Chapter 1
"But....." Silence. "I know but she....." (Sigh) "Alright, alright, I'll.....(sigh) I'll bring her. I promise." As soon as Niles put down the phone, Fran walked in.
"Heya, Niles. What was that all about?" Fran asked, looking concerned at the look on Niles' face.
He sighs. "I've just agreed to bring my 'girlfriend' to a reunion with old friends I need to impress."
"Whadya mean?" Fran asked.
Niles turned to her. "Miss Fine, just now on the phone was my old friend, Jerry. Jerry and I used to be in this sort of 'band' I suppose you would call it, with 3 other guys." He paused while she listened.
"Okay....."
"Well, I left the band about half way through, just when they were starting to become 'steady'. I didn't really want to, but it was wearing me out! I could hardly stay awake, so finally, Mrs. Sheffield convinced me to quit. The guys were all really upset with me, and cursed me up and down. Eventually, they all moved to Illinois to see if they could catch a break in a small town, then move up the ladder. Then, they forgave me for leaving, and we've stayed in touch ever since." He explained.
"So, what's ya problem?"
"The guys have always teased me about being a butler, and about how I'll never meet a woman, and on, and on. I can't show up without this so called 'girlfriend.' because 1. It would make me look bad. and 2. I've kinda talked her up a lot, and 3. All 4 of the guys are married with kids."
"Oh.... Well, how'dya describe ya girlfriend?"
Niles smiled sheepishly. "I said she was tall, blonde, and beautiful."
Luckily, the coincidence went unknown by Fran."Hm..... Then sorry, Niles, but I can't help you." And she left the room.
Before Niles even had time to blink, the back door opened, and he heard. "Hello, hello."
"Miss Babcock........" Niles said, sliding down the counter over to her.
"What do you want, Butler Boy?" She eyed him suspiciously.
"I'll give you 250 dollars to ride 12 hours with me in a rent-a-car and pretend to be my girlfriend who is completely in love with me even though I am a butler."
She laughed. "250?"
"Um..... Okay, I'll owe you....."
She sighed. "You'll owe me big."
"I'll owe you big."
"You'll owe me big, and no names, jokes, or pranks for a month."
"I'll owe you big, no names for a week, no pranks for a month, but jokes are completely allowed." He tried.
"You'll owe me big, no names for a week, no pranks for only two, but no jokes for three."
"Fine. But nothing starts until 24 hours after we return."
"Fine. But, I still get the 250."
"225."
"230."
"227, final offer."
"Deal."
And that's when CC Babcock made the deal that would change her life forever.