Chapter 5

Early the next morning, the doorbell rang. Niles answered it, and was surprised to see C.C. standing there. "Oh, it's you again," he said dryly. "I thought Mr. Sheffield got rid of you last night."

"Listen, Butler Boy, today is not a good day to start with me. I haven't slept all night, and I am in a verybad mood."

"Really? How can you tell?" Niles shot back.

"Just shut up and get Maxwell down here," C.C. replied.

"Oh, all right," he said with a sigh. He headed upstairs to retrieve his boss. A moment later, the two men returned.

"Look, C.C., if you've come here to try to change my mind, you're wasting your time," Maxwell said.

"I've been up all night trying to find investors for your stupid play!" C.C. exclaimed. Realizing what she'd just said, she quickly added, "Sorry," with a small smile.

"Well, I appreciate that, but-" Maxwell began.

"I got us $5 million!" C.C. interrupted.

"Wow," Niles said, whistling. "Who did you-I mean, what did you have to do to get that kind of money?"

"I know people! I called in a few favors," she replied with an exasperated glance at him. C.C. sighed and turned to Max. "I guess I might've been a little out of line with you and Nanny Fine last night. I just thought it might help smooth things over if I could get you out of the jam I got you into."

"Well, I must say, that's very generous of you," Max replied, genuinely touched.

"Maxwell, you act as if this is the first nice thing I've ever done!" C.C. said. "So, what do you say, are we partners again?"

Max sighed. "I guess so. But you've got to understand that my relationship with Fran is very important to me. I will not have anyone interfering with it, even you."

"Don't tell me you actually plan to continue seeing Nanny Fine," C.C. said in shock.

"Yes, I do," Max replied. "If you think you can handle that, then you're welcome to come back to Sheffield-Babcock Productions. If not, there's the door."

"OK, Maxwell, if that's the way you want it," C.C. said as she started towards the door. Just as she was about to leave, she turned back around. "I've spent the last 25 years of my life in the theater. It's all I really know how to do."

"That's not true," Niles said. "I've seen you fetch a newspaper. You could always look for a position as a family dog."

"Niles, please. Hold off on the insults for just a minute," Max said. Turning to his business partner, he said, "Are you saying you want to come back, on my terms?"

C.C. sighed dramatically. "I can't believe I'm actually saying this. Yes, I want to come back."

"And?" Max prompted.

"And I'll put up with you and Nanny Fine," C.C. said reluctantly. "But does she really have to sit on the corner of your desk in those ridiculous short skirts and babble on about those children of yours?"

"C.C., she's the nanny!" Max exclaimed. "That's what I pay her for."

"Right," C.C. said under her breath. "That's what you pay her for." Max gave her a 'look.' "Sorry," she said sheepishly. "Force of habit." C.C. smiled innocently at Maxwell, but her fingers were firmly crossed behind her back.