Moving On Up

She met Pierce at a coffee shop. Almost by accident. She had just been minding her own business, heading into work, when a Mercedes CLK 320 pulled up and a handsome, young man in a Versace suit had got out and entered the Starbucks. Well, what choice did she have but to follow?

She had sidled into the coffee shop, joined the line behind him and then ordered the exact same coffee he did. Once the order was given she shuffled down the counter to where everyone was waiting for their drinks and 'accidentally' brushed against Mr. Versace.

She smiled and apologised, he smiled back and said he was sure it was his fault - and twirled his car keys round his fingers so she could see he drove a Merc. Well that was a come on if she'd ever seen one.

She pointed to the beautiful car just visible outside the window, 'is that yours?' she asked, fluttering her eyelashes and smiling admiringly.

'Yeah, it's new - I just fancied a change, you know?'

'A change from what?'

'A BMW.'

'Very sharp. You get good mileage?'

'Pretty good - though you know what it's like in the city. I live up in the hills, just a little place for city living - but I have a lap pool, it's OK driving up round there. It's better out of town though. I got a family home in Montecito - and the drive out there is just … phenomenal.'

'Sounds it,' she smiled.

The barista shouted out the coffee order. Of course, she had very cunningly asked for the same drink, so they both stepped forward to collect it - and then laughed in confusion. 'So - an americano with double espresso shots and hazelnut milk is your tipple of choice too, huh?' the man said.

'Oh definitely. Every day. I can't get my morning started without one.'

'The lady can have this one,' he told the barista - who handed the coffee to Cordelia. Mr. Versace's name was written on the side of the styrofoam cup: Pierce.

A moment later, Pierce took the second coffee and looked at the name written on his. 'So… Cordelia, could I maybe give you a lift anywhere?'

She beamed, brighter and wider than possibly she had ever beamed before. 'Oh that's so sweet. I work just a few blocks from here, it would save me so much time.'

So he escorted her out to his car, ushered her into the passenger seat and by the time they arrived outside the office he had invited her out to dinner the following evening at Le Petit Renard. Which she had accepted gratefully, of course.

Doyle turned the corner, just as she and Pierce pulled up. The car was a convertible, so of course he saw them, though he pretended not to. She smiled to herself. He was jealous. It was nice. She liked having two men interested in her, she liked having men be jealous over her … even if only one of her suitors could afford to keep her in blue boxes for the rest of her life, even if only one of them was a serious contender - it was still nice to be wanted.

...

Doyle was standing by the coffee maker when she entered the office. 'Is there coffee she asked?' dumping her store bought one into the trash, it was really gross - she'd have to find a way to change Pierce's taste in hot beverages because she couldn't live a lifetime of drinking this.

Doyle handed her a mug of coffee. 'So - uh - who was that guy?' he said, trying - and failing - to sound casual.

'Pierce.'

'Pierce?'

'Yep - we just met at the coffee shop. He's taking me out to dinner tomorrow night.'

'Pierce is quite the fast worker.'

She laughed. 'Oh, Doyle - don't pout. It's just dinner... For now.'

'I'm not pouting. Who's pouting? If you've just met though - are you sure it's safe?'

'Well, I met him in the sunlight so I'm pretty sure he's not a vampire.'

Doyle shrugged, 'OK - not a vampire, but that doesn't mean he's safe.'

But Cordelia only laughed again. 'Oh, Doyle, this is L.A - not Sunnydale! Now if I were back home he would almost certainly turn out to be some hideous slime monster. But this is a big city - full of humans. He isn't going to turn into some green skinned, red eyed, hideous demon freak and try to eat me. He's just a nice, normal guy …. Who just happens to be rich … and handsome.'

'Right - yeah - right.' He turned away from her then and wandered out of their office, heading downstairs - presumably to look for Angel. Cordelia narrowed her eyes and watched him leave. He seemed to be taking this very hard. Something she had said seemed to eat right away at him.

That was ridiculous.

Sure, they joked around. She let him flirt with her. She had fun with him - but that didn't mean … Pierce was what she was looking for in a man. He was husband material. Doyle was … Doyle material. The two things were totally different. There was nothing between Doyle and her and they both knew it really.

And she totally only told Pierce to pick her up at the office for her date because it was safer than telling a relative stranger where she lived. It definitely wasn't because she wanted Doyle to see her going out with another man and make him jealous. She didn't need Doyle to be jealous when she had Pierce, so that couldn't be her motive in going back to the office before her date.

And when she got ready oh so carefully, that was all for Pierce. Sure, Doyle would see her all dressed up like this but - that was coincidence. This was totally not for his benefit. Not at all. This was for Pierce - who could change her life, or at least - change it back to the way it was supposed to be.

She wasn't even going to let herself think about Doyle - not that she ever thought about Doyle - when she was going out with a man who could keep her in the manner to which she was accustomed. Pierce could give her back everything she had lost to the IRS - and nothing could make her happier. And that was all that mattered.

But when she entered the office and overheard Doyle grousing to Angel, she couldn't resist going in to talk to them - just to rub Doyle's nose in it a little bit.