Beginning, Section II
Chapter 1
March 17th, 1995
Ring…Ring…Ring.
Elizabeth reached out with her hand in the direction of the telephone. As the receiver fell to the floor, she let out a choice word and opened her eyes.
"Hello!"
A whimper on the other end of the line was the only response she heard.
"If this is a crank call, I have caller I.D. and will turn your as…"
"Lizzy, he is gone."
She recognized the voice of her sister. Elizabeth looked at her clock; it was 2:47 a.m.
"Jane? Honey, what are you saying?"
"He is gone. He left tonight. Oh, Lizzy, I don't know what to do."
Elizabeth sat straight up in bed.
"Eric is gone?" Sleep was making Elizabeth confused. "What do you mean gone?"
"He…he wants a divorce."
"Calm down, Janie. Are you certain? Did he tell you this?"
"Yes."
Elizabeth felt her anger rise to the surface. Ever since her first grade teacher Sister Mary-Margaret officially diagnosed her behavior as 'fiery', she had found many occasions to demonstrate the power in the old nun's words. Elizabeth physically placed her hand over her mouth to contain the string of curse words that would have made a seasoned sailor blush.
When the need to verbally express herself subsided, she calmly got out of bed and began to pace.
"Jane, I am coming down to Champaign. I can be there in three hours--less if I use my fuzz-buster. "
"Lizzy, you have to promise me you won't start anything with him. Please. I want to talk to Eric again, and see if he will change his mind."
"He isn't worth…" Elizabeth paused, knowing she was about say something she may later regret. Why is Jane always so weak? "Okay, Jane. I will do as you ask, unless he provokes me." Her hands began to tense as she visualized herself choking Jane's worthless husband.
"Thank you, Lizzy. I really need you. Eat something before you come. I don't want you passing out."
"I will. I am so sorry for you." Elizabeth felt her own lip begin to quiver. Jane, of all people, didn't deserve this type of treatment.
"Promise me you won't tell Mama. I don't want her to know anything right now."
"It didn't even cross my mind. I'm on my way. I love you."
"I love you, too."
Elizabeth returned the phone to the cradle, and let out a deep breath.
I knew that pig would do this someday!
Summer 1998
William Darcy stepped into the darkened restaurant. If a person were to make a judgment based on his recent behavior, they would be led to believe he preferred having lunch at Mario's to anywhere else downtown, and they would be dead wrong. It was not the food that had converted him to a diet heavy in Italian cuisine, nor any other feature the quaint restaurant had to offer. To be completely blunt--this was the only place where he could catch a glance at her.
It all began for William almost two months ago. In the past, the convenient location of Mario's made him an infrequent customer of once or twice a month. This changed one sunny Tuesday when he happened to look up from his plate of pasta, and saw her for the first time. Simply stated, there was just something about her that made him turn his head a second time. The woman was not tall, or blond, or openly sensual, which was his usual type, but something else that he could not quite put his finger on.
William's good looks and personal wealth seemed to be a magnet for empty headed, vain women of little conversation. It was what he was accustomed to and comfortable with. Still, he could not take his eyes off of this petite brunette in the tailored business suit. With her hair pulled back into a thick braided bun that rested on the base of her neck, he could clearly see her facial features. She was not plain, but pretty in a wholesome sense. Even at a distance, he could tell that she did not wear much makeup and that it was not needed. Before making her way to her table, she stopped at a table of three middle-aged businessmen and conversed with them for a brief time. William heard them offer her the spare seat at their table, which she declined with a tilt of her head and a few words. The men were left smiling contentedly at each other as she walked back to the corner booth.
Without the pretense of flirting, she smiled at William with her eyes before sat down. A young waiter brought her two glasses of water and a plate of food within minutes of her arrival. She read what appeared to be a report while she ate, and William's attention returned to his lunch.
A firm but quiet 'No, no, no' came from her table, and he turned his attention once again to the woman across the aisle. She pushed her plate to the inside corner of the table and unloaded a laptop computer from her briefcase. While she waited for it to start up, her eyes ran down the piece of paper that had given her offence, obviously looking for a particular section. A scowl creased her forehead as an indication she had found it, followed by a glare at her laptop for taking so long. As she waited impatiently, she looked around and noticed him slightly grinning at her.
"Sorry." She whispered. "I hope I did not disturb you."
Letting her know it was all right, he shook his head at her and smiled. She continued to hold her gaze at him for the briefest moment, not turning away until her computer alerted her it was ready. William was left with the eeriest sensation--like she could see right through him.
This woman was definitely not his usual type, she was different.
During the next five weeks, William gradually increased the frequency of his visits to the restaurant. He could not deny he liked the rush he experienced when he saw her, it was the addictive flow of adrenaline that kept him coming back. Never in his life had he waited for so long before making a move. William found that he liked silently admiring her, and it was thrilling to wait until lunchtime to find out if he would be able to see her or not. On the days when she did not show up, he experienced disappointment, making the days when she did even better. The only words ever passed between them was an occasional 'hello', but more often than not, a nod of their head in each other's direction was the form of greeting.
He had actually learned many details about her in this time. Her name was Elizabeth Bennet. He reasoned that she worked nearby, since she ate at Mario's almost every day. She was an executive, possibly high ranking by the way she conducted business lunches. And, most importantly, she was single. He owed the last bit of information to an obnoxious woman who possessed a loud voice.
Elizabeth had been sitting alone a week ago when an overdressed middle-aged woman came and surprised her at her booth.
"Mama, what are you doing downtown? Please, sit down."
"I was shopping nearby, and thought I would catch you. I have some good news, Lizzy." The giddy woman spoke in a hushed tone, indicating she held a secret.
"Dare I ask what it is?" Elizabeth knew her mother well enough to be a little leery of her 'good news'. It generally had to do with a man for one of her single daughters. Without realizing it, she crossed her fingers under the table as she prepared for the worst.
"I have found you a date for your Cousin Kathleen's wedding. I met this really nice man at…"
Elizabeth uncrossed her fingers. The trick never seemed to work anyway. The longer her mother spoke, and it was a very long time, the further Elizabeth's jaw fell open.
"…So, I told him that I have this daughter who would be perfect for him. Oh, Lizzy, I described you in the best way!" The older woman was so pleased with herself that she completely ignored her daughter's reaction as she rattled away.
"Dear Lord!" Elizabeth hissed, placing her hand over her eyes in defeat. "Tell me you didn't!"
"I didn't tell him directly that you needed a date. Well," Mrs. Bennet squished up her face as she thought back to her words. "I might have hinted at it."
"MAMA!"
"Dear, we all know you are never going to get anywhere on your own." She reached over and patted her daughter's head. "Now, you need to stop by the church and talk to him. He has only been in town a week, so he won't be able to find your house."
In a low rumble, Elizabeth inquired if she had given out her home address.
"Heaven's no! I didn't want to make you mad, silly girl."
This particular conversation ended a short time later with Elizabeth informing her mother that she was not only forbidden to play matchmaker, but she also had no intention of going to talk to the man. Mrs. Bennet just looked at her daughter with an amused expression while the information passed through her head and back out into the surrounding air.
Mrs. Bennet did not stay much longer, as she had some important shopping to do. After she was gone, William noticed Elizabeth's head on the table. She didn't make a sound, but her shoulders were shaking like she was sobbing. His heart went out to her; her mother was too cruel. He wanted to go over and comfort her, but they had never been properly introduced and she may not appreciate the interference.
To his relief, a tall, dark-haired woman who he had seen with Elizabeth came back to her booth.
"Lizzy, what is wrong?" She inquired softly.
Elizabeth raised her head. Her face was red, tears were streaming down her cheeks, and she was grinning from ear to ear.
"Oh, Mary! Mama…was here." Elizabeth could hardly speak because she was laughing so hard. "You'll never guess who it was this time!"
Mary made her typical 'Mama' face, and waited. How Elizabeth could stand the woman's constant husband hunting was beyond her. Mary had never had any tolerance for her mother, which proved to be a good thing for Mary. It kept Mrs. Bennet from wanting to aid her in the quest for 'the perfect man for you.'
"The Church's new youth director! Which, we have to admit, it better than the widowed man with seven children, Mama's weekend Mailman, and the Burger King manager who just happened to be gay!" Elizabeth wiped the tears from her face. "We have to give the poor thing a break. After all, she has three daughters over 25 who are still single, well…you don't really count because of Steven."
"Thank God!" The longer Mary heard Elizabeth's giggles, the harder it became for her to keep a straight face. Soon both women were taking deep breaths, trying to control themselves.
Mary beamed at her favorite sister. "Happy birthday! How many is that now?"
"Like you don't know, you are not that far behind me little sister! I am 28, thank you. Mama forgot to mention that when she was here. Her mind was so full of shopping for a gift; a bracelet…a husband, either will do."
Both women began snickering again. William turned his face to the wall, hiding a small grin that had formed on his lips. He was amazed by her good-natured attitude toward her mother after what she had done. He would have been mad as hell, but she didn't seem phased. And it was her birthday, and he knew her age, and he heard her voice very clearly for the first time. She had the most charming accent, it sounded southern, but it was so faint that he would have to hear it more before he could be sure.
As his grin faded, William made a resolve. It was time for him to get better aquatinted with Elizabeth. He wanted for nothing more right now than to join her at her table, wish her a happy birthday, and share her gaiety. The game that had kept him occupied for so many weeks was no longer enough. He didn't want this special lady to slip between his fingers.
"I have a present." Mary opened the knapsack she had carried in and pulled out a laptop with a bow on it. "Happy birthday, dear Lizzy. Steven designed it for you. Pick it up, it only weighs two pounds."
"Mary! Thank you!" Elizabeth picked up her present. "This is going to save my shoulder. You are so sweet and thoughtful."
"Well, you know Steven, everything on it is as tweaked as it gets. He wants to show you all of the features when he sees you later."
Elizabeth looked up from admiring her new toy. "Where is your better half? I haven't had contact with him all day."
"Steven is on his way to Springfield right now." Mary attempted to remain light, but her smile tightened considerably. "There seems to be a problem with the State job we did at the Capitol."
"What sort of problem? Why wasn't I informed?"
"A big enough problem for Steven to go down there personally." It was not Mary's wish to ruin her sister's birthday, but Elizabeth could not be in the dark on this issue.
Elizabeth reached into her wallet and pulled out tip money.
"Let's get your food boxed and go to my office."
Chapter 2
Elizabeth's absence from the restaurant for the last week had been obvious, and William's personal distraction caused by it worried him a little. He had eaten at Mario's for four days straight this week, and was beginning to wonder if she had been transferred or changed employment. If she did not show up today, he was determined to ask Mario for information on her whereabouts. His attitude was not improved by the fact that he was so sick of Italian food he could scream.
"Miss Elizabeth!" The booming voice of the establishment's proprietor echoed throughout the building. "When Charlotte called and told me you would be coming down today, I was relieved. You work too hard!"
"Mario, " she sighed as she worked her way back to her familiar seat, "you are good to me. Thank you for all of the takeout."
Elizabeth linked her arm with the older man's. She had a tender spot in her heart for Mario. They had built a different sort of relationship over the years. He pampered her, and she spoiled him. It had been her father, Dale Bennet, who had informed her of the place, and she had been loyal since.
"Miss Elizabeth, I am having my nephew's band coming in tomorrow night. Is there any chance you would want to stop by and sing with them?"
William looked up from his spaghetti when he heard this. She sings?
"Tony, right?" Elizabeth asked. Mario's family was quite musical, so she needed to determine whom he was referring to before she made a decision. She was truly too busy at the time to come in, but if was for Tony, she might consider it. He was a good man and had been a good friend throughout the years.
"Yes, it is. Tony wants to try out a new set, so I volunteered my place."
"I will do my best to be here. Things are tight right now at work, but if I can make it, I will. What time?" Maybe a break from work was exactly what Elizabeth needed.
"Around eight, they will play until one, but you are not to wear yourself out."
"I should be able to get away for a few hours. Thank you for asking, Mario."
"You are a good girl, Miss Elizabeth. I will let him know." Mario tightened his grip on her arm. He looked at her closer as he noticed her arm felt thinner. Mario had taken it upon himself to make sure she ate at least one good meal a day, but he had not been able to watch her for a week now. Once she was at her booth, he would question her. Knowing Elizabeth as well as he did, he knew she would tell him the truth.
"I am expecting Steven and Mary today. Just bill me, okay?"
Mario shook his head in agreement. "Of course."
As Elizabeth was led to her booth, she looked over to see if 'handsome man' was at his table. When she saw him, a small smile crept across her face and she nodded to him. He was always a welcome sight. Elizabeth had no knowledge of who the man was, but she liked admiring him whenever she could. There was just something about the way he presented himself that made her want to get to know him more. Yet, she had never said anything of importance to him. Elizabeth could not account for her detour from her usual outgoing ways. In the past, if she found a man as attractive as she did him, she would have said something to him by now. But, not this time. All Elizabeth knew about him was that he did not wear a wedding ring, and he liked pasta. Granted, it was not much to work with, but it was a start.
Mario's usual jovial nature turned serious when Elizabeth sat down. He held onto her hand as he leaned over to speak to her.
"You look tired, dear, and thinner. If you do not have the energy to cook dinner at night, I will make you some meals to take home."
"I have a little insomnia right now, but once we get over this hurdle at work, I'll be fine. I will call you if I get too tired, and have you make something up. Thank you, friend."
Mario was satisfied with her reply. "I will get your lunch right away."
"Thank you," she responded as she opened her briefcase and removed a large stack of papers. Mario was correct about her being tired. The past week had been one of the hardest she had ever faced since she had taken over the company for her father.
Bennet Computers was a thriving privately-owned company. They specialized in computer systems for government and business. It was four months ago that Bennet Computers moved into the home computer market, and they had received rave reviews for their products and price. The machines produced were always of highest quality, built by technicians who were well trained, and made with quality parts. When her father suddenly retired, she inherited a perfectly sound company, and Elizabeth had every intention it remain that way.
Elizabeth looked at the stack of paper in front of her and felt her appetite fade away. If only she could pull them out of their current dilemma, she felt like she was running out of options and ideas.
She divided the stack into three and passed two across from her. Mary and Steven would arrive soon.
William put down his Chicago Tribune and looked at her. He was listening when Mario said she looked tired and he had to agree with the old man, but Elizabeth also appeared to be distressed. He wondered about what could have happened to her to cause such a change in her personality.
William Darcy was born attentive and curious. After his father passed away, he took over Allied Business Solutions, where it was his responsibility to observe, comprehend, and correct. Allied was a unique business. They were the people other businesses called when they needed additional resources or solutions to predicaments they are unable to solve on their own. On staff, Allied employed experts from several fields. Lawyers, marketers, accountants, engineers, psychologists, advertising developers, and business managers. They were not a temporary service, but a working team, and William Darcy ran a tight ship.
A tall, well-dressed man approached Elizabeth's table and greeted her warmly.
"Hello, Steven. Where's Mary?" Elizabeth questioned him as he sat down on the other side of the booth.
"She called and said she would meet us here. How are we doing, Liz?" He reached over the table and patted her hand affectionately. Steven liked Elizabeth; she was a milder version of her younger sister. Steven did admire Mary's spunk; it was what attracted him to her in the first place. He thought of her as 'fire on feet.'
"Oh, things have been better, I'd say." Elizabeth pointed to a pile of papers in front of him.
Steven started reading the top summary page on the stack in front of him.
Steven Davis had been working for Bennet for over eight years, and in that time had proven himself a capable hands-on leader. It was not uncommon for him to go to the larger jobs and direct the setup process himself. He was fiercely loyal to his company, and had turned down several substantial offers from other firms over the years. He would be a Bennet employee for life, and the fact that he was living with Mary did set that decision in concrete.
Mary and Steven had been sharing his house together for almost two years. Both were content with the arrangement, and did not need a Priest's blessing to make it more official. Mary took a lot of slack from her well-meaning Mother over the situation, but being the most stubborn of the three eldest Bennet daughters, she did not cave into the pressure. She and Steven would get married someday, if they felt it necessary. Until then, Mary's resolve just strengthened every time her mother gave her the 'fire and brimstone' lecture about living in sin.
Steven looked up from the report as he heard Mary approach the booth. She was not in her usual business attire, but dressed in jeans and a Henley shirt, with her hair tied back away from her face. Mary was a pretty woman in a classic way.
"Hi Liz, Steven. I'm going to eat quickly and get back to work. I think I am close to a breakthrough. Craig is testing the program for me right now." Mary was not one to waste time on small talk.
"What time did you get home last night?" Steven asked her. "I crashed around eleven."
"One something. Why didn't you wake me this morning?" She leaned over and kissed him on the head.
"I knew you were tired, so I set your clock for seven."
"Thanks. I told Mario to bring us anything that could be made fast, is that okay with you?"
Steven agreed, took her hand and gently pulled her into her seat.
"Read the top page." He glanced at the papers in front of her.
Mary skimmed the page. She let out a couple of exasperated breaths as she read it. When she was finished, Mary looked up to her sister.
"Liz, this is worse then I had thought. What do we do?" Mary could not be envious of her sister's position at the moment. If the company faltered, she would be the person held responsible, and the one who would take the blame.
"Give me the bottom line on where we are at, first." Elizabeth wanted all of the current facts before she made a statement.
Mary spoke up.
"I almost have the code done on a program that will speed up the retrieval of the crashed hard-drive data. Craig has finished the disengage program and is getting it out to the customers. If it is needed and used, their systems won't crash, but it will render their computers useless until the Tec's get there and rip out that damn video card." Mary turned her head to Steven. "Your turn."
"I have nine Tec's at the Capitol Building in Springfield. If it weren't for the failed hard drives, we would have been finished by now. I am heading back down this afternoon and probably won't return until the job is done. Kentucky University's system seems to be unaffected, but I sent Mark down to check it out anyway. At the first sign of trouble, he is going to install Craig's program and shut the system down. Carla is in charge of the local Tec's, and they are averaging a p.c. an hour, which is a good rate in my opinion. We only have about fifteen personal systems left to fix. Liz?"
"Steven, is there any way to get the Tec's cost down? They are killing us." Elizabeth had received a cost analysis from the accounting department today that had her worried.
"No, I had to hire several independents to help out. Their average is $70.00 an hour, although I am paying some of them more. We had no choice."
Elizabeth picked up her pile of papers. "After much consideration, I think it is time to bring in the big boys. Valley will not return my calls, and I am not about to shoulder this burden alone. It was their worthless video driver that is at fault, and they are going to pay for this."
Mary was unclear about what Elizabeth meant by 'big boys.'
"Do you mean a rescue team? Like Patterson?" Patterson was Allied's closest competitor, and another Chicago based firm that specialized in providing small businesses with assistance.
"Or Allied. I want your opinions. I do not think we can handle this alone any more. I refuse to take a hit on this! Macy's called yesterday, and they are talking like they might back out of our proposed deal. We cannot afford not to move on this." Elizabeth could feel the headache from the morning returning full force.
When William heard the word 'Allied', his attention moved to the booth five feet away. He had not been paying attention to their conversation, but his company's name was so clear he could not miss it.
"Liz," Steven began. "From what I have heard, Allied is the best. They have a spotless reputation, but they are also very expensive. I don't know if they would be able to work us in. Patterson is smaller and less experienced, but I believe they could easily take care of our problem."
"Is money the only objection you have to Allied?" Elizabeth had already made up her mind before they met today, but she still listened to what Steven had to say. He always showed a great deal of sensibility and she respected his opinion.
"Yes, and the possibility that we are too small for them. They work a lot with big business. For example, they helped clean up AT&T after John Walters left. We're not even in the league." Steven knew getting Allied was a lost cause, but if Elizabeth wanted a point of view, he would give it.
"Mary, what do you think?" Elizabeth turned her attention to her sister. She knew Mary would tell her the frank truth.
"Liz, I agree with you about hiring consultants. Go with the company you think will do the best job." To the point as usual, Mary offered her two cents worth.
Elizabeth leaned back and thought about what Steven and Mary had told her. She wished she could call her father and ask him what to do, but that was out of the question right now. He was not to be disturbed while he was in California.
When the mushroom pizzas were served, and Elizabeth stopped the waiter and requested a to-go box. Mary's head shot up when she heard Elizabeth's request.
"You have to eat, Liz. I won't leave here until I see you do so." Mary meant it; she would sit here all day if needed.
"Mary, I will. I just think better in the office." She held Mary's gaze, and saw she was not convinced. "You are as bad as Mario! I'll eat one slice now, okay?"
"Yes, but you have to finish it when you get back." Mary's voice was stern and unrelenting.
Elizabeth waited until the waiter returned before she informed them of her decision.
"I'm calling Allied. If they don't want our business, fine. But, at the rate this problem is snowballing, I want to try to get the best."
Good choice! William Darcy thought as he put a twenty on the table next to his half-finished food and left. He wanted be there when the call came through.
Chapter 3
Once far enough away from the restaurant, William opened his cell phone and called his secretary.
"Martha, I am expecting a request for services to come into the office this afternoon. I want to handle it myself."
"Who will it be from, Sir?"
William stopped walking. He still did not have a name. He thought back to the conversation at Elizabeth's table. From all of the techno-talk he had happened to overhear in the last six weeks, he would have to assume it was a computer company of some sort.
"I don't have a company name, but I believe Elizabeth Bennet will be the contact. Just let me know of all the calls we receive. I'm on my way back to office right now."
The call he was expecting came one hour later. A four p.m. appointment was made for William to go to the office of Elizabeth Bennet at Bennet Computers. It was not until he was inside the elevator going to the tenth floor, that William began doubt his motive.
Was it ethical for him to take this job? Usually, he wouldn't personally handle a client this small. Was he only doing it to get to know a woman better? Well, he knew the answer to that question, but still, if he treated this assignment like any other…
The bell rang for the tenth floor, and he got out. William reasoned with himself that since this was just an initial contact meeting, he could always pass the job off to someone else if his personal ethics were in jeopardy. With an eased mind, he followed the signs to E. Bennet's office suite. Once inside, an efficient looking secretary greeted him.
"May I help you?" Charlotte scanned the man in front of her. That is one good-looking man!
"William Darcy from Allied. I have an appointment with Elizabeth Bennet."
"One moment, please." She rang the other office.
Charlotte smiled at William as she stood up and opened the door to Elizabeth's office.
"She is ready for you, Mr. Darcy."
William entered the doorway and looked around. The room struck him as professional. There was very little adornment, except for what appeared to be a group photo of several young ladies, and a painting of a large cottage. The oversized walnut desk in the center of the room was neat and orderly. In the left-hand corner of the room, bent over a copy machine, he saw her. It was the woman from the restaurant, even from the back view he was certain. William began to doubt himself all over again. It would surely look obvious to her that he had overheard her conversation at lunchtime.
"Welcome Mr. Darcy, I will be right with you. I have a belt jam here." Elizabeth looked over her shoulder to give him a smile, and froze for a few seconds. It is the handsome man from Mario's! In my office.
"Please, take your time." William's voice sounded nervous.
"Mr. Darcy, do you eat at Mario's very often?" Elizabeth asked in a tone that signified she already knew the answer.
"Yes, I do." William was a little taken back by her directness. He thought they might 'act' as if they didn't know each other for a while, then admit the connection.
"In the front dark room, usually at the table across from my booth." She stated as she kicked the printer. It responded by lighting up and grinding. Elizabeth took out the first copy it spit out and was pleased with the results. Holding the paper in her hand, she let out an 'ah-ha' and turned to him.
"Well, you now see why I run a computer company. It's my way with machines." Elizabeth said as she walked over to him and shook his hand.
"It is a pleasure to meet you. Please, have a seat." She pointed to a conference table against the wall. She already had a stack of folders waiting for him. After they sat down, she moved her chair sideways so she could face him while they were talking. Elizabeth preferred to look people in the eye when she was conversing with them.
William went right to business. "Before we start, can you give me a brief synopsis of why you need our services, Miss Bennet. Where does your company stand and what do you lack?"
"Yes. Two months ago, Bennet Computers began work on a large contract, building and installing a new computer system for the State of Illinois Congress. We were to upgrade their present system and replace old and incompliant computers. Included in the job bid was the installation of a more efficient Intranet. We have done several jobs like this many times in the past; so it was not an unusual request. We installed the new servers and replaced several units. On the personal computers, they were responsible for backing up their own data, and once again this is not unusual. We tested the six servers and forty-five units, and they all came out clean. Two days later, all hell broke loose." Elizabeth opened the folder she had on top of the stack, and placed it in front of William.
"What you are looking at is a picture of a video card. It is the new AGP type, and was purchased from Valley Technology of California. We have used several of Valley's products for the past year, and have never had any real problems to date. About six months ago, George Wickham bought the company. Three weeks after that, we received a shipment of cards that were not up to our standards. We sent them back, along with both written and oral explanations as to why we would not accept the delivered cards. In response, we were shipped a better grade than was the level of quality we were accustomed to." Elizabeth now handed him two video cards.
"They look identical, but they are not." Elizabeth leaned over him and inspected the contents of his hands. She pointed to the one on the left. "This one is no good. To a trained eye, there are obvious defects. The solder job is poor at best, I see at least three loose pins," she turned over his hand, "and the wires are wrapped incorrectly." Elizabeth sat back in her chair and continued on.
"In a nut shell, we installed forty nine of those in the state computers. Others were installed elsewhere, for a total of sixty-three. The end result is as expected, no…a little worse. We have systems locking up and crashing, data is being lost, and our spotless reputation is being ruined. We are close to loosing at least one large job because of the poor publicity, and others may still follow. Both Valley and George Wickham are not returning our repeated phone calls. P.C. World Magazine is calling me looking for a quote for their next issue. We do not have the resources to squelch this problem, and that is why I called Allied."
William set the boards he was holding down on the table, and sat back thoughtfully in his chair.
"Miss Bennet, I have a few questions for you," he began, "do you have the authority to act on your own, or do you need to report to a board of directors?"
"I am on my own. My father started the company, I now run it."
"If necessary, and I think it might be, would you authorize lawyers to get involved in your dispute with Valley?"
"Yes," she replied without hesitation.
"Do you have an active public relations department?"
"Marketing. It is not large."
"Are you actively working to repair the damage with the State?"
"Yes, it will be done by the end of the weekend."
"How much can your company afford to spend on our services?" For some reason, William felt a little strange asking this question.
"Money is of no consequence right now. I want to be billed personally, not through the company." Elizabeth did not blink.
"Miss Bennet, do you understand the possible costs involved? We could be talking about a very large sum of money before everything is settled." William had never received that response before.
"I understand and expect such costs. Bill me directly." Elizabeth's tone was firm. She had already thought long and hard about it before he arrived. She would brook no opposition on the subject.
"Well, I will do my best to keep the cost down."
"Mr. Darcy, let me make myself clear. Yes, I do have a limit, but I doubt you will reach it. I want the very best and have the funds to back it up."
"Very well," It was obvious she was not going to relent. "Let's look at what you have here." They turned their attention to her folders.
In all of the years William had been running Allied, he could not remember meeting a more articulate or organized person who could begin to compare to Elizabeth Bennet. Every piece of information he needed, she had out before him. She knew where every document was located, and the data it held. When he asked her financial details, she quoted them correctly from memory. Her eyes held a look of intelligence and her manner could best be described as pleasant.
Only twice during their discussions did William's mind wander for a moment. Once was when he was placing her barely audible accent, which was definitely southern as he had suspected. The other was when she put her hand on his arm while explaining a chart she had drawn up. Any regret he harbored about coming to her office today was long gone after about ten minutes.
They had been going over her documents for forty-five minutes when he started to notice a change in her. Her concentration was wavering, and her words began to slur. After a few more minutes of her continuing on this way, she rose to get some papers out of the copier. He watched as she stumbled near her desk.
"Miss Bennet, are you all right?"
"Perfectlyfine." She answered.
William was not convinced and he intercepted her near the center of the room. Gently, he led her to her desk chair and lowered her into it.
"I am going to sit you down, you do not look well."
"Could youget me an or…" Elizabeth pointed to the refrigerator. She couldn't seem to clear her mind and get the words out.
"Say it one more time, I did not understand you." William looked in the direction she was pointing. There was nothing there but a blank wall. He put his hand against her forehead—she was burning up.
"If I didn't know any better, I would swear you have been drinking—except that you are hot. Do you want me to get someone?" He tried not to sound panicked, but her behavior was worrying him.
Elizabeth heard him say the words 'have been drinking' and an alarm went off in her head. She lifted her arm and pressed a red button on the side of her phone. The reaction was immediate. Charlotte came flying into the room, and was by her side in three seconds.
"Okay, Lizzy, I am here." She opened the top drawer and took out a white hand-held object which she placed Elizabeth's finger into. Charlotte didn't ask any questions, but got right to work. She had done this before.
snap
"Lizzy, can you hear me?" She was looking closely at her eyes to see if they were glassy.
Elizabeth shook her head as Charlotte removed the tester from Elizabeth's finger. It was a blood sugar monitor.
"Did you eat lunch today?" She wanted to determine in advance if the sugar count may be high or low.
"Some." Elizabeth closed her eyes and leaned back in her chair. "Three bites."
Charlotte looked at the monitor in her hand.
"Forty-five more seconds, honey. Stay with me." Charlotte took out a bottle of pills and a syringe.
"Mr. Darcy, could you get me an orange juice out of the refrigerator in the corner. Bring me the gray bag, too." Charlotte opened the bottle of pills, removing one and turned back to Elizabeth. She hated when this happened.
"Thirty seconds, but I think I already know the outcome. Are you still with me?" She did not want Elizabeth to pass out, so she kept talking to her.
Elizabeth gave her a weak grin. William placed the juice and bag next to Charlotte, and moved out of her way. Charlotte removed a vial of insulin and checked the date on it. It was fresh.
"Twenty seconds, we are almost there. Lizzy, I know you don't feel good, but I am going to lecture you while I have the time. You have to eat! You don't want me telling Mario that his favorite customer is throwing out his food. I think you are having a low sugar attack, but I can hardly believe it. After all of the stress you've been under, I would think your numbers would be sky high. Are you still with me?"
Elizabeth frowned.
Charlotte touched her forehead in the same manner William had done earlier. She was hot and clammy.
"You're going to feel better in just a few seconds. Just hang on. Can you open your eyes?"
"Yeah." Elizabeth responded, but kept them shut. She felt miserable and wished the monitor would go off. As dearly as she loved Charlotte, her voice was beginning to bother her.
"Just don't want to? That's fine." Charlotte watched as the last five seconds ticked down.
beep
"Finally." Charlotte read the number displayed on the monitor.
"Really low-64, just like I thought. Okay, I'm going to make you a sugar cocktail." Charlotte put one of the pills in her mouth.
"Chew it up good." Charlotte shook the juice and opened it. "Now for some slower sugar. Only drink a quarter of this bottle, and we'll check you again in five minutes. We don't want to shock your system."
The fast acting glucose tablet was beginning to take effect after one minute. Elizabeth was able to drink some of the juice and open her eyes. She looked warmly up to Charlotte as her mind began to clear.
"Thanks, I owe you one," she whispered.
"You owe me more than one. You know how this scares me! What would have happened if you were out driving on the road? No skipping meals, Lizzy, not ever." Charlotte's tone was a little harsh as she squeezed her friend's hand.
"But, you are still my friend, right?" Elizabeth gave her a smile.
"I'll be your friend if you take care of yourself. You may not be responsible for the high numbers, but the low one's you can prevent." Charlotte kissed her head. "I still love you, though."
"Love always has strings attached, aye Charlotte?" Elizabeth let out a sigh. She was beginning to feel better.
Charlotte put a new small stick in the monitor and packed the unneeded insulin back in the bag. As she passed William, she gave him a pat on the arm.
"Is she all right?" William had watched in wonder as Charlotte went through her motions. The woman was calm, collected and experienced.
"I can talk, Mr. Darcy." Elizabeth spoke for Charlotte. "As soon as I get some sugar coursing through me, I'll be good as new."
Charlotte placed the bag into the refrigerator as she shook her head to indicate she was not pleased.
"No, Lizzy. You need to get some food and rest. No driving yourself home tonight. I'll take you." Wasted breath, she thought.
"Charlotte, it is too far out of your way. I'll catch a ride with someone else or take the L." Elizabeth was not going to trouble Charlotte by having her drive out of her way.
Charlotte frowned as she crossed the room.
"She's getting grumpy and this is a good sign. Lizzy, call me in a couple of minutes with another reading." Charlotte closed the door behind her.
"I am sorry for the interruption, Mr. Darcy. I have diabetes and sometimes my sugar gets a little out of line." Elizabeth observed his expression and wanted him to stop looking at her so concerned.
"Please, do not think of it." Why was she apologizing? "What type of diabetes, if I may ask?"
"Type one, Juvenile."
"Well, I should let you rest. I'll set an appointment for tomorrow afternoon and we can finish then." Her color was beginning to return to normal and she seemed more like herself, but he did not want to tire her out anymore.
"No, I am fine. Let me get the papers and explain them to you before you leave." Elizabeth started to lift herself out of her chair, but the light touch of a hand on her shoulder stopped her.
"Miss Bennet, you can't be serious. You just had a low blood sugar attack. It can wait until tomorrow." William's voice was both soft and reassuring. There was no need to make her ill again. He had to admit, though, he admired her spirit.
"Please," she pleaded, "I will not be pampered. I want to finish."
Not willing to upset her, William gave in easily. "You are stubborn. Are they the papers in the copier?"
"Yes. Mr. Darcy, if you think I am stubborn, you should meet the rest of the family. They make me look like a pansy." She flashed him grin.
"Somehow, I doubt that." William answered back lightly. He went to the copier and brought back the contents. "Here you are."
Elizabeth examined what he handed her, and sorted them into two stacks.
"Would you mind pulling up a chair to the desk?" For pride reasons, she was not going to admit she was still feeling weak.
"No problem, but shouldn't you test your sugar level first?" He recalled what Charlotte had said to her.
William heard the snap as he went after the chair, and settled in beside her as the beep went off. Elizabeth frowned at the reading as she pressed the intercom button.
"Still a little low, Charlotte, but close to good. I'm pretty happy with it."
"Lizzy, I am calling Mario and letting him know you'll be there in ten minutes." Charlotte did not ask, she told.
"I am not ready to leave yet. I'll be there later when Mr…"
William placed his hand on hers, removing her finger from the intercom button.
"Why don't we finish this over dinner. I'm hungry and then Charlotte will be happy, too."
Elizabeth eyed him suspiciously. He no longer looked overly concerned, but sincere…and quite handsome. She thought it might be a good thing, if it wasn't an inconvenience for him.
"You're not just being nice, right? I don't want to keep you from business, your family, or anything important. I can wait to eat for a while. I'll just drink more juice."
"No business, no family, or plans, and I really am hungry. What do you say?" Elizabeth could have no idea how much William was hoping she would say yes.
"All right. Knowing Charlotte as I do, she has already called Mario. Sometimes she forgets I'm her boss, instead of her little cousin."
"I'll pack my things and we'll be off." William vacated his chair and returned to the conference table.
Elizabeth spent a few minutes checking her messages and e-mail. She was typing when she asked William a question.
"Mr. Darcy, can we make the Macy's account a priority? I don't want to loose the contract." She did not look up from her keyboard; or else she would have seen him smiling at her while she worked.
"I'll set PR on it first thing tomorrow."
Elizabeth finished her message, turned on her cell phone, and packed her briefcase. She eased out of her chair and made her way to the refrigerator. There, she removed a small green pouch, and placed it in her case. William was waiting for her at the door. He noticed she was walking slower then usual.
"Let me carry your briefcase." He offered.
"No, I cannot." Elizabeth replied quickly. "Thank you, but the employees will notice. I cannot allow them to think I am sickly or weak, especially during this time. I don't want…"
"I understand." He also agreed with her logic.
"Thank you."
After saying goodnight to Charlotte, they walked to the elevator and left the building. When they reached the sidewalk, William took her briefcase from her. He was rewarded with a half-hearted frown.
"I'm stubborn, too, Miss Bennet."
You can get anything you want, at Mario's Restaurant...
Author's Note: I did research for the diabetes information. I spoke with my brother Mike who has type one diabetes, and also visited several sites on-line. I have done my best to state the facts, as I understand them.Elizabeth leads a normal lifestyle like the millions of others who have diabetes. She has to be more aware of the food she eats, watch the level of sugar in her blood, and take her insulin shots. She takes good care of herself (granted, she slipped today) and is able to do anything she wants (with the exception of eating half a cheesecake—not a good plan!)
Chapter 4
Mario was speaking with the Hostess when Elizabeth and William entered the restaurant.
"Miss Elizabeth, I heard you were hungry. Come in!"
"Mario, Mr. Darcy will be joining me tonight." Elizabeth looked through to the barroom. "Bar is busy tonight, I see." Then she heard the most awful noise and cringed.
"Sing-a-long Thursday, I forgot." She kissed the old man on the cheek and received one in return.
Mario gave her a pained expression, which was only slightly exaggerated. His head was already throbbing and it was still early in the evening.
"It brings them in." He said as he motioned his head toward the crowded bar. "You should go in and show them how it is done, Miss Elizabeth. Then, maybe some of my patrons will loose their nerve and I can avoid a migraine tonight."
"I think we'll just go into the front dark room as usual, Mario." Elizabeth linked her arm in his. "We don't want lead Mr. Darcy into believing I am more talented then I am."
"She is very talented, Mr. Darcy. Don't let her fool you!" Mario led them back to her booth.
Dinner was a nice affair. When the waiter came to take the order, William requested whatever Elizabeth was having. With a queer look but no explanation, the waiter accepted his order and left them to their work. They were finished with business before the food arrived.
After the plates were cleared away, Elizabeth leaned toward him with a sparkle in her eyes. By the end of the evening William would know that whenever she gave him 'sparkling eyes', it would mean he was about to be teased.
"Did you enjoy your fish?" She asked innocently.
"Yes, I did. It was different from what I am used to. Why?"
"Have you ever wondered how a diabetic can eat rich Italian fare day after day, and live to tell about it?"
"Does Mario make it special for you?" William's smile slowly changed to a look of alarm. He leaned in to whisper across the table at her. "It didn't have any medicine in it, did it?"
"No!" She leaned back and laughed, "Mario has a rather large following of special diet customers. Medicine!" Elizabeth continued to giggle until her eyes began to water. "Oh, dear, that was funny. Now my side hurts."
William, who also saw the ridiculousness in his statement, crossed his arms in mock protest, but it did not last long. As humor is contagious, he joined her in the amusement.
They spent the next two hours talking about everything but business. The conversation was so easy between them, and they moved from topic to topic without the usual awkward silence strangers often experience. William was the type of man who spoke with his hands, while Elizabeth used her eyes. Both found the other's trait rather charming.
It was with great reluctance that they needed to end the evening. William could have spent all night in her company. She was not at all what he expected--she was so much more. Elizabeth was straightforward and honest in her speech, but not vulgar or harsh. She preferred the truth to games.
Through the years, William had dated too many 'plastic' women to be fooled anymore by someone trying to act a certain way to please him. Elizabeth was not like them; he knew it from the first moment she addressed him in her office.
It was late when the waiter came back to their table for the last time and asked if they needed anything else. Johnny was beginning to wonder if they were ever going to go home.
"Nothing for me, Johnny. Mr. Darcy?"
"No, thank you. I'll just take the check." William put his hand out for the slip of paper.
"No, I will. This is my treat." Elizabeth put hers in front of his.
Five minutes passed as they discussed the ownership of the bill. Johnny had given up and left after the first minute. When everything was said and done, Elizabeth was victorious, but William had conceded in the end for a reason.
"Well, I will take you home now." He stated, knowing full well that she was going to resist. William was going to stand firm and not take 'no' for an answer.
"No need, I am going to take the train. Thank you for the kind offer, though." Elizabeth mistakenly believed the issue was solved. Holding the prized dinner check gave her a false sense of confidence.
"It's too dangerous taking the train at night. I will drive you." William held his smile and leaned back in his seat. He was curious as to how she was going to argue this proposition.
"No, it is out of your way. I'll be fine." She said as she flaunted the dinner check by tapping it on her chin. William had to chuckle at her for this.
"How do you know it is out of my way? You don't know where I live." William's counter argument was a good one, and it caught her off guard.
"True," She raised her eyebrow assuredly, "but Hinsdale is out of your way. I will take the train."
"No it isn't, I'll give you a ride. I live in Clarendon Hills." William crossed his arms and smiled largely, certain of his victory.
It was not long before Elizabeth gave in. She knew he was correct, the two towns were next to each other, but logic was not the base of her stand.
Following Elizabeth's instructions, William drove through Hinsdale. He noticed that with each passing block, the homes were getting nicer, and the neighborhood more affluent. When he turned right onto her road, he was amazed. Most of the dwellings were older and well restored, with all of the quaintness a person would expect in an upper-middle class neighborhood. Yet, the houses in this area were not intimidating or odious. He had never pictured Elizabeth living in such lovely surroundings.
When he pulled up to her house, he looked at it for a moment. Since it was dark, he could not really inspect it much, but from what he could see it was like it was out of a fairy tale. The house was a large two-story cottage, with a large porch and flowers lining the walkway. She had mentioned that she lived alone, but the house seemed almost too big for just one person.
"Quite nice." He commented before his eyes rested on her. Elizabeth was sound asleep, with her head tilted toward him. She looked so peaceful that he really didn't want to wake her. Today he had met the most impressive, real woman he had ever been introduced to. Other than being vibrant and warm, she also had a frailty she handled with great strength. Elizabeth laughed at him when it was funny, and disagreed when she felt she was right. The fact that a woman like her was unattached was astounding to him.
For several minutes he let the car idle while he watched her sleep. He knew he could easily fall for her, well, in many respects—he already had. But, just for a little while, he did have to restrict himself until her casework was finished. After all, she was a customer of Allied.
When it was time to wake her, he gently touched the side of her face.
"Miss Bennet, it is time to wake up." Elizabeth raised her eyebrows, but fell right back to sleep. She had told him earlier about the insomnia she occasionally experienced. William really wished he could just let her sleep.
"Miss Bennet, if you don't wake up, you will have to spend the night in my car."
Elizabeth slowly opened her eyes and grinned at him.
"Did you turn right on Hanover?" She asked with a sleepy expression.
He smiled back at her. She was very particular in the directions she gave him, telling him every road to take, and what landmarks to look for. "Yes, you are home."
Elizabeth turned her head to look out the window, just to make sure. She was home.
"Thank you for the ride." She sat up and undid her seatbelt.
"You're welcome. I'll pick you up at seven tomorrow morning, and give you a ride back downtown."
"That won't be necessary, I'll just take the train." Elizabeth grabbed her briefcase and opened the door.
"Goodnight. I'll see you tomorrow morning." He would be there in the morning.
"Mr. Darcy, I don't want to make you late for work. I'll just take the train." Elizabeth did not want to be a bother for him for another ride.
"I can't be late for work, so I'll pick you up."
Elizabeth gave him a puzzled look.
"I own Allied, I can be there anytime I want."
"I didn't know that."
"So, will you accept my kind offer? May I please give you a ride to work?" William could not help himself as he started to grin again, showing the most attractive dimples.
"Oh, I suppose." Elizabeth taunted as she closed the door. She stepped away and then turned back around. William rolled the window down.
"Since you own Allied, let me ask you a question." William noticed the 'sparkling eyes'. "What are you doing taking on an assignment for a peon company like Bennet? Really, Mr. Darcy, you should set your goals higher!" With that Elizabeth turned around and headed up her sidewalk. After she unlocked the door, she waved good-bye to him.
Elizabeth had the most wonderful evening with him, and she was truly looking forward to tomorrow morning at seven.
William Darcy was…incredible. He was interesting, intelligent, warm and funny, sexy. He also made her feel like all of the above.
Elizabeth went into her kitchen to unload her medicine bag. As she held the insulin bottle in her hand, she thought back to his reaction in her office. He didn't flinch or get frightened away. He looked at her with concern at first, but not pity. Elizabeth hated pity more than anything else in the world. She did not need or deserve it. She had come too far in life to hear the words 'You poor girl' one more time.
She closed the refrigerator and leaned against it. Oh, William, you sneaky little thing! Elizabeth could attribute his working at Allied as a coincidence, but she had her doubts about his showing up at her office. He was too nervous, and she was too smart. He had to have heard the conversation at lunchtime, and made the necessary arraignments.
Good! I probably would have done the same thing.
Chapter 5
The following morning, William picked her up promptly at seven. She was waiting outside by her mailbox, ready to leave.
"Good morning and thank you for the ride." Elizabeth said as she opened the back door to his car. She had slept very well last night, and her chipperness was a direct result.
"Good morning to you." When he noticed her with her hands full, he came around the car to help her. William had also had a good night's rest.
Elizabeth hung up a lightweight garment bag in the back and slid a guitar case onto the floorboard.
"Are you skipping town tonight?" William asked with mirth in his voice as he held her door open for her.
"Hum…good thought, but no. I'm going to Mario's after work." She buckled her seatbelt and looked at him over her shoulder. "Although, I am a little confused now. Is there a world outside of Chicago? I don't remember anymore. Is it pretty?"
"It sounds like you need a vacation."
"I'll get to that, right after I get a personal life. Until then, I'll just go to work and trudge through the day so I can come back home, and do the whole thing again tomorrow." Elizabeth winked at him.
Does she realize how irresistible she is? William took another long look at her house before he pulled out onto the street.
"Miss Bennet, your home is so unique from the outside. Would you tell me about it?"
Elizabeth smiled. "Sure. I bought the house four years ago. I had been looking for ages before I found it. I was at the point where I almost given up hope of ever finding anything that would suit me—and began to seriously think about settling for less. But, as fate would have it, one day I stumbled upon the owner pounding a For Sale sign into the front yard. I just had this feeling that I had finally found the one. The house was vacant, and I must have spent three hours walking through it, really getting a feel for the place. All of the other homes I had viewed were generic and common, a few were downright tacky, but this place had me intrigued. At first glance, it looked like your average nicer home, but the closer I looked, the more potential I saw. I bought it that day."
William could relate to her tale, it sounded remarkably familiar.
"You said it looked average, but it isn't. Have you done much work to it?"
"Yes, I removed the ugly aluminum siding and returned the outside back to its original wooden shingles, and then had the sidewalk taken out to make way for a stone path. The navy shutters I added last year. The inside has been completely redone room by room except for two of the bedrooms upstairs. I did take my time and carefully thought about it before I started taking out walls and changing floor plans. It was important to me that my house did not feel changed, but natural and comfortable. Now, all of the work and patience has paid off-it is my haven. I'm afraid when the time comes they are going to have to bury me in the backyard." Elizabeth made a face. "I think that might be against the city ordinance, though."
"I believe you are correct. That was a good story with a happy ending. Thank you."
William was in the habit of using his driving time each morning to mentally prepare himself for the day ahead. Elizabeth did the same. She opened her laptop and was silently typing ten minutes after he left her house.
Traffic was beginning to slow on the expressway, then abruptly halted. William turned on the radio to his usual morning station to hear the traffic report. The news was not encouraging. There was roadwork ahead, and the delay time was estimated at thirty minutes.
Upon hearing this, Elizabeth reached into her briefcase and pulled out her cell phone. Without a word, she hooked it up to her computer and sent off her emails.
"Mr. Darcy, do you need to send anything to your office? My modem is on." She asked sweetly. The standstill did not seem to bother her.
William, who had been gripping the steering wheel, turned and looked at her. She was so calm, while he had been busy contemplating the term 'road rage'.
"No, thank you." His voice was a little strained. "I'm sorry, I just don't have any patience with delays. What IDOT is doing starting work during morning rush hour is beyond me. I swear, those," the word he wanted to say wasn't proper for mixed company, "monkeys down there do this to us on purpose."
"I know they do! If it is any consolation, the only reason I'm not hanging my head out of the window and placing a hex on IDOT is because I don't have a meeting until nine." She looked sympathetically at him. An idea came to Elizabeth.
"I think I can help you. Do you like the music of James Taylor?" She reached into her briefcase and pulled out a CD. "It is very relaxing and good for the soul."
"Yes, I do. Which album do you have?"
"Greatest Hits. Would you like me to play it?"
"Please." Maybe this delay would not be as bad as he first thought. "I'm curious, Miss Bennet, what else do you carry around with you in your briefcase? You seem to have a little of everything in there."
"Ancient Chinese secret." Elizabeth opened the jewel case. "Before I put in this therapeutic CD, I must ask a favor. For as long as it is playing, you will not call me Miss Bennet. Call me Elizabeth, or Liz, or Lizzy. I will even settle for Lady, but I think Miss Bennet is too formal when one is listening to James. Do we have a deal?"
William brightened up at her offer. Whenever he thought of her in his mind, he always called her Elizabeth. It would be nice to be able to say it out loud too.
"Deal, but please, put in the CD quickly before I ram the car in front of me out of pure frustration…Elizabeth." She pushed the CD in. "And call me William."
Elizabeth studied him seriously for a moment. Yesterday, she had not noticed how his brown eyes had speckles of green around them, lending them a unique effect when the light hit them just right. They were absolutely gorgeous to look at.
"You look like a William," she said quietly as the sweet strains of an acoustic guitar from the first song filled the car.
There's something in the way she moves,
Or looks my way, or calls my name,
That seems to leave this troubled world behind.
And if I'm feeling down and blue,
Or troubled by some foolish game,
She always seems to make me change my mind.*Something in the way she moves
At eleven-thirty Elizabeth received a package via messenger from Allied. She opened it, and read the handwritten letter on top.
Elizabeth,Enclosed are several drafts drawn up by public relations. I have read them over, and believe they will aid you in dealing with Macy's. You will also find some scripted responses you may want to use when dealing with the questions from reporters.
Legal has diligently begun work on your dispute with Valley. May I suggest that, for the time being, you stall any communication between Bennet and Valley? Jack Wilson will be contacting your legal department later today. You will also be receiving other information from various sources throughout the day.
Elizabeth, after going through your files, I just wanted to let you know that your dilemma is quite fixable. I think we can have you straightened out in no time. Your company is in good shape; I'm not going to let it fall over this.
If you have any questions, leave a message with my secretary. I'll be out of the office all afternoon.
In closing, if I may quote Charlotte:
'You have to eat!'
Have a good lunch.William
Elizabeth allowed herself ten long seconds to gaze at his handwriting before she placed his letter in the top drawer of her desk. The dreamy smile it produced stayed on her lips as she dug into the material he had sent her.
William returned to his office late. He had been called in to relieve tensions between two large grocery store chains that were merging. Rubbing his temples, he recalled some of the conversation that had passed during the long afternoon.
Complete Idiots. They were fighting over color schemes, logos, butcher's outfits, and the layout of coupons. His only reward was that they were going to be billed heavily. They had requested him personally, although anyone in the office could have solved their problems-especially if they had the aid of a big stick.
William began to chuckle to himself, thinking of standing at the end of the conference table with a very large oak limb, swatting anyone whom said something stupid. No, that idea would not have worked, because at one time or another everyone in the room would have deserved a swat.
His laughing made him of Elizabeth, and he searched his desk for his messages. He rummaged through them until he found hers.
Elizabeth Bennet 5:45 p.m.
Thank you for everything.
Lunch was good and Charlotte is happy.
The CD is yours to keep.
"Sweet Elizabeth." He said aloud as he leaned back in his chair. The clock on his desk said 8:50. She was most likely already home. Then he remembered loading her guitar into her beast of a cherry red Suburban. Elizabeth was going to Mario's tonight and she was going to sing.
William drummed his fingers on his desk, debating silently how obvious it would be for him to show up there. He needed a reason, a realistic reason….
Grabbing the phone book, he found what he was looking for and dialed a number.
"Mario's. May I help you?"
"I would like to place a take-out order."
Chapter 6
William waited as the host at Mario's went to get his order. He was not the least bit hungry, which made perfect sense because he had already eaten somewhere else earlier, but it was a good excuse to come tonight.
There were only the swinging doors separating the bar from the waiting area, and he could hear a band playing. He was a little taken back the type of music being played; it was not at all what he expected. Yesterday, when Mario had said his nephew would be performing, he expected some young man beating out nerve-racking noise at a dangerously high decibel level.
Instead, the melody was pleasant and the voices crisp, although definitely lacking a female touch. As the band finished up 'Son of a Son of a Sailor', William moved a couple of steps back and looked through the doors at the stage for Elizabeth. All he beheld were five men of about his age at their instruments. He squinted his eyes to see through the smoke hanging in the room, but there was no Elizabeth anywhere visible. He let out a disappointed sigh and continued to watch the stage. William Darcy, take it easy. His mind warned him. You have only known this woman for two days. Let her be or you will scare her off.
"I can't." He answered himself without realizing it..
How can I let someone like Elizabeth alone? I have never felt a connection to a person like I have with her. Let her go? Not a chance!
The return of the host startled him out of his inner debate.
"Mr. Darcy, it will be a few more minutes. Would you like to wait in the bar?"
William stared at the man while he pondered his next move. He still had not seen Elizabeth, and maybe if he stayed close to the door, he could possibly observe her if she did get up on the stage. He really didn't want her to think he was following her around, even if he was. He knew he had to get a grip on himself, but he was no longer in control of his logic.
A male voice over the microphone ended his musings.
"Thank you. Now we'll bring Elizabeth up to sing for you. Elizabeth?"
The applause and catcalls grabbed William's attention and he stopped staring at the host. His curiosity won out over reason, and he nodded to the man as he took a few steps into the bar. He went to a quiet corner near the entrance and watched as she walked on stage. The other band members vacated the area upon her arrival, leaving behind one man settling a stool in front of a microphone.
In Elizabeth's hand she carried an acoustic guitar and nothing else. This being the first time William had ever seen her out of business attire, he drank in her appearance with bated breath.
Elizabeth had on old blue jeans that hugged her slender figure, a tight low cut squared neck white tee shirt, and suede loafers on her bare feet. Her wrist was adorned with a thin Indian bracelet of some sort, replacing the watch she usually wore.
Elizabeth appeared completely natural to him as if she were in her element, and extremely alluring. Under bulky business suits her shapely figure had been hidden, but as she was now, he could clearly see how beautiful her body was. After she adjusted microphone down to a lower level, and strapped on her guitar, and his greatest expectancy of her was to be fulfilled.
With two slim arms raised up, she took hold of her hair behind her back and freed it from the confining guitar strap. She kept pulling and pulling, until it was all loose. When she let go of her hair, it fell to her waist in a cascade of waves and curls. Slowly, she ran both of her hands her through her locks, putting the strands closest to her face behind her ears. William had no idea Elizabeth had such long and beautiful hair, since he had only way he had ever seen it braided up in a bun.
William had always been a 'hair' man, but Elizabeth's movements as she touched her own hair caused him to take a deep breath and exhale slowly. She was absolutely exquisite.
"Thank you, Tony. Good evening everyone." She smiled out at the crowd, resting her warm eyes somewhere in the center of the room.
Elizabeth began by playing a song by Jewel. She was an admirer of the young woman's songs, and it was the perfect way to begin the evening.
Elizabeth instantly charmed the audience by the unconscious expressions and movements she made as she played. She did not look down at the strings on the guitar as her fingers moved up and down the neck of it. She knew all of the notes by heart. Instead, she put her energy into the words that accompanied the melody.
Elizabeth put special emphasis on the line "it just makes me want to make you near me always" by leaning closer to the microphone and singing with her eyes closed. This was not a deliberate act, since she did not know he was in the room. It happened simply because she had never felt as instantly attracted to man as she did William, and it was coming out in her song. Elizabeth already adored the man she had only known for such a short time, even if it did go against her reason. She knew there was no such thing as love at first sight, but…
Near You Always
Please don't say I love you,
those words touch me much too deeply
and they make my core tremble
don't think you realize the effect you have over meAnd please don't look at me like that
it just makes me want to make you near me… alwaysPlease don't kiss me so sweet
it makes me crave a thousand kisses to follow
and please don't touch me like that
it makes ever other embrace seem pale and shallowPlease don't come so close
it just makes me want to make you near me always…
William did not take his eyes off of her during the entire song. Her rich alto voice seeped into every sense he had. While she had been singing, the host brought him his food. He grudgingly paid him with an unknown bill, which must have been enough because the man left. When his change was brought back, he shoved it into his pocket, annoyed about the interruption it caused. He wanted to give his full attention to Elizabeth.
I want to be near you always
I want to be near you always
As she held the last note of the song, she had the sensation of eyes being on her that were watching her intently. She tilted her head in the direction of the bar, and spied William. She felt what could only be described as goosebumps as her gaze locked with his. Even at the distance they were apart, she could feel the warmth emanating from him. Elizabeth gave him a little wave with her fingers as she returned his smile.
William snapped out of his trance quickly, and lifted his take out bag to let her know he came for some food. She raised her eyebrows at him, and waved good-bye. When the applause started, he grinned at her, and turned to leave.
Safely through the swinging doors, he leaned against the wall, wanting to listen to her a little more. If only he had not been working with her, and if he did not have to bill her when it was over, he would have stayed. But, until her case was finished, he knew he had to wait; even he really didn't want to.
William had already been exposed enough to her to know Elizabeth was special and he wanted her desperately. She had excited him already with her entire personality, but now that he had heard her voice, and seen her real splendor, he was completely smitten. Women like that don't come around every day and by God, he could not let this one get away from him.
"Thank you," He heard her say into the microphone.
Mario walked into the waiting area and saw William leaning against the wall. He looked at the bag in William's hand and the grin on his face, listened to the applause coming from the bar, and put the entire situation together.
Mario was around last night when they had been enjoying themselves at her booth, and being a romantic at heart, he gave William a break.
"Come with me, Mr. Darcy." He said as he lead him to his usual dining room. It was empty, and quiet. Mario pointed to the first booth, and went over to a control on the wall. He turned it on, and informed William he was going to send him some silverware.
William sat down without protest and listened contentedly to her voice. Mario had turned on the sound system in the room.
While she was singing her third song, Johnny the waiter (who had been working a lot of hours lately!) stopped by to see if William needed anything.
"No, I'm almost finished." He had taken a few bites, but could swallow no more.
Johnny started to leave, when William changed his mind.
"Wait, there is something." He took a pen out of his coat and began to write on the paper sack his food came in. He tore the message out and folded it. William handed it to the young man, then reached into his pocket and pulled out the change from his dinner.
"Could you give the message to the woman singing?" He handed Johnny the contents of his hand.
"Elizabeth? Sure." Johnny headed off the bar, happy to oblige. It wasn't often he received a twelve dollar tip for doing almost nothing. When he reached the stage, he waited until Elizabeth finished her song before he handed her the paper and left.
The message was short and simple.
Lovely voice.
Would you happen to know any James Taylor?
There was no signature, but Elizabeth recognized the author's handwriting. It was his. She searched the room, but could not find William. With the softest smile on her face, she began to strum out one of her favorite James Taylor melodies-Sweet Baby James.
There is a young cowboy,
Who lives on the range.
His horse and his saddle,
Are his only companion.
After the song was over William went home.
The following two weeks passed quickly. With Allied's help, Bennet was able to keep the Macy's account, appease the State, and was once again in contact with Valley. For Elizabeth, it felt like all of the pieces of the puzzle were fitting together.
William could not deny that Bennet's case was one of the easier his firm was working on. In reality, had it been anyone other than Elizabeth, he would have handed it off to one of his less experienced case managers. Yet, he treated it with the same amount of importance as any other. Well, that is not entirely accurate. He treated it better.
He and Elizabeth had almost daily contact with each other during the weekdays. The three dinner meetings they shared were quite similar in design. The first ten-twenty minutes were devoted to business, leaving the remaining time for comfortable and enjoyable conversation.
They would laugh and share stories while sitting across from each other, both quite aware that the pretense of a business meeting was a false one. It was almost like they were going on a date while staying within the strict confines of business etiquette. The illusion worked for them, and since they both relished their intimate time together so much. Neither Elizabeth or William questioned their motives, they were just both happy to spend time with each other.
To his credit, William did avoid lunch at Mario's during this time. They were both presently experiencing a heavy workload, and the idea of a midday meeting would have distracted them from their work.
Valley's reluctance to reimburse Bennet's expenses for replacing their faulty product was the only issue left to clear up, and on Friday of the second full week, an offer was made. William called Elizabeth to inform her of the latest development, but she had already gone home for the weekend. Disappointed, he packed the paperwork in his briefcase to take home with him.
They were so close to being free of the constraints that bound them, and he was now struggling to control his desire to rush her case to a finish. As soon as an offer was accepted by Bennet, he would ask her out to celebrate.
William had already planned where he would offer to take her; it was the perfect place. The restaurant was quiet and almost entirely lit by candles—definitely reflective of his state of mind. He would ask her to dance to one of the soft melodies played by the piano player and finally, after two long weeks, get to hold her against him. Where the evening would end, he could only ponder and at this point did not care, but one thing he was sure of was that could not be as intense as the dream he had last night.