really exciting."
"Me too. I'm not always too big on change but we needed to get away from how things were going. It's also pretty great to be gaining staff like you. You left a great impression on Luke and Jace when you arranged a settlement over the ALS medication lawsuit with them." Alec recalled.
"Really?" Julian asked excitedly. "I impressed Jace?"
Alec laughed and nodded. "You did. We're all really looking forward to getting to work more closely with you."
"Isn't that right, Emma?" Magnus grinned, turning to face the red-faced receptionist. "I imagine you'll be working very closely with Julian."
"I hope so." Julian said a bit too quickly. Alec and Magnus raised an eyebrow as Emma's face somehow managed to grow even redder. "Y-You know...new colleagues and all. New people. I, uh...I like...people."
"Such a way with words." Magnus smiled.
"ANYWAY..." Alec said firmly, shooting Magnus a look that said behave, "Magnus and I have a meeting with Raphael to get ready for. It was great to properly meet you, Julian. Welcome to the family."
"Thank you. It was great meeting you too, both of you." Julian said, waving as Alec and Magnus headed into Alec's office. "That wasn't as intimidating as I'd feared."
"Magnus says Alec's a real softie once you crack the hard exterior." Emma said. "Well, that was the sentiment. The metaphor was much more...adult."
"Say no more. I'm glad there wasn't anything to be scared of. Helen will be pleased." Julian said.
"Oh." Emma said. "Helen. Is that your girlfriend or...?"
"No! No! Sorry, no. She's my sister. She works at Morgenstern Starkweather and wanted to know what Alec was like. He's the most private of all the Lightwoods." Julian explained.
"Right, right. Good."
"...Why's that good?"
"Just is." Emma smiled. Julian went to say something but Emma kept talking. "Why doesn't she come and work here instead of with Lucifer's right hand men?"
"I think she's thinking of applying here, hence the sudden interest in the people I'm now working with. She doesn't really interact with the top dogs there so I don't think she has too hard a time. It would be cool to work with her, I guess."
"You guess?"
"I don't mean...I just...I spend a lot of my time with my siblings, that's all. Coming to work is sort of like my break. I know that makes me sound horrible." Julian sighed.
"No, not at all. I get it. Well, I'm an only child so I guess I don't but...I imagine it's good to be able to separate work and home."
"It is. I love them all, I do, but it's a lot being at home. We're a big family and I'm one of the oldest. I used to have to climb through my bedroom window and not let them all know I was home if I wanted to study while I was at law school. I wouldn't get the time to myself otherwise."
Emma felt a pang of sadness for him she wasn't sure she understood. "Well, I'm glad you can escape being swamped at home by being swamped by work instead."
Julian smiled. "Lucky me."
"You know, um...if you ever needed a break at any point...we could hang out sometime?" Emma suggested shyly. "I mean, if you want."
"Really?"
"Yeah."
"...Are you free for lunch today? We could go somewhere, I don't know...nice." Julian winced.
Emma found it adorable. "Nice sounds good."
They shared a smile.
...
Robert and Maryse looked up from their desks as a figure entered the doorway.
"Jace called us. We were expecting you." Robert said.
"Well that's good." Isabelle said. "I'd hate for this to be an awkward conversation."
"...We're sorry we didn't tell you about Simon, but I'm sure you understand why." Maryse said.
"That doesn't make it okay!" Isabelle shouted.
"I know, I know. We were hoping he'd be gone before anyone else needed to know, but with the merger we can phase him out easily enough. Jace forced our hand to get him to stay this long." Maryse explained.
"He'll be ancient history before we know it." Robert said.
"...I wish it were that easy." Isabelle whispered, holding back tears. "I want to be angry with them both. I want to hate Simon. I really do, I just..."
Maryse walked up to Isabelle, cupping her daughter's face with her hands and wiping the tears away with her thumbs. "We know. You and him, you two were...?"
"...Nearly." Isabelle sniffed. "I thought we were...he says it was real, but how can I trust a thing he says? And even if it was, does it make any difference now?"
Maryse tried to think of something to say, but words failed her.
"I'm sorry you found out the way you did." Robert sighed. "I...I wasn't at my best."
"You haven't been at your best for a while now, dad. Let's not pretend we were on the best of terms even before I found out about Simon." Isabelle snapped.
"Let's not fight anymore, Isabelle. Please." Maryse pleaded.
"I can't just shrug it all off, mom! You've all lied for so long! Maybe you've all kept secrets for so long you've forgotten how twisted this all is, but I can't just forget about it. What about Camille and Raphael? Are you gonna tell them? How can I look Alec in the eye knowing he has no idea that you two are STILL lying to him? That Jace, who he's just learned to trust and care for again, is lying to him?"
"Isabelle." A new voice filled the room. It was Luke. "You have every right to be angry. I was too. I still am. But we're so close to sorting this. We officially launch as Lightwood Garroway Belcourt next week, and then Simon's gone. Maybe Jace along with him, for all we know."
"Jace too?" Isabelle questioned.
"He was very adamant when we first found out that if we got rid of Simon, he'd go along with him." Robert said, unable to look Isabelle in the eye after what she'd just said to him.
Isabelle was quiet for a moment. "...Well, that's his choice."
"I say we don't give him the choice. It's his fault for not checking Simon's background before it was too late." Robert said.
"As far as the records show, Simon's record is squeaky clean. For all intents and purposes, he went to Harvard and has the qualifications." Maryse said.
"But too many people know he doesn't. He's a brilliant lawyer, I'll be the first to admit it. Hell, he's better than any of us even were at his age, but it's a risk I'm not willing to take. If it gets out, the firm is done and we could all end up in prison." Luke explained.
"Simon...he wouldn't let that happen to us." Isabelle said softly.
"I'm not sure it would be up to him." Luke said. "I thought it sounded like you wanted him gone, Isabelle."
"I do. I just..." Isabelle sighed. "Look, I'm never going to have a clear head when it comes to this. I'm just tired of it. Do what you have to do when the time is right and I'll do my best to forget I ever knew him. And please, no more lies. If I ever find out I've been lied to by any of you again, I'm out the door without hesitation."
Isabelle turned and rushed out of the room, wiping her eyes as she went.
Maryse leant against her desk with her head in her hands. "We've broken our daughter."
"This isn't on us, Maryse. It's on Simon and Jace." Robert said.
"You really think that's the only thing that's upset her recently?" Maryse said, her fiery eyes aimed directly at Robert.
Robert said nothing and pretended to get back to work at his desk. Luke looked back to where Isabelle had fled, wondering if he should check on her. Even if he found her, he wasn't sure what he would say. What he could ever say.
...
Jace had spent the last few minutes watching Simon and Jocelyn bicker about something at her desk. Simon had approached her with a piece of paper; she'd read it and clearly not liked what it had said. After a while, Simon grabbed the paper back and hurried into the office, with Jocelyn not far behind.
"Simon..." Jocelyn pleaded, but Simon walked up to Jace's desk and put the piece of paper on it, sliding it closer to Jace.
"What's this?" Jace asked.
"...My resignation." Simon announced.
"Simon, we're not doing this." Jace said.
"Jace, this isn't what I want anymore. If I can't help people with a good conscience, I don't want to. I can't pretend everything's fine and make money I don't deserve and watch everyone around me keep my secret with a gun held at their heads. I did this. Me. I should never have applied, but I did because I was selfish. Yes, I wanted to live my dream and I wanted to help people, but that was selfish. I could have said no when you offered me this job, but I didn't. Everything that has gone wrong, everyone who's gotten hurt, it's all my fault. I can't do it anymore. I can't do it to myself or to you or Jocelyn or Isabelle or any of you, it's not fair." Simon explained.
"Simon-"
"-It stopped being fun. It stopped feeling rewarding. It stopped being worth it. I can't spend my life here wondering if today is the day I get found out. I can't sleep. I can barely keep food down. I don't feel like Simon Lewis anymore. I need to get out. I need to get you all out of my mess before it's too late. Hell, maybe it's already too late. But I can't come here every day and see Isabelle look at me like..."
Simon swallowed, unable to finish the sentence.
"Simon, we're in this together. I'm sharing the burden with you." Jace said.
"You shouldn't have to, Jace! I was stupid and I'm sorry I've dragged you all down with me for so long, but I can't anymore. I have to go. We launch the merger next week, we give it a few days, we spin something about me not liking the changes and I'm gone. Maybe I can do something right at this place for the first time in a long while. Maybe I can get out while all the damage I've caused you guys can be repaired. You broke Robert and Maryse's trust for me; Maryse said she might never be able to forgive you. But she will, Jace. If I go now, you can fix things. I'm going and you're staying because you actually deserve to be here. Everyone does. Except me."
"You've done more good in your time here than some lawyers do in their entire careers. I can't just let that be for nothing." Jace argued.
"You have to. Otherwise there will be nothing. The longer I stay, the further I'll slowly drive this place into the ground. I have had some of the best days of my life here, but also so many of my worst. It's time, Jace. It's over." Simon said, looking at Jace and Jocelyn in turn. "Thank you both, for everything you've done for me. The moments of joy working at this place; I'll never forget it. But it was never going to last. I'm sorry it took me so long to realise that."
"...What about Clary?" Jocelyn said, a tear down her cheek. "She won't buy this."
"She's been busy preparing for LSATs; she'll buy that things just stopped working for me here behind the scenes." Simon suggested. "Not exactly a lie, is it?"
"I could just pretend I never received this." Jace said.
"You'd just be delaying the inevitable. I'm asking as a friend...just let me walk away. The others will push me out in a week or so anyway, maybe even take you with me. If I do this now, it might do some good. One less thing for everyone to worry about. Jace, please. Let's just do our best to go out on a high. That's all I want."
Jace looked at Jocelyn, who nodded solemnly at him.
"...Okay." Jace nodded, taking the paper and placing it inside a drawer in his desk. "You're sure about this?"
"I've hurt too many people. I can stop now. I can free them from me." Simon nodded.
"Going out on a high, it is." Jace said. "I know you regret it, Simon, and we probably should. But I don't. You're a fantastic lawyer. And friend."
"Thanks, Jace." Simon smiled a sad smile, holding out his hand. Jace shook it before Jocelyn pulled Simon into a warm hug.
...
"Isabelle?"
Isabelle looked up from her computer to see Simon stood before her.
"Simon, are you serious?"
"I know what you said, but this is business." Simon said.
"Fine. What is it? Is it about your dinner?" Isabelle asked.
"No. They'll have to get someone else to do that." Simon swallowed. "I just resigned."
Isabelle finally met his gaze.
"A few days into the merger I'll just slip away. Jump before I'm pushed. I just thought it would ease everyone's minds in case they thought Jace would try anything again. No one else needs to get hurt." Simon explained.
Isabelle nodded.
"You probably won't ever need to speak to me again after this, so I just wanted to say that I think you're one of the greatest lawyers and one of the greatest people on this planet. The way you were always welcoming when I first came here and the kindness you showed me when I told you about my dad dying meant a lot to me. I'm sorry all I ever did in return was hurt you. I hope one day you find a really great guy and have the life you deserve, and I hope he loves you like hell. I hope he doesn't make the mistakes I did and threw everything we had away. I hope he gets it right, and I'm sorry I didn't. I'll regret it for the rest of my life."
Isabelle couldn't look away from him now, her eyes glistening with tears.
"I never deserved any of the affection you showed me, but you deserved every single bit I hope I showed you. I think you are clever and funny and beautiful and kind and sweet and scary and sunshine. Don't let anyone make you think otherwise. I know I wasn't very good at it, but I did love you, Izzy. I still do. And I'm lucky to have loved you. Anyone would be."
He took a step forward.
"I know you thought what we had wasn't real, but you were always the one person I never felt like I had to pretend around. You do know me. It was all real, right from the second I first saw you. From the moment I said how hot you were in front of Alec, having no idea he was your brother."
Isabelle laughed through her tears at that, making Simon smile through his.
"I wish I could've done it right. But if I had I probably would never have met you. I'm not sure I could ever bring myself to regret that. I'll get out of your hair, but um...thank you. For meaning so much to me."
He leant down and kissed the top of her head. "Have an incredible life."
Unable to bear looking her in the eye again, he turned and headed for the open door. As he reached it, he felt a soft hand grab hold of his.
He turned to face Isabelle, who wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him passionately. They broke apart and breathed each other in.
"I love you too." Isabelle whispered.
Simon looked at her and managed a genuine smile hearing the words come from her lips. His Isabelle. It was always Isabelle.
He held her close, cupping her face as he kissed her again. She tugged on his shirt as they took in the taste of one another. In what seemed like all the time in the world yet no time at all, they parted again. They knew what that had to be. Their one last kiss.
He moved a strand of hair behind her ear, squeezed her hand and walked away. She watched him turn the corner at the end of the corridor and disappear.
She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and shut the door.