A/N: This is one of my favourite parts in the movie so I hope you guys enjoy it, but whether you'll like what happens is doubtful – read on and see what I mean!

Chapter Nine

Haley checked herself in the front room mirror and, satisfied with her appearance, picked up her bag containing her change of clothes and called to her butler.

"Yes, Miss James?" he replied.

"I'm going out now, and if anyone calls for me could you please tell them that you don't know where I am or when I'll be back?"

"Of course, Miss James."

Just then the doorbell rang. Haley ran to the living room to hide as the butler answered the door.

"Hello, I'm here to see Haley."

Haley frowned. She could recognize Chris' voice. 'What does he want?'

"I'm afraid she's not at home," the butler told him, "but I could leave a message, Mr.…?"

"Keller," he replied and strode inside the house, "But it's fine, I'll wait."

"I don't know when she'll be back."

"Doesn't matter," Chris said and sat down in a chair near their front door.

The butler clearly didn't know what to do, and neither did Haley. To go out through the front door she'd have to pass Chris. She didn't mind talking to him, but he would likely delay her and then she'd be late meeting Nathan at the museum. She could go out the back entrance, but there was no guarantee that Chris wouldn't see her as she left the living room.

Haley decided to risk it, but just before she got inside the kitchen, Chris saw her reflection in the mirror she had previously been looking at herself in. "Haley," he called, standing up.

"Oh, hello," she said politely turning round, moving towards him.

"Your butler told me you'd left."

"Well I had, but I forgot something," she gestured to the large bag in her hand, "so I came in through the back entrance. I'm going now though; goodbye," she said to both men.

"No, no, wait a second." Chris held her arm.

"I'm late, Chris, it's nice to see you, but I have to go. Can't you come by tomorrow?"

"Not tomorrow, this is urgent, it has to be now. It'll only take a minute."

"But –" Haley began, but was taken off guard when he threw something to her. She caught it in both hands and opened the small red box to find a ring inside, with the biggest diamond she had ever seen on it. Haley was shocked. "What is this?"

"An engagement ring, of course."

"But - I hardly know you – and you don't know me either –"

Chris tutted her protests away. "There's time for all that. I make snap decisions and they're always good – made one of my best deals doing business that way."

He obviously thought this a compliment so Haley did her best not to be offended. "But, I don't consider marriage a business deal –"

He tutted again, and took the box out of her hands.

"Why don't you come by tomorrow and we can discuss this properly then, but I really have to go."

"Oh, you can go, but first, here."

"Oh no," Haley said as he tried to give her the ring.

"Think about it all you want, but keep that with you," Chris said and put the ring on her finger.

"But –" Haley shook her head and tried to take the ring off.

"Oh, I almost forgot." Chris suddenly twirled Haley, dipped her low in his arms and kissed her.

Haley opened her eyes wide, as she tried to push him away, but then noticed the time on his watch. It was five o'clock!

……………

Nathan paced outside the museum's main entrance. He had been waiting there for Haley for ages now. He had wondered if she had forgotten where they were supposed to meet and had stayed in the car park, but neither she nor her car were there when he checked so he was back here again. For a fleeting moment, Nathan wondered whether she had decided not to go through with the robbery after all, but he shook his head at the thought. She had cried when he said he wouldn't help her – he was still scolding himself for that incident – so that was ruled out too.

"I'm here, I'm here," a voice called. Nathan turned to see Haley run up the main steps; her large bag in hand, panting for her loss of breath. The round neck of her short silver cocktail dress revealed her slender neck and shoulder blades. The movement of her chest due to her heavy breathing distracted Nathan at first, but the he remembered himself.

"Where have you been? We were supposed to meet here at five."

"I know, I'm sorry, I was getting engaged."

"What?" Nathan exclaimed.

"Well…" Haley tried to explain it so it wouldn't sound too ridiculous, "this man, Chris Keller – the one I was with that night at the restaurant – he proposed and I couldn't keep you waiting so I ended up getting engaged to him. Am I very late?"

Tearing his eyes off the huge diamond currently encrusted in the ring on Haley's hand, Nathan checked his watch. "It's five-twenty, so we've got ten minutes before the museum closes; would you like to go back and marry him too?"

Haley rolled her eyes, before taking Nathan's arm and entering the museum with him.