A/N: I am so glad everyone is enjoying this story. I just thought of another interesting idea for a oneshot so expect that soon. Anyways, shout outs to Lucky Starz, mewkazurinu2004, slm38, ladybrin, LaurenLaneLover and rx9872 for reviewing chapter 7. Hope you enjoy I will continue to update fairly quickly.
Chapter 8 – Niles' Big Break
Niles woke up bright and early the next morning. He had a very full day ahead of him and he was ready to get started. He couldn't wait to start his new life. As soon as the market opened, he planned on investing a portion of the inheritance into the stock market. He had a good feeling about the company.
After that he planned on checking out some of the apartments that were listed in the real estate adds. He knew that getting his own place would be the first major step to beginning his own life and he was anxious to get out of this hotel as soon possible. Although the room appeared clean, he always wondered just how many questionable germs and bacteria lingered on everything he used. Being a housekeeper most of his life, that image petrified him tremendously.
He was just about to leave the hotel and start his day, when all of the sudden his hotel phone started to ring. Excited at the prospect that it may be for his play, he ran to the phone and answered immediately.
"Hello!", the excitement was evident in his voice.
"Hi Mr. Brightmore! It's Kat Saxon calling. Mr. Webber read your play and he said it was absolutely stunning, especially coming from a man who has never published a play before. He said he could envision all members of the audience having some sort of connection with this piece of writing. He would be thrilled to produce it! Are you available to meet with Mr. Webber for lunch today to discuss casting and funding?"
Niles was thrilled. He had and big smile on his face and was beaming with happiness at the thought that his love for C.C. Babcock would finally be brought to life. Somehow, he needed to figure out a way to get her to see it and considering Sheffield-Babcock productions and Andrew Lloyd Webber didn't have the most amicable of relationships, this may prove to be difficult. He would cross that bridge when he came to it, for now however, he was absolutely ecstatic at this wonderful news.
"Of course! What time would that be? "
"1 o'clock at the Rainbow Room. Mr. Webber's treat. Oh and one more thing, I forgot to mention. Mr. Webber wants to know if you would be willing to co-produce with him. He figured since you wrote the play that you would be the best visionary mind when picking the cast."
"I would be honored! Tell Mr. Webber I accept."
"You can tell him yourself at lunch. Clearly you are excited and to be honest, so am I. I can't wait to see this breathtaking piece of work brought to life. Not to mention, it was written by an insanely handsome man."
Niles couldn't help but blush at this comment. He hadn't received this kind of attention from a woman in a while. All he could manage to say was:
"Well, thank you!"
Kat Saxon wasn't the type of person to beat around the bush. Generally, when she wanted a man, there was no hesitation in her trying to catch him. She just figured rejection was a part of the dating scene and so she wasn't afraid of it. With this in mind, she was ready to make her move on this devilishly sexy man with an alluring British accent.
"So Niles, what are you doing Saturday night because I was just wondering if you wanted to grab a bite to eat or catch a movie?"
Oh my gosh, did she just ask me out? I really haven't done this in a while. What about C.C.? I still haven't talked to her. I really need to think about this. I mean she is attractive and nice enough. She is also insanely forward and not at all ashamed to express her feelings. Total contrast to me since I have been falling for the same woman for 20 years and I still can't seem to tell her the truth.
"How about a rain check? I am visiting family this weekend."
Ok so I told a little white lie, but I am just not ready to go out with some woman I just met when I am totally smitten over someone else and have been most of my life.
"Sure, well I'll see you soon then Mr. Brightmore?"
"Of course. Goodbye for now."
"Bye bye."
And with that they both hung up the phones simultaneously. Kat Saxon would not give up so easily. She was bound and determined to get a date with this man regardless of how pushy she would have to be to get his attention.
Niles had one more call to make. He was ready to invest a portion of his money in the stock market. It was risky, sure, but he just had a good feeling about this company. In his gut, he knew it would hit.
C.C. had recommended her stockbroker to Maxwell in the past and Niles had taken down his information. He knew it would come in handy at some point. So with that thought in mind, he dialed the number
"Hello John Stokes of Scott trade, how may I help you?"
"Hi sir, this is Niles Brightmore, I currently don't have an account with you but I would like to create one. I was recommended to your brokerage firm by C.C. Babcock."
"Oh yes, of course. Miss Babcock does a great deal of business with us. She is one of our most valued customers. What can I help you with today sir?"
"Well I would like to purchase 100,000 shares of Epsilon Karlton Enigma
Communications. The symbol is EKE on the Nasdaq."
"Alright the stock is currently at $2.00/share so the grand total will be $200,000 plus the $50 transaction fee. Will you be transferring that electronically?"
"Yes sir!"
Niles proceeded to give him his account information. They settled everything, exchanged thanks and said goodbye to one another. Niles felt good about his purchase.
With that he was ready to go out and find himself a home and a new wardrobe. His life was heading in the right direction.
…..
C.C. had arrived to work in the morning about an hour late. Normally she would have felt guilty about this, but lately her job was becoming less fulfilling to her. This, of course, was due to the fact that she didn't see Niles on a daily basis and without her daily dose of banter, she just couldn't seem to function. She really did need him in her life. Not to mention, she absolutely despised the play that Maxwell picked and she had no problem letting him know that it was, what she described in laymen's terms as, a piece of crap.
She never thought she would ever say this, but she was actually relieved to see Fran come into the room and plop her tuchas on Maxwell's desk. It gave her a few seconds to daydream and not worry about any sort of scrutiny from her very stubborn boss. Of course, Fran had a reason for coming into the room. C.C. had no idea it was for her benefit until Fran opened her mouth to speak.
"Ms. Babcock, you look absolutely flushed! You better get a bottle of water from the kitchen." wink wink.
"Oh Nanny Fine, you're right, I feel absolutely parched. I must go get something to wet my palette immediately."
With that said, the 2 women walked quickly out of the office and into the kitchen. Maxwell just looked at them with an eyebrow raised before returning to his work.
"C.C., finally I was able to distract you from work. Anyways, I didn't want to give you this in front of Maxwell since he still seems to be angry about the whole Niles leaving thing. Anyways, I thought you would need it."
C.C. looked at the piece of folded paper and saw a hotel name, address as well as a room and phone number written on the paper. She was clearly ecstatic upon receiving this new information.
"Oh thank you, Frannie!"
And with more display of emotion than usual for her, she pulled Fran Fine (almost Sheffield) into a big bear hug.
Of course this bonding moment between the 2 women would be short lived, for they heard a very angry and booming British accent yelling across the room as the door to the kitchen flew open. Fran, not sure if she did something wrong, was now hiding behind C.C., poking her eyes around her shoulder just to get a glimpse of what was going on. Maxwell, however, was not mad at Fran.
"C.C.! How could this happen? I just got a call from Andrew Lloyd Weber's secretary. Apparently, he has found a hit new play to produce this Broadway season! Oh and you'll never guess this one, the author of the play is NILES BRIGHTMORE!"
"Honey, with all due respect, you did turn down Niles play and the man needs to do something with his life since he no longer has a job here."
"Not helping the situation, Miss Fine!"
"Oh God, I am back to Miss Fine again!"
C.C. opened her mouth to speak:
"Maxwell, she is right you know. I tried to tell you his play was a hit and you wouldn't listen. Now we are producing this garbage that you picked out and again Andrew Lloyd Webber's show will be the hit of the Broadway season. You can't say I didn't warn you."
Now normally C.C. would have been more afraid to be this upfront and brutally honest with Maxwell, but given all these changes in her life, her job really wasn't the most important thing in her life anymore.
"Well, what do you suppose we do?"
"Well, first of all get rid of the piece of trash that absolutely no audience member will connect with. Secondly we could try and convince Niles to come back or find another play."
Maxwell, being the stubborn man that he was, opted for the latter. C.C., of course, knew that no play could even compare with Niles', but at least if she had more time, she could find one that was, at least, slightly entertaining. That play he picked out could have put her to sleep faster than 3 tablespoons of NyQuil.
"Well the work day is about over. C.C. I received a few more scripts today. Please take a look at them tonight and pick one that is sufficient, would you?"
"Sure, Maxwell."
With that they both walked back to the office, so that C.C. could retrieve the scripts. She was about to walk out the door to her car, but was stopped by Fran.
"Call Niles" was all she said and of course she signaled a telephone with her hand.
C.C. got into her BMW and immediately headed back to her penthouse apartment.
When she finally arrived there, she slowly removed the piece of paper from her pocket. Carefully, she picked up her cordless and dialed the number. She heard a few rings and was about to hang up when he finally answered:
"Hello."
"Hi", was the only word C.C. could muster before fear was close to overcoming her and she was about to hang up.
As if Niles read her mind, he said softly,
"C.C. I know it's you. Please don't hang up."
She was too mesmerized by his voice to leave the line and she continued to sit there in silence as he awaited her reply. Although, she wasn't speaking, Niles knew she was there by the light sound of her breathing and he planned to sit on the phone as long as it would take for her to gather up the courage to talk to him.