Chapter 1

Summary: Lizzy is just a soulful editor fighting for her views on literature and against the jerks of the world – William is a wealthy CEO wishing to lose himself in life and flee the clutches of family norms. After a first time meeting and a fiery spark, their acquaintance soon gets interesting. But when they finally believe to be safe, new problems arise.

Lizzy and Will's relationship seem to be wrought with happiness, but when a known nemesis comes back into their lives, and throws them off balance, Darcy must overcome his isolated independence to come clean, and Elizabeth must overcome her prejudice to save their love.

Short Excerpt: "It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a trophy wife," Lizzy muttered to Charlotte as she watched Caroline sharpen her talons while assessing the illustrious Mr. Darcy.

Rating: T

Disclaimer: I don't own Pride and Prejudice – I'm just playing around :)

Bagels, flowers and future promises.

Clicking heels echoed in the bright apartment, and were then followed by the flicking of the switch. The light following the horrid noise depicted a gruesome image. A mop of brown hair covered a female face, followed by a slumped body which was luckily attached to the aforementioned head.

"Lizzie!" Charlotte gripped a bottle of water and dumped it unceremoniously on her best friend… or former best friend.

"What?" a confused and disgruntled Elizabeth Bennet looked into the narrowed eyes of her assailant.

"You know! Didn't we talk about this?!"

Elizabeth's eyes widened as she gazed around her at the mess of books.

"Oh."

"Oh?"

"Yeah," she shrugged helplessly.

Charlotte placed a hand on her hip, and cocked an eyebrow at her friend.

"Hey!" the brunette frowned. "That's totally my mom's pose, why are you using it?"

Charlotte rolled her eyes and dumped a paper bag in front of her roommate. "Yeah, 'cause it's patent-pending."

"Might as well be," Elizabeth muttered as she gazed into the bag, then smiled at its contents.

Charlotte grabbed her latte and sat down to look Lizzie in the eyes. "Do we need to have this talk again?"

Elizabeth sighed, and her head fell into her hands. "Sorry, but you know how important my job is to me!"

Charlotte nodded, but then frowned when she saw an open cooking book. "Right… so, how does being an editor require a recipe book?"

Elizabeth scrunched her nose as she looked at her friend. "I could tell you a lie and say that I'm doing research on the reliability of a manuscript… or I could tell you my mother is forcing me to bake the apple pie this time…"

Charlotte patted her friend on the shoulder and handed her a bagel from the bag.

"What's the time anyways?" Elizabeth muttered as she stuffed a large piece in her mouth.

"Harper might need you in 1 and a half hours, or was it Collins today?"

"Shut up."

Charlotte grinned before she perused the table, and caught a manuscript with an eye-catching title. "The Intermediate level of Failure?"

Elizabeth snatched the stack of paper out of her roommate's hands. "No touching!"

"Alrigh! …What is it?"

"A girl sent it to me…" Elizabeth put it by the other stacks of manuscripts she had in the corner, before turning to Charlotte. "I met her on my blog… we got to know each other."

Charlotte nodded before shoving the rest of Elizabeth's bagel in her mouth, "Oway!"

With a confused frown, Elizabeth rushed in the bathroom and quickly got ready. After she had cleaned up, put make up on , adjusted her thick mane into a fresh chignon and slipped into her work clothes she was finally presentable.

"I'll see you later!"

"Hold up!" Charlotte cried as she pressed on with her shorter legs to catch up to Lizzy's long strides. "We still have to talk, and we're going the same way."

Lizzy quickly pulled Charlotte out of the way of an unknowing cyclist, and they continued to make their way. "The job interview? With that field company?"

"It's Netherfield inc." Charlotte through Lizzy a glare, "and no, I have to meet my mother and then my brother afterwards. Something about a bake sale and some school project he needs help with."

"You mean your mother's charity event and your brother's gaming project for his class on media? It actually sounds really interesting-"

"Hey!" Charlotte pouted as she still struggled to keep up with Lizzy, half running to encompass for the difference in heights. "How come you know more about his stuff than mine? Aren't I your roommate and best friend?"

"Sorry," Lizzy threw her an apologetic smile before taking a turn and dragging a panting Charlotte along. "I just wanted some advice on the writers program that Harper and Collins want to design…"

"Hey! Again!" Charlotte cried as she followed Lizzy in a flower boutique. "I'm your roommate, your best friend and the closest graduated software engineer you know!"

Lizzy sighed as she shoved a stack of Orchids in Charlotte's unsuspecting hands. "Okay… what are these for?"

"Your mother loves orchids," she said as she browsed for a pot of Echinacea. "It's a connection your mother has to her Thai part, apparently that side of her family was known for breeding them."

"Right," Charlotte muttered as she gazed a Lizzy's wandering eyes. "They're here, you know."

"Oh." Lizzy snatched up the depressing flowers and sighed at Charlotte's wrinkled nose. "I know I know, But they're the first ones-"

"Your dad gave her, yeah."

After briefly paying Lizzy continued on her quick pace to the bakery, Charlotte barely managing to follow, her short figure lost in the busy morning crowd. "Liz, wait!"

"Hurry!" Lizzie disappeared in the bakery, grabbed the coffee waiting for her, and met a frowning Charlotte outside. "Okay, you can talk now."

"Only if you slow down!"

She rolled her eyes but endeavored to spare her friend. "So, about the field company…"

"Netherfield!"

"Okay!"

Charlotte huffed. "Well, I have the interview later today after meeting mom and dad, and I was wondering if you would like to join me afterwards for lunch?"

"Spit it out."

"You see, I don't if I'll be accepted yet, but my dad is acquainted with the founder so the chances are nice. Anyway, I know they have this event on Saturday, and I was wondering if you would go with me..?"

"Charlotte, I don't swing that way… I'm so-"

Charlotte shoved her friend but snorted a laugh, "You know what I mean."

"Okay, sure. One thing, though; can Jane tag along?"

"Sure! She probably needs it, huh?"

"Yeah," Lizzy rubbed her temple and sighed, "The whole Freddie thing is still hanging over her head."

"Right, but hasn't it been over 2 months?"

"You know Jane, remember when fluffy died." Charlotte flinched. "Besides, it was her first really long relationship, and she had serious hopes."

Charlotte nodded before they stopped at the Harper and Collins offices, "See you later!" Lizzy exclaimed with an exuberant hug and silly smile, before striding into the office.

"Yeah" Charlotte sighed as she looked at the clock and remembered her plans. "Later…"

A/N: Hope you guys enjoyed this! It's an idea I had and just wanted to get out there. The plot is a rough draft so the chapter are relatively spontaneous - hope you guys will keep on reading! Don't forget to review :)