A/N: I'm on Spring Break! Wooo-Hooo! So I might update more frequently but I can't say for sure...cause I have a life (Kinda, not really). Anyway, I'll try to update at least twice this week. And keep reviewing. I love getting reviews. Thanks so much for having read this far. Love you guys!

Ch. 9

"I'm so nervous." The bubbly brunette said as they made their way to baggage claim.

"Don't be, Char. They're already publishing your book." Elizabeth gave her friend a supportive smile.

"You're right. I have nothing to be worried about." Charlotte straightened her posture, but there was still a panicky look in her eyes.

It was finally the day that Liz and Charlotte traveled to New York to meet Mrs. De Bourg, publishing magnate.

"So you said we're supposed to be picked up by her assistant? What did you say his name was again?"

"Uhh...Bill Collins I think. He said he would meet us here."

As if on cue, a man behind them cleared his throat and said in a nasally voice, "Miss Lucas? Miss Bennet?"

Charlotte and Liz turned around to see a short man with an oddly shaped face and pursed lips staring at them.

"Yea" Charlotte said. "You must be Bill Collins. I'm Charlotte and this is my friend Liz." She reached out her hand for him to shake and Liz did the same.

Soon after their introduction, Bill ushered them out the door to the short-term parking.

"My car is just over here, It's the light blue one. Did you know that the color blue symbolizes intelligence. Mrs. Dr Bourg told me that herself. Says I should drive a smart car." Collins rambled on and walked ahead of the girls.

"Uh oh, Char. He owns a powder blue Prius. If you were nervous before, then you must be freaking out right now." Liz whispered to Charlotte when Collins was out of hearing range.

Both girls snickered. Liz always knew how to make Charlotte feel better.

By the time they reached the car, Bill Collins was already waiting inside with the car started. "Come on, ladies. Time is money as Mrs. De Bourg always says. She is such a wise woman and I'm so grateful to be one of her many employees."

While Collins was going on and on, Charlotte and Liz put their carry-on's in the trunk and piled into the car. Charlotte had already called shot-gun on the plane ride so she sat up front and Elizabeth took the back.

Before Liz even had her seatbelt on, Collins was backing out of the parking spot, apparently eager to get back.

"Mrs. De Bourg wants you in attendance at her apartment by three o'clock and I do hope to get there before we run into any of the dreadful New York traffic in the city."

Liz let out a small laugh. 'Like there was never not any traffic in New York City' she thought.

Collins, who seemed to hear her laugh half-turned to her and coldly said, "Is there something funny Miss Bennet? I don't recall telling a joke."

Elizabeth tried to come up with something to say quickly and blurted out, "I was just looking up in the sky and saw a pretty cloud. It...made me laugh." She tried to be serious but her lame lie made her fit of laughter even worse. Even Charlotte was amused.

Collins didn't seem convinced but turned around to face the road nonetheless. "Irregardless..."

This made Liz laugh even harder. Her eyes were tearing up and she had to wipe them. Did he really just say irregardless? This guy is idiotic.

From the rearview mirror Liz could see Bill Collins scowl. It did not make him look any better.

"Well, I do hope that your friend is not like this when we arrive at the De Bourg residence, Miss Lucas. Her sense of humor does not match that of the honorable woman. I suggest that you keep her under control."

"Yes, sir." Charlotte said, trying to hide her smile. She looked back at her friend who just shrugged.

"Oh. I have to call Jane! I completely forgot. She told me to call when we landed." Liz fished through her purse for her cell.

She dialed the number and pressed send. She didn't have to wait that long for her sister to pick up.

"Oh, Liz! You got to New York safe?"

"Yup, Janie. We are on our way to the honorable Mrs. De Bourg's house as we speak."

"Hah. Good. I'm glad you got there safely."

"Safe and sound. How's L.A? What are you and Charlie up to today?"

"Well, we have the entire day to ourselves. They're done shooting the movie and Will has left to go somewhere, I don't know, so Charlie and I are spending the entire day together!"

"Is he with you now? I don't want to take too much time away from you. Get back to your date and I'll call you later."

"Okay, Liz. I just wanted to make sure you and Char are fine and that you made it to New York safely. Have fun, sis."

"Bye, Jane. Tell Charlie I said hi." With that, Liz hung up the phone. She missed her sister so much already but didn't want to intrude on her time with Charlie. Liz sighed audibly, she wished she could have someone like that in her life.

"Everything alright?" Charlotte asked.

"Yea, It's all good there. I told Jane we were fine and that we didn't die in an airplane crash." Liz joked.

Charlotte giggled. "Liz, you know how much your sister worries about you."

"I know. I miss her already." Liz responded.

Charlotte opened her mouth to speak, but before she could get a word in, Collins butted in. "Here we are! Rosings. It is magnificent isn't it. Mrs. De Bourg occupies the penthouse suite."

Liz looked out the window to observe said building. It was a high-rise with scary looking gargoyles on the top. It was not as magnificent as Collins claimed it to be, that was for sure.

"Shall we?" Collins said, stepping out of the parked car and walking towards the door to the building. "We have five minutes to get there. Mrs. De Bourg does not like people who are late."

Elizabeth and Charlotte rolled their eyes when Collins wasn't looking and followed him into the old apartment building.

The lobby of Rosings was decorated in a gothic style. Elizabeth felt like she was transported from the streets of New York City to a medieval castle judging by the décor. There were arched doorways and wood-beamed ceilings in the dimly lit area. Behind the reception desk there was a huge horse sculpture made of a hard, shiny metal. Other gaudy objects decorated the walls and floor.

"Scary." Elizabeth muttered under her breath, barely audible.

Collins, thinking that what she said had been a compliment, said, "Isn't it just grand? Mrs. De Bourg is the owner of the building also and personally picked out the decorations for the lobby."

"How...lovely." Charlotte uttered, not able to find a word that could accurately describe the décor without insulting the woman that was publishing her book.

"Now, this candelabra over here," Collins gestured to an object sitting on the reception desk, "is one of a kind, made in Italy especially for Mrs. De Bourg. The woman has so many wonderful connections."

"Who doesn't know a candlemaker?" Elizabeth joked and Charlotte snickered in response.

Collin's either didn't hear Liz or chose not to acknowledge the comment⎯most likely the latter⎯and ushered to the elevator, signaling that they should get a move on.

Once in the elevator, Collins pushed the button for the top floor, looking smug. Then, he looked to the watch on his wrist and gasped. "Oh no! We have precisely two minutes to get up there."

"Relax, Collins. We can make it in two minutes." Liz said calmly. His antics were starting to wear on her and they were no longer amusing and laughable.

The minute spent in the elevator couldn't have passed soon enough. Collins was breathing deeply, blaming it on his claustrophobia, and Charlotte and Liz just looked at each other in utter disbelief.

"He's crazy!" Liz mouthed.

"I know." Charlotte mouthed back.

The elevator beeped and Liz practically ran out. She was so anxious to not be sharing the same air space with Collins. She didn't know that the elevator lead right up into the living room of penthouse suite.

"Oh thank Go...oh hello." Liz said blushing, noticing that three pairs of eyes were staring back at her.

Collins sauntered out of the elevator, glaring at Elizabeth as he made his way to an older woman who was currently sitting in a huge chair that made her look old and frail.

"Mrs. De Bourg, this is Charlotte Lucas, the author, and her friend, Elizabeth Bennet." He said her name as if he had a sour taste in his lips.

Charlotte shuffled up to the woman and enthusiastically shook her hand. Liz, on the other hand just waved her hand and said "Hi. I've heard so many nice things about you" Almost sarcastically.

Mrs. De Bourg turned to the girls and said with a superior air, "Charlotte, Elizabeth. This is my daughter Anne, and my nephew Richard. My other nephew is lurking about here somewhere."

"Pleasure to meet you." Char and Liz said in unison.

Anne simply nodded, but Richard walked up to the two and shook their hands energetically. "Richard Fitzwilliam at your service. I'm pleased to meet two lovely ladies such as yourselves." He said with a large smile.

Elizabeth opened her mouth to say something witty back, but she heard a door close and a figure step out. Liz gasped and was immediately shocked. When the figure saw her, he mirrored the shocked expression she had.

"Ah, William. Nice of you to come join us. We were just introducing our guests." Mrs. De Bourg said, not noticing the previous look shared by Liz and Will.

"Well, there's no need to introduce me, aunt Catherine. I already know Charlotte and Elizabeth." Will replied, the look on his face still not gone.

"Do you? And how is it that you've come to meet them?" His aunt asked.

"They work for L.A Mag. Elizabeth is the one that did the article about me."

"Did she?" Mrs. De Bourg said condescendingly.

"Darce, this is the Elizabeth that you were telling me about?" Richard asked, his eyebrows slightly wagging.

"Woah, woah, waoh. Hold on." Liz said, holding up her hand in protest. "Don't believe anything he said about me!"

"What do you mean? Darce has been praising you ever since he got here." Richard said, putting his arm around Liz.

She blushed slightly at his cousin's response. She thought that he would have had some nasty comments to share.

Will cleared his throat and sat down in a chair located in the far corner of the room. He looked slightly embarrassed. "Small world" was all the words he could manage.

"Small fucking world, indeed." Liz muttered and Richard, still with his arm around Liz, snickered.

Mrs. De Bourg, feeling like she was being left out of the conversation, interjected "So tell me about yourself Elizabeth. I already know plenty about Charlotte, but next to nothing about you other than your career."

"Uh...I went to high school with Char and I started working with L.A Mag less than a month ago."

"Less than a month?" the older woman looked Liz up and down. "How old are you?"

Not liking the scrutinizing gaze she was being given, she responded curtly, "twenty four, ma'am."

"Hmmm...you don't look a day over twenty."

"Maybe it's 'cause I'm short." Was all she said.

"Yes, maybe it's your height. You're quite tiny. How long have you lived in L.A?" De Bourg observed.

"Not too long. A little over a month. I started working shortly after I moved."

"Well, yes. Without a husband in the near future, working is your only option, isn't it?" Mrs. De Bourg sardonically said.

Liz was a little startled by Mrs. Dr Bourg's forwardness. She had just met the woman! "As a matter of fact, I enjoy working, Mrs. De Bourg." Elizabeth quipped.

"Well, judging by your very outspoken personality, I'd say that you will be working for a very long time." Mrs. De Bourg retorted.

Elizabeth clapped her hands together. "Alright, now that we've had a little fun at my expense⎯"

"Maybe you should get to your meeting now. Weren't you supposed to decide on the cover of a book today or something?" Richard intervened.

"Of course, I nearly forgot." Mrs. De Bourg got up from her large chair. "Come, Collins. You too, Charlotte. I want you to see the office." She said as she waved them to the elevator.

"Yes ma'am." Charlotte responded, following the woman and glancing at Liz with an I'm-sorry-to-leave-you-with-a-bunch-of-strangers look.

Once they were gone, Elizabeth let out a breath she didn't know she was holding. "Thanks, Richard. I was about to explode."

"No problem, I just hope you'll return the favor when I need some saving." Richard responded, giving her a suggestive look.

Anne, who had not spoken a word since Char and Liz arrived, finally uttered, "I think I'm getting the flu. I'm going to go lay down." She excused herself.

From the time Liz walked into the room, she could see Anne in the corner, ready to flee to her room at any second. Elizabeth noticed that Anne was extremely pale, whether it was from being sick or just staying inside all the time, Liz did not know.

When a door closed behind Anne, Richard whispered in Elizabeth's ear, "She claims to have a new illness every week, but no one's too concerned. We figured out a long time ago that she was just a hypochondriac."

Liz nodded in understanding. She glanced over to Will and noticed that he was watching them too, scowling. Liz wasn't surprised.

She moved over to the couch and took a seat, keeping an eye on Will. Liz finally broke their gaze by turning to Richard and asking, "So what did he say about me?"

"Hmmm...Well, I think I'm just going to let you figure that one out yourself, Lizzy-poo." He replied while ruffling her hair.

"I don't know what that means." Liz told him, a confused expression on her face.

Rich looked over to Will, who gave his cousin a steady look and shook his head slowly as if to tell him that he better not share a word he said.

Elizabeth didn't see this exchange, as she was observing the décor Mrs. De Bourg's living room had to offer, which was much like the lobby.

Liz already had a suspicion that Rich didn't want to tell her because he was afraid that what Will said would hurt her feelings. Maybe Will thought her stubborn or overbearing. Maybe he thought she had too many opinions.

Rich cleared his throat, attempting to change the subject. "I like your shirt, Liz."

Liz looked down at her shirt, stretching it out so that she could see it. She laughed when she remembered the shirt she was wearing. "Hah, this old thing? Well, I didn't realize that we would be coming right to the honorable Mrs. De Bourg's house right after the airport."

"No it's nice. Everyone needs a t-shirt with huge letters that spell out 'shit happens' on it." Richard chortled.

"Where does one buy a shirt like that?" Will chimed in.

"I got a guy."

"A guy?" Will questioned.

"Yea, a shirt guy. Kinda like a drug dealer but a lot friendlier and he gives me obscene shirts instead of drugs." Elizabeth said sarcastically.

"Really?" He asked.

"Of course not! I bought it from a store." Liz replied, a little annoyed.

"Sorry." Will responded, looking away as if he lost interest in their conversation.

"Well I like it. I have to get me one of them." Rich attempted to lighten the mood.

The elevator door beeped, signaling the return of De Bourg, Charlotte and Collins. Mrs. De Bourg exiting first, followed by a ridiculous-looking Collins and a weary Charlotte.

"Well that was fast." Liz exclaimed.

"Yes, yes." Mrs. De Borg waved it off. "When your business is located right next to your residence, things move quickly. I had them leave the cover options at the front desk and we picked one instantly."

Charlotte plopped down on the couch next to Elizabeth and whispered to her, "I don't know how she does it. I felt like we were moving at a hundred miles per hour."

"And then I gave Miss Lucas a tour of the first floor of the office, and now here we are, back home." De Bourg added.

She purposefully relocated herself to the tall, large seat she was previously occupying and the head of the room.

"Besides, I wouldn't want to be rude to my company." Mrs. De Bourg looked to Elizabeth and added, "I still have so much I wish to know about you, Miss Bennet."

"What is it that you would like to know?" Liz asked with slight irritation.

"For starters, what is your family like?"

Liz looked around the room, seeking something to say about her hectic family. Collins was looking at her with a scrutinizing stare, Charlotte was nervously fidgeting with her hands, Richard looked a little amused, and Will had picked up a book from a nearby table and was flipping through the pages.

"Well," Elizabeth started, "I have four other sisters, a mom, and a dad. My older sister and I just moved to L.A and the rest of my family is still in Philly."

"Five girls!" Catherine De Bourg exclaimed. "That must have been such a burden for your parents. And you lived in Philadelphia? How...enchanting." She said as her tone shifted from surprised to slightly disgusted.

Liz frowned at the comment and sassily responded, "Yes, the city of brotherly love. That is my hometown." Elizabeth finished with a fake smile.

Will looked up from his reading and almost smiled at her very forward personality. "Alright, Aunt Catherine. I think that this interrogation is over." Will cut in.

"Yea, I think that maybe Charlotte and Liz are tired from traveling. Maybe they want to go to their hotel and rest a little bit." Richard suggested.

Elizabeth nodded her thanks again and mouthed "I owe you guys." To Will and Rich. Elizabeth was surprised that Will helped to get his aunt off her back, but she was sill pissed at him when she thought of what George had said.

"That's a good idea." Charlotte told Mrs. De Bourg. "I think it would do us good to get a good night's sleep. Are we still on for the meeting tomorrow?"

"Of course. Tomorrow is a long day. We will be busy with the final touches of the book."

Collins joined in, "I shall take you to your hotel, your bags are still in my car."

Liz and Char stood up and said goodbye to everyone. Rich followed them to the elevator and spoke to Liz, "Since Charlotte will be busy all day tomorrow, I'm going to make it my personal mission to entertain you. Be here by ten tomorrow." And then he added in a whisper, "I'm sure the lady of the house will be gone by then."

Liz giggled. Richard knew her so well already. "Alright, can't wait to hang out tomorrow." She said with a wave as she, Collins, and Char boarded the elevator.