Angelica Schuyler was twenty-nine years old, well-educated, well-connected, and the best aide that Senator Henry Clinton had, thank you very much. She was extremely good at her job and she knew it. It didn't hurt that everyone else in D.C. knew it, too.
Perhaps it was because Angelica was beginning to rise in D.C. politics that she received a ticket to attend the inauguration of the reelected president, George Washington. She'd also received an invite to the inaugural ball.
"How cold do you figure it'll be this time?" John Church, another one of Senator Clinton's aides, asked Angelica the day before the event. He leaned back in his overpriced aerobic desk chair. That chair was all the rage around the building at the moment. Angelica couldn't imagine how everyone could afford it on the sparse staffer salaries.
"They're calling for flurries." Angelica replied grimly. "I bought fleece-lined everything."
Church let out a good-natured groan.
"What about the inaugural ball? Will you be wearing fleece-lined everything there, too?" He asked, his mouth curving upward into a small grin.
Angelica rolled her eyes and shook her head. A small smile settled upon her lips. She tried to focus on the email that she was sending to New Hampshire's Congresswoman. She needed all of the votes she could get on Senator Clinton's latest bill, ensuring affordable childcare for struggling families.
"No." She remarked, her eyebrows furrowed as she typed an email full of artificial positivity. "I think they'll probably heat the indoor ballroom."
"Hm." Church hummed, considering this. "Are you going with anyone?"
"Well, I do have a very active dating life." Angelica replied dryly. They both knew she rarely left the office before midnight. "But I thought that, just this once, it would be fun to go by myself."
"I could go with you." Church offered rather clumsily. He afforded Angelica that boyish smile of his that reminded her of a golden retriever. "I'm not going with anyone, and if you're not going with anyone…"
Angelica sighed. She tilted her head, considering the email she had just drafted. She clicked send, then swiveled her chair to look at Church.
"Just as friends, right?" She asked.
"Yeah." Church replied hastily. He was obviously disappointed. He had never been a very good liar. He would never make it far in D.C. with such a terrible poker face. "Yeah, of course. Just as friends."
"Okay." Angelica returned her attention to her computer. She didn't have the energy to call Church on his lie. "Sure. I'll meet you there."
"I could pick you up." Church offered, persistent as ever.
"Oh, no. You live closer to the capitol than I do. You'd be going out of your way. That doesn't make any sense." Angelica replied, shaking her head. A few loose curls fell into her eyes. She brushed them away impatiently. "I'll just see you there."
"Okay." Church agreed reluctantly, settling back in his chair.
Angelica ignored the sound of Aaron Burr, the Press Secretary, stifling his laughter one office over.
Inauguration Day was always fucking freezing. Angelica didn't know who had chosen to hold the inauguration in January, rather than a nice, warm month like May, but she hated that person nonetheless.
"Oh, look at Phillis' coat." Mercy Warren, Henry Clinton's speech writer, sighed. She pouted as she watched President Washington's speech writer breeze by in a gorgeous coat that had to be prohibitively expensive. She turned to look at Angelica, her copper eyes glinting in the morning sun. "How much do you think she paid for that coat?"
"More than we make in a year." Angelica replied grimly. She scanned the names printed on the backs of the chairs, looking for her own. "I don't think you're going to reach that level writing speeches about the garbage problem in New York City."
Mercy grimaced.
"Maybe we'll have some better policy opportunities this administration." She said in a tone so painfully optimistic that it made Angelica look away from the neat rows of chairs. "Now that President Washington has had the chance to push his own agenda…"
"You're a dreamer." Aaron Burr proclaimed from behind them. He afforded Mercy a look of playful disapproval. "The garbage problem is eternal. It's bigger than all of us."
"No garbage talk today." Church groaned from beside Angelica. He squeezed his eyes closed and pinched the bridge of his nose, feigning disgust. "I want one day - one - where my day does not revolve around garbage."
"You live in D.C." Aaron deadpanned. "The whole city is a dumpster fire."
"Okay, the next person to bring up garbage has to buy me a new coat." Mercy declared.
"Aaron could probably get you a nice coat." Angelica chimed in with a sidelong glance at Aaron. Aaron pretended to busy himself with looking for his chair. "Now that he is well-connected with some of the more affluent members of Congress…"
"Shut up." Aaron grit out, his face and ears reddening.
It was well-known around the office that Aaron was having a hot and heavy affair with Theodosia Bartow, a Congresswoman from Georgia. She was very rich, very powerful, and very married.
They reached a stretch of seats with their names on it. Angelica spotted her name. There was a man in the seat beside hers, a man she did not recognize. That was unusual. Angelica prided herself in knowing just about everyone who mattered in D.C.
"What the hell?" Church complained, his brows furrowing. He approached the man seated beside Angelica. "Hey, buddy. I think you might be in the wrong seat."
Angelica focused on the man as he quirked an eyebrow, his mouth curving into an amused grin.
He was, without question, the most handsome man that Angelica had ever laid eyes on. He had dark hair, swept back in the latest fashion. His skin was tan and sun kissed, despite the harsh winter that everyone else had endured. His lilac eyes sparkled with mischievous delight. His lips were curved and full. He was wearing a gorgeous coat that Angelica recognized as Armani. Angelica really wanted to know what else there was to discover beneath that gorgeous coat.
The man leaned forward in his seat, turning his head to look at the name posted on the back of the chair.
The name "Alexander Hamilton" was printed across the back of the chair.
Angelica could feel Church's confused fury radiating off of him.
"I think there was some kind of mix-up." Alexander Hamilton offered with a slight shrug and an unaffected grin. "You're John Church, aren't you? Your name wound up among the other economic advisors while I ended up here."
"So go sit in that seat." Church said, scowling. "If you know it's supposed to be yours."
Alexander hissed with false regret and shook his head.
"I think I'd better sit here, just in case." He replied.
"But -" Church protested.
"I think you'd better go grab your seat." Alexander pressed, his voice smooth as silk. "They're going to start doing camera work soon."
Angelica and Mercy exchanged amused glances as Church let out a series of indignant huffs and stalked off.
"Hi." Alexander leaned over towards Angelica as she took her seat, extending a hand. Angelica accepted it with a bright smile. "I'm Alex Hamilton. And you are…?"
"Angelica Schuyler." She replied.
"Angelica Schuyler." Alex said her name slowly, like it was something to savor. "You work for Senator Clinton, don't you?"
Angelica nodded.
"And you're an economic advisor to…?" She ventured.
"Junior economic advisor." Alex replied with a slight grimace. "For President Washington."
"President Washington. Wow." Angelica blinked, surprised.
Her mind began to work, trying to figure out what advantage she could make from a connection with one of President Washington's junior economic advisors.
"Ah." Alex dismissed Angelica's comment with a bashful shake of the head. "It's a junior position. I rarely see the president."
"Hasn't anyone told you that humility gets you nowhere in this town?" Angelica reminded him with a smile.
"You've got a beautiful smile." Alex remarked, his own grin broadening.
Angelica felt a blush creep up on her face. Though compliments were a dime a dozen around the capital, there was something about the way Alex said it that made her believe it was true.
"Flattery will get you everywhere." She quirked a wry smile.
She would not let Alex see how he affected her. More likely than not, he had that effect on plenty of people throughout D.C. Angelica would not be some simpering hopeful who allowed anyone with a compliment to walk all over her. She was too good at her job to let someone like Alex Hamilton mess it all up.
"Who are you going to the inaugural ball with?" Alex asked.
Angelica's eyes flicked to Church, who was seated among President Washington's economic advisors.
"Oh, come on." Alex said, his voice laced with amusement. "That guy?"
"He's a good guy." Angelica argued, her voice firm. "And a good friend."
"A good friend or a good friend?" Alex asked.
"I don't know how that could possibly be your business." Angelica replied, unable to bite back a smile.
"Oh, it's not." Alex agreed, settling back against his chair comfortably. "But I'd like it to be."
"Do you always talk to women like this?" Angelica couldn't resist asking.
"No, actually." Alex replied. His smile faltered for just a fraction of a second - so fast that Angelica wasn't entirely sure she had really seen it. When he spoke again, his smile was even sunnier than it had been before. "I'm usually much more professional than this."
"Dare I ask why I don't deserve the same professional courtesy as every other woman in the city?" Angelica wondered.
From two seats down, Aaron let out a dramatic cough. Beside her, Mercy stifled a laugh. Angelica rolled her eyes, but did not look away from Alex.
Alex's eyes flicked to meet Aaron's. His lips twisted into an amused smile that made Angelica's heart skip a beat.
"You should get that cough checked out, man." Alex remarked, his voice sweet as honey. "I've heard there's something going around the city."
Mercy chortled. Aaron scowled and turned to face the balcony where President Washington would soon materialize.
Angelica couldn't help but smile as Alex's eyes moved back to meet hers.
"I hope you're not misconstruing my lack of professionalism as a lack of respect." He said, dropping his voice so that only Angelica could hear him. "I have a tremendous amount of respect for you, Angelica Schuyler."
"You've only just met me." Angelica arched a skeptical eyebrow.
"I've seen your work." Alex admitted. "And I've heard other people talk about you from time to time. Believe me when I say that I have nothing but respect for you and what you do."
"Hm." Angelica couldn't deny the satisfaction that she felt at this compliment. "Then if you respect me, you won't worry about my date to the inaugural ball."
"I can't help but worry about that." Alex persisted, his voice dropping into a low register that should have been criminal for the way that it made Angelica feel. "I want you to go to the ball with me."
Angelica wanted to go to the ball with Alex. She wanted everyone in D.C. to see her walk in with this devastatingly handsome man on her arm. She wanted Alex's low voice and twinkling eyes to occupy every moment of the evening. She wanted to go home with him and find out what lurked beneath that beautiful Armani coat of his.
"I already told Church that I would go with him." She said, her voice even despite the regret sinking to the pit of her stomach. "Maybe in another four years."
"I'm not waiting for four years." Alex replied. There was no plea in his voice, no question. It was a statement, as though he was telling her a fact as certain as the sunset at the end of the day. "Tell your colleague that you changed your mind."
"I have to see him every day for as long as Senator Clinton remains in office. I'm not going to flake on him." Angelica responded, rolling her eyes.
"You'll have to see me for four more years." Alex reminded her.
"I don't work with you." Angelica replied with a patronizing smile.
"Yes, you do." Alex countered with an equally patronizing smile. "We have a meeting on…let's see, when is it? Ah, Tuesday at four o'clock."
He showed Angelica the calendar on his phone. Sure enough, there was Angelica's contact information. She had scheduled a meeting with someone from President Washington's economic team to talk about Senator Clinton's bill. She was hoping that he would support the bill in exchange for Clinton's support on his economic policies to restructure the deficit after the most recent recession. She had not anticipated that this was the person with whom she had scheduled the meeting.
"Are you threatening Senator Clinton's bill if I don't go to the ball with you?" Angelica asked, arching an eyebrow. "I can't see that being a president-approved strategy."
"You would be surprised at what the president might approve." Alex replied loftily. He flashed Angelica a toothy grin that made her face feel warm despite the freezing cold temperatures.
Music rambled from the balcony. The high-profile guests who were permitted onto the balcony found their seats.
"I'm not going to the ball with you." Angelica whispered as the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, John Jay, marched to the podium. Angelica suspected he was wearing pajamas beneath his robe. "And if you hurt my bill, I will ruin you."
Alex chuckled, the sound low and good-natured.
"I wouldn't hurt your bill." He murmured, leaning closer to Angelica so that she would hear even his softest-spoken words. "But you going with that guy…that'd be hurting me."
"Suffer." Angelica retorted, affording him a cheerful smile.
Alex chuckled again.
Angelica would have followed him into the darkest alley that D.C. had to offer just for five minutes of privacy with him.
Vice President John Adams and his wife, Abigail, trotted out next. Their four children swarmed around them like gnats.
"God, I hate that fucking family." Alex mumbled beside Angelica.
Angelica looked to him in surprise. Everyone hated the Adams family, but no one dared so say so aloud, especially not when surrounded by the elites of D.C. Alex raised his eyebrows, unashamed.
"You know the youngest, Thomas?" Alex lowered his voice and bent his head so that only Angelica could hear his words. "He bit me during a cabinet meeting a few months ago."
"What?" Angelica couldn't help but laugh. Mercy and Aaron turned to look at her. Mercy's lips were parted, questioning. Aaron's eyes narrowed, reminding them that they were at a very public event.
Alex ignored them. Angelica did, too.
"I swear – I dropped my pen and reached down to grab it. The little fucker was hiding under the side table and bit my hand. He broke the skin and Abigail had the nerve to ask me if I was current on my vaccinations." Alex replied, his mouth twisted into an amused smile.
He was a great story teller. A lilt of laughter colored his voice, making Angelica smile without thinking. His eyes sparkled, never leaving hers. His hands made vague gestures to facilitate the tale. Angelica hadn't even noticed that President Washington and his wife, Martha, had stepped out onto the balcony.
Chief Justice Jay began the ceremony. Alex began telling another story about one of the Adams children. Angelica couldn't take her eyes off of him, not even to glance as history was made before her. Somehow, it felt as though this interaction with Alex might be the start of something even more remarkable than a new presidential term.
The swearing-in ceremony lasted for a few hours. Angelica talked to Alex the whole time. He was thirty years old, the President's youngest junior economic advisor. No one had taken him seriously until he had held the economy's heart in his hands after the collapse of a major Wall Street brokerage. Now, he was hailed as President Washington's wunderkind.
He did not have any pets, but would like a dog, if he ever found the time for one. He did not have a serious girlfriend. He lived in a brownstone just a few blocks from Angelica's apartment. They went to the same gym.
He offered to split a cab with her back to her apartment at the end of the ceremony. Angelica wanted to say yes. She watched as Alex's tongue swiped over his chapped lips and considered all of the indescribable things that could happen if she said yes.
Then Mercy cut in, reminding Angelica that they were supposed to split a cab to the hair salon for the appointments that Angelica had managed to book months ago. Angelica grimaced at the reminder.
"Ah." Alex had said, nodding in playfully somber understanding. A boyish grin slid across his face. Angelica could just imagine kissing him when he grinned like that. She fully intended to do just that as soon as she was given the opportunity. "Well, I guess I'd better leave you to it, then. Angelica, it was a pleasure finally getting to meet you. I hope I'll see you at the ball tonight."
It felt strange, Alex reminding her that they had only just met a few short hours ago. Angelica suddenly felt as though she had known Alex for much longer – years, if not decades.
Angelica nodded with a cryptic smile that she typically reserved for the end of particularly successful first dates. Whenever she flashed that smile, she received a call the next day.
Alex cast her one last grin before disappearing into the crowd descending upon D.C.
Mercy loped an arm through Angelica's and gave it a gentle tug. Angelica turned to look at her distractedly.
"He's cute." Mercy provided with a knowing smile. "And he likes you, obviously."
"I don't know." Angelica shrugged, careful to keep her tone light.
Mercy rolled her eyes, smiling, as they started for the street.
"Church has been telling everyone that you're going to the ball together tonight. I think he's really excited about it. I think..." Mercy trailed off, glancing at Angelica as her smile faded. She grimaced when Angelica met her eyes. "I think he might think you going together means more than it really does."
Irritation flickered in Angelica's chest.
"I told him that we were just going as friends." She replied. "If he thinks it's more than that, that's on him. It's not my responsibility to dispel any misconceptions any man in this city might have about me."
"No, of course not." Mercy agreed quickly. She loathed confrontation. "But if you dance with that guy at the ball when Church thinks that you're on a date..."
"I'm not going to sit in a corner and play nice because Church didn't listen to me." Angelica declared, her eyes narrowing.
Mercy sighed.
"It might make things awkward around the office, is all." She said, resigned.
"He should have thought of that before he decided to tell everyone that it was a date after I told him that it wasn't." Angelica snapped.
Mercy looked like she wished she had never said anything at all. Angelica wished that, too.
They were quiet for a moment. The heat of the crowd rolled over them, making Angelica wish that she was not wearing a fleece-lined coat. She was sweating, despite the twenty-degree weather. She would be glad when all of the out-of-towners left following the inauguration festivities. D.C. was crowded enough without them.
It took them forty minutes to hail a cab. They sat in traffic for another hour and a half. When they finally arrived at the hair salon, Angelica wanted nothing more than to go home, sit in a warm bath, and send highly inappropriate text messages to Alex Hamilton.
She sat there as the stylist pulled and prodded at her hair, occasionally pausing to ask if it looked good. Angelica would always mumble her assent. She knew her hair would look phenomenal. She would have trusted this particular stylist to dress her hair for a meeting with the Queen.
While stuck in their side-by-side salon chairs, Angelica and Mercy forged a tentative truce. Mercy broached safer topics, such as weekend plans and complaints about how late she would have to work once the inauguration buzz had died down.
Once their hair was finished, they split a taxi back to their respective apartments. Mercy lived in a much better neighborhood than Angelica did - she had a better job, which paid infinitely better. Angelica was counting on getting a similar job with someone in the Senate once she had a few years of experience under her belt.
Alone in her apartment, Angelica allowed herself ten minutes to pace about her apartment and consider all of the things that could happen during the course of the evening - both wonderful and terrible.
Alex could insist upon a dance. Church could make a scene in front of the most powerful and wealthy people in D.C. Alex could find Angelica out in the hallway, catching a breath of air, and make a move. Alex could show up with a date much prettier and more successful than Angelica. Alex could show up alone and watch Angelica the entire time.
After ten minutes, she slipped into her dress and called a town car. She tried to ignore the nervous shiver running through her body.
When she arrived at the hotel, she found Church waiting in the lobby. He was wearing the same tuxedo that every other man in the building was wearing. He lit up when he locked eyes with Angelica.
"Hey!" He exclaimed, fighting against the masses moving towards the ballroom. "Look at you! Wow. You look…you look great."
Angelica forced a smile.
"You look nice, too." She said, unable to keep the tone of obligation out of her voice.
Church extended his arm. Angelica placed her hand upon it and allowed Church to escort her into the ballroom. She could feel interested eyes falling upon them as they entered the ballroom. Angelica didn't mind. Despite her lack of feelings for Church, he was from a good family full of influence in the city. Any connection that others perceived between herself and Church could only serve to benefit her.
Angelica scanned the room as Church led them to their table, looking for any sign of Alex. The room was littered with politicians and their staff. She recognized several notable journalists, too.
"Can I get you anything to drink?" Church asked.
"Um…" Angelica looked around, distracted. "A glass of champagne would be nice. Thanks."
"Champagne. Got it." Church said it that comically intense way of his. He treated even the smallest task as though it were a tactical mission of the utmost importance. He carefully removed his arm from Angelica's grasp before charging off in the direction of the bar.
"God, you look gorgeous." A familiar voice said from behind her.
Angelica turned around, her smile turning genuine. She rarely found a reason for a genuine smile at these events.
She should have known that, as handsome as Alex looked wrapped up in a coat in the freezing cold, he would look even better at an indoor event like this. He was wearing a black velvet tuxedo with an intricate pattern etched in gold. The tuxedo framed him better than the Armani coat had. Angelica could have sworn she saw muscles bulging beneath his sleeves.
"Alex." She tried to keep her voice level, as though she did not want to pull him into a darkened corner and do absolutely unspeakable things to him.
Alex's dark eyes roved over Angelica, taking her in with an unnerving amount of interest.
"I see you made your hair appointment." Alex continued, his mouth curved into a smile. "Whoever your stylist is - she deserves an award."
Angelica rolled her eyes, still smiling.
"Where's your date?" She asked. She was careful to keep her voice playful, casual. She did not want Alex to know that it would ruin her night to see him with anyone else.
"I didn't bring one." Alex replied, glancing around the room, matching Angelica's casual air. He then turned to lock eyes with her again, his mouth curved into a salacious smile. "I was counting on you saying yes."
"Hm. Hopefully you've learned your lesson." Angelica countered.
"I have." Alex said in a tone that made Angelica think that he hadn't learned a thing. "Next time, I'll be sure to ask you earlier. Or, at least come up with some kind of assignment for whoever was lucky enough to get to you first."
Angelica rolled her eyes. She couldn't help but smile, despite the knowledge that it would only encourage his behavior.
"I go to things like these with whoever I want." She replied. "It's not first come, first serve."
"I'm sorry." Alex hastened to apologize, his smile turning rueful. "I didn't mean it that way."
"Hm." Angelica hummed, noncommittal. She watched him, waiting for him to say something else, something better.
"I think we'd have fun together." Alex amended, the mischief in his smile returning. "That's all."
Church returned to Angelica's side. He handed her a glass of champagne with a curt nod. He then settled his attention upon Alex. Angelica watched as he squared his shoulders, as though he was preparing for a battle.
"You again." He said, somewhat impolitely.
"Alex Hamilton. It's a pleasure to meet you." Alex plastered a very fake, very D.C. smile on his face as he extended a hand towards Church. Church shook it, unsmiling.
"John Church." He said, not giving Alex any sort of leeway to make conversation.
"You work for Senator Clinton, too, don't you?" Alex seemed perfectly comfortable, despite the frosty tone of Church's voice. "I think we met last year at Abel Whitmore's fundraiser for…ah, fuck. What was it? Some monkeys or something?"
"Endangered species of Madagascar." Church corrected him, unamused. "Angelica, did you want to go sit down?"
"Mm…" Angelica looked around the room. "I think I'd better make the rounds, make sure I introduce myself to the right people. I'll meet you at the table, all right?"
Church's face reddened. He had very obviously meant to remain by Angelica's side throughout the evening. Angelica didn't concern herself with this. She ventured away from the two men, towards a group of people whose glittering diamonds indicated immense wealth.
She could swear she heard Alex chuckling as she walked away.
After the usual speech and the obligatory first dance between President Washington and his wife, the floor opened up for everyone else to dance. Church asked Angelica to dance. His eyes were pleading. Angelica took pity on him.
She would never do that again.
He'd had her out on the dance floor ever since; ignoring her pointed glances in the direction of the bar and table. He danced straight through the breaks in songs. Angelica wasn't sure he would even let her go at the end of the evening.
During the fifth dance - or maybe the sixth, Angelica was losing count - Alex's voice came from behind her.
"Would you mind if I cut in?"
Church's jaw tightened. Angelica used Alex's question as an excuse to wriggle out of Church's grasp. She turned around to face him. She smiled at the sight of him. Judging from the playful nature of his smile, he could tell just how relieved she was that he had finally stepped in.
"Thank you." She said to Church, effectively dismissing him.
Church looked from Angelica to Alex with a silent fury that Angelica was sure would spill over into the workplace on Monday. She would deal with it then. Presently, she allowed Alex's hand to curve around her waist and lead her into the dance.
Angelica was acutely aware of Alex's hand on her waist. Despite the fabric between his hand and her skin, her skin tingled. She moved closer to him, inhaling the warm, spicy scent of his cologne.
"That guy really doesn't like me, does he?" Alex remarked as they began to dance. There was laughter in his voice.
Angelica let out a laugh of her own.
"No," She agreed. "He doesn't. I don't know what his problem is. He's usually so nice."
"Hm. Maybe his kindness runs out when he thinks he has competition for his beautiful coworker's attention?" Alex suggested.
Angelica looked up at him. He was grinning.
God, he was handsome. How was it possible for someone to be so handsome?
"We're just friends." Angelica reminded him.
She didn't want Church, of all people, to ruin her chances with this absolutely gorgeous man in front of her.
"Does he know that?" Alex arched an eyebrow.
Angelica rolled her eyes and moved to change the subject. She didn't want to talk about Church anymore. She didn't want Church encroaching upon her evening more than he already had.
"What should I bring to our meeting tomorrow?" She asked. Work was always a safe topic for D.C. men. "How am I going to convince you to recommend my bill to the President?"
Alex threw his head back and laughed. It was childlike and genuine. His hand clutched her waist a bit tighter. Angelica wanted to devour him. She wondered at herself for this. She was not usually so aggressive when it came to men.
"Aren't we supposed to take the night off, tonight?" He wondered.
"Come on," Angelica crooned, casting him her most irresistible smile. "You pack a ballroom tight with the best and the brightest in the city and you think anyone here is going to think about anything other than work?"
Alex chuckled, shaking his head.
"God, you're perfect." He remarked.
"Are you trying to distract me?" Angelica asked, arching an eyebrow.
"I would never." Alex replied, his eyes widening with false innocence.
"Hm." Angelica sized him up, considering whether or not to let him change the subject. "If we aren't supposed to talk about work, what are we supposed to talk about?"
"What are you doing after this?" Alex asked.
Angelica wondered at his straightforwardness. Every man she had dated in the city seemed to play the same dull game of cat and mouse, where they both knew what he was thinking but he still tried to throw her off by saying something else.
"I think I'll probably go home. Alone." Angelica replied, hoping that her words paired with her smile would torment him. He might not have been interested in playing games, but she was. Despite the way that her body responded to his - despite her wanting to do some truly wicked things to him in the middle of this ballroom - she would make him work for it. She would make him realize that she was worth the effort.
"Hm." If Alex was bothered by the rejection, he didn't show it. "And what will you do at home? Alone?"
Angelica's lips parted slightly. She had not been anticipating that question.
"I'll probably eat something." Angelica was startled by her own honesty. She'd meant to give a much more coy response. She let out a small, self-deprecating laugh, suddenly feeling self-conscious. "The food is always terrible at these things."
Alex laughed too. He seemed just as surprised by Angelica's answer as she was.
"What do you think you'll eat?" He asked, leaning a bit closer to Angelica. Angelica felt goosebumps erupt across her skin. She hoped that he wouldn't notice. "My plan was to go straight to McDonald's."
Angelica couldn't imagine Alex standing in a McDonalds, wearing that gorgeous tuxedo while wolfing down a Big Mac.
"I was thinking pizza." She replied, tilting her head slightly. "There's a great little place just a block down from my building."
"What's the name? Maybe I know it." Alex asked.
"I have the feeling that if I tell you, you'll invite yourself to join me." Angelica accused him, her mouth curving up into a smile.
"Would that be so bad?" Alex wondered.
"No," Angelica admitted, her wry smile turning sheepish. "But then you would see me in sweatpants and slippers instead of all of this. Is that really what you want?"
"You in sweatpants? Be still, my beating heart." Alex replied with a dramatic flourish that made Angelica laugh.
The song ended. Angelica saw Church hovering at the edge of the dance floor. She leaned a bit closer to Alex, her smile fading somewhat.
"I should probably make my escape from this floor before Church parades me around for another half hour. My feet are killing me." She said, grimacing slightly. "Any ideas for an exit strategy?"
"Oh, no. I know what happens when a man lets a beautiful woman slip away at a party." Alex protested lightly.
"Lets?" Angelica echoed, arching an eyebrow. "Were you planning on locking me up in a tower?"
"There's a thought." Alex replied, grinning.
Angelica rolled her eyes.
"Thank you for the dance." She told him pointedly.
"There's a fire exit near the bar." Alex followed Angelica as she started to walk away. "Tell Church that we're going to get a drink, then I'll slip you out of here without anyone noticing."
Angelica opened her mouth to respond. Before she could say anything, Church was crossing the floor to get to her. Alex took a step away from her, casting her a small smile as she was left to deal with Church on her own.
"Angelica," He said, as though she hadn't noticed that he was trying to recapture her attention. "Hey. I thought that, since you've had your dance with Alex, now we could get back to…?"
"Oh, that sounds fun." Angelica said, her tone insincere. "But I was just telling Alex that I wanted to check out the bar before the next dance. There's always specialty drinks at these things and I want to see what President Washington's party planner chose this time."
"Well, I can tell you that. It's -" Church started, brows furrowing.
"I would really rather see for myself." Angelica's tone left no room for argument. She forced a smile.
She turned on her heels and started for the bar before Church could object. A few seconds later, she saw Alex's figure materialize at her side.
"You don't have to leave the party, too." She said quietly. She glanced over at him. He was looking back at her with an expression that she didn't quite understand. "This is your first one, isn't it? They're kind of fun the first time."
"I'm having fun with you." Alex replied. There was no flirtation in his voice - just sincerity.
Angelica found that she was having fun with him, too. She had been attracted to many D.C. men, but she had rarely had fun with them.
"You just want to follow me to the pizza place." She teased, mostly to lighten the mood.
She couldn't tell him that she was having fun with him, too. She didn't know why. It felt like if she told him something like that, less than twelve hours after they had met, she would scare him off. She was good at flirting. She was good at being hard to get. She was not so good about open communication.
"You can close the cab door in my face if you don't want my company. Scout's honor." Alex promised, seemingly unhurt by Angelica's failure to reciprocate his sentiment.
"Hm." Angelica flicked her eyes over Alex's body before proceeding through the fire exit with him.
"So, how many inaugural balls have you attended?" Alex asked as they walked through the hallways towards the lobby. They passed a staffer vomiting in a housekeeper's cart on their way. "If this isn't your first?"
"I've been going to these since I was young." Angelica replied with a wave of the hand. "My dad was always being invited to them."
"General Schuyler, right." Alex nodded in understanding.
Angelica glanced over at him, her eyes narrowed.
"You know my dad?" She asked.
"I do my research." Alex replied with a small smile.
"I think I should probably be concerned by that." Angelica remarked, frowning slightly.
"Are you?" Alex asked, his tone curious rather than upset.
"No." Angelica replied, her frown deepening.
"And that upsets you?" Alex wondered.
"Yes." Angelica said, her brows furrowing. "I'm not a research paper. If you want to know something about me, you should just ask me. If you don't think I'd want to tell you something, you shouldn't go digging around for it online."
"Noted." Alex replied. "Did you like going to these parties when you were a kid?"
Angelica shrugged.
They reached the lobby. Angelica started for the coat check. Alex followed her.
"There's not much to do for little kids at these things. The adults get drunk and try to make connections that will help their careers along. I usually brought my GameBoy and hid in the coat check booth with my sisters." She replied.
"You have sisters?" Alex asked.
Angelica threw a smirk over her shoulder before handing the coat check attendant her ticket.
"Don't get any ideas." She said. "They're not in politics and they're very wary of anyone who is."
Alex chuckled.
The coat check attendant handed Angelica's coat over the counter. Angelica handed the attendant a tip, then wrapped her coat around herself. She walked over to rejoin Alex, bracing herself for the cold she was sure to feel once they stepped outside.
There were reporters and photographers camped outside of the hotel. Camera lights blinded Angelica as reporters called out to them.
Blessedly, it only lasted for a few seconds. The reporters and photographers quickly realized that they weren't anyone important.
Angelica let out a deep breath as they started down the familiar streets of downtown D.C. Though the streets weren't quiet, exactly, they were devoid of the opportunism and false charm that crowded the ballroom they had just been in. Angelica was finally able to relax.
"Do you want to split a taxi?" Alex asked, looking around for any unclaimed cabs.
Angelica looked around, too. There was not a single cab in sight. Angelica had a feeling that any cab they managed to snare would be outrageously overpriced, given how in-demand they were.
"No," She shook her head. She didn't want to spend a week's worth of grocery money on a five minute car ride. "I can walk from here. My building isn't too far away."
Alex raised his eyebrows.
"It's pretty cold out." He said.
Angelica wrapped her coat around herself a little tighter.
"I have a warm coat." She replied.
"You said that your feet were killing you." Alex reminded her.
"So I'll walk fast." Angelica responded.
Alex cocked his head to the side, considering her.
"It isn't safe for you to walk alone at night." He finally said.
"I'm not sure that it's safe for me to walk with you, either." Angelica responded with a small smile. "I don't usually let strange men know where I live until I've known them for a while."
"I wouldn't describe myself as strange." Alex joked, also smiling. "Eccentric, maybe, but not strange."
"Cute." Angelica remarked dryly. "But I am not telling you where I live."
Alex let out a huff. It was half amused, half annoyed. Angelica knew that huff well.
"Let me either put you in a taxi, or walk you home." Alex persisted. His tone was earnest. Angelica pursed her lips. "I won't look out the window. I'll let you blindfold me, if you want. It's…it's dangerous here. I would feel bad if something happened to you."
It occurred to Angelica that she should be wary of Alex's persistence. If he wasn't as nice as his behavior indicated, he could be dangerous. She knew that men were often not as nice as they seemed once they had been rejected. Still…her building was a safe one, with a doorman who would listen to her if she told him to call the police if Alex's attention became unwanted.
And Angelica couldn't resist the fantasy that, if Alex knew her address, he might wait outside her building with flowers and beg her to go out with him.
"Fine." She sighed, tucking her handbag under her arm. She accepted Alex's arm, leaning against him to take some of the weight off of her aching feet. "But you have to promise me that you won't start stalking me."
Alex laughed.
"I promise." He replied, his voice full of amused sincerity. "I like to think that I don't have to terrorize you into liking me."
"Hm." Angelica quirked a smile.
She started for her apartment building. Alex remained by her side, keeping pace with her long strides. He put his hands in his pockets – he must have been freezing without a coat – and continued to walk beside her. A companionable silence fell between them.
Angelica tried to ignore his looks as they walked through the bitter cold together. The streets were full of locals celebrating the inauguration. Shouts and laughter spilled out of local bars.
Angelica wondered what she would say when they reached her front door. She wondered if Alex would try to kiss her. She wondered if she would let him.
"Hey there, baby!" A man stumbling along on the street stopped to look at Angelica. His drunken leer made her blood run cold. "Where you goin' lookin' like that?"
Angelica saw Alex stiffen out of the corner of her eye. She tilted her chin up, daring to meet this man in the eye.
"To your place." She replied, her voice tinged with malice. The man's eyes widened in surprise. He looked to Alex uncertainly. "That's what you want, isn't it? To show me the best night of my life? Or are you afraid that you won't be able to get it up?"
"C'mon." The man slurred, uncomfortable. He shifted his weight sloppily from one foot to another. "It was a joke. Don't be such a bitch about it."
"What's the matter, baby?" Angelica cocked her head to the side, feeding off the man's discomfort. "Don't tell me that you aren't going to let me at that tiny dick tonight."
"Fuck off." The drunk man afforded Alex one last uncertain look. "Control your fuckin' girl."
Angelica did not take her eyes off of the man to look at Alex. Judging from the expression on the man's face, Alex did nothing to make him feel more comfortable.
"Fuck off." The man grumbled once more, skulking off in the direction of a bar, where he would undoubtedly find another unlucky woman to prey upon.
Angelica let out a breath she had been holding in, then began to walk towards her apartment again. A chill raced across her skin. Her feet ached worse than they had before. Her stomach grumbled out a request for an extra slice of pizza tonight.
Beside her, Alex let out a laugh.
"Who are you?" He asked.
"What do you mean?" Angelica asked, feeling her cheeks tingle.
She was blushing. She couldn't believe that she was blushing. She hadn't blushed since high school.
Alex just shook his head.
"What can I do to get you to go out with me?" He asked.
Angelica could think of about twenty things, each one more obscene than the last, that Alex could do.
"Buy me a slice of pizza." Angelica said, instead of any one of those twenty things. She nodded to her favorite pizza place, Frankie's, nestled between a twenty-four hour convenience store and a small law office.
"Done." Alex said with a triumphant grin. He and Angelica crossed the street and walked towards Frankie's. Alex cast her a look of amusement. She did not doubt that he had given many women such a look before. She did not doubt that their hearts did summersaults in their chests when he did, as hers now did. "As long as I can stick around to eat a slice with you."
Angelica glanced at Alex and gave a small shrug. She did not smile, too afraid of what such a smile might reveal.
"I can't stop you, if you're buying." She replied.
"All right." Alex continued to grin, unbothered by Angelica's lack of enthusiasm.
They stepped into Frankie's. A bell jingled at the top of the door. The man behind the counter - Pete, a man who Angelica had gotten to know over countless pizza purchases - smiled at the sight of them.
"Hey, Angie." He called in a thick accents that was equal parts Italian and New York. He had grown up in the Bronx and moved to D.C. to attend college. He had found a niche market bringing decent pizza to the perpetually underfed staffers of D.C. "You didn't have to get all dressed up for us tonight."
"You know that I did, Pete." Angelica replied with a sly grin at Pete. "Are there any slices of the Frankie special left?"
"I thought you might stop by after the party." Pete pulled a slice out from behind the counter. A whiff of grease, cheese, pepperoni, and peppers hit Angelica's nose. Her stomach rumbled.
Pete glanced in Alex's direction.
"I didn't know you'd be bringing company tonight." He remarked, glancing down at the slice of pizza apologetically.
"Hey, man. I'm Alex." Alex reached across the counter to shake Pete's hand, exposing the sleeve of his tuxedo to an unimaginable amount of grease. Pete stared at it for a moment, uncertain. Alex's smile didn't falter. Pete wiped his hand on his shirt, then reached out to shake Alex's hand.
"Hi, Alex." Pete said, glancing in Angelica's direction briefly. Angelica shrugged with a rueful smile. "What can I get you?"
"Hm. I don't know." Alex replied. He took a step back, examining all of the pizzas in the window beside the cash register. He knit his brow, deeply focused.
If he focused this hard on which pizza he wanted a slice of, Angelica could only imagine how focused he became when contemplating something that mattered. She could only imagine how he might focus on her, if the circumstances were right.
"What do you think?" Alex shifted his attention to Angelica with an easy grin. "What's the best thing here?"
"Everything." Angelica replied with confidence. She winked at Pete. He grinned back at her. "You can't go wrong."
"Hm." Alex rumbled again. His eyes lingered on Angelica for just a few seconds longer before he turned to look at Pete again. "What do you think, Pete? What are your favorites?"
Angelica had never asked Pete for his favorites before.
"The Frankie special is our classic." Pete replied, nodding down to the slice he had set aside for Angelica. "But that's our last one. If you like heat, the buffalo pizza is pretty good. Especially if you crumble hot Cheetos on it."
"Yeah? I'm sold." Alex grabbed a bag of hot Cheetos from under the counter and placed them beside Angelica's slice on the counter.
Pete nodded in Angelica's direction. A slight movement, barely noticeable. He approved of Alex. He didn't usually approve of the men she brought by for a slice of pizza.
Angelica didn't know why Pete's approval mattered, but it did. A warm sensation bloomed in her chest. She looked down at her shoes to avoid smiling too wide.
"All right. That'll be $10.56." Pete said, grabbing a slice of buffalo pizza and plopping it between two paper plates.
"Sounds good." Alex reached into his pocket for his wallet.
He paused, a puzzled look crossing his face. Angelica had seen that expression one too many times.
"Angelica," Alex started, his tone confirming what his expression suggested. "I'm so sorry, I must've left my wallet…"
Angelica waved off his apology with a brief flick of the wrist. She opened her clutch and pulled out a credit card. She handed it to Pete with an amused smile.
"I should have known." She said, pretending that her words were intended for Pete alone. She made a show of rolling her eyes. The smile on her lips removed any malice from her words. "These D.C. types."
Pete clucked his tongue and shook his head.
"I had high hopes for this one." He told Angelica, playing into her game. He swiped her credit card and handed it back.
Angelica mock grimaced.
"I'll get the next one." Alex said as Angelica returned her credit card to her wallet. "I promise."
"Next one?" Angelica quirked an eyebrow. "Isn't it kind of bold of you to assume there would be a next one after sticking me with the bill tonight?"
She grabbed her slice of pizza and walked over to an empty table in the corner of the small shop. It was her usual table. She usually spent an hour or two at that table every Thursday night, pouring over revisions of Senator Clinton's bill while eating pizza and garlic knots.
"I'm sorry." Alex grabbed his slice and the bag of hot Cheetos and followed Angelica to her table. He plopped down in the seat across from her, looking thoroughly ashamed of himself. "I really thought I had my wallet on me. I must've left it in my coat."
That gorgeous Armani coat.
Angelica just raised an eyebrow at him, picking a pepper off of her pizza without looking.
"I can Venmo you." Alex suggested mildly.
Angelica felt her mouth curve into a smile without her consent. She shook her head and looked down at her pizza.
"I'll buy you lunch tomorrow." Alex continued, emboldened by the smile he had earned.
Angelica watched yet another handsome grin flash across his face as she took a bite of pizza. Her stomach growled again, reminding her to focus on the task of eating rather than fantasizing about Alex wearing nothing but that grin.
"After our meeting." Alex continued as Angelica chewed. He began crunching up the Cheetos in the bag before pouring them over his pizza. "We can come right back here and have another slice of pizza. Hell, I'll pay for as many appetizers and sides as you want."
"Hm." Angelica hummed, swallowing the pizza. "Maybe I could even get a large soda."
Alex chuckled.
"Maybe." He agreed, encouraged.
"Unfortunately," Angelica said as Alex took a bite of his pizza. "I already have lunch plans for the next week."
Alex raised an eyebrow as he chewed. Angelica took a bite of her own pizza to avoid smiling too much.
Though she had brought men to grab a piece of pizza with her before, she had always preferred her own company at her table in the corner of the shop. Now, though, she found herself enjoying Alex's company. She wasn't waiting for him to leave her alone to enjoy her pizza.
"Dinner, then." Alex pressed.
Angelica let out a short laugh. She set down her pizza, wiping the grease from her fingers with a napkin. She cast Alex an amused smile.
"I don't think I've had a dinner outside of the office in two years." She remarked.
Alex arched an eyebrow, smiling.
"I can't imagine that you work as late as I do," He said, his voice laced with a challenge. "I'm sure we could find somewhere that was still open by the time you were done."
Angelica rolled her eyes and resumed eating her pizza.
"The only thing that I want to do when I'm done work," She said between mouthfuls. "Is sleep."
Alex chuckled, shaking his head.
"I guess I'd better catch you at work, then." He remarked. He glanced around the pizza shop before returning his intent gaze to Angelica. He had the most beautiful eyes. They were the color of the sky at dawn.
Angelica blinked, momentarily distracted by those eyes. Alex didn't seem to notice. He had taken a bite of his pizza and seemed perfectly content to focus on that. Angelica resumed her coy expression as she turned her own attention towards the slice of pizza that lay forgotten before her.
She had never, ever forgotten about a slice of pizza before.
After both Angelica and Alex had finished their pizza, Alex insisted on walking Angelica the rest of the way to her apartment building. They lingered outside of it when they reached it. Angelica was hoping that Alex would kiss her.
He didn't kiss her. Instead, he flashed her one last smile and thanked her for dinner. Angelica could do nothing but watch in astonishment as he started down the street, seemingly content with saying goodnight.
She had a feeling that she had underestimated Alex Hamilton.
A/N: I'm back, bitches! I have been working on this thing for TWO YEARS and I am so pleased with how it turned out. I'll be updating every Sunday for the next 34 weeks, so buckle up. It's going to be a bumpy ride.