Chapter 4
As soon as the three were back in the limo, C.C. spoke up. "Maxwell, why did you run out like that?"
"In case you hadn't noticed, the party wasn't exactly going very well!" Max exclaimed. He quickly told the limo driver to step on it.
"What are you yelling at me for?!" C.C. asked.
"Because you're the one who made such a scene!" the Brit replied.
"Look, I know you're attracted to Nanny Fine," C.C. said, "But bringing her to a place like this is just asking for trouble! Haven't you learned that by now?"
"C.C., please!" Max replied. Turning to Fran, he said, "Don't pay any attention to her. You did nothing wrong tonight."
"What do you mean, she did nothing wrong? What about that stupid Dallas remark?" C.C. asked.
"I was just being myself," Fran said.
"That's right, C.C. I'll admit, Fran can be a bit brash from time to time, but she doesn't mean any harm," Max said, kissing Fran on the cheek.
"Oh, Maxwell, would you stop doing that?!" C.C. asked with a sigh.
"I'm a grown man, and I'll do whatever I bloody well want," Max replied. "If my relationship with Fran makes you so uncomfortable, then maybe you should seek other employment."
"Are you firing me?" C.C. asked, shocked.
"Yes, I suppose I am," Maxwell said. "I don't want to do it, but I'm tired of you interfering in my relationship with Fran."
"Mr. Sheffield, are you sure about this?" Fran asked.
"Of course I am," the Brit replied. "After the way you behaved tonight, C.C., I just don't think there's a place for you in Sheffield-Babcock Productions anymore."
"You can't fire me, Maxwell. I'm not one of your employees," C.C. said with a glance at Fran. "I'm your business partner. You'd have to buy me out of my share of the company."
"All right then, I'll call my lawyer first thing in the morning to see about dissolving our partnership," Maxwell said.
"Mr. Sheffield, you're just upset. Don't say anything you're going to regret later," Fran said, in an attempt to calm him.
"My mind is made up," Maxwell said. "I can't work with someone who is unable to respect my right to do whatever I bloody well want in my personal life."
C.C. was appalled. "Maxwell! I can see that your hormones have completely taken over your senses, so I'm just going to go home and wait until you cool off." With that, she angrily asked Maxwell's chauffeur to drive her home.
After C.C. was dropped off at her place, Max and Fran continued to ride home in silence. Fran finally spoke up. "Mr. Sheffield, are you sure you should've done that?"
Max chuckled. "Of course I am. Now I don't have to get Niles anything for his birthday," he joked.
"But I don't want Miss Babcock to lose her job on account of me," Fran said.
"Oh, don't worry about C.C. With all her connections, she'll be all right. All you need to be concentrating on is the fact that I love you."
Fran blushed. "I'm sorry I ruined your backers' party. How are you going to get the money for your show?"
"I guess I'll have to make some calls in the morning," Max said. "If worst comes to worst, I'll put up some of my own money."
"I thought you didn't like to invest in your own plays," Fran pointed out.
"Normally I don't, but I'm not going to let some stuffy blue-bloods keep me from doing a show I believe in."
"Do you think you can do it on your own, without Miss Babcock?" Fran asked.
"I'm sure I can. I was running this company by myself long before I ever met C.C."
"You know, most men in your position would've been furious if someone like me blew a big business deal for them," Fran pointed out.
"Don't you know by now that your outspokenness is one of the first things I noticed about you?" Max asked.
"Really? The first thing I noticed about you was your mansion," Fran joked with her trademark nasal laugh.
Max laughed. "I don't think anybody's ever made me laugh as much as you do. Well, not since Sara, anyway," he quickly covered.
Instinctively, Fran let out a small "Awww" at the mention of Sara. "Look, I know I can't undo what's been done to you and the children by losing Sara," she said. "But I do want to be a part of your family someday."
"Miss Fine, Fran, you already are a part of our family," Max said, gently putting his arm around her.
"I know that," Fran said. "And I love you all so much. It's just that, I would like to really be a part of the family."
Max looked at her for a moment, not quite understanding what she meant. "Oh," he said when he finally got it. "Um, Fran, I--I don't think I'm quite ready for that just yet," he stammered.
Fran laughed. "Oh, will you relax? That wasn't a proposal. I was just saying someday."
"Oh," Max said, trying his best not to look too relieved.
Soon the limo arrived back at the Sheffield mansion. Niles was waiting by the door when they walked in. Brighton and Maggie sat on the couch, anxiously awaiting their father's return.
Max turned to his butler. "Niles, the children were supposed to be in bed an hour ago."
"I know, sir, but they insisted on staying up to find out how things went," Niles replied. He reached into his pocket and took out several bills. "I can never resist cold hard cash."
"So, Dad," Brighton asked with a knowing wink. "Is there going to be a wedding?"
"I'll tell you all about it in the morning," Max promised. "But right now, you two should be in bed."
Reluctantly, the children headed up to bed. "I'm glad you got them out of the way, sir," Niles said. "Now, tell me, how did it go?"
"Niles, it's been a very long evening. What makes you think I'd be in the mood to relive it again so soon?" Max replied, exasperated.
"Oh, sir, please, I spend all day stuck in the house, cooking and cleaning while you go off to meetings with celebrities. I get so little excitement in my life," Niles said.
"Well, all right, old man," Max said with a sigh. "I might as well tell you now. The backers' party was a total disaster. No one's going to invest in our show all because C.C. made a scene."
"Niles, you should've seen it!" Fran exclaimed. "Mr. Sheffield kissed me in front of everyone, and Miss Babcock had a fit!"
"Ooh, tell me more," Niles said, suddenly interested.
"Well, I don't think you'll be seeing Miss Babcock around here anymore," Max said. "I had to let her go. She just cannot accept the fact that Fran and I are now together."
"Let me get this straight. You and Miss Fine are now a couple?" Niles asked. Max nodded. "And you fired Miss Babcock?" Again Max nodded. "Yahoo! I haven't been this happy since my butlers' glee club won the national championship!" Niles looked like he was about to do a cartwheel.
"Don't take it so hard, old man," Max said sarcastically. "Well, I think I'm just going to go to bed and put this whole thing behind me." With a sigh, he started towards the stairs.
"Night, Mr. Sheffield," Fran said. "I really did have a wonderful time tonight."
"I'm glad you enjoyed yourself, Miss Fine. Please don't feel badly about what happened. It was all C.C.'s fault," Max replied as he went upstairs.
When Maxwell was safely out of earshot, Niles spoke up. "Oh, I almost forgot, Miss Fine. While you were out, I went to the one-hour photo lab."
Fran looked at him, slightly confused. "What'd you do that for?"
Niles handed her a photograph. "Miss Babcock, remember?" he asked with a smile. "The pictures I took of her earlier. I had copies made for you, Miss Toriello, your mother, the children..."
Fran smiled. "You're terrible, you know that?"
Niles smiled back. "Thank you, Miss Fine."
As soon as the three were back in the limo, C.C. spoke up. "Maxwell, why did you run out like that?"
"In case you hadn't noticed, the party wasn't exactly going very well!" Max exclaimed. He quickly told the limo driver to step on it.
"What are you yelling at me for?!" C.C. asked.
"Because you're the one who made such a scene!" the Brit replied.
"Look, I know you're attracted to Nanny Fine," C.C. said, "But bringing her to a place like this is just asking for trouble! Haven't you learned that by now?"
"C.C., please!" Max replied. Turning to Fran, he said, "Don't pay any attention to her. You did nothing wrong tonight."
"What do you mean, she did nothing wrong? What about that stupid Dallas remark?" C.C. asked.
"I was just being myself," Fran said.
"That's right, C.C. I'll admit, Fran can be a bit brash from time to time, but she doesn't mean any harm," Max said, kissing Fran on the cheek.
"Oh, Maxwell, would you stop doing that?!" C.C. asked with a sigh.
"I'm a grown man, and I'll do whatever I bloody well want," Max replied. "If my relationship with Fran makes you so uncomfortable, then maybe you should seek other employment."
"Are you firing me?" C.C. asked, shocked.
"Yes, I suppose I am," Maxwell said. "I don't want to do it, but I'm tired of you interfering in my relationship with Fran."
"Mr. Sheffield, are you sure about this?" Fran asked.
"Of course I am," the Brit replied. "After the way you behaved tonight, C.C., I just don't think there's a place for you in Sheffield-Babcock Productions anymore."
"You can't fire me, Maxwell. I'm not one of your employees," C.C. said with a glance at Fran. "I'm your business partner. You'd have to buy me out of my share of the company."
"All right then, I'll call my lawyer first thing in the morning to see about dissolving our partnership," Maxwell said.
"Mr. Sheffield, you're just upset. Don't say anything you're going to regret later," Fran said, in an attempt to calm him.
"My mind is made up," Maxwell said. "I can't work with someone who is unable to respect my right to do whatever I bloody well want in my personal life."
C.C. was appalled. "Maxwell! I can see that your hormones have completely taken over your senses, so I'm just going to go home and wait until you cool off." With that, she angrily asked Maxwell's chauffeur to drive her home.
After C.C. was dropped off at her place, Max and Fran continued to ride home in silence. Fran finally spoke up. "Mr. Sheffield, are you sure you should've done that?"
Max chuckled. "Of course I am. Now I don't have to get Niles anything for his birthday," he joked.
"But I don't want Miss Babcock to lose her job on account of me," Fran said.
"Oh, don't worry about C.C. With all her connections, she'll be all right. All you need to be concentrating on is the fact that I love you."
Fran blushed. "I'm sorry I ruined your backers' party. How are you going to get the money for your show?"
"I guess I'll have to make some calls in the morning," Max said. "If worst comes to worst, I'll put up some of my own money."
"I thought you didn't like to invest in your own plays," Fran pointed out.
"Normally I don't, but I'm not going to let some stuffy blue-bloods keep me from doing a show I believe in."
"Do you think you can do it on your own, without Miss Babcock?" Fran asked.
"I'm sure I can. I was running this company by myself long before I ever met C.C."
"You know, most men in your position would've been furious if someone like me blew a big business deal for them," Fran pointed out.
"Don't you know by now that your outspokenness is one of the first things I noticed about you?" Max asked.
"Really? The first thing I noticed about you was your mansion," Fran joked with her trademark nasal laugh.
Max laughed. "I don't think anybody's ever made me laugh as much as you do. Well, not since Sara, anyway," he quickly covered.
Instinctively, Fran let out a small "Awww" at the mention of Sara. "Look, I know I can't undo what's been done to you and the children by losing Sara," she said. "But I do want to be a part of your family someday."
"Miss Fine, Fran, you already are a part of our family," Max said, gently putting his arm around her.
"I know that," Fran said. "And I love you all so much. It's just that, I would like to really be a part of the family."
Max looked at her for a moment, not quite understanding what she meant. "Oh," he said when he finally got it. "Um, Fran, I--I don't think I'm quite ready for that just yet," he stammered.
Fran laughed. "Oh, will you relax? That wasn't a proposal. I was just saying someday."
"Oh," Max said, trying his best not to look too relieved.
Soon the limo arrived back at the Sheffield mansion. Niles was waiting by the door when they walked in. Brighton and Maggie sat on the couch, anxiously awaiting their father's return.
Max turned to his butler. "Niles, the children were supposed to be in bed an hour ago."
"I know, sir, but they insisted on staying up to find out how things went," Niles replied. He reached into his pocket and took out several bills. "I can never resist cold hard cash."
"So, Dad," Brighton asked with a knowing wink. "Is there going to be a wedding?"
"I'll tell you all about it in the morning," Max promised. "But right now, you two should be in bed."
Reluctantly, the children headed up to bed. "I'm glad you got them out of the way, sir," Niles said. "Now, tell me, how did it go?"
"Niles, it's been a very long evening. What makes you think I'd be in the mood to relive it again so soon?" Max replied, exasperated.
"Oh, sir, please, I spend all day stuck in the house, cooking and cleaning while you go off to meetings with celebrities. I get so little excitement in my life," Niles said.
"Well, all right, old man," Max said with a sigh. "I might as well tell you now. The backers' party was a total disaster. No one's going to invest in our show all because C.C. made a scene."
"Niles, you should've seen it!" Fran exclaimed. "Mr. Sheffield kissed me in front of everyone, and Miss Babcock had a fit!"
"Ooh, tell me more," Niles said, suddenly interested.
"Well, I don't think you'll be seeing Miss Babcock around here anymore," Max said. "I had to let her go. She just cannot accept the fact that Fran and I are now together."
"Let me get this straight. You and Miss Fine are now a couple?" Niles asked. Max nodded. "And you fired Miss Babcock?" Again Max nodded. "Yahoo! I haven't been this happy since my butlers' glee club won the national championship!" Niles looked like he was about to do a cartwheel.
"Don't take it so hard, old man," Max said sarcastically. "Well, I think I'm just going to go to bed and put this whole thing behind me." With a sigh, he started towards the stairs.
"Night, Mr. Sheffield," Fran said. "I really did have a wonderful time tonight."
"I'm glad you enjoyed yourself, Miss Fine. Please don't feel badly about what happened. It was all C.C.'s fault," Max replied as he went upstairs.
When Maxwell was safely out of earshot, Niles spoke up. "Oh, I almost forgot, Miss Fine. While you were out, I went to the one-hour photo lab."
Fran looked at him, slightly confused. "What'd you do that for?"
Niles handed her a photograph. "Miss Babcock, remember?" he asked with a smile. "The pictures I took of her earlier. I had copies made for you, Miss Toriello, your mother, the children..."
Fran smiled. "You're terrible, you know that?"
Niles smiled back. "Thank you, Miss Fine."