21

"Cordy, it was awful!" Buffy exclaimed when she called her best friend that night after her father left for work at the department store. "He came in and found me and Angel in bed and totally flipped out on us!"

"Well, can you really blame him?" Cordelia asked. "He did catch you in bed with your boyfriend."

"Yes, I can blame him! He didn't have to throw Angel out. God, he practically told him to leave and never come back. Poor Angel barely had enough time to get dressed when he left."

On the other end of the phone, her best friend smiled at the mental image. "Now there's a picture. Your boyfriend running out of your house clad only in a thin little sheet. What I wouldn't give to see that!"

Buffy groaned. "That's not funny. You're not exactly helping me here."

"I'm sorry. What did your dad say when you two talked? Did he tell you that you can't see Angel anymore?" she wanted to know.

"Not really…well, not exactly, anyway. Dad said that I disappointed him and that I was shaming him and our family by being with Angel. No matter how many good things I said about Angel, all my dad could seem to remember was how poor he is and that his dad left his mom. Nothing else mattered. He's so stubborn!"

"And your father thinks he'll do the same thing to you," surmised Cordelia.

"Exactly!" Buffy agreed. "But Angel wouldn't do that. I know him. I mean, he and I talked about the future last night and about children. And he wants to have them with me. Cordy, he even gave me a ring as a graduation present. A claddagh ring."

She raised her eyebrows. "Isn't that considered a wedding band in Ireland?"

"Yes. I don't know if he realized it, I don't think he did. But do you know what it means? He and I are married!"

"Buff, I think you might be jumping the gun a little there. I know you love Angel and you want to be with him, but think about it. Seriously think about it. You've only been together for a month. Maybe you're getting too attached too quickly."

"Not you, too. You sound just like Dad. I've been in love with Angel for thirteen years, and now that I finally have him, I'm never letting him go. Come hell or high water, we'll be with each other forever."

***

Cautiously, Angel sat down in the chair opposite Mr. Summers' desk. He knew it wasn't a friendly, let's-get-to-know-my-daughter's-boyfriend visit. And that left him more than a little frightened.

"Mr. Summers," he began, "I'd like to apologize for what you saw this morning. I never would have stayed overnight if I'd known that could happen."

"Obviously," Buffy's father replied. "I don't think I need to tell you how concerned I am about the rather rapid progression of things between you and my daughter."

Angel looked down. "No, you don't. Buffy and I have only been together for a short time, I'm very well-aware of that. But we love each other, sir."

"You don't need to call me sir. Your family and I go way back. I knew both of your parents when we were only in high school, and your mother and I dated for several weeks until we graduated and I left town for the army. But you knew that already, didn't you, Angel?" he asked. "That your mother and I were a couple, that is."

"Not until recently when my mother met Buffy for the first time."

"I cared very much for Adrienne, I still do. Although, I have to say, your father was never my favorite person, particularly after he married your mother and then abandoned your family."

"Welcome to the club," muttered Angel.

Mr. Summers scrutinized the young man sitting across from him. "You look like Luke did when he was eighteen. Handsome, strong-boned, almost the same hair and eye color. It's no wonder my daughter is so enchanted with you. I certainly hope that you haven't inherited his less-appealing personality traits along with his looks."

"No, I haven't. I'm nothing like my father and I never hope to be." He took a deep breath. "Look, Mr. Summers, I don't want to sound rude or anything, but is there a point to all this? Why did you ask me to come up here? I get the feeling it wasn't to relive your past with my parents."

"How is your mother, by the way? Doing well, I hope," questioned the older man. "I know how sick she's been."

"She's doing fine." Angel paused for a moment, a thought entering his mind when Mr. Summers brought up his mother. There was something written on his face, almost a look of longing. "I certainly hope you're not about to tell me something really disgusting, like you're my real father and not Luke Riches."

With a small, amused smile playing on his lips, Mr. Summers replied, "No, I'm not your father." 'Although if I'd had the chance…' "Your mother and I were never together like that. Besides, you look too much like Luke to be my son. Your sister as well, from what I saw at the graduation ceremony yesterday afternoon."

Unnecessarily, Angel sighed with relief. "My sister's soap operas must be rubbing off on me. I apologize for my little outburst. It was uncalled for."

"It's perfectly fine. Buffy was singing your praises when she and I spoke earlier this morning. She told me how hard you work to support your family, how intelligent you are and that you'd been accepted to several Ivy League universities."

Angel nodded sheepishly. "Just two Ivy League schools."

"Still, an admirable feat. You seem to have a sensible head on your shoulders, and I respect that." He reached into the top drawer of his desk, pulling out a rectangular-shaped piece of paper. He held it up for Angel to see. "Do you know what this is, Angel?"

"It looks like a check."

"Very good. But not just any check. It's a check for three million dollars. Made out in your name."

He didn't quite understand. "Why?"

"Because it's for you. Under one condition."

"What's the condition?" Angel wanted to know. He'd had the feeling that there was stipulation to it. Nothing was free, he understood that.

"That you never see my daughter again."

***

Angel wasn't sure if he'd heard Mr. Summers correctly; he thought his ears were playing tricks on him. "Excuse me? What did you say?" he asked.

"The three million dollars is yours, provided you no longer maintain contact with my daughter. It's as simple as that."

"I don't get it. Why?"

Mr. Summer sighed. "I mean nothing personal against you, Angel. You seem like a very nice young man. It's just that…well, I always pictured my Buffy with somebody different. A man with a better status in society, if you know what I mean. Someone who can provide for her and give her the life she deserves; the life she is accustomed to. You should be able to understand that."

'Better than you think. I know exactly what you're getting at,' thought Angel. "What you're doing is paying me off. Hush money."

"No, not at all. I know how much you mean to my little girl, and how much this money would mean to you."

"Do you honestly believe that I can be bought? That you can just hand me a check for three million dollars and I'll get out of Buffy's life?"

"As I said before, the three million is yours. I'm willing to make it very worth your while if you agree."

Angel narrowed his eyes. "I don't want your money."

"Buffy told me yesterday how smart you are, and as the class Valedictorian, I can see how you got into so many good colleges. And I'll see to it that you attend the one of your choice."

"I already told you, Mr. Summers, I don't want your money. I have no need for it."

"But there, young man, you are wrong. I happen to know just how much you need that money. There're your mother's medical bills, which I assume are outrageous; the house, the bills for it, etc.. Think about what I'm offering you. It's the chance to be out of debt."

"No." Angel refused to be bought. "I love Buffy. Money won't make me go away."

Shaking his head, Mr. Summers proceeded. "If you love my daughter as much as you claim to, you'll let her have the life she deserves. Leave her alone. I am offering you the chance of a lifetime here. Three million dollars; I will take care of all of your college bills, books, tuition, dorming expenses and whatnot. Your mother's medical bills will be paid in full for as long as need be. I'll even buy out the mortgage on your house so that you'll own it outright. Just think about it, Angel. I'm doing all that for you, and all you have to do is one little thing for me."

Hatred and loathing filled Angel's heart and mind. Who did Hank Summers think he was? "I don't care how much you give me, I'll never leave Buffy," he said through gritted teeth. "I don't need your money. I'm perfectly happy going to Sunnydale Community College next fall, and I can handle maintaining my family's bills just fine on my own. And as for the three million dollars? It's blood money and I refuse to touch it."

"If you love her so much, you'll release your hold on her," Mr. Summers said. "And it's not blood money. Think of all the good you can do with this money. You and your family can be financially secure for the rest of your life. How can you say no to that?"

"My family and I are getting along just fine with the amount of money I'm making here."

"This could change your life," he pointed out. "How can you say no to something like this without even talking it over with your mother and sister? Shouldn't they have a say in it?"

Angel shook his head. The man obviously didn't get it. Yes, the money would be helpful, but there was a principle behind it. "The answer is still no."

"And as wonderful as it is to know that you care more about my daughter than you do about money, this isn't a decision you can make in an instant. Talk it over with your family, see how they feel about it. Take twenty-four hours to consider my offer." 'Either way, you'll be out of Buffy's life. I'll see to it.'

"Fine. But the answer will still be no. I guarantee it."

***