Sorry for the long delay. Life caught up with me. I moved out and I don't have an Internet connection anymore. I borrowed one to post this chapter. I made it long to compensate.
Hope you will like it.
The puzzle is slowly starting to piece together. I'm dropping hints here and there and I just hope they are not too obvious.
Still characters are not mine but the story is.
Hope you enjoy!
When Elena got home she was exhausted. The sun was already starting to set and there was still the cold breeze of the spring wind sending chills over her small frame. Her husband's car was not in their garage so she assumed that he was still in the office. However the shiny new black SUV of her in laws and the screeching voice coming from the kitchen anticipated what she already knew: her mother in law was there.
She slowly opened the front door. The corridor was dark but she could spot the light coming from the kitchen on her left. Laughing and cries of children could be heard from the closed door.
She put down her computer bag on the floor close to the console and she hung her light coat in the closet on her right. She slowly made her way to the kitchen bracing herself for the reproaching glare of her mother in law. She was supposed to be home almost two hours ago. Now it was eight and Emily must have had prepared dinner for her children.
Sure enough when she entered the kitchen, the three children were sitting around the table in their pyjamas finishing their yogurts. Emma was having cream all over her lips and looked like she was eating dessert with her nose. Maya was concentrating on her food carefully bringing her spoon to her mouth. Luke raised his head as soon as he heard the door opened and dropped everything to get out of his chair.
"Mummy" he cried running towards Elena.
Elena dropped on her knees and took her black haired six year old little boy in her arms.
"Hello sweetie. I'm home." She said with a smile.
He cuddled his mother with all the strength he could muster and Elena could feel the emotion bubbling in her chest. She swallowed and kissed her son on the forehead. When she raised her head she came across the icy glare of her mother in law. The woman said nothing but Elena could find the dislike deep rooted in Emily's eyes.
She sighed and chose to ignore the blatant reproach. The woman was always careful not to say anything in front of others, only choosing to berate Elena when there was no one in sight. The only exception was when she took it upon herself to come to Elena's office and complained in front of her colleagues.
Instead she turned towards her twin girls. Standing up she took Luke's hand and walked him up to the kitchen table when he resumed eating his dessert. Elena closed up to her daughters and kissed them both on the top of their head. The two girls waved at their mom but did not stop eating bringing a new smile on their mother's face at their behaviour. As much as her son looked like his father, except for his mother's brown eyes, the tow girls were spitting image of their mother except for their blue eyes that they took from their paternal grandmother.
"Now that your mom is finally there, I will head back home." Emily's voice was thick with something Elena could not exactly pinpoint but it sounded a lot like sarcasm. She kissed each of them and removed her apron before walking out of the kitchen.
"Elena, dear, you see me to the doors." She said with a fake smile when she reached the door of the Kitchen. It was not a question and Elena understood immediately that her day had taken a turn for the worse.
The old woman took her coat from the corridor closet and turned facing her daughter in law.
Elena squared her shoulders waiting for the blow to arrive. It did not take long.
Emily looked at her with unconcealed dislike and shook her head. When she addressed Elena, her voice was scolding and hard.
"So as you were late again, I bathed the children and prepared dinner for them. Luke did his homework but he will need to read a little bit more to gain confidence. In case you would be interested, they ate chicken breast with green bean and tomatoes. I cooked more so there would be enough to feed my son when he will come back home. Leftovers are in the fridge. I let you clean the kitchen after your kids. I think you can manage that though."
She did not have the courage to fight with her mother in law and just took whatever the old bat was throwing at her. She just nodded waiting for her to be done and over with. She just needed for her to be gone.
Emily must have sensed her mood because soon enough she stopped talking and left the house without a goodbye. Elena sighed relieved and locked the door behind her. She did not know when her husband would be home and she did not want to let the house opened in case she would be already asleep.
Sometimes she wondered if it would not be better to pay a babysitter to take care of her children after school. Her aunt Jenna had already proposed her some college kids from her husband's class that would be willing to earn some money by supervising kids after school. She had refused thinking that the children would be better off with their grandmother. And the help was free which was an additional benefit. Now she was starting to think otherwise.
When she came back in the kitchen, her children had finished eating the dessert. She hushed them upstairs to brush their teeth. Once they were reading to go to bed they started their bedtime tradition. Elena sat on her bed, her back on the black wood headboard. Maya laid down on her left Emma on her right and Luke sitting in front of her.
"It's Monday night so it is Luke's turn to choose the story." Elena turned toward her eldest.
"So what do you have behind your back?" she smiled as Luke handed her the book he was hiding.
It was Jack and the Beanstalk. Elena laughed. It was one of his favourite. He knew the story by heart but chose it regularly to be read by his mom nonetheless.
To avoid any fight about which story would be read before bed, Elena had divided the nights between her three kids by age order: Mondays & Thursdays to Luke, Tuesdays & Fridays to Maya, and Wednesdays & Saturdays to Emma. Sunday nights were Elena's choice or her husband's one when he was there.
Elena took the book and mentioned for him to come. Luke settled between his mother's legs his back on her front. Maya and Emma were having their right thumb in their mouth, clutching their mom's blouse.
Elena took a deep breath and started reading the story. She was tired but she tried her best to give life to the story of small Jack.
"Once upon a time there was a boy called Jack. He lived with his mother. They were very poor..."
Once the story was over, Elena noticed that her two baby girls were fast asleep. Luke faced her and with a smile she kissed him on the forehead.
"Go to your bed. I'll come and see you as soon as I've put your sisters to bed."
Luke nodded and after a kiss to both his sisters' cheek, he left his parent's room to reach his own.
Elena detached herself from her daughters' tight grasp and stood up. Taking them one by one, she carried them to the room the two girls shared on the other side of the stairs. With a kiss, she tucked them in and slowly closed the door leaving only the faint glow of the night-light in the bedroom.
She crossed the corridor to reach her son's room. Luke was already in his bed, under his Spiderman covers waiting for his mum. Elena reached her little boy and smoothed the cover on his small figure.
"Mum, I love you." Luke said with a sleepy voice.
"I love you too sweetheart." Elena answered before kissing him on the cheek.
"Good night my love. Sweet dreams" she said before standing up and turning off the light.
"Good night mummy."
When Elena closed the door behind her Luke was already sleeping.
Once again, her husband was not there to see their children before they went to bed.
When he finally got home a couple hours after, Elena was already in their bed waiting for the sleep to take over. He entered the room in silence using his phone to lighten the room.
"You're late." She murmured to him
"Sorry I did not want to wake you." He answered with an apologetic voice.
"I was not asleep yet. Your mom made food for you. It's in the fridge downstairs."
"I ate a takeaway in the office."
Elena felt the weight on the bed shift when her husband laid down carefully beside her. He approached her and soon she was encased in his warm, her back to his front.
"Sorry, I'm late" he murmured through her long dark locks.
She did not answer but snuggled more closely into his arms before sleep finally claimed her.
The week passed as a blur between her busy work time and her children. She did not even have time to get out for lunch with Bonnie and April and had to eat sandwiches in her office for a week. She had spent a day to hand over her current cases to Andrew, Katherine having bail out of her by saying that she was already overload. Luckily April had offered her services to Andrew to help him during those busy times. April was still young but Elena knew that her intern was having a great potential and that Andrew would be happy with her dedication. On top, Elena had to make sure to arrive home on time to avoid her mother in law sneaky comments. Adding to that that her husband never once came back home at a reasonable hour and Elena was glad that the week was almost over with. The only problem was that as Friday afternoon came so did her meeting with Damon Salvatore.
Bonnie had buzzed with excitement all morning and as the meeting hour became closer, she was starting to annoy Elena. Elena had sent her to buy her some lunch and when Bonnie had appeared with a chicken salad and an apple with a knowing smirk, Elena had fought her desire to throttle her. Bonnie was the best person she knew but she really could be a pain in the ass when she meddled in other's business. And Elena had a sickening feeling that Bonnie wanted to meddle in her business with Damon.
Her phone buzzed with an incoming call from Bonnie. Sighing, Elena pushed the button.
"Yes, she said.
"Mr Salvatore is downstairs at the reception, came the excited voice of her assistant.
"Tell him to come up and bring him to my office." was her final answer before turning off the phone.
She had a couple minutes left to finish her apple and clean her desk from the remaining trace of her lunch.
Soon enough she heard a knock on her door and Bonnie's face appeared behind it. She winked before opening wide the door to let Damon Salvatore walked in. Elena stood up from her chair and came to him extended her hand for him to shake.
"Sorry to interrupt" he said with a smirk pointing at the apple core that was still in her left hand. Elena felt the blush creeping out on her face but she just shrugged trying to play it down as if nothing fazed her and especially not him.
She mentioned for him to sit down in the chair facing her desk before coming back to her seat throwing her apple in the bin in the process.
"I've just finished" she answered casually before sitting down as well.
She opened the drawer behind her and pulled out the big Fell's case before putting it down between them.
"Let's get down to business, shall we?" she asked after clearing her throat.
"Go ahead?" he said mentioning with his hand for her to take control of their meeting.
"Well, I've read the whole file and I think I found the angle we should go at." She said looking him straight in the eyes.
His eyebrows slightly pulled up and his smirk came back. She tried not to be bothered by the intensity of his stare but found it difficult to remained unfazed in front of this damn man. Damon Salvatore screamed sexiness and she struggled to regain her countenance forcing down the blush that threatened to appear. She had to remember that this was business and there was no way in hell she would make it something else.
"I'm all ears." He said with a teasing voice.
God she hated that sound. She remembered how it made her feel back from the time they were at school. She sighed.
"Listen, Damon. We have to work together on this case. I would like for us to remain professional. It is not about us. I want to win and I will not be able to that if you don't take it as seriously as I want you to. Do we have a deal?" she asked trying to smooth the pleading tone of her voice.
"Your call." He shrugged but she could see his face turning serious. She nodded. At least, he seemed to understand her point of view.
"Ok. I want to go on the family angle with this case."
She saw him opening his mouth to voice his disagreement. After all these years, she could still read him easily. She stopped him before he could utter a word.
"I know that this has a strong link to the Fell conglomerate. But we are dealing here with baby custody. We will be facing a family court judge that does not give a damn about companies. I do not want for the judge to think that we only care about the future of a company. We have to make him understand that the best option for Logan Mason Lockwood Fell is to be with his mother. The link to his grandfather's business will just be the icing on the cake."
Understanding fell on his face and the look he sent her way resembled somewhat pride.
"So how do you want us to proceed?" he asked.
"I want you to let me lead the way." He nodded. "I want to put Meredith Fell in the front line. Let the judge see that she is a great mother and that her son would be better taken care of by his mother than his grandparents. And most of all, I want you to refrain Meredith's father from putting his business first."
Damon studied her carefully and she shifted awkwardly on her seat under his scrutinizing gaze.
"Are you scared of Logan Fell?" he asked with a chuckle, the smirk back on his face.
For the third time in less than an hour she could fell the blush reappearing on her face. God what was with this man so that he could make lose her countenance like that!
"I'm not!" she exclaimed a little too quickly.
The smile on his face told her that he did not buy her lie but she decided not to dwell on that.
"You're his trusty lawyer so if it comes from you he will be more inclined to listen."
Damon nodded the smile still on his face.
Elena opened the file and offered him the Lockwood's statement with which they filed their plea.
"We should have a look on what the other party says so we can counteract everything."
Damon nodded and they both came closer to the desk their heads almost touching as they read together.
"I think we should call it a day." Damon said before stretching on his chair.
Elena's head rose from the paper she was reading. She looked at the small clock on her desk. It showed five pm. They had spent more time than anticipated but they had managed to clear up a good amount of work.
"I think you're right." She straightened her posture on her chair but a jolt of pain rushed through her spine. She grimaced.
"You're okay?" Damon asked with concern.
"I'm fine"
His eyebrows shot in his hair.
"I swear, just a little stiffness. I've been bending over the desk for too long."
"You want a massage? I have been told that I'm an expert with my hands."
His tone was playful but Elena shot him a disapproving glare. He shot his hands in the air.
"Just proposing my help to a co-worker in need. That's all."
"That would not be necessary." She finally said a little bit coldly refusing to acknowledge his previous statement. With him better not start a playful banter he would easily overpower her and she was not sure she wanted to be put in that situation in her office.
She reached for the notepad that was in front of her and ripped the ten pages worth of notes they had taking during the past three hours. They had had a small fight on who would be the one taking notes, nobody wanting to be the one doing it. But when Elena had seen the unreadable mess Damon had called writing she had finally settled into doing it. The smirk Damon had shot her had made her question if she had not been manipulated into volunteering.
"I think we are settled for next Monday meeting."
Damon nodded.
"I'll ask Bonnie to scan the notes and send them to you so you can have a look at them on Monday morning if you want."
She rose from her chair and Damon followed. They had reached her door when he turned towards her.
"I'll come and picked you up on Monday at noon. So we can have lunch together and we'll drive together to Logan's office." He said and with a moment of silence he added "If that is fine by you I mean."
She nodded and opened the door.
They both entered the open space. Upon seeing them Bonnie jumped from her chair and came to meet them. Elena handed her the notes she had still with her.
"Can you scan the pages and send them to Damon's email address, please?"
Bonnie nodded taking the papers with her right hands.
"You have my email?" Damon asked and Bonnie shook her head.
"You will find his email in the company database." Elena said looking at them if they were stupid. They may not be working in the same offices but they were from the same company which means shared directory list.
Damon reached for his wallet safely hidden in the inside pocket of his jacket and pulled out a small white rectangular card.
"No need. Here is my business card. You'll have my contact easier that way."
Bonnie came closer to him and took the card he was offering.
"My mobile number is on the back." He added with a velvety voice and a wink when she was close enough.
Bonnie looked at him, her cheeks turning a bright shade of red. Elena rolled her eyes.
Elena looked at Bonnie expecting her to dismiss herself so she can walk Damon to the lift and be done with him and her day. But the young brunette seemed to be thinking about something as her hands crushed the paper to her front and she kept switching her weight from one foot to the other. However before she could say anything her assistant resolved whatever dilemma she was pondering and opened her mouth to ask the worst thing she could ask.
"Hum, on Fridays we are going for a drink after work. Do you want to come with us?"
Elena would have shaken her friend to make her come back to her senses if she was not frozen to her spot. She just settled into opening her eyes wide. Was she crazy? This was their traditional Friday girl evening. Bonnie, April, Marina, Elena, Marina's assistant Penny and sometimes Katherine were going to the pub a couple of streets away to grab a drink and chilled out before the start of the weekend. Most of the time, the female lawyers from the District Attorney offices down the street would join them as well. It had become such a ritual that the owner of the pub had created the 'women out night' with beers at half the price for women from 5 to 8pm on Fridays.
And now Bonnie wanted to propose to a man to join them! And Damon of all people! She was such a sucker for good looks.
Damon turned his head toward Elena and remained silent for a moment pondering his answer. Her look must have made an impression on him because he turned back towards Bonnie and shook his head.
"It would have been with pleasure ladies but I need to go back to my office. I still have some work to finish." Damon answered with a dazzling smile.
If Elena did not know better, she would have said that he was flirting.
He took Bonnie's right hand to his lips and kissed the back of it. Bonnie giggled and Elena rolled her eyes once again. Damon looked at Elena and winked, his smile never leaving his face.
Okay that was blatant flirting. Seeing Bonnie's reaction, Elena knew she would never hear the end of it. What was wrong with him? Okay she knew what was wrong. Damon had always been a lady's man. And by the look of it, he still was. But he was married for good sake!
"Ladies, it had been a pleasure but I'm afraid I need to head back to my office." He bowed in a mock 17th century style before straightening his posture and walking towards the elevator.
And Bonnie giggled. Bonnie giggled! This was getting weirder by the minute.
Elena stood where she was, watching him disappear behind the closing doors of the lift. She could not figure this man out. Was he always like that at work or was he just playing with her?
The two women stayed standing without moving for a minutes until Marina Gonzales came out of her office shouting.
"Girls we are leaving in thirty minutes. I so need a beer!"
Elena and Bonnie jumped startled out of their thoughts. Bonnie left hurriedly to do the scan and email Damon while Elena looked at her co-worker.
"Rough day, huh?" Elena said eyeing her
Marina's short black hair were pointing in all directions the as if she had pulled at them all through the day. Her very intense black eyes were still intimidating but the dark rings under them were somehow softening their stance. Her normally rich caramel coloured skin was looking a little bit grey and she looked utterly spent.
"Don't tell me about it!" Marina exclaimed "and then I will go back home to a husband thinking that because he has a Y chromosome he has the right to forgot where the kitchen is. I swear, we, women have the worst side of the gender coin."
After this outburst she rushed back to her office. Elena smiled. Tired or not Marina was still a very energetic woman. Elena followed her cue and went to her office.
She spent the next couple of minutes putting her desk in order, the Fell's case file back in the drawer. When she came out with her computer bag, her jacket on her arm the girls were already waiting for her ready to enjoy the start of the weekend.
This evening, it was only Bonnie, April, Marina and Elena. Katherine had bailed out a couple of hours ago saying that she was having a date and would need her time to prepare. Penny was on maternity leave and would not be back until the following month.
The four women waved at Liv Parker who was the usual bartender on Friday nights before choosing a high table at the back with four stools. Elena went to the bar to order the first round of beers, her treat. When she came back the three others were already engrossed in conversation about the following office seminar.
"I can't believe next week it's already the time for the Mikaelson & Partners' weekend getaway" Bonnie exclaimed excitedly.
"I know" Marina sighed. "It feels like the last one was just last month. Times go by too quickly."
Elena dropped the bears on the table and the three girls murmured their thanks.
"To us" Elena said waving her beer for the other girls to cling.
They took a sip of their drinks before putting their glasses back on the table.
"I so needed it" Marina sighed having almost drained half of her pint in one go.
"I can see that" Elena laughed mentioning the almost half empty glass in front of her friend and colleagues. "Tough day huh"
"You have no idea" the older woman answered. "I'm working a case where because the husband is rich and have a big shot old macho lawyer he thinks he can deny is wife's rights as a mother of their two kids after they divorced."
Elena patted her friend's back.
"Well I'm here to cheer up so change of topic please" Marina finally pleaded.
Bonnie suddenly looked at Elena with a weird face and she was afraid what the change of subject would be but April cut in.
"What is this Mikaelson & Partners' weekend getaway anyway?" she asked. Elena was glad for her intern's choice of topic. She had just started her internship in September and was not there yet for the last seminar.
"It's a sort of seminar with all the employees of the firm" Elena answered. "The bosses book a hotel somewhere for the weekend and gather everyone there. We listen to conferences and do games in teams. It's mostly team building."
"Everyone is going?" April asked. The three girls nodded.
"It's the only time of the year we can really meet the other lawyers of the firm." Bonnie said conspiratorially.
"And you're all going?" April asked eagerly.
"Yeah" Elena answered somewhat reluctantly.
"No. You're coming" Bonnie interrupted. "You have not been coming in years. You promised me that your husband will take care of the kids for once."
"Yeah I know but..." Elena started but was interrupted once again by her assistant.
"I don't want to hear a 'but'. Last year it was a shame you did not come. Elijah was not overly happy about it. If you want to be a partner one day you need to attend those events."
Elena nodded. She knew that of course but it was kind of difficult to let her children even for a weekend. Since the birth of the twin she had always managed to have an excuse not to go.
"On the plus side you will be able to meet the employees of the Business branch. There are a lot of new persons you did not know. What was the last time you came? It was like what six years ago?"
"Four. Last time I was pregnant with the twins." Elena answered sheepishly.
"Come on you're working with Damon Salvatore and you acted like you don't know him. He has been working for the firm for as long as I can remember. I'm sure you met him during one of the events in the past yet you barely recognised him."
"I told you I'm coming" Elena cut in somewhat pissed. The bringing of Damon's name was raising her temper.
"You better." Bonnie said finally. She seemed to ponder over something and then her head dropped towards the table beckoning the three other girls to come closer. "I should ask Damon if he's coming as well. It would be nice to see him out of work. I bet he looks as jaw dropping in a jean and t-shirt as he does in a suit."
Elena frowned. The conversation was not going in a way she wanted to. She was hoping she could escape the topic of her handsome co-worker but Bonnie seemed to have been waiting for this topic to pop up. She was due for a good explanation.
"Bonnie, he is a married man. You can't fantasy on a married man." She chastised her assistant with a stern voice.
"I'm not saying that for me. I'm saying that for you!" Bonnie said with a conspiracy voice
Elena looked at her as she had grown up two heads.
"Of come on Elena, I've seen the way he is acting with you. He is always playfully flirting with us but when he's doing it with you there is always a tender side."
April nodded confirming Bonnie's thoughts and Marina raised her eyebrow in amusement.
"And you know that because..." Elena said shaking her head.
"I have been looking at him. Come on, Elena, I'm sure he has a thing for you. He is always following you around with his eyes. Even Katherine blatant flirting does not faze him. I'm sure if you were to ask him to go out outside the office he will agree."
Elena was starting to shift awkwardly on her stool. This conversation was definitively putting her on edge.
"I'm serious Elena. You're always working and taking care of your children. You should have some fun in life, live a little."
"By cheating on my husband" she exclaimed incredulously. "I'm sure Elijah would be delighted. We have a 'no dating co-worker policy' remember?" She had a smile on her lips that did not quite reach her eyes but Bonnie missed it and just shrugged.
"You're married to a ghost. He is always working, not coming home before sunset on weekdays, missing on weekends. When was the last time you had a moment alone with your husband? For what we know he might have a mistress somewhere."
"Bonnie stopped". Elena said between gritted teeth feeling the anger rose.
Marina sighed. What a nice way to chill out after a tough day! It was like watching her two teenage daughters fought over who should take the curling iron first.
"Girls let not finish this evening with a fight." Marina's voice interrupted the two girls as they kept glaring at one other. Putting her right hands on Bonnie's shoulder and her left one of Elena's right hand that was still on the table, she addressed the two with her lawyer firm no bullshit voice.
"Bonnie, this is not very clever to throw a married man into the arms of a married woman. Elena can take care of herself. You know the company rule we cannot date co-workers so what you propose on top of being morally questionable might also cost Elena her job. Now you should apologise."
Bonnie nodded. She looked at Elena with a sad smile: "I'm sorry"
Marina smiled and squeezed Bonnie's shoulder in a friendly manner.
"Elena, Bonnie was only expressing concern, albeit a little insensitively. But she was looking after you. Don't let that silly talk tarnish your friendship.
"I'm sorry" Elena whispered her eyes still glued to her drink in front of her.
"Who wants another beer?" April cut in trying to diffuse the tenseness that had settled at their table.
"I'll have one." Bonnie answered.
April looked at Elena.
"I think I'm going home. I'm not in the mood for a drink anymore." She said standing from her stool grabbing her jacket and bag.
"Elena, I..." Bonnie started but she was interrupted when Elena raised her hand.
"No, I just need to cool down. I'll see you all on Monday. Have a nice weekend."
"Likewise" Marina said as Elena left the table and walked to the door gesturing goodbye to Liv that was tending the bar.
When she reached home she had a text message blinking on her phone: "Don't wait for me tonight I have a working diner. See you later."
She felt the tears pricked at her eyes. Bonnie's earlier words came back with a rush to her mind: "When was the last time you had a moment alone with your husband?"
Yes when was the last time? She had the question but she was not sure she had the answer.