A/N: Hello Hello my fellow readers and writers! I am excited to share the beginning of this short story with you. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoy writing it. Shout outs to slm38, LaurenLaneLover, ladybrin and Lucky Starz for reviewing the Prologue. I do not own these lovely characters.

C.C. Babcock sat in her boss's office, chewing on the top of her pen as she read over one of the plays that Maxwell Sheffield was contemplating producing. She put some markings in the areas that she thought were entertaining and worthwhile as she continued to read the script.

She chewed on her pen cap, as her long nut brown hair fell to the sides of her face. Her black-rimmed glasses were on the edge of her nose as she looked up from the play to greet Maxwell as he walked into the room. He had become so pompous since his successful run of Cats had opened on Broadway.

She despised the fact that she seemed to be stuck in a dead end job with no prospects. She loved the theater of course, but she had been stuck at secretary for 20 years now. She had been hoping for a big break for a while now, but it just seemed as if it was out of reach.

She would have quit years ago if she thought that it could have lead to something better. However, her connections had become quite limited since she graduated from college and been cut out of her family's inheritance. They had told her that she would have been better off trying to find a man and produce an heir than working at a dead end job with no prospects. After 20 years at the same place and level, she wondered if she should have taken their advice.

C.C. had been used to a lavish lifestyle growing up, however in the last 20 years, she had grown accustomed to the simple things in life. Her apartment proved that point, for it was a small one bedroom, sparsely furnished, and used mostly as a place to rest her head before her next day at work.

As unpleasant as this all seemed, C.C. had no problem with it. She had evolved into a simple woman with exceptional intelligence accepting of the fact that her life was stagnant. She figured if change was supposed to happen for her then it would and so she didn't question the injustice of her circumstances.

C.C. would have been completely content with her life if it weren't for a certain attorney who made her life a living hell on a daily basis. She was tortured with seeing this wretch everyday, for Maxwell needed him frequently when drawing up contracts for actors and other members of the production team. She hated everything about this man for he was what she strived NOT to become on a daily basis.

First of all he was the most arrogant person that she had ever met. Secondly, he looked down his nose at everyone and lastly, he insulted her appearance and intelligence on a daily basis. She absolutely loathed him.

Of course, she would never admit out loud that she was extremely attracted to him and the smell of his cologne made her heart pump wild. This weighed with the other negative things about him made her detest him even more.

The only thing she had to look forward was the crazy antics of a certain nanny. As different as the backgrounds of these 2 women were, she could honestly say that she considered her to be one of her best friends.

She really thought it was unfortunate that Fran Fine married that no good rotten pig that owned the bridal shop in Flushing, for C.C. knew that Fran deserved much better than that animal. But as much as she hated the fact, she would be there for friend and support her 100 percent.

C.C. continued on with the next script when suddenly she heard the door open. She looked up and immediately saw the arrogant sexy man whom she loathed. She rolled her eyes and groaned slightly as he walked into the room.

He opened his mouth to speak to Maxwell:

"Maxwell, I drew up those contracts for whichever playwright you decide on. Please don't forget to actually read them this time. You can't make humpty dumpty here do everything!"

C.C. would not let this arrogant human being insult her without fighting back.

"This coming from a man who wears a corset under his suit on a daily basis. Not to mention your head is so swollen I thought I was looking at the Jupiter itself!"

She continued on with reading the script, thinking her insult was sufficient.

Niles just looked at her slightly stunned, but with a slight grin on his face, nonetheless. As nerdy as the woman appeared to be, be couldn't deny he thought she was attractive and lived for the daily fire she displayed on a daily basis.

Being a rich and successful man, he had his pick of the pond when it came to women, but for some reason, he continued to come back to the slightly plump and somewhat geeky secretary that worked for his richest client, Maxwell Sheffield.

He hated to admit that behind his arrogant and completely put together exterior, he was nothing more than a man with many insecurities, afraid to make a move for fear of being rejected.

Maxwell opened his mouth to speak:

"Would you two stop it already and behave like adults for 5 minutes? C.C. why don't you go and get us a cup of coffee"

"Make it decaf, would you frump girl. I have reached my target heart rate for the day and I will surely get palpitations."

She glared at him and headed out of the room. She would make sure his cup of coffee was highly caffeinated.

How is it that a person could make her blood boil and give her butterflies simultaneously? Again, with this thought in mind she reaffirmed herself of how much she detested this man. However, her feelings were a little different than what she let on.

She poured the cups of coffee and considered putting a shot of espresso in his cup as well, but decided against it. She didn't want him to have a heart attack in the house after all, just a little discomfort.

She walked into the office with both cups of coffee.

"Here is your coffee, Maxwell. And for you, Jupiter."

"Oh C.C. have you made the arrangements for the benefit next week? Niles, you are invited by the way and of course you can bring a guest if you so choose."

"Of course, I'll be attending! Please reserve me 2 plates Babs. I met a lovely woman last week at the country club and I am sure she would love to come with me."

C.C. couldn't resist as he walked right into that one.

"Not if she's seen you, she wouldn't!"

"Oh and I suppose you have a date all lined up…"

"Would you two stop it already! I never want you two in the same room again!"

C.C. answered first.

"Fine by me."

"Oh, Max, I am just having fun with her. She rarely gets attention from a man. Anyways, I have to get back to work. I'll bring the rest of the contracts over in the morning. Goodbye Max, Babs."

She just glared at him as he briskly walked out of the door.

"C.C. did you make arrangements for benefit?"

Of course she was distracted as she admired his backside when he left the room.

"Oh sorry, Mr. Sheffield, what were you saying?"

"The benefit, C.C., the benefit!"

"Oh of course, yes, I made the arrangements."

"You inviting anyone, C.C.?"

"Oh sure, I know a lovely man."

In reality, however, she would most likely invite Fran.

….

Fran sat in the kitchen, finishing off a pint of Haagen Daz chocolate ice cream. Although Danny had originally told her that he didn't want her to work, she was able to convince him to let her stay on during the week as Maxwell Sheffield's nanny.

She was thankful that he let her, because God knows she would have missed the children and working in the bridal shop or staying at home and performing wifely housework duties was not how she wanted to spend her days.

She had been in such a rush to get married, however, now that she was, she hated the life she was living. Danny certainly wasn't the brightest bulb there was and Fran knew it was bad when she could have a more intelligent conversation with Val, than her own husband. She was grateful that she had C.C. Babcock to talk to, for at least the woman had a brain even if in some aspects the two of them were on totally different wavelengths.

As if she had communicated to her telepathically somehow, C.C. walked into the kitchen.

"Hey C.C. How are you today?"

"Not good, anything left in that pint your eating?"

"Well I guess I could give you the last little morsel at the bottom. Tell me about your day."

"Well, that no good damn lawyer of Mr. Sheffield's showed up this morning. He gets on my damn nerves! He makes me want to pull out my own hair. He insults my appearance. That I can live with, but when he insults my intelligence, I just damn near want to kill him. Not to mention, the benefit is coming up, and I have no date. Of course he had to use that lovely fact against me as well and I am sure he will bring some harlot floozy to the event. Isn't that what those lawyer types go for?"

"C.C. I am sure you will find a date for the benefit. When is it? "

"Next week. I was actually going to ask if you wanted to go. Mr. Sheffield will kill me for telling you this, but I heard the Barbra Streisand will be there."

"Oh my God! The messiah, herself! I am going. Oh my gosh, I must go shopping for the occasion. Tomorrow afternoon and you are coming with me! I don't want to hear you say no."

"Fran, I don't need to buy a new dress, I have a bunch of dresses…"

Of course she was interrupted.

"C.C.! You are going! That is an order, not a request. We can take Val's car."

"Alright, you've convinced me."

She paused for a moment before she continued to speak.

"Well I better get back to the office, duty calls you know." She was about to walk out but not before Fran stopped her to say one last thing.

"Just so you know, I plan on making you look gorgeous for the benefit. Make sure Mr. Brightmore knows when you arrive, you know?"

"Why should that matter?"

"Because if he is indeed your enemy and worst nightmare, then he will hate seeing you thrive." Fran grinned slightly.

C.C. gave her a slightly evil looking smile before walking out of the kitchen. Yes, I plan on looking great. His floozy will wish me dead and I will be the talk of the night. He will definitely eat all of the words and insults he has thrown at me for all these years.

Little did she know, that the evening of the benefit would play out significantly different than she could have ever imagined.