She'd had him at "Hello, hello". She'd had him again when she marched through the doors of the Sheffield mansion like she'd owned the place, not even caring that it was only her first day working for Maxwell.
She saw him, Niles, and without missing a beat, criticized him, flipping her long brunette hair over her shoulder.
"So, I'm guessing you're Niles. The new butler."
Those were her first words to him. The very same words that he knew better than the back of his hand. He quickly groped for the words to form a snarky comment, but was taken aback by her confidence.
I have no chance, he thought. Luckily, he was able to shake himself out of his trance in a nanosecond, and fired a zinger back at her.
"Yes I am." he replied smoothly, "But you might have the wrong address, Miss, you see, Halloween was six months ago."
She narrowed her eyes at him, a little surprised at his smooth British accent, but her eyes shot daggers at him all the same.
Niles flashed his boyish grin at her, blue eyes shining. He was completely drawn to this person that had walked out of her penthouse and into his heart all of two minutes ago. Yeah. Right into his heart. He had a crush on CC Babcock.
4 YEARS LATER
CC, along with Sarah Sheffield sat in Sarah's BMW, which Sarah insisted on driving. The vehicle was full of the result of a full day of shopping pursued by two wealthy women, half of which were being transported to CC's penthouse for deposit.
"I had so much fun today," Sarah said, switching lanes. "We haven't had ANY Sarah-CC bonding time in, well....since Grace really."
"Yeah, I enjoyed it." CC replied, staring at her reflection in the side mirror. She toyed with the ends of the brown hair she still had. "Hey, the pickup truck is trying to cut in front of you," she motioned to the blue truck in the lane to their right, which was flashing the left blinker.
"Thanks." Sarah answered, slowing down as to allow the truck to merge in front of the BMW. But, by that time, the other driver had switched his turn signal off.
"I guess he changed his mind." CC mused, easing herself back into her seat, trying to shake the feeling of unease that had crept up on her suddenly.
Sarah drove on, still parallel to the the truck that seemed to be trying to keep their exact pace.
"Sarah......I don't like being that close to that guy. It makes me feel a little uneasy."
"I know what you mean, but there's nothing I can do. There's traffic everywhere."
It all happened in the blink of an eye.
The driver of the truck yanked hard on his wheel, sending the truck veering in Sarah and CC's direction.
CC screamed.
"SAAAARRRAAAHHH!"
Sarah cursed at the traffic in front and behind them, and was only able to swerve onto the empty sidewalk, hoping for a sanctuary.
The truck clipped the right of the BMW, sending it sliding into a lamppost. The light embedded itself into Sarah's door. The sound of crunching metal rang in CC's ears, but the smashed glass of the windshield cutting her skin was the least of her troubles.
Sarah moaned, squished underneath her airbag, the crushed door, and her chair. CC struggled to reach her, and while she fumbled with her seatbelt, sirens could be heard in the distance.
"Sarah." she whispered, reaching a bruised arm out to her best friend. Her only friend.
No reply escaped Sarah's lips.
"SARAH!" CC nudged her harder, calling louder.
Sarah's head lolled to the side, and she let out a shudder. Small gasps sounded from her mouth. They eventually slowed, and CC could see the paramedics rushing toward them.
Sarah's heart beat once, twice, and then.....nothing.
