Chapter 4

Angel started to laugh. "The kitten is developing claws. I like it, there's passion inside you, who would have thought?" he said, smiling. "I agree to your conditions. Keep the car. You're going to need it. I want to buy your jewelry. I'll send you the check tomorrow, so I can give it back to you, when you're my wife, that is."

She said nothing and his smile widened, "It's settled then. Winner takes all."

"Wait I...I need time."

"But of course, I'll play fair; you'll be in accounts first. And in three months, I'll make an evaluation of your progress." He kissed her lightly on the lips. "We have a deal. I'll let Jenn know about our little bargain."

"Her name is Jenny!" Buffy snapped.

"She likes to be called Jenn. Just try to relax, Buffy and you'll find out all sorts of nice things."

"From you?" Buffy asked scornfully, worried as his smile slowly died and the mockery fading away.

"You know better than that," he said quietly his eyes intent. "I'm not nice. I'm merely making time until I own you."

"You won't own me." The jovial man had gone and Buffy was looking at the face of power.

"What do I say to that?" His eyes watched her. "Maybe it would be best for me to simply ignore it. You're necessary, part of my plans. Add the fact that I want you and we have inevitability."

"My head hurts. I'm going back to bed."

"You know, Buff. You're too old to sleep alone." Angel taunted.

"You have no right to speak to me like that."

"I'm just saying a girl your age should be married by now."

"Maybe you're right starting tomorrow, I'll start looking for somebody."

He almost spring at her, his arms twisting her round and capturing her before she could escape.

"Start thinking like that and you'll know what danger is," he grated. "If you start looking in the office..."

"I'm not that stupid," she was annoyed. His eyes were burning into hers.

His grip eased, "I want you, though, Buffy, as I never wanted anyone. Maybe you're only a dream but I still want to keep that dream, a golden girl wandering down the staircase and right across to me because I own you. I first saw you like that, but then you wouldn't know, would you? I was there long before your father introduced us. I was part of the crowd of guests in the hall and I saw you. The dream started then. I wanted you to be walking to me, not to some of your lame boyfriends. One day you'll be walking to me."

His voice was low and brooding as she looked into his eyes, feeling herself being drown.

"Buffy?" When she showed no sign of moving, he murmured her name and held her closer. She wasn't resisting and his hands began to move softly against her back. She was being drowned closer to the hard male body, being stroked by hands that carried their own message. His fingers slid under her hair, massaging her nape, making her feel weak and dizzy. She suddenly froze.

"Don't..." she stepped out of his embrace, frightened.

"I won't hurt you, Buffy."

His voice was tender, and for a moment she wanted him to continue, wanted him to kiss her, wanted to know just what it would be like when those hard arms hold her and those lips captured hers. But only for a moment. Now she felt like just she escaped from a great danger.

He watched her with narrowed eyes, looking angrier by the second.

"You really think I'm a bastard, don't you?" He snarled.

"Go to bed, Buffy," he turned away from her.

Buffy went to her bathroom, and took some aspirins to try to ease her headache, then pulled the curtains and lay down on the bed. But, found impossible to even doze.

Her headache eased as Buffy began to relax and her mind drifted a little. She remembered Angel's fierce anger when she'd backed out, and her own fear when he had caught hold of her. But the fear hadn't been because he might hurt her, but of her own weakness.

Buffy drifted into a disturbed sleep, and dreamt of Angel being a sadistic vampire. He was standing in front of her, telling her she was his property, her life depending solely on him, and with a roar, he grabbed her shoulders and bite down her neck, draining her life essence.

With a cry Buffy sat up in bed, her heart thumping wildly, her hair pricked up on her neck, and sweat on her face. Her hands were shaking as she raised them to her neck.

A knock sounded at the door and she realized that it must have been what had awakened her. "Just...just a minute." Groping for her shoes, Buffy straightened her clothes and went to the door.

It was Jenny, carrying a tray, "You haven't eaten today, Buffy, Mr. O'Connor just called, he was worried about you. He was asking me what you ate and how I could tempt your appetite." She paused. "When are you going to marry him?"

"I'm not going to marry him!"

"Whatever you say, sweetheart, although I still think you're insane and Mr. O'Connor is humoring you. Buffy, a man like that does not need to run after any woman. If you're not careful you're going to lose him."

"I wish I could."

Jenny shrugged, and ignored her. "The media has gone, Mr. O'Connor said he had sent a statement and everything is settled." With that being said Jenny turned on her heels and left.

Buffy was glad to hear the good news, but wished that she'd been left to go on sleeping. Until she caught the faint aroma of the food. Lifting the silver dish covers, Buffy found a Cesar salad starter followed by grilled salmon. Suddenly she felt hungry and sat down to eat, her spirits rising with each mouthful of the delicious food.

The following day she went to take a stroll in the park, determined to push Angel out of her mind as much as she possibly could. But he wasn't easy to shut out. She knew that he wasn't going to just stand by and let her unmolested. She needed to find a place of her own; at least she would be able to relax half the time. Determined to try as soon as possible, she drove to LA the next morning and bought a copy of the newspaper and went to look at three places that were available. But all three were in built-up areas, very small and extremely over-priced. Dejectedly Buffy went back to Sunnydale.

Buffy parked her car and walked into the entrance, her thoughts miles away.

But then someone stepped in front of her and took hold of her arms.

"Hello, Buffy."

"Faith?"

"How are you?" She asked quietly. "I just heard about your father. I'm sorry."

"Perhaps you didn't hear everything."

"I think I did. What difference does it make? I liked him. Even if he never approved of me. How are you managing?"

"As well as it can be expected, you know how close we were."

"Yes, you were everything to him. Are you still staying here? I heard O'Connor bought your house."

"Yes he has, I staying until I can find a place of my own."

"Have you looked yet?"

"As a matter of fact I looked at some this morning, but they weren't what I was looking for." Buffy answered grimly.

"Why don't you come and live with me? We can split expenses, I know my house is tiny and isn't what you're accustomed, but..."

"Are you serious? I love your house, are you sure you want me to move in?"

"Definitely, we used to be best friends, we can be again, besides I feel lonely," Faith affirmed. "And I need you, the life of a struggling actress is not easy. I need a friend to support me."

Buffy grinned; her life had taken a sudden change for the better.

"When do you want me to move in?" Buffy asked happily.

"What about now, I'll help you pack."

"Great, let go inside. Meanwhile I'll tell you all about the bargain Angel and I did. You're not going to believe it."

Angel gave Buffy a week to settle, and she was grateful. She and Faith were having a great time together, they went to the movies, to the beach, and Faith introduced Buffy to junk food, they spent countless of hours talking about everything and nothing at all, restoring the ties of friendship that once united them.

Angel was waiting anxiously for her at the front of the building. "I was begging for you to change your mind."

"Dream on." Buffy said airily.

Angel smiled despite himself and she liked his smile for it was so warm. His eyes were twinkling with mischief. Having been poised and cool for so many years, Buffy had thought she could pull this off without trembling; but she was so wrong.

She smiled nervously as Angel lead her inside the office, people were looking funny at her. He introduced her to the accountants like she was just an ordinary employee, despite of her being Hank Summers' daughter. She was like the rest of them. They all looked at her sympathetically, having heard about her situation. She did not want their pity. She was proving things to both herself and Angel and started to work with a determination that surprised everyone.

She soon found out, she liked it and became absorbed not noticing the time.

Angel came at lunch time to talk to her.

"I'm taking you to lunch," he said slowly.

"No need, I've been eating well."

He roamed his eyes to her body, noticing the few added pounds and a healthy tan. "I can see that."

"But I did not ask if you been eating. I said I'm taking you to lunch, as simple as that."

"Do I have to go?"

"I'm your boss now, remember."

"Just lunch, right."

"Right."

"Not a chance you'll disappear?"

"Not likely. Come on I'm starving."

They arrived to an elegant restaurant, the kind of place she and her father used to frequent. She looked around nervously fearing to be recognized.

"Your table Mr. O'Connor."

The hostess appeared and fawned on Angel. Everyone seemed to be looking at them and Buffy felt herself edging closer to him as they walked through the crowded restaurant.

"Relax, nobody's going to ask you anything," he took her arm firmly, pulling her closer to him. "Chin up, look at the world in the face."

"Even when it's staring at me?"

"Well I hate to disillusion you, but they're starting at me."

"They've seen you're a blood sucking vampire?"

"That's better." He smiled. "They're looking at me because I just bought a hotel in Hawaii."

He helped her into her seat, and then sat opposite, his eyes sparkling with amusement.

"A hotel, why?"

"It's something I always wanted. I'm flying there tomorrow to complete the transaction."

"But you don't know about the hotel industry. You're an engineer."

"I'm a fast learner. Besides, Cordelia is helping me with this."

"Cordelia Chase?"

"Do we know another Cordelia?" he asked her, clearly enjoying her distress.

"She's a fashion designer, what can she possibly know about hotels."

"You'll be surprised."

"Are you going to elaborate on that?"

"Why waste our time talking about Cordelia, when we can discuss more delightful topics, like say, you for example." Buffy stiffened with apprehension.

"Don't take life so seriously," he advised. "If you were a bit more light-hearted you might even enjoy yourself."

"That's difficult when I'm under a threat."

"Wrong. You're being pursued. Hasn't any man told you before he wanted you?"

She didn't know what to say. He sounded gentle and amused. Actually, nobody ever had told her they wanted her before. She was too shy to initiate those things, had been under her father's protection for too long, Hank never allowed her to stay late in the first place.

"You just want a wife with social status and an heir," she said tightly.

"We discussed this before, I want you. I want to look at you and know you're mine. And it doesn't have to do with social status."

"Why did you bring me here?" she asked coldly.

He smiled thinly. "To give you an opportunity to tell me all about yourself."

"And you?" she replied. "Are you going to tell me all about yourself too?"

His eyes settled on her. "Of course my sweet."

"Oh, it might be amusing to know what has made you as cold and sadistic as you are now."

He gave a small smile. "Throwing insults already?" he sighed. "You have no intention of telling me about yourself, have you? It doesn't matter; I know all about you."

"What do you mean?"

"I know you don't like steak and adore chicken. You love strawberries and hate pears. You like champagne, white, dry wine and sweet liquors. You always eat your soup and you never spill it in your dress."

She stared at him in astonishment. Suddenly Buffy was laughing, the first time ever that she had laughed when he was near, and his eyes gleamed with interest; narrowed and dark.

"Laughter lights up your face, makes your eyes glow." He said softly.

His gaze was so intent that she dropped her eyes and his hand came out across the table and captured one of hers. She raised her head and looked at him, impossible to look away.

Buffy had driven herself hard, all week and by Friday night she was drained. She arrived home early, and Faith as waiting for her impatiently.

"Good thing you're early, B. I have great news! My agent just called, guess what?" Buffy's tiredness evaporated, Faith's happiness was contagious. "I got the part!"

"Congratulations, Faith."

"Thanks B, we're going clubbing tonight. Let celebrate!"

"I never went to a club before," Buffy said shyly.

"You're going to love it; I'm calling some friends to meet us there."

"Faith? Over here," al tall, blond and handsome young man, pushed his way to the crowd.

"Riley, this is my friend Buffy," Riley grinned delighted to meet her.

"Is nice to meet you Buffy, come on and meet the gang."

"Hey, lighten up, girl. We're here to have fun." Faith advised.

And they did...much to Buffy's surprise. A few bottles of wine later and a lot of laughter, they all piled into two taxies and headed for some new restaurant Riley had heard of.

They got out from the cabs laughing like mad as they took a short walk to the entrance of the restaurant. But when they strolled towards the door all the fun left Buffy's face.

On the point of leaving the place, was Angel, elegantly dressed, and not alone. Clinging from his arm was Cordelia Chase.

Buffy slipped behind the group hoping Angel would not see her. But his whole attention was to the gorgeous brunette as he ushered her into the passenger seat of a waiting car with a lingering kiss on her lips, before walking around and slipping into the driving seat.

Buffy stared at the departing car with a sick feeling in the pit of her stomach.

She watched until the car was out of sight, unaware of Faith watching her closely.

Buffy straightened her shoulders and looked around meeting Faith's knowing glance.

"Riley," she called. "Where are we going next? I feel like dancing."

Faith had deserted her, she disappear with one of Riley's friends before she could protest. Riley kindly offered to escort her home. Buffy graciously accepted his offer.

"Thank you, Riley." Buffy took Riley's offering hand as she stepped out of car. "Good night," she smiled at him and started walking towards her front door.

"Buffy! Wait." Buffy stopped and turned to face Riley.

"Yes?"

"I'll call you tomorrow," and before she could react Riley kissed her fully in the mouth.

She never noticed the black Mercedes parked opposite side of the road. Or the thunderous expression on the face of its driver.