CC looked out the window of Chandler's Rolls and watched the lights and pedestrians pass on the street. She let her head lean on it. She had left the bathroom after her chat with the nanny and slammed a few champaign glasses rapid fire. All it did was make her feel tired.
"That was quite a dance you shared with Maxwell's butler." Chandler finally spoke. "I imagine it took a bit of time to learn?"
CC continued to look out the window to hide anything he might see in her face. "Of course."
"The kiss too?" Chandler's voice was calm.
"That wasn't a kiss." She winced and then stilled herself. "It was as rehearsed as the rest of the dance."
"So then, to what do we owe this sullenness? Is it because DD married a butler?"
CC burned a little. "No. I think it'll be good for her for a while at least. She wondered why she was so annoyed, and she sat up still looking out the window. "He seems like a good, honest person who will take care of her."
Chandler smirked. "I gather he would, being a butler."
"Chandler." She turned a little angry and then stopped when she saw the surprised look on his face and quieted. "He's my brother-in-law now."
Chandler nodded and looked out the window himself. He looked as if he was in thought.
CC shook her head and wondered what she was doing. Three months ago, she was head over heels for this man. She leaned toward him and put her hand on his. "I'm glad you were there. It was just exhausting."
He turned to her and pulled her closer and she scooted toward him and he gave her a small kiss on the lips. CC looked up as his eyes turned to desire, but it was so different from the look she'd seen on Niles earlier.
She pulled back, she needed to do something about it. "Chandler, I'm so sorry. I just remembered, I need a file from Maxwell's office. Do you mind dropping me off there?"
"But it's so late."
"I forgot, and it's urgent. Can we call it a night? "
Chandler sighed and nodded as he hit the button to tell the driver.
CC let herself into the mansion in her wrap and made her way quietly to the kitchen. She stopped with her hand on the door and took a deep breath. She needed to know what was behind that look.
She was about to enter when she heard the low murmur of Niles' voice, it was followed by a woman's. She pushed the door open. "OK, Nanny fine, get out. I need to…"
Niles was resting his forearms on the woman's shoulders. His hands on her hair. CC's stomach turned. "Oh," She hadn't considered that Niles might bring the woman home. She hadn't considered that he might be interested in much more with that woman. She shook her head as Niles jumped away from the woman and the woman gave him an odd look, almost betrayed.
CC could feel her anger in her own eyes. "I didn't realize." CC left leaving the door swinging behind her. Niles turned to the woman "Wait here."
CC made it to the living room as he caught up to her and caught her arm. "Babcock, wait."
She turned."It was a mistake." He held her in front of him. "What was a mistake?"
I just…" she shook her head. It was all wrong. "I left something here."
He looked up at her his mouth open, the look was returning. "What?"
"A file." She whispered under her breath. He pulled her closer and her eyes closed. "What was she doing? "I need to go."
"Can you wait? I'll get rid of-"
Her, mouth opened and she heard the woman calling him before she entered and looked at the two of them. CC broke away. "Niles, I have to go." She turned on her heel as nonchalantly as she could and headed out the front door.
CC sauntered into the office mid morning to find Niles waiting for her under the guise of dusting. "He stopped and their eyes met before she continued to the couch and began unpacking her bag.
He went to the front of the desk and sat back on it. "Babcock, I know you wanted to talk to me last night."
"No." She shrugged and continued.
"Can you stop for a moment?"
She sighed and sat down on the couch facing him.
"The relationship with Shay is new, and I brought her back here to pick up a book that she loaned me."
"Niles, I don't remember asking you for the details of your personal life." She didn't want to know. She didn't want to be any part of it.
"Well, what I'm trying to say…"
"Niles, please, you don't owe me any explanations."
"On the dance floor…"
CC smiled. "Yes, we put on a great show. That's all it was."
"Then why were you here last night?"
"I told you. I forgot a file."
"Answer me quickly, which one?"
CC flustered. "Listen dust mop, that's all it was."
"I don't believe you, brunette."
"I'm dating, Chandler, so why would I be here for you?"
Niles smiled "exactly."
CC sat up straight. "Just because DD is breaking protocol doesn't mean I would." She regretted it after she said it. She'd just been on the defensive.
Niles raised his eyebrows. "Oh, I see." He stood up from the desk. "Well, when you get tired of being miserable, we'll speak again."
He began to walk out of the room formally and she became incensed. He wouldn't be the one to end the conversation. He wouldn't be the one to leave her. She stood up. "Only if I want to go from miserable to abject!"
He turned on his heel. "You're absolutely wretched."
"Low blow from someone so pathetic!" She spit at him.
He stood in front of her. "Sad."
"Gloomy"
"Desparate."
They flew together in a clash. Their mouths crashed and they were lost again.
"Alright you two what's the yelling about now?" Maxwell called from the hall and they broke apart quickly. CC turned to the couch as if she'd been digging in her bag and Niles turned to the desk straightening a few papers.
He pretended to glance over his shoulder. "Honestly sir, she never gets enough." He walked to the terrace and exited.
Maxwell walked to his desk and looked at CC who managed to close her bag without looking at him. "I left something at home, Maxwell. I'll see you after lunch." She glanced briefly over her shoulder with her hair still disheveled and walked crisply out of the room and to the front door.
