Chapter Text
Alexander’s pulse was steadily racing as he rushed to slip on his sweater and frantically grab his briefcase before rushing out the door. He had accidentally fallen asleep in his office last night, which meant that he forgot to set his alarm, which meant that he was late. And while he technically was getting there at a normal time instead of before the firm even opened, it felt wrong to Alex.
However, just as he was about to turn the door knob and rush off to catch a bus, a gentle hand gripped his shoulder and held him back a bit. Upon turning around, Hamilton saw Eliza facing him with a solemn expression. He sighed, releasing the handle as he did.
“Dear I have to go I’m late and-” Alexander started, his voice barely reaching a whisper.
Eliza cast a deadly glare at him before cutting him off with a raised voice, “I haven’t seen you in twenty four hours and all you care about is work! You never sleep with me anymore and are always leaving early and coming back late!” Eliza took a shuddering break before she continued, “Why can’t I be enough Alexander, why can’t you just lay in bed by my side like before?”
Alexander didn’t say anything in reply. He simply kissed Eliza’s forehead then walked out the door. They had danced in that previous conversation only a week before, with Alex actually trying to retaliate his wife’s perspective. That had ended in tears and both of them not speaking all day. Sure, they didn’t speak at all during a normal day, but there seemed to be a true meaning behind it instead of just Hamilton’s work.
Hamilton snapped back to his senses as the glinty monochromatic bus came into view. This allowed Alexander’s thoughts to stray else were, most turning his mood sour and irritated. Today he had a meeting with none other than his rival, Thomas “I’m all southern and say y’all and am spoiled rich and I’m never wrong” Jefferson. Alex grumbled and had gained his classic look for the day. Hunched shoulders from way too much writing, giant dusk grey bags from lack of sleep, his icy glare that could move crowds, and the pure fire that lays within the depths of his eyes.
Soon the bus halted to a stop and Hamilton lept up, ready to debate with anyone who dare cross his path before he got some coffee from the break room. Today he was in such a rush that he forgot the essential liquid that blessed Hamilton’s life. His features softened momentarily while he thought of the encounter with his beloved wife. He loved her, he really truly did with as much of his heart that he could tear away from his work. But that was the problem. She would never accept that Alexander was his work, and Alex wouldn’t let it go for anyone, no matter how much of his heart they managed to hold. Sometimes Alex felt as though he wasn’t meant to be with Eliza, or that soulmate’s and colour really did exist and that he would easily leave Eliza for his soulmate. But Alex always quickly shook these thoughts to the back of his mind. He could never leave his wife. He could never abandon her more than he already did for some childish fairy tale life. With a final sigh and clearing of his mind, Alexander stepped into his office. He was greeted with incredible amounts of paperwork, all of which he would get done with ease, and started what he hoped would be a half-decent day.
“No, that is completely and utterly useless. I wouldn’t be surprised if you run this law firm into the ground!” Hamilton spat, being in a heated meeting with all the major people in the company. Sadly, one of them was Thomas Jefferson and the Virginian seemed to be bent on making Alexander’s job so much harder than it had to be, “If we keep with our same plan for financials, the firm will collapse as soon as given the chance. However, if we used my proposed idea we would be much better off. And honestly, I don’t understand why Washington is letting you participate. Your opinions are always highly idiotic and you aren’t even Head of Financials, you’re Head of Relations.” Well, maybe Hamilton was the one picking fights while he was constantly proposing new plans and ideas to potentially change the firm. But if Jefferson could just get the stick out of his ass and turn down his ego a thousand notches, then Hamilton could get his ideas through easily. Jefferson never even wanted to change the firm at all, he just wanted to end Alexander’s chances at any advancements. Alex crossed his arms and stared pointedly at Thomas, daring him to keep eye contact with his response.
Jefferson simply smirked at Hamilton, making the smaller man fume with an even fiercer anger. “Actually, Mr. Hamilton, being a founder of this firm gives me just as much, if not more right to state my opinions in this meeting. And you must be kidding about your silly plan. It’ll never work in any twisted reality, just accept it Hamilton.” Jefferson shot back nonchalantly, clearly much less infuriated then Alexander. This set Alexander off. This pompous, rich, utter asshole had no damn right to be in that room. He did jack shit for the company and barely made it into work most the time. Hamilton also hated the man’s fashion sense. While, yes, he couldn’t see any colour, that shade of blurred grey looked horrendous and who the fuck wore capes on an everyday occurrence! Just more reasons to despise the Virginian.
“Excuse me for actually trying to advance the company and save it from bankruptcy! You of all people should be able to realize that doing nothing in this firm will get us nowhere!” Alexander retaliated, digging his nails into the wooden table separating him and Jefferson. Thomas was still relaxing in his chair twirling his dumb cane while Hamilton was standing up as straight as can be glaring holes into Jefferson’s forehead.
Jefferson made a little tsking noise before leaning forward a bit, “Ah, advancing the company is only important when necessary, and when the plans for advancement aren’t utter bullshit.” Thomas leaned back in his chair again, all the while smirking and keeping eye contact with Alex, “And sadly enough, your ‘brilliant’ plans do neither of those things.”
“Well come up with your own fucking ideas then! What it your masterful plan at stopping this firm from self destructing huh!” Shouted Hamilton, his anger growing by the second and he never seemed able to take a breath, “You should just sit back on your pompous ass and let the people who are actually working to improve your ‘precious’ company do their damn job!”
“I’m fine, I wouldn’t want someone to miss me if I just stopped lounging in this wonderful workplace. And if you were the one making decisions around here than I definitely wouldn’t claim founder-ship of this company.” Jefferson scoffed while shrugging.
“OH MY GOD, JUST GET YOUR HEAD OUT OF-” Hamilton started to scream at Jefferson before being cut off with a banging on a table. This made everyone at the table jump, all of them being too focused on the argument to realize Washington’s dwindling patients.
“Hamilton sit down.” Washington demanded, his order immediately followed by Alexander sitting down and George sighing, “Now can my two heads not act like bickering children and come to a peaceful agreement.”
“Yes sir.” Both men muttered, though they were glaring at each other from across the table.
“Good.” George nodded before waving his hand to his staff, “Meeting dismissed until my Heads can stop being children.”
Everyone got up and scuttled out of the room. It was uncommon for Washington to break up their fights so early, which meant the boss was in a bad mood, which meant that someone was going to get a verbal beating. Thomas and Alexander were some of the people to try and grab everything in front of them and leave, not even bothering to stow papers away.
“Hamilton, Jefferson, you two need to stay.”
Well Shit. Alexander thought as a sigh escaped his lips. He looked over to Jefferson to see that he seemed a little nervous. This caused a smirk to land on Alex’s face, ha, no one was immune to Washington’s powering demeanor.
“What do you need, sir?” Thomas asked, his voice relaxed as he situated in his chair a bit more comfortably.
Washington shook his head and held the bridge of his nose before looking to the two men. This was going to be a long conversation if even George seemed annoyed and tired. “You two are always at each other’s throats and no one in this office can deal with you anymore. I’m forcing you to have a project together with complete cooperation, and if you don’t work together I’ll handcuff you two for a day.”
Thomas snickered at the last bit of Washington’s proposal, but Alexander was just staring at him with wide eyes, “But sir! Even if I were to try and work with him he would ruin the entire project!”
“I’m right here Hamilton.” Thomas sneered, “And if anything you’d be the one to screw over the project just to get back at me!”
“Gentlemen, would you rather be handcuffed together for an entire day’s worth of work?” Washington questioned. Alexander tried to search his boss’ eyes for any sign of humor, but the man was dead serious. This caused Alex’s mouth to gape as well.
“Sir, you can’t be serious about cuffing your best employees together!”
“I am.” Washington replied simply before pulling out a file from thin air. “This is your project, I expect it to be done by the end of the week.”
With that, Washington left the room to Alexander and Thomas. As soon as the door was closed, Alexander lept for the document and snatched it from the desk. He started flipping through the case instantly besides Thomas’ protests.
Then Alexander burst out laughing and Thomas gave him a confused look, “Yeah, no way I’m letting you get your filthy hands on this case!”
Thomas grumbled, “Well what is it if you’re sooo worried.”
“Why would I tell you, especially if I’m not letting you work on it?”
“Because one, I have to work on it with you and I’d rather not be trapped with a gremlin for a day, and two, I don’t want you to screw up a case that I’m supposed to be a part of.” Jefferson claimed, crossing his arms and staring pointedly at Alex.
Alexander didn’t listen to a word Jefferson said. There was no way that Washington would actually cuff them together. He simply grabbed the file and started to make his way out of the meeting room to get a head start on the project. It was still around four hours away from when he would usually leave, so he might even get it done today. However, before he got to the door, Thomas stood in front of him, blocking the way.
“Where the fuck do you think you’re going with our project?” Jefferson spat out at the immigrant.
“To go finish it before working on something else.” Alex responded simply, easily dogging around Thomas and walking out the door without ruffling his dumb fancy suit.
“Uh no, I’m working on that too.” Jefferson said, his voice held slight disbelief at the smaller man’s ignorance. Thomas was positive that Washington would handcuff them and he did not want to have to do anything else with the insufferable immigrant, “Besides you’d easily fuck it up and I don’t want my name on someone else’s work.”
Alexander was fuming even more than in the meeting now but just kept his grip on the door while opening it, “Asshole.”
“Bastard.” Thomas replied to Alex, malice lacing his tone. That fucking Caribbean couldn’t just walk all over everyone like he owned the damn place! But the door was slammed on Jefferson before he could truly engage Hamilton into a brawl.
Alexander arrived home late, having gotten only half of his new project done before Eliza had spammed his phone telling him to come home. He sighed before opening the door, not wanting to face his tired and upset wife. It was around midnight when he entered his home, locked the door and set down all of his stuff. Then he walked to the kitchen to grab himself a cup of coffee, preparing himself for more work that night. While he was waiting for the pot to brew, he felt arms snake around his back in a hug. Another sigh left his mouth and he turned around to hug Eliza back.
“Hello my bluebird.” Alexander chimed softly, love filling his eyes and voice upon seeing his wife.
Eliza buried her head into Alex’s chest and hummed back to him, “Come to bed tonight, love. Don’t have coffee just lay in bed with me…”
Another sigh left Alexander’s mouth and he moved Eliza’s head to look at him, “I, I can’t do that Elizabeth, I have a really important case.” His voice was still quiet, but the warmth was slightly drained. Not intentionally, but he couldn’t help but feel a pang in his heart when being forced away from work or seeing Eliza’s softened and confused gaze.
“Alexander,” Eliza breathed, tears threatening to fall down her features, “You're never with me anymore…” The woman let tears fall as she pulled away from her husband. She seemed to want to say something else, but probably decided against it as she left the kitchen.
Hamilton should’ve gone after. He should’ve said that he would spend the rest of his life sleeping in the same bed as her. But he just sighed and turned back to his dark grey liquid that would keep him up for long enough to get work done. He always was in his office when he was home, and he didn’t notice the new flowers around the house that Eliza had gotten. Alexander also didn’t notice the small sobs coming from down the hall in his bedroom, or the desperate look in Eliza’s dark grey pools of her eyes. Yes, he was a workaholic and an awful husband to his wife that deserved so much more of his love, but he had to get his work done. He had to retreat to his work to get away from the pain of his tumbling marriage. Maybe he could prove himself to his co-workers now, and to his love some other time.