There was an annoying buzz in his ear. He turned over hoping that it would stop but in vain. The blaring turned louder. Something was seriously wrong with the world. He opened his eyes blearily and looked at the clock. A string of curses were issued from the staid man's usually clean mouth. He groaned and picked up the phone at last resisting the temptation of throwing it against the opposite wall.
"It's freaking 2am in Dubai, Charles. What the hell is wrong with you?" growled the enigma known as William Darcy into the phone.
Charles, used to his friend's grumpy ways grinned unrepentant. "You missed my engagement party, Will. The least you could do is oblige me here."
"I have already done you three bloody favors in the last 5 days. You cannot hang one single thing over my head all my life. I said I am sorry but I was really busy. Is that why you have called me at this time? Is it some sort of a revenge? STOP GOOFING…."
"Woah..woah.I have not called to torment you. Wait a sec, let me take Rick on conference" cut off Bingely.
"Ahoy! The great Richard Fitzwilliam speaking here. How may I help you cowboys?"
Darcy looked at his phone incredulous and stared at it as if it contained the answer to some obscure mystery of the world.
When there was no reply from said cowboys on either end, Richard spoke up again in a very solemn voice. "Ok guys! You really need to speak up. I am just in a towel that is slipping down my waist every second.."
"No details needed." Shouted Bingley as Darcy said "Are you drunk Richard? Again? Or are you high this time?"
"Neither dear cousin. It is just my natural charm which is lost on grumpy old men like you."
"Just get on with it Bingley. I'm afraid I don't have the time nor the inclination to suffer Richard at this time in the night." came the morose voice of Darcy.
"It is always such a pleasure to hear you so cheerful words and pleasing greetings, cousin."
Before the banter could escalate, Charles intervened. He knew the two of them could go at it the entire night. "Actually Darce, this is about something that we planned a long way back in school. I 'm assuming you too have forgotten about it. Charles fumbled and mumbled something.
William heaved a tired sigh. "Speak up Charles."
"When should we go to Spain?" Charles rushed out.
"Spain?" came through William's skeptical voice. He made a weird noise in the back of his throat. "Are you talking about that Bachelor pact thing?"
"He remembers" Richard shouted surprised. Darcy cleared his throat uncomfortably and replied "I am not so sure about it. We were kids and it was so long ago. Plus all of us are so busy..I.."
"Oh c'mmon Darcy! It was a promise made with blood. You just can't break it. It's a sin and you would be bound for hell."
"He's already bound for hell" quipped Rick.
"Plus you owe for missing my .."
"Oh for heaven's sake Charles. You cannot blackmail me everytime with the same damn thing" the Darcy heir said gruffly.
"I checked with Mrs. Reynolds Will. Your schedule is not very tight from 20 Aug to 5 Sept that is there is nothing very pressing in those days that would require your sole attention. Atleast nothing that cannot be shifted by fifteen days or so." Spoke Richard.
"How did you weasel out my schedule form her? When did you..?How..?" William was flabbergasted. Mrs. Reynolds was an extremely efficient asset to his company. She was his father's secretary when he was alive and now she handled that position for Will. The MI-6 would feel intimidated when facing her. She was fiercely protective of Will and never ventured about his personal accounts to anyone.
"I told you. No one can resist the Fitzwilliam charm. Well that and Mrs. R knew her poor boy needed a break." Richard's smugness gave way to teasing. It was a well known fact that Mrs. R coddled William like a baby.
"But two weeks? Seriously? We'd be spending more than two weeks in an unfamiliar country? I know all the tasks combined shouldn't take more than 10 days."
"We were creating the itinerary when Richard pointed out that the Tomatina would be celebrated on the 30th of August. So we'll have to take a slight detour to attend that though it would be totally worth it!" Bingley was clearly excited.
"Tomatina? Are you sure? I don't see the point of throwing tomatoes at each other and getting yourself dirty and sticky."
"William. Shut up! Just do us a favor. Pack your bags and just come to Barcelona. After that we will handle everything. We don't need your opinions and plans. Seeing that you don't even comprehend the meaning of FUN, clearly you cannot be entrusted with any aspect of the planning though I know how difficult it must be for a control freak like you. Just this once leave it to us. You have been working way too much. You haven't taken a vacation in the past two years. You need to LIGHTEN UP." Richard finished.
Darcy had no reply to that.
"Also," Richard's voice had that mischievous quality now "on the last day of the trip, we'll give our Charlie boy a real bachelor party complete with strippers and alcohol and …"
Darcy kept down the phone before Richard could finish. He was not in a frame of mind to handle the lewd ideas that were sure to follow. Plus he knew that Charles would have already hung up the phone on hearing the word 'stripper'.
He laid back down with a thud. He looked around. The room was a mess. Papers. Thick files. Surrounded all around him and a thicker bundle back at home. He ran a tanned hand over his face and got up to face the mirror. The reflection showed a tall young man in the epitomy of youth but his eyes depicted a different story. Deep brown eyes stared back at him surrounded by dark circles that bespoke of his misery and loneliness. The face that belonged to the front page of a fashion magazine was as usual expressionless, a mask he was scared to discard even in the privacy of his own bedroom. The well sculpted body would make any girl swoon and yet the thought of girls never crossed his mind. William sighed. He felt too old. Way beyond his twenty eight years .Like an old soul trapped in a young man's body, wandering around in search of peace. Perhaps this trip was just what he needed. He'd try to rekindle their friendship. God knows the three of them were drifting apart and had it been left to him… He dreaded to think how Melissa would affect their lives. It wouldn't be a positive impact for sure. However for now, that mountain of pillows and the thick comforter seemed way too inviting. Who knew that someday he would cherish something as simple as silk sheets after a long day? A partner by his side would be a cherry on the top. This was his last thought as he was carried away in the arms of Morpheus.
A/N: I would love to hear your thoughts. Also, let me know if there are any grammar issues or typos :)
