William awoke with a start. He wasn't sure when he'd finally fallen asleep. He was still in the chair. Still handcuffed to the table.

He'd raged at first. Screamed. Shouted. Howled. He'd tried unmercifully to break the handcuffs. Until his wrist was rubbed raw. It had all failed. Not a soul had stirred. His guard had been unmoved.

William, in the end, had buckled. He'd just sat there. Defeated. His head in his hands. Trying not to think about it. About them. What they could be doing. In his absence. Again.

In the end, sleep had claimed him. Mercifully.

"What time is it?" he asked. Hoarsely.

"It's morning," the guard said. In a rough, clipped voice. "Shouldn't be much longer now."

A few minutes later, a man in a crisply pressed suit walked through the door. He was long-nosed and bespectacled. And wearing a slightly distasteful look on his face.

"Mr Pratt," he said. "Allow me to introduce myself. I'm Arthur Chesterfield. The hotel manager. I was alerted to the little kerfuffle in the Casino last night. Sorry, I couldn't get around to you earlier."

William just stared at the man.

"Well don't just stand there Hugh," Chesterfield said. "Uncuff the man."

A moment later, Hugh was at his side. Taking his handcuffs off. William couldn't help but notice how quickly he moved. For a man of his size. And girth.

"Had a few too many I take it, sir?" Chesterfield asked.

William found himself taking an instant dislike to the man.

"Yeah," William said. Rubbing his wrists. They felt completely raw.

"Well, I've spoken to the other guests. No one seems to wish to press charges," Chesterfield said.

"Great," William muttered. Under his breath. "Thanks by the way. For leaving me here all bloody night."

"It was either this or the police sir," Chesterfield said. "And I didn't think you'd want them involved. Or was I wrong?"

William shook his head.

"Well," he said. "That settles it then."

"That's it?" William asked. Suspiciously "I'm free to go? Just like that?"

"Unless you'd prefer the pleasure of Hugh's company," Chesterfield said. "He looks tough. But inside… he's a stone cold killer."

"I'm good," William said. "Thanks."

Hugh opened the door. And William walked out.

William found himself walking slowly to the hotel elevator. Then to the room. Step by step. As if he was on autopilot.

Truthfully, it was the last place in the world William wanted to go. But he knew he didn't have a choice. Where else could he go?

William, at the door, paused. He stared at it. Reaching inside the pocket of his jeans, his fingers closed around the plastic key card. He took a deep breath. Then pressed it to the door. Which opened.

The hall was empty. The dinner tray was by the door. William saw two champagne bottles on the dining table. In an empty bucket. Alongside two glasses.

William struggled to remember. Had he had champagne last night? Or was it just Buffy?

Or maybe…maybe someone else had been here last night.

No, William thought. He shut his eyes. And shook his head. Don't go there. Don't.

"Luv?"William called.

"In here," Buffy said.

William stepped forward. The bed was made perfectly.

His wife was seated in front of the Vanity Mirror. She was carefully putting on her makeup. William looked at her. The question was on the tip of his tongue.

Buffy now turned her head. Over her shoulder. She did not look pleased to see him. Not one bit.

"So…" Buffy said. Sighing. "You're back. Finally."

"Yeah," he said. Rubbing the back of his head.

"Are you finished, Will?" she asked. Icily. "Is it all out of your system? Finally?"

William flushed.

"Did…" he began. He took a breath. Then, making a fist, rephrased his question. "Was Xander….was he here last night?"

Buffy said nothing. She looked at herself in the mirror again.

"Buffy," William said.

"Yes," Buffy said."Xander was here. Last night."

William had already seen it in her eyes. The answer. But that she could admit it – so boldly, so brazenly – was a body blow to him. William sat down on the bed. He couldn't look at her now.

"Does that surprise you, Will?" Buffy asked."Really?"

William finally looked up. And steeled himself.

"Did you fuck him?"he asked.

"You're not seriously asking me that," Buffy said. Outraged. "Are you? I mean really, Will? After the shit you pulled?"

Suddenly, it hit William. What Buffy was referring to.

Oh fuck,William thought. The night Buffy was with Xander. What he'd done. Xander had told her. About all of it. The billionaire probably had people watching him. Reporting back.

William tried to remember it. It was hazy. But William knew he'd smoked something. Marijuana maybe? To calm his nerves. He'd visited a strip club. Where's he'd done… stuff. Not everything, he was sure. But some stuff. A lot of stuff.

"Look," William said. "I was out of my mind, yeah? I was just… it's not an excuse. But I was just…"

"Just what, Will?"Buffy asked. "I mean, who does these things?"

"Luv," William began.

"I still can't understand it," Buffy said. "Why would you do this? To us?"

"Why would you try to attack Xander on the Casino floor?" Buffy asked. "Somebody could have gotten seriously hurt, Will. After confronting him at his Penthouse? Why, Will?"

"What?"William said. Standing up.

"I wanna know why," Buffy said. "Why you'd act this way. Instead of just talking to me."

"I…I tried talking to you,"William stammered. He was off balance now. Did she know? Did Xander tell her? What game was he playing?

"Did you?" Buffy asked. "Really Will? Is that really what happened?"

"What am I supposed to do?" William said.

"Try being honest with me," Buffy said. "For once."

"Oh, like you've been honest with me?" William fired back.

Buffy now sighed.

"I told you Will," she said. "I told you and I told you. I just don't know what more I can say."

William again sat down on his bed. Trying to work it out.

What had happened last night. What Buffy knew.

"So…you didn't fuck him?" William asked. Confused.

Buffy scoffed. And gave him a look.

"Last night, I mean," William said. Weakly.

"No," Buffy said. After just a moment's hesitation. "I didn't, Will. I really didn't."

But you wanted to,he thought. Didn't you?

Buffy now turned around.

"So…." William began. Uncomfortably."What did he want?"

"I told you already,"Buffy said."He wanted to talk."

William snorted.

Yeah,he thought.Right.

"He left that last night Will," Buffy said. She gestured to something by the bed. "For you."

"What's that?" William asked.

He picked it up. Gingerly. It looked to be some sort of folder. Of what looked to be documents.

"What are these?" he asked.

"Legal papers," Buffy said.

"What?" William asked. "I don't…"

"He threatened to sue us, Will," Buffy said.

"Sue… what the bloody hell for?" William asked.

"Breach of contract," Buffy said.

"How the hell does he figure that?" William asked.

"Because," Buffy said. "You breached the no-contact clause. Twice."

"The what?" William asked.

He looked over the language. It all looked like gibberish to him.

"Paragraph 12. Subclause three," Buffy said.

William now found the paragraph. And began skimming over the words.

No contact by either party… after night in question… physical and verbal contact… directly or indirectly…to be waived only after express written permission.

"This… this is bullshit," William said. He found his breath growing shorter now. "He… he can't do this."

"Oh can't he?" Buffy said. "I already checked with Faith, Will. He is. He can. So can his expensive high-priced lawyers."

"We'll…we'll get another lawyer," William stammered.

"I already got a second opinion," Buffy said. "And a third. We're in breach of the contract, Will. Even if we fight it, it'll take months. If not years."

What the fuck? William thought.

"This can't be happening," he whispered.

"How much?" he asked. "Are we on the hook for?"

Buffy sighed.

"$50 million," his wife said.

William's jaw now hit the floor. His eyes filled with tears.

Oh Christ, he thought. What did I do?

"Oh god," he said. "Luv. Oh god, I'm so…."

Buffy now sighed. Finally. She came up to her husband. And placed her hand on his back.

"It's okay, Will," she said.

"I don't," William began. "I didn't think he would…."

"I already took care of it," Buffy said.

"What?" William asked. Looking up at her. "You…how?"

William couldn't help the thought that came to his mind.

Buffy had fucked Xander again,William thought.Again.

"I told you," Buffy said. Softly. "Xander came here. To talk."

"And?" William asked.

"He said he didn't wanna sue us," Buffy said. "Not really. But he would if he was pushed to."

"So….what then?" William asked. Confused.

"He just wants…" Buffy began. "He wants us to put this behind him. He wants an apology.

"An apology?"William spat. In disgust.

The thought revolted him. Of apologizing to Xander. The man who fucked his wife. His Buffy.

"And for you to shake his hand," Buffy added.

"Why?" William asked.

"He said…" Buffy began. Trying to remember the turn of phrase. "It's how two gentlemen settle disagreements."

A moment passed.

"This isn't gonna be a problem for you,"Buffy said. "Is it?"

William knew Buffy wasn't asking. Not really. She was telling him. William could tell by the look on her face. The tone of her voice. He was going to shake Xander's hand. To settle things. Once and for all.

William pursed his lips.

Apologise,he thought again. Bitterly.To him. Great.

"When?" he asked.

"Tonight," Buffy said. "At dinner."

William paused. Had he heard that right? Dinner? With him?

"Dinner?" William said. "What, the three of us?"

"Yes," Buffy said. "Tonight. Xander said he'd be delighted to host us upstairs. At his Penthouse."

William had a bad feeling about this. In his bones. He didn't know why. But he did. He just couldn't figure out the billionaire's game.

"Buffy," William began.

"Are you in, Will?" Buffy asked. "Or out?"

Buffy was staring at him now. In the eyes.

William hesitated.

"Because we can't afford a trial," Buffy said. "It would break us Will. And if you can't bring yourself to come to dinner and apologise, then I'll go myself."

"No," William said. "You can't luv. Don't you see? That's exactly what he wants. To separate us."

"To fuck me?"Buffy said. "Newsflash, Will. He already did. It happened."

William flinched.

"And last night?" William asked. For the last time.

Buffy looked exasperated.

"No," Buffy said. Firmly. "We didn't. I swear, Will."

But something had happened last night. William could tell. Something had passed between his wife and the billionaire. Not intimacy per se. But something.

William now remembered the two glasses of champagne. And two empty bottles in the ice bucket. On the table. Buffy had had one. But he was sure he hadn't. Which meant she and Xander had shared it. Together.

What the hell is happening?William wondered.

"Will?" Buffy asked.

William shut his eyes.

"Yes," he said. Finally.

"Are you sure?" she asked.

William opened his eyes. Buffy was eyeing him now. With interest. Her eyes were curious.

"Yes," William said. Through clenched teeth. "I'm sure."

"Okay," she said now. Softly.

William now sat down. And ran a hand through his hair.