Tango

Asshole

Alexander absolutely hated Mondays... not because he had to go to work, Alex loved his work, it was his everything, he had nothing else in his life that brought him as much satisfaction as his work. No, he hated Mondays because it meant he'd have to stare at Jefferson's face again for another 6 days in a row. Thankfully, he hadn't spotted his rainbow highness today yet, as he always made sure to come early to work so he could make himself a fresh pot of coffee and then go and work in his office all day, not having to look the other man in the face on the off chance they don't happen to have a meeting that day. That's how Alex spent most of his days trying to avoid his own thoughts.

On his end, Thomas, never really understood, why Hamilton came to work so early, no matter how much he liked his job, he wasn't willing to give up his morning routine. He never was one to rapidly get ready in the morning and then rush out the door, forgetting something on your kitchen table and realizing it only once you need it at work. Thomas could stay for long hours after work, way into the dark hours of the night, something that wasn't uncommon for Hamilton either but Thomas would always wake up at the same time in the morning, never once hitting the snooze button, then getting ready in the bathroom, and only once he was fully ready - go and prepare breakfast in the kitchen with some time to spare to get to work at a reasonable hour. How did you think he looked that good? A man has to take care of himself if he wants to keep up appearances.

"Have you seen Hamilton today, James?" Thomas asked, sitting at his desk on his overly cushy office chair.

"And why do you even care?" Madison didn't even spare him a glance.

"Dunno, I just always thought it interesting he comes to work so early."

"Have you ever thought maybe he does it, so he doesn't have to see you?"

Rather than answer, Thomas just sat there pondering, his brows furrowed and his tongue pushing at the inside of his bottom lip.

"That's ludicrous, James." He finally uttered.

The other man just sighed already, used to his long time friends' big head.

                                                                    ***

"Hey, Alex, have you heard? There's going to be an office party on Saturday. A freckled face spoke as it walked inside Alexander's office around lunchtime.

"What are you saying, John? Does that mean there's no work on Saturday?" The Caribbean man looked at his friend from under his lashes.

"Nope. None what so ever."

"Great! I'm not coming." He deadpanned.

"What?" John gasped. "What do you mean?"

"Listen, John, any excuse I can find not to come here, I'll take it - besides, I don't have who to go with."

"Hey! That's not true, you have me. And, besides, Washington's orders - he's gonna be there too, I reckon he'll notice that one of his best employees, not to say co-founders, isn't there, you feel me?"

Alex groaned at John's words. If Washington is gonna be there, there's no way he can skip it.

"Is there at least going to be any booze?" He asked, desperate.

"Loads." John stated proudly.

"Excellent, at least I'll get hammered without spending a single penny."

And so Monday went on with the news of the office party spreading around the office like wildfire. Talks in groups echoing around the halls and the break room with no-one having anything better to do but somehow not wanting to go back to work. Monday, turning into Tuesday and Tuesday into Wednesday. Wednesday, humpday, just a couple more days, and the week is over and Alex will be able to rejoice in the notion of not having to lay his eyes on one particular person before he has to do it all over again the next week.

That day, Alex heard the unmistakable hard knock of Jefferson's cane on his office door and they opened as soon as the knocking ceased, not even giving Alexander the time to say 'Open' revealing the taller man in all of his pompous glory.

"Meeting in ten, Hamilton." There was no emotion in his words.

And just as abruptly as he entered, he left not even bothering to close the door behind him, prompting a lengthy groan out of the shorter man. Why was Jefferson the one to come get him anyway? As much as he didn't want to go, he had to, so he sorted the papers on his desk a little, pushed himself back, and made his way to the conference room. Once he got there, most everyone was already sitting in their seats with Jefferson respectfully opposite his own by Washington's left while Alex was on Washington's right. The suit he wore that day was one of his more tame ones, a regular navy blue, with matching slacks, a red tie, and black dress shoes. So looking at him wasn't too much of a nightmare that day. If Alex had to be honest, he actually liked Jefferson's suit, for once it wasn't burning his eyes out, he was in fact so enthralled by the simplicity of Thomas' outfit that he hadn't even noticed George enter and start the meeting. His Boss's voice, like muffled waves against the seashore, while all he could focus on was deciphering Jefferson, going from his hands, slender fingers with perfectly manicured nails interlaced resting on the table in front of him, his suit jacket buttoned with only one button - always only one button. Why was that? His pocket square, neatly folded, a matching blood red with his satin tie, his lips closed, his nose bulbous - reflecting the light just right and his eyes... his eyes gazing ardently right back at him with a flawlessly arched brow. Wait, hold on. Jefferson was staring Alex, right in the face, shit!
Hamilton quickly tried to look away, trying to focus on what Washington was saying but, what's done is done, Thomas had noticed.

Having for once finally averted his gaze away from his rival, Alex listened to Georges' words and heard something along the lines of 'pay cut', had he heard that right? They couldn't do that, could they?

"Wait, wait, hold on what? I'm sorry, Sir, did you just say you're cutting our funds." The brunette asked astounded.

"Yes, Alex, please listen. The Government won't fund the build of our new office so as much as it pains me I find myself having to take a small amount from everyone's pay, for a couple of months to finance our project."

"This is outrageous, you can't do that." Alex stood from his seat in defiance.

"Yes, I can, and Yes, I will, Alex." Washington stood unwavering.

"Hamilton, sit down." Jefferson spoke with his usual poise.

"Shut the hell up, you asshole, you never had to work a day in your life, you don't even need this job, your voice doesn't matter."

A wave of silence swept the entire conference room, all eyes on the trio at the end of the table.

"Gentlemen, please-" Washington began but was quickly cut off by the onslaught of arguments.

"I never worked a day in my- ha! You don't know what you're talking about, you self-centered bastard."

"Oh, I'm self-centered, huh?"

"YES!"

"I worked hard for what I have, unlike you with a silver spoon up your ass, I won't allow this, it is unfair and unjust to those who have been with this company since the beginning giving it their all."

"Giving it their all... That's a good one you don't even know what the word 'give' means."

"I'm sure you know it well since everything was given to you even before you left your father's nutsack!"

Jefferson gasped under his breath at Hamilton's crude words, even though they didn't sound that highly educated, the significance still came through.

"I helped Washington get this place started, you were handed the job after years of my hard work! This place doesn't mean more to you than the rag with which you polish your cane."

Hamilton finally huffed out, and once he realized how riled up he was, he looked around the room at the astonished faces of his co-workers. For a split second, embarrassment flashed across his face but, Alex didn't think about it, he pushed the thought aside and left the room in exchange for his office.