Chapter 4: Ugly Stepsister

Over the years, Jane had gained a practical knowledge of how to interact with the male sex. The overwhelming attention she constantly received made it necessary for her to learn how to be removed, yet polite, in order to not encourage any unwanted attention. Unfortunately, an act so long practiced soon became her genuine reaction to any flirtation from the opposite gender. She was always flattered, as betrayed by the light pink blush that swept across her cheeks. However, she had learned to keep her emotions in check, and was easily able to converse without swooning or falling over herself.

Elizabeth knew this, and therefore patiently realized that she would have to look deeper before deciding if Jane wanted Charlie to continue his obvious attentions. However, before being able to gauge Jane's reaction to a man Lizzy thought might easily be considered the most congenial and good-looking guy ever to seek Jane out - which was saying a lot - Elizabeth felt her arm being tugged on. Turning away from the stars in Charlie's eyes, Lizzy swiveled and came face to face with her close friend and co-worker, Charlotte Lucic.

Lizzy excused herself and confirmed Char's desperate glance. "Lizzy, you have to pretend like we have something very important work related to talk about, and we can't afford to be interrupted."

Before Lizzy could react, a short, stout and sniveling man approached at their sides. He loomed over their conversation, wiping the edge of his nose with his fingers three times, one of those efforts distinctly bordering on entering one of the hairy canals. He then clasped his hands behind his back, rocked forwards and back on his toes and stated, "My dear Charlotte, who is your lovely friend?" His eyes wandered over Elizabeth's figure a little too long for her liking before returning to Charlotte.

Elizabeth's insides warped in disgust. No wonder Charlotte had sounded so desperate. "Hi, I'm Elizabeth. I'm very sorry to break you away from your 'dear Charlotte', but we have some very important, private, work matters to discuss. I'm sure you understand?" She tempered a simpering smile with a distinct get lost look emanating from her eyes.

It was then that Elizabeth noticed the beads of perspiration dotting his hairline, nose and upper lip. Swallowing down her revulsion, she was only partially grateful to hear him say, "Of course my lovelies, ladies always have their delicate secrets to discuss." He provided a knowing smile and batted his lashes. "I'll be back in ten minutes." Seemingly clueless to the rejection, he sauntered over to a group in lively conversation, standing on the outskirts and gracelessly eavesdropping. Lizzy realized that she had most likely failed her friend in aiding a clean getaway. Halfway between a snort of laughter and repulsion, she exclaimed, "Who was that?"

"Robert Collins. I met him by the bar. Why?" Charlotte's eyes narrowed in suspicion.

Suddenly, it dawned on Lizzy that the distraction Charlotte had requested was not intended for Mr. Collins. "I just got the impression he was bothering you?" Lizzy squeaked out, turning the statement into a question to hide her surprise.

"No, he's alright. He's sort of awkwardly gallant. I find it hilarious."

"Hysterical," Lizzy said, with raised eyebrows and a forced smile. This was typical Charlotte. Always settling for the one guy all of the other women avoided like a plague. At times, Lizzy had wondered if it was a full on complex that Charlotte suffered. Shaking her head to clear away the fog of disbelief, Lizzy asked, "Uh, Char…who are we avoiding if it wasn't him?"

"UGH." Charlotte rolled her eyes. "Mary. She's been following me around like a lost puppy dog all night."

Out of the corner of her eye, Lizzy noticed the new secretary hovering but too timid to approach the women in conversation. "She can't be that bad, Charlotte. She's new…she has to start somewhere."

"But she's such a terrible conversation partner. She hardly speaks, and when she does it's either to criticize or to preach. Do you know how many times I've heard that Mariah King from visuals is dressed too provocatively this evening? Five times, and I've only been here for a half hour."

Elizabeth chuckled. "Charlotte, she probably is, if her usual work attire is any indication."

"Yes, but still…Mary's running commentary is impossible to tolerate."

"Why don't you…" Just then, Elizabeth was silenced when she felt her heart skip the first of many beats that evening. Across the room, her eyes had settled on an attractive man who had just been approached by Charles Bingley. Well, perhaps 'most beautiful man alive' was a more appropriate description, Elizabeth sighed contentedly.

The sleeves of his button down were rolled to his elbows, but he maintained a professional look by sporting a buttoned vest and tie. She had never seen a more handsome face, or individual features more perfectly formed. The outlines of his biceps could clearly be seen through his sleeves, while the rest of his impeccable physique was made evident by an expertly tailored suit. The sight of his wavy dark hair made her hand tingle as she briefly imagined caressing her fingers through it. She found it impossible to pull her eyes away; he's practically irresistible, she mused in disbelief. He's an amazing cross between that dark, mysterious and smoldering appeal of Adam Levine, and the polished charm and chiseled form of Channing Tatum. Guys like that shouldn't be allowed near mere mortal women like us…it never ends well.

Charlotte followed her gaze and could only manage to whisper, "Whoa, hottie alert."

Elizabeth slowly released the breath she realized she'd been holding since seeing the stranger. Attempting to come back from the fantasy her mind had begun to indulge in, Bingley's presence recalled the fact that she hadn't seen Jane in twenty minutes. Scanning the expansive space, she finally spotted her near the hors d'oeuvres at the far end of the room.

"Listen, I have to go find Jane because I am being a horrible date for the evening. Introduce Mary to Lydia Baron. At least her chatter-boxing will make it difficult for Mary to get away easily, and hopefully Lydia will take it upon herself to drag Mary along in her foolery. Or," she drew a deep breath to force the next words out quickly, before she could stop herself from saying them, "you can simply tell Mary that you would like some alone time with Robert to get to know him better."

Charlotte nodded. "I'll figure it out. I'll find you in a bit love…I still have to say hi to Jane."

Lizzy departed her friend and headed towards where her sister was happily selecting a small plate of food. Drawing nearer to Charlie's conversation with the handsome stranger, she suddenly stopped when she heard Jane's name mentioned. Quickly, she busied herself with pretending to search in her clutch for a lipstick.

"She has to be an angel." Charlie stated. "I have never seen a woman that beautiful."

His friend seemed to have no opinion on the matter. "I'm glad that you found someone to enjoy your time with tonight, seeing how you seem less than happy with me."

As if he wasn't already perfect, she thought, he has an accent too - must be another business connection from England.

"Well, maybe if you tried a little harder we could both come away from this evening in good spirits. You've been practically sulking all night."

"I'm not sulking, Bingley. I'm not eleven years old. You know I'm only here because I have to be. I'd rather be anywhere else than enduring this superficial excuse for camaraderie."

Elizabeth admired Charlie for his perseverance as she yanked her compact out and faked a lipstick fix. "Well, let's try to turn that 'have to' into a 'want to'. Hey look, over there." Out of the corner of her eye, Elizabeth watched as Charlie's index finger extended in her direction. "That's her sister. When I met them I couldn't help thinking that she was pretty much your dream girl."

Elizabeth busied herself further in her compact, focusing all of her attention on their conversation. Her body ached with curiosity to hear the response to Charlie's statement.

His friend scoffed. "You're joking, right? She's like the ugly stepsister to your Cinderella. Way to hand your best friend sloppy seconds Bingley."

Elizabeth's heart lurched with skip number two, as the heat spread up her spine and across her neck. Her body's response could not have been more forceful if she had been physically punched in the gut. Ugly stepsister? Sloppy seconds? What a rude and arrogant jerk! Who says that about someone, particularly a complete stranger? 'NEVER ends well' is right, she thought angrily.

Snapping her clutch shut, she briskly marched out of their line of sight and towards her sister.