A/N: Thank you to Lucky Starz, LaurenLaneLover and mewkazurinu2004 for reviewing chapter 8. Hope you enjoy!

Chapter 9- A Chance To Make A Change

Niles held the phone up to his ear, eagerly waiting for C.C. to snap out of trance and start speaking to him. Even though he couldn't physically see her, he could feel her fear because quite honestly he was afraid too. He had so many things he wanted to say to her, but was still not completely aware of her feelings about him. He was so accustomed to using insults to cover up his feelings so the thought of being blunt with her about them, frightened him tremendously. He might not be ready to express every deepest emotion in the bottom of his heart, but he was ready to move their relationship from supposed enemies to at least friends. Of course he wanted more but if she wasn't ready for that, then he would take what he could get.

He softly spoke once more hoping he could get through to her:

"Miss Babcock. Are you there?"

Hearing his voice once more, C.C. was brought back to reality.

"Yes I am here. How have you been?"

Still not ready to reveal everything to her, he figured he would just stick to the small talk for now in order to keep her on the line. Truth was, her voice was the most beautiful sound in the world and just listening her to speak was something he had looked forward to everyday for his 20 years of service as the Sheffield's butler.

"Well financially and career wise I have been doing well. The stock I invested in doubled in value, so I made a $200,000 profit and, of course, I am sure you heard about Andrew Lloyd Weber offering to produce my play."

"Yes, I heard. Maxwell was furious of course."

"You know, I don't think I would have had the courage to submit it if it hadn't been for your support. You went to bat for me and I am so grateful to you. I have written several plays in my life, but this one was special to me and I am so very happy to have the opportunity to get it produced. Thank you Miss Babcock"

C.C. was glad to hear that he was so happy. At least this inheritance had led to something good in his life because her life seemed as if it was spiraling out of control.

The fact that they were talking on the phone civilly and having what appeared to be a friendly conversation was quite strange to her. She wasn't sure how to feel about it. Of course she was in love with him, but their relationship rarely ever had this type of interaction. It is isn't that she disliked this sort of friendly chit chat with him, hearing his voice was enough to make her go wild. It was just different for her.

"Niles, I read your play and I meant what I said. I know a hit when I read one and it will surely be the talk of the Broadway season. I really can't wait to see it."

"Well in that case, I'll save you a ticket for opening night. I am sure Maxwell will be thrilled to hear that you will be seeing it." Niles chuckled through the receiver.

"Oh yeah, ecstatic. You should have seen him when he found out about you and Andrew Lloyd Weber. He was absolutely livid! Fran was cowering behind me in fear. " She laughed at the image

"Oh Miss Fine. You can't help but love her crazy antics."

"Fran has actually been quite supportive of me lately. She even backed me up when Max blew up earlier today."

"Wow, the apocalypse is coming. You and I having a normal conversation, Fran Fine and C.C. Babcock are friends. What exactly is happening here?" He chuckled at this thought.

Truth be told, things were quite strange and the funny thing was, it was just the beginning.

"To be honest, Niles, work just hasn't been as fulfilling for me. My life is empty without our daily rhythm. Without these distractions as filler, work has just been mind numbingly boring. Not to mention, the play that Maxwell picked was terrible. I think I convinced him to change it, but honestly, he made a huge mistake not listening to us."

"Are you ready for a change in your life, Ms. Babcock?"

It was a very appropriate question to ask her. Isn't that what this whole inheritance thing boiled down to, a change in her views and ideals on life? It was so interesting that he, of all people, would ask her this. Ultimately the change that she would be looking for would be to have him in her life not as an enemy, but as her one and only true love.

All these feelings, the things she revealed to Fran were on the tip on her tongue, ready to be released, but she just couldn't do it. Expressing how she felt was just not her forte. Not to mention, the rational side of her thought that over the phone might not be the best way to tell him these things. She needed to see him. So instead of saying everything on her mind, she replied instead:

"You know Niles, I really don't know the answer to that question. As boring as work is now, what the hell would I do without a job? Sure I have a $20 million inheritance to keep me afloat, but I need more than that. I thrive on the hustle and bustle of work everyday. Without work, I may shrivel up and die from boredom."

"Well maybe that size 6 dress you bought would actually fit." he laughed before speaking once more. "Sorry Babs, you walked right into that one."

"This coming from a man who wore a girdle to the Tony's last year." She giggled initially, followed by that maniacal, evil and sultry laugh that drove him wild.

Although he was enjoying this conversation with her, it was not enough for him. He needed to see her, be near her everyday. As much as he hated being a domestic, that got him through the day. He missed that. Even if he couldn't tell her everything, he could at least figure out some excuse to see her.

He had it on the tip of his tongue ready to come out. He was about to ask Ms. Babcock out to lunch tomorrow. He figured she probably wouldn't want to eat at the house given that Fran was a lousy cook and Maxwell hadn't yet hired a new butler. He was just about to ask her when she spoke.

"Niles as fun as this conversation has been, I have another call waiting. I must pick it up. Talk to you soon?"

"Yes of course, goodbye for now Ms. Babcock."

"Goodbye Niles, and please, call me C.C.

And with that she switched over to the other line. She did not expect that this call would be bearing the news of another major change in her life.

"Hello this is C.C. Babcock."

Immediately by the tone of his voice she could tell that this conversation was not going to end well.

"C.C. how could you do this? You have not only betrayed me, but my company as well. Why would you give Niles a $1 million inheritance? Your actions have not only led to me losing an employee, but they have affected the company too. There is one thing I can't stand and that is when Andrew Lloyd Weber sells out and I can't even fill up the theatre on opening night!"

Clearly he was livid and she knew that. But she would not stand for him putting all the blame on her when the majority of these problems were his own damn fault. She had no problem vocalizing these concerns.

"Maxwell, that inheritance is mine to give and I can give it to whomever I please or I can burn the money in my fireplace. It is really none of your business and has no bearing on this company. The reason your employee left was not because I gave him the money, it was because you treated him like a peon and less than human and he would stand for it no longer. And as for Andrew Lloyd Webber having success, Niles and I both tried to get you to produce his play and you wouldn't even read it. How can you sit there and say any of this is my fault? And you seem to think this is all your company when I have bent over backwards to make this company what it is today. I have kissed the asses of many investors whom I did not care for in order to bring profits and success to this company. You also seem to forget the fact on a daily basis that I own a portion of the company and its name is Sheffield-Babcock productions!"

"Not anymore because you are fired!"

"No I am not fired, Maxwell, because I quit. I am done being seen as your employee when I should be viewed as your colleague. Have fun producing that pathetic excuse for a script too. Maybe you will sell enough tickets to fill the first row on opening night. If you do, I would call that a miracle! Goodbye Maxwell!"

And with successfully getting the last word, she slammed down the receiver. She never thought she would lose her job but if it ever came to that she figured she would feel a lot worse. She would have expected to shed some tears at the loss of everything she worked for because truthfully her career had been her life and she had worked harder at that then finding a man.

If this would have happened a year ago, things would have been different, but the new and improved C.C. Babcock had come to learn that there was more to life then work, money and social status. Sure, she was upset about losing her job just now and she knew that finding another one in this cutthroat and competitive environment would not prove easy. However, she felt more numb about the whole thing. It wasn't killing her and she even had an inkling of relief at the fact that she wouldn't be forced to produce a lousy play.

She figured this she should just take some time off to get herself together and find a new job. Surely, she had connections and someone would be willing to hire her in the theatre.

Yes, I will take a few days off and reevaluate these other aspects in my life. Surely getting a job should be no problem, right? I wonder if Fran was the one to tell Maxwell about the inheritance, she is the only person I told about it. Well no matter, what's done is done.

And with that thought in mind, she headed to bed, ready to wake up in the morning and for once, work on herself, not the company. Of course before she fell asleep she pondered about Niles and wondered just what he was doing at that very second.

Of course, he was in bed right then doing the same about her.

A/N: Some time will have passed between the events in this chapter and the next one.