Chapter 3: In Da Club

They were at yet another trendy club. In the VIP section. Xander had made it so it was cordoned off for just the three of them.

Buffy and William found themselves taking a well-deserved breather.

They'd let themselves go at first three clubs – dancing, drinking expensive champagne and feasting on sumptuous food.

Xander had introduced them to a slew of celebrities – actors and actresses, boxers, pop stars, all on a first name basis. Trying to impress them no doubt.

Once they were settled in, he'd excused himself. To take an important call. Apologising profusely.

"So?" William asked Buffy.Leaning back on the plush sofa and crossing one leg over the other. "Whaddya think?"

"Of what?" Buffy asked. His wife was perched on a leather recliner. Daintily sipping some no doubt pricey champagne.

William raised his brows, then waved his hands about. Buffy shrugged. Then relented when he gave her a skeptical look.

"It's a real trip," Buffy admitted. She craned her neck to look down. Surveying the entire club from her vantage point. "Seeing how the .1 percent live."

"Don't get used to it," William warned. Which made her snicker.

The conversation momentarily ceased. Then, William couldn't help himself.

"And him?" William asked.

Buffy gave her husband a quizzical look.

"What about him?" she asked. Dismissively.

"You tell me," William said.

"What…what do you want me to say?" Buffy asked.

So innocently he nearly believed her. Nearly.

"Tell me what you think of him," William said. Insistently. Finding that he was enjoying himself pushing her buttons. Messing with her.

"I mean…." Buffy began. Then trailed off. Shifting in her seat uncomfortably. "He's…obscenely wealthy."

"So, you know. Immediate scumbag alert,"she continued. Lamely. Not looking at him.

"That's low-hanging fruit," William observed.

"I don't know what you want me to say," Buffy said. Annoyance flickering in her eyes now.

"The truth," William said.

Buffy scoffed. Loudly.

"What?" William asked.

Suddenly, Buffy found herself a little more than annoyed.

"Do you really wanna know?" Buffy asked.

Fixing her husband with a stare.

"Sure," William said. Blithely. But he could feel his heart beat just a little faster.

"He's…" Buffy began. Then hesitated. Searching for the appropriate word.

"Charming," she settled.

Now, William scoffed.

"His big fat wallet is charming, more like," he snipped. Brushing some lint off his trousers. "Charms the pants right off the birds, I imagine."

"And handsome," Buffy said. Equally snippily.

William gave his wife a sharp look. Buffy's satisfaction – of getting William's attention as she'd intended – dissipated immediately in the face of his glowering face

"So, you think he's handsome?" William asked. Folding his hands across his body.

"In a boy-next-door way," Buffy added. Hastily. Her tone soft and reassuring. "If you're into that sort of thing, I mean."

William said nothing. His face was blank.

"I can see why some women might hypothetically…" she continued. His silence setting her on edge.

"So you like him?" William asked. Eyes narrowing.

Buffy stared at him dumbfouded. She said nothing.

"Will…" Buffy said. Then let out a nervous laugh. "We met, like, two hours ago. It's not like I know him."

"That's not a no, luv," William pointed out. Grinding his jaw.

"Ugh," Buffy ground out. "What's with you? Where is this coming from?"

"Just a simple question luv," William asked."Do you like him?"

William saw something flash in her eyes.

"I…." Buffy began. Then halted as something behind him caught her eye. William craned his neck over his shoulder. The billionaire was standing at the private upstairs bar now. Seemingly ordering them drinks. All the while his fingers furiously tapped his phone.

When Xander looked their way and grinned, William forced himself to smile and raise his own glass. When he looked back at his wife, he saw she was looking away.

"I don't," Buffy said. "Okay? So can you just, like, drop it?"

A false note ringing in her voice. Her face was red now. And she was refusing to look at him.

"Fine," William muttered. "Whatever."

He'd stormed off to the bathroom in a huff. When he returned he found his wife and the billionaire had taken up positions on the large, suede couch where he'd been sitting.

Not too close, but enough for William's comfort.

Xander's entire body was turned in Buffy's direction. The billionaire had his left hand thrown over the back of the sofa. His right hand was on his thigh. One of his legs was folded under him. The other was on the floor.

Buffy's legs were crossed. She was facing straight ahead. But the upper half of her body was twisted to face Xander. The conversation between them was animated.

When Xander leaned forward and waved his right hand about for emphasis Buffy bowed her head slightly. As if to concede a point. As well as conceal a little smile.

Her attempt was futile, William saw. So did Xander. He saw the billionaire lean forward eagerly, then say something. His wife's smile got a little wider. Slowly, at first. Then, a lot wider. Until the upper row of her perfect teeth were revealed. Then, she was grinning.

Whatever they were discussing, it seemed they were getting on swimmingly.

What the hell were they on about? William had wondered.

He saw the billionaire lean forward even further. And, raising his right hand in the air, extended it towards his wife. Seemingly to reach out for her. Before William could do or say a thing, he saw Buffy raise her own left hand, which had been resting on the couch. And extended it towards Xander. He saw his wife's face light up as their palms met in a high-five.

They laughed as their hands interlocked. For just a moment longer than appropriate. When their eyes met, Buffy withdrew her hand from his. Blushing adorably. Xander grinned wolfishly.

Now, neither of them were saying a word. Buffy was using her hand to begin picking some imaginary lint from the couch.

The billionaire was content to just lay back now. And watch her. A little smirk playing on his lips and a glint in his eye. Like a hawk eyeing its prey.

Pfft, William thought. Dream on mate.

"You two aren't talking about me, are you?" William asked. Snarkily.

Buffy whipped her neck up. So quickly it was a wonder she didn't suffer whiplash.

"Hi honey," she said. Her voice at least an octave too high.

"Hey," Xander said. Looking him over with casual disdain. "Your lovely wife and I were just discussing art."

"Uh-huh," chimed in. A tad too quickly. Guilelessly. "Xander was just telling me about some of his favourite pieces. It seems he's quite the collector."

"Is that right?" William said. Looking at Buffy and folding his hands over his chest.

"I collect some," Xander said. Self-deprecatingly. "Sadly, the best stuff is in people's basements. Like the…"

"Like the Louvre!" Buffy chimed in.

"Wow," Xander said. "You are quite the maestro."

William found himself lost.

"Sorry?" he asked.

"Only a fraction of the Louvre is on the walls, honey," Buffy said. In a familiar, patient, slightly embarrassed tone William loathed. "The rest…"

"Is in the basement," Xander finished.

With a self-satisfied smile that made Buffy do a double-take.

"No," she said.

"Yes," he said.

"You…. you've been in the basement of the Louvre?" Buffy gasped.

"I have," Xander grinned. "During a trip to France last year."

"How?" Buffy wondered.

"My dad is friends with half the French government ," he said. "But even that wasn't enough to get me entry. First, I had to prove my bonafides to the curator."

"And you did?" she asked. Shooting him a skeptical look.

"I was an art history major at Vassar," Xander said. Modestly.

"Wow," Buffy said. Shaking her head. "I did not expect that."

Buffy paused.

"So, what's down there?" she asked. Leaning forward a little.

"The really good stuff," Xander said. "Stuff no-one sees."

"Wow," Buffy said.

"Though I did manage to convince the curator to lend me a couple of pieces," he added. "They're hanging in my penthouse as we speak. Somehow, I just haven't gotten around to returning them."

"You lie!" Buffy gasped. Hitting him on the arm.

"See for yourselves," Xander said. Leaning back and stretching out. "I'd love to give you both a private tour."

By now, William had taken a seat. Feeling like a spare prick at the wedding.

Oh, I bet you would, William thought. Motherfucker.

"That would be awesome,"Buffy said. Unbridled joy in her voice. "Right Will?"

William shrugged noncommittally. Until his wife gave him a pointed look. Clearly, she was dying to see the artwork.

"Sure," William said. "I don't see why not."

"It would be my pleasure," the billionaire said. A gleam in his eye and just the hint of a smile at the corner of his mouth.

William felt his hackles raised. Instinctively, he knew something was off. Xander was playing some game he didn't yet understand.

But he chose to ignore it. Unwilling to deny his wife her greatest joy in her life – looking at fabulous paintings.

Telling himself to wait. That the look on the billionaire's face at the end of the evening, when he and Buffy walked out on him, hand-in-hand, would be well worth it.

"In the meantime," William said. Irritably. "Is there something you actually do for fun around here?"

Now, Xander grinned.