Who: Lindsey McDonald When: Evening What: The CEO lays it out Where: Wolfram and Hart Rating: PG Status: Complete, narrative
The firm's downtime had provided him with a backlog of work to be completed yesterday. Several thick files had been added to the stack on his desk, post it notes in various bright neon colors were stuck to every available surface, three coffee mugs, several pens, and his watch had disappeared somewhere into the mess. Yet the lawyer was handling it all with a comfortable stride since he'd returned to work. The chaotic zone actually had a method of mad organization to it (the infamous "needs to be done now", "needs to be done in several parts", and "can wait until later") and the trashcan under his desk was already full of a rainbow of colors.
Now he could toss another post it note in and put the work in the hands of the department of contracts. With Senator Bruckner's untimely death by Gunn, a seat had been open in congress and Wolfram and Hart had to maintain their status quo with one of their represenatives filling it. The new senator, James Deloby, hadn't heard of the firm except in passing when he'd taken over but with half a year of work Lindsey had convinced the man that they were on his side, a partnership could be beneficial, and that the intentions of the firm were nothing less than the betterment of the society. Which, in a matter of interpretation, they were. With a round of handshaking, political jokes, and working a promise out of Lindsey to join him for a round of golf (which he'd never played because it looked that damn boring), Senator Deloby and his entourage left.
The moment the elevator doors slid closed, Lindsey lost the smile and tilted his head back. "One more down," he murmured as he turned away from the elevator and began the walk back to his office.
"Your last for the night," Penny piped up from behind the desk. She rose as she pulled on her coat. "And I'm out for the night, Mr. McDonald. I took the liberty of ordering you a pizza from Antonio's so security might be calling you soon to come down and claim it." She grinned. "I wouldn't leave them alone with it too long if I were you."
Lindsey laughed, pulling his tie off. "You're a doll, Pen. Have a good night," he called to her before he pushed the double doors shut and turned towards his desk.
Not even the sight of unwanted company could diminish the strange zen that Lindsey currently felt. "News sure travels fast around here about my pizza," he quipped as he sunk down onto the couch that graced the wall under the big picture window that showed the Los Angeles skyline in all its nighttime glory.
"I'm afraid I prefer Fabio's," Bernard replied.
Lindsey frowned. "Blasphemy."
The liason gave him a look and leaned against Lindsey's desk, hands clasped in front of him. "You cancelled your meeting with Andres Ramsey today?" The upward lilt made it a question but Lindsey could have sworn he heard undercurrents of accusation in his tone.
"I did," he answered, swinging his tie around his finger idly.
Bernard sighed and drew in that breath that preempted the slow and patient explanation of a parent to an uncomprehending child. "Mr. Ramsey was a very high profile and important client to our branch in New York. It stands to reason that the same courtosey will be extended to him here from you."
"I sent him to Klein and Gabler."
"...pardon?"
"I sent him to Klein and Gabler." Lindsey rose to his feet and walked to his desk, dropping the tie on his desk as he pulled one of the thicker files out from the pile off to the far right. The ones that were ready to be filed again. "Andres Nicholas Ramsey, necromancer and installer of demonic spirits in the human dead," he read off as he walked back in front of the desk. "Known for using a method that involves the sacrifice of the innocents. Children." He shut the file and tossed it at Bernard, the liason catching it easily with preternatural reflexes, his unwavering gaze still fixed on Lindsey. "Twenty two in total, that they know of. We're not taking him. Ever." Despite his good mood, anger crept into Lindsey's tone.
There was a moment of silence between them as Bernard calmly replaced the file from where Lindsey had taken it and rose to his feet, hands clasped in front of him. "I would suggest that you call Mr. Ramsey back and explain to him that this has been a big misunderstanding."
"As far as misunderstandings go, calling a man out as a child mass murderer and firmly stating that no one under my employ will ever represent him falls outside the definition." A hint of a smirk returned and Lindsey shrugged. "But if you're really adamant on that, I could give him a call and add in the two real zingers I thought of earlier. They were real good ones."
"This isn't a joke."
"No, it's really not. I've been doing some thinking lately and it's time for some changes around this firm. This time I will accept part of the blame because I let my insecurities get the better of me. But that time has passed and the son of a bitch that clawed his way up the ladder in this building is back."
The decleration didn't seem to sit well with the liason and he took a couple of steps towards Lindsey. The lawyer had to tilt his head up just slightly so that he was looking eye to eye with the taller man but he stood his ground, arms crossed stubbornly over his chest. "Mr. McDonald, you were brought back to serve as the represenative of the Senior Partners. They found you to be the most qualified individual, make no mistake, but they expect a certain amount of respect and obedience in return. Your insolence has been tolerated to a point but it is getting to the point where looking the other way will be much more difficult. From now on, you will -"
"Shut up and listen to me," Lindsey commanded sharply, his expression losing its amusement even though the smile remained, blue eyes taking on a cold glint. "I would assume my previous record was taken into consideration when I became a candidate for this position as it would be the smart thing to do. Then you'd know I don't obey simply because someone says to do something. Vanessa Brewer would probably still be alive if I did. I don't let people just order me around or walk on me. I'd still be in the mail room if I did. You wanted me because I hated Angel and I had the right experience to bring down him and his crew."
For once in nearly a year since he'd met Bernard, the liasion was quiet. It was clear from his expression that he wasn't going to enjoy taking Lindsey's reply back to the Senior Partners but the lawyer didn't give a damn. He'd stayed quiet long enough and it was about time they knew where he stood in the scheme of things.
"Well guess what? Angel is dead and your plans to persuade him to your side with him. What you boys need to realize is this is the start of a whole new game and I'm still in charge. I'm the CEO of this firm and I'm the champion. I do the dirty work while the Senior Partners sit in another dimension on their lazy asses and barely acknowledge this little dimension for anything other than plotting their big apocalypse to end us all, including myself. So here's what we're going to do. They're going to let me do the work I was brought back to do and they're going to quit telling me how to do it." There was no threat tacked on at the end. Lindsey was a student of the Senior Partners. He knew plenty about them that no human being ever should have had the right to know. That was threat enough in itself. "They wanted me so they're going to trust me to get it done. Otherwise they're going to have a dangerous enemy on their hands."
His part said, albeit much shorter than the full length rant he really wanted to give Bernard to carry back to his employers, Lindsey pointed two fingers towards the doors and they swung open. "Have a nice night, Bernard." The conversation was done and any further attempts to argue would be ignored. The liason seemed to catch on quickly to that and after straightening his tie somewhat indignantly, strode quietly out the door.
Lindsey waited until he was certain he was alone to slump back down on the couch, head tilting to hit the back of the couch behind him. He sighed deeply, closing his eyes. A few seconds later, a quiet chuckle started and slowly evolved into full blown laughter. He'd stood up to them, or at least someone who would take a message to them, and he'd come off as the more powerful. Not in terms of magic or strength, but force of will and who had the upper hand. And it felt damn good.
It was made even better when the phone chirped on his desk, letting him know dinner had arrived.