Chapter 9

Susanna clicked her tongue and walked back into her apartment. Shaking her head, she ran a hand through her hair and went back to Keith.

"Who was that?" he asked, immediately resuming kissing her neck.

She smiled, but hesitated. "Mrs. du Valliand," she finally answered.

He didn't seem to care as he went back to her lips. "I should get going," he murmured after a moment or two.

"Why?"

"I have to baby-sit my nephew tomorrow morning," he said, but showed not signs of stopping.

She smiled, and put her hand against his lips. He sighed.

"Then you should get some sleep," she said coyly, before kissing him lightly on the forehead. He merely rolled his eyes and pressed his lips against her fingers.

"Good night," he said.

"Good night," she replied, smiling at him.

He just chuckled a little, and then walked to the door, and was gone. She sighed, and put the bowls and glasses into the dishwasher. Flipping the kitchen light off, she went to her bedroom and changed into her pajamas. She then reached for the phone and dialed Vivian's number.

"Hello?" Vivian's perky voice came.

"Viv, have I got things to tell you."

Ryan went home with a goofy smile on his face. Everything was going brilliantly; the dinner last night had been an absolute success. Ryan hadn't hidden the truth about Darcy from anyone, and looking around the room last night, every single one of those prissy, uptight nobles was utterly and completely shocked. The prince, bringing a secretary to dinner! they would say. How horrific!

And soon the news would reach his mother in Telera, right where he wanted it to go. He was being a rebel and loving every moment of it.

Of course, Darcy was a lovely girl and he did have a good time with her… and she had been perfect! She hadn't known a thing about royalty or etiquette; the way she had eaten each course with the wrong fork was brilliant. She had received stares all evening… and to top it off, she didn't know how to ballroom dance!

Of course, he had told Susanna the truth, that he hadn't slept with Darcy. But why did he get so worked up when she didn't believe him? It wasn't like he particularly cared what she thought, anyway. She could be so infuriating… but then why did he kiss her on the cheek?

He made an irritated noise in his throat and slumped against the taxi cab's seat.

"Rough day?" the driver asked kindly.

Ryan chuckled. "Just a bit."

"Work?"

"Women," Ryan said flatly.

The driver laughed. "The worst kind of trouble, eh?"

"I had no idea."

"Yeah, they're a tough thing to pin down. Change their minds a lot, don't they?"

"One minute you think you're on their good side, and then suddenly they hate you!" Ryan said heatedly, more to himself than the driver.

The driver laughed again. "A vicious cycle. Here we are… what the blazes is going on?"

They had pulled up to the Plaza where there stood an enormous amount of photographers and burly security guards. Ryan caught a glimpse of the limo parked in front, and his stomach dropped.

He got out of the taxi carefully, and handed the money to the driver, thanking him. He then tried to walk through the mob, finally emerging in front of the stairs. He raised his eyes to the last thing he wanted to see.

"Hello, Ryan."

He took a breath. "Hello, Mother."

Monday morning, Susanna rolled out of bed at precisely seven o'clock. She smiled to herself as the sun shone through the curtains; September had come.

Fall was Susanna's favorite season, mostly because the fashion was so fabulous. She eagerly jumped out of bed and threw back the curtains. Opening the window, she took a deep breath. The air smelled of autumn.

She flicked on the TV to check the weather, and sure enough, as it always did in September, the temperature dropped and the forecast was calling for a breezy 55 degrees. After showering, she picked out with glee a brown corduroy jacket with a light white turtleneck and brown skirt. On her way out the door, she dug out a matching hat and she was set for fall.

Walking into the office, she gave a chirpy good morning to the staff, who stared at her as if she had gone insane.

"You feelin' alright, honey?" Tracy, Mr. Simmons' secretary, asked her.

"Just fine, thank you, Tracy," Susanna answered.

She turned the corner and was relieved to see a curly blonde head behind the desk.

"You are never allowed to not come to work again, Miss Clevell," Susanna said jokingly serious. "Your replacement was crap."

Darcy smiled. "I'm so sorry Miss Bennet, it's just that-"

Susanna waved her apology away. "Don't. It's fine. Just get me some coffee and consider it forgotten."

Darcy smiled and scurried away. Susanna looked back down the hall, where the entire staff stood, staring at her with their jaws dropped.

"What?" she said indignantly.

"You sure you're alright?" asked Sally, the advertisement woman.

"I'm fine, why?"

"Well, you said good morning to Annie, Susanna."

"So?" Susanna said, noticing Annie cowering in the corner.

"Well, usually you just tell her she looks like dead pig on crack with a face and wardrobe that not even her mother could be proud of."

There was a silence. Susanna suddenly took off her hat and felt her head. "Good Lord!" she cried. "I was pleasant and friendly! What's wrong with me?"

She threw open her office doors and went in, tossing her briefcase aside and sinking onto the couch, closing her eyes. The door opened slowly and Darcy crept in and bent down.

"Coffee?" she asked softly.

Susanna opened her eyes and took the cup gratefully. "Darcy?" she asked. "Do I seem… out of character this morning?"

Darcy bit her lip. "A bit, yes."

Susanna sighed and took a sip of her coffee, deciding to change the subject. "How was the dinner?"

Darcy's face fell, but she immediately tried to mask it. "Fine."

"Pff," Susanna made a disdainful noise. "Please, no dinner with Teleran nobles is ever fine. They're boring, dull, and completely inane."

Darcy gave a small smile. "I don't think they liked me very much," she said quietly.

"Of course not," Susanna said. "They don't like me, and I grew up in Telera as a noble." But then she noticed Darcy's heartbroken face. "They don't like anything… different, that's all. You weren't what they were expecting. Don't be concerned about it."

Darcy smiled. "Thank you, Miss Bennet."

Susanna nodded, and Darcy stood up and went back to her desk.

Susanna worked steadily until lunch, at which time she put back on her jacket and headed to the door. Instead of just Darcy at the desk, however, there were two other girls. Darcy seemed to be trying to get them to go away, but to no avail.

"Is that your boss, Cinder?" one girl asked haughtily, passing a glance over Susanna. The two girls couldn't be more different; one was tall, svelte, and blonde, and the other was short, hefty, and brunette. They both, however, had a look of scorn and arrogance on their heavily made-up faces, decked out in somewhat trashy designer clothes.

"Yes," Darcy said quietly. "Miss Bennet, I'd… like to introduce my stepsisters, Briana and Iriana."

"Nice to meet you," Susanna said in her best fake voice.

The two girls did not respond in kind, but instead cracked their chewing gum and raised their thickly drawn eyebrows. They turned their attention back to Darcy.

"My laundry had better be in my room by five o'clock, I've got a date," the tall one said to her.

"Mine, too," the short one squeaked, but the tall one just rolled her eyes and pushed the short one down the hall.

"I'm so sorry, Miss Bennet, I didn't know they were coming," Darcy said.

Susanna just shrugged. "It's fine… why do they call you Cinder, if I may ask?" she asked.

Darcy blushed and looked down. "No, it's fine, it's just… it's a long story."

"I have a long lunch," Susanna said.

"Well, my room in their house had a fireplace but it got clogged all the time and cinders would blow all over my room, usually on me since I sometimes fell asleep reading in front of the fire," Darcy explained, her eyes still on the floor.

"How old are you, Darcy?" Susanna asked.

"Twenty-three. My birthday is in October."

Susanna nodded. "I'll be back in an hour."

"Have a good lunch, Miss Bennet."

Cinder… Susanna thought as she walked away. Oh the irony of it all.

"What on earth did you think you were doing?!"

Ryan was sitting in the presidential suite of the Plaza the morning after his mother's arrival, trying to bear her wrath. She was livid; her upper lip was quivering, she was so angry. Apparently, news of Darcy had reached her faster than he had thought, and apparently, it was enough to make her fly to New York as soon as possible.

"A properly brought up prince of Telera does not go around gallivanting with a secretary! A secretary, for heaven's sake, Ryan!" she railed on. "The consequences of you actions are not only embarrassing to me, but to the entire country! How dare you do this to me! Do have any idea of the work that I will have to do to clear this up? Your brother, of course, will have to come home early from his honeymoon to help me. I'm ashamed of you! To not think of your duties, or myself-"

He couldn't stand it any longer. "Think of you?! Has it not occurred to you that maybe, just maybe, I have feelings for this girl? Dammit, Mother, we don't live in the damn 16th century! Why should I think of you, or my duties? Don't you get it? I came here to get away from you and my fucking duties! And if I want to ask a girl out, whether she be a duchess or a secretary, it's my business!"

But his mother was not to be swayed. "I do not care if you came here to get away from me, Ryan, you are still a representative of Telera while you are here! It is not proper-"

"Who the hell cares if it's proper! I refuse to be restricted from who I want to see just because it isn't proper! And if you can't live with that, then let me be!" he yelled, and then stormed out of the room without a look back.

Once to his room, he let out a breath and tried to relax his tense muscles. Before he could wrap his mind around what just happened, his cell phone rang.

"What?" he said irritably.

"Say something that'll make me angry." It was Susanna.

"Why?"

"Just do it."

"Alright. My mother is here and has just yelled at me for not respecting my duties because I took Darcy to dinner."

"What? What the hell does she think this is, 1512?" she said angrily.

"I know," he said, walking to the balcony to get some fresh air. "But I yelled back at her."

"Uh-oh."

He sighed. "Bad idea?"

"Really bad. The whole time I was convincing my parents to let me come here, I always restrained myself from yelling."

He grunted. "How do I tell Darcy?"

"Tell her what?"

"That I can't see her anymore."

"What?" she screeched, and he had to jerk the phone away from his ear. "Oh no, you're not giving in that easily."

"What can I do? She'll disown me."

"You have to stand up to her, gain her respect. It's what I had to do."

"Really?"

"Yeah. The worst thing to do is back down, they'll walk all over you."

Her words knocked some sense into him. She was right, he couldn't give in now.

"You're right."

"Of course I am," she said, and he could tell she was smiling.

"I'm going to call Darcy, ask her out tonight."

"Exactly."

"I am not going to be defeated," he said with confidence.

"Of course you aren't."

"I can do this."

"Of course you can."

He stood up straight, nodding to himself. "Thank you, Susanna."

"You do realize that we are now comrades," she said, a sound of laughter in her voice.

"What?"

"You are the only other person I have ever known to stand up to a Teleran authority figure. We now share a bond."

He laughed. "Alright, then. Wish me luck, comrade."

"Good luck," she said in a mock military-esque voice.

He chuckled and hung up. Well, this was it. He was going to stand up to his mother, the queen of Telera… but only one thought ran through his mind.

He was dead meat.

Ryan's words had successfully re-ignited Susanna's usual cynical demeanor. How dare the queen just parade over here to tell Ryan what to do? It was not only unfair, it was tyrannical!

"Down with the monarchy, up with the republic!" she suddenly chanted.

"Here, here!" a questionable group of men said near her.

She slapped a hand to her head. She had given plenty of people many reasons to lock her in an insane asylum today. She threw out her trash and walked the short distance back to the office.

"Miss Bennet!" Darcy chirped up as she returned. "Ryan just called and asked me to dinner again! It must not have gone as badly as I thought!"

Susanna noticed the others in the office whispering. Her brief friendliness from the morning passed as swiftly as it had come, and she gave a small smile.

"Good. Send those Gucci files into my office when they come," she said to Darcy, whose face fell a little, but she nodded. Susanna went into her office and sunk into her chair.

She didn't mean to hurt Darcy's feelings, but the relationship between a boss and an employee should only be business, right? It was already weird that Darcy was going out with Ryan, but she decided then and there that it wasn't going to interfere with work.

Oh face it, she thought. You're jealous. Keith hasn't called… you haven't seen him since Saturday.

Susanna sighed and let her head fall to meet the desk. It was true, Keith hadn't called… but why? He was the one to make the first move, so why should she be the one to call?

And what about that conversation with Ryan? Comrades? Where the hell had that come from? Of course, it was true that he was the only other one she knew that had stood up against the restrictions of Teleran society. But when had they gotten all buddy-buddy? Why had she called him in the first place?

"Too many questions," she muttered.

"I'm sorry?"

Her head flew up to find Keith standing at the door, a single rose in his hand.

"Nothing," she said quickly. "It's been a… strange morning."

He smiled as she stood up and walked around her desk. He closed the door behind him and then, as if like lightning, he pulled her toward him and into a deep kiss.

"What's that for?" she questioned.

"First, I'm sorry I haven't called," he said, presenting her with the rose. She took it with a smile. "Second, I got a job with the Metropolitan and want to take you out for a victory dinner."

She smiled and hugged him. "Congratulations."

"Thank you. So?"

"What time?" was all she asked.

Susanna spent an abnormal amount of time getting dressed for dinner with Keith. According to him, he was taking her to a very fancy restaurant and she should look her best. She finally decided on halter, somewhat low cut red dress that showed just enough but not too much leg. She swept her hair up, leaving just a few strands to frame her face, and placed a necklace around her neck from which dangled a long drop of silver that just hit the curve of her bosom.

At exactly half past seven, her door rang. Keith was looking awfully handsome in black slacks, a white shirt that was unbuttoned just enough to see a bit of chest and a black blazer. His mouth nearly dropped open when she answered the door.

"You look beautiful," he said finally, and she laughed a little at him.

"Ready?" she asked.

He nodded, and they left the building. They took a taxi that snaked through the crowded streets, even on a Monday night. It stopped in front of a beautiful marble building, whose gilded white steps led to a pair of gorgeous oak doors.

"Is this it?" she asked incredulously.

"Yes," he said, smiling at her amazement.

They walked up the steps and were escorted inside by a man in a smart-looking tuxedo. They were led through two glass doors and into a very beautiful room where people sat at white tables lit by candlelight, all dressed in their finest evening wear. While Keith talked to the maitre'd, Susanna passed her gaze over the large room. An oak dance floor stood in the middle, on which sat a piano playing a graceful tune. There were two levels, the second being just a step or two higher than the first. Some tables were enclosed in gossamer curtains, and some were long and held at least a dozen people. Suddenly, Keith took her hand and beckoned for her to follow. She trotted behind him as they were led to the second tier, their round table placed against the railing looking down at the floor below.

"It's lovely," Susanna commented. Keith smiled and handed her a menu. She took it gladly, trying to hide the fact that her stomach was growling. Opening it, however, she was shocked to see no more than five items on the elaborate, fanciful menu.

"This isn't just the appetizers by any chance, is it?" she asked hopefully. Keith had the same look on his face that she imagined to be on hers, but he only shrugged.

"We'll stop for burgers later," he whispered.

She smiled and figured it would do for now.

Ryan picked Darcy up at quarter to eight, and she arrived at her door in a lovely black dress. He was taking her to a new fancy restaurant he had heard of uptown. He smiled; Susanna would be proud.

They arrived by taxi at the restaurant, which was a gorgeous marble building, with golden-lined white steps and grand oak doors. Darcy's mouth hung open as she stepped out of the cab. Ryan smiled at her, and she smiled back. It seemed his smile could ease any of her fears.

They were led to a pair of glass doors where Ryan gave the maitre'd his name. They were led immediately to a table on the first level of the enormous room, right next to the oak dance floor. The tables were all rather close together, but Ryan sat Darcy in her chair and then eagerly opened the menu. His stomach dropped. Of course, like all of these identical fancy restaurants, there was next to nothing on the menu.

"I'm just going to visit the restroom for a minute," Darcy said. He smiled at her, and she walked away, for a moment lost but then claimed by a friendly waiter. Ryan forgot the lacking menu as he passed a glance over the room.

Suddenly, he gasped. Susanna! His menu flew up to cover his face. Wait, this was stupid. He had no reason to hide from her. He slowly lowered the menu so just his eyes could see over the top. Keith. Of course. He quickly suppressed his unreasonable anger, though. She was right, he had absolutely no cause to not like whom she chose to date.

But him? She was smiling, lit up by the soft candlelight. She looked stunning in a low-cut red dress, her eyes dancing with laughter. He hit himself with the menu… this was no time to be physically attracted to Susanna. He was here with Darcy, to stand up to his mother! But then again, Susanna was very beautiful. But that was just it… she was perfect, too perfect. She was a Teleran noble, she was beautiful, and would make a perfect princess. Just what his mother would want.

Susanna didn't notice him as he sighed heavily and leaned back in his chair. No, it was Darcy who was perfect. She was innocent, a lowly secretary, and, if he had any luck, not wealthy. She was making her way back to him, knocking over a tray of water glasses as she went. He chuckled, and put a smile on his face as she sat down. She awkwardly tried to undo the fancy napkin, successfully sending her fork clattering to the floor. Ryan laughed and helped her with the napkin, and then beckoned to a waiter to get another fork.

Darcy, however, wasn't laughing. In fact, she nearly had tears in her eyes.

"What's wrong?" he asked worriedly.

"I'm sorry, Ryan," she said, her voice shaking a little. "I just… don't feel like I belong here you know?"

"Look, fancy restaurants like this can be intimidating, you just-"

But she was shaking her head. "It's not just the restaurant. I just don't feel like I should… be with you. You're a prince, Ryan, a prince! I barely know what that means!"

He took her hand and tried to comfort her. "Don't think of me as a prince," he said softly. "Just think of me as a man that you met, and, hopefully, that you like."

She looked at him, her eyes reassured. She nodded. "I'm sorry. I was being silly."

He smiled. "Now, let's see… I'm thinking, maybe, if we order everything on the menu about three times we may hold over until we can leave."

Susanna and Keith had ordered, trying to discreetly order more than one thing. The waiter finally became suspicious, and they surrendered their menus.

"I'm just going to visit the restroom, do you mind?" Keith asked.

She shook her head and he left. She contented herself for a moment or two by passing her finger through the flame of the candle, but the waiter glared at her so intensely that she dropped her hand to her lap. She looked over the room, until her eyes fell on… Ryan?

Panicked, she flew down and hid herself behind the table, pretending to fix something on her shoe. Wait a second… why was she hiding? She had no reason to hide from Ryan and Darcy… except that it would be really awkward if they met. Ryan seemed to be having a great time; he was laughing and smiling, holding Darcy's hand. Susanna made a sound in her throat. She didn't want to admit it, but she had been somewhat hoping that Ryan really wasn't having a good time with Darcy. Why couldn't he have that much fun with her? They certainly had more in common than Ryan and Darcy. What did they talk about? Fax machines?

I am a terrible person, she thought. I was actually hoping that Ryan was using her! She forgot about her shoe for a moment and just hung there, looking crooked and probably pretty stupid. He, however, looked incredibly handsome in a light blue shirt, his eyes lit up with laughter. Why couldn't he look like that when he was with her?

Oh, right. I forgot. She was Teleran. And a noble. And perfect, as far as his mother probably thought. But Darcy… Darcy was everything that Susanna was not. She was innocent, and awkward, and improper. She was almost always happy, plus she was definitely not wealthy. She was the perfect tool for standing up to his mother.

"Susanna?"

Susanna started and subsequently hit her head against the table. Holding it to suppress the pounding she emerged from below the table to find Keith looking at her with an expression of perplexity and humor on his face.

"My… shoe," she just said.

He smiled. "Come on, let's dance." He held his hand out. She sneaked a quick glance to Ryan and Darcy, who sat right next to the dance floor.

She took a breath and said, "Alright."

They walked to the other side of the room and down the steps to the floor, where a few couples were dancing slowly to the soft piano. Keith drew Susanna in close, and she rested her head against his shoulder. The other dancers blocked them from Ryan's view, but a knot grew in Susanna's stomach all the same. Keith was brushing kisses against her bare shoulders, and she smiled and instinctively let her nails softly caress the nape of his neck. Suddenly she saw Ryan and Darcy stand up and make their way over to them. Susanna's shoulders fell a little, but she placed a small smile on her face as they neared.

"What a coincidence," Ryan said. "Keith," he said, nodding to Keith who had let Susanna go for the moment. He nodded shortly back.

"Oh, Keith, this is my… secretary, Darcy Clevell," Susanna said. Keith and Darcy shook hands, and an odd look passed between them. Susanna raised an eyebrow to Ryan, who only gave her a silencing look. The two pairs began to dance again, until Keith's beeper vibrated against both their waists. He looked at it quickly and gasped.

"My brother," he said. "His wife's pregnant and she's in labor. Susanna…" he bit his lip.

"Go," she said simply. He gave her grateful look, and passing a quick glance to Ryan, placed a passionate kiss on her lips.

"Thank you," he whispered, and then quickly made his way out.

"I'm just going to run to the restroom," Darcy said at just that moment. Ryan looked confused, but nodded and she left as well.

"Just one dance?" he asked Susanna.

"Might as well," she replied, and took his hand. They danced in silence, cheek to cheek, and a million thoughts raced through Susanna's head. The tension was thick, but neither gave any impression that they noticed it. The song ended, and soft applause rippled throughout the room. Susanna took a small step back.

"I should probably leave," she nearly whispered, trying to avoid his eyes.

He took a step toward her and said, "Susanna-"

"Ryan?"

Darcy stood behind them, and Susanna took a larger step back this time.

"I'm going to get going," she said. "See you tomorrow, Darcy."

"Good night, Miss Bennet," Darcy replied.

"Good night, Ryan," Susanna said to him. He was looking at her with mingled expression, one which she did not care to understand at the moment. He only nodded, and then turned back around to Darcy.

Susanna walked out of the restaurant, holding her temples. When she got outside, it was pouring rain. She laughed sarcastically.

"Perfect," she murmured.

"A cab, miss?" the man in the tuxedo said.

She shook her head. "No, thank you." And with that, she walked down the steps and went home in the rain.