I had taken a break from writing for the past few weeks because I was not in the right mood. And because I have a writers block for my other story 'lol. So I decided to start with another story to get back in the mood again.

Thank you to Senema for her beta and the suggestion of story title is from her too because I wasn't happy with my title. As usual all remaining mistakes are my own.

How to make a deal with Elijah Mikaelson (by Lucifer Morningstar)

Chapter 1

Lucifer was delighted. He had made an offer for the LUX and Eleanor Bloom had invited him to negotiate. However, when he entered the office, another man was waiting there besides Eleanor.

Eleanor Bloom grinned maliciously at him. "Mr. Morningstar, may I introduce you to Elijah Mikaelson. He's also made an offer for the building and since his bid is higher than yours, I already accepted it."

Lucifer knew that Eleanor Bloom disliked him because she could no longer tear down the LUX like she planned after it had been declared a heritage site. This was surely her way of getting back at him.

When he looked more closely at Mikaelson, he saw how the other man was looking back and forth between him and Eleanor Bloom. He had furrowed his brow and seemed to sense the tension between the two of them.

"The building is yours now, Mr. Mikaelson", said Eleanor Bloom. She smirked one last time triumphantly at Lucifer and then left the office.

Lucifer stared after her with narrowed eyes. Should she ever end up in hell, which he strongly assumed, he would make sure that her stay would be even more uncomfortable.

But now it was more important to concentrate on Mikaelson and see if he could charm him into selling the building. Lucifer observed Elijah Mikaelson covertly, who had now started to collect the papers that were on the table and put them in his briefcase.

"Mr. Mikaelson, a moment of your time, please!" Lucifer said before the man could leave the office as well and smiled charmingly at him.

Mikaelson hesitated for a moment, but then he shrugged and sat back down. "I am listening!"

Lucifer finally took the time and the opportunity to take a closer look at Elijah Mikaelson. He was comparatively young, definitely not older than 30 years, he had brown hair, calm brown eyes, wore a very expensive suit and was very handsome. Lucifer seriously considered making him the offer that they should conduct their negotiations in bed.

"My name is Lucifer Morningstar!" Lucifer saw the man's eyes flicker briefly, but where in other people's eyes he could always read bewilderment and amusement, in Mikaelson's eyes was only a certain vigilance and caution.

"My club and penthouse are in the building, you just bought, so I'm of course very interested in owning it. I would like to buy it from you. Of course I would recompense you for your inconvenience, you won't lose any money."

"I wasn't aware that there were other interested parties", Mikaelson said reservedly.

"Eleanor Bloom planned to demolish the entire block and build a mall. A friend of mine made the building a listed building", explained Lucifer.

"Ah, I see, that's why you're here. She invited you, so you could see how she sold the building to someone else." Mikaelson grimaced. "This is bad business conduct and not particularly honourable!"

"Yes, I think so too! What do you think of my offer, Mr. Mikaelson?" asked Lucifer.

Mikaelson sighed. "Call me Elijah! To be honest, I've been interested in buying this building for a very long time. The fact that it is a listed building is even a bonus for me. But I don't want to be unreasonable! I can offer you a 10 year fixed term lease for your club and I would be willing to sell you your penthouse." The man grew serious. "I understand the importance of having a home that no one can take away from you."

Lucifer was relieved. Elijah was at least ready to negotiate with him, he could build on that. "I am Lucifer! And I would prefer to buy the building. All this leasing didn't go well for me the last time."

Elijah frowned. "I understand your concerns, but I wanted to buy this building for sentimental reasons."

Lucifer stopped short. For sentimental reasons? That made things more complicated. Profit-seeking people were so much easier to manipulate.

Elijah took a business card out of his breast pocket and handed it to Lucifer. "Think about it! Get in touch with me if you want to negotiate. I will be in town for a few weeks."

With a polite nod, Elijah took his briefcase and left the office, leaving Lucifer lost in thought.

As the devil, Lucifer had an excellent knowledge of people. Elijah wasn't one of those people he could intimidate or bribe. And he would bet with himself that Elijah was one of the complicated cases.

It was better if he found out more about him first, so that he had a starting point to persuade him to sell. He would demand some of his favours and maybe he could ask the Detective if Elijah had a criminal record.

xxxxx

A few days later, Lucifer was playing his piano in the penthouse, lost in thought. None of the requested favours had brought him any information with which he could put pressure on Elijah. He'd never been in conflict with the law, never even received a parking ticket.

In the business world Elijah Mikaelson was known as a tough but fair businessman. And when he signed a contract, he meticulously adhered to it, which impressed Lucifer and made Elijah even more sympathetic to him.

Lucifer raised his head when he heard the elevator. When Mazikeen entered, he looked down at the keys again and continued playing.

Mazikeen looked at her boss, who had been moping for a few days. "Nothing found out so far?" she asked.

"No, Elijah Mikealson is so squeaky clean with such a white west that I'm almost suspicious." Lucifer sighed in frustration and stopped playing. "I'm good at reading between the lines, but there is just nothing noticeable about him.

None of his business associates or employees can say anything really negative about him. Pay is fair, bonuses are generous, all employees have health insurance and they get vacation. He sticks to contracts, doesn't cheat on anyone and is more than fair in his business dealings.

However, if someone breaks contracts with him, he becomes more than unpleasant, which makes me like him even more. He is also not easily intimidated. In short, none of my usual methods would work with him."

Mazikeen thought about it. "I can spy on him if you want!" she offered.

Lucifer hesitated. "Maybe I'll come back to your offer. But first I will invite Elijah to LUX for a party."

"With the best hospitality offered to him?" Mazikeen asked, amused.

"Yes", replied Lucifer with a grin. "But make sure that it doesn't get too debauched, it has to stay classy! I don't think Elijah would respond well to anything else." For the first time he took a closer look at Mazikeen, who looked excited. "What's the matter with you?"

"You know that LUX is neutral ground between werewolves, witches and vampires, right?" Mazikeen fidgeted.

Lucifer frowned. "Yes, I know." He didn't have much to do with or care much about these three groups. None of them would ever end up in his hell because it was only meant for humans.

"I'm having a little affair with one of the vampires and he told me something interesting. Apparently there is an Original in town and that got all the vampires agitated, and the witches and werewolves don't talk much about anything else either." Mazikeen smiled gleeful.

"What is an Original?" Lucifer had never before heard that expression.

"I asked Danny that too. Apparently all vampires in existence descend from only five siblings and those siblings call themselves the Originals." Mazikeen was enthusiastic about this new knowledge.

"I've fought with Danny a couple of times for practice purposes and he gave me quite a challenge but I was still better than him. But Danny is relatively young with only 100 years and he told me that all vampires get stronger with age and that no one is as strong as the makers of their race."

Lucifer groaned. "Please don't tell me you want to challenge this Original? LUX is neutral ground and I would prefer it remains so. I don't want the vampires to pounce on my guests as a retaliation for insulting them."

"But think about what a challenge it would be to fight against the most powerful of a species?" Mazikeen was literally beaming.

Lucifer sighed. He knew Mazikeen too well and he knew he couldn't talk her out of it. "Just don't start a war with the vampires!"

"Don't worry, I have to find out who he is first. Nobody knows what he looks like." Mazikeen looked a little disappointed about this.

"If you find him, you will ask him politely if he wants to fight against you. And if he says no, you are not going to attack him to make him fight." Lucifer stared solemnly at Mazikeen, the tone of command in his voice was unmistakable.

Mazikeen grimaced but nodded. "As you command!" She got up. "If you have no other assignment for me, I have an Original to find."

Lucifer sighed. "You can go! The main thing is that you prepare everything for the party on Saturday."

"It will be a mega party", Mazikeen assured in a good mood, and left the penthouse.

Lucifer took up the business card he had put on the piano and his smartphone, he had an invitation to offer.