Chapter Text
It was small, sure. But neither of them minded, they’d been close since Alexander moved into John’s Intro To Business class in sophomore year. By the time they’d gotten sat apart from each other they’d been inseparable and garrulous. So when they moved in together they had been fully prepared for the close quarters and even after Alexander’s and John’s own marriages they continued to live in that small one bathroom apartment. Alexander often reminisced on their time together in that apartment, he had long since turned the spare bedroom into an office/storage room but he still left the futon in there. Did he use it? No. Did he leave a set of pillows and blankets on it? Yes. Did he ever have company? No.
The apartment had changed a lot over the years but probably not as much as it should have, Alexander found comfort in knowing exactly where everything was all the time. Eliza used to make jokes about him being OCD, he had thought they were really funny. Now he works at a local accounting firm his ex-professor ran and lives relatively normal.
Sure his only friends were his ex wife's sister and he has petty relationships with most if not all of his coworkers, but that’s his own business and he likes how things are. It wasn’t his fault Martha wouldn’t shut the fuck up about her 13 year old (seriously he’s a 13 year old, of course he’s doing things on his own, Martha). It wasn’t his fault Charles was a total creep and yet women all treated him like the most adorable thing to ever walk on two legs. Thomas definitely wasn’t his fault, everyone else hated Thomas too, Thomas was just a straight dick.
‘I love French champagne, have you ever had French champagne? It’s devine, really,’ It had taken all of his being not to punch Thomas on their first meeting, he instead did it three weeks after their first meeting, that was his first warning. Then he “accidentally” poured hot coffee on Thomas and stomped on his foot, second warning. Here he was now, third warning, final strike. Alexander swallowed his words.
“I’m sorry, sir,” he said quietly.
“Yeah! You’re fucking sorry!” Washington sat down promptly and pushed his fingers into his temple. He sighed and leaned back in his chair before reaching deep into one of his desk drawers and pulling out a bottle of pills, he popped two quickly into his mouth and swallowed them dry. Alexander cringed and looked down at his thumbs.
“I wasn’t thinking, I’m sorry,” he said shyly. “I was… You saw how he was acting-”
“I don’t care how he was acting,” George interrupted. “I care about how you acted. Today you acted like a child, if I knew better I’d fire you.”
Alexander bit his lip, he couldn’t lose this job, he had a lot tied up here, he clenched his fists.
Washington gave a deep sigh, “Y’know I like you, I don’t want to do that,” he said tired. “But I can’t keep doing this, I can’t keep vouching for you, you know that. I’ve got higher ups breathing down my neck about you, you know how many complaints I’ve got about it? A whole hell of a lot.”
Alexander looked around, “I’m not the only one on trial here.”
“Yeah, and you're damn lucky for it,” he said angrily. “We’re not here to talk about Jefferson, we're here to talk about you.”
Washington again reached into his desk, pulled out a manila folder and slid it out in front of him, “I think we should look into some other options for you.”
Alexander furrowed his eyebrows, was this a resignation? Well. He couldn’t say he was all that surprised. He slowly opened it and stared out at the paper, pen already in hand.
“What is this?” He read the small print on the top of the page. ‘EAP (Employee Assistance Program)’ “I don’t need this,” he slid it away.
“Alexander…” Washington leaned forward. “I’m really trying my best to help you here. I’ve tried my best to support you as an employer and as a friend-”
“You’re not my friend.” He hated how George did that, he was the type of boss to pretend to be your friend, insist on you having a workplace birthday party or talking with you in the breakroom. It was pretentious, he wondered how others couldn’t see it, it was all show, it was a plea for complacency. People wouldn’t disobey him because he was too nice, they couldn’t argue for a raise because he was just trying his best. It was stupid.
His eyebrows furrowed, “You’re right. I’m your boss, and as your boss it’s my job to support you, but it’s also my job to get you to do your job. I’m giving you options here, Hamilton.”
“I do this or I’m fired? Great options,” Alexander said frustrated.
Washington slammed his hands lightly on the desk and Alexander flinched, Washington softened. “Please, I can’t keep doing this. I have a job to do, it’s my job to keep my employees civil. You are a threat to my job, Alexander.”
Alexander looked around for a second, “What about Jefferson? You’re not going to let him get away with this right? You know I’m not the only one at fault,” he pleaded.
“No, I’ll be approaching him about this too,” he insisted.
“He won’t do it,” he said. “You know he won’t.”
“He’ll have to.” Alexander knew what this meant, he didn’t have a choice.
“Please… sir. I don’t need this, I was just upset, you know how he is,” he wiggled uncomfortably in his chair. “Really.”
“You don’t really have a choice,” Washington explained. “It’s not up to me anymore. This is all I have left for you.”
Alexander sighed and pulled the paper towards him. He began signing where he needed to: printed name, initials, signature. He swallowed as he set the pen down.
“Y’know,” Washington took the paper and filed it somewhere. “I actually know the guy you’re going to, or the guy who owns it I guess. I used to go to school with him.”
Alexander didn’t appreciate his attempt at small talk, he tried to cover up how embarrassed he was and Washington tried his best to make him feel less like a child. “Oh, I’m sure he’s great. A real good man, I’m sure he’ll prescribe me only the best antidepressants north of Mexico. He’ll probably diagnose me faster than anyone else, I’m excited.``
Washington bit the inside of his mouth, “I know you’re upset, but therapy can help anyone. There doesn’t need to be something wrong for people to get the benefits of therapy.”
“But there is something wrong, that’s why you’re making me do it.”
Washington pursed his lips, “I’m just trying to help you,” he said changing the subject. “Go home, Alexander. Take tomorrow off, I’ll see you Monday,” he got up and opened the door. “Goodnight.”
“Yup,” Alexander said as he pushed his way through the door and out into the hallway.
He gave a cold look to Thomas who sat with his leg perched on his knee, he gave Alexander a grin “So sorry. Maybe next time.”
“Try again,” Alexander gave a glare. “You're going to get it too, cunt.”
“No more,” Washington said coldly. “Jefferson, come in.”
Alexander walked ahead and tried to ignore the stares from his co-workers, he grabbed his stuff and angrily walked out the door, the front secretary averted her gaze. He thought of when Eliza used to sit there, he quickly pushed the thought out of his mind. He walked to his car and slammed the door, he hit his head against the wheel.
“Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.” he whispered.
Why did he keep doing this? Thomas was a dick, that’s why. Thomas has done and said some shitty stuff to Alexander before and he was completely justified in putting him in his place. Thomas completely crossed a line, of course, everything he said was true: Eliza had divorced him because he was too scared to commit and his father had left his family (how Thomas had found that out he didn’t know) and sure he was still living in the same shitty New York apartment he had when he was 20. But it’s not like it mattered, it’s not like it affected Thomas. Shitty American champagne affected Thomas, getting hit on by anyone below a 8 affected Thomas, wearing any scent that didn’t cost half his rent affected Thomas.
God he hated him.
EAP (Employee Assistance Program)
An Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is a voluntary, work-based program that offers free and confidential assessments, short-term counseling, referrals, and follow-up services to employees who have personal and/or work-related problems. EAPs address a broad and complex body of issues affecting mental and emotional well-being, such as alcohol and other substance abuse, stress, grief, family problems, and psychological disorders. EAP counselors also work in a consultative role with managers and supervisors to address employee and organizational challenges and needs. Many EAPs are active in helping organizations prevent and cope with workplace violence, trauma, and other emergency response situations