"This is just terrible," Maxwell said despondently as he looked over the list of figures. "At this rate, we're never going to be able to put on our new show."
"It can't be as bad as that, surely?" CC asked in alarm.
"I'm afraid it is," Maxwell replied solemnly. "The three investors who pulled out were financially responsible for the bulk of our show. There's no way we can afford what we need right now – sets, venue... not to mention the actors."
CC's heart sunk. She had been counting on their new show to be a success, particularly as it was to be Niles' debut on Broadway. She knew, more than anyone, just how much he wanted this.
He'd practised his part with her until he was word-perfect, his songs all sounded wonderful...
And now he might never get the opportunity to show New York how talented he really was.
"Perhaps I can be an investor, Maxwell," she suggested timidly. "Between the two of us, if we were both prepared to make financial contributions, maybe we could salvage the show."
But she knew, as Maxwell did, that it would be a mistake to do so. And her colleague confirmed it by shaking his head immediately.
"That would be disastrous, CC," he said with a sigh. "The press would have a field day – they'd jump on the fact that we'd lost three investors and were forced to sink our own money into the production. It would be bad PR and you know it."
Privately he was also thinking of the news that Fran had sprung upon him last night. He had been delighted to hear that she was going to have another baby but he was simultaneously aware that adding a new member to the family was not going to be easy.
Maybe cancelling their new show would work out better for everyone. They'd take a break, he'd get to spend more time with his family and eventually, once the smoke had cleared, they would start thinking about the next production.
"But what else can we do?" CC cried in frustration. "Isn't there anything else we can do?"
"I don't know," Maxwell said honestly. He'd had difficulties with productions before, but they'd never been quite this extreme.
"Should we withdraw Niles from the show?" he wondered out loud. "That may have been what spooked the investors – our casting of a no-name butler as our male vocal lead."
"Withdraw Niles from the show? Are you crazy?" CC exclaimed vehemently. "He's damn well the best talent in the cast and you know it! He earned that part fair and square and I won't let you take that away from him."
Maxwell looked surprised at his partner's fierce reaction.
"Alright, alright, it was just a thought," he muttered.
"Well, it was not a very smart thought, Maxwell," CC said icily. "Particularly as the rest of the investors are in the show because of Niles... don't you remember the results of that backer party?"
Her face softened as she reflected upon the party. It had been the first time that she had really seen Niles for who he was, under the apron and rubber gloves. And she was very grateful that she'd had that opportunity.
"Yes, I remember," Max answered gruffly. "He was brilliant and believe it or not, I don't want to fire him from the cast. But we may not have any choice if we have to cancel the show, anyway."
"We're not beaten yet, Maxwell," CC said determinedly. "There's got to be a way for us to save this. There just has to be."
"I'm fresh out of ideas," Maxwell confessed.
"How can you be fresh out of ideas? We haven't even started brainstorming yet!" CC declared in frustration.
She picked up a pad of paper and a pen. "C'mon, Maxwell, there has to be something we can do."
"I suppose we could have a fund-raiser," Maxwell suggested doubtfully.
"You mean, another backer's party?"
"Yes... something like that."
"I suppose it's a start," CC sighed as she scribbled the idea down.
"We could chase up old investors..."
"Good!"
"We could try to persuade the new investors to come back?"
CC cringed. "Uh, I'm pretty sure they've made up their minds, Maxwell. Let's not push the matter."
"Knock, knock!" Fran sang out as she sashayed in with a plate of brownies. "I thought my handsome hubby could use a sweet treat."
"Oh, thank you, darling!" Maxwell exclaimed appreciatively.
CC tapped her foot impatiently as Nanny Fine fed Maxwell a piece of brownie.
As she'd feared, Nanny Fine's entrance had completely distracted Maxwell. He seemed to have forgotten all about brainstorming to save their new show and was instead chuckling foolishly as his wife wiped a smear of chocolate from his upper lip.
"Can we please get back to business here?" she said coldly.
"Maybe Fran can help," Maxwell suggested, smiling fondly at his wife. "Honey, what would you do if you needed to raise money to save a Broadway show?"
Fran looked thoughtful for a moment and then her eyes lit up. "I'd have an auction!"
"And just what are we going to auction, Nanny Fine?" CC asked impatiently.
"Well," Fran said with a suggestive grin, "how about the members of the cast?"
"I'm not quite sure I follow, sweetheart," Maxwell said hesitantly, looking bemused.
Fran giggled. "You auction off things they can do – say, like a date or something – and then have people bidding on the cast. Whoever bids the most money ends up with the date or whatever it is that the cast auctions."
"Oh, of all the..." CC couldn't even finish her sentence. She was speechless.
"Maxwell, tell Nanny Fine what is a preposterous idea that is."
"Hey, don't knock it until you've tried it!" Fran insisted. "Ma once organised an auction of single Jewish men and that raised enough moolah to renovate the synagogue."
Maxwell looked at his business partner. "It might be worth a try, CC," he said hesitantly.
"But...but that'd just be so demeaning to Niles...and you know, all the rest of the cast!" CC sputtered.
Fran raised an eyebrow. "Since when do you care about something being demeaning to Niles?"
"Well, I don't, Nanny Fine. But it's going to be our company's reputation on the line – everyone's going to think we're a laughingstock!"
She looked pleadingly at her colleague. "Come on, tell her, Maxwell. She's your wife."
Maxwell beamed. "Yes, and I think it's a fantastic idea, darling. In fact, I think you should help us organise it!"
"You have got to be kidding me," CC exclaimed in disbelief. And she stormed out of the office.
...
"How can you find this so funny?" CC demanded, hands on her hips.
Niles stopped chuckling, but couldn't hide the expression of amusement in his blue eyes.
"I'm sorry, love. But it is quite comical. The idea of having an auction... and of course it would be Mrs Sheffield's idea..."
"Yes, and it's a terrible idea," CC fumed. "The very idea... auctioning you off like you were... some piece of meat!"
She shuddered involuntarily. "I can see all this decrepit old society vultures trying to hook their claws into you now..."
"It might be a bit of fun," Niles said with a shrug. "And it is to save the new show, after all."
"But there are hundreds of other ways in which we could save it and they're much more appropriate!"
"Oh, really? And what would these other ways be?"
"Well, we could call up old investors," CC said defensively. "We could have another backers' party."
She paused. That was all she had gotten to write down on her brainstorming list before Nanny Fine had interrupted with her preposterous idea.
"Is that all you've got?" Niles asked smugly.
"Well, I could have thought of more if Nanny Fine hadn't interrupted," she retorted. "And why are you acting so blasé about this, anyway? Do you want to go out on a date with some airheaded socialite?"
Niles smirked. "Why, my dear Caca, I do believe you're jealous."
"Jealous? Me? Never!" she declared, but not without a faint blush colouring her cheeks and suggesting otherwise.
Seeing that she needed assurance, Niles took a step closer and put his arms around her.
"My love, I already have the woman of my dreams. One date for charity isn't going to change how I feel about you."
Mollified, CC rested her head on his shoulder and allowed him to stroke her hair.
"I guess," she said with a sigh. "But this is so hard, Niles. All this sneaking around... and you and I haven't even had the chance to talk about the wedding like normal couples do. It makes me feel like we're not really engaged... and when I feel like we're not really engaged, it makes me think that I could lose you."
"You will never lose me," he promised, as he planted a tender kiss on top of her head.
"But as for not feeling like you're really engaged... maybe I can give you a little assurance."
CC's eyes widened in surprise as Niles reached into his pocket and pulled out a long slender navy-blue box.
"Is this for me?"
"Well, I'm not planning on making a gift of it to Mr Sheffield," Niles replied, his eyes dancing with excitement. "Open it."
CC's hands trembled slightly as she fumbled with the box.
Her mouth dropped open as she retrieved a shimmering white-gold chain, at the end of which was looped a glittering antique diamond solitaire ring.
"I thought it was time I gave you an engagement ring," Niles explained, seeing the shock on her face. "I put it on a chain, just in case you weren't ready to go public and wear it on your finger yet."
"Niles, it's gorgeous," CC said in awe. "But how on earth..."
He grinned. "How on earth could a penniless servant like me ever afford such a beautiful ring?"
"Well..." she began awkwardly.
He laughed and took pity on her. "Actually, this is an heirloom ring," he explained. "It's been passed down in my family for five generations."
He picked up the chain and fingered it gently. "This chain, however, is from me."
"I love it," CC breathed. "I think it's even prettier than the ring."
He smirked. "So you don't want the ring, then?"
She snatched it back from him and clutched it protectively.
"Of course I want it, you fool," she laughed and kissed him happily.
"Shall I put it on?" he asked after a few minutes had passed.
She nodded and bent her head slightly as he placed the chain around her neck and carefully fastened the clasp.
"There you are," he said softly. "That should make you feel like you're engaged."
CC reached up and lovingly caressed her new ring, safely hidden underneath the crisp white blouse she was wearing.
"Yes, it does," she agreed proudly.
"So am I free to auction myself off now?" he asked meekly, but with a twinkle in his eyes.
"Yes, you can. Because it's only for one night... and you're going to be spending the rest of your life with me."
"I'll remember that," he murmured, and sealed his promise with a kiss.
...
The author smiled as she finished typing this chapter, wishing that she could suspend her characters in time and leave them frozen in a moment where they were secure in their love and nobody else could touch them.
Perhaps if she just stopped writing this story, this could happen on its own naturally...
"No!" barked the Great Ruler of the FanFiction universe. "I forbid you to do such a thing! You know the rules, Author... you must continue your story, no matter what the consequences..."
The author sighed. She knew it was futile to argue with the Great Ruler.
And she nodded obediently, hoping that her loyal readers and reviewers would not desert her in the tumultuous chapters to come...
...
Author's Note: Many thanks to the-reverie, CCandNiles4ever, LaurenLaneLover, shyangel65, Lucky Starzz, ladybrin, rx9872 and StarryPeaches for reviewing the last chapter. Special thanks to StarryPeaches – your review motivated me to continue with this story!
Follow me on Twitter (the link is on my profile) for updates on stories, sneak peeks at chapters and if you just want to say hi.
And if you haven't already, please check out my Valentine's Day one-shot called 'Stupid Commercial Holiday'. Reviews would be appreciated! xo