Lady Luck

by

IvanaBgood
(IvanaBgood@aol.com)

You would think that because of its immense size, architectural details and the many people coming and going, that the French Embassy would be the place to be if one wanted to bring some excitement and intrigue into one’s life. To truly encounter an adventure I would instead find my way to the mansion next door, where a family by the name of Sheffield lived. With the help of their cunning butler and head strong business partner, life there was never boring.

Maxwell Sheffield made his way to the hall closet, quietly, but hurriedly putting on his coat before any questions were asked of him.

Walking into the living room, Fran spots Maxwell getting ready to go somewhere.
"Honey, where are you off to?"

"Oh, ummm...I have a backer's meeting to go to." He replies uncomfortably.

Sensing something fishy because her husband couldn't look her in the eye, she stands in front of him blocking his way, her hands on her hips. "Where?"

"It's at ....," mumbling at the end, his hand covering his mouth.

"Where?" Fran persisted in asking.

"At mmphhmm."

"Okay, spit it out. You know I'm going to find out anyway." She ordered, not about to let him get away with doing something that she didn’t know about first hand.

Shoulders droop, Maxwell replies resignedly, "Donovan's"

"Donovan's! The bar? That could only mean one thing. You're going to meet your old friend Bennett Sterling! No way Mister!" Fran shrieks.

"He wants to invest in my next play Fran. It's business." He replies tiredly.

"Business - Ha! Bennett is always getting you drunk and then you two always end up making some kakameyme bet, that you always end up losing." She pokes him in the chest.

Maxwell grumps. "Well, not this time. Give me credit for some brains. Tell CC to stop by and drop off the paperwork that Bennett will need to sign. Don't worry, I won't do something stupid." He leans over and kisses Fran good-bye on her forehead.

With her arms crossed in anger, Fran reaches for her husband. "You just did." Pulls Maxwell close, wrapping her arms around him, and gives him a deep, soul-stirring kiss and then releases him with a smug of satisfaction.

Maxwell, with a dazed look, opens the front door and leaves.

Donovans…..

Elton John music blaring in the background, "I’m still standing, better than I ever did…" The lyrics ironical as an intoxicated man weaves his way out of the bar as he passes the jukebox. The sound of glasses clinking, boisterous conversations and the occasional ‘thunk’ of a dart as it  tries to hit the target fill the air.

There sat Maxwell and Bennett at the counter, reminiscing about the good ol’ days. Unfortunately, the good ol’ days were all about the many bets they made with each other over the years and the fact that Maxwell never won one. And as usual when he was around his old friend, Maxwell drank too much.

CC enters the bar, looking through the smoky haze for Maxwell. Her forehead crinkling at the loudness of the place so early in the afternoon. "Maxwell….Maxwell!" She taps him hard on his shoulder, trying to get his attention..

Whipping his head around, with complete surprise on his face, he greets his business partner, "CC! Hi! What are you doing here?"

CC was shocked at seeing Maxwell inebriated so early in the day. "Nanny Fine told me you wanted this." Hands him a manila envelope with all the paperwork.

"CC, you’re a gem. A bright sparkling diamond amongst the coalsssss," he slurs.

"Maxwell, do you want me to take over?" CC suspiciously eyes Bennett sitting next to him.

Bennett leers at CC. Giving her a thorough look from her dyed blonde roots to her slender feet encased in open-toed heels.

CC’s eyes gets smaller, hating the man at once as he gives her the once over.

"CC, you remember my friend Bennett Sterling." Maxwell replies, remembering his manners.

Bennett’s smile widens as he reaches out for her hand to shake. "Of course, CC, how wonderful to see you again!"

CC pointedly ignores him and instead turns towards Maxwell. "Maxwell, are you sure you don’t want me to handle this? You seem to have had one too many."

Max pats her hand as she leaned on the counter. "No, no CC. It’s okay…really."

CC gives Maxwell’s ‘friend’ one last glare and leaves against her better judgement.

Bennett watches her depart, smiling all the while. "Whoo-hoo Max, that is one bold, self-assured little lady! I have a great idea! I was going to invest $500,000 dollars in your play, but since you’re such a dear old pal, how about we make it more interesting?"

Alarm bells start to ring in the back of his mind, but he shakes his head, ignoring it. "You, my good man, are up to your old sly tricks again, aren’t you?" Waggles his finger at him with a silly grin on his face.

Bennett puts his arm around Max. "Max, old buddy, I am about to offer you the grand-daddy of all bets. How about we play a hand of poker? You know you love that game. Just one hand. If I lose, I’ll double my investment for your play and you will get a cool million, buddy boy!"

Nodding his head, trying to follow the conversation. "And if I lose?"

"That will probably not happen, pal o’ mine. But in case it does, I want a night of fun with that statuesque blonde that was just here. Ooo-wee, I would love to tame her!" Bennett answers, his thoughts on his prize.

"CC?"

Bennett nods. "Yep. I’m sure she’s a wild one."

The copious amount of alcohol fogging his mind, Max was perplexed. "You want to play right now, here?"

Looking at his watch, Bennett shakes his head negatively. "I wish I could, but unfortunately I have to attend a corporate take-over." Rubbing his hands in anticipation of buying yet another Fortune 500 company and firing its employees. "How about tonight, around 8pm?"

Max was so drunk that he didn’t realize what he was saying. "You’re on! And this time, you my good man, will taste the sourness of defeat." Shakes hands sealing the deal.

Bennett puts Max in a cab and gives the driver the address to take him home. He waves as the cab pulls away, whistling to himself, looking forward to the prospect of putting another one over on Max and finally getting his hands on CC Babcock.

~ Ding - Dong - Ding - Dongggggg ~

Niles rushes to the door, wondering who could be so rude. Opening the door, he sees Mr. Sheffield leaning against the doorbell, barely able to stand up.

 "Sir! Ooophh!" Taking Max’s weight as he puts his arm around him, leading him inside.

Fran: "Oh noooo! I knew it! My poor baby!" Helps Niles lead Max to the couch.

They lay him down.

Fran: "Max! What did you do?" Shaking him awake.

Niles: Surprised at seeing his employer drunk, questions Fran. "It’s only 2 in the afternoon, why would Mr. Sheffield be….OH NO! He wasn’t with Bennett Sterling was he?"

Fran: Nods as she worriedly wrings her hands together. " Oy, I knew I shouldn’t have let him leave."

Niles: "I’ll go brew a pot of coffee. Why don’t you give him a cold shower? As soon as we find out what kind of mess he’s in, we can help him get out of it." Shaking his head with concern as he walks to the kitchen.

An hour later, a shivering wet haired Max sits in the kitchen as Fran rubs his dark mane dry with a towel.

Niles: "Come on sir. One more sip. That’s it."

Max tries to resist, but swallows the strong bitter coffee. "Enough!" Pushes the cup away.

Fran: "Don’t you snap at Niles! This is all your fault! Now what happened at Donovan’s?"

Max holds his head in his hands. "I don’t know."

Ringgggg……

Niles: "I’ll get it…Sheffield residence. Wait a moment please." He hands the phone to Mr. Sheffield. "Bennett Sterling, sir."

Max: "Yes, what is it? What?! I haven’t the foggiest idea what you are talking about? I did WHAT?! Bennett you can’t be serious!…Fine, fine….yes, I’ll be there!" Slams the phone down. Holds his head in his hands. "Well, I really did it this time."

Fran: "What?"

Max: Looks at Fran and Niles, ashamed of himself. Taking a deep breath, "I bet Bennett that if I beat him in one hand of poker, he will invest one million dollars in my play."

Niles: "And if you lose?"

Max: Taking his head once again in his hands. Rubbing the vein on his temple that was throbbing harder than usual. The beat of it sounding like a tom-tom drum in his head. He brings his head back up and looks at the far wall.
 "If I lose, Bennett gets CC."

CC: Walking in and hearing the last sentence. "WHAT!!"

Niles: Yelling even louder than CC. "SIR! YOU DIDN’T!!"

Fran: Looking around as if searching for dinosaurs. "What were you thinking? This is not caveman days Max!…although I wouldn’t mind seeing you in a loin cloth."

Max: "I know! I know…I’m sorry….CC, I don’t know what came over me. How could I bet my business partner over a game of poker?

CC: "That man is worst than a roach Maxwell. I will never agree to go out on a date with him!"

Max: "You don’t have to go on a date with him, CC."

CC: "Well…that’s good. Because it will never happen."

Max: "If I lose, you have to go to bed with him."

CC: "WHAT!"

Fran: "MAX!"

Niles: "SIR!"

Max: "I know! I know! I’m sorry CC! Of course you won’t have to go through with it. I was the one who took the bet and I had no right using you as the winnings. I shook on the deal and well…it looks like I’ll have to welch on it."

Niles: "Sir, you shook on it?"

Max nods.

Fran: "You shook on it? Oy!"

CC stands there stunned. She knew what that meant. A handshake from Maxwell Sheffield was as binding as a legal document signed and witnessed by a notary public. If people find out that he welched, his name would be mud. People will not want to invest with someone that backs out on an iron-clad deal. CC’s shoulders droop.

CC: "Maxwell, you’ll have to go through with it."

Max: "What? No, CC it’s morally corrupt!"

CC: "Maxwell, you know what will happen if it leaks out that your word is meant nothing! No one will want to invest in our plays. No one." She says the last sentence with finality.

Max: The realization of what CC just said, hits him. "What have I done? You’re right, CC, you’re so right. But you know I can’t win at cards. Gracie beats me when we play ‘Go Fish’ for god’s sake!" Nervously brushes his hair back.

Fran: Her eyes light up. "Niles! Niles, you take Max’s place!"

Niles: Incredulous,  "Me?"

CC: "Him? You want to bet my body on the tidy-bowl man? He goes bankrupt every time he plays Monopoly!"

Niles: Eyes narrow. "That’s because Brighton cheats! You probably want me to lose the poker game. Anything to add variety to your sex deprived sanitarium life style."

CC: "I’M sex deprived? Oh yeah, that’s right I heard you were getting sex all the time, until your wrist got arthritis!"

Niles: "This from a woman who’s like a library, open to the public."

CC: Her eyes snapping. "The last time you felt a breast it came out of a Kentucky Fried Chicken bucket!"

Niles: Enjoying their banter, counterattacks, "Miss Babcock, they say beauty is only skin deep. May I peel you back to get to the good part?"

CC: "Why you….," at a loss for words.

Niles: Eyebrows raised. "Hmmm…looks like that twitch of yours is back. I’ll go get your medication and hide it in your Alpo like usual."

Fran: "You two, we don’t have time for all this! Miss. Babcock, remember the cruise trip we took to the Caribbean? You were Niles’ lucky charm!" Finally being able to get a word in edgewise through their rapid fire exchange of insults..

Niles and CC glare at each other. Fran was right. It looks like they have to join forces.

CC: Relieved, "Well, it looks like my body is saved."

Niles: "Yes, you better hurry back to the mausoleum before it’s missed," he replies dryly.

CC: "Listen you hideous toad, I am getting really tired of your lip."

Niles: "You’re calling me ugly? This from a woman who had tinted windows on her incubator when she was hatched."

CC: Her hands on her hips, she glowers, "Didn’t you serve at the Last Supper?".

Niles: "You should know. When Moses split the Red Sea, you were on the other side fishing."

Max: "Stop it! What is with you two? Over ten years of listening to your bickering, I can’t stand it anymore!!"

Niles and CC look at Maxwell explode and exchange surprised looks.

CC: "What’s with him?"

Niles: "No clue," shrugs his shoulders.

Max: Shaking his head at their incomprehension. "Okay, so that’s the plan then. Niles will take my place at the card game."

Niles: "Uh-uh, not so fast sir." Looks at CC with an evil smile on his face. "What do I get when I win?"

CC: Spits out venomously, "What do you mean, what do YOU get?"

Niles: "I want to help Mr. Sheffield keep his good name. But why should I help you out?"

CC: "Oh Niles, this is even too low for you!" Knowing that she was beaten,  she sighs, "What do you want?"

Niles: Smiling mischievously, "Well, I recall a certain person who bought me in a Charity Auction and made me wear a dress…..so how does being my slave for a day sound to you?"

CC: Purses her mouth and scowls, "Fine!"

Niles: Rubbing his hands gleefully, "Let’s get ready to RUMBLE!"

And so at a quarter to 8 in the evening the four of them trek over to Donovan’s. Leaving the kids to Val.

There was Bennett, sitting at the counter, sipping a beer. Spying the group entering, he waves them over, a big smile on his face.

CC glared hard at the man. She wanted retaliation on this weasel so bad, she could taste it.

Bennett: "Ahh, there you are, Max! And Fran, always a pleasure to see the better half!" Kisses Fran’s hand. "And CC, a delight to my senses!" Takes her hand to kiss it, but before she can yank it back, Niles pulls it away.

Niles: "Hands off the merchandise, Mr. Sterling."

Bennett: "Niles! What are you doing here?"

Niles: "I’m here to win my lady love."

CC: Surprise evident on her face as soon as the words come out of Niles’ mouth.
"Niles?"

Niles ignores CC, his face looking comical, disbelief written all over it at what just popped out of his mouth.

Bennett: "Max, what’s going on here?"

Max: "Well, old man. I thought since you tricked me once again into betting while I was intoxicated, I could chose someone to represent me."

Bennett: "And you chose Niles? Max, I thought you would have a better ace up your sleeve than that!" Laughing heartily.

CC: Whispering vehemently to Niles, "Ooo, annihilate him Niles! Crush him! Black Flag the damn roach!"

Niles: Eyes widen, mouth twitching, a glimpse of a smile showing, "Miss Babcock!"

CC: Looking innocent, "What? I just want revenge. Is that so bad?"

Always the gentleman, Niles pulls out a chair for Miss Babcock and pushes it under for her as she sits, before seating himself down.

Bennett: "Okay, do we all know what the stakes are?"

Niles: "One hand of poker. IF you win, Miss Babcock leaves with you," feeling CC stiffen next to him. "WHEN I win, you write Mr. Sheffield a check for a million dollars."

Bennett: Laughs, "I love your confidence Niles. I guess you didn’t know that I’ve won three years in a row at the Championship Poker Trials at Caesar’s Palace in Vegas."

Niles: "You don’t know that I have Lady Luck by my side," literally, he thinks to himself, as he turns and glances at CC.

Bennett: Turns to the bartender, "Dave, a fresh pack of cards please."

A crowd gathers around the quintet, sensing the excitement and drama emanating
from the group. Word spreads at what the stakes were.

Bennett: "How about you dealing, Fran?"

Fran: "Oh, okay," she smiles obligingly, taking the cards out of the box.

Niles: "Wait a minute," takes the cards from Fran and inspects them carefully.

Bennett: "Niles! Did you think I would play with marked cards?" Guffawing.
"So, what’s your game Niles? Shall we play Five Card Stud or Seven Card Draw?"

Niles: "Either one," he states, sensing CC’s nervousness, he takes her hand in his under the table and gives it an assuring squeeze.

Bennett: "Fine. How about Five Card Stud then. It’s quicker and the sooner I win, the sooner the lovely CC will be on my arm…and on my bed." Leers at CC.

CC seethed silently next to Niles, thinking hateful things to do to this conniver. Squeezing his testicles in a vice was her favorite option.

Hearing Bennett’s bragging, Niles knew it would be a cold day in Hell before he allowed this scum to walk out of the bar with Miss Babcock.
"Sounds good to me, deal ‘em out Mrs. Sheffield."

The atmosphere crackles with tension.

Fran shuffles the cards and gives it to a bystander to cut. Then dealing five cards to each player, one card at a time, the anxiety builds as all eyes in the room watch as the cards are slowly picked up. Each man not letting up on one another. Their faces like stone.

Niles holds his cards low, making sure that no one else can see them.
Worried that Bennett might have planted a stool pigeon in the crowd to cheat for him. Niles also kept an eagle eye on his opponent’s every move. He knew he was up against a man with no scruples whatsoever. Studying his cards, he looks at Bennett, "I’ll take three."

Bennett: Smiling smugly, "One."

The crowd gasps. Maxwell squirms in his seat. Fran’s mouth gapes open and CC’s feet could be heard tapping on the ground as her legs shake with trepidation.

Fran deals three cards to Niles and just a single one to Bennett.

The air in the bar seemed suffocated with pressure. All was silent. Even the normal clinking of glasses was nonexistent. Each person observed in bated breath as the gamblers picked up what was dealt to them. Whisperings in the background became more prominent as some of the patrons made bets with each other as to who the victor will be.

Bennett: Eyeing the cards in his hands, he leans back in his seat. The stiffness in his body slowly relaxing as he smiled at Niles. With a quick flourish he fans his cards on the table. "Sorry old sport, read ‘em and weep, a Full House!"

Excited chatter and glasses clink in the room.

Maxwell closes his eyes in anguish at the sight of 3 Jacks and a pair of 2’s.

Fran looks at Niles, her eyebrows furrowed, silently praying for good luck.

Niles’ mouth was set in a grim line. He stared at Bennett’s cards. The Jacks seemed to look at him tauntingly.

Niles: "All I have is 2 Pairs."

Bennett: Chuckling loudly, he kicks his seat behind him as he smirked at CC.
"I win!"

CC lets out a deep gasp of air, not even realizing until then that she was holding her breath.

Niles: Speaking over the volume of voices in the room, "A Pair of Queens…," putting down his cards.

Bennett starts to swagger over to CC.

Niles: "…and well lookie here - their twin sisters!" Niles puts down another Pair of Queens. "Four of a Kind! Looks like I win!"

The crowd roars in amazement at the sheer luck of the hand.

Bennett’s face is in shock, mouth agape, staring at the 4 Queens and a 7 that Niles just laid on the table.

CC jumps excitedly out of her seat and right into Niles’ arms. Both of their faces beaming at each other.

Fran and Max give each other a big hug, and bounce up and down with happiness. People are patting Niles on his back.

Niles: Smiling at Bennett’s consternation, a man who he knew was not use to the taste of defeat. "Looks like that saying is true."

Bennett: Still staring at the winning hand, looks up at Niles. "What saying?"

Niles: Pulls CC into a tighter embrace. His eyes pointing at the Queens. "Double your pleasure and double your fun," his lips coming down to CC’s possessively.
The kiss was long and gentle. Niles not willing to end it, not sure how long CC was going to allow him to go on, he wasn’t about to pull away.

CC: After a long while, CC draws back. "Thank you Niles," her eyes shining.

Niles: "You’re welcome," bending down to kiss her again, more deeply.

Bennett shaking his head in disappointment, sits down and writes a check out to Maxwell. "Here you go, ol’ buddy," handing it to him.

Max: Taking it, clapping his hand down on Niles’ shoulder. "Thanks Niles…and Bennett…"

Bennett: "Hmm?"

Max: "Don’t come around anymore. With you for a friend, I don’t need any enemies." Hugs Fran once again and then they follow Niles and CC out the door.

Niles informs Mr. Sheffield that he and CC are going for a walk and will meet up with them later. His arm around her shoulders, the two enjoy the night air after the suffocating tenseness of the last few minutes in the bar.

Max and Fran watch the couple until they couldn’t see them anymore. Looking at each other with hope, they step inside the towncar and snuggle, their thoughts on their friends and what their future could be together.

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