The sexy brunette made a face and threw her short Sunday dress on the bed. So much for having someplace to wear the designer she bought on a black Friday sale. She didn't buy for that specific trip, of course, she just bought it because it was on sale, and she had no occasion yet to wear it and it had been stashed I her closet for early two months and the trip to London sounded nice.

What was she thinking assuming her male best friend Niles would take her as his plus one on his holiday trip to London. Niles won two roundtrip business class tickets to London on a raffle during a travel fair he went to three months ago. Niles could have sold the other ticket or kept it for another trip to London after the holidays but to Fran's surprise Niles mentioned he was thinking of inviting someone along, and Fran assumed he was taking her since she did not celebrate Christmas, and would be free to go with him, but months later, she discovered Niles was taking Ms. Babcock.

She was upset because she counted her eggs before they were hatched when she really should be happy Niles took that first step, a step she never really thought he was capable of, not when he constantly disguised his attraction for Ms. Babcock as contempt. She still could not believe Niles would take Ms. Babcock to his family holiday in London! That confirmed her suspicion all along that he was in fact attracted to Ms. Babcock, no matter how standoffish, vain and wicked she was. Goes to show that no matter how bitchy you are, a beautiful face and a gorgeous body was enough bait to snare a good man.

Niles was exceptionally good at hiding his sexual attraction for Ms. Babcock. Since she had arrived to work for Mr. Sheffield four years ago, she had always thought Niles had such deep repulsion for the blond woman (which she never understood why as Niles was a kind and patient individual except where Ms. Babcock was concerned) as she had heard nothing but insults and defamation thrown at Ms. Babcock every chance he got until that fateful night she was supposed to meet her pen pal, and Mr. Sheffield accompanied her on her rendezvous. When they got home, they were both surprised to find Niles in his own tryst with Ms. Babcock, their arms wrapped around each other, their lips locked together, and when they pulled apart after seeing her and Mr. Sheffield, Ms. Babcock's lipstick was smeared all over his own lips. It must have been some kiss as there was a bewildered look in Ms. Babcock's eyes, she was so shaken she called her "Fanny Nine" as she hurriedly left the house while Niles had that smug look of triumph in his as he went up the stairs.

Right then Ms. Fine started doubting Niles' hatred for Ms. Babcock and started observing them more closely. You would never kiss a person you despised, not even in a drunken stupor, vice versa you would not let a man you find appalling kiss you; you would have slapped him so hard his neck would snap off.

"Ms. Fine are you still angry with me?" asked Niles.

He knocked three times on her bedroom door before entering, giving her a puppy dog look that she just could not stay angry with him.

She rolled her eyes and pretended to still be upset. She had never confronted Niles about her suspicion. Inquisitive as she was, she remained mum, waiting for her best friend to open-up, not wanting to cause a rift I their otherwise tight-kit friendship. She knew Ms. Babcock was a sordid subject, otherwise why would he show the world he found her repulsive when deep down he was at least sexually attracted to her if not in love with her.

Now was a safe time to probe.

"You bet I am. Why would you bring her? I thought you hated her. Why didn't you take me with you? I'm free for the holidays," asked Fran.

Niles gave her a friendly smile.

"I wanted to bring Ms. Babcock as a pagan sacrifice to stop an active volcano."

Fran gave her a look that told him to stop joking.

"Have you never heard of charity? The poor woman is alone on Christmas day. His father and brother all have their own plans, while you have your family and Val to spend the holidays with. Mr. Sheffield and the children are all in Paris. I'm going home to London. You have the whole house to yourself. Doesn't that sound nice?"

Fran did not expect him to keep lying about his real reasons for asking Ms. Babcock. Moreover, what were Ms. Babcock's reasons for agreeing to it? Perhaps they both needed this trip to sort out their personal issues. She just hoped Ms. Babcock was not going to break Niles' heart into a thousand pieces.

"Don't be mad. I'll bring you back a bag from Harrod's," teased Niles.

Fran's face lit up at his promise.

"Would you like the shiny black one or the pastel-colored cotton one?" asked Niles.

Fran shrieked in excitement, her nasal voice almost breaking his eardrum.

"Really!? I want the shiny black one."

Niles sighed and hugged her; they were friends again.