Chapter 4

The press conference went just as Will expected. He answered the media's questions without any quips. When they asked anything too personal, he replied with a very professional "no comment." Foster could not believe his eyes, when Will ended the conference without running away and leaving it up to him to apologize, but did it very efficiently and turned off his own microphone.

The presses are sent away. Will watches each of them leave, rubbing his gloved hands against the edge of the podium. One of the reporters turns around, her bright red hair flipping over to her other shoulder, and smiles at him before walking away. However, Will does not smile back, and turns his head quickly to his assistant.

"Foster," He says, finally dropping his hands to his sides.

"Yes, Mr. Wonka?"

"Who was that?" Will replies, his eyes travel back over to the fleeing media members.

"The redhead?"

"Yes."

"That would be Miss. Ellie Johnson," Foster answers, as both men turn their heads to her fleeing form once more, "She works for the local newspaper."

"I recognize her," Will turns to Foster, crossing his arms in front of his chest, "Why do I recognize her?"

"I want to say it was a year ago, when you were allowing private interviews," Foster and Will begin to walk towards the door, "She came a couple of times. I remember her developing quite a fancy towards you. You, on the other hand, were quite oblivious."

Will locks the door behind him and the men make their way to Will's office. Will sits at his desk. He faces the wall before turning quickly back over to Foster, who was about to leave, and calls out to him, "Invite her to dinner."

"I'm sorry?" Foster stops in his tracks and swiftly turns around, "You want me to do what?"

"I would like you to invite Miss. Johnson to dinner," Will repeats, "did I stutter?"

"No, sir," Foster replies, raising a single eyebrow, "Your request just caught me off guard. Are you sure this is the best idea? You didn't enjoy her company last time she was in your presence. You said her voice was annoying."

"Foster," Will replies, turning back towards his desk, and begins to pull out papers, "I refuse to repeat myself."

"Yes, sir," Foster replies, before closing the door behind him. Will looks at the papers in front of him. They were new order forms for supplies. This must be from the folder he was preparing to give to Foster a few days ago to complete. Cautiously, he picks up a pen, and begins to do something he hadn't done in years- paperwork.

A hour or two go by, when Will is interrupted by a soft knock against his door. He calls out to the disturber to enter. The sound of heels clicking and clacking against the floor come closer, until finally they stop near him, and a feminine French voice speaks, "Kelly, sent me up here to announce that dinner will be ready in a little under two hours and that your guest is on her way."

Will turns around to see Madison. Her curls were more wild than normal and were pinned back by a white and black ribbon. She wore a white lace shirt, a black skirt that started halfway up her waist and ended mid thigh, and black shoes that looked like men's dress shoes, but with a drastically high heel. Will balances his head on a gloved fist and peers up at Madison face, his eyes dropping to her lips. He took note of the evident frown, "is there something else you wanted?"

"Were you planning on telling me we were to have a guest tonight?" She asks, her arms crossing in front of chest.

"It must have slipped my mind," he replies, his words cutting her like a knife. He had forgotten about her. Will continues, when she doesn't speak up, "Mademoiselle La Bouff, I would appreciate it very much, if you were to eat in your room tonight."

"You're kidding, right?"

"I don't 'kid'," Will now mimics her actions and crosses his arms across his chest, while leaning back in his chair, fully facing her, "So no."

"I really messed up, didn't I?" Madison says now, unlacing and dropping her arms to her sides, "Will, I've apologized. What more do you want me to do? You were my best friend and now you never talk to me. You act as if I no longer exist."

Will didn't waste much time thinking about what Madison was apologizing for. He came to his own conclusion that she must have told him that she decided that she were to leave in the next year and that must have upset him. It makes perfect sense. They had gotten too close in these past couple of years and the idea of her leaving left his heart aching. So he drowned his sorrows in alcohol. Will knew it was now time to start their process of moving on.

"You have what? Three hundred and sixty one more days until you're allowed to access your father's money. Let's use of the rest of this year as preparation for your eminent departure. I believe a healthy separation while you're here will create the most ease both party's emotions and that…"

"When did you decide that I would be leaving?" Madison asks, interrupting Will's spiel.

"Mademoiselle, I believe you are the one who decided that," Will replies calmly, his hands beginning to itch. He uncrosses his arms and begins to rub his gloved hands together.

"Will, if I knew kissing you would have made you this upset, I swear, I would have never done it," a tear runs down Madison's face, caring a black substance down her cheek. He stares at the streak as her words roll through his head. She kissed him. She kissed him. She kissed him.

He kissed her.

"No," he stands and walks towards her, backing her up to the closest wall. His gloved hands land against the wall, on either side of her face, blocking her from escaping. Will's blue eyes lock with her green ones and looks for any sign of fear. He sees none.

"Will?" she asks, her hands going to the wall behind her, keeping her balanced.

"No," he repeats, his eyes dropping to her lip, but quickly returning to her face, "no, no, no, no, no, no."

"Will," Madison tries again, "Please. I said I was sorry."

"Stop apologizing," he retorts back, his memories of the fated night slowly pouring in, "I kissed you. Not the other way around."

Madison looks at Will confused, her eyes searching his face for some kind of answer, but he finally speaks again, "You ran."

"Yes," she replies.

"And you wish to leave."

"No."

"Why?" He asks, his eyes glued onto hers.

"Because I'm in love with you."

"But you ran…"

"I thought you were upset with me," Madison's eyes do not stray from Will, "You broke the kiss and looked at me as if I had just poisoned all of your candy. I made a mistake kissing you, Will. I know that now. I'll leave, if you wish it, of course."

"I…" Will starts off, but is interrupted by another knock at the door. Quickly, he takes a step away from the young French girl and walks over to the door. Kelly, his cook is there. Her arms are crossed and her lips are drawn in a stern line.

"You're date has arrived, sir," She says, stealing a glance at the obviously flustered girl in the back of the room, before turning on her heel and leaving. Will closes the door behind him and turns back to Madison.
"Well," Madison says, crossing her arms once more in defense, "You shouldn't keep her waiting. Let Kelly know I will be eating in my room."

Will takes a step towards her, but she just shakes her head and walks past him and to the stairs. He takes a deep breath, before following her out the door but going down the opposite hall to the dining room. Hesitantly, he opens the door to find the familiar redhead with her back turned, admiring one of his random paintings. She is wearing a knee length pink dress that clashed with her hair color, but it was not the time to comment on that. He walks over towards her and stands besides her, looking at the painting as well.

"You know," a high pitched, nasally voice, causing Will to turn towards the speaker, her muddy eyes glued on him, "I almost didn't believe poor Foster, when he told me you desired my company tonight. You're standing right next to me and to be honest, I still don't believe it."

"I know I have been harsh with you in the past," Will replies, "I hope tonight, I will make amends for that."

"I'm not complaining, but do you really think a date is the best way to do that?"

"This is a date?" Will questions her as he leads her to the chair beside the left head- both of which had plating set out for the pair.

"Two people dressed up. Eating alone," she answers, as she sits in the chair he had pulled out for her, "Most people would call this a date, William."

"Well, then yes," Will sits in the seat beside her, "I plan to make amends through a date."

Kelly comes in through one of the doors with a tray of salads. Will quickly stands up and walks towards the older woman and whispers to her that it will just be Miss Johnson and he in the dining room tonight. Kelly nods and follows him to the table, placing a salad at each of their seats, before quickly leaving.

"Were you planning on having more people?" Ellie asks, picking up a fork.

"No," Will replies, "she believed that Foster would be joining us as well."

"You must not have many dates here then," She says with a smirk suddenly gracing her lips. Will doesn't reply to that; however, he manages to change the conversation topic and the two make small talk throughout the rest of their night.

By the end of the meal, Will has reached his fifth glass of rum and Ellie on her fourth glass of wine. Both incredibly drunk. Will undoes his tie, the action does not go unnoticed by Ellie.

"So Mr. Willy Wonka," Ellie slurs, "Why do you never answer any questions about your love life? I understand your professional approach now, but in the past you were anything but."

"Because," is all he says before he empties his glass once more.

"Have you ever…you know…been with a woman, Wonka?" Ellie imposes, leaning in closer to the man.

His mind is suddenly filled by someone else. Someone who was probably upstairs contemplating leaving. Someone who was actually probably asleep. He looks at the spot of cleavage peaking out of Ellie's dress and gives her and honest answer, "Yes, but it's been a very long time.

"Well then we should change that," she says awkwardly standing up and pulling him along with her, "Let's go to your room."

"Alright," he says. Together they stumble through the hallway and down the stairs. They reach the hallway where the bedrooms and guest rooms lie and Ellie slips on the floor. Will hears two things happen at once, a door opening and Ellie's high pitch laughter. He picks her up bridle style and leads her to his bedroom. They do not waste much time with removing clothes and getting into bed. Many noises were made. With one final thrust, a name falls from Will's lips, "Maddi."

*REVIEWS ARE LOVE *