Niles was sweeping the last few dried flower petals and leaves on the balcony, a few droplets of sweat from his forehead fell to the dry pavement as he bent over to remove a green leaf that got stuck on his black loafers when he heard the door of the office slammed shut.
The startling noise made him look up and found Mr. Sheffield's business partner had arrived. She was unaware of his presence as she took out a small roller lindt remover from her purse and began running it firmly over her long-sleeved black dress that fell two inches above her knees. Her hair was high up in a French twist and the front of her dress had plunging neckline that revealed the smooth valley between her breasts.
Niles found himself staring longer than usual. It was not often that Ms. Babcock would wear something that would show off some skin. The black dress clung nicely on her curvaceous figure that he found himself staring at her cherry-colored lips, wanting to devour it with his own. She shuffled through a couple of folders in the filing cabinet in the corner of the room before pulling out what she needed before settling down on Maxwell's desk.
Absentmindedly, her hands groped for something inside her purse without taking her eyes off the file she was reading on the desk. Her fingers seemed to have found what she was searching for, for she pulled out a thin gold chain she tried to fasten around her neck as she continued to read the file on the desk when she let out a mild expletive, pushing Maxwell's chair back as she stood.
Something must have fallen, thought Niles as he watched CC scour the surroundings of the desk, her eyes intently searching for the item she lost until desperation slowly began to etch on her aristocratic features when she couldn't find what she was looking for.
Without hesitation, unmindful of her elegant dress and the sheer lack of grace, she dropped on all fours to search thoroughly under the desk, giving Niles a nice view of her buttocks and legs.
What the heck was she searching for, thought Niles. How important could it be that she had foregone her poise just to find it. Niles could have chosen that time to reveal his presence in the balcony and help her with her search, but he decided against it. He was having too much fun watching her ungracefully crawl on the floor with her desperate expression.
Suddenly Maxwell burst inside the room, catching her in her un lady-like position. Her dress had hiked up a little that Maxwell thought it was Fran whose legs was sticking out from under his desk. His eyes glazed on the shapely stockinged legs and the voluptuous curve of her tush… before he relished the sight of what he thought was his nanny, he realized the tush was curvier and sexier, and the legs were longer and shapelier… catching sight of the expensive shoe brand plastered at the bottom of the shoes, it dawned to him who possessed the feminine attributes he was about to relish.
"CC! What the devil are you doing on the floor?" he shouted in disbelief.
CC sat on her knees upon hearing Maxwell call her, she looked at him pleadingly.
Never in his entire life would he have thought his business partner capable of ungracefully plopping on the floor while clad in her elegant Gucci dress, looking so vulnerable.
"I was putting on my necklace when my ring pendant fell and rolled under the desk…"
"Why the hell don't you call Niles and have him search for it," said Maxwell.
"No! I don't want to… I'm sure I can find it," she said in low voice, crouching once again in her desperate attempt to find her pendant.
"Bloody hell, CC. It's part of his job!" scolded Maxwell.
Feeling sorry for her, his gentlemanly nature took over and he crouched on the floor to help her out.
"CC, would you get up!" demanded Maxwell in exasperation.
"I'll find it for you," he said in a kind voice.
Maxwell crouched under his desk and within a minute, he got up holding an Oxford class ring.
He eyed the ring curiously but before he could inspect the underside, CC took it from his hand.
"Thank you, Maxwell. Awfully kind of you," she said in a low voice.
A big relief washed over her as she slid the ring on the gold chain and fastened it around her neck.
"Is that what you were searching for? An Oxford class ring?" asked Maxwell in mild curiosity.
Niles' ears perked up, his jaw dropping in incredulity. He tried to catch a glimpse of the item they were talking about, but he couldn't see it from his position.
Maxwell took off his own Oxford ring from his middle finger and showed it to CC.
"If I'm not mistaken that's an Oxford ring around your neck. The graduation year and the student initials are underside. I didn't know you're seeing someone from Oxford. Why haven't you introduced him yet?"
CC took the ring he handed over. Maxwell's initials were underside. It was entirely the same except the graduation year and initials were different. She handed it back to Maxwell after careful inspection.
"I'm not… I'm not going out with someone from Oxford University," said CC honestly.
Max looked at her in confusion.
"This belongs to someone from the past. Someone dear to me…"
"Bloody hell, CC! No wonder you never had a steady relationship in the ten years we've been working together. You're so hooked up in the past. Go out on dates, move on. So, this why you keep turning down every man courting you. If Sara were alive, she'd bite your head off."
CC sighed in exasperation.
"Can we not, not discuss my love life. It's a boring topic anyway. I'll be leaving for the Theater Guild meeting in a few minutes, but I'll be back this afternoon to finish checking our books before handing it over to the accountant."
Maxwell sighed. She had always been quite an enigma; smart and confident but there always seemed to be a wall she kept for protection, even when he first met her during Jocelyn's 18th birthday, there was something stand-offish about her, but he discovered she was an incredibly loyal and loving friend his wife and sister.
"Have Niles drive you to the Theater Guild," said Maxwell.
"If you don't mind, can your chauffer me drop me off instead," asked CC.
"Certainly. I'm off to meet some benefactors in the afternoon so I guess I won't be seeing you again till tomorrow. I might be out by the time you come back."
That witch! Is she avoiding me, thought Niles as he watched her leave the office without one backward glance.
Later that early evening, CC was driven back by one of the members of the Theater Guild Society who was more than pleased to give a lift to an attractive colleague. She didn't back until five in which it was almost time to call it a day, but she knew there was a pile of paperwork that needed to be done, and if she wanted to free her weekends, she would have to start on it.
It was probably better to drown herself in a massive amount of work to keep her mind from wandering. Jocelyn called earlier to remind her about her birthday next week. She had invited CC to join her in her birthday trip to Paris as it was cold on the other side of the globe. Her friend's birthday always reminded her of something she wanted to forget.
Hours later, and several Sheffield-Babcock Production books later, her dainty fingers gently massaged the back of her neck to assuage her aching muscles throbbing from being in the same position for extended hours hovered over a pile of papers as she meticulously balanced the figures that came in and out of the company the last quarter. Catching sight of the small circular clock attached to the digital desk calendar, she gasped at how late the hour was. It was thirty minutes till midnight, time passed without her noticing.
CC sighed, dropped the red-inked pen amongst the papers and reached for her half-eaten Pastrami sandwich on the right side of Maxwell's desk where she was working. It still tasted good even if Niles had given it to her some two hours ago, the fries that came with it had become soggy and were no longer palatable to her taste. Taking a sip of the iced-cold lemonade to wash off the unpleasant taste of the fries, she realized the drink had become tepid and equally distasteful. For a moment she wanted to bellow for Niles but remembering the time, she figured he must be in bed.
Deciding to spend the night in the Sheffield guestroom, which was open for her to use any time, she finished the last morsel of her sandwich but leaving the fries and lemonade before putting away the documents on the filing cabinet. She would not fault Niles for bailing out on her at this hour, the man had to be up by 6:30 to make breakfast. She stretched a little and pulled the barrettes that held her shoulder-length blond hair in a Frech twist, letting her hair cascade sensuously down her shoulders. Stifling a yawn, she realized she was more tired than she thought.
An eerie darkness greeted her as she stepped out of the office into an empty hallway, cursing Niles for closing the lights on her, she waited until her eyes adjusted to the dark before groping her way into the living room. As her eyes slowly got used to the darkness, she noticed a small flicker of orange light on the left side of the hall, away from the path to the living room. Curious, she started slowly to that direction instead, careful that she did not stub her toe on any furniture.
As she walked further into the darkened hall in search of the source of the small, flickering orange light, she felt her heart pound rapidly as a dark silhouette gradually appeared before her, getting bigger and closer by the second as she took every step further into the darkness. CC pacified herself that it was only pareidolia. Squinting her eyes, she tried to decipher what the figure was. Suddenly, the dim orange light illuminated a pair of piercing blue eyes that stared right back at her. CC screamed in astonishment, rather than fright, stumbling backwards right into a something hard and broad that seemed to engulf her, just as a nasal voice screeched the same time she did.
The bright, overhead florescent light suddenly switched on. Looking around her, CC realized she was in Niles' arms, one arm protectively around her while the other was holding the light switch on the wall. She realized it was only his reflection on the enormous wall to wall mirror that adorned the end of the hall.
She found her voice.
"Niles!" she exclaimed as she returned the penetrating stare of his breath-taking aqua blue eyes. His face was so close to hers; she could feel his breath on her cheek. It had been a long time since they have been this close. Both tried to stay clear of each other's proximity for their own peace of mind, afraid to ignite the strong passion each held for the other. She found herself slowly drowning once again in his aqua blue orbs in complete helpless surrender the way she had twelve years ago… but the spell was broken when a low, nasal groan pierced the air like a wounded animal.
They found Fran in the corner, huddled on the floor, holding a silver single-candlestick, the fire still lighted and the candlewax dripping on the floor as her trembling fingers held it in an askew angle.
"Ms. Fine, what the devil are you doing on the floor?" exclaimed Niles, releasing CC from his embrace and pulling, Fran up from her cowering position on the floor.
"Oh… it's just the two of you," she said, smiling, embarrassed that she was caught frightened like a little kid.
"I'm really not afraid of the dark but it was kind of spooky walking alone in the dark with nothing but the flickering light of my candle," she explained in a good-natured tone as she extinguished the candlelight with a soft blow.
"You almost gave me a heart-attack. Why did you scream like that?" said CC, rolling her eyes in displeasure.
"Look who's talking? I also heard you scream like you saw a monster or something," accused Fran.
"I did not. Well, did you see anything?" asked CC, crossing her arms in front, glaring at the nanny.
"No, I was too scared to look. I only screamed because I was startled when you screamed."
Loud, boisterous laughter, accompanied by heavy, running footsteps like a stampede reverberated from the staircase down the hall until the three adults came face to face with three breathless teen-age fourteen-year-old girls, and a little eager seven-year-old with amazed, excited expressions on their faces like a trip in Disneyland.
"So, what, Fran? Did you see something? Did you see the man whose lover you will be? The man of your destiny?" asked Maggie excitedly.
"Do tell us, Nanny Fine," urged Maggie's friend Georgina.
"And if it works… we'll do it too," said Maggie's curly haired friend with bright green eyes.
"Nah, I'm sorry, I was too scared to even look in the mirror, let alone chant: Mirror, Mirror, show me whose destiny I will be?"
"Fran, we were counting on you to prove or disprove it," said Maggie in a disappointed tone.
The usually loquacious nanny found herself at a loss for words. She was ashamed of herself for acting like a terrified kid on dare. She was the adult and the only reason she let them coerce her into doing it was to show them there is nothing supernatural or real about it. She was almost sure she was not going to see anything, but she chickened out the last minute.
"Well, there is still next year's eve of summer solstice. Maybe I'd be brave enough then," she said with a big apologetic grin.
The handsome British butler did not mean to sound as stern as he did but with their childish pranks before his eyes, the eve of the summer solstice sixteen years ago blaringly played on his head over and over like a film in rewind and repeat he could feel himself going insane. Wasn't it enough it was still etched in his mind these past years, so fresh, the vision in technicolor and high-resolution like it only happened the previous night? He didn't need it in replay in a big screen.
"Hold on a minute, Ms. Margaret, what is this nonsense about your destiny in the mirror. Had your father known this sleep-over will be sporting this kind of thrill game, he would not have allowed it. It's past twelve, shouldn't you all be tucked in your beds upstairs exchanging fashion tips if not sleeping," said Niles.
"You even brought Gracie into this," he scolded, scooping the little girl's shoulder and pushing her closer to her nanny as though she could protect her from the pandemonium.
"I was told to go to my room, but I don't want to miss all the fun," replied Gracie.
Maggie invited two of her best friends for a sleep-over. One of them had a foreign nanny who told her about an interesting folktale, a superstitious belief that on the eve of the summer solstice you could see the man you are destined to be with when you look in the mirror, holding a candle at twelve midnight, and the girls were excited to find out if there was truth in it but none were brave enough to try it and coerced Nanny Fine to try it out for them.
"You didn't say your butler was so uptight. I thought you said he was fun, Maggie," said the green-eyed brunette.
"Niles is just warning you girls not to play that… that silly game… lest you end up getting more than what you've bargained for…" CC clutched the ring dangling on her neck, her fingers feeling the emblem, fumbling for the initials in the underside, initials of the demon that took her heart, body and spirit.
Her voice sounded so solemn… so melancholic… Her cerulean eyes contemplative… haunted even. Why was Ms. Babcock taking Niles' side? It was so out of character, thought Fran. Fran's eyes popped bigger, her jaw dropping several inches in total disbelief as it dawned to her Ms. Babcock had done this before and she was reminiscing that fateful night. Standing next to her, Fran could sense the unsteady beating of her heart, the sudden stiffness of her body, and the anxious way she was biting her lower lip Fran was afraid it would bleed.
"Ms. Babcock you have done this before haven't you?" teased Fran.
"When? When did you do this? What happened?"
Fran's shrill, teasing voice shook her out of her reverie. She chose to ignore her banter.
"I'm going up to the guest room now. It's pretty late," she said, walking past the teen-agers who were all gaping at her.
CC didn't wat to talk about it, much more recall every sordid detail of that summer solstice.
"Ms. Babcock, wait up!" called Maggie as she and her pajama clad friends ran to catch up with her.
Before she could climb up the spiral staircase, the kids and Nanny Fine had caught up with her.
Sarah's equally inquisitive daughter tugged at the sleeve of her back dress. She was so much like her mother, her presence tugged at her heart. Sixteen years ago, it was her mother who was relentless in asking questions.
"Please tell us what you saw Ms. Babcock," insisted Maggie.
"What do you mean you ended up with something you did not bargain for?" asked Georgina.
CC looked like she was about to bolt to Timbuktu. She massaged her temples, her brows furrowing, her voice quivering as she turned away from them, not because she was unable to look at Nanny Fine and the kids, she could see Niles' penetrating stare from the hallway arch that separated the living room from the hall leading to the library. His expression unreadable but his clear blue eyes were drilling into her soul, hell-bent in discovering every recess of her mind and heart. She was afraid of what he might read in her. Why did it had to be brought up while Niles was in the same room.
"I… I can't talk about that time… it was the time I lost… I lost…" she faltered, still not looking at them, her left had firmly gripping the banister.
Then Fran understood loud and clear what happened the night she went to the mirror, holding a candle, hoping to see her destiny.
"What did you lose, Ms. Babcock?" asked Maggie sympathetically.
"Her hat! Hat! She lost her hat!" exclaimed Nanny Fine.
"Come on now kids, let's go up the stairs and sleep," said Nanny Fine, ushering the kids up the steps.
"What's so wrong about losing a hat?" asked Gracie innocently.
Fran smiled at Gracie as they all slowly descended up the stairs.
"It's a special kind of hat. One you should keep for a very, very long time… till you're old and gray, honey," laughed Fran.
"I know Ms. Babcock is upset but I wish she would just tell us what she saw in the mirror. We're dying to know if the folktale was real or not," said Maggie forlornly, hugging Fran.
Something snapped inside Niles. He was watching her like a hawk, eyeing its prey. From the time he held her in his arms minutes ago, his fiery passion and turbulent feelings ignited, and he was powerless to fight it just as he had been that night…
Once and for all he wanted to know how she felt. What was truly her perspective and feelings about that night. He kept seeing her fidget his ring like it was an amulet for protection yet how dare she acted like an aggrieved party in front of everyone.
"Ms. Fine, didn't it ever occur to you maybe she willingly gave away that hat. Or… or maybe she just wanted to get rid of it and it didn't matter how she lost it," accused Niles.
He was talking to Fran, but his eyes never left CC's back as she walked up the stairs. CC stopped in her tracks, her body stiffened. She turned back to face Niles, her eyes blazing with anger it started to brim with tears. He immediately regretted his words. He wanted to spite her and push her buttons, to hurt her just like she hurt him the next day when she threw away what they shared and changed her mind at a snap of a finger, but seeing the pain in her eyes was like a dagger that pierced through his heart. He realized more than ever; he was still every bit as in love with her as he had been sixteen years ago.
CC hurriedly climbed down the stairs in fury.
"How dare you say such a thing, Niles! How…Dare… You!" she enunciated every word.
She was so angry Niles thought she was going to slap him, but she didn't. She met his penetrating gaze with an equal fervor. Niles just wanted to run his fingers through her tousled hair ad kiss his way down her cleavage which was emphasized by her black dress.
CC glanced at everyone who was watching them in a flabbergasted expression.
"You want to know what I saw in the mirror, Maggie? Okay I'll tell you", she said sardonically, trying to control her anger. She took a deep breath.
"Please do. We want to know everything. When was this, Ms. Babcock?" asked Maggie.
In a kinder tone, she looked at her and continued. She had nothing to do with her fury anyhow.
"It was two years before you were born. It was your Aunt Jocelyn's 18th birthday party, and we were in the Sheffield manor in London. We were guests for a fortnight. It was also the first time your mother and I met your father."
"You mean you and my mother did this thing in the mirror?" asked Maggie excitedly.
"I mean she got married very young so she must have seen my father…" smiled Maggie.
CC sighed, "Not exactly. Your aunt's birthday fell on the eve of the summer solstice and your mother believed the folktale alright, hook, line and sinker but just like our other friends, she was afraid to try it. I wasn't really interested but somehow, like Nanny Fine I ended up as the guinea pig to try and test it out."
"I can't believe a couple of eighteen-year-old university girls would be doing something so juvenile," smirked Maggie's green-eyed friend.
"Well, I was just about to turn 17… I was a year younger than Jocelyn and Sara. We were on the same grade level in school because I got accelerated in junior high…"
Niles suddenly choked upon hearing the fact. He couldn't help but expel an expletive in French. "Zut!"
He was horrified.
"Niles, are you alright?" asked Fran, running her hands on his upper back to soothe him.
He wanted to scream he was not okay. A hundred English, Spanish, and French curses ran through his head in shame and frustration.
"You were awfully young, Ms. Babcock…" said Fran in a concerned tone.
"As you can see I'm tall. I was already modelling that time so you could imagine I was already 'gifted' and 'properly endowed' at the time. Plus, you know how strong my personality is. My confidence and self-assurance made me seem older than I was."
"Oy…Just like women to be bullying the younger one to do the dirty work…you sure they were your friends?" joked Nanny Fine.
CC gave her a look.
"I was just checking… ok, continue… so you took a candelabra and went to the mirror…"
"It must be dark, and you must be alone, and at midnight to work. Which mirror did you go to, Ms. Babcock?" interrupted Maggie.
"Niles, you better get a glass of water. You don't look okay," said Fran, patting his back.
"Are you scared? It's just a story," laughed Fran.
Despite his discomfort, and the dread of what else he may newly discover listening to Ms. Babcock's tale, he refused to give Fran any satisfaction of having a hint he knew what she was talking about.
Answering Maggie's curiosity, CC replied nonchalantly as though the mirror had no importance at all.
"I went to the antique Victorian one with the glass etching on the third floor… it was a quite a walk in the dark…"
"What?!" exclaimed Maggie, and Gracie screamed.
CC asked in bewilderment, "Wha… what's the matter?"
"Nobody ever goes there. That's a spooky place," cried Gracie.
"They still clean up; vacuum and dust the furniture but that floor is always empty. Ms. Babcock, there were several mirrors in the first and second floor before you could reach the third floor. Why did you ever choose that one?"
CC smirked and made a face, shrugging her shoulders.
"I don't know. I was gullible. Jocelyn told me to go up there, when yeah, you're right, there's a perfectly enormous mirror in the ballroom… I should have just gone there instead… but heck this was several years ago. Nothing to be done now…. I'll get my hands on Jocelyn next time I see her."
"Now you see why I asked if they were your friends…" said Nany Fine.
CC glared at her.
"So, what happened? What did you see when you looked in the mirror?" pursued Maggie.
CC watched their eager faces that were hanging on to her every word. She swallowed hard and continued.
"I saw a demon…" she uttered in a low, frightened voice, as though talking about it would make it appear once again.
Everyone around her gasped and shrieked.
"Oh my god! What did it look like?" exclaimed Fran.
"Was it horrid looking?" asked Georgina.
There was a haunted look in her eyes, her expression deep in thought, her voice low with a slight quiver, despite of trying to show composure, she was flustered.
"No, it's got the most beautiful aqua blue eyes I have ever seen."
"Was it terrifying?" asked Maggie's green-eyed friend.
"No, it had a soft, gentle voice…its accent cultured."
"Was it aggressive?" asked Maggie in a worried tone.
"Yes, Maggie. It wanted to possess me… to take me… It was downright disconcerting and extremely overwhelming…"
"It was dangerous then? asked Grace.
"Completely," sighed CC.
"Did it hurt you?" continued Gracie in a worried tone.
CC looked at her somberly and with a sad voice replied, "Yes. It ravaged me, ate my heart, and sucked my soul… I was powerless to do anything."
It felt like she was reliving it all over again… she couldn't breathe… she was burning all over… and there was an inexplicable sensation at the pit of her stomach.
"Why didn't you scream? Someone could have rescued you," pointed Georgina.
Her accusing tone brought CC out of her reverie. She sighed but said nothing further. If only it were that easy. She fell for him heart, mind, body and soul. She did not stand a chance.
"You asked me what I saw, I told you. Now I'm going to bed," said CC and she went up without a backward glance, afraid to look at Niles. She wished she didn't let his words get to her then she would not have borne her soul to Nanny Fine and the children.
"Come on kids, story time is over let us get you all to bed," said Nanny Fine.
Of course, it was clear to the brunette nanny that all Ms. Babcock was telling them was an allegory, and therefore the folktale wasn't true. She had nothing to be afraid of. Whoever was the demon in Ms. Babcock's tale, he was clearly out of her life and was not her destiny.
"I'm never going to look in a mirror with a candle ever!" said Gracie as she allowed Fran to usher her up the stairs.
There was a look of uncertainty and disbelief in Maggie's eyes that did not escape both Niles and Fran.
"What's wrong, Maggie?" asked Fran.
Maggie stared at her, quite uncertain if she should share her thoughts or keep it to herself.
"Come on, what's the matter?" urged Niles.
Feeling guilty about her thoughts but determined to get some sort of clarity on the subject that was causing her so much confusion, she turned to them with a bewildered expression.
"Well, somehow, I do not believe Ms. Babcock. I mean it's not like her to lie nor would she have any reason to, but something is not right. I mean if the demon indeed ate her heart and soul, why is she still alive?"
Fran let out a loud, nasal laugh.
"Now you know why Ms. Babcock is heartless."
Maggie's fried nodded in agreement.
"Uhuh… if what she said was true then why didn't she scream for help?"
Fran let out another nasal laugh before nudging Niles with her elbow.
"It's probably a different kind of scream…" Fran said in a teasing manner.
Niles gave a half smile. Wary that Fran may know the truth behind the tale. He gave her a penetrating stare, assessing if she knew more than what she let on, but the woman appeared clueless to his great relief.
He didn't want Ms. Babcock to seem like a liar to the kids… it's the least he could do. After all, he was party at fault and knowing she was a month short of seventeen… he will burn in hell.
"Ms. Babcock was telling the truth", he stated nonchalantly.
"Really? How do you know?" asked Maggie.
With all formality and straight face Niles answered her.
"I too saw a demon in the mirror one summer solstice. I won't tell you when, but I did."
"Your butler isn't really a wet blanket," smiled the green-eyed friend.
"Tell us about it, Niles, please", insisted Maggie.
"Was it repulsive and scary?" asked Maggie's other friend.
His lips formed a boyish a grin, and his aqua blue eyes twinkled like dazzling jewels.
"It was the most beautiful and enchanting creature I have ever seen. I was spellbound. I immediately fell in love with it I wanted to keep it with me forever."
His tone was vibrant, and his voice filled with joy as he narrated the story.
"Do tell! Do tell! Did you get to keep it forever," the girls asked excitedly.
His expression turned melancholic, and his tone sorrowful.
"It was the most precious thing I have but the next day it was gone…I lost it. I didn't get to keep it forever with me."
He sounded so dejected Maggie threw her arms around him in a hug.
"Oh, Niles. I'm sorry to hear that…"
"Did you try the mirror again… so you can find it and keep it really secure the next time," piped in Maggie's friend.
"Now I'm just an empty shell…because you know, it took my heart and soul with it."
Fran eyed Niles suspiciously. She couldn't believe two people she knew had tried that silly game in the mirror.
"Come now, stop bothering Niles. Time to go to bed. Your father will be home and find you all still up. He will be furious… and just so you all know… he is a wet blanket," said Fran ushering the kids up the stairs.
"Let's not do that… there's a demon in the mirror," said Georgina.
"I definitely won't!" said Maggie.
This time the kids all went up the stairs, leaving Fran and Niles in the living room. Niles stood up and started closing the lights on the ground floor. As he walked back to the living room after witching the lights in the hallway leading to the office, he found Fran standing by the foot of the stairs with her arms crossed and an eyebrow up, watching him suspiciously.
"If I didn't know better, I could swear you and Ms. Babcock were looking at the same mirror at the same time. I'm not that naïve, you know."
Niles gave her a wry smile.
"I didn't say my story was true. I just want the kids to shut the hell up."
"Hanh!" came Fran's nasal astonishment.
"You mean it's not true, scarecrow?" she asked, walking closer to him.
He answered with a patronizing smile.
"I didn't say it wasn't true either."
She was a yenta by nature. She knew she couldn't have a good night's sleep if she didn't find out. Her curiosity would gnaw at her the whole night.
"Come on, Niles, is it true or is it not true. Which is it?" demanded Fran.
Niles flashed her a friendly smile.
"I have no comment."
Fran put her hands on her hips and glared at Niles in mock exasperation.
"In the two years I've been here I set you up with two friends, introduced you to two cousins and an old neighbor but you did not so much as look up from a casserole you were cooking… and I've rarely met a man who doesn't look twice at me. So, are you gay or did this demon really took your heart?"
For the first time that night Niles laughed in amusement. He was secure about himself and he didn't care if Fran thought he was gay just because she wasn't his type.
Before he could reply, Maxwell came in through the front door carrying his briefcase which he set down the foyer table to take off his hat and store it in the closet.
"Ms. Fine, what the bloody are you talking about? I could hear your voice even before I stepped inside the house."
"Oh, Mr. Sheffield, you're home. I was just asking Niles about the demon in the mirror…"
Maxwell's brows furrowed.
"Oh, that blasted demon in the mirror… is it summer solstice again? I'm telling you my mother would have thrown out that antique Victorian mirror on the third floor of our manor if it wasn't so priceless."
Fran's ears perked up. Her interest skyrocketed to the moon. Mr. Sheffield knew about it too.
"Mr. Sheffield was there really a demon in that mirror?"
Taking his briefcase again, he stopped in his tracks on the foot of the stairs upon hearing Fran's question.
He shook his head and replied, "I don't know if I should be talking about this… I mean it's over fifteen years ago but…"
Fran's arms were immediately encircling Mr. Sheffield's arms and torso and in an extra sweet voice, she persuaded him.
"Oh, pretty please, Mr. Sheffield. Tell me…"
"It was Jocelyn's birthday. After her party some of her best friends stayed for a vacation including Sara and CC. And right in the middle of the night, CC went missing for some time and the entire household went berserk looking for her. Sara and Jocelyn confessed they sent her up the third floor in the dark with nothing but a candlestick to go check her destiny in the mirror.
She was found going down the third floor with a daze look, her hair all tousled about and specks of blood in her night gown…"
Fran gasped. "Was she hurt? Did someone hurt her?"
"I don't know… she wouldn't say a thing. She looked fine, just a little bewildered I believe. She even scolded Sara and Jocelyn for rousing up the entire house after the fact they were the one who sent her up in the dark. Even back then CC was a strong, brave girl, nothing could faze her… so everything was dismissed once Jocelyn's Nanny tucked them all back to bed. A few days later Jocelyn and Sara insisted there was a demon in the mirror, but CC remained mum about it."
"Girl? You knew…" muttered Niles.
"Yes, I knew she was seventeen that's why I didn't like her… not that I don't like her… oh you know what I mean. I found her too young for my taste. I also had some friends over for Jocelyn's party and most of them are just drawn to CC… of course they didn't know she was seventeen."
"But not you?" finished Fran with a big, satisfied smile.
"I mean it goes without saying she's one of the most beautiful women I've met…even back then she looked astounding, but she was too young for me back then… and now… she's just not my type. She's got too strong a personality. She doesn't need me. I need her. I need her to keep the business flourishing. What I want is a woman who needs me, you know someone sweet… someone who needs protection…"
"Oy!"" protested Fran.
"Even strong, independent women need love and protection. Why did you just let it go… I mean any of your college friends could have hurt her."
"I don't believe so. Jocelyn's nanny had barged into our room unannounced three times even before CC went missing, just to ensure every one of my friends were accounted for and were not off somewhere around the house misbehaving. She was very protective of Jocelyn and her friends."
"That witch was fine, Ms. Fine. I'm pretty sure. For all we know, it was the demon who had met his demise in her hands. You know how she is. She can even slaughter an ogre with one hand tied behind her back," put in Niles matter-of-factly.
Maxwell rolled his eyes. His nanny and his butler are just infuriating at times, especially when he had too long a day to deal with their banter and nonsense respectively.
"Anyway, Ms. Fine. This was all years ago. Sara and I have not even gotten married at the time. I'm sure it was all superstition and young girls' illusions. There was no demon."
"I guess you're right, Mr. Sheffield… Ms. Babcock's sleeping in the guest room. She finished work very late tonight. You don't suppose her demon from fifteen years ago would come haunting her, do you? I mean it's summer solstice... it might be lurking again."
"Ms. Fine go to bed!" scolded Maxwell.
Fran shrugged and bid Niles goodnight as she hurriedly climbed up the stairs behind Mr. Sheffield while Niles finished locking up.
As Niles switched off the kitchen light, and treaded noiselessly up the backstairs, he found his footsteps led him outside the guest room door as his self-control inevitably crumbled. With his heart pounding incessantly, and his desire burning ruthlessly, he turned the knob with a firm resolve to take her in his arms.
Was it the full moon? Was it the witching hour? Or was it the summer solstice? Or perhaps, the way she perfectly melted in his arms just an hour ago that gave him the will to face their confrontation.