"Niles, why don't you and your friend Ms. Ada join us at the dining table since Maggie and Brighton are both gone for a fortnight and CC won't be having dinner with us, a last minute change of plans, the table looks so empty," said Mr. Sheffield as he placed his dinner napkin on his lap.
"Very, well sir," replied Niles, unfolding Gracie's table napkin and putting it on her lap.
Fran heard Mr. Sheffield's instruction as she approached the dining room with Ada, scrutinizing Niles whether he would have any objection but there didn't seem to be any except for his unusual curiosity about Ms. Babcock's absence. Fran settled in her usual spot right beside Mr. Sheffield on his right.
"Sir, whatever happened to Ms. Babcock?" he asked nonchalantly.
"She had to have dinner with a new client. We're interested in producing his murder mystery straight play, but we're up against several other producers. What a nuisance that other producers just happen to jump in on our interest in mystery," explained Mr. Sheffield in slight annoyance.
"Why don't you sit here on my left, Niles. Take CC's place, Ms. Ada can sit beside you," said Mr. Sheffield.
"Oh, I can't very well take her place, sir. I'm not that distasteful," replied Niles with his usual snide remark. But eyeing him so close, Fran caught a glint in his eyes, or did she imagine it?
"You didn't leave her with a dirty old man, did you, sir?" asked Niles.
Was there a touch of concern in that otherwise indifferent tone, wondered Fran. He still looked detached as he dove his knife into the prawn. Perhaps it was all in her head. He was just making dinner conversations, and I could feel another jab at Ms. Babcock coming. It's nothing unusual.
"I don't think that's any of your business, but if you must know, the man is young and sturdy and a gentleman. CC would be fine. She just needs to work on a little charm to get the man to sign the rights of his play to Sheffield-Babcock Productions," said Maxwell.
"Then I pity the man. He'd be dead at the sight of Ms. Babcock before he could even see his masterpiece come alive onstage," said Niles before having a taste of his own gourmet cooking.
"Cut it out Niles, Ms. Babcock is not here to take the blow. She must have found out you are serving tiger prawns, and made a break for it," said Fran.
It suddenly sank into Mr. Sheffield that the delectable cuisine he was enjoying with his Mediterranean salad were four glistening giant prawns sprinkled with red pesto nestled on top of black rice.
"Good gawd, Niles. Are you trying to kill the woman," scolded Mr. Sheffield.
"No, sir, I can't kill someone who's already cold," replied Niles.
Mr. Sheffield shook his head in displeasure as he took a taste of his prawn. He loved the dish Niles had beautifully prepared, but it worried him Niles would feed his business partner something she was allergic to. This was getting serious.
"Relax, Mr. Sheffield. Niles prepared something else for Ms. Babcock. Niles just loved torturing her with a sumptuous meal she couldn't have," explained Fran.
Mr. Sheffield nodded in understanding and remembered their visitor who silently ate her meal seated beside Niles. If they were friends, it didn't look like a warm one or had they just got some sort of disagreement over something? Friends do have fights and arguments just like he and CC did, albeit most of the time CC ended up giving in to what he wanted, but not without giving him the silent treatment for days or disappearing from work for a day or two when the conflict was a major one.
Ada looked well-mannered, pretty in a girl-next-door sort of way. Was she Niles' type? He certainly hoped it was nothing romantic as the woman seemed a determined sort by her confident demeanor and he'd hate to lose his efficient and superb butler. His kids were still young, and it would be hard to run a household with only Ms. Fine to rely on.
It was an immense relief to watch Niles act casually, unperturbed by her presence. A man in-love would be attentive to the woman he's interested in, but Niles did not even asked Ada if she needed anything else after handing her the dinner plate, he hadn't even looked twice at her. A man in-love would be observant about the apple of his eye…he'd know just about anything about her. If Niles wasn't so mean to CC he'd say Niles was in-love with her with the way he gave so much attention to her.
"Tell me, Ada. Has Niles been this snarky in school? He didn't appear that way at home when we were growing up," asked Mr. Sheffield, including Ada in the dinner conversation.
"Not at all, Mr. Sheffield. In fact, he was gallant and friendly in college. He was scholarly. He was helpful to everyone on schoolwork and projects not just to the pretty ones but everyone," said Ada. She spoke about Niles with glowing colors and a hint of pride and admiration in her tone.
"You were on the same course?" asked Mr. Sheffield.
"No, but we share several classes on the first year like Chemistry and Sociology," explained Ada.
"Did you know Mr. Sheffield that Ada is a head nurse at the Neonatal Unit at the Liverpool General Hospital. She's not a lawyer if that's what you thought. She's too nice to be one. You know those blood suckers run you dry…" said Ms. Fine.
Niles cracked a smile on Fran's jibe. It was the first time he smiled for the entire dinner. Getting up from his seat to get the dessert from the kitchen, he didn't have much appetite and hoped the others were enjoying the meal much more than he did. He did not bother to join in the conversation either. He just wanted the night to be over.
"That's impressive, Ms. Ada. How long have you been working in Liverpool General?" asked Mr. Sheffield.
"About seven years, and it's been that long since I have last seen Niles either," said Ada.
"Is that what brought you to New York? Miss your old friend?" asked Mr. Sheffield amiably.
Ada gave Mr. Sheffield a friendly smile but said nothing.
"Niles, why don't you take the weekend off. Ms. Ada will be leaving on Monday, isn't that, right?" He turned to confirm with Ada who smiled and nodded, ecstatic at the prospect of spending the weekend with Niles, "That would give you more time together."
Fran gave Ada a big knowing smile in excitement. They could finally be alone and have a long talk about their relationship. Ada smiled back at Fran from across the dinner table.
Everyone looked at Niles expectantly, but his face remained deadpan.
"I'm afraid that's not possible, Sir. Master Brighton and Ms. Maggie will both be coming home tomorrow. I'd be very busy with all the laundry they will be bringing home… the menu I must plan… it's harder to cook for six than fixing a dinner for four," he said matter-of-factly.
Fran made a face. She wanted to strangle Niles for giving such a lame excuse. She would be here when the two kids come home. He could spend his Saturday or his Sunday with Ada. The woman flew two thousand miles to see him for crying out loud, the least he could do was give her a day.
Ada's disappointment was hanging in the air like an elephant in the room that nobody wanted to address. To appease the situation, Maxwell tried another tactic.
"It's rather late. Perhaps someone should take Ms. Ada home. It's not good for her to be alone at night in a foreign country. Ms. Fine can do the dishes," said Mr. Sheffield.
Fran gave him a wry smile, her mouth hung open for a few seconds before replying.
"Yeah, okay. I don't mind doing the dishes, Niles," said Fran.
Niles gave Mr. Sheffield an earnest, innocent look.
"You really don't mind, Sir. I am worried about Ada. It's rather late," he started sincerely.
Ada's heart soared with happiness at the thought of spending some time with Niles. Will this be the time he would realize he still loved her, and he would like to go back to England with her? But her excitement was short-lived upon hearing Niles' next words.
"Then you don't mind the chauffeur taking her back to her hotel Howard Johnson, do you? It's not very far. That's awfully kind of you, sir," said Niles.
Fran was astounded, surely Mr. Sheffield wouldn't mind lending his chauffeur after all Niles was like a family to him, but he meant for him to spend some time with Ada. She could see the disappointed look on Ada's face. Niles was pretty good avoiding being alone with her.
Mr. Sheffield looked mildly surprised but didn't take offense.
"Not a problem, Niles. As soon as the Chauffeur gets back from taking CC home after her dinner with the client. I always leave the chauffeur with her on these business meetings. That way no one gets the idea taking her home is a part of the deal," said Mr. Sheffield in distaste.
"Be at peace, sir. I'm sure that never entered their minds," piped in Niles.
Mr. Sheffield rolled his eye at Niles. CC may not be his type, but he wasn't blind to the attention she gets from the opposite sex. There were times he even had to pretend to new associates she was more than a business partner to keep their hands off her.
"Doesn't she have her own chauffeur-Pablo?" asked Fran.
"That was the last one. Well, more often she doesn't have a chauffeur. You know her disposition, she either fires them for every little thing or they quit on her," said Mr. Sheffield.
"We can have tea in the kitchen, Ada while we wait for the chauffeur. Looks like I don't need to do the dishes", said Fran, giving Niles a disapproving look which he was totally oblivious to. How can her friend be so heartless? She was feeling sorry for Ada by the minute.
Ada was getting more and more curious about Ms. Babcock. It was not like Niles to be sardonic but in a matter of an hour he came up with more insults to the woman than she had ever heard him say to anyone in all those years they were together. He had always been kind and pleasant even to the homely looking girls, but she had more things to worry about, like nursing her broken heart which got broken twice by the same man than her curiosity about a woman she had never met.
To everyone's horror Gracie piped in innocently in-between teaspoonfuls of her delicious Chocolate Cherry Souffle, "Looks like Ms. Ada will be leaving without finding out who's the woman Niles is interested in."
Everyone choked at her innocent outburst. Fran dabbed the table napkin on her mouth to prevent her from saying anything further while Ada turned as bright as crimson in embarrassment.
"Pardon, my daughter. She just inserts herself into adult conversation sometimes," said Mr. Sheffield and gave Gracie the eye.
"Gracie! How many times must I tell you not to eaves drop on adult conversation," scolded Maxwell.
"I wasn't eaves dropping. I was right in the middle of it. I can't help but hear Ada and Fran. In fact, Fran tried to shmooze me into telling her", protested Gracie, enjoying her dessert.
"Niles, having a girlfriend… that's new," said Mr. Sheffield, trying to sound funny to dispel the discomfort in the air, hoping Ms. Fine would say something to divert the topic but she too seemed speechless.
"She's not his girlfriend yet, but he seems to like her… a lot… only he pretends not to," said Gracie.
"Gracie, hurry-up with that dessert," said Fran.
"You meant the souffle or the gossip, Ms. Fine? Perhaps you people shouldn't be talking about my personal life when I am right in front of you. It's not like the woman of my dreams will magically appear if you talk about her," uttered Niles in annoyance.
The front bell rang but before Niles could get up and open the door, a svelte blond woman in an elegant Monique Lhuiller black strapless glitter knit gown burst into the dining hall, her silky long leg peeping from the slit of her long gown as she walked purposefully towards them.
"Hello! Hello!" she greeted, announcing her arrival.
"Abracadabra!" yelled Gracie with a big smile.
Fran hugged the little girl and covered her mouth with the napkin. She didn't want to make things worse than they currently are. With Niles looking mad because people were poking into his personal affairs, Ada trying to hide her disappointment and embarrassment and Mr. Sheffield looking uncomfortable. He hated elephants in the room.
"Maxwell, you won't believe this. I witnessed something horrid…"
"Let me guess, you saw yourself in the mirror," smirked Niles.
The woman glared at him. "No! I saw you taking a shower," she retorted.
"CC! What the devil happened?" asked Mr. Sheffield, gesturing for her to sit down beside him since Niles vacated the seat and went into the kitchen.
"Don't you look gorgeous, Ms. Babcock," complimented Fran.
She looked at Fran rather haughtily. "Don't I always, Ms. Fine."
Fran looked at Ada and rolled her eyes.
"Humility is not one of her virtues. This is Ms. Babcock, Mr. Sheffield's business partner. This is Ada, Niles' friend from Liverpool", said Fran.
Ada was surprised about how striking Ms. Babcock looked. She was gorgeous indeed, with her beautiful face and elegant stature, but how disappointing that she had that antagonistic demeanor about her, far different from Fran's down-to-earth and friendly nature. She didn't look like Niles' type. Niles preferred them brainy. She figured Ms. Babcock was nothing but a pretty face.
"I can't imagine Niles having any friends," she retorted, giving a diabolical laugh.
"So, what happened, CC? Have you gotten the contract signed?" asked Mr. Sheffield.
"Yes, he signed right in the middle of the main entrée. He wasn't too hard to convince but just before dessert something horrible happened…"
"You transformed into your true self," said Niles, placing three cups of souffle in front of Ms. Babcock.
She glared at him but continued, "There was a brawl right on the next table. You know that real estate tycoon who was in a coma…"
"Mcmillian…" said Mr. Sheffield in between sips of his coffee.
"Yes… that's the one. His young gold-digger of a wife was seated at the next table with a young beau… brawny but unfamiliar… oh Chocolate Cherry Souffle my favorite!"
CC heartily dug into the first cup with her dessert spoon as she continued her story.
"Anyhow, Mcmillian's son from his first marriage walked into the restaurant and found her with the young man and lost his temper… there was a confrontation… I'm sure it will in tomorrow's paper at the society column..."
CC was deliriously enjoying her souffle as she conversed with Maxwell, unaware she was now on her second cup.
"… did you know that man was a bouncer from a bar… the gall of that woman having an affair with while her rich old husband lay dying… hot, angry words were hailed at the social-climbing gold diggers and then fists hitting faces, silverware and goblets crashed on the floor….and a blue label broken on the bouncer lover's head…. Some guys were heroic and stood up to break the fight, including this new playwright who signed the contract with us. He ended up with a blue label soaking his suit…. How awful!"
"It was his fault for interfering with a fight on the next table. It has always been my principle not to meddle in other people's affairs," looking at Ms. Fine as though warning her to stay out of Niles and Ada's business.
Turning back to CC who was happily eating her third dessert cup, "At least you got him to sign before the brawl started out," said Maxwell in relief.
Niles bent down between Fran and Gracie as though sharing a juicy secret, with his face elated as he whispered, "At the rate she's going at those souffles she won't fit into her Dolce and Gabbana suits tomorrow."
It was loud enough for Ada to hear even if Niles was not talking to her. For someone he didn't like, he sure had paid more attention to Ms. Babcock than to her.
Gracie giggled but Fran stared at Niles flabbergasted. He was making her feel very uneasy. She stared at him watching Ms. Babcock finish her dessert. She was seeing something she had never noticed before. Perhaps she took it for granted because she had always seen him mean to Ms. Babcock ever since she started two years ago. Was it his defense mechanism for the attraction he felt?
After CC's gossip she and Mr. Sheffield continued to talk business as she finished her dessert.
"…I found a way to cut our operational expenses in our show at the Circle in the Square Theatre…" said CC.
"Splendid,,, now we have enough budget to pay Robert De Niro for Hamlet! CC you're marvelous," exclaimed Maxwell.
"Goodnight dad," said Gracie, giving her father a peck on the cheek.
"Go on now sweetie, I'll tuck you in later. I'm just discussing some business matters with CC… and bring your Nanny with you so she would stop poking her nose where it does not belong," said Mr. Sheffield.
Fran made a face and said goodnight, following Gracie up the stairs. She wished there was something she could do for Ada.
Ada furrowed her brow. The more she sat and listened to Mr. Sheffield and Ms. Babcock the more she realized how smart the woman was. Beautiful and smart…. Maybe if she were more amiable then she would perfectly be Niles's type.
"Don't worry about the demands of Mr. Grubber and Mr. Schmidt. I have already dealt with it, and they were more than satisfied with the projection of the return of investment. The only thing left for us to worry about bringing a touring theater group to Europe is the permits. You know the red tape in some countries…" continued CC.
"CC, since you're here anyhow, why don't you come to the office and just check out our books for this quarter before the accountant looks at them on Tuesday… Uhm Ms. Ada, you don't mind waiting for fifteen minutes for Ms. Babcock then the chauffeur will take you both home," said Mr. Sheffield.
"Not at all, Mr. Sheffield. I can help Niles with the dishes while I wait," she said.
"No!" protested Niles.
Everyone stared at him in surprise. He was rather ashamed of his outburst as well, but he didn't know which was worse, the idea of spending time with Ada or the idea of Ada being alone with Ms. Babcock in the limo?
"I mean, it's rather late, Sir. Why doesn't the chauffeur take Ada back to the hotel while you and Ms. Babcock attend to some business. I wouldn't dream of rushing you, sir, that way you may take your time," said Niles.
Before Mr. Sheffield could reply, Ms. Babcock answered Niles with raised eyebrows.
"This won't take long. The audit is still on Tuesday. I've got enough time before then. I'll just browse through it to see if there was a matter that needed our attention," she replied before disappearing inside the office with Mr. Sheffield.
Niles sighed. He must face the inevitable.