Chapter 10
A/N: I am, to quote Miley Cyrus, 'supersorry' that it took so long to make Chapter 10. Yes, that comment was sarcastic.
Yes, the climax, in which Will proposes to Elizabeth, will be SOON.
Don't root for Brent- he's just Kleenex. To quote Blair Waldorf, "He's a great rebound! Use the Kleenex and throw it away!"
My, I seem to be quoting a lot of people today.
Disclaimer: My maiden aunt! It's Jane Austen's.
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Brent had a chauffeur. Fancy that.
His limousine had black seats. They were comfortable enough to fall asleep in, which Elizabeth would have done were it not for the lights around her.
Brent settled into the seat next to her, leaning back slightly which showed his well-defined abdomen. "So, Elizabeth. Do you kiss on first dates?"
"Depends," Elizabeth smiled wickedly, her eyes burning bright.
"Depends on what?"
"Depends on if someone asks me if I kiss on first dates."
"To which you say…"
"To which I say yes."
Brent leaned in slowly. Their lips met.
It was as close to perfect as Elizabeth had experienced.
But Elizabeth, unlike most girls, wanted perfection. She couldn't settle for a handsome face and agreeable manners. She wanted the true love of her life or nothing.
However, she continued.
When the car stopped at her apartment building, Elizabeth colored somewhat. "That was amazing, Brent."
"Wasn't it, though?" Brent's eyes had the gleam of love in them.
Elizabeth didn't like it. She hated how it came naturally to her, the ability to inspire affection within minutes, even seconds. Most women would have killed for that ability. But she felt hearts were too valuable to be broken. She took no pride in making men fall in love and dumping them.
And she took no pride in using Brent; the guilt was killing her.
O0...0O
When Elizabeth came home, she found Jane in the bedroom, face demented with red-eye and a red nose. "Jane, when did you get home?"
"About half an hour ago. I can't believe he would lie to me like that. It's not Charlie."
"No, it's not Charlie. It's Caroline Bingley and Darcy."
"Elizabeth, I know you hate them…"
"With good reason! All they've ever done to us is give us misery and anger, simply to satisfy their cruel, petty minds."
"Elizabeth, it was Charlie. Didn't the decision eventually come down to him? Caroline can push him, Will can almost force him to, but the decision is his."
Elizabeth picked up the phone. "Jane, what's Charlie's number?"
Jane sighed. "Elizabeth, you're not going to yell at him, are you?"
"Jane, just please give me his number."
Jane rubbed her already swollen eyes. "Fine, but you have to promise not to yell or anything…"
"I will conduct a calm, logical conversation with him."
"You promise?"
"I promise."
Jane leaned back and gave her the number. Elizabeth stabbed the phone with her fingers, trying to punch in the number as soon as possible and nearly breaking it.
Charlie picked up on the tenth ring. "Hello?" he asked warily, knowing it was Jane's number.
"Hello, Mr. Bingley, this is Elizabeth Bennet. I need your information on something, but first off, how's the trip so far?"
"I- I beg your pardon?"
"What country are you in? I do hope it's accommodating."
"Oh…erm…I'm in Spain."
"Really? What city?"
"Pilaf."
"That's not a city, that's a rice." Elizabeth felt like she was about to burst a blood vessel, but managed to keep her voice irritatingly calm. "Charles, you are not on a business trip, are you?"
"Why- why would you say that?"
"You are a scumbag." Elizabeth knew he would fire her for that but somehow she didn't care. Her voice was cold enough to freeze a furnace. "You are a scumbag, and a liar. Just to get rid of Jane, you said she had no feelings for you and up and left her. For what purpose? Can you possibly even begin to explain why you neglected her? Her heart is breaking and she barely has the strength to go to work."
"I'm sorry," Charlie said hoarsely. "I thought she didn't care about me."
Only Elizabeth's very great affection for Jane restrained her from losing her cool. She breathed in and out deeply. "She does."
"Can I talk to her?"
"One more question. Whatever persuaded you to break up with Jane?"
"I cannot tell you who it was."
"It was Fitzwilliam Darcy."
Charlie sighed. "Perhaps it was, and perhaps it wasn't…Can I talk to Jane?"
Elizabeth switched the phone to Jane, who was crying openly, speaking in a cracked voice to Charlie but smiling after his first few replies.
O0...0O
Afterwards, Jane glowing with happiness, Elizabeth got a phone call from Will.
"Hello?" she snapped into the phone once she noticed it as 'that Darcy guy''s.
"Hello, Miss Bennet."
"Considering you rang up my number, I find it hard to believe you would think anyone else is there."
"Yes, well, anyway. It is my great regret to inform you that you are invited to the company party at my house."
"I- I don't, really, I-"
"And Brent, erm…what's-his-last-name will be there."
Elizabeth nodded. "Alright. Count me in."