The audience applauded friendly when Cole entered the stage. He wore a dark suit with an orange dress shirt, the first 3 buttons undone. No necktie. He flashed the audience a charming smile and approached Elise energetically. He greeted Elise nonchalantly with a kiss on the cheek.
Phoebe's mouth dropped open and she couldn't do anything but stare at the stage. Piper's eyes almost popped out of her head and Paige held on to her glass very tightly.
"Why is it suddenly so hot inside here?" Elise asked jokingly, fanning herself out. Phoebe never had bad taste in men, she just didn't know what she wanted, Elise thought.
Cole had taken Elise by surprise with his action and smiled teasingly at her, his hands now nonchalantlyin his pockets.
"Mr. Turner, you strike me as the peppy one," Elise said, "Since you seem so comfortable up here, why don't you tell us something about yourself."
"My Pleasure," Cole answered casually and started to tell the audience something about himself.
Phoebe listened attentively. She was curious with what CV he would come up. But after hearing the first three sentences, she discovered that he was making up a very nice story with only rare true points, like the place of his birth or his worldly profession.
"I guess your rules have just become useless," Piper remarked towards Paige.
"I don't understand it," Paige said shaking her head, "he isn't assistant district attorney anymore. He doesn't even have a license anymore. And I thought we had a dem…"
"Rule number one," Piper jumped in just in time.
"Sorry, I just got so mad. He is ruining our night," Paige boiled.
"I don't believe that!" Darryl fumed, "how can Cole pose for the court? He hasn't been on the court's payroll for years!" Sheila was stroking Darryl's hand soothingly.
"They must have gotten really desperate," Nick spoke up, "taking someone on just for the auction."
"Well, he won't beat our guy," Alan assured.
"Phoebe, are you ok?" Piper asked looking at her sister. Phoebe hadn't uttered a word since Cole had appeared, "Phoebe?"
"Does she have this every time a good looking guy crosses her way?" Robert whispered to Alan, who just shrugged. Darryl's friends the Halliwells were nice but they acted a little bit strange from time to time.
The interview with Cole went on and the audience was evidently pleased. They yelled and clapped at Elise and Cole's remarks towards each other.
"I think he does great," Sheila said. The heads of the Halliwells and of her husband turned towards her.
"Excuse me?" Piper asked incredulously.
"Hey, it's for a good cause. The audience is entertained and the bidding goes well. What do you care about?" Of course she knew that Cole was Phoebe's ex-husband, but that was 2 years ago. She didn't understand why they still got that agitated about him.
"It's just, I didn't expect to meet HIM here," Paige said disgustedly. "Thought this was a place for good, nice people, you know?"
Darryl's colleagues were watching the exchange uncomprehendingly. So Darryl shortly explained that Cole was Phoebe's ex-husband and that there still were issues.
"Earth to Phoebe," Piper tried again," Hey sis, it's not that bad. He probably doesn't even know you are here."
Phoebe nodded wordlessly. What should she say to her sisters? That all thoughts of hunky fire-fighters had left her immediately when Cole had stepped on stage with that smile? That she felt jealous of the woman who would win the evening with him? That she wished to unbutton some more of those shirt buttons to uncover the delicious body underneath? They wouldn't understand it. On stage he showed how enchanting he was if he wished to be, and Phoebe sighed. Unfortunately he hadn't wasted any charm on her since he was back. It was very unsettling for her.
"It's just so annoying how all these women look at him. I mean they don't know who he really is," she said to her sisters.
"It's better for them, believe me," Paige remarked.
"Mr. Turner, please tell us, with your office job, how do you stay in shape?" Elise asked. Elise was very receptive of what the audience – the female one – wanted to hear about.
"I do combat training regularly," Cole answered, "I offer the winner a training hour with me, if she is interested." He said it very innocently. The audience appreciated his offer with some clapping and shouting.
"They wouldn't last five seconds in a training session with him," Phoebe said dismissively.
"Honey, they don't think about real training, I guess it's a little kinkier," Paige hinted.
Phoebe blinked once, "Come on Paige, I mean.." She took a look at the women who were bidding at the moment. She let her empathic power reach towards them. A strong wave of admiration, desire, anticipation and excitement hit her.
"Maybe you are right." Bitches! Phoebe thought.
The emotions of the women mingled with her own feelings. By tapping into her empathic power she had just fuelled her own emotions with theirs. She reached for her mineral water with a shaky hand and downed it. She needed to get a grip on herself. Hell, Phoebe- you are no sixteen-year-old on your first date, she chastised herself. Show some dignity.
Elise was coming to the end of the auction, counting down. Hands were waved and signs given as the women struggled to win the evening with the handsome district attorney.
"And the fabulous evening with our charming assistant district attorney Mr. Turner, goes to the lady with the red dress at the back. Would you please come up here and pick up your gentleman?" Elise announced. She couldn't hide a surprised look on her face.
The other bidders turned in the hinted direction, as did Paige and Piper.
"Which poor woman has purchased him by auction?" Paige muttered.
But the word stuck in her throat when she looked at Phoebe. Phoebe sat there looking very embarrassed but her arm was high in the air.
"Phoebe, put down your arm, you are bidding," Piper hissed. Phoebe obliged and looked uneasily from one of her sisters to the other.
Cole searched the audience for whom had purchased him by auction. He hoped it wasn't some old hag like for the doctor. He noticed 2 things. First- the bidding had come from a table where the Halliwells sat. Second- Phoebe was wearing a jaw-dropping red dress. Could Phoebe have bid on him? Hardly.
"She already bid on him," Paige recognized, "she won him."
"Then she has to go back on her bid," Piper demanded.
"I don't think that would look good," Sheila said, "It's just an evening, Piper. She won't die from it. But I wonder how you can afford the amount she just bid."
"I'm wondering this myself," Piper growled, looking daggers at Phoebe.
"Phoebe, you have to come for him. They are waiting," Darryl pressed Phoebe, who looked a little bit dazed.
Phoebe got up shakily and made her way towards the stage. Her head was spinning. Piper was mad at her like hell, as probably was Paige. She herself wasn't sure at what point her arm had risen itself in the air. It probably had something to do with her tapping into the emotions of the other women. That had to be it, Phoebe reasoned with herself.
She got herself together. She couldn't embarrass herself in front of all these people. She just hoped that Elise wouldn't mention that Cole was her ex-husband. It would look rather pitiful if the audience knew she had bid on her ex-husband.
Some heads were turning towards her when she walked by the tables. Partly because they were curious who had purchased by auction the 4th bachelor, partly because they recognized her as ASK PHEOBE. Probably some of the men were looking because of her very revealing dress.
Phoebe recognized some faces from her office and cringed. She would be the talk of the day in the office on Monday that was for sure. She had to come up with a credible story by then, as to why she had bid on Cole. But now she had to get through with the interview.
Phoebe stepped up the stairs to the stage and Cole offered his hand to her. His eyes were sparkling with a hint of amusement. She took his hand gracefully and forced a smile to her face. He let go the moment she was safely on the podium.
"I see chivalry is not forgotten," Elise praised and the audience appreciated Cole's gesture with some more clapping.
Cole stepped to the back while Elise was interviewing Phoebe. Elise's eyes were darting between Cole and Phoebe and she couldn't stay truly serious. Phoebe signed a cheque for an unbelievable amount and then left the stage.
She took Cole's arm and they strode back to her table together. She caught Jason's surprised glance when she passed his table on Cole's arm. She would have to talk with Jason later. Elise had told her he wanted to speak to her.
Could an evening be any worse? How big was the possibility you met two of your ex significant others on the same evening at the same place? And given that, how big was the possibility to find your next significant other at the very same evening?
"Phoebe, are you listening to me?" Cole's voice came through to her.
She turned her glance towards him angrily, "I'm not Cole, and I won't. Just so we are clear. This was just an accident and I don't plan on spending this promised evening with you. I just keep up appearances here. When we are at our table you excuse yourself and then please get lost." She was angry with herself for stumbling into this embarrassing situation, but took it out on him.
"Why did you bid on me than?" he growled angrily, "do you enjoy making me miserable?"
Phoebe was spared an answer because they reached her table. She let go of his arm quickly and rushed back to her seat. Cole kept standing next to the table. Phoebe's sisters and Darryl were glowering at her wordlessly. Sheila and Darryl's colleagues looked at Cole with interest. They were anxious to get to know the man who sent the others into a spin by his mere appearance.
Cole scanned the company at the table shortly. There were equally as many men as women at the table. It looked like each of the girls had come with company. It looked like Phoebe wasn't at the event with Jason. Interesting. He had recognized the guy holding the speech at the start of the auction as the one from the manor. And Piper was here without Leo surprisingly.
"Paige, Piper, Darryl," Cole greeted the persons he knew. They returned his courtesy with short nods. "And for the ones who may speak with me," he smiled at the others, "My name is Cole Turner but you probably know me better than I know any of you after this short auction of me," he joked.
Sheila found him even more charming close up. She offered him her hand and introduced herself as Darryl's wife.
Cole aspirated a kiss on her hand and praised, "Never knew Darryl had such exquisite taste." Sheila giggled and blushed slightly. Darryl threw her an annoyed glance.
"Don't fall for that Sheila," Paige advised, "it's just the shiny surface."
Cole also shook hands with all of the guys and learned that they were all cops.
"There is one thing I really want to know," Darryl started.
"And that is what?" Cole asked innocently.
He hadn't bargained for meeting the Halliwells at this occasion. It looked like they were equally surprised but additionally pretty pissed, probably because Phoebe had bid on him. He smirked. Phoebe did something they didn't approve of and he got the blame. Looked like a pattern to him. He tried to not take offence of it.
"What did you do to become assistant district attorney again? Last time I checked, your license as a lawyer was revoked due to misconduct."
"May I invite you for a drink at the bar Darryl?" Cole offered, "I tell you but not in public."
Darryl hesitated shortly but Sheila urged him to go. She knew Darryl wouldn't let go of this matter until he had fathomed it. Cole and Darryl left for the bar and Phoebe exhaled audible. Her sisters looked like they were ready to explode.
"I have to talk with Jason," Phoebe excused herself, getting up swiftly, "Elise told me he wants to speak with me." Phoebe fled the table leaving her seething sisters behind. Anything was better than to quarrel with Piper and Paige in their current mood. Phoebe approached Jason's table and was surprised to find Elise also sitting there.
"Hi Jason," she greeted. He got up and brushed a kiss on her cheek. "Elise didn't tell me you were coming to town." She threw a reproachful glance towards Elise.
"It's not her fault Phoebe," Jason defended Elise, "I told her not to tell you. I wanted to surprise you." He smiled at her.
"How have you been?" he asked his eyes sparkling. Wow he still looks gorgeous Phoebe thought.
"I'm fine. I had a rough year with my family though," Phoebe said and Jason's face turned serious.
"But everyone is all right?"
"Yes, yes," Phoebe assured.
Elise watched their exchange attentively. She was rather amused that both of Phoebe's ex-lovers were present at this event. The girl was trouble with a capital T.
"Want to see if we still do the best waltz on this side of the ocean?" Jason teased with the intention to get away from Elise's prick ears.
"I'd love to," Phoebe answered, as she took his arm. It was good if Cole saw her together with Jason. It would discourage Cole from any moves towards her.
-------------------
Darryl was playing with the Whisky glass in his hand. "How did you manage to get on the stage for the court? And why?" he asked Cole gloomily.
Cole was leaning against the bar with his back and watched the dance floor. Phoebe had just appeared on it with Jason. They seemed to have fun. He turned around and took a sip of his own glass.
"I didn't plan on it, Darryl, it just happened," Cole said, staring into his glass for a moment, still not over the confusion Phoebe had caused inside him.
"Come on Turner, you promised to tell me, don't give me the shit that you hadn't your finger in the pie," Darryl claimed impatiently.
"Darryl, you could try to be a little nicer to me," Cole chastised. He hadn't done anything to Darryl but he was acting very hostile to him.
"Go on already," Darryl urged, "never thought your were a mimosa." He was still pissed at Cole for defeating the SFPD bachelor in the bid.
Cole rolled his eyes unnerved, "I'll tell you Darryl, and if it is only to get rid of you. But you have to keep it a secret. I can't have you spill it around the police station," Cole looked inquiringly at Darryl.
"I will," Darryl promised quickly and added as he saw Cole's doubting face, "really ok. I give you my word."
Seemingly assured, Cole continued. "Judge Davis approached me some days ago, and asked if I would do them a favour. In exchange she offered to activate my revoked lawyers license again. It was a bargain I had to go for." Cole finished his drink and set the glass down.
Darryl started at Cole for a second and then sneered shaking his head, "Never knew Judge Davis was that fond of you." He downed the last content of his glass swiftly.
Cole raised an eyebrow, "I don't think that's the case. The old hag made my life hell in the courtroom too many times in the past. I guess she was just looking for someone who would do it and not embarrass the court. I fit the bill." Cole still had his back towards the dance floor, he watched the bar staff do their work, uninterested. It was better than to watch Phoebe flirting.
Darryl turned his attention to Cole again. "So for how long are you playing the district attorney? I just want to be prepared if I run into you in case of an investigation." If Cole was a real district attorney again he would probably have to work together with him again. Not something he was looking forward to.
Cole shrugged, "I have to stay on the payroll for some months. It would be suspicious to the press if I was fired only some days after this event. We'll see, as I haven't any plans yet."
Darryl threw a look at the dance floor. His wife was dancing with one of his colleagues. "I have to rescue my wife from Alan's bad dancing ability," Darrel announced as he threw some coins on the bar, "she doesn't look so happy."
He nodded curtly at Cole, "thanks for letting me in on this. I guess I will see you around then". He patted Cole shortly on the shoulder and aimed for his wife.
Cole looked after him, but in reality scanned the dance floor for Phoebe. He knew it wasn't doing him any good, but he just couldn't help it.
tbc
Please Review! Hope you liked this one better than the one before?