Lizzy grumbled rapped her nails impatiently against the granite counter as she waited impatiently for her coffees. She rubbed the back of her neck, trying to relieve the tension in her body. She felt on the edge. Several times on the short journey from their apartment to the cozy little café two blocks away, she had become aware of a speculative silence that was she was greeted with by random passersby. She glanced down at her appearance quickly. Satisfied that she appeared decent at least, she turned to scowl heavily at the woman sitting at the window peeking at her over the top of her papers. She stretched and yawned widely. Muttering darkly about the incompetence of the staff, she wandered over to the magazine racks. She reached to pick up the latest copy of Cosmopolitan (she was rather proud of a spread featuring herself in a white dress in it) before she froze. She blinked rapidly. And again. She rubbed her eyes ferociously. Oh God, please let me wake up. She dared a look from between her lashes. Oh no. She snatched the newspaper up. Sweat began to gather on her forehead. A prickling sense of dread filled her. She looked slowly again at the front page of the paper the woman in the window held. And back at the trashy print in her hands.
"National Heartthrob Will Darcy Falls in Love (continued on page 7)"
She rifled manically to page 7. She swallowed loudly. I'm screwed, she thought, her fingers boring holes into the article.
Taking up the majority of the two page spread was a snapshot of a brunette in a red dress wrapped around a tall, handsome man, their lips pressed together. She flipped over the page quickly. Fuck.
A picture of the same brunette leaving the shiny foyer of a swanky apartment block, scowling into the morning sunlight, shamefully wearing last night's dress.
Oh crap.
"She's late," Will snapped, glaring at the sandy haired man from the night before. Mike shrugged lazily, appearing calm
"She'll come. Just wait."
Will sighed tiredly and picked up the crumpled paper from the table again, reading it disdainfully.
"Britain's most sought after bachelor, one Will Darcy who has captured many ladies hearts, found himself playing with fire, as the normally reserved gentleman displayed some deliciously passionate PDA in the annual ELLE celebratory party at Hilton, London. His lucky lady was unveiled to be Lizzy Bennette, the up-and-coming young model who is rumoured to become the new face of Burberry for the upcoming season. The pair, who was reported to have seduced each other rather outrageously, was soon not to be found as the night drew on, eliciting sly smirks from the crowd, who gossiped lightly about a steamy rendezvous in the honeymoon suite of the hotel. Little did they know that their speculation fell not far from the truth, as a certain dishevelled brunette was snapped walking hurriedly in last night's dress out of a Darcy's London penthouse in the day after. Spotted: Mr D's lover doing the walk of shame in the early hours of the morning. Could a possible relationship be on the horizon, or is this long-legged beauty to be put as another addition onto the charming William's rumoured long list of one-night-stands? We'll have to wait and see…"
A loud slam brought him back to the present. He folded up the paper rigidly and cast it to the side. He looked up, his eyes unreadable.
"Miss Bennette." He acknowledged her presence with a stiff nod. He smiled to himself when he noticed a little coffee coloured smudge on her white tank top. She narrowed her eyes when she noticed his smirk and stared him down rather coldly.
"Mr Darcy." She turned to face Mike.
"You. I demand a word." Her gaze positively crackled.
"Be back in a second," he drawled as he followed her from the room. "Well?"
She exploded.
"Don't play innocent!" she shrieked. Mike felt his eardrums rattle. "Why did you leave me with tha-that prick last night? He put that thing in my drink! He could've been a-a rapist! A murderer even! I could be lying dead in a ditch! And now, I'm on the front page of The Sun dubbed as this week's whore! You better have some convincing excuses, Mr. Can I remind you that the Dean of the university is probably choking on his buttered organic toast right now? And, now, you drag me from my apartment telling me you've got a way to clean things up – and bring me to him? What are you planning to do, sell me? I-I-" She ran out of breath and broke off, her scowl never leaving her face.
"Firstly, don't frown, gives you premature wrinkles." He smoothed out her brow with his fingers. "I make money from this face, remember." She jerked her head away, the fire rekindling in her eyes.
"Is that all you have to say? Wrinkles?" she half screeched, resisting the urge to kick him in the balls. "Really, Mike? I thought you were a smoother talker than that."
"I answered your question." Mike calmly surveyed her, as she dropped her arms, looking confused. "I make money from your face. This issue is sure to boost your fame and recognition – I've already received several calls from agencies this morning-"
"Are you shitting me? My reputation is broken! The only work I can do now is dress up in black leathers and a whip for sleazy porn magazines! I never thought you would go so far – I should quit right now! I'll just go back to my studies and you can just go and fu-"
"Listen to yourself," he broke in sharply. He grabbed her roughly by her slender shoulders. "Don't act like you can just abandon my whenever you feel like it. Do you remember how many shoots I had to find for you the last time your family landed in trouble? Do you remember how hard you had to work to make the ends meet? Do you remember how you couldn't have done it without my assistance and influence? Do you-"
"I remember." Lizzy fiddled with a strand of hair, not meeting his eyes.
"I'm just safeguarding you for the future, just in case," he added gently, tilting her head up. Her eyes were clouded. "It's for your own good. And, I didn't leave you, Liz. I thought of this brilliant business strategy, but I couldn't decide whether or not to let him take you home. I mean, what if he hurt you?" Lizzy was surprised to see his own face looking troubled. He bit his lip. "I spent the whole night outside the building, walking up and down. I had the people in the apartment below look out for any raised voices or loud noises. I was worried that…" He looked down. "If he did anything, it'd be partly my fault." There was a long pause.
"Let's go back inside." Lizzy refused to look at him as she shrugged his hands away from her shoulders. "They're waiting." Mike nodded and followed her back into the dimly lit room.
Will looked up as she re-entered the room and sat down quietly, slouching a little. Smith looked at him inquisitively. He nodded at him. Smith cleared his throat loudly and stood up straight. The whole room tensed.
"Miss Bennette," he began, "I assume you are aware of the, er, articles that have surfaced recently, about last night's events?"
She nodded.
"Well, this meeting has been quickly organised to try and work out an… agreement on how to proceed regarding this matter." He shifted his weight uneasily. "We hope to achieve a… compromise on how to treat the speculation that must come from this-"
"I don't want anything from him." Will glanced at her quickly. Her face was pale and she frowned slightly.
"I know you, Mr Darcy, and all of your… um, squad," she said, gesturing awkwardly his stony faced PR team. Will laughed at her word choice. "think I want some kind of compensation to shut my mouth. But what I really want is just for everyone to forget this matter as soon as possible."
"Liz-" Mike began.
"I know what you're going to say," she cut quietly. "I know it's for my own good. But, frankly, this whole affair is humiliating. I don't want to get anything from it. I want it over and done with," she stated firmly.
Smith paused. This was not the reaction they'd expected.
"In that case, Miss Bennette, we shall let out the story that you and William were… romantically involved for some period of time, so it does not appear that you and him were…"
"So people don't think their beloved pretty boy is a man-whore, yeah I know." She smirked lightly.
Smith smiled thinly. "Glad you understand. Now, if there are no further issues, we should draw up the article to-"
"Leave us." The voice was full of hard authority. Lizzy turned in shock to the man at the head of the table. He toyed with his pen, avoiding the stares. "I have something to discuss with Li-Miss Bennette."
Lizzy gaped at him as the austere faced people filed out. Mike placed a hand lightly on her shoulder.
"I'll be right outside if you need me." He left and there door shut with a heavy thud.
There was an uncomfortable silence.
Will looked at her unflinchingly over the table. She held his gaze, her chin jutting out to show she wasn't intimidated. The air crackled with their intensity. He stood up and slowly walked around towards her.
"Don't you wish to know what I have to say to you, Lizzy?" He smirked at her discomfort in his change in manner.
"Not really, no." She feigned indifference. "I thought I made my wishes quite clear."
"But what if I desire more than what you have on offer?" he said softly. He inched closer to her. Will saw the slight pout of her lip and he felt his desire rise. Even if she's scheming and sly, she's looks lovely. He had intended on seducing her slightly to get her to agree to the compromise he was going to propose, but he found himself distracted by the slender length of her legs, encased perfectly in faded skinny jeans, by the soft fullness of her mouth, by the wrinkled tank top that showcased her miniscule waist and left him to wonder what beauty it hid under the thin material. He saw the slight attraction in her eyes, and he gazed at her pale face in triumph.
Lizzy struggled. Concentrate, Liz, he's just a stupid idiot, remember that. She saw his brown eyes melting slightly, loosing some of their hardness. OK, a sexy idiot, but forget about that. Her eyes trailed down his arms. Muscular too. She remembered for a moment how safe she had felt inside those iron arms. She sneaked a glance up and saw a glint of triumph in his eyes. She felt the anger bubbling like lava in her chest again, hotter than before. This is what he wants. He wants to confuse you, just to get what he needs, just like a spoilt child.
"I don't bargain, Mr Darcy. You take what you get offered, and that's all I'm willing to give you."
Will took a step back. "Unfortunately, I have too much on the line to be satisfied by that," he retorted, frustration creeping into his voice. His plan to confuse her hadn't worked. "I have a proposition." She raised her eyebrows.
"What makes you think I'll agree?" she said archly. He scowled.
"Just let me finish. There have been too many reports of relationships between myself and various women over the past few years, though most of them are created without foundation. As a result, there has been speculation that I have broken many hearts, and my public image has, let's say, been not so favourable as it has been. I cannot let this projection of my supposed character reflect upon my company, which has been handed down to me from my family. I cannot be the one to ruin Pemberly Publishers. So now, I am offering you something." He paused. "It is about time I should try to redeem my name. I would like you to pretend to be romantically linked to me for a period of time. This should dissolve rumours about my supposed womanizing practices. You as a model and a conscientious student, clever enough to be accepted into Oxford, have a clean enough reputation. And you are fairly well loved by the public. It should be a tolerable arrangement."
"So, you are asking me to be your fake girlfriend?" She laughed bitterly. "What makes you think I would agree? Didn't I say I want this matter to be forgotten? Don't you remember our argument this morning? What makes you think we would be able to even remotely get along for 5 days, let alone 5 months?"
"I forget to mention the incentive for you. You would be well compensated for this pretence, of course. I will provide double the financial support than you get modelling and your other jobs combined."
"Again, you think I'm after your money." Lizzy rubbed the bridge of nose. "Mr Darcy, I want nothing more to do with you, I think I made that quite clear, despite whatever there is in it for me. I stick by the original plan." She leaned over and snatched her bag from her chair.
"Trust me, Miss Bennette, you will change your mind soon. When that time comes, probably during the course of the week, call my office and we can discuss the terms."
"Goodbye, Mr Darcy." Lizzy seethed as she watched the tall man wave her away lazily.
"See you around, Miss Bennette."
Lizzy slowly ascended the stairs to their apartment. She banished the conversation from her mind by counting the steps. 103. 104. 105. 106. 107. 108. She sighed as she saw welcoming sight of their rather battered green front door in the dimly lit hallway. Glowering at the newspaper that lay on the doormat, she clattered noisily through the door.
"Janey, want to get take out?" she called, kicking off her Converse All Stars and shuffling along in her penguin socks. "Let's watch a movie with Hugh Grant in it, or just-"
"Elizabeth." A cold voice struck her. She was rooted to the spot. There was a flash of blonde hair as Jane gently came to her side.
"I tried to take them out, but they insisted on staying," she whispered. "I'm sorry, Lizzy." Lizzy patted her sister's shoulder stiffly. She turned reluctantly to the figures in the living room.
"Mum."
"It's Mrs Nigel to you."
Jane bristled at this treatment of her twin. "Mum, really it's completely wrong of you to-"
"Jane, I hope she's not been causing you any trouble has she?"
"What?" Jane spluttered. "Of course not! She's my sister, my twin, we help each other-"
"What do you need now?" Lizzy cut brusquely across. Her face became a few shades paler that normal. Mrs Nigel regarded her coldly and turned to Jane.
"Is there anything to eat? Me and the girls are starving."
"You can eat at your own house, surely." Lizzy interrupted. "Or have you hit an all time low that you have to beg for food that's tainted by the daughter you've always hated so much?"
"It's better than sinking into prostitution. Tell me, Elizabeth, how much did Will Darcy pay you to escort him?" Her lip curled unpleasantly as she said her daughter's name. One of her sisters hovering in the background giggled.
"Lydia, shut up. Mother, I demand you either leave Lizzy alone, or leave right now. She's had a hard day." Jane glared at her mother with stony blue eyes.
"Unfortunately, Jane, we don't have a home to return to. Though I think that may change soon." She looked pointedly at Lizzy.
Lizzy balled her hands into fists. Her fingernails tore at the flesh on her palms.
"She gave you 70 grand four months ago. Surely there's enough left to cover the expenses this time?" Jane suggested. She felt sick to her stomach
"Apparently not." Blood dripped from Lizzy's hands as she held her mother's gaze. "Just what makes you think I am willing to half kill myself to drag you out of poverty for the eighth time?" She ignored they stinging on her hands.
"The same reasons that made you get out that little cheque book last time."
Lizzy laughed hollowly. "Guilt trip can only get you so far, Mother. Someday, I'll think I've earned my forgiveness and not cover your mistakes any longer."
Her mother took a step forwards. "Do you forget what you owe to this family, Elizabeth? Can look at me and not say I've become the way I have because of you? Despite that I fed you, however unwillingly and let you grow up under my roof. Do you forget my forgiveness to you then?"
"Only to kick me out on the eve of my sixteenth birthday."
Her mother's lip twisted scornfully as she looked down at her daughter's flushed cheeks. "Pitying yourself, Elizabeth? I thought you felt more penance for your crimes to know better than to pity yourself, when you deserve no pity, no redemption from anyone. You have no idea of the pain you've put me through. The pain you've subjected Jane to as well." She ignored the watery crystals sliding down Lizzy's unreadable face.
"When Jane was born, she was so sweet, so pure, so obedient. However, the very first time I saw you, I knew couldn't love you. I cannot describe how much I was filled with dread every time I held you against my chest. I tried; oh your father knew how much I tried, holding you, singing to you, hoping I would find it in my heart to love my child. But after you took my world away, I knew I should've abandoned you at the hospital on the very first day. I flinched every time I had to touch you, my stomach churned every time you called me 'Mum'." She looked disdainfully down. "If not for you, my world would be complete. It not for you, I would wake up every morning, looking forwards to the coming day. But because of you, I wake every morning to a cold bed, to a clawing in my heart. Every single day of my existence, I curse the day you were-"
"Shut up!" Jane's voice rang with authority. She stood in front of her twin. "Leave. Now."
"Jane, don't you see ho-" her mother started.
"How much?" came a whisper. Jane swung round.
"No, Liz, I refuse to let you pay for her mistakes any more. Don't-"
"Don't interfere, Jane Bennette." Mrs Nigel smirked. "It seems like self-righteous Elizabeth here has finally seen the depth of her sins. Took her 17 years."
"How much do you need?" She looked into the dark eyes of her mother. "How much this time? Say it."
"£150000," she enunciated carefully. "Money should be in notes and ready to hand over in four weeks."
Jane gasped. "You can't expect- No, that's just-"
"Fine." Lizzy's dead emotionless voice rang out.
Jane wheeled back and shook Lizzy's hard. Her skin was cold and clammy.
"No way am I letting you, Elizabeth. No way could you earn that amount of money in a four years, never mind four weeks. No, listen to me!" She looked furiously at her mother. "How dare you play on her weaknesses like that! Lizzy even in her happiest of moods is consumed by guilt over an accident in the past that she couldn't control. What kind of parent are you? You drilled into your daughter's head from a young, fragile age that she was the reason for your unhappiness. Never once has she known your approval or love! And, after seventeen years you still see fit to come and guilt trip her into ruining her life to clean up yours? You think I'll just sit here and watch her wasting away? It's your fault she never sees fit to trust or love! It's your fault she denies every little pleasure because she feels she doesn't deserve any source of happiness. You call yourself unhappy, tormented, broken even, but never can you truthfully call yourself a mother."
"Well, as touching as that outburst was, Jane, I think some of it was lost on Elizabeth."
Jane was filled with a sense of dread. She felt a breeze caress her back. She whipped around. The front door was wide open and Lizzy was no where to be seen.
Will loosened his tie and switched over to the 10 o'clock news. He threw his head back on the cushions and closed his eyes, inhaling deeply. He caught a familiar flowery scent – and groaned. The sofa still smelt of her. He sighed again into the addictive scent. He heard heavy rain hit the windows insistently. It was soothing. The doorbell suddenly interrupted his reverie. He scowled. It rang again. He cursed and heaved himself up.
"What?" he snapped, hauling the door open. "Who is-" His eyed widened.
Lizzy Bennette stood breathless on his doormat. Droplets of rain rolled down her porcelain skin. Wet chestnut hair stuck to her forehead, and her teeth chattered with cold. Traces of blood were smeared across her left cheek, and across her collarbone. Her arms were wrapped around herself protectively. She was still wearing the same clothes as she had been earlier. Goosebumps spread across her exposed skin. Her eyes met his. They were pools of anguish.
"How much?" she said woodenly.
"I-er-what?"
"How much?" she repeated. Her lower lip trembled. "How much?" How much am I worth? How much?" With that, she broke down, and slid to her knees, her back convulsing with heavy sobs.
