Thank you so much for having read my story and for the feedback.
It took me a little more but here is the third chapter.
This one is a little be longer because I would like to finish with the settling and go to real business :D
And as you know the characters are not mine but the story is.
Enjoy !

"Sorry, I'm late."

The man that entered the office was in his thirties with messy jet black hair with some hint of white on his temples.

"Damon Salvatore, the man I wanted to see!" Elena jumped in surprise at the loud warm voice of Logan Fell.

The man had kept a straight serious face since he had entered the conference room but now he had dropped the serious facade and he stood up to welcome the newcomer with a clasp around his shoulders.

Damon Salvatore just smiled politely and returned the warm hand shake showing his pleasure at being there without the Fell's enthusiasm.

Elena studied her almost colleague. Damon Salvatore worked for the same company but she was not used into seeing in the flesh in her office. The Business branch had been the first office created by Elijah's father thirty years ago. When Elijah and his brother had took over the family business they had decided to split it. Klaus Mikaelson had taken over the head of the old office and Elijah had used their fame and money to extend the firm into Family Law by creating the branch where Elena was now working.

Elijah stood up as well and walked towards Damon extended his hand for him. Damon took his cue and shook the hand of his boss' brother.

"You are perfectly on time. I did not introduce your role yet." Elijah said with a kind voice.

Damon nodded.

"Come and sit down. The meeting is almost over." Elijah gestured for him to follow his lead and the three men walked from the door back to their chair. Damon took the seat on the other side of Elijah.

"Well. Where were we?" Elijah said slowly looking back at the other persons in the room.

"I was saying that I will not need to have the three meetings. I already decided who I want as my lawyer." Meredith said with strong assertive voice and Elena could almost feel a pout hidden being her words.

"This is bullshit!" Logan Fell exclaimed "You can't reasonably decide within thirty minutes of knowing the people."

"I know who I want!"

Meredith was very adamant and she looked at her father with a strong glare.

Elijah coughed to diffuse the tension that had suddenly fallen into the room.

All eyes turned to him.

"We can let Meredith explained her reasons and then we can decide."

Meredith sent him a look of approval and resumed her talking.

"I know I'm not the best judge of characters."

Her father scoffed but she ignored him.

"But I know what I want. And I want Elena as my lawyer."

Katherine gasped, Elena's eyes popped out of their sockets but Elijah just smiled.

"We are here because some people want to take my son from me. I need to be sure that the person that will help me in keeping him understand what is at stake. Elena is the only one that has children of her own. She understands perfectly the feeling. I'm sure she will do everything to ensure that my son is not taken away from me."

Meredith's words were strong and it struck a chord into Elena's core. Of course, she would do everything. She could not imagine her children being taken away from her. This would kill her instantly.

"Ok well. I think Meredith has a valid point. Does anyone object?" Elijah turned his head towards Logan Fell but the man remained silent. "Then I think it is settled. Elena will be the lawyer on this case."

Elena could feel the rage on her right coming from Katherine and directed towards her. This was not going as the woman had wanted. She kept her head down until she felt a hand on her arm. When she raised her eyes Meredith was looking at her with a kind smile. She turned her head and she spotted the same expression on her boss. Even Damon was looking at her with something that resembled appreciation.

"Back to the topic." Elijah took lead of the meeting once again. "I have called Damon Salvatore here for a specific reason. As you know, he is part of the Business branch. But he is also the main lawyer of the Fell conglomerate. As such, he will be involved in the case. Meredith's son is the sole heir to the company and this fight will also resolve around his grandfather's company. In this office, we are well acquainted with Family Law but we are going to need help to understand the Business part of it. This is why I have asked Damon to come to offer his knowledge and to act as an advisor which he has gladly accepted to do."

At this point Elijah turned his head towards Elena.

"Elena, I hope you and Damon will be able to work together as a team. You will need all the help you could get and Damon is very good as what he is doing."

She nodded with a gulp. As much as she was ecstatic at being the chosen lawyer, she was not overly happy at working with Damon. She preferred working alone and decided by herself what she could or not hand down to someone else. She did not know how this Damon was working. Hell! He might even steal her case. But she had no say in the matters and she would have to swallow her pride and acknowledge his looming presence.

"I think the meeting is over. I will let you four go back to Elena's office to discuss the matter and I will see you at lunch time." Elijah concluded.

Logan Fell stood up and Meredith and Elena took it as their cue to follow. However Elijah was not finished.

"Katherine and Andrew, I assume that you will help Elena in clearing her workload of all her big files."

Katherine shot him an angry glare but did not say anything. Andrew just nodded.

They were about to leave the conference room when Elijah called after Elena.

She turned around and he mentioned for her to come over him.

"Elena, I need to talk to you a minute." He said with a serious tone.

"Ok", Elena nodded, "but I need to go back to my office with..."

"I will show them". Katherine cut in quickly with a smile.

Elijah nodded relieved and Elena frowned wondering what she was up to.

Katherine immediately positioned herself close to Damon. Posing her right hand on his left shoulder she slightly bent over showing more of her cleavage before murmuring in a sultry voice.

"Follow me, I will show you around."

Elena rolled her eyes at Katherine obvious flirting and turned back her attention to her boss.

Elijah waited for the group to leave the conference room before acknowledging Elena's presence.

"I am not surprise. I expected for Meredith to choose you."

Elena raised her eyebrow in a mocking gesture and Elijah laughed good-naturally. He raised his right hand close to his head, the palm facing Elena.

"I swear! I am not saying that I was not surprised by how quickly she decided to take you as her lawyer. I am just saying that I knew that at the end she would have chosen you."

Elena gulped.

"How did you know?" she asked with a small voice.

"Because I chose you." He replied simply.

She looked at him confusion written all over her face.

Elijah sighed.

"Listen, Elena. This case is very delicate. We are talking about a few month old baby and two rich and powerful families. This requires as much discretion as possible. I wanted to propose your work as soon as Klaus redirected the Fells to me. But I know men like Logan Fell. They like control and the power it gives them. That is why I proposed him three lawyers to choose from. That is why I let Damon be involved in the case. But I knew that you were the most qualified for this. You are well dedicated and you know how to handle sensitive topics as well as keeping discretion to a maximum."

Elena felt the blush crept slowly to her face at her boss' appraisal of her work.

"And you have a motherly touch." He added with a wink and she let a laugh escaped her lips.

She really liked her boss. Elijah was very strict but always kind and fair. The first time she had meet him was during her internship. He had just created the branch and when after a year he had proposed her a full-time job she had said yes right away. Since then, she had never regretted that choice. It had been tough at the beginning without many cases to work with and a reputation to build. But it had been worth it. She had learned so much and was still learning.

They had turned the small unknown office into the second best Family firm in Mystic Fall in a couple of years and she was very proud of the achievement. She knew that he had also been due to the Mikaelson name but it did not undermine her sense of self confidence of having been a part of this success.

Elijah finally dismissed her and she took back the elevator to go down to her office.

The second floor where Elena had her office was organised as a big square with windows on three sides, the elevator being on the windowless side. Three private offices were on the right side. The one closest to the elevator was an open office when they were having external lawyers, mostly from the business branch. Andrew's office was the second one and the third one was taken by the last lawyer of the bunch, Marina Gonzales. Elena's office was on the side facing the elevator, in the middle, Katherine on her right and Elena's lawyer trainee, April Young on her left. The rest of the space was taken by the open space filled with the four assistants' desks, the waiting area and the printing machine.

Bonnie's desk was close enough to Elena and April's offices seeing that she was their assistant. She was sitting in front of Katherine's assistant, a handsome young man called Mark. Katherine liked to take them young. And above all, she liked to take them short time. Like the others before him, Mark was a law student at the Mystic Fall University School of Law. Katherine usually hired good looking law male students and once they finished their studies she would take another one. They needed the money, she needed the help. Office talks were to say that she used them as well for some more "private" work. But Elena did not like listening to office talks even if she would not put it past Katherine Pierce to behave that way.

Elena spotted Bonnie right away as she was standing close to her office door beaming at her like an idiot.

"Damon Salvatore is in your office." She whispered while clapping her hands together excitedly once Elena arrived at a level.

If she thought her assistant was happy for her wining the case, she was quickly disillusioned. Bonnie was clearly thrilled by the presence of Damon in the building. However, her assistant was not the only one beaming as she could hear the excited whisper all around her. It was just a painful reminder at how much the office liked gossip.

She refrained at rolling her eyes for the second time in a couple of minutes and just sighed.

"Do you have something for me?" she asked her assistant seeing as she had been standing guard in front of her office.

Bonnie shook her hand and she just patted Elena's shoulder with her non-ending smile before returning to sit at her desk.

Elena took a deep breath, turned the handle and opened the door to her office. There she was met by the sight of the two Fells seated in her office guest chair and Damon Salvatore passing behind them. She coughed and her three guests turned their heads toward her. She entered her office and closed the door behind her.

Elena caught Damon's eyes and she suddenly felt every emotion he was feeling. His face was a mix between surprise, happiness and apprehension. When the knot in her stomach tightened, she understood that she was feeling the same.

Meredith was looking at the two lawyers with a smirk. She might be a spoilt rich girl but she was not born yesterday. There was something going on.

"You two know each other?" she asked them innocently.

Elena's head turned quickly towards her client and her eyes opened wide like a deer caught in headlights. Damon recovered quicker.

"We studied both in Mystic Fall University School of Law. In my last year I was her tutor, helping her go through her first year." He said with a slow voice never leaving Elena out of his sight.

Elena nodded barely holding the sigh that finally escaped her lips almost inaudibly.

Meredith looked at the two of them. She could sense that there was something more but decided against prying more.

She wanted Elena as her lawyer and she needed her to be in her father good books. She would have time later to discover what it was.

"Well good. At least you're not strangers forced to work together." Logan Fell interrupted with a grave voice. "Can we go on with the case? My time is precious and I do not want to lose it for mundane thing."

Elena quickly walked towards her desk and sat on her chair. She took the thick light grey folder that Elijah had given her after their talk and set it down on her black leather desk blotter.

"I am new to the case so I will need a little time to read through all the paperwork but we can have a quick talk about what you want from me and how you would like to handle the matters." She said with a kind smile. If there was something she was good at it was to make her clients at ease and to listen to their desire and fears.

Meredith was about to answer when her father cut her.

"I want as much discretion as possible. I want this matter to be resolve quickly in our way. I want full custody of my grandson and I want the Lockwood to fail." he said with a strong powerful voice.

Elena could understand how he had managed to bring his company so high. He was reeking power. He was not a man to be made a fool of. But she could sense also the care for his family that was hiding behind each word. Ultimately Logan Fell wanted what was best for his family.

Elena looked at Meredith.

"And what do you want?" she said with a kind voice

Meredith looked at Elena with a hoping face.

"I want to keep my son with me" her eyes were moistening with unshared tears and her voice was breaking.

Elena reached for Meredith's hand that was down on her desk and she squeezed in a tender gesture.

"We will make sure of that." she said nicely.

Meredith nodded slowly.

Damon was looking at them with a kind smile on his face.

There was a knock on her door and the awkwardness that had settled in the room was broken immediately. Elena raised her head to see Bonnie coming in with a tray full of cups and a coffee pot.

"I thought you would need some refreshments." She said with a smile.

She processed to fill them four cups and to set them down on Elena's desk. Elena cringed internally when she saw how her assistant was eyeing Damon all the time she was there.

There was a silence during which they sipped on their coffee.

"I propose that we see each other next week once I have the time to fully process the case so we can decide on a strategy." Elena finally talked looking straight at Logan Fell.

"Next Monday, should be fine. We will meet in my office."

Elena nodded a little overwhelmed by the fact that she would get to go to the Fell conglomerate building.

"It's okay for you Damon?" Logan Fell had taken over the conversation.

Damon looked at Elena quickly and seemed to ponder over his answer.

"It should be. I might have a couple of meeting that would need rescheduling but nothing impossible to be done."

"Great I'll let my assistant get in touch with yours."

He was about to rise from his chair when a new knock on her door stopped him.

Elijah was standing there with a smile on his face.

"Sorry to interrupt but we are going to be late for our lunch." He said his smile still on not looking at all sorry.

Elena was about to answer but Logan was quicker. She was starting to feel that he did not like to be told what to do.

"We were finished." He said with a grunt.

The two Fell stood up they proceeded with shaking Elena and Damon's hands. Meredith took Elena in her arm in a friendly gesture and murmured a "thank you" in her ear.

Elena was starting to like her. At first Meredith looked like another brainless rich girl but she could feel the smart caring young woman behind the facade. With a wave of the hand and a huge smile Meredith steeped out of her office.

"I like the girl." Logan Fell said patting Elijah on the shoulder. And with that he was gone like his daughter.

Elijah turned towards her with a knowing smile and proceeded to follow his guests.

After the Fells and Elijah had left for lunch, she was left with Damon on the doorstep of her office. He was already in the open space while she had remained in her office. He seemed deep in thoughts. She was about to close the door behind him when he suddenly turned back to her.

"We can have lunch together if you want?" Damon asked slowly. Was it a hint of awkwardness that she could hear in his voice? She just looked at him with big eyes.

He coughed. "Well, I thought we can discuss the case and I can feed you in all the basics about the Fell conglomerate."

His voice was insecure as if he was carefully pondering about his words.

"So you can start right away and be spared some time. And you can ask all the questions that you want!" he finished with a crooked grin.

Elena did not know how to answer. Normally she was going to lunch with Bonnie and April at the small café down the streets and the three girls would laugh about meaningless topic. Before she could say no she spotted Bonnie behind Damon nodding fiercely at her. Hopefully he could not see her as she was on his back. Else she would have been mortified.

"Okay" she croaked feeling uncomfortable. "Herr, let me take my coat and my purse and we can go."

Damon nodding and she almost could see relief wash over his face.

They had almost reached the elevator when they heard the voice of Katherine Pierce behind them.

"You're going to lunch?"

Elena turned around scowling to see Katherine coming toward them with a wide smile.

"Can I come?" she asked with a predatory smile.

Elena was at a loss to answer. Damon took the cue of her silence to answer.

"We were going to have a working lunch." He looked at Katherine's face that was not losing her smile. "To discuss the case."

Katherine did not show any passing emotion, her smile stayed on. She had finally reached them and she put her hand on Damon's arm in a flirting gesture.

"Well you can plan a meeting later this week, can't you?"

This time it was Damon that was at a loss to answer. He looked at Elena. Her face was a mix of emotion: disbelief, anger and another emotion he could not place.

As they were not answering, Katherine took the lead and forced Damon to enter the lift, his arms linked with hers. Having no choice, Elena followed them in the small squared room.

Bonnie's angry face was the only thing that Elena saw before the doors of the lift closed in front of her.

The rest of the day passed quickly as she immerged herself into the Fell's case. Lunch had been awkward as she had spent one hour looking at Katherine throwing herself at Damon and flirting with him all time asking a lot of personal questions. It did not deter her when Damon told her that he was married with children. It was as she was enjoying it even more. Elena was sure it was a good chase for her, being able to stick her claws in an unavailable man looked like a challenge she was more than willing to win. Elena had felt like she had been intruder all the time. Damon had been as embarrassed as she had been trying to pull the conversation out of his personal life but failing miserably. Katherine Pierce was a woman with a purpose and she could not be stopped.

When the lunch had been over, Elena had rushed to her office after promising Damon to see him on Friday to discuss the case. She had left the two together and had locked herself in her office for the rest of the day.

Soon the dark started to creep into her office and she was startled by the sudden lighting of her office.

Andrew was standing close to her door.

"I'm leaving but I thought you would need the light. You will hurt your eyes by reading in the dark." He said slowly.

"Shit. What time is it?" Elena asked a little frantically.

"Past seven."

Elena cringed. She had lost track of the time and she was really late to come home. Her mother in law was going to have a fit. She checked her phone and sure enough she had a couple of missed calls. She had put it on silent mode during the morning meeting and had forgotten to put it back on normal ringing mode.

She waved a goodbye at Andrew thanking him but his nice gesture and she started to gather her things to leave.

Her day had really been overwhelming and it was not finished yet.