Hiding

Chapter nine

"This place is nice." Magnus whistles low. "I wonder if there is a high-end bar."

"There is, and we won't see it." Alec answers.

"Come on... just a tiny martini..."

"No, Magnus. We are here to work."

"But..."

"No. No alcohol." Alec pushes Magnus through the lobby. "Just work."

"God, you are so rigid."

"Don't call me that." Alec says sternly and Magnus instantly stops playing around.

"I'm sorry..." The way Magnus looks at Alec, lets him believe that Magnus desperately wants to know why that word was the limit. Afterall, he has teased Alec with a lot worse.

"Let's just check in."

After check-in, Alec and Magnus heads to their rooms. This time they have connecting rooms. Sharing a balcony with a view of the city.

"I don't think I have ever seen anything like this." The suitcase is casually dropped on the bed, and Magnus is leaning over the balcony. "It's beautiful! And so high up. It's amazing."

"It is what it is." Alec responds careless while glancing inside Magnus' room. Hoping to find a second door leading to a different bathroom than the one in his room, but no such luck. They share a bathroom too. "I think we might have the wrong rooms."

"Why?"

"Because this isn't just adjoining rooms. Its more like one room with two beds."

"No, it's not. There is an entire wall between your bed and mine."

"And a bathroom." Alec ads.

"Yes, and a bathroom, so its nothing like being in the same room... oh... wait, we share a bathroom?"

"That took forever." Alec mumbles.

"Does this mean I get to see you naked again?" Magnus teases.

"Ha ha, very funny." Alec rolls his eyes.

With arms crossed, Magnus leans his back against the railing on the balcony and studies Alec intensive.

"How come you just laugh it off when I tease you with everything else but that one word."

"What word?" Alec asks casually but quickly retreats into his own room. Magnus follows.

"Rigid." He says and Alec stops instantly. "That word."

"Because..." Alec turns around. "That one I know is true."

¤¤¤¤¤

Alec has barely said a word to Magnus since the rigid comment, not even on the drive to the company they are visiting today. Magnus has been talking obsessively as always, but Alec has only grunted in response. Once upon arriving at the company, they are greeted by a few staff members. Not executives in expensive suits.

"Welcome Mr. Lightwood. Mr. Bane." The woman in front shakes their hands. "Come on in, and we will begin with a tour of the building."

"That sounds perfect. Thank you, miss."

"No snapping fingers this time." Magnus whispers as he walks next to Alec.

"No, not yet anyway." He smiles at Magnus "so far, so good."

For almost two hours, Alec and Magnus has the opportunity to observe and talk to the people working in the company. Alec is trying his best at being polite, openminded and friendly, which doesn't always come natural to him. Magnus on the other hand is completely in his natural element. Chatting, laughing. Generally, just having fun. Alec even notices him talking to some of the executives at some point.

"Mr. Lightwood," another executive walks over to Alec, "we would like to ask you and your assistant to accompany us at a board meeting, that we are having in 5 minutes. Letting you get to see how the upper management works too."

"That would be great, actually." Alec says just as Magnus joins his side.

"And afterwards we would love to take you," the man pauses for a second and gestures towards Magnus, "the both of you out for dinner. It will be a great opportunity to talk about your initial thoughts."

"Sounds like a deal to me." Alec says and Magnus just nods, silently.

As they follow the executives to the conference room, Alec notices how quite he suddenly is. Not at all his usual bubbly self.

"Is something wrong?" Alec asks but Magnus just shakes his head without a word.

For about an hour, Alec and Magnus is sitting in the back of the conference room observing the meeting. Alec is intrigued. He loves seeing how other people lead their companies. He wants to learn as much as possible before it will be his turn to be CEO and he finds it very intriguing seeing things done differently than his father. Not better or worse, just different. Throughout the entire meeting Magnus still hasn't talked to Alec, not even tried to tease him. And the second the meeting is over, Magnus excuses himself and rushes to the bathroom. The first thought that comes to mind for Alec, is that Magnus might be sick. Maybe he did go to the bar at the hotel before meeting Alec at the car, and now he is sick. But when he returns, Alec notices something else that is different. And it is not Magnus being sick.

"Why did you take of your make up?" Alec asks and Magnus just shakes his head.

"Oh, that is my fault." One of the executive interrupts. I told him that we wanted to treat the both of you to a nice dinner at a prestigious restaurant where there's a strict dress code. Which unfortunately doesn't include men wearing makeup." Alec stares at the man in complete shock. "So, I asked him to remove it from his face, before coming with us."

Alec clenches his jaw firmly, rises his chin and swallows a few times before speaking through gritted teeth.

"Thank you for inviting us, but we are going to pass." Alec gathers their things and places a hand on Magnus' back guiding him towards the exit. "On the dinner and the offer to acquire the company." He then proceeds to guide Magnus out the door, all the way to the car.

"You didn't have to do that..." Magnus mumbles but Alec shakes his head aggressively.

"Of course, I did." He opens the door for Magnus and closes it as soon as he is inside. The rage is burning inside him, and he feels a need to go back inside and place his fist in that man's face. Alec clenches his fists hard and takes a few deep breaths before getting into the car.

"You really didn't." Magnus says, picking the conversation back up. "I don't have to wear makeup. It was silly, anyway."

"Stop that." Alec turns around and faces Magnus. "If you like wearing makeup, then you absolutely have to wear your makeup. It doesn't matter if some idiotic executives don't understand that. It doesn't even matter that I might not understand it. You are going to wear whatever the hell you like as long as you are working for me, do you understand?"

"Yes sir." Magnus smiles at Alec. "I understand."

"Good. Now, let's get the hell out of here."

"Sounds great." Magnus takes Alec's hand and gives it a light squeeze much to Alecs surprise. "And by the way, you are definitely not rigid. Not even the slightest."