What will the future bring?

Maxwell stand in front of the mirror in his room, adjusting his tie. He grumbles to himself. He has no desire whatsoever to be at this dinner, but he knows he has no other choice. At this moment his younger brother Nigel storms into the room.

"Hey, bro! Be a sweetheart and give me your car keys!" Maxwell gives him a disapproving look.

"Who are you trying to impress this time?"

"It's none of your business! And don't always act like the big boss!"

"After all, you always want to have my car for your tours?"

"Now don't make such a fuss. Nothing will happen to your baby."

"I really ask you to drive careful! Don't let anyone scratch it!"

Finally, Maxwell hands his brother the keys he requested. Nigel is almost out of the room when he scrutinizes Maxwell up and down, amused.

"And for who did you dressed up like that?"

"Mother and Dad insist that I attend this business dinner tonight."

"Oh dear, you poor thing! I would rather swallow poison. But that's the price of being 'Everybodies darling'."

Nigel bursts into a loud laughter. He marches off whistling. Maxwell shakes his head angry. Nigel can take it easy. He is their parents' youngest child and their second son. He has not to fulfill all the expectations or responsibilities. Nigel is wild, prefers the easy-going way and behaves untamable and nobody seems to care. If he would behave like that, his parents would show a completely different side. In moments like these, he sometimes wishes he could switch lifes with Nigel.

The phone tears him out of his thoughts. It is one of the maids who asks him. on behalf of his mother, to come down. Maxwell replies to tell his mother, he will be right there. He just needs to make a quick phone call. Maxwell digs out Frans' number. Before he goes down to this dull, boring evening, he needs to hear her voice.

Meanwhile, faraway in New York. Fran sits in her room leafing through fashion magazines. She looks at the individual outfits with enthusiasm and a critical eye. She dreams what it would be like if one day her own self-designed fashio would be published in these magazines. Fran's heart begins to beat faster. She makes a firm resolution to go to the school tomorrow. She hopes Maxwell can actually truly help her with the application. Fran knows her final grades from High School weren't the best, so she has to score some point another way. Her mother sticks her head in the door.

"Hey, Franny, there's a certain Edward from London on the phone for you. The Kents' butler. Apparently it's about some stuffed animal that the girls can't find."

"It's okay, Maa. I'm coming!"

Fran reacts surprised. The Kents' butler name is indeed Edward, but he would never call her about something like this. Visibly irritated and a little unsure, Fran answers the phone. Then she hears a very familiar voice.

"Hello Francine. Did your mother bought my butler imitation?"

Fran finds it difficult not to laugh out loud and to keep up the charade in front of her mother.

"Yes, thank you. I'm fine. Everything is great here."

Fran sincerely hopes her mother will soon leave the room so that they can talk undisturbed. Maxwell immediately understands that Fran cannot speak freely.

"I'm glad you're okay. I just wanted to hear your voice for a minute. I have to go to some stupid dinner with my parents and some important business partner. I'm afraid it's going to be a terrible evening."

"Oh dear, that really doesn't sound like lot of fun!"

Fran knows how much Maxwell hates this kind of obligations. Fortunately, her prayers are answered and her mother quickly explains to her that she has to run some errands because there isn't enough for dinner.

"By the way, Grandma Yetta is coming for dinner too."

Fran nods enthusiastically and waits longingly for her mother to finally leave the apartment.

"Now I can finally talk. Maa just left. By the way, that was an excellent idea, with Edward."

Before her departure, Fran had asked Maxwell not to reveal his true identity if he would call her. Maxwell had agreed without asking questions.

"Well, I couldn't think of anything else. But it's good that she bought it. And how do you pass the time these days?"

"I met Val today and tomorrow I want to go to the school and get the application forms. Otherwise I'm stuck here at home listening to Maa raving about the wedding. I'm so glad when it's finally over. And you should see my bridesmaid dress. Completely hideous. You wouldn't take me anywhere in that dress."

"Oh come on, Francine. I'm sure you're exaggerating. Not everyone has such good taste as you. When we get married, I promise you, you can design the dresses for the bridesmaids by yourself."

Fran giggles. She would have liked to talk to him for longer, but Maxwell knows it was time for him to go. Otherwise his mother would have a tantrum.

"I'm afraid I really have to go now. Have a nice day."

"I wish you the same and good luck for tonight."

Fran hurries back to her room. The short conversation with Maxwell has done her good. She makes herself comfortable on her bed and pulls out her notepad. She writes down a few key points for her application.

While Fran is brooding over her points, Maxwell sits at dinner with his parents and their guests. Maxwell seems very relieved. The evening is more relaxed than he had expected. His father's business partner, Mr. Babcock, turns out to be an entertaining and pleasant guy, not as stiff and formal as his parents. He talks casually about a few encounters with various stars he has worked with.

Maxwell keeps glancing at his daughter, who seems to be completely different from her father. She sits at the table with a perfect posture, bolt upright, and her face doesn't show any emotion. She radiates a certain coolness and aloofness; compared to the lively, fiery Fran, she appears like the icy blue Snow Queen. She is actually quite pretty, a classic blonde beauty, but Maxwell finds her pale and boring. She is way too perfect, not a single hair stands out. Maxwell can't help but to think of Fran's wild curls. The only thing that he likes, is the fact that she remarked right at the beginning that no one calls her by her full name, but that everyone calls her CC.

Elisabeth Sheffield is fascinated by the young girl and doesn't miss an opportunity to bring her and Maxwell closer together. When Mr. Babcock mentions that he is organizing a benefit concert here in London, she cleverly suggests, Maxwell should accompany CC. So they all agree the two young people would attend the concert together. Maxwell doesn't dare to contradict, even though the idea doesn't exactly make him happhappy.รค

Hours later in New York. Fran lies in her bed, extremely tired. She has completely forgotten how exhausting a meal with her family can be. Her sister Nadine had come along with Grandma Yetta. Everyone had asked her about London, which was very uncomfortable for Fran, as she couldn't answer all of the questions honestly. She would have liked to tell her family about Maxwell, but a comment from her mother confirmed her that she should wait. When her sister curiously asked whether she had met anyone, her mother intervened and said that Fran was in London to work. She had looked at Fran sternly and forcefully reminded her that they had an agreement. Namely that all her shenanigans were in the past and over. Fran tried very hard to assure her mother that her Au pair job was completely fulfilling her.

Fran hopes that if she waits until her relationship with Maxwell is more solid, she will be able to convince her parents that this is a serious and long-term relationship.