To those who have read my story, thank you. It is my first fanfiction...ever so thank you. Really. That being said:

B1 and B2 came from an Australian Children's TV show, so it is quite a common phrase here.

I promise that there will be an essence of Pride and Prejudice.

I will try to update as soon as I can, but there can be no guarantees because my life is pretty much full right now SOOO there might be more chapters on weekends (AUS weekends) than weekdays.

Please enjoy reading

Disclaimer: I do not think that I am Jane Austen, unless I am having a really out of body experience that has transported me decades to the seat that I am sitting in now.


THREE - Fluffy Bunny Slippers

It hurt. Really it did. But that didn't stop the world from moving. Ever.

Like the time after my mother, I began acting differently. People started acting differently. I hardly ate, I hardly spoke and I would hardly look anyone in the eye. But I woke up. That in itself was a difficult feat for me. I woke up, stood up and faced the world.

Seeing my father, for years, running his business, I understood how his company worked. So, two days after his death, I wasn't surprised to hear that my father passed his company to me. His lawyer – a relative of my father – knocked on my door one rainy day and told me that I was to run a company, but under the guidance of a Mr and Mrs Gardiner.

Mr Gardiner, Thomas, was a man approaching fifty and thirty years ago, he graduated from Harvard Business School with an MBA. I love that man. I truly do, because he is like an uncle I never had. He, and Mrs Gardiner, Jennifer, came into my life when my father saved his life 15 years ago. Ironically painful, my father pulled him out of a car crash, paid for his medical expenses and employed him. Mr Gardiner, offered to serve as a butler and that he would not take no for an answer (so, technically, that wasn't an offer; it was more of a demand). My father accepted. And they were there since I was one.

I did not hesitate to say yes to the lawyer. I did however have a couple conditions:

It would not be known public that a sixteen year old would be running the company

I would only work before or after school hours

No one is to contradict me.

With that, the lawyer added these conditions to the contract and went off on his merry way and I started to cry.

These outbursts of tears are not something irregular for me. It was just this time that made it worse because I inherited a large company that had acquired thousands of employees and their life, and the life of their family, depends on me. I cried because my father left me something, even if he left me.

People usually assume that teenaged aren't smart, that they can't make right decisions and that they are too reckless. I think otherwise. It is the adults that are to ready to jump into decisions.

Therefore, after close analysis of my situation, I talked to the Gardiners.

"I want to move."

Mr and Mrs Gardiner looked at me, shock and confusion on their faces.

"Are you sure, honey? It may be a little difficult for you," said Mrs Gardiner.

"If you think that is best, of course. But think of the company. You haven't even started running it, Eli," replied Mr Gardiner. I cringed, remembering the nickname. I no longer wanted to be called that, not when it was my mother and my father who gave it to me.

"No. I have thought this through. I want to move to Australia. It is far away; enough to know that I won't have memories there. And I am sure, Mrs Gardiner. As for the company, I know that we have different offices around America, Australia even. That is why I'm going to run it from there. One more thing, Thomas, please do not call me Eli anymore. It is Elizabeth." I know I sounded rude as it was my first time talking in that tone, but it hurt, really it did. It was like that odd sensation when you are driving and the car is going up a hill and then it drives on flat land. If you fast enough, you have the weird feeling in your stomach, like it is all mucked up. I felt like that when "Eli" was called out, but not out of glee, it was out of discomfort.

Now Thomas had a smile on his face, understanding, and Jennifer was staring at me with those eyes that I see every morning. Eyes that are filled with love and respect for my family, but those that were about to cry, tears just about to fall. I knew I won my case. I'm going to move to Australia – Melbourne, Australia to be more specific. I will run his...my company there and I will attend school. Just like before everything happened; but with a company and hurt on my shoulders.


The next morning, I got out of bed, put on my fluffy slippers and went downstairs; only to be greeted by that lawyer.

"I hear, Miss Bennet, that we have some things to discuss." He led me to my father's office, took the seat in front of the desk and waited until I sat in that massive chair I have always seen my father sitting in.

I sat down, smelled the armchair with nostalgia and looked at the lawyer. He did not say anything when he noticed that I was about to cry, instead he pulled out papers for me to sign to make my move official. You see, he was in charge of finding me a house, enrolling me in school and organising the company for my arrival.

"Ma'am, since the schools in Australia start at the start of the year, we had a little bit of trouble getting you in some schools. However, one school accepted you under the terms that you will have to get a tutor before second semester starts and catch up on work there. A list of subjects is in this file, as well as the forms we filled in, the papers we have sent and information on the school. We picked this because it was small and quiet, just like how you wanted it. The company is all set for your arrival. We have managed to install a new elevator that connects straight to the President's office with access to it in the underground car park. There is, however, a lobby just outside your office that would situate a secretary, or two, and elevators which other staff use. You elevator has a code, so no one would be able to access it but you and those you tell. Also, the house is small, yet somewhat large, allowing you to be inconspicuous about your wealth. Since you have a double citizenship with Australia and America, no paper work over citizenship is needed."

"Thank you. Your work is greatly appreciated. I know my father trusted you, so I would like to put you in charge of dealing with the American offices and sending me daily reports on their status."

"Yes, Miss. Would you like me to find people to book you your flight?"

"No, I will do that myself. Thomas and Jennifer are coming with me. I just need this house to be packed away. Another thought, can you furnish the house that you bought in Australia? I don't really know how to. "

"Of course. I can have it done for you in a couple of weeks."

"Since I was planning to go in a week, I guess I need to book hotel accommodation as well."

"Miss, I recommend that you book here," he hands me a card, "we have great associations with them and would be willing to give you a suite anytime."

"I am greatly thankful. I don't know what I would do without you right now."

"Miss, that is only because you are a great person, your father as well. I know he would have been proud." He gave me a shy smile, one that was filled with sympathy and hope for me.


A few hours later on, on that Monday, I called the hotel that the lawyer gave me. Pemberly Hotel. Hmm. Sounds nice.

A nasal and strong accented voice said into the line, "Hello. This is Mary of Pemberly Hotel speaking, how may I help you?"

"I would like to book a suite for three weeks."

"Yes, of course, Miss, which room would you like?"

"I would like a 2 bedroom suite please." I have done my homework and though they do offer a penthouse and other luxurious suites, I need something mundane.

"Of course, what name would it be under?"

"Elizabeth Bennet."

"Bennet? Oh. Please hold."

I sat there patiently, waiting for Mary's voice to come on again, but, on the other end of the line, I was greeted with a man's voice.

"Miss, I am Craig, and as your father was a loyal customer, we will give you the suite he had bought a couple of months ago. His lawyer called two hours ago mentioning that you would be booking. What date would you be arriving?"

"25th of May, is the date. Three days from now." I was surprised to hear that Father had bought a suite there.

"Would you like us to assist you in getting to Pemberly Hotel?"

"Yes, please."

"Of course, we would give you the Bentley, Miss, but our owner is using the last one. Can we give you the Mercedes?"

"Craig, I would appreciate it if you were to give me any sort of vehicle, but never a Bentley."

"Oh." A pause. "Anything you say. Thank you, Miss Elizabeth. We will wait for your arrival and we will see you soon."

"Thank you, Craig, and please pass on my thanks to Mary." Click. That was beyond astonishing. I did not know that Father had bought something like that. I am thankful to him though. It made it easier.


After booking flights for Australia, Thomas, Jennifer and I started packing our things. It filled 10 suitcases; one of them was full of photographs and memories of my father and my mother.


25th May

At 10.00 am, I arrived at the airport, flanked with Mr and Mrs Gardiner. Two hours later, I left my life in New York and headed for Melbourne, Australia. I left the bodies of my mother and my father, but I did keep them in my heart. Little did I know that soon enough, they would not be the only ones occupying it.