Hi everyone! I'm sooooo sorry for the delay! I was away for more than a month! But I'm back... I apologize for this chapter being so short, but I'm building up to something big. Enjoy, and PLEASE REVIEW! :)

The weeks after the benefit passed uneventfully. Lizzie, as usual, preoccupied herself with work, taking breaks only to meet with Jane and Charlotte and for occasional visits to her family. Jane and Charlie's relationship grew to the point that it was nauseating to even be in the same room as them and Jane was spending a lot of time at Charlie's penthouse apartment in the Upper East Side. Lizzie was happy for her sister and she approved of Charlie so she had no objections to the match.

Charlotte was a completely different story. Ever since Charlotte had shown up at Lizzie's apartment drunk after sleeping with Collins, their friendship had become a little strained. Needless to say, Charlotte had not listened to Lizzie and continued seeing Collins, who, thankfully, had not followed up on his "business meeting" invitation to Lizzie at the benefit. Lizzie avoided every situation involving Collins, and avoided broaching the subject with Charlotte at all costs. Lizzie wanted what was best for her friend, but she knew that Charlotte was a grown woman and whom she dated was her decision.

Their new boyfriends kept Charlotte and Jane pretty preoccupied, meaning Lizzie had more than enough time to immerse herself in work more than she usually did. This is where Jane found her one Friday night:

"Lizzie!" Jane said breathlessly as she ran into her office. "I knew you would still be here! Why haven't you been answering any of my calls?"

Lizzie looked up from her laptop at Jane, who was wearing a fitted pale pink dress, looking beautiful as usual. "What calls?"

"I have been calling you for the last hour!" Jane said with frustration, her gaze drifting across Lizzie's office before it landed on Lizzie's phone lying on one of the tables Lizzie used for meetings in her office. She walked over and picked it up. "It's on silent!"

"Sorry, Jane," Lizzie said, stretching herself out and glancing at the clock. "I didn't realize what time it was, and I put my phone on silent so I could get some work done. Are you ready to go?"

"We have to be there in 15 minutes!" Jane nearly screeched.

"Jane," Lizzie said calmly. "It's just a 5 minute walk away from the office. Can you relax a little bit? I'm sure Charlie's sister is just as agreeable as he is. She'll love you!"

Jane watched Lizzie as she gathered her things, her eyes wide and frightened. "Lizzie, Charles warned me that Caroline can sometimes be a handful. I'm really nervous."

Lizzie rolled her eyes as she put on her jacket and put her bag over her shoulder. "Well, if she's insufferable then she won't be worth your time. Don't worry Jane, it will be fine."

Jane sighed and nodded as she followed Lizzie out of the office.

"By the way," Jane said as they walked to the elevator. "Will Darcy is going to be there."

Ah, Will Darcy. She hadn't seen him since they had their encounter at the coffee shop. An image of Lizzie's dream of him flashed through her mind before she pushed it back out again. Lizzie was relieved that Jane and Charles were spending more alone time together because it meant that she and Darcy had less of a chance of having to be forced together for more awkward dinners.

"Oh?" Lizzie said disinterestedly.

"I want you to behave," Jane warned her sister. "He only ever tries being civil to you and you insist on being rude to him."

"I'm not rude, Jane! He's just obnoxious and thinks he knows everything because his family and company rule the world, apparently," Lizzie said, rolling her eyes.

"He has only ever been nice to us, and Charles wouldn't be so close to him if he was such a horrible person like you seem to suggest," Jane replied, giving Lizzie a look.

"Ok, Jane," Lizzie said with a sigh, "I promise to be nice to Will tonight."

Jane gave Lizzie her most winning smile as a thanks and Lizzie laughed as they exited the building and made their way to dinner.

...

Lizzie was beginning to wonder if this was some kind of psychological experiment gone wrong. As Lizzie sat there, she couldn't help but look around the restaurant from time to time to see if there were people in lab coats with clipboards studying their table.

Caroline Bingley was Charles' complete opposite. Physically, they were strikingly similar, but that's where the similarities ended. Caroline seemed to have a permanent sneer on her face, especially when she addressed Lizzie, and she was all long legs, fake boobs, and even faker personality. Jane looked like a deer caught in headlights as Caroline told Jane about all the society parties that she was involved in and about Netherfield resorts and all the celebrities that have stayed there.

Lizzie tore her gaze away from Caroline and peered across the table at Darcy, who was now scowling at his menu. Lizzie had been surprised at his cold demeanor when he had greeted her. She knew that she hadn't been the most polite person to talk to, but his attitude toward her had completely changed.

"How is work, Will?" Lizzie asked him, curious to see what had brought this change on.

He glanced up, his expression unchanged. "Busy." He looked back down at the menu.

Lizzie raised an eyebrow. "Not talkative tonight are we?"

He looked up at her again, his blue eyes piercing hers. "No."

Interesting, Lizzie thought. Although she knew Darcy was arrogant, this was a whole new level of rudeness that she had not seen from him before.

"Oh, Elizabeth," Caroline's shrill voice said from beside Will, who had somehow caught the tail end of their conversation. "Will is such a hard worker. He has had a long day, don't pester him with questions!"

Caroline placed a perfectly manicured hand on Will's arm. Will's scowl deepened and his eyes didn't leave the menu. Lizzie smirked at his reaction. It looked like Caroline had a huge crush on Darcy.

"Oh, of course Caroline," Lizzie said, smiling as she turned to face her. "Mr. Darcy is so hard-working, of course I wouldn't expect him to be able to hold a civilized conversation. He is much too preoccupied."

Caroline's eyes narrowed and then she sneered before turning back to Jane and Charles.

Lizzie let her gaze shift back to Darcy who had put down his menu and was looking at her intently. She grinned at him and shifted her attention back to making her choice between the lamb and the salmon.

"Civilized conversation?" Darcy finally said, his voice startling her.

"Well yes," Lizzie said, challenging him with a smile. "But of course, a high powered CEO should not be expected to have to socialize after a long day."

"If I recall, Miss Bennet," he said, his eyes flashing with irritation. "The last few conversations I had with you left much to be desired, and not on my part."

Anger bubbled up in Lizzie's stomach and she put down her menu instantly, leaned toward him, her gaze never leaving his. "I find it difficult conversing with people who feel the need to remind others of their level in society."

The corners of Darcy's mouth twitched into an ironic smile. "And I find it difficult talking to people who judge others so easily."

"Then why don't we do each other a favor and just not talk at all?" Lizzie said, practically growling at him.

"Fine by me," he said simply. And then, to Lizzie's annoyance, he pulled out his phone, got up from the table and left to make a call.

Insufferable, Lizzie thought to herself.

"Oh, Will is so important," Caroline squealed as her eyes trailed after Darcy's retreating form. "I don't know how he does it all day long… He is just so talented!"

Lizzie snorted as she took a sip of her water and Caroline glared at her.

"What do you know about heading a company, Eliza?" Caroline sneered.

"Caroline," Charles said in exasperation. "Elizabeth and Jane own Longbourne Funds. I told you that."

"Well, I have never heard of it. I bet it's not as important as Pemberley International," Caroline scoffed, took a sip of her drink and went back to ignoring Elizabeth.

Lizzie sighed and rolled her eyes. This was going to be another long evening.

...

"I can't believe how horrible she is," Elizabeth was telling Jane as they made their way home.

"She's not that bad," Jane said, trailing off.

Elizabeth shook her head and gave her sister a smile. "I believe there's a psychological term for what you're feeling, but I'm just going to call it denial."

"Lizzie, I'm sure she just felt intimidated by you or was nervous about meeting me."

"I don't think so. I think she is afflicted with the same pompous problem as Will Darcy," Lizzie paused and grinned. "Wouldn't they make a great couple? She certainly fawns all over him."

Jane laughed. "Don't be ridiculous, Will seems horrified by her."

"I wouldn't be so sure if I were you, Jane. I'm sure she is the high society type of girl he would go for," Lizzie said.

"Oh, Lizzie, you need to have more faith in people," Jane told her sister as they paused outside their apartment buildings.

"People do nothing to earn my faith in them, so why should I freely give it away?" Lizzie replied with another rolling of her eyes.

Jane sighed but decided against arguing with her sister.

"Good night Jane, I'll see you in the morning," Lizzie said, leaning in to hug her sister.

"Oh, before you go Lizzie," Jane said. "There was something I wanted to talk to you about. Remember how Charles gave away a free vacation for Netherfield Resort's 10th year anniversary in Miami at the fundraiser?"

"How could I forget Bill Collins' victorious squeals?" Lizzie said with a grin.

Jane laughed. "Well, it's actually happening in two weeks and Charles has invited me to go with him!"

Lizzie's mouth fell open. "Wow, Jane. That's amazing! Do you think it's too soon though? Won't this be publicized all over the place?"

"Yes, it will. But Charles wants to make our relationship public," Jane said, her cheeks glowing pink. "And I think it would be a great vacation."

Lizzie smiled and hugged her sister. "That's amazing news! I'm happy for you Janey, this sounds like so much fun."

Jane grinned. "I'm glad you think so, because he told me to invite you too! Please come?"

Lizzie faltered. A week in Miami with Jane and Charles and most likely Caroline? That didn't sound like a vacation to her. She looked into Jane's pleading eyes and sighed. "But what about Longbourne Funds? I need to work…"

"We have closed it for a week in the past! And besides, I never said you couldn't work there! Our clients are mostly remote, remember? We did that on purpose so we could do this once and a while…" Jane pleaded.

Lizzie shook her head and smiled. "Sure, Jane, I'll come… I could use a vacation, and anyway, what's the worst that can happen?"

Jane squealed and hugged her sister. What's the worst that can happen, indeed?