CHAPTER 7

CC ran to the bathroom under the stairs while Niles made his way down the stairs and to the front door.

While CC was gussying up, she thought about Niles's cheap shot of a few moments before. She was suddenly feeling more at ease since he threw that one at her. She'd never admit it to him but even though some of them were highly offensive, she knew he was just teasing and when she was feeling as nervous or vulnerable as she did in that moment, his comments made her feel at home. It broke the tension… some of the tension at least.

Niles opened the door to a handsome man in a suit similar to one he had 'borrowed' from Maxwell a few weeks back. He'd worn it to accompany Miss Babcock to one of her award shows and she had complimented the garment so he had decided to prolong the process of returning it to Maxwell.

"Miss Babcock!" Mr. McMann looked her up and down and then took her hand to his lips. "You look absolutely ravishing!"

CC was never good at taking compliments or understanding the way men flirted. She got so little of it. She smiled shyly at the handsome investor. "Please," she said, "call me CC."

Mr. McMann turned to Niles. "How do you survive the days near such an astonishing creature?"

"Bug spray" Niles deadpanned.

The looked confused and turned to CC in question.

"Oh, don't mind him," she said, "It's this thing we do."

Niles's heart fluttered at that but when she grinned at McMann and not at him, he felt it sink again.

"Well, stick with me," McMann touched her cheek, "and no servant will treat you with such disrespect."

A stab to Niles's chest. He felt like lurching at the man whose heart was obviously not as handsome as his face was.

"Servants," Niles emphasized, "are the only real friends Miss Babcock has." It came out a little blunt but Niles didn't care.

Mcmann scoffed. "Oh, because servants do things for her out of the goodness of their own hearts? Please! You get paid for your help! What you do is not a gesture of friendship!"

"I've never been of any help to her." Niles retorted.

CC wasn't sure what exactly Niles's argument was. That all these years he was attempting to show her his friendship by always being candid and honest and not taking on the role of dutiful butler to her? Or was it just another jab about her not having any real friends?

"CC, darling, you should urge Maxwell to get rid of this one. He has no respect for those above his breeding!"

"Oh, I try every day, Damon! No matter what I say to Maxwell, I know he'll never give Niles the boot… A few suits and dress shoes, maybe…" She turned to smirk at Niles. He didn't shoot a zinger back and her smirk dropped.

"Well, sweetheart, we'll see what I can do to make your days more pleasurable," McMann winked at her. "Now we should get going! The more time I have with you tonight, the better our head start will be!" CC giggled nervously.

Niles neared them with CC's coat, ready to help her put it on. She instinctively turned from him and put out her arms before Damon grabbed it from Niles to do the job himself.

"I'll be doing everything CC wants from now on, servant. Seeing as you're never any help to her anyway."

The apparent friction between these two men confused CC. "Let's get going Damon, I'm sure you've made reservations for which we can't be late."

She walked through the door with her coat still left behind in Mr. McMann's hands.

"Miss Babcock has a lot of work to do tomorrow morning and Mr. Sheffield asked that she not stay up too late this evening," Niles said honestly, glad that Maxwell had requested he do so.

Damon used the opportunity to irk Niles with one last blow. "Oh, I'll make sure she's well rested when we're finished. Tell me, butler, how does CC usually like her eggs in the morning?"

Niles was appalled. The man was so forward! "Unfertilized, now go away!" And he slammed the door in demon McMann's face.

At least she didn't compliment the suit he was wearing, he thought. He was hopeful that it was because she'd secretly preferred it on him.