In Search of Paradise

Chapter Six

Elizabeth sighed as she stared out her living room window at the busy road below. She was vaguely aware that she was sitting in darkness as she had watched the sun sink hours ago but she had no intention of dragging herself out of her wonderful daydream to complete the mundane chores required in reality. In her mind she was dancing again, his arms around her, her skirts bellowing as they moved and the breathtaking smile on his face and the glint in his eyes. She sighed again as she remembered the way he had walked her back up to her apartment and thanked her for a wonderful night with a sweet kiss on her cheek. Sighing once more she closed her eyes and grinned. She was head over heels in love with Mr Will Turner. The revelation did not faze her in the slightest. Being in love felt wonderful! More wonderful than the freedom she was now enjoying, even more wonderful than chocolate! 'Chocolate' She thought suddenly and focused on the room around her.

Moving slowly she turned on the lights and pulled the blinds before heading to the pantry in search of her only weakness. She had just laid her eyes on a bar of Cadbury dark chocolate when the phone rang.

"Hello?" Elizabeth said trying to keep the disappointment of not having time to eat the chocolate out of her voice, "Elizabeth speaking"

"Hello Elizabeth" said a deep voice that made her fall into the seat beside the phone.

"Hello father" she said rather coldly. She frowned, until the incident involving Lord Beckett she and her father had had a good relationship. After her mother had died her father had tried his hardest to bring her up the best he could, even turning down opportunities so he could stay at home. She had respected her father's commitment and it didn't hurt that he had spoilt her rotten.

"I heard from Lord Beckett that you have been acting quite irresponsibly, and unbecoming of a young woman." He did not give her time to respond. "I am disappointed Elizabeth"

"Lord Beckett needs to learn to mind his own business, and so should you. I have done nothing wrong. It is not the 1800s father, I am allowed to go on dates with men I deem worthy. It is after all, my life" She told her father, stressing the last two words. She tapped her foot impatiently, now fed up with the conversation. 'Bloody Lord Beckett, next time I see him!' She thought as she imagined Will laying into him.

"Perhaps you will reconsider when I tell you that I sit on the board that is providing funds for the construction of the Flying Dutchman."

Elizabeth froze at her fathers words. "And what interest would you have in an old boat!" She snapped trying to sound as if she didn't really care.

"The Flying Dutchman will be making its original journey once construction is finished. However after that it will be used for tourist journeys in London and Port Royal. Of course you know this though, working for the museum." He sneered.

Elizabeth's mind raced and he body began to shake with anger as the situation came to light. How could she have been so stupid? She cried inwardly. Of course Tia didn't know her past employer; of course her father had pried into her affairs and used his wealth and status to find her work, to take control of her life again. "Don't call me anymore father!" She spat, her body shaking with anger. "Stay out of my life, my affairs and my way!" Elizabeth slammed down the phone and pulled the cord out of the wall. She wanted to scream, but instead she fell onto the couch and cried, wondering what on earth she was going to do.

Will tapped his fingers on the meeting table impatiently. His eyes flicked to the clock on the wall and he took a breath trying to get calm himself down. It had now been hour since he had first sat down and 40 minutes since he had rang the man's secretary who had been insistent that he was on his way. Shifting in his seat, Will decided that he would only wait five more minutes for the man, benefactor or not.

Will was sure that the delay was on purpose. His cool attitude towards himself and Elizabeth and their apparent history had made his latest dealings with Lord Beckett strained and he was starting to doubt the man's word. He frowned and stared at a mark on the table. He was dreading having to make a choice between his lifelong dream and the young woman who he had fallen in love with. Not just dreading, he feared it, and his fear was only made worse by the fact that Elizabeth seemed to be avoiding him. She had called in sick everyday this week and was not answering his calls or messages. He wondered now whether he should have been more insistent to know what her 'family problems' were seeing as they seemed to now be his problems. Perhaps Jack was right, perhaps women are evil.

The click of the door interrupted Will's thoughts and he stood to greet the surly man.

"Sorry I'm late" He stated half-heartedly.

"No problem" Will lied in response and sat back in his seat. "James sends his apologies, his child is sick."

Lord Beckett nodded and pulled papers out of his briefcase. "I've been talking to the board and they are worried about the latest amount of money that you requested.

Will's brow furrowed. "I have asked for much more in the past, we are in the final stages now. I was under the impression that the board was looking forward to the completion of the Dutchman." He stated professionally.

"Yes, well" Beckett stuttered, obviously surprised by Will's confidence and professionalism. "Circumstances have changed since you met with the board" He said with a slight cough.

Will's earlier worries came to the front of his mind and his eyes narrowed. "How so?" He dared to ask.

Beckett looked taken aback.

"Forgive me, but I do not play by the rules of the house of Lords, I am not going to insinuate answers, if you are implying that changes in my personal life has had impacted this project then you will need to tell me so. However I would suggest you choose your words carefully." Will asserted his eyes daring the man to say something unprofessional.

The older man glared at Will but did not respond.

"You and your board know that I don't get paid for the work I do here, and that they would not have even begun work on this project if it was not for my 'commitment and dedication'. He said repeating the words of respect that the board had gushed the last time he had met with them. "They would do well to remember that." Will stated coolly rising from his seat and heading towards the door.

"This meeting is hardly over" Beckett snapped

"Oh but I believe it is. You have wasted enough of my time Lord Beckett. I will be requesting to meet with the Board later this week and know that I will be making it clear that I will no longer be meeting with their messenger." Will said coldly. He held the door open and silently ordered the man to leave.

"I will see you fired for this" Beckett remarked as he walked past him.

"I'm afraid that Mr Swann does not have that much power." Will said carefully awaiting the man's reaction. The older man spun on his heel a look of rage in his eyes. Will smirked finally understanding where the problem was stemming from and could not help but glow with satisfaction when his colleague realised that he had given away that fact. He shot Will a dangerous look before leaving the building with a sour look on his face.

"What's up 'is ass?" Jack asked Will pointing to Beckett as he slammed the front door.

Will smirked in reply and Jack grinned. "I'm so proud of you boy" He said throwing his arm around the young man and laughing loudly

"I've got to go Jack," Will told Jack as he escaped his adopted fathers haphazard hug.

"No!" Jack cried looking indignant "We gotta celebrate, I'll get the rum!" He announced dancing off towards the storeroom.

Will shook his head and chose to leave anyway. He had someone that he needed to see.

Elizabeth was vaguely aware that someone was knocking on the door but she didn't feel like answering. She pulled the duvet over her head and tried to ignore the squeak of the rickety old bed as she moved in an attempt to bury herself further into the mattress.

"Elizabeth!" A voice called "Open the door"

She responded by covering her head with a pillow. She sniffed as she thought over all the things that had happened since she had ripped that cord out of the wall. How she had been visited by Tia to be told that she could no longer stay in her apartment, her bag had been stolen in the street when she had tried to get money to pay the electricity bill which, as a result of not being paid, had been turned off. And to make matters worse she was avoiding Will, which only served to break her heart. But she had to, she couldn't let her father destroy him too.

"Elizabeth!"

The muffled voice was calling again she noticed but she chose to ignore it. She was in no state to answer the door, and she didn't think she could handle more bad news. "Things can't get any worse than they are already" She whispered to herself. That was when she heard the lock click and the front door open.

Elizabeth flew out of bed and grabbed the lamp from the bedside table. 'Only I could be unlucky enough to get robbed today…' she thought standing next to her bedroom door clutching the lamp tightly, ready to swing.

"Elizabeth?" The deep voice said as her door opened.

Elizabeth swung with all her strength but Will was able to catch hold of the lamp before it slammed into him. "What on earth?" He exclaimed.

"Will!" She exclaimed in reply before falling into his arms with tears running down her cheeks.