Chapter 13

"Charlotte, just the person I wanted to see," Fitz said peeking his head into her office.

"Since it is my office, I would hope it was me you wanted to see."

"Is now a good time to talk?"

"I don't know you tell me, is it?"

"Darcy is out of the office picking Lizzie up, so-"

"They are both conveniently absent. Come in and close the door."

"So," Fitz said taking a seat.

"Lizzie and Darcy?" Charlotte ask.

"I know you don't know Darcy very well, and he doesn't make the greatest impression, but I swear him and Lizzie are perfect for each other."

"They do seem to have a certain chemistry."

"He is crazy about her. Her really loves her."

"I know, he told me so this morning. Which is why I'm agreeing to talk to you now. Lizzie is crazy stubborn. Darcy might be perfect for her but the fact that he matches her mom's criteria as well will not make this easy."

"I get it, Lizzie is a commitment phoebe just to spite her mom."

"Oh it's more than that. Lizzie despite all her cynicism and sarcasm is a romantic. She believes in only the deepest love."

"I know I saw her videos."

"The deepest love for anything, not just marriage. it's like she lives in the 1800s. Which has lead to some negative responses and certain beliefs and prejudices on Lizzie's part. She believes that guys are jerks and because of that the only way she will achieve happiness is through a rewarding career. She wants a job she loves because she doesn't believe she will find a guy she can love that will love her for who she is."

"So why does she believe all guys are jerks?"

"Most college guys don't bother with a third date when they find out they won't be getting any anytime soon. That was in undergrad. Now she uses grad school to avoid dating and the pressure to have sex."

"Are you saying-"

"Yes. Lizzie is a virgin. she has trust issues. She wants to be in love before being physically intimate but actively avoids any opportunity to find it so she can't get hurt."

"If she doesn't date, they can't dump her over sex, and her mom doesn't freak out on her losing a boyfriend?"

"Exactly. She actually doesn't even realize most of the time when a guy is into her. She remains oblivious and sees no other options then having a career as her path to happiness. She can't get hurt that way."

"But Darcy would never hurt her."

"She's spent most of her life hearing how beautiful Jane is, how lively Lydia is, and how nerdy and bookish she is. She doesn't see herself as someone a guy would pick and stick around for. That instant chemistry her and Darcy had, it scared her. Why else do you think she had to put so much energy into hating him? He rejected her right away Fitz. She was hurt and without the hate-"

"There was attraction, but she didn't believe it was returned."

"And the attraction was strong enough to scare her. She felt something for him and was rejected. Self preservation kicked in. She lashed out like a scared cornered animal."

"So Lizzie isn't a commitment phoebe because of her mom, but she is scared of getting hurt. And Darcy shot himself in the foot when he first met her."

"Oh her mom doesn't help matters, Lizzie would hate for her mom to be proven right. Everything in Lizzie-land is hunky-dory while she believes her perfect guy doesn't exist and her mom will never be right."

"Well I do love a good challenge."

"On the bright side she's already in love with him."

"She is?"

"Oh yea, definitely. She of course is completely unaware of this fact."

"And how are you aware of it then?"

"I know Lizzie. The only reason she would have been so upset about the internet hating Darcy is because she cares for him. She is protective of those she cares about. The more she cares the more upset she gets if she thinks they have been hurt. She practically had a panic attack on the phone about the internet hating Darcy. She loves him."

"That's great."

"Not so fast. Remember, she is in denial. And happy there. And stubborn. And doesn't trust him yet."

"So what's the plan?"

"Exposure. The more time she spends with Darcy, the more she gets to know him and lets her guard down, the more she will trust him."

"And trust is something she needs to feel to admit she loves him. So what do we do?"

"Ah nothing. I'm not about to embark on any convoluted plans."

"Nothing? We can't do nothing."

"You can't do nothing. As long as Darcy doesn't hurt her I can."

"Really you're not gonna do anything?"

"Really. Other then talk to Lizzie, I'm not going to set any traps. But be my guest if you feel the need to."

"I will," Fitz said. He hoped Darcy talked to Bing soon. With a secret between them about her sister Lizzie would feel betrayed and if Darcy waited too long it could destroy their relationship.

...

"So, you and Darcy last night. Do you want to talk about it?" Charlotte ask Lizzie as they sat together in her office.

"He, I think he likes me."

"You think? You see because to me Darcy doesn't strike me as the type to kiss a woman in a hallway that he didn't like."

"No, I mean after the videos. It doesn't make any sense."

"It makes more sense than him starring at you because he loathed you."

"Why me though? It doesn't make sense?"

"Matters of the heart rarely do."

"I'm a 24 year old grad student who lives at home with her parents and no real plan for her future."

"Your focused on graduating. That's a plan. And living at home is smart. It allows you to focus on school."

"All I have to recommend myself to a guy is snark and bad judgment."

"Maybe he thinks your snark is cute."

"Maybe," Lizzie said rolling her eyes.

"Don't doubt yourself so much Lizzie. You are over thinking this. Just try going with it. Waiting to see what happens. Go with the flow. And now go work on your prospectus. You have grad school to graduate."

"Oh hey, did I tell you Fitz set up another shadowing opportunity for me. Dr. Gardiner was really enthusiastic about it. Evidently she'd planned on placing me there herself. At someplace called Pemberley Digital."

"Darcy's company?"

"What?"

"Pemberley Digital. It's Darcy's company. His family owns it."

"Shit."

"You seriously didn't know?"

"No. And neither of them bothered to inform me last night."

"Well in Darcy's defense announcing he owns a multi-million dollar company while watching videos of you hating on him for being rich would be a tad awkward."

"Charlotte," Lizzie said with a glare knowing she was right.

"At least you found out now before you showed up there in January."

"That would have been awkward."

"Now go your prospectus won't write itself, you have shadowing to do and a Ricky Collins to interview.

...

"Thanks for meeting with me Mr. Collins."

"I'm glad I could be of a serviceful use to you in your academic pursuit of higher education and knowledge. And it is truly your most bountiful lucky blessed day because our VC here at Collins and Collins, Ms. DeBough, a truly wonderful, successful extraordinary businesses woman has once again in her gracefulness and condensation invited you, a lowly grad student, to partake in the grandeur of a sumptuous dinner at her most splendid estate Rosings tomorrow evening. Now what do you say to that Ms. Bennet?"

"It sounds lovely?" Lizzie said hoping Ricky Collins didn't hear the question in her voice. Naturally he didn't but instead went off on a long monologue about Catherine DeBough. Thankfully he didn't insist she take more notes this time. Once there was a pause she quickly grasped the chance to thank him and escape his office.

Once the door closed behind her and she was safely in the corridor she let out a groan and began flexing her hand. It had cramped up on her while taking notes during her interview with Ricky. Rounding the corner she slammed into a warm hard wall.

"Lizzie," the wall said.

She looked up and froze as she saw Darcy. "Darcy," she chocked out.

"Is your hand okay?" He ask her nodding at the fingers she had been flexing.

"I just did my CEO interview with Ricky Collins. I made the mistake of using a pen and paper for my notes. My hand cramped up a bit."

"Here, let me," Darcy said taking her hand in his. Be began massaging it. "So how did it go?" He ask her.

"I might have to wade through an ocean of notes, but there is some useable stuff in there. Ricky kept insisting I 'write this down'. Next time I'm using a tape recorder. Or just filming it."

"With your remote shadowing maybe you could do it via e-mail."

"That's a good idea. I hadn't thought of how I would handle my office interviews. I'm Skyping into meetings with them, but with the time difference the less face to face screen time the better."

"I'm happy to help Lizzie," he said continuing to massage her hand.

"Pemberley Digital is your company," Lizzie blurted out.

"I know."

"Of course you know. You're the CEO. Why didn't you tell me last night?"

"Would you have agreed to shadow there if you knew?" Darcy ask quietly.

"I, I don't know."

"I really hope you will come to Pemberley still Lizzie."

"I don't think I can back out now, not without giving Dr. Gardiner a really good reason," she said with a nervous laugh.

"Do you want to back out?" Darcy ask carefully.

Lizzie looked at him as she thought about it. "No," she said finally. "I want to come to Pemberley."

"I'm glad," Darcy told her ducking his head to hide a small smile.

"Will you tell me as about it? About Pemberley?"

"I'd love too."