Hello, hello!
Here I give you the chapter number four of this, my continuation of the episode "Dummy Twins"! I had a lot of fun writing Niles' letter and I hope you enjoy reading it. Do not forget to leave a review… I love them!
Without wax,
Laura.
Author's Note: The only thing that belongs to me is my pathetic imagination. I just borrowed the characters to have some fun for a little while. The part of Niles' letter was inspired by the song "Tu Carcel" by Los Enanitos Verdes. [You should really listen to it, it's very touching and it just screams "Niles & CC".] And if you read this Donna [DannyFan66] I hope you don't mind that I used the same name you gave Niles in your stories.
Only half an hour had elapsed since Niles left the Sheffield mansion in route to his new destination when Maxwell and Fran heard someone open the front door of the house. Excited, thinking that maybe their friend had decided to stay, both went quickly to the front of the house. However, when they arrived they didn't met the former butler, they came face to face with Miss Babcock.
Fran, as soon as she saw the blonde, transformed her face showing a look of pure hatred. Fran was usually sweet with everyone and always tried to be friendly, but that did not applied to the case of CC Babcock. Because of the witch her best friend had left home, perhaps forever. At last she understood why people felt such antipathy towards her ... her title of "The Bitch of Broadway" was well deserved. Fran decided to turned and quickly headed for the kitchen.
In his case, although he was a little annoyed and mad with her for what had happened with Niles, Maxwell believed that both of them were guilty and was unwilling to join either side. The problem was Niles' and CC's, not his.
The deadly look that Fran throw her way before leaving did not went unnoticed by CC, but she did nothing about it… she just looked down to the ground with shame. She knew that she deserved the hatred of the former nanny and, even, of the whole humanity. She was really an horrible woman for treating Niles the way she did.
CC felt horrible. That feeling of guilt that resided inside of her at that time was tremendous. Although nobody believed it, she too has been hurt. CC Babcock could be cold, selfish, a complete witch, but was still a human being and deep inside her, perhaps to a depth almost unattainable, she had feelings.
When she was sure that Fran had left the room, she raised her head to look at Maxwell. He was standing before her with a pained expression on his face, which only helped to make CC feel more guilty.
Maxwell realized that, despite appearing to be fine, in CC's eyes he could see the pain and sadness she really felt. With a few steps he slowly approached her saying "CC, why don't we go to the office for a chat."
Unable to speak for the moment, CC only nodded and followed Max to the office. Once there, Maxwell went to his chair in front of the desk while CC, instead of taking her place in the green seat, stood before him.
Max, once seated, looked at CC again. "Why don't you take a seat CC?" He said pointing to the green chair.
"I don't think it's really a good idea Maxwell, I do not mean to stay long. I came just to hand in my resignation and then I'll leave. " She said with her face down, gazing at the floor. It was rare to see CC so shy and reserved. Of the business duo she was the most outgoing, who was always ready to face new challenges and always managed to get what she wanted.
Maxwell gazed at her again. Sighing, he lowered his head a little and rubbed his temples. "CC, I understand that what happened last night was ... Difficult, terrible. But there is no reason why you should resign. You have been nothing but an excellent partner in Sheffield-Babcock Productions. Surely we can reach an agreement and get you to stay in business. "
CC lift her head to look at Max. She felt how the tears were beginning to form in her eyes, but she put a straight face. She had to maintain a stable pose, worthy of a Babcock. After all, her mother had told her a million times: Babcocks didn't cry.
"Sorry Maxwell, but I got to go. Yesterday I realized that I've always stayed too long at the fair. It's time to go my own way, move forward. " And with that she took out an envelope from her purse and handed it to Maxwell. "This is my letter of resignation. Now I must go. " Her voice cracked a little causing that what she said next was nothing more than a whisper: " I'm sorry for everything that happened Maxwell. "
Max accepted the letter and placed it on the desktop. In just a few hours his two employees had resigned, and both looked destroyed. It was heartbreaking to see them like that. But of course, it was his duty to maintain a serene face and try to hand this situation as best as he could.
"I very much regret not being able to convince you to stay with us, CC. The business will never be the same without you... and I'll miss you for sure. Not only you were my business partner, but you were also a very good friend. I hope you know that CC. "
CC had never heard Max being so cordial and kind to her. He never treated her as nothing but a coworker. Listening to him speak those words made the barrier she had created to maintain her composure in front of him collapsed, and she couldn't help the tears that began falling down her cheeks.
The tears took Maxwell by surprise. He have never seen CC cry. He got up from his chair, took a handkerchief from his pocket and offered it to CC. She hesitantly accepted it and wiped her tears with it. Once she dried her tears she was going to return the handkerchief to Max, but with a gesture of his hands he told her to keep it.
"Thanks Max, and I apologize again but I really must go." She turned and was making her way to the door, when Maxwell's hand on her shoulder stopped her. She gently turned toward him once again, her gaze questioning him why he was stopping her.
"Before you go CC, Niles ..." He paused for a moment noticing the sudden look of pain that crossed the face of his now ex-partner. However, he decided to continue. "... Niles, asked me to deliver this to you when I saw you." He took the envelope from his jacket pocket and handed it to CC, just like he had promised Niles he would do.
CC looked puzzled, and carefully picked up the envelope that she was being delivered. She looked at Max, who answered the question that was not expressed aloud.
"I do not know what it is about, I have not read it nor do I intend to. He asked me to deliver it directly to you, and that's what I did. You can read it here if you wish. I will go to the kitchen to check on Fran." And with that he left the office leaving CC alone to have some privacy while she read the letter.
CC went to the green chair and sat down, frightened by what the letter might contain. But decided to end the whole affair as quickly as possible and carefully opened the letter.
As she began to read Niles's neat handwriting she could not help the tears that spilled freely down her cheeks.
The letter read:
Dear CC,
It sounds so weird addressing you by your first name, not your last as I have been doing in the last fifteen or twenty years. If you're reading this letter, it means that I have already left the mansion.
First of all I want to apologize for the awkward situation that I placed you in last night. It went wrong on my part proposing marriage to you when we don't even have a relationship of cordiality. I do not know what came over me ... well, I do know. I'm in love with you CC, and I can not hide it anymore even if you don't wish to hear it. I'm tired of denying it, not only to others but to myself. During all these years we have traded insults and played jokes and pranks on each other, sometimes we even got to be very cruel. But all of this was a farce, a charade, a way to hide my true feelings.
But after last night I realized that, obviously, you do not feel the same towards me. And because of this I decided to leave. I can not stay in this house, having to see you every day knowing that you'll never be mine. Seeing you leave to your dates with these men, the possible candidates to become the future Mr. Babcock, as envy corrodes me. Above all, I can not continue with this humiliation I feel. I can't anymore... I give up.
I love you CC Babcock, more than you can imagine. But you only see me as a mere servant, not a man with feelings. Your vanity wont let you understand that in poverty you can love too. It kills me knowing that you think like that. My heart breaks. I just want to cry, mourn, to disappear from this planet and never see the light of day again.
Nevertheless, now that I'm left without you it hurts me more all that you are going to suffer. Not what will happen to me, it hurts me what you will go through. CC, remember, nobody is perfect in this world. Even if someone is beautiful, and have a bank account that surpasses the eight digits, that person is still a human being. I'm sure you'll have thousands of better things without me, but all materials. You will never find a love more sincere, honest and true than this that I feel for you. But what happened ... happened. You'll have to forget about me, in the same way that I must forget you and all the things I left behind. Surely you will find many adventures my dear, but you will realize that this world you believe is so perfect, so adventurous and with so much better things, will become your prison in where you'll get trapped... and you won't be able to escape.
Anyhow, I wish you the best luck in the world... my love. I love you and I hope you find that which you're looking for since my love was not enough for you. I hope we meet again someday. I Love You CC, and I'll never stop doing so.
Your eternal and faithful servant,
Niles A. Brightmore.
When she finished reading the letter, CC was kneeling on the floor sobbing hysterically. She have never cried so much in her life. She wanted to die, get rid of the pain so intense she felt in her heart.
"What have I done? I've been so stupid!" She said to herself. Niles was the best thing that ever happened in her life… and she let it escape.
"Because you're a damn coward CC Babcock!" Her conscience answered her. "That man loves you, adores you, and he wanted nothing more than spend the rest of his life proving it. But you and your fucking cowardice have made him leave you forever! "
"But what could I do? He is... just a servant. Babcocks and servants do not mix." CC responded to her conscience.
"Ha! Don't make me laugh! CC, tell me something… Do that really matters? Do his job affect your feeling for him? Do you really give a shit what your mother or your relatives think of you? You know that's just a cheap excuse CC. You've never cared of what your mother says or thinks... why not accept once and for all that you love that butler? "
"Lo... love him, you say? No... No, that's not pos... possible... Is it? " Then CC realized that her conscience was right. It was unbelievable, but she loved Niles. She was never happier than when she was with him. The insults and pranks made her feel more alive than anything. She did not felt more secure than in his arms, when they danced together in one of those rare occasions they went out as dates. The kiss of a couple of years ago in the living room of the mansion had been something explosive. She swear she could almost saw the fireworks! She had never felt like this with anyone. "Yes ... I love him." She accepted at last, and didn't really cared if Niles was a servant or if he was a lawyer. She simply didn't cared about anything anymore.
With that she stood up. She ran from the office to the kitchen looking for Maxwell.
When the kitchen door burst open so suddenly Max almost had a heart attack and Fran almost went into premature labor.
"CC! For the love of God, what the bloody hell is wrong with you?! " Asked a startled Maxwell.
"Where is Niles?" She asked, almost shouting.
"What? Why do you want to know? " Fran asked with a cold voice that surprised Max.
"Look Nan... Fran. I know you hate me right now and you just want to annihilate me. Believe me, I don't blame you and I feel the same way. But please, I need to find Niles right now! I must tell him that I love him! " She shout the last part, and was surprised with the ease that the words left her mouth.
It goes without saying that Max and Fran were amazed. Actually, stunned, stupefied are words that fit more with how they were at that moment.
Fran was the first to get out of their state of shock. A smile formed on her lips... Although she still had her doubts about CC and did not believe her completely, she could not help feeling happy thinking that maybe, after all, things would turn out good and Niles would stay with them.
"He left more or less an hour ago. He was on his way to the airport, but he didn't tell us where he was going to travel. You can take the town car so to not waste time waiting for a taxi. " With that she hasten to stand before CC could leave. "Listen Mi... CC. If this is a joke and you hurt Niles more than he already is... I swear I'll kill you. " She said this with a seriousness so profound and a look so pervasive that CC did not doubt she was telling the true. She handed the keys to CC and sat down again beside her husband. Max sat with his mouth still open, unable to believe anything that was happening.
"Don't worry Fran, I'll kill my self if I dared to cause Niles more pain." And with that she hurried through the back door of the kitchen and ran to the garage. She got in the car and drove off to the airport like a maniac, praying to God and to any deity in heaven that they let her arrived before Niles left the country.