Thank you to everyone for the feedback. I pretty much have each chapter already written. I'm just tweaking a few here and there, so hopefully I will be posting quite regularly. Please keep the feedback coming, good or bad it's all helpful! So far I've tried to stay on the same story line as the book, however you will notice I veer off over the next few chapters, but stay with me!
Chapter Five: Lizzie
I let out a breath I'd been holding the whole time. What a pair of stuck up snobs. There was no way I was giving up this job, this opportunity my dad had sought for me, so there was nothing for it but to pretend I hadn't heard what I just did. For now at least. Monday morning came all too soon. As I sat nervously fidgeting in the luxurious reception of Rosings Park I looked over my surroundings. How am I going to pull this off? I was distracted from my anxiety by a friendly, and somewhat sexy, grin being thrown my way. The man, nodded at me and then went into the lift. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad working here after all. The idea soon disappeared, when, in walked -no, strutted- Caroline Bingley, looking like she owned the place.
"Eliza, if you would follow me, and try to keep up. I have a busy morning."
I jumped to my feet, rushing to keep up. "Lizzie."
"Excuse me?" She looked at me as if daring me to speak again, so I did, I'm not afraid of her.
"Lizzie. Or Elizabeth. Anything but Eliza." I corrected.
She didn't even acknowledge me. She quickly showed me around, not properly, of course, not introducing me to anyone, just a quick flick of her wrist in the general direction of things. "Photocopier, break room, ladies, partner's offices, your desk."
I notice the man from reception walk past, he looks at me curiously as if trying to work out why I'm here, then smiles in my direction. I smile back, trying not to blush. At that moment Mr Darcy came bounding through the open plan office demanding everyone's attention without saying a word. God I hate that man, he frustrates the hell out of me. So up himself, so proud and full of arrogance. He glances in my direction and for a second I actually think he's going to lower himself to talk to me, then he looks across at reception guy and back at me, shakes his head once as if dismissing something and carried on his way. For some reason I feel deflated. Like I was ready for a fight that never came, and really I was. The rest of the day passed quite uneventfully. Despite Miss Bingley increased efforts to the contrary, I managed to clear all my work load and make friends with some of my new colleagues, including reception guy, who's actual name was George Wickham.
So it continued for the next few weeks. I settled in, I did my job, I occasionally met George Wickham for lunch, all the time staying far away from the mysterious Mr Darcy. I made it my sole purpose in life to do a good job and try not to give 'Green Eyes' any excuse to vent that wrath out on me.
Today it seemed I was failing. Miserably. Nothing I did was right. Spelling mistakes, grammatical errors, photocopying the wrong documents, sending emails to the incorrect recipient. Everything I did was wrong. So I am ashamed to say I did a very, very bad thing. I crept into stationary cupboard, shut the door, and cried. Not just quite lady like tears, but huge chest heaving sobs. Tears were running uncontrollably down my face. I don't think I could stop them if I wanted to. It was like everything over the past few weeks came crashing down on me. My graduation, leaving school, Charlotte, Jane, mum and dad, Kitty and Mary. I even missed Lydia. Now I was here in this horrible little flat, in this horrible job with that horrible woman. My nose was starting to run, I took a long sniff and tried to pull myself together. 'Come on Elizabeth! What are you doing letting 'Green Eyes' get to you? You can do this!' I looked up at the ceiling. God I sounded like my mother. I was pulled out of my misery and turmoil by the stationary cupboard door suddenly opening. The light soaring in, onto my - no doubt - tear streaked panda eyes. Stood in the doorway, looking at me without expression, was Mr Darcy.
I jumped off the wall and tried to straighten myself up. I wiped the tears off my face with the back of my hand, apologising profusely. He did nothing, just stood rooted to the spot taking me in, in all my emotional glory. He reached out and handed me a tissue. "Thanks." I croaked. Then he turned and left, shutting the door behind him. What the hell? …What just happened? This guy was so weird, and yet… He was trying to be… nice? I just couldn't figure him out. He was obviously concerned for me, hence the tissue, but then he just walked away without even asking what it was all about?
My cry seemed to do the trick, I felt much better after that, and the afternoon went by mistake free. 'Green Eyes' left me alone and I was able to actually get some work done. I was just starting to feel good and was even looking forward to getting home to my lovely little flat, when my phone beeped. It was a text from dad. 'Lizzie please ring your mother.' I chuckled to myself. Mum refused to text. Saying that it ruined the art of conversation. So this was a normal occurrence in our home. Mum would spout that she need to talk to one of us, dad would text, we would ring, all problems solved.
She answered on the first ring. "Lizzie! I need you to do something for Jane please. Go home now, get some clothes, not your normal stuff dear, something decent that Jane can actually wear, and take it round to Mr Bingley's apartment."
"Mum I'm at work I can't just get up and leave … wait a minute, say that again. Why does Jane need my clothes and why do I have to take them Charlie Bingley's apartment? I don't even know where that is. Mum what's going on? Start at the beginning."
"Oh really. I don't know. You call yourselves sisters, don't you two talk? Jane has being seeing Charles for a few weeks now. She was at his place for dinner last night when she fell ill, something she ate or something. Her clothes are ruined, she's staying with Charles until she is well again and she needs a change of clothes and something to sleep in, toothbrush, you know. Go and see his darling sister Caroline, she'll give you the address." She orders.
'Darling sister?' Yeah right.
I hang up on mum, and sit a minute trying to process the information I just received. Jane's been seeing Charlie. For a few weeks! She didn't tell me. She was in town having dinner with him and she didn't say anything. I looked at the clock, almost lunchtime. Maybe it wouldn't be too bad if I just nipped home, I could get the stuff and take it over. Surely they wouldn't mind? Charlie was a partner after all. Taking a deep breath I walked along the corridor of the open office to the closed offices that lined the front of the building. I knocked on Caroline's door and pushed my shoulders back. "Come in." A voice demanded. I pushed the door open.
"Caroline, Miss Bingley I wonder…" My words stick in my throat, perched on the edge of her desk, is Mr Darcy. His eyes are on the paperwork on her desk, not on me, I don't think he's even noticed I'm here. "... Sorry am I interrupting?"
"No not all Eliza, how may I help?" Her false eyelashes batted against her cheeks as she smiled sweetly at me. Too sweetly. I was temporary floored, she was being nice to me. Despite this was obviously only owing to the fact a senior partner was present, I decided to use it to my advantage. Mr Darcy still hadn't looked at me, instead he was shaking his head, -and dare I say it- smirking.
"Yes, that is, I wonder, if I could take a slightly extended lunch. Please? You see my sister Jane is at Charlies, I mean Mr Bingley's. Sick. Jane that is and she needs a change of clothes and couple of items. If I can just pop home and fetch them to her I'd be very grateful." I stammered out my excuse.
She sighed. "So that's the reason for Charles absence, he's busy playing doctors and nurses is he?"
I flinched, not sure what she was implying about my sister. Mr Darcy chose that moment to speak. Still looking down at the desk. "Is she ok? Your sister Jane that is. Is there anything we can do?" He looked up at me. I felt my body stiffen under his penetrating gaze. His eyes seemed to look through me, I was held prisoner by those eyes. Remembering he had in fact asked me a question and 'Green Eyes' was sat there looking at me impatiently awaiting an answer, her eyes darting back and forth from Mr Darcy to me like she watching some sort of crazy tennis match, I pulled myself together.
"No. Thank you. I just need to get her the things and I need to know where he, Mr Bingley, lives. If you could give me the address that would be great thanks."
"Didn't Jane give it to you?" He asks.
I blush. "No it must have slipped her mind, being ill and all." I lied. He seemed to buy my reason. Mr Darcy stood and looked at the clock on the wall, down at Caroline and then at me.
Finally fastening his jacket, he shocked me to the core. "I'll take you."
"What?" Caroline and I asked in unison. He looked at us both surprised like it was the most natural thing in the world and we were mad to question it.
"I'll take you." He repeated. "I need to have lunch and remind my friend of the office policy for taking sick days." His face bare of any emotion, I couldn't tell if he was joking or not. It occurred to me I may have inadvertently gotten Charlie into trouble with his peers. I hoped not, I hoped it was just Mr Darcy's idea of humour. Jane would hate me forever and my mother …
"Oh no, no, you can't do that, I mean you can, I mean you can go there, but you shouldn't take me. I need to go to my place first and collect the things anyway, so I'll see you there. Maybe. Later. Or not." I'm babbling on as I make my way backwards toward the door bumping in to the handle for good measure. This was not going as planned. The last thing I wanted was to be trapped in a car with Mr Darcy. No thanks. Caroline was giving me daggers again. Those green eyes full of hatred. Like it was my fault he had offered. I looked from her to Mr Darcy again, hoping my eyes held some sort of appeal. If they did, he obviously wasn't feeling very appealing, because he just shrugged.
"Don't be ridiculous. Where is the sense in that? We're both going to the same place. Your flat is on the way, it isn't even a detour. Come on." He straightened up and strode out of her office, leaving a look on Caroline's face like she had swallowed a wasp. I walked quickly behind him trying to catch up to his long stride as we made our way through the office. I purposely ignore the people who turned to look. I knew what must be going through their minds. Brand new graduate legal secretary leaving at lunch time with a senior partner. God, I would be water cooler gossip by the time I got back. Not that it bothered me. People could say what they wanted as long as I knew the truth. And then it struck me like a bolt of lightning: I never told him where I lived.
The taxi ride here had been uneventful, he spoke my address to the taxi driver and then we sat in silence for a few minutes until we reached the smart Victorian house that had been converted into four flats. My aunt and Uncle only stayed here the odd weekend they were in the city. So they hadn't gone overboard with the budget. That said, it was a beautiful place in a lovely area. It suited me perfectly. I was on the ground floor so we walked into the tiled entrance hall and I motioned towards the door. My brain quickly did an inventory of how I had left it this morning. I was always neat and tidy. In a house of seven you had to clear your stuff away or it had the tendency to go missing. I breathed a sigh of relief when I opened the door and found the place quite presentable.
"Just give me two minutes to grab her a few bits. I'll be right out." I gushed and walked quickly into the bathroom, stopping to check my reflection in the mirror. My eyes were slightly puffing from all the crying earlier but not too bad. I looked flushed. Why was I blushing? Because of him? I grabbed a spare toothbrush from the unopened packet, some deodorant and a few other things. After collecting a few choice items from my wardrobe, I made my way back into the living room to find Mr Darcy exactly where I had left him. Exactly where I left him. Strange.
His eyes flit to the holdall I was carrying. "All done?"
"Yes and thanks again, for all this. I don't know what's up with Jane she's never ill and that's saying something, given her chosen profession has little kids coughing and sneezing on her all day." I laugh.
No reaction.
Feeling kind of stupid I walk towards the door. He gets there first, opening it and gesturing for me to go through before him. I smiled up at him in thanks but found he was already looking out in to the lobby area. I turn to pull the door shut, locking it. He spun round and reached past me. For a horrifying second I foolishly think he's going to pull me in for a kiss but instead he reached for the door handle pulling it to test if it was locked. I scowled at him. Some people would consider his a sweet gesture, and if it was from anyone else I would have thought the same. Coming from him, I imagined it was more likely he didn't trust me to have locked up properly. We sat in silence again on the ride to Charlies Apartment. The only interaction between us being when we climbed out of the taxi and he grabbed the overnight bag I had stored Jane's things in.
He walked ahead stopping at the glass door of the apartment building placing his hand on the surface above my head and pushing the door open. I had to walk beneath his outstretched arm, sliding between his sleeve and his chest. His scent wafts over me and I inhale in spite of myself. He smells unbelievable. Clean. Crisp. Delish. I still detest him. We rode the lift up to Charlie's floor in silence too. He stepped out and I followed to Charlie's door. Darcy stood in front of me as he knocked on the door. Charlie answered it wearing a casual t-shirt and jeans. He looked good casual. "Nick! … What…?" He pulled the door almost shut behind him obviously wanting to block what –who- was ever in his flat from view. Was this a secret to everyone? "… What are you doing here? I said I'd be in tomorrow. I'm taking a personal day." He splutters. Darcy never said a word. He just moved to one side so Charlie could see me.
"Hi!" I waved at Charlie, smirking at his stunned expression.
"Elizabeth. Lizzie? What?" he grabbed at his hair looking totally bewildered. "I don't understand? Sorry but what are you doing here?"
"I got a message that Jane might be in need of some assistance." I gesture to the holdall. His face went a comical shade of red and he looked at the floor avoiding my eyes, or maybe more Nicks.
After our awkward greeting Charlie relaxed and let us in. Telling me Jane was in the master bedroom. His bedroom. In his bed. Jane. Unfortunately Jane's white face, sweaty brow and bucket by the bed didn't prove my suspicion of a romantic interlude. I rushed over. She was wearing a faded blue t-shirt that must be Charlies. "Lizzie, what are you doing here? Wait, of course you're here. She phoned you, didn't she?"
"Well technically I called her."
"Dad." We both sighed at the same time.
"Oh Lizzie, this is the most embarrassing moment of my entire life. I come here for a romantic evening and end up throwing up all over; myself included and have had to call my mum to get my little sister to bring me a change of clothes. I'm twenty three! This is mortifying."
"It could be worse. You could have thrown up on him!" She blushes. "Oh Jane you didn't?"
"All over his nice Armani suit." She admits sorrowfully.
I can't control the laughter bursting from within me. She hides her face under the covers. I pull them back trying to calm myself. "Oh my God! Jane that is the funniest thing I ever heard."
"Shut up Lizzie," she moaned shoving me lightly on the leg. "You're supposed to be making me feel better." But she was smiling.
"Well if it makes you feel better, I let you in on a little embarrassing secret of my own. I got upset at work today, shut myself in a stock cupboard and cried." I chuckled.
Jane didn't laugh, she sat up straighter in bed, grabbing my hand. "Lizzie what's wrong? Tell me! You never ever cry. Ever."
"It was nothing, just a weak moment. I'm fine now." Just embarrassed. "So about you and Mr Bingley? How come I had to find out from mum?" I scowl at her.
"Lizzie it's all happening so fast. I didn't want to tell you because I knew what you would say." I flinched and she caught me. "Don't take this wrong way Lizzie, but you're not the most romantic girl in the world. If I told you I was falling in love with a man I barely know, I know what your reaction would be. I just wanted to see how things go without the added pressure of your opinion." She confessed. Oh my God is that what she thinks? Is that what they all think?
"Oh. Is that what you think? That I would judge you?" I asked. She looked at me anxiously, blushing as she nodded. "Jane! I love you and if Charlie makes you happy, then I'm happy too."
"Oh Lizzie, he does! He makes me so happy. Even when I was sick on him and crying and in a mess, he took care of me, carried me to his bed and then sat with me all last night to make sure I was ok. Can you believe that? Can you believe men like that even exist in real life?" I shook my head, but before I got a word in, she continued. "He took the day off so he could take care of me. And we've talked Lizzie, I mean really talked. Late last night and today. All about our lives, our hopes and dreams. He loves that I'm a teacher. He's really passionate about Netherfield."
"It sounds to me like you've found your prince Charming. Do I need to book the church?" I joked, but again she didn't laugh. Was this really it? Was Jane actually in love? Suddenly I felt a pang of jealousy hit me deep inside. I shrugged it off and hugged my sister. I was pleased for her. I was. Really.
"Knock, knock, I wonder if you were ready for anything to eat yet?" Charlie stood at door gazing at Jane. That little pang appeared again. I wanted someone to look at me like that. Like I was the only person in the room, the only person alive that mattered. The way Charlie was looking at Jane.
"No thanks Charlie. Not yet. But Lizzie's probably starving." She laughed and ushered me off the bed.
"Thanks, yes, I just need to go freshen up, is there a bathroom I can use?" Charlie pointed it out and as I left I noticed he remained. I came out of the luxurious bathroom and made my way into the kitchen looking for the lunch that was supposedly prepared. I stopped dead in my tracks at the sight of Mr Darcy. In Charlie's kitchen, suit jacket and tie strewn across a dining chair, his white shirt rolled up to his elbows. Making sandwiches. Suddenly I felt a pang of something else inside me and it wasn't jealousy. It was lust. Mr Darcy was hot.
"Are you intending standing there and staring at me all afternoon Miss Bennet?" He examined me with the same look he had in Caroline's office. I blushed, realising I had just been caught.
"What? Nothing. Um …" I looked down at the lunch searching for words, any words. "I just didn't realise you do things like this. I thought you would have someone do it for you."
He frowned. "It's only a sandwich, I can take care of myself. I can cook."
"Oh I'm sure. It's just … You know. I've read the books. Aren't you billionaire business men all supposed to have house keepers, famous chefs and drivers at your disposal? So far, you've driven around in taxis, carried my bags and now this?"
"Firstly, I'm not a billionaire, I'm wealthy yes, but not that much. My Aunt, Lady Catherine owns the company after all. Yes I will inherit at some point but even then…" He trailed off looking back down at the expertly made sandwich. Was this man a perfectionist in everything I wonder? "Secondly, this isn't my home. It belongs to Charles and he doesn't have staff to do it." He half-smiled.
Was that his attempt at humour? I grinned back awkwardly and accepted the plate of food he had offered me. "Thanks. And thanks again for bringing me here." I say graciously. He paused and his eyes showed a flicker of something dark before he turned away heading back to the kitchen area. I couldn't get over how different he looked. All the times I had caught a glimpse of him since I began working at Rosings he had been in his suit, the jacket hiding his muscular body. Now he had removed it and his pristine white shirt was tucked neatly into the contrasting black suit trousers, it showed off a narrow waist and large biceps. The expensive material was tailored to fit him well, very well.
"Do you want anything to drink?"
His simple question jolted me back to reality. I had to stop this now. He was off limits. He was the boss. Not forgetting the whole, embarrassed by my family, proud conceited attitude he carried with him along with that chip on his shoulder. "Water would be great thank you." He closed the fridge picking up his plate along with two bottles of water and pointed a long finger towards the sofa.
"Shall we sit?" he asks softly.
"Sure." I took the water bottle from him and eagerly took a sip grateful for the distraction. I sighed and kicked off my heels, pulling my feet beneath me on the sofa. Charlie still hadn't made an appearance since I left them alone, we could be here for a while. I thought about letting Caroline know where I was but it seemed pointless. I was out with the boss after all. Thinking of her and Darcy brought something to the front of my mind. "Thank you for earlier." He looked at me puzzled. "The tissue… I… thank you." He smiled for the first time, a small smile that held promise and I chose to believe it was a secret one he saved just for me.