"Ready to go Will?" Buffy asked.
"Yeah," he said. "In a minute."
Buffy had laid out his best suit for him. Then had gone off to a separate room. To get ready. What seemed like hours ago.
William was now looking at himself in the full length mirror. And hated what he saw.
You're really going to do it, he thought. Apologise. To him. Of all people. You fucking coward. You fucking pussy.
"Will?" Buffy asked.
"Yeah," he said. He dropped his eyes now.
"How do I look?" Buffy asked.
William turned around now. And found himself stunned.
His wife was in a golden dress. A golden gown more like. That nearly reached the floor. The halterneck dress had a cut-out centre and nothing on the top. It was clinging to her figure.
Buffy's blonde locks were curled just so. Her blows were plucked. Her eyes were smoky. Her face was shiny and golden. As was the rest of her.
"How do I look?" his wife asked.
"Luv," William said. He was lost for words.
Buffy looked incredible. Sensational. Like a golden goddess.
"Is… is that new?" he asked.
"Uh-huh," Buffy said. Placing her hands on her hips. Do you like it?"
"Yeah," he said.
"Really?" she asked. "You're not just saying that?"
"When did you?" he asked. "I mean…."
"Went shopping this afternoon," Buffy said.
"This afternoon?" William asked.
"Yeah," Buffy said. "You were asleep. So I hit the stores."
"Okay," William said.
Buffy now stepped closer to him.
"Can I help you with that?" she asked.
"Yeah," William chuckled. "I'm shite at this."
"You're fine," Buffy said. She offered her husband a shy smile.
Now, stepping forward, Buffy began carefully buttoning his shirt.
"Will," Buffy began.
"I know," William said. He took a deep breath. "I'll apologise yeah? And be on my best behaviour. Scout's honour."
"Are you okay with this, Will?" Buffy asked. By now, his wife's hand placed her hands on his chest. "Really?"
William wasn't. He knew he wasn't. But he had no choice. Not if he wanted to save them from being sued into oblivion. And he knew it.
"Yes," William said. "I promise."
"Good," Buffy said. She paused now.
William could see there was something in her eyes. On her lips.
But Buffy said nothing. Instead, she simply stepped back. And regarded him.
"My you look handsome," she said. Fanning herself.
"Thanks," William muttered.
Now, there was a polite knock on the door. Then again. Louder this time.
William now stepped forward. And opened it. It was the bespectacled woman again. Xander's assistant. The one that had handed him the card.
William flushed at the memory. But the young woman looked utterly unruffled.
"Ready to go?" she asked.
William looked at Buffy. Who extended her arm to him.
William reached back. And took it.
"Then follow me," she said.
The elevator door to the Penthouse opened.
It had only taken moments. But to William, it felt like the longest hour of his life.
He had steeled himself. By now, the arguments were well worn.
It doesn't mean anything, he told himself. Just say the words. Shake his hand. You don't have to mean it.
Xander's assistant stepped out first. Buffy and William followed.
She led the couple right to him. And quietly exited.
Xander was on the couch. A glass of whisky in one hand. And an unlit cigar in the other. He wasn't wearing a tie. The top of his suit was unbuttoned.
"Hi," Buffy said. Softly.
Xander looked up. And grinned.
The billionaire placed the glass of whisky on the table in front of him. Then rose.
"Buff," he said. Eyeing her up and down. "You look ravishing. Sensational."
"Do I?" Buffy asked. "Really?"
Xander now extended his hand. Towards Buffy. His wife hesitated. Then, a moment later, placed her hand in his. Now, the billionaire raised her hands to his lips. And, staring into her eyes, placed a gentle kiss on it.
"You do," Xander said. "Absofuckinglutely."
"Thank you," Buffy said. Tittered actually.
William hadn't moved. He'd just stood there. Watching. Every sinew in his body straining against itself. Not to deck Xander.
Now, Xander turned to William.
"Will," he said. The billionaire now extended his hand towards him. "I'm willing to let things lie. If you are."
William hesitated. Something felt off about this. Something felt wrong. About all of it.
"Will," he heard Buffy whisper. Felt her hand squeeze his arm.
"Yeah," William said. Finally He now extended his hand towards Xander. Who clasped it. Firmly.
"No hard feelings, right mate?" Xander asked.
"Right," William said.
William could see it in the billionaire's eyes. Sweet triumph. At his victory. Not only had he fucked his wife, he'd now embarrassed him to boot. In the end, he'd won. And they both knew it. So did Buffy.
William looked at Buffy again. Was that a smile at the corner of his wife's lips? Or was he imagining it? William looked at his hand now. Which was still in Xander's hand. The man who shagged his wife silly.
"Splendid," Xander said. Finally, he let go of William's hand. "I'm glad we're all friends again."
"Me too," Buffy said. "I mean, it was all so silly? Right?"
"That's exactly what it was," Xander said. "Silly."
When William looked up, he saw Buffy and Xander were already on the living room couch.
"Will," Buffy said. Gesturing to her husband. To join them.
William now stepped forward. And took a seat on the single-seater leather sofa.
A lavish spread had been placed on the table ahead of them, he saw. Already, Xander had a champagne bottle in his hands. While Buffy had two champagne glasses. Xander quickly opened it. Then poured it out. Buffy kept one. And handed William the other. Xander now picked up his glass of whisky.
"To new friends?" the billionaire asked.
"I'll drink to that," Buffy said.
Xander and Buffy now extended their glasses towards each other.
William held onto his.
He watched as the billionaire and his wife clinked glasses. And drank. Keeping their eyes on each other.
William was nursing his champagne glass. Still. He hadn't touched a drop.
He looked up. To see Buffy and Xander in rapt conversation.
What were they talking about? Was it still art? They had been going on about the Impressionists. Then, Surrealism. Then abstract art. Arguing back and forth.
No, they'd moved on. To the environment. The billionaire was talking about a conservation park he owned in Africa. Which he'd bought over from some Russian billionaire.
His wife was listening intently. As the billionaire was describing what he'd seen on the Savannah.
"We tracked this pride for three days," the billionaire said. "We were just watching really. At a distance."
"So, what did you see?" Buffy asked.
"Two lions," Xander said. "Fighting to the death. While the rest of the pride watched."
Buffy gasped.
"Why?"
"The usual," the billionaire said. "Over who owns the territory. And who gets to fuck the female lions, of course. Men, right?"
Buffy now scoffed. And shook her head. Now, she was smiling.
"So what happened?" his wife asked.
"The younger, stronger lion won," the billionaire said. "But that's just the law of the jungle. Right Will?"
"What?" William asked. Surprised at the sound of his own name.
"Law of the jungle," the billionaire said. "Doing what's necessary. To come out on top."
William remembered that phrase. Xander had given voice to it two nights ago. Before propositioning them. His indecent proposal. Had it only been two nights ago? William felt as though a lifetime had passed.
"I guess," William said.
Buffy was looking down now. Her fingers now seemed to tighten on the champagne glass.
"You know, I think we're out of champagne," Xander said. The billionaire raised his head and clicked his fingers. But no one appeared.
Xander now sighed.
"Good help," he said. Shaking his head. "So hard to find."
"You mind, Will?" Xander asked.
"Huh?" William asked.
"The booze is in the kitchen," Xander said. "Just at the end of the hall. In the fridge."
It took William a moment. To understand. What Xander wanted. To retrieve a bottle of champagne. From the kitchen.
It was the last thing William wanted. To leave his wife alone with the billionaire. Again.
Buffy now looked at him. Expectantly.
"You don't mind do you Will?" his wife asked.
Relax Will, her eyes said. It's fine. Don't make a big deal out of it.
William opened his mouth. And found it dry.
"No… " William began. "No problem."
Even as he'd said the words, William couldn't believe it. What he'd said. Why he'd said them.
"Thanks mate," Xander said. Giving him a thumbs-up.
Don't, William thought.
But it was too late. By now, he was on his feet.
"Just that way," Xander said. Pointing over William's shoulder.
William now took one more look at them. The billionaire and his wife. In conversation.
Slowly, he turned around. And walked away. Resisting the urge to look back.