In six days Darcy had jetted to New York for a meeting, Paris for a shopping trip with his sister, Georgiana, Toronto for a speaking slot at a User Group conference and Rome for a public appearance but it had been Elizabeth Bennett that was occupying his mind every second of every day.

Now safely back at his London base, the pace hadn't slowed but he couldn't help staring at the blank computer screen thinking back to his time in the restaurant . . .

'So Miss Bennett, excuse me for being so bold but I believe we have met before, at our first AGM in 2008, you were one of the organisers?' It had been an underhand tactic to prove to her that he remembered her and knew she had lied to him about her name and it was obvious he had succeeded in unnerving her when a crimson blush swept across her face. Nevertheless when Lizzie responded she did so in good taste and didn't admonish him for being so upfront.

'Well remembered Mr Darcy, I did indeed work with the organisers of your event in 2008; perhaps you remember the mic incident?' Teasing, that was a good sign Darcy thought, she even arched her eyebrow challenging him and it was all he could do not to sweep her up in his arms and ravish her all day in a luxury suite; but he had contained himself, even though he had not been so cool-headed when they had first met.

'My god, Elizabeth that was you? Ha! Darcy, you were so riled when she put that mic on you, I remember your face turning a perturbed shade of red. What was it you said? Oh yes yes, do you know who I am? That wasn't your finest moment, ey Darce!'The way Charles, had found the situation so hilarious had unnerved Darcy at the time and even he had to admit that making that statement had not been his finest hour but that was two years ago and although he couldn't change the past, he was hoping the future might look a little bit brighter.

Darcy had been unable to take his eyes off Elizabeth the entire time they were together and he had tried to drag out his time with her until it was absolutely crucial that he take his call. When he left, he kept glancing over his shoulder as he walked away; drinking in Elizabeth's every glorious feature.

Darcy kept glancing at his watch, in five minutes he had a conference call and at twelve his cousin Richard was joining him for lunch but even though he knew he had to work he couldn't. God she had looked so beautiful, her figure was slightly fuller than the last time they met but it had been emphasised to perfection in her fitted black blazer and white pencil skirt. His minds eyes framed a picture of how her white pencil skirt had clung to her shapely thighs and bottom and ended just above the knee revealing her slim, toned and tanned pins; it drove him mad just thinking about it, he had to readjust how he was sitting in his office several times to compensate for the sudden surge of blood to his nether regions.

The work he had been ignoring in favour of thinking about Elizabeth was mounting up around him papers for reading, contracts for signing and over 860 unread emails; she was becoming dangerous for business, he would have to have her soon or risk insanity and impending bankruptcy.

When his phone rang Darcy connected the call immediately, glad for the distraction and he began pacing the room and it took him several minutes to espy Mrs Reynolds, poking her head through one of the ajar oak doors to his office. "Richard, will be here in ten minutes." She whispered and then retreated out of his office again.

Darcy nodded and mouthed a thank you, this could be a long call but Richard wouldn't mind waiting, even Rich couldn't get into trouble if he had to wait five minutes, or so Darcy thought. . .

Elizabeth had not been the same since the lunch meeting, she was distant and distracted all the time, in addition to this she hadn't been sleeping properly and had found herself the last night three nights in a row asleep in a chair in William's room. It was tearing her to pieces that after her meeting with Darcy, she had not been able to think of anything but him.

"Lizzie . . . Lizzie . . . blue aliens in underpants have landed and are taking control of the government with the honey monster."

Lizzie blinked and dropped the pencil she had been absentmindedly tapping, "Sorry Jane, I haa . . ." she yawned, "I haven't been sleeping well, what did you say?"

"Welcome back daydreamer, how was la la land?"

Lizzie scowled, Jane had not totally forgiven her for not revealing who William's real father was but she knew with time her sister would come round; it was always best to leave Jane to stew over something for a while, she wasn't like Lizzie who would explode and then feel better, Jane had to assess the situation and then respond appropriately.

"It was about the same as last time, except no leprechauns or oomapa lumpas to entertain me." Lizzie smiled, hoping that this might ease the tension in the room.

"Lizzie, I need to go to dArta software and I was wondering whether you wanted to come with me?" Jane spoke sternly, rejecting her sister's olive branch.

"Why?"

"Why do I want you to come or why am I going?"

"Both but answer wisely, it may affect my decision to join you."

"Well you may have forgotten this but they are a client of ours and in eight months time we have to deliver their best AGM and unfortunately, that requires us to meet them occasionally."

"Are you meeting Charles?"

"No, Mr Darcy won't be there." Jane answered her real question.

Lizzie chuckled, "Are you going to their offices?"

"Yes."

"Then, I will join you."

"Really? I mean great, I'm meeting Charles at one so we better get going, pack your kit and when you're done I will follow you into town."

"Jane, I am coming with you but I'm not coming to the meeting."

"What are you coming then; you're hardly going to be stalking the hallways for Mr Darcy?"

"No your right, I'm going to stalk his office instead."

"His office? Lizzie, are you sure? What are you going to say?"

"I'm going to explain myself."

"And tell him about William?" Jane couldn't hide her shock and basically shouted the last part.

"God no, no, just see tell him why I lied about my name and maybe try and get to know him with a view to telling him about William, perhaps, maybe . . . one day."

"Lizzie, that's . . ." Jane couldn't contain her excitement and ran around the table to hug Lizzie.

"Jane, I'm not promising anything but I have felt so . . ." Lizzie couldn't articulate herself anymore, she felt too much and it wasn't hard to Jane to finish her sentence.

"Guilty, stupid, lonely, depressed?"

"Wow, brutal! . . . Why do you have to know me so well?" it was true Jane did know Lizzie better than anyone and she was all the better for having her as a sister, moral compass and best friend.

Jane blushed, "perhaps, that was a little too much."

"No, well . . . maybe but nothing if not true, I feel all of these things and so much more. I was watching William sleep last night and I suddenly thought, god I haven't even given Darcy a chance, who wouldn't want to have such a beautiful son, who resembles them in looks and attitude and would love them unconditionally," Lizzie relaxed back into her chair, laying her head back to stare up at the ceiling, letting the tears of relief fall from her eyes "and after that I fell asleep for the first time in six days."

Richard Fitzwilliam was tall, not as tall as Darcy but at 6ft 2in he had a good vantage point on the world. He had a mass of thick reddy brown hair that fell about his ears and green eyes that shone like fresh cut grass behind his stylish designer spectacles. Richards style was always well tailored but relaxed and for his lunch 'date' with Darcy he was wearing jeans that fitted around his toned bottom like a glove and a striped shirt and jacket that was slightly open at the top to reveal his toned chest.

After arriving late last night from California, he was still jet lagged when he sauntered into the dArta Software headquarters. Richard knew the way to Darcy's offices like the back of his hand, so took the time to admire the glorious vantage point of Hyde Park through the window that stretched across the entire floor of Darcy's office. Unfortunately, with his eyes on the outside world he failed to notice the beautiful brown haired girl that was rounding the corner at the same time as him until it was too late and he was lying on top of her, looking into her chocolate brown eyes.

"Would this be an appropriate time for me to tell you, you have the most mesmerising brown eyes I have ever seen?" Richard smiled, momentarily forgetting he was lying on top of her in a public setting.

"I suppose it can't be anymore inappropriate than the fact that your lying on top of me."

"Ahh yes, sorry about that . . ." He jumped him, holding out his hand to her. Richard remarked to himself how soft her hands were and how he would quite like her delicate fingers to run across other parts of his body.

"Thank you. So do you run into all the girls like this or just me?"

"No I save the floor action for the really special girls." They both laughed, Richard hadn't meant for that to sound so rude but hey she didn't seem to care so neither did he.

"I'm Elizabeth Bennett but you can call me Lizzie." She offered her hand to him, trying to take control of the situation.

"Richard Fitzwilliam . . ." he took her hand and smiled "You're Lizzie to me now huh, I like it."

"Well I figured, you have already knocked me off my feet, we might as well be on familiar terms."

"All the same I would like to know you better," Richard blushed when he spoke and looked away from her.

Lizzie just threw her head back laughing, there was something hypnotic and easy going about Richard that she was instantly attracted too and when he blushed she fought the urge to kiss his cheeks.

"Rejection by laughter is cruel; it's been a long time since I've experience that. . . should I feel humbled?"

Lizzie put her finger to his lips and pulled out the pen that was protruding from his front blazer pocket, uncapped it with her teeth and turned his hand over and wrote . . .

'Liz . . . 01326 457861'

With that she capped the luxury fountain pen, eased it back into his pocket and walked off, glancing back over her shoulder once to give him a shy smile before she disappeared in the elevator.

Richard breathed out, letting one word escape his lips before he turned to go on his way to Darcy's office "Amazing . . ." Just as he was about to walk away, he noticed a small photograph that was lying discarded on the floor, he picked it up surveying the floor to see if it was obvious who had dropped it. Holding it closer he saw a baby that was about a year old, it had a dazzling smile, with a mass of shiny brown hair that framed it's face and eyes that instantly melted his heart, why does this baby look familiar he thought? He wasn't given too much time to ponder this when he was made to jump by someone who was calling him name, so he absentmindedly placed the photo in his back pocket and turned to greet her homecoming squad.

"Richard! It has been too long, you look really well, California obviously agrees with you," Mrs Reynolds was bustling towards him smiling from ear to ear with her arms stretched wide expecting him to give her a welcoming hug.

"Matilda, what are you saying about my appearance before now? California suits me very well. How is the old axe grinder?"

"I . . . I'm worried, he's . . ."

"So the prodigal son returns . . ." Both of them turned to see Darcy, who was smiling as he leaned against the door frame, with his arms folded across his chest.

"Will . . ." The two men met half way, greeting each other with a hand shake that Richard pulled into a manly hug. "You look tired mate, don't billionaire's get holidays."

"No, that's why I'm a billionaire. How's California?" They both disappeared into Darcy's office before they went out for lunch but not before Richard could throw Reynolds a cheeky wink to reassure her that he would find out what was wrong with Darcy; to this day he had never failed to discover the truth, it was after all what got him the job as one of the 'The Times' Sunday columnists.

Feeling a little tipsy after the stiff drinks at lunch, Darcy tried to remain composed as he re-entered the building, walking past security and towards the elevators. After rapidly jamming the elevator call button several times, the doors finally opened and revealed a familiar blonde haired female.

"Miss Bennett" he stepped back giving Jane, space to get through the doors.

"Mr Darcy, it is nice to see you again." Jane smiled at him, but she was unsure how much she should say, she could smell the faint whiff of alcohol that was coming off his breath and he looked a little dishevelled compared to the last time she had seen him; perhaps he has been out to lunch with Lizzie after all.

"Pardon me, how are you?"

"I'm really well thank you and you?"

"I am also well. What brings you here?"

"I had a meeting with Mr Bingley regarding the conference."

"Ah yes, is everything running smoothly? I'm sure Charles is keeping you busy."

"He is indeed."

"Well if you need me for anything please let me know but I best be getting back to work, lunch has left me running a little late, it's been lovely to see you again Miss Bennett." He stepped past her and into the elevator, pressing the button for his floor.

Just as the doors were closing Jane turned back to him and said something that knocked him for six "I'm glad Lizzie found you, I hope you both enjoyed lunch." With that the doors shut and the elevator jolted upwards; Darcy tried to stop it but it was too late.

'Elizabeth was here, she came to see me today but when I haven't seen her; I wasn't having lunch with Lizzie.'

Authors note:

So what do you think? Elizabeth had decided to go see Darcy and then she met Richard but what will happen between R & E?

I look forward to hearing your comments, I'm writing the next chapter now so fingers crossed I might have another update for you tomorrow.

Kx

P.S. Loved some of the reviews from last chapter, it spurred me on to write the longest chapter I've written so far, which was this one.