21.

Niles was passing near Maxwell's office and decided to stop in the doorway. He had a long discussion with Fran earlier and decided that he'd have a little fun teasing Mr. Sheffield about it. He peeked in with his head and let a sly remark roll out of his mouth.

"You never tuck me in!" exclaimed Niles, pretending to be upset with the edges of his lips turned way down.

He was going to just say it, give the puppy dog face, and leave, because he knew his boss was very sensitive and he wasn't into getting him too riled up. Nile started to walk down the hallway again, but Max called him back.

Maxwell looked up at him in alarm and threw his reading glasses down to the table. He was far too humiliated and cornered to say anything at the moment.

"Oh ho ho! So something did happen!" partially laughed Niles, smiling devilishly like he had everything all figured out.

Maxwell opened his mouth to say something, but then unsure how to exactly phrase what he was going to say, he closed it.

"What—or, or who do you take me for Niles? You think I'd be such a cad as to take advantage of Miss Fine in her very own bedroom?"

"Oh, of course not sir… you're absolutely right. That wouldn't be like you at all."

Maxwell replied back with a small smile that turned a bit crooked and "I'm caught"-looking as soon as Niles turned his eyes away.

"So nothing happened between you two?" questioned Niles, trying to get the story right.

"Must you be such a yenta, Niles? Nothing unruly occurred. You remember when Miss Fine woke up in my room about a year or so ago? Well, it was precisely like that," explained Maxwell, attempting to sound sure of himself and sincere.

Niles still didn't look entirely convinced.

"Look, she had a bad dream, and she sounded upset by it as I walked the upstairs hall last night to check on the children. I went to comfort her before she woke up Maggie, Gracie, and Brighton, and I was so worn out from work that I drifted off! It was an honest mistake."

"Sir, I believe you. I really do."

He's a terrible liar, reflected Niles, laughing inside.

"Hmpf, well stop backing me into a corner then!"

"Of course, of course! I do hope you forgive me sir.

"Yes, yes," began Maxwell, who then abruptly paused to think. "Wait! What does she tell you every bloody thing that happens between us?"

He smirked.

"Noooo, of course not sir," replied Niles.

"I have a feeling you're being quite sarcastic Old Man." asked Maxwell, thoroughly disbelieving him.

He leaned back in his chair with his hands folded behind his head.

"Well if you're going to be like that…"

"Fine, like what does she not tell you? Or should I dare not ask?"

He knew both him and Miss Fine were chatterboxes. And personal happenings were never restricted from their so-called "casual" conversation. He knew that for sure. Therefore, who know what sort of intimate details she could have relayed to his gossipy butler, and who knew which ones she spared…

"It starts with 'the' and ends with 'thing,'" responded Niles finally, after some thought.

"Well, don't expect to drag it out of me man."

Maxwell shook his head and returned back to his work. Miss Fine probably only told Niles a tiny portion of what had happened anyway, so there was no real need to worry. The only person she truly confided deeply in was Val, because she was a woman and her best friend. Even so, he supposed he had no right to be mad at Miss Fine for making absolutely any matter between them public, since he did always try to take back whatever happened between them when he had his doubts. And therefore, he really did deserve it just for leading her on all the time.

Somehow, if she'd even let him, he had to make it up to her. Whenever he actually got the chance, that is. And hopefully things wouldn't betoo awkward between them. No wait, no he couldn't do that. It would be too awkward between them! How could he possibly stand to be in the same room with her after—after that? How could he meet her eyes? What he had done was unpardonable and impossible to explain. Well, truthfully it was somewhat possible to explain. She was there—willing and ready, and he had let his guard down. He was thinking with his body instead of his head, and ended up foolishly letting his extreme urge to be so utterly close to Miss Fine take full control of his common sense. And dammit if he hadn't stopped himself and realized what was happening, before it was too late; he might have actually went all the way with her. Unless of course, she refused…

God, what if that had happened? he frantically pondered. There would be turning back. There couldn't be. What would have happened to us? What's going to happen to us? I can't bear to lose her… I'll never cope if she leaves. What if she leaves? She's probably lost all respect for me now. She's probably packing her bags this instant and getting ready to walk out the door. Why did I do that? I'm her employer and I took advantage of her… How does that look? She probably thought I was just in for a one-night-stand. There are so many more words I need to say before we really, physically get close. I don't want her to think of me that way. I want her to know I care and I definitely want her to feel safe and comfortable here in my home and now I took that away from her. She'll never forgive me—I just bolted out without a logical explanation for my actions. I'm such a BLOODY IDIOT!

Niles returned back to the foot of Maxwell's desk. He knocked on a stack of books to his right to get Maxwell's attention.

"Oh sir, I almost forgot why exactly I came by—really came by. It was to inform you of a call I received earlier while you were out… Ms. Blackwood's publicist says to be ready for Deborah… oh I'm so excited! Anyway, she's to be here at eight o'clock sharp tomorrow. Got that?"

Maxwell looked to be too engrossed in his papers to even look up, but he was actually too engrossed in his thoughts.

"Yes, thank you Niles. Please prepare for our guest and close the door on your way out."