CHAPTER 1: A LIGHT CONVERSATION

'Where's Dust Buster?'

CC was in the kitchen, a cup in her hand, ready to demand coffee, most-abusive mode ON, just to pick on the butler and have a little banter. The day was boring – thank God she knew exactly where to seek some fun.

To her chagrin, he was not there. And, of course, Nanny Fine was, doing nothing useful while reading a cheap magazine.

'Ma is coming, miss Babcock', the Nanny informed, without taking her eyes off the reading.

'It means he went to the grocery to buy tons of food'.

'Yep'.

'Oh, for God's sake!'

'What?', now she had the attention of the Jewish woman.

'I just need some coffee, Nanny Fine. People around here work! And God knows sometimes we need someone to take care of our needs'.

Fran gave a deep sigh and her hand made a dismissive gesture in the air. 'You tell me about it. Mr Sheffield is driving me nuts'.

CC seated besides Fran, deep in thought. 'Do you think he will come soon?'

'Sometimes I think he will never', Fran sighed.

'Oh, please, Nanny Fine. How much time even a decrepit man must take to buy groceries?'

'Uhm? Oh, you're talking about Niles. I don't know, Miss Babcock. Why don't you make your own coffee, if you need it so much?'

CC looked at the coffee-maker, knowing the coffee was just an excuse. She would never say the exact words, but she could make something very close. 'Because sometimes there's no fun in doing it by yourself', she declared, with a smirk.

Fran let out a laugh (what made CC wince and regret the joke for a while). 'Oh, I see'. Fran was serious in a beat, 'You're not expecting me to…'

CC rolled her eyes, smiling, 'Don't worry, Nanny Fine. You're very far from my type'.

'Oh, thank God!', and she was laughing again.

CC noticed she was smiling at that. The Nanny was really funny, she had to admit. Sometimes, in an annoying way, and sometimes, in an almost tender way. CC always favored the witty humor, but she had learned not just how to survive these experiences with the crazy woman, but even doing it and having real fun.

Fran stopped laughing and closed the magazine. 'Oh, now I remember. I must discuss something with Mr Sheffield'.

Both women were up, now. 'I'll go to the office, too. I can come here later to annoy Butler Boy'.

They started walking together. Fran was smiling. CC went curious. 'What's that for, Nanny Fine?'

'I was just thinking…'

'That's already a great thing'.

'Humpf. I was going to say you work very well together'.

'Who? Me and Maxwell?'

'This too, but I meant you and Niles. The way you deal with both of them… Because, well, the guys are very different from each other… With Mr Sheffield, you do it working; with Niles, while… well… having fun'.

They arrived at the office. Fran went to her usual place – the corner of Mr Sheffield desk – and CC sit on the green leather sofa, a bit shocked by what Fran had said.

That woman was an annoying crazy slut, but she had powerful insights about people; her commentary, made as if it was just some passing thought, was one of the most shocking, surprising and – well, whatever – thing CC had heard about herself.

She started to analyze the situation, and she soon agreed: Maxwell was all about work. Even when she thought of him as her husband, the things she could imagine about them almost always involved the smashing success of their partnership: she, clad in beautiful long dresses, smiling at a bakers party, and he by her side, being charming and handsome, as always. They could be so perfect for this work group thing! They were great partners, with the right amount of charm and persuasion – coming from him – and the right amount of power and intimidation – coming from her.

Niles would say The Beauty and the Beast.

Of course, she had other fantasies with Maxwell. All of them involved them in places like… their room. She could never imagine the oh-so-proper Max getting horny with her in any other place. Maybe a cabin at the mountains, or a room in an expensive hotel on a beach… Well, Maxwell and horny in the same phrase was surprising enough for a day. Mr-Tuesday's-tie.

Suddenly, CC was thinking about Niles. Was he to her… fun?

Oh, yes, he was. Not in the beginning, of course – when he started insulting her, she thought it was just strange. It was like he was toying with her. It was disconcerting, but light; almost a greeting. Sarah noticed, and she used to say he was 'at it again', and smile, when he started throwing the comments.

Then, Sarah died. Maxwell was alone and depressed. The children were lost, and running to Niles for help. CC thought the business would be lost if she didn't do anything. So, she started to make Maxwell get back to life through work; it was ok – not exactly perfect, but ok.

Why not try something else? Something to really bring the millionaire back? That's why she begun the flirting. Maxwell was perfect husband material for her; she loved Sarah and would never have another person replacing her and risking her memory. The only available option was herself.

The children had some kind of routine going on, thanks to Niles, and the butler was back to the office, to observe her and Maxwell. And he didn't like what he saw.

He showed that by starting the mean pranks and the 'bitch' jokes.

It was getting really bad, by the time Nanny Fine arrived. At that point, CC could see Maxwell was not even listening to her, and Niles was overreacting by her behavior. She found that behavior very, very strange, but never faced the subject.

Now, after three years of Jewish mode at the mansion, things are very different: the children are happy, Maxwell is all eyes and ears to the woman, and she, CC, is feeling free to try something new, once her partner was in no need of her attention anymore – and she could not see him as an interesting aim anymore, once he seemed to enjoy a woman with the profile of the likes of Fran Fine.

So, she had decided to take a turn in her relationship with the butler. What if she answered back to the zingers? What if she showed him that she liked the insults – but the way they were in the beginning, not the hurtful thing they had at the last years?

She began answering back; she began her little pranks and zingers.

When she noticed, he was smiling at her; he seemed to love the Dust Mop and the Butler Boy thing.

So, Nanny Fine was right: Niles was for fun. Not fun as when you laugh at someone; fun as when you laugh with someone. They had something very good going on, something mingled with teasing – something she craved for.

CC felt her eyes water. She felt at home. She had a very caring man as her business partner; a funny woman that would be happy to be her friend, if one day she decided to accept it; three kids always involved in interesting situations, putting her in contact with some things she never had as a teenager; and a very witty man that was maybe the most amazing part of her day, always ready to make her laugh or put her in her place, when it was needed.

And she knew that sometimes it was much needed.

CC got up and excused herself. She went straight in the powder room, in order to take a breath and recollect herself. Thinking about her feelings were never easy to her.