Law and Love

Author’s Note: Thank you so very much for my friend Kathy (kittie8571) who is the Beta of this story!
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Chapter Two: The first Elizabeth’s party

Ennis looked in the mirror for the second time in the last ten seconds. He had always been a relaxed guy, never wasting more than a few minutes choosing what to wear or
looking at his appearance. Even when he needed to dress in a suit for court, he never liked anything too fancy. He was born a simple man and he would die a simple man. He understood the need to wear impressive clothes but never, until this moment, had he ever felt that need.

Nevertheless, tonight was no occasion for being simple. He was going to a party in Elizabeth Noris’s house. Or as he had read somewhere, Noris Manor! He was going to meet face-to-face all the important members of the Magnet Firm, all the old and famous names he kept reading about. He was going to be the center of all the attention and he was as nervous as hell.

He felt stupid for being so anxious about this party, but he couldn’t help it. This was the moment when he should look his best. There's only one first impression and he was aware of how important it would be.

He looked at the clock, 6:30 pm. The unknown Mr. Jack Twist will be here in half an hour, he thought to himself.

Ennis thought about the idea of arriving at a party in the company of this mysterious Jack. Sure it was a work party and he was the new member, but going to a party with a completely strange man wasn’t helping his nerves. What if he made a fool of himself? What if this Jack Twist looks at his clothes and starts to laugh?

“Now that's just stupid,” he said to the empty bedroom.

It seemed that since he had arrived in New York, all he could do was talk to himself. He chuckled softly, laughing at himself.

And why did he have the feeling he knew the name Twist from somewhere else? He was so sure he'd heard it not long ago. He just couldn’t remember where…

He looked back to the mirror, his brown eyes shining with expectation and worry. Was he ready for this final step? Was he going to fit in the world of New York?

“Jeez, Ennis Del Mar, you look like your father.” He said to himself, again.

He moved to the living room bringing his jacket with him. There was a tennis match playing on channel five and he could relax waiting for Jack while he watched it. As he sat down on the couch, surrounded by a few boxes, the doorbell rang.

He got up and opened the door slowly, laying his eyes on the man standing in front of the door.

“Hi. My name is Jack Twist. I believe you’re expecting me?” The man said looking at him.

Ennis used the time he had to look at Jack Twist. The man in front of him was clearly his age. And that surprised him, because he had expected for Elizabeth’s best friend to be her age or even older.

“Yes. Please, come on in and make yourself comfortable.” He said opening the door.

Ennis looked at Jack, as he nodded, smiling and entered the living room in front of them. Jack was slightly smaller than him but there was something about the way his blue eyes shone that demanded respect. He had dark hair that he kept styled in a modern cut with gel. He was wearing a jumper that was just as blue as his eyes. Ennis thought that he would made a good couple with Elizabeth, because they both looked like Hollywood stars. He shouldn't have problems with the ladies, he thought to himself.

Ennis shook his head slightly at the last thought but managed to open his mouth to speak.

“Uh, I’m Ennis Del Mar, but you already know that.” Ennis said, smiling shyly.

“Yes. Please call me Jack. After all, you're Elizabeth’s protégé. The entire firm can’t talk about anything else. I wonder if you know just how lucky you are.” Jack said sitting on the couch and unbuttoning his jacket.

“Then it's Ennis for you. I was still in shock until a few minutes ago. She's a legend to someone my age.”

“She's a legend to anyone. You will learn so much more from her. I know I did.” There was a dreamy expression on Jack’s face. “I don’t know if she told you, but she was my teacher at the university.”

“I admit I was excepting someone older. Elizabeth told me you were her right hand.” Ennis said with a small smile. He didn’t want to offend the man.

“It happens every time. Everyone pictures me as old and fat. The secret is that Elizabeth likes to work with people she trusts. Like I said, she was my teacher at the university, so when I graduated she decided I was going to work with her. As you can see, there was nothing unusual about our pairing.”

Ennis smiled. Jack was a talkative person but he seemed to like Ennis’s small answers. The two men continued talking about the firm until it was time to leave for the party.

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Entering Jack’s BMW, Ennis thought that he had found his first friend in the Magnet Firm.
Jack drove all the way to Elizabeth’s house talking to Ennis and watching him closely. In this small amount of time, Jack had decided that Ennis was a very sexy man. He could now understand why Elizabeth was wearing the devilish smile when she told him he was the one picking him up tonight. She knew Jack was going to like the company.

With his small brown eyes and his delicate blond curls, Ennis was a sight. Muscular enough to look good with any clothes and taller than the average man. He was Jack’s type, from the shy smile to the masculine way he moved his hands.

Too bad he didn’t seem to think the same way about him. Or at least Jack wasn’t getting any signals. Ennis had only looked at him for a few seconds when they met and nothing more. He thought maybe he wasn’t gay but then there was a little bit of chemistry between them. Jack was almost sure that Ennis wouldn’t be that shy around everybody else. Then again, maybe he was.

Jack looked again at Ennis. The blond man was talking for more than twenty seconds straight for the first time. Something about how the Premier League shouldn’t accept some arbiters. He wondered if Ennis had to shave every day, because from where he was sitting, his skin looked as smooth as silk.

Jack put these thoughts away as he and Ennisgot out of the car, still discussing European soccer this season.

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Elizabeth’s house was a picture of herself. Small, impressive and extremely beautiful. Ennis thought he had never seen a house like this before. It was like something taken from a movie. The big house, painted in white, was a mix of historic building and modern decoration.

“Impressed? Wait til you see the garden. I once believed it was possible to play golf in there!” Jack said, moving to the front door and ringing the bell.

A few seconds after, a young maid opened the door, obviously not surprised to find them standing there.

“Mr. Twist, Madame Noris has been waiting for you for a few minutes.” The young lady said and then smiling, she added. “Please, gentlemen, follow me.”

A few steps before they were standing in a large room full of strangers and right in front of them was a smiling Elizabeth Noris.

“Ennis! Welcome to my house and to your party. I hope Jack didn’t bother you with his unfinished sports magazine!” She said teasing Jack.

“Actually, I was happy to find someone who knew as much about sports as I do. I believe we had a nice time.” Ennis said honestly.

“Really? I guess it’s a guy thing. I've never liked sports.” She made a bored face and Ennis smiled. “Last year, Jack took me to a tennis match and I though I was going to die of boredom.” She laughed out loud at the memory.

“It was the final of the U.S. Open! Who would have thought she wouldn’t like it?” Jack answered rolling his eyes. “I guess I’m picking up a drink to forget that afternoon. Do either of you need anything?”

Ennis and Elizabeth answered with no and Jack went to the other side of the room. Ennis decide it was time to prepare himself for the long evening of meetings and uninteresting talk. He normally hated parties, but this one he was going to take on with a big smile.

“I could see you and Jack get along just fine.” Elizabeth said with a curious look.

“He’s a nice guy, with a lot of things to say.” Ennis replied truthfully.

“Yes. I knew you were going to like him. I’m thinking of putting you two working together on a few smaller cases. What do you think? I can give you a week or two to think about it.” Elizabeth said waving for someone on the other side of the room.

“Sounds good to me. What about Jack? He may not like to be my new babysitter.” Elizabeth laugh at Ennis's comment.

“Jack likes to help people who really need help. If it wasn’t for me, I’m sure he wouldn’t be helping rich guys become even richer. If I don’t give him the chance of helping you, he’s going to annoy me for the rest of the year.”

“Really?” Ennis asked surprised. This mysterious Jack Twist was working at the firm for the sake of Elizabeth, probably because of the opportunity of working with her. Ennis thought it was as good a reason as any.

“Yes, I'm sure Jack will be happy to help you.” She answered.

“Then it's settled.” Ennis said, looking at Jack on the other side of the room.

The night progressed slowly for Ennis. If it hadn’t been for Jack and Elizabeth’s company, he would have felt very lonely. On that night, Ennis met almost twenty of the members of the Magnet Firm but just a few seemed interested in making a real acquaintance. He predicted that working in the Magnet Firm was a lonely, tough walk but he was happy because Elizabeth and Jack seemed to be really great exceptions.

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Jack drove all the way to Ennis's house making only small talk. He was feeling somehow strange and he could see Ennis was tired. The night went well, with some talk about the firm’s latest decisions and the usual gossip about the important members of the board but something wasn’t right for Jack.

All night long, he eyed Ennis and not for the expected reasons. He was definitely attracted to the man, but there was something more to it. Ennis was intelligent, careful with the words he used, using every single moment to observe and study. Jack lived long enough in New York to recognize a good and simple man when he saw one. And Ennis was one of those very few.

For the first time in his life, he wasn’t feeling right with the fact that he wasn’t openly gay. It wasn’t a big secret. Jack had been out of the closet for a long time, he just wasn’t the type of man who liked to have his private life advertised and with all the work in the firm, he didn’t have much time for relationships. It was natural for him, so he usually didn't feel the need to scream it. Until now, that is.

“You’re quiet, Jack. We obviously haven't known each other long but it doesn’t seem right coming from you.” Ennis said looking at him from the passenger’s seat.

“I’m a bit tired. I’ve been working hard on a case involving the government. It’s a chore for 12 hours a day.” Jack said, trying not to look at Ennis.

“Elizabeth said that maybe I was going to work with you on some cases.” Ennis stopped before he could say anything else. He should have thought about a different way to deliver the news. Jack probably still didn’t know and even though Elizabeth had told him that Jack wouldn’t mind, it was still rather impolite.

He sighed, thinking that he really wasn’t good dealing with people outside the courtroom.

Jack smiled at the straightforward way Ennis had delivered the news. Ennis was a direct man, no need to waste words and he already liked that about him.

“You don’t need to worry. I need the help, now that Elizabeth is no longer working with me full time, and I think we’re going to be a good team.”

Ennis smiled and Jack stopped the car in front of Ennis’s building and turned off the engine. He was feeling nervous again, like a school girl on a first date, and he couldn't figure out why.

“You could come in for a nightcap, if you'd like. We didn’t finish our discussion about Chelsea versus Manchester United and I have cold beer,” Ennis said casually.

Jack thought that if he went up to Ennis's apartment right now, he might say or do things that they both would regret. They were going to work together, hopefully for a really long time, and Jack was forced to think about the consequences. Ennis was an intelligent guy but totally unaware of Jack's feelings and maybe it was better this way.

Even Jack didn’t know what was happening with him. There were all the things he really liked about Ennis, and then there was something else about him that he couldn’t quite figure out, like a new puzzle to a child. An irresistible challenge.

“Sorry, Ennis but no. I really need to head on home.” Jack said, searching for something in his pockets. “Here's my card. Phone me if you need anything, help in the apartment or tips for your first day.”

“Thank you for everything.” Ennis said outside the car looking in by the open window.

“We’re a team now. No more “thank yous!” Jack said, starting the car.

Ennis smiled and watched the BMW drove away. A small part of him was sad for being alone again. Jack’s concern felt right, like a brother… No, like something else. Something he couldn’t figure out.

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On the next chapter: Ennis is finally working at the Magnet Firm. The team Del Mar/Twist gets his first big case. But not all are roses; the blond lawyer faces a lot of surprises that may compromise his relationship with Jack, in more ways than one.