She gasped for air as she opened her eyes and looked at him in total amazement. -‘I never in my life thought I would ever be kissed this way!’

He was fighting against every fiber of his body to act gentlemanly. -"I’m sorry, Miss Babcock. I mean, C.C., I-…"

She put her hand against his lips and said in a velvety murmur. -"I think I just died and went to heaven. But did you get any message from your Big Boss to stop doing what you were doing?"

A smile played over his lips. -"You’re magnificent!"

He pulled her into another kiss; their tongues started exploring each other’s mouths again, so urgently yet so carefully. His hands roamed her body, making her disregard the entire surrounding world. She also forgot all her insecurities; he made her feel so beautiful.

All of a sudden her legs buckled. Using all the self-control he could muster, he lifted her as she straddled herself around his strong hips. Her head went back but she had her arms around his neck. -"You like me being this close to you, don’t you?" He muttered sensually.

She mumbled as casually as possible. -"Yeah?" His words, his teasing, his breath, the look in his eyes; all that driving her completely out of her mind. His mouth trailed down exploring and outlining her ear, her neck, and the hollow of her throat. But despite her low neckline he couldn’t reach the part of her he wanted most. At least not at that moment having both of his arms supporting her so close. Her face came down on his begging for his mouth again. He nibbled at her chin, at the corner of her mouth till meeting her lips again and again. They were so warm and so wet. That kiss lasted and lasted, till between his or her breath he heard her whispering, -"I want you." That drove him out of the last track of conscience he had. He put her on her feet again and started unbuttoning her blouse like a madman; a very hard task, because those buttons were on the front side and she wouldn’t let his mouth go. Ultimately – unfortunately or fortunately for both of them - all that heartbeat and the response of those feelings were too intense for someone who had drunk as much as she did, so she fainted.

Absolutely out of breath, he scooped her up in his arms and carried her inside the house. -‘Damn you fool! What did you almost do?’ He condemned himself half saying it half thinking it. -‘The woman is drunk, you bastard! You shouldn’t have paid any attention.’ Pondering a bit, he added under his breath. -"What am I saying, even if I were blind that wouldn’t be possible." He smiled watching the "specimen" he had in his arms.

He carefully laid her on a couch in the living room, his body still needing hers, but at that moment grateful that she had lost her consciousness. He just didn’t know why she had to drink so much. -‘You are a wonderful woman!’ He gently brushed some golden strands of hair from her face and closed the three top buttons of her blouse. As he stood up he saw himself in a mirror - no shirt and a huge lipstick spot all over his mouth. He felt pathetic and ran to get dressed while wiping his mouth with his fingers. When he got back to see how she was, Maxwell and Sarah had just returned to the house.

-"What happened?" Both asked while watching C.C. sleep on the sofa.

-"She will be all right. It seems that she had too much to drink and felt dizzy. She was talking to me when she suddenly fainted. I laid her there."

-"Sarah, is she okay?" Maxwell asked in concern. -"Shouldn’t we call a doctor?"

-"No, I’m sure she’s fine darling. I think she just got so excited or nervous about this "job thing" that she had more than a couple of drinks when you came to see me. It’s typical. She does that from time to time, but believe me, she will be a great help for us."

-"If you say so. I’m not so sure about that anymore." He said suspiciously. -"I turn my back for half an hour and I come home to find the woman completely inebriated?"

-"Trust me sweetheart, she-…"

-"If you’ll excuse me, I have to take a shower."

-"Certainly." Maxwell said following the man with his eyes and trying to understand what exactly happened there.

-"How about our barbecue?" Sarah asked her husband.

-"What? Oh, I don’t know. The man just went to shower. Why didn’t you ask him?" Max said feeling very uncomfortable about that situation.

-"Well, let’s go out and see…" She said looking at C.C.. -"You know Maxwell, I don’t know if you should send Niles to work at your cousin’s reception tomorrow."

-"I didn’t impose, Sweetheart. He chose that way. It’ll be his day off and they’ll pay well. Besides, he’ll be just directing, supervising the buffet, that’s all. Piece of cake for the man."

-"Hmm…" She shrugged. -"As long as he is happy."

Twenty minutes later Winston Whitaker came into the kitchen gathering all the rest of the things he would need for the so acclaimed "barbie." -"Maxwell my bloke, are we ready to start the fire?" He asked as his cousin stepped inside the room.

-"You are the boss, old man. I’m starving and ready to learn whatever you intend to teach me."

-"Oh, you would have loved to taste one of my Carpetbagger Steaks."

-"And what the devil would that be?"

-"It’s a steak stuffed with oysters!"

-"Are you serious?"

-"Sure… Come on, let’s chew the fat outside." Winston walked out the house.

Max had a skeptical face as he gathered a bowl with the meat from over the counter. His butler came in. -"Oh Niles, are you sure you want to work at that party?"

-"Of course, Sir. And even if I weren’t, now would be too late to refuse, don’t you think?"

-"I believe you’re right - as always. What about our own reception? Is everything ready for my cousin?"

-"There was plenty of time to have all things done, Sir."

-"Oh, Niles! I just made a few adjustments on that grill but you did a great job. It’s all ‘Beauty-Beauty.’ Too right!"

-"Thank you, Mr. Whitaker. But if you need anything, you can reach me at this number." The Butler said, handing the man a piece of paper. -"I must leave in a few minutes. I’ll see you all tonight. Have a pleasant day. Oh, I almost forgot! The bread is on the back seat of the car. I'll leave it on the counter outside."

-"Thank you my friend!" Maxwell said, as Niles exited through the kitchen backdoor. -"Winston."

-"Yes?"

-"I must talk to Sarah for a moment. I'll be with you shortly. Could you bring this with you?"

-"Yes. Leave it there. I got to go to the loo first."

Maxwell placed the meat back on the counter and walked to the living room. When he saw Sarah trying to wake C.C. up he uncomfortably headed back to the kitchen.

-"C.C. honey, good morning." Mrs. Sheffield sweetly jested.

-"Mmm?"

-"Come on. It’s a beautiful day out there. What are you doing inside the house?"

-"What?! Oh…what happened?"

-"You tell me "what happened"."

-"Oh, I guess I got a little nervous about the play, the job, my first assignment, and all. I drank a dose or two and…" Her mouth felt very dry. -"Oomph…"

-"A dose or two? You probably drank whatever it was from the neck, Dear." She pointed at the slightly smudged lipstick on her friend’s mouth.

-"Hmm?" C.C. wiped the corners of her mouth. -"No. No, I didn’t. The problem is that I haven’t got my breakfast today." She concealed.

-"You mean you drank on an empty stomach?" Sarah asked handing her a glass with water.

-"Yep. A cup of coffee and a bunch of cobwebs were all I had in here!"

-"You know you shouldn’t."

-"I know mummy." She drank the whole glass in just one gulp. -"I totally forgot, actually. I was so nervous. God, Maxwell must be pissed, isn’t he?"

-"No…but he’s worried."

-"Ladies, would you join us!" Maxwell invited from the backyard.

-"Come on C.C., you need to eat something."

-"Yeah-yeah…" She answered a bit disturbed realizing how she could have possibly ended up there. -‘Well, he must be a perfect gentleman cause he could have taken advantage of the situation, but I’m perfectly all right.’ She thought checking herself out. -‘I hope he won’t say a word, though.’

-"Have you had the chance to meet Winston?" Sarah asked.

-"MEET him?" C.C. asked in a humorous tone.

-"Yes?" Sarah insisted.

-"I-…" She chuckled in a throaty way. -"…I did. Mmhm..." She mumbled, as her thoughts raced miles and miles per second. -‘Gee, how am I gonna face the guy after I kissed him as if he was the last man on Earth?’ She nervously giggled again.

-"What?" Sarah asked not getting C.C.’s insistent little laugh.

-"Nothing." She tried to conceal… -"Some silly thought, dear." This turn with a feigned smile.

As they came out of the house she immediately saw Maxwell talking to a redheaded man who was spreading some pâté on a slice of bread. She imagined that he was probably one of the help. -‘Niles was his name, wasn’t it? Yuck! Short, tubby, and wore sandals with socks.’ She shuddered.

-"A-ha!" Maxwell said as he saw C.C. and Sarah coming towards them. The Blonde appeared to be fine. -"My two beauties! The beauty of this beast…" Pointing at himself. -"..and the sleeping beauty."

The other man turned around and nodded agreeing. -"Ah, yes."

-"I'm sorry!" C.C. said with the same pale smile. -"The truth is that I had a drink with my stomach completely empty. I couldn’t handle it, I’m very embarrassed."

C.C. hit the ceiling with that display of disrespect. First the guy called her "my dear," and they hadn’t even been introduced. Then he stuck his nose in some private matter when that was none of his business. She shot him a glare and darted brusquely. -"You know, you have a pretty forward tongue for a servant."

Sarah laughed. -"C.C., behave yourself. Winston is our guest."

-"WINS-ton?!!" C.C. let out in seeming terror.

-"Winston Whitaker - at your service, my darling."

-"Wins..? So who on Earth was that gorge-…" Her voice high and strangled in her throat; she cleared it and tried again. -"Who was that go-gaw…gawky guy who helped me when I passed out?"

-"Red-blond hair? Over 30?" Maxwell asked.

-"Is this the YMCA and nobody told me?" C.C. asked impatiently. -"I mean, how many men were there out here when I got unplugged?"

Sarah looked at her husband agreeing that his question sounded a little silly. -"That man is our butler and our friend, "C." His name is Niles."

-"A BU-t-ler?!" C.C. asked sounding quite upset.

-"Well, he’s a handyman, a factotum; if you will. But he was hired as a butler." Maxwell supplied in a snob tone.

-‘Did I just waste my time with a servant?’ She thought fighting for self-control. -‘I can’t believe I got involved with a bootlicker! A delicious bootlicker but still… Damn, he’s gonna pay me!’

-"Are you all right?" Sarah asked.

-"Yes, yes. Fine…Fine…I just got confused." Beat. -"Mister Whitaker, please forgive me. This was a horrible misunderstanding."

-"No, I hope you can forgive me. I shouldn’t have talked to you the way I did. I was very indelicate. I just woke up from a long nap but I don’t think it was enough. You know, jet lag!"

C.C. was still angry, very angry. -‘So that’s it. The real Winston was asleep. Then the man I met here was the butler!’  She thought and got even angrier. -‘What was that son of a %@*~<@ thinking? How could he even fancy kissing me?! Okay, it was the best kiss I ever had but who the hell does he think I am? Who the hell does he think he is?’ She sighed. -"Where is he?" She let slip.

-"Who?" Sarah asked.

-"Red-blond hair, over 30?!" C.C. let out mockingly.

Maxwell just looked at Sarah feeling revenged.

-"Mmm…" Sarah stuck her tongue out at him. Then she added smilingly. -"He had to leave us for a few hours, dear. Why?"

-"Oh, nothing." C.C. said easing her tone. -"I just wanted to thank him."

-"Well, he’ll be back later tonight." Maxwell said. -"But you will have plenty of time."

-‘To wring his neck!’ She furiously added in her thoughts.

However, those ideas would have to wait for she had other things to concentrate on at that moment - for instance - how to get the real Winston Whitaker to invest in their project. Later that day C.C. Babcock proved she was perfect for the job. She made her debut as a Broadway producer with a four-zero check in her purse.

During that day Niles set his skills on automatic because his brain and heart were someplace else in the universe. Later, he decided to avoid Max and Sarah knowing that they would both very likely pounce on him to hear about whatever had happened that morning.

He got home very late and went to bed without a word. But he was so uncomfortable with the consequences of that kiss that he just couldn’t get any sleep. He wanted to watch TV or listen to his stereo but he was afraid that the noise could mean that he was up and open to give any kind of explanation; so he kept there in the dark. No TV, no music, no books, nothing; he just lay there. He was very tired but couldn’t close his eyes either. Every time he tried that, a beautiful blonde-headed face would come and haunt him.

-"She is so perfect!" He said in a low voice, around three in the morning when he finally could get some rest. However, if he only knew what the future had on hold for him for the next 20 years, he would surely pray not to ever have to open his eyes again…

C.C. went home convinced that when the Butler mentioned that he had heard of her, he probably knew already that she was a wealthy woman. For that reason, she got stuck with the idea that what he wanted from her was perhaps the same thing she wanted from him – as long as he was the real Mr. Whitaker; seduce her and "carry the whole package."

She arrived at her place and started drinking again, but solitude and alcohol have never been wise counselors. The truth was, Niles didn’t know anything about her social status. All he knew was that he was madly attracted to her. What Miss Babcock was doing was trying to dig every possible bad thread about the man so she could hate him more and more. By contrast, his only mistake was to ignore that in spite of being a young, working woman, she was also a very rich prima donna that would never accept to be kissed unless the guy had more than a seven-digit bank account; period. Men and women around the world would give an arm and a leg to live a moment like that, or at least, to find a perfect match that quickly, but she, she would make him regret it till the end of his days.

…Or would she?

-"Damn, why did he have to be so mean pretending to be somebody he wasn’t?" She said swallowing a weep. That was her last thought before she also fell asleep that night.

Niles woke up very early that morning and left before his bosses had the chance to ask him anything. He had no idea that neither of them was that concerned about C.C.’s episode anymore. All he knew was that if he could last that day without saying a word about it, all the wedding events would erase that memory and in a few days the whole thing would be forgotten.

C.C. woke up around ten o’clock. Her eyes were swollen. She had been drinking and she had been crying… She’d been drunk sometimes, after all, with the family she had it was hard to face life all sober, but in the past hours she just outdid herself. Her exercising on hating Niles was paying off. She wanted to torture the man! Throw poisoned darts on his forehead; put bamboo sticks under his nails, or why not, two for the price of one. She just simply despised him.

-"Okay, so, I’ll begin working for Maxwell tomorrow. I need to straighten things out today." She said pacing in her kitchen from side to side like a caged animal. -"That bellboy needs to know who C.C. Babcock is! Third-class servant! I got to see him today!" She considered for a moment. -"But how, darn it? How?"

C.C. recalled that Niles would be working at that wedding reception she heard a million times of when at the barbecue. But she hadn’t been invited. -"I think the ceremony is at two. I’ll have until then to find out "how." That’s the only chance I got."

Later that day...

-"Darling, Winston and I got ready about half an hour ago. Would you hurry?" Maxwell said to their bedroom door when it finally opened.

-"Men! You just put some cloth around your body and you look wonderful. We have to suffer hours and hours and there’s no guaranty." She said playfully, turning around so that Max could have a peek at the "whole production."

-"Sweetheart, you are astonishing!"

-"Well, thank you. You’re not bad yourself." Sarah praised tightening his tie and giving him a peck on the lips.

The phone rang.

-"Winston, would you answer that, please?" Max said loudly.

-"Certainly!" His cousin walked to the phone in the hallway. -"Sheffield’s residence. Oh, g-day  C.C…No-no, they’re still here but we were just leaving…A copy of what? Oh, the new play? Okay…Do you know where the bash will take place? Yes, the reception. What is that…? No, I don’t know about that exactly, just a moment… Maxwell?!"

-"Yes?"

-"C.C. has nothing to do this afternoon and says she wants to read your whole new play. She asks if you have a copy and if she can have it. She’ll bring it back tomorrow."

-"I do, but we are leaving."

-"I told her that. She wants to know if by any chance she could meet us at the reception, and if so, what time then?"

-"Huh…I rather talk to her." Mr. Sheffield said grabbing the phone. -"C.C.? Yes, it’s Max…Sure, I have a copy. No, it’s a great idea… I would say about one and a half-hour from now. Yes, the wedding will be over and we’ll be celebrating. Do you know the address? Precisely… What? No, no problem. They won’t mind if you drop by. See you then."

The wedding was very glamorous. The guests left the church heading to the reception as soon as the ceremony ended. C.C. hated weddings but her plans would be worth the price. She got there two hours after she called Max on the phone. The reception was very alive. They had a fabulous band and she had to admit that Niles had done an amazing job with the buffet. She couldn’t see him around but she spotted her friends sitting at a table by the dance floor.

Sarah saw her first. -"Look, I told you Max, she’s very serious about her work."

-"Stop it! You’ll make me blush. How is everyone?" The Blonde asked with a grin.

-"Bonzer, now that I’ll have a dance partner for this bash!" Said Winston.

-"I’m sorry, but I can’t stay. I just came to pick up the play." C.C. said scanning the room for somebody else.

-"I understand, but one single dance won’t kill." Winston protested gently. -"Besides, my donation to your play was considerably generous and I’ll be flying home tomorrow. I won’t have another chance to charge you that so soon."

-"Come on C.C., his check is not clear yet." Max jested.

-"Maxwell, you beast!" The Blonde said with a laugh as Winston dragged her to the dance floor by one arm.

The next minutes were torture. The man was a farmer, living in the most remote part of Australia for most of his life. He probably got his dancing lessons from a family of aborigines or from some kangaroo passing by for he kept treading on her toes without even noticing it.

She cursed inwardly as her eyes suddenly traveled to the other side of the room. -‘God, how can a man with that body be even sexier with his clothes on.’

Niles was dressed in a very elegant tuxedo displaying a gorgeous smile on his lips. He was talking to a beautiful young lady and C.C. felt uneasy. There was nothing between them, she could tell, but she couldn’t help but feel unconsciously jealous of the woman.

He excused himself and walked away not aware that he was going towards where she and Winston were dancing. When he saw her he stopped dead in his tracks and their eyes met like two magnets for a short second. The Blonde then studied his carriage, his poise, the way he stood, and the way he held his head high; she had to admit that regardless of his status Niles read breeding.

Winston conversely was so high on booze that he never fully grasped what was going on.

C.C.’s face frowned in pain and the Butler smiled at the scene. She looked like a goddess, but her face seemed that of a scared animal offered in sacrifice. He understood her desperation and came to her aid. -"Mister Whitaker?"

-"Yes, bloke?" Winston stopped.

C.C. couldn’t take her eyes off Niles’ face.

-"As you know this young lady will start working for my boss tomorrow and we didn’t have the chance to get acquainted yet. Would you be so kind to let me dance with her for a minute?"

-"Naturally, son." Winston tried to conceal his own embarrassment with his dancing qualities.

She waited until Winston had walked far enough then darted coldly. -"Who told you I would dance with a servant?"

His eyes turned like two ice cubes. They were of the most beautiful blue shade but she could swear they turned to dark gray. He glared at her in such a way that she shivered. She tried to be mad at him but instead she felt completely dominated. -"I-I-…I’m sorry." She stuttered. -"I didn’t mean it, honestly. I-…" She paused, lifted her eyes then dropped them again. -"Of course I want to dance with you." She said avoiding his gaze afraid that he could just turn on his heels and walk away.

He stood there watching her face for a second and then compelled taking her within his arms, his face against hers. Her heart started racing like it had never before and that somehow frightened her. How could a man stimulate all her five senses so easily? The sight of him, the smell of him, his voice… He was silent however; distant… His right hand traveled downward and lightly touched the small of her back with no intent but she shivered anyway. He was definitely very appealing to all her senses - if at least she could feel his taste one more time. Her mind filled with everything about his presence; the warmth of his skin so close to hers. She closed her eyes to remember that moment forever but when she opened them again she caught Sarah smiling at her briefly; that somehow broke the spell. She took a firm grip on her errant thoughts and felt angry with herself. She went there to shatter his head in a thousand pieces but instead found herself praying for that dance to be part of a never-ending story…

Which ultimately ended…

When the music was over he kissed her hand slightly. Avoiding her gaze he simply added. -"Thank you." Then walked away not caring to look back.

-‘Oh God, I hurt him so badly.’ She thought making a lunge and trying to stop him by reaching for his elbow.

He turned back and looked deeply into her eyes in a mixture of sadness and loathing. -"Let me go, mademoiselle."

She didn’t know what to think and let his arm go in reaction to his cold tone. As he walked away she rushed back to the Sheffield’s table, perplexed.

Not realizing exactly what had just happened there Sarah enquired in a funny tone. -"I see you met Niles again, huh?"

-"Yeah. I could finally thank him." She followed him with her eyes as he stopped by the same lady he was talking to earlier. The orchestra resumed and he took her for a dance.

-"Who is that lovely young lady he is dancing with?" She could barely disguise her suspicion.

-"Oh, she’s our cousin Susan. She’s the groom’s sister. She got very attached to Niles these past few days because they worked very hard together to get this reception going."

-"Oh…" She added dispiritedly. Her anti-rejection mechanism restarted.

-"That is her other brother." Sarah supplied as another man then approached the couple and asked to cut in. Niles left them with a smile exiting through the kitchen door.

That was her clue to meet him and get all what she had to say out of her system. -"I have to go now. I wasn’t invited to this party and I’m feeling very uncomfortable."

-"Nonsense." Max and Sarah said in unison.

-"No, I mean it. I’ll see you two tomorrow morning, okay?"

-"Enjoy the play." Maxwell said handing it to her.

-"Oh, of course! The play." C.C. giggled.

-"I hope you like it dear." Sarah said.

-"I’m sure I will…" Then to Winston. -"Mister Whitaker…"

He stood up.

-"It was a pleasure meeting you and most of all doing business with you."

-"My pleasure, my dear. Don’t let me down, though!"

-"You won’t regret it." She smiled. -"Now, I hope you have a pleasant trip back to Oz."

-"By the way, come to visit me sometime. I would love to have you there, you know, ‘down under’." He added in an almost shameful way.

Sarah and Maxwell shot a look at each other knowing that Winston had drunk more than he should have.

-"Good oil!" C.C. let out in a cute, mocking way. -"Oh, I forgot to say one more thing to Niles." She looked around pretending not to know where he was.

-"He might be in the kitchen." Maxwell pointed to the door.

-"Right...Okay… Good-bye everyone."

They all bade adieu.

Five, six steps ahead the Blonde added. -"Yeah-yeah, like I’d ever get ‘down under’ with that bloody-no-hoper-dill-dag!" Then she disappeared through the same door that Niles had used.

It was as if she found herself in a parallel universe. People talking loudly, food, wok pans, and things all over the place. But even though the room was a mess-confusion, everything seemed to work perfectly. Niles had to be a hell of a leader, otherwise evident signs of conflict would start showing, blood and bullet holes on the walls for instance; too many people to coordinate.

Not able to spot him anywhere, C.C. approached a cook who was coming toward her with a large bowl of crab salad. She smiled for the man was a dead ringer for James Coco.

-"Yummy, is it all for me?" She jested.

The man laughed friendly. -"Can I help you?"

Nodding. -"Yes, please. Where can I find Niles?"

-"Oh, in the cellar. It’s right there in the back." The man pointed with his chin.

-"Okay. Thank you." C.C. opened her eyes wide and frowned as the man exited the kitchen through the same door she had just walked in. -"Does Jim Coco have a twin brother?" She shook her head and walked along a hallway. At the end of it she found Niles opening boxes of very expensive scotch bottles.

He had his back to her. -‘Oh God, look at the size of those shoulders.’ She checked his masculine figure then said as breezily as possible. -"So there you are!"

He rolled his eyes recognizing her voice. -"What do you want?" He asked nonchalantly not caring to turn around.

-"What do I want? Nobody leaves C.C. Babcock on a dance floor like that!" She said in a dismissive tone to put him back in his place.

-"I thought when I said, "let me go," it implied the idea "and don’t come after me"." He let out dryly.

-"Ever?" She asked.

He sighed loudly. -"Lady, as you stated very well, ‘I am a servant,’ aren’t I? So not when I’m not on duty."

-"But you are." She said deadpan.

-"Not at your service."

She was all tangled up in her efforts to make him feel miserable. -"Again, who do you think you are simply walking away from me the way you did? Worse yet, what did you have in your sick twisted mind when you did what you did in that back yard?" She avoided the words "kiss me."

He knew what would happen if he turned around and faced her, just the idea of having her that near made him gasp for some air to clear his mind.

-"I asked you something."

He sensed this was a power game for her. He could feel her eyes staring at him, waiting.

Fighting for self-control. -"Forget about my miserable existence, will you?"

-"I was drunk and you took advantage of that. You were dying to nail a defenseless but very rich little victim, weren’t you?"

-"The fact that you were drunk and I didn’t push you away is a fact that I’m going to regret for the rest of my life. If you want me to apologize again, because I tried to do that that day but you didn’t let me, okay then. How about this? I’m sorry! I-AM-BLOODY-SORRY! Now, don’t push it! Don’t make it worse."

-"You were flippant; vulgar!"

-"It takes one to know another. But I’m used to dealing with flirtatious women." He mumbled clear enough for her to hear.

-"EXCUSE me?"

-"You are excused. Now, leave please." He ignored her tone.

-"Listen, you look here!" She raised her voice and approached threateningly.

-"No, you look!" He finally turned around and faced her with a hateful glare. -"About you being wealthy and the fact that I intended to "nail" you? Don’t be ridiculous!" His eyes were like two razor blades. -"You took the risk, you jumped, your parachute didn’t open then you fell right over my head; BULL’S EYE! You were the one playing with matches. I just happened to be the other kid passing by who also got his fingers burned. But I wasn’t the one to strike them; you were! Is that picture focused enough?"

Defensively. -"I-…?"

-"Yes, you! Who on Earth, Pluto or Mars whispered in my ear "I want you..." and just 30 seconds later she fainted because she probably had consumed more booze than I have in this entire room, huh?" The sound of his voice going up with each accusation.

She felt cheap and she felt weak. She was the one who always had the last word. Every time any opponent tried to debate with her she would have the poor thing dropped on the knees, but now…Now she had found a tough one.

-"What do you want from me, seriously, Miss Babcock? To know exactly why I kissed you or to find out if it was as great for me as it seems to have been for you?"

She blinked nervously.

He looked with amusement into the eyes of the woman who only moments ago had been in control but was now doing anything to avoid his eyes. -"All I knew about you was that you were a Sheffield’s personal friend who became their employee. I had no idea you had money. Besides, I don’t know if you know but you don’t wear a sign on your forehead: "servants beware"!" He sighed loudly. -"I’m terribly sorry but when I bought my crystal ball they didn’t say the batteries were not included, I repeat, I had no clue you were rich!"

She was speechless.

-"Listen, I’m fed up with this conversation. If you’ll excu-..." He was interrupted by James Coco’s lookalike who walked in.

-"I’m sorry to bother, Niles."

-"It’s okay, Gino. What is it?"

-"Er, we ran out of squid."

-"Come with me…" To C.C. -"If you’ll excuse me." He left her standing alone with her thoughts.

The man followed the Butler to the freezer and she waited. She saw him giving two small Styrofoam boxes to Gino. When the cook came out she walked right in.

The Butler groaned. -"What are you a hound dog? Now what?"

She was just wearing a fancy summer dress and felt a cold chill. -"Listen here, I didn’t finish yet! I-..."

-"Oh yes, you did." He grabbed her by an arm.

-"No, I di-i-idn’t.." She fought his grasp.

-"You did." He said dryly between his teeth as he released her suddenly.

She looked at him in bewildered fury.

He for a second feared she could cause a bigger scene. -"Listen once and for all. I’m usually very much in charge of my emotions and I take great pride in that." He toned down. -"But for the first time in my life, my reason didn’t work. If I kissed you that way it’s because you drove me out of my mind! I kissed you because I wanted you, I desired you-YOU, not your bloody money!"

-"I don’t believe you."

-"Suit yourself. You may believe in whatever you want. All I can say is, if I knew you were rich, how-could-I-possibly-imagine-that-a-woman-like-you-would-become-one-of-my-bosses’-mere-assistants?"

-"Because you should know that despite being rich there are plenty of people who will still work… because-they-like!" She mocked his tone.

-"Well, that is finally a good point!" Niles agreed throwing up his hands and praising sarcastically. -"Hallelujah!"

-"And here is another one. Despite the fact that there are lots of honest people out there-…"

-"Hmm?" He waited with a sardonic smile.

-"There are also plenty of men who will do anything, including trying to seduce rich women, for a couple of bucks." She said sternly.

He narrowed his eyes at her, his patience at his lowest ebb.

-"By the way I think I better tell Maxwell to take better care of his wif-..."

That was enough to bring the Neanderthal from the depths of his guts. He grabbed her by both arms and pinned her against some boxes that were hiding in the back of the freezer. -"Don’t you ever repeat…better yet…don’t you ever think that again! Never, ever again! Do you get me?"

-"Yes." She mumbled and wrinkled her forehead feeling scared to death with his sudden outburst.

-"It seems to happen with you, only with you, for Pete’s sake! In 32 years of existence I was never rude to a woman, and it had to happen with you, damned! But listen very carefully, because if you ever repeat what you just insinuated here, you’ll have to explain to people why you became toothless at such a tender age! And "seduce" people?" What do you call what you were doing to me?"

-"Wha-…?"

-"Du-h, you thought I didn’t know? You were trying to seduce me because you thought I was Winston Whitaker, didn’t you? You didn’t want me, nor the real Whitaker. You just wanted an investor for your play!"

-"I-…"

-"How do you think I feel, huh? It’s an opposite situation, but it hurts the same way. I apologized and I shouldn’t. YOU came over me. You didn’t let me say a word. Good God in Heaven, I have a five-letter name and I couldn’t pronounce it because you were there blabbering and blabbering! You want to blame me? You were the one who wanted money not me! You premeditatedly tried to seduce somebody rich, not me, remember?!"

-"Seduce? P-lease, the man is a moron! He’s so stupid that Cheerios to him are doughnut’s seeds. I wouldn’t have the stomach to seduce him for any fortune in the world."

At that moment his face relaxed in a smirk. -"Maybe not, but it wasn’t exactly him whom you had in mind, was it?"

She silently grimaced.

He noticed that he was hurting her and released her arms.

She rubbed her wrists easing the pain. She felt his eyes burn on her and at least one spot between her shoulder blades tingled. Something was happening inside of her. A little boiling area around her stomach was hot and jumpy. ‘What was that?’ She thought. He was the most insufferable infuriating creature and yet the boiling was spreading to her chest and was beginning to make breathing difficult.

He couldn’t take his eyes from hers and for a few seconds he just stood before her; transfixed. Her hair smelled so good. -‘Oh no, it’s happening again.’ He thought and decided to go on with the discussion for their own sake. They were completely alone in that corner and anything could happen. Turning his gaze away from hers he darted. -"Listen, brunette the thing is-…"

-"Hey-hey-hey! What do you mean by that?"

-"Oh, you mean...you are a natural blonde?"

-"You bet your socks I am, Mister Red-lead!"

-"Are you sure?"

-"VERY sure." She answered with a sarcastic throaty laugh.

That was a thing he would love to use against her for the rest of their lives. He came very sensually over her again. -"Okay then, let’s try this…" He started blowing very softly in her ear.

Her heart almost jumped out of her mouth. -"What is this? Are you trying to turn me on?"

-"No…" He smirked again. -"I'm trying to change your mind."

-"Oh, you men love those blonde jokes, don’t you? So, what am I supposed to say now, "thanks for the refill"?"

He laughed wondering how she could change her mood so fast; she was intriguing.

She interpreted his laugh as a mock. -"Yes, you men are always so self-centered. You think every human being that wears a skirt should end up in bed with you, don’t you? Be careful, you may wake up someday with an awful bagpipe tune in your ears." She laughed indecorously.

-"Ooo…shame on you! Hey, I’m not the one who probably failed a dozen driving tests before she realized that when the car stopped she wasn’t supposed to hop in the back seat!"

That did it! In a reflex, she drove her hand directly to his face. He blocked it grabbing her fist inches from his cheek. She used so much strength that he thanked God for being left-handed.

-"You are disgusting!" She was fuming.

-"And you, childish! The body of a perfectly well-bread woman with a twelve-year-old brain!" He let her hand go and returned inches to her face. -"How old are you, 18-19?"

That was the first time she confessed her age spontaneously to a man, but just so she wouldn’t seem like a baby. -"Twenty-one." She answered in a grave voice almost holding her breath.

-"Okay, Miss 21, why don’t you go out and play with someone more your age?"

At that point she couldn’t resist his warm breath and that deep sexy tone and darted without hesitation. -"I always preferred older men." Suddenly realizing she had been in a sub-zero for several minutes and she wasn’t feeling cold; on the contrary. That boiling sensation had all of a sudden churned her whole body. She had never felt that way before. It was frightening again but then that danger was the most pleasant thing she ever tasted. She sighed disturbed; there was such a yearning in his look.

His mouth came on hers hungrily. Her lips opened as their kiss deepened in a senseless stage. C.C. shivered but of pleasure and desire. Sight, smell, hearing, touch…and finally…taste again.

Her body was getting filled more and more with those wonderful stimuli, and she was almost afraid to open her eyes and see him merely joking. But when she eventually did, the eyes she met were full of a serious darkness, full of urgency, full of desire.

She closed her eyes again. His eyes triggered in her thousands of questions of whether that was right or not. Those doubts began to block her incredible sensations. Thoughts such as, now that her job was finally guaranteed her parents would have a chance to be proud of her. She couldn’t spoil the whole thing by dating a butler. What if the relationship became serious? What if he later would dump her? She shuffled a full deck of "what if" cards as she desperately tried to catch on to the last remaining grain of sanity that was left in either of them. Collecting all the strength she could, she grabbed the lapels of his tuxedo and pushed him away. -"No!" She managed to say in a weak voice. Totally out of breath she leaned her head against his chest not daring to look in his eyes.

He sighed loudly in frustration. -"I’m sorry. But woman, you are a devilish witch who has an evil demon following you around. Every time I get this near you, he possesses my soul."

Her eyes looked for his again; this was one game she was losing really badly. They stared at each other as if waiting for his or her next move.

-"To hell with my parents." She whispered.

His hand slid to the back of her neck slowly, turned her head so it was slanted to his…then waited, teasingly.

-"Please." She muttered.

He kissed her again, this turn gently but at the same time inquiringly, probingly…as if measuring how far he could go.

C.C. managed to retain her sanity as long as she could but ended up flinging her hands about his face and losing her mind in his kiss. She opened her mouth under his again and this time she gave herself to him. He responded as he meant to devour her. She felt his heat, his kisses were like something she had never experienced before, so gentle, so safe and yet full of fire and intent. He knew exactly how to kiss her, where to touch her to make her ache for him.

-"Niles." She said as he pulled away from her mouth and his lips descended onto her neck.

-"Yes, Witch?" He moaned.

-"I’m dying to make love to you but not here. Let’s go someplace else." She mumbled under her breath.

-"Are you sure?" Never letting her neck go.

-"Yes, this place gives me the creeps."

-"I mean, about going to bed with me."

-"Well, who said it had to be on a be-..."

He shut her mouth with another passionate kiss.

When they finally found a way to stop, Niles took her hand in his and they both came walking toward the door when he stopped abruptly; he was petrified.

-"What?" C.C. asked. -"Oh my G-d!"

-"This place is huge. I guess the one who closed that door didn’t see or hear anything."

-"Niles, what are we gonna do?"

-"I don’t know."

Mimicking him. -"What do you mean, "you don’t know"?" Looking at the door. -"Let’s call for help."

-"Pff, right. Have you seen the size of that corridor? Have you heard the noise in that kitchen?"

-"We’re dead." She sat down.

-"Besides, the reception is almost over. I believe nobody is coming back here today."

-"Not even that James "Cook," what’s his name…Dino?"

-"He may look like a dinosaur but the name is Gino…No, not even him."

C.C. started shivering at that moment. Niles gave her his tuxedo jacket. -"Here, put this on." Then he walked to the door, trying to open it from the inside. It had a knob in it but he knew there was a lock on the outside. -"It’s useless." He rubbed his arms. -"They have orders to keep this place locked."

-"Whose orders?" C.C. asked.

-"Mine."

-"It figures."

-"Don’t start with me, Babcock. Would you let me think?"

She was very cold in that dress, and the jacket wasn’t helping much. She started shaking incessantly. Niles noticing that came to her rescue. -"Oh my, you’re freezing!"

-"I’m okay." She pushed his arms away.

-"The hell you are." He lifted her and sat her on his lap, wrapping her as much as he could with his jacket and arms.

-"I’m scared Niles." Her eyes were distant.

-"I know, baby."

-"And even though I could get used to having you holding me like this, right now I’m not feeling well."

-"Hang in there, okay?" Cradling her he looked around for some way to get them both out of that mess.

-"What a-re we goin-to do?" Her voice was very tremulous.

Trying to make her relax he jested. -"Well, we could still do what we intended to do before we found out we were trapped in here. There is plenty of privacy and that should keep us warm."

-"That’s not fun!" Her voice came back strongly.

-"I hardly can find anything else in this world that could be more fun."

-"Jeepers, I don’t know if I’m supposed to be flattered or mad to my bones with your attitude!"

Smiling he asked in a low tone. -"Why?"

-"WHY?! We’re dying in here and you want to have sex with me?"

-"What a way to go!"

-"STOP it!" She sounded peeved.

He lifted her again and dropped her on a corrugated cardboard box.

-"Ouch, you-you…Troglodyte!"

-"Don’t you ever relax, woman? I was just teasing you. What do you expect from me, to turn green and kick that door down? That is stainless steel!"

-"Judging by the way you treat women, I would say green is definitely your color - Hulk Butler."

-"Don’t you mean, "Hunk Butler"?" He rascal smiled.

-"Blame it on the semantics."

-"For having a Lois Lane like you glued to my butt I should be called another name, you know that?"

-"Yeah, Super Goofy."

He groaned.

-"And be aware, Mister, men never complained about having me around."

-"Sure. What a hell of a body guard you must be."

-"Look, I could have been many other guys’ girlfriend, wife, and their children’s mother but I turned several down so far. I wanted to have a career first."

-"Good for you! I really mean it. But if you continue treating men the way you do, you’ll probably be taking care of your career for much longer than you expect."

-"Big deal." Trying to change his mind she kicked back in a very sexy voice. -"And you, what about you? Wouldn’t you like to marry a girl like me and then start a family?"

He didn’t quite notice but she bet all her chips on that one. He was distant, still looking for a way out there. All he wanted was to stop that discussion that in that moment wouldn’t get them anywhere. -"Lady, your eggs would dry before I ever thought about having kids with you."

He had his back to her and didn’t see when immediately a tear came down her face. She got so desperately frustrated with that remark that no answer occurred to her. She simply wiped the tear with the sleeve of his tuxedo and swallowed the whole thing quietly.

He didn’t mean a word he said, but he was so nervous and so mad about their situation that he just answered the first thing that came to his head, as long as that would quiet her down a little. God knows if he had the inkling that she was talking seriously, he would probably break that door down with a single punch, have a second round on that wedding celebration, and would start his own baseball team with her, right then and there! But instead, he used those words…Words that would haunt her mind and soul for yet many years. He didn’t know but she started "hating" every one else’s kids from that day on.

He regretted those words right after he said them but he didn’t want to start an argument all over again by apologizing and giving her the chance to put him down. Avoiding her eyes he tried everything for a couple of minutes. He called for help, to break the door down, or to look for a place that could lead to the central control of that thing so he could induce a short circuit, but no luck. Hopeless, tired and cold he decided to apologize then. He came closer to her and noticed that her lips were cyanotic. She also seemed to have lost her consciousness for her eyes were open, but it was as if she wasn’t there. -"Miss Babcock? Miss BABCOCK, talk to me!"

No response…

-"C.C., talk to me, please. I’m sorry. I didn’t want to say that to you. Come back." He shook her very strongly. -"C.C., I don’t want to lose you! Come on! Fight!"

No response…

He shook her, shouted at her, and slapped her.

No response…

So far, nobody seemed to notice they were missing. They were really dying in there. He was drowning in guilt and very close to desperation as those last two days crossed in front of his eyes. -"No!" He went on…-"You’re a very immature creature, it’s true, but I want you! We’re meant to be together. Forget what I said. I want to marry you…and-and have kids with you C.C.! Come on, snap out of it, BRUNETTE!"

No response…

He began to laugh nervously. His eyes glistened. -"C.C., don’t do this to me! Don’t leave me." He said with his lips on hers. -"Oh God, she’s as cold as marble!" He hugged her tightly. By doing so, he felt something on her back. It was some object that was in the pocket of his jacket. He stuck his hand in it and found his lighter. He didn’t smoke but always carried one around to light candles or everyone else’s cigars and cigarettes.

-"Would it work?" He asked himself then desperately started looking around for the alarm pipes. There were two rubber cables passing above him. He quickly took two boxes and piled one over the other but found it too dangerous to burn those things directly. If C.C. still had a chance he could kill her with the smoke. He reached for an empty bottle that was left there, broke a piece of the glass, and peeled the cables with it. Copper tubes appeared on the inside. He breathed a prayer to Lady Luck that they could be part of the fire alarm, or some alarm related to the temperature of the freezer. -‘It’s a toss up.’ He thought. -"Which one?" He let out loud then decided to direct the flame on both tubes. -"Come on...Come on…COME ON!"

It took five minutes for the whole security crew to come to their rescue. The kitchen personnel watched everything in total amazement. Niles was right, the reception was about over. Even Max and Sarah were gone. They decided it would be best if they drove Winston home before they had to carry him.

-"Call an ambulance!" Niles shouted. -"This woman is suffering from a very serious hypothermia." He grabbed some tablecloths that were lying around the corridor, wrapped C.C. in them, and carried her to the kitchen where it was still warm. -"Come on, my love. We’ll be fine now." He whispered in her ear.

Gino approached them in awe. -"Niles?"

-"What?"

-"I-I-I…" He hesitated.

-"What do you want Gino?" Niles asked, insistently rubbing at C.C.’s cheeks.

-"I didn’t know you were still in there." The man said pale as a sheet of paper.

-"You should have called to be certain, Gino."

-"I’m sorry. I-…"

-"Look, forget it, okay? Who in their perfect mind would stay in there for so long anyway? I understand. Now start praying for this poor thing here. Come on C.C.!" He swallowed hard. -"Did anybody call a doctor?!!"

Monday morning at the hospital.

Niles wanted to be there with C.C. but the Sheffields thought it would be best if they stayed with her while Niles would drive Winston to the airport.

-"Did she wake up yet?" Niles asked Sarah first thing when he found them in the hallway.

-"No. She seems to be perfectly all right except for…her state of shock." Max supplied hesitantly. -"How about my cousin?"

-"Quantas - 8:30 - special delivery." Niles rubbed at his temples tiredly.

-"Very good, old man. Thanks. Now tell me. What the devil were you doing with C.C. in that freezer?"

-"Sir, that woman just doesn’t seem to play with a full deck. First she didn’t stop thanking me about that incident with those drinks…"

-"MmHm?" Sarah and Max in unison.

-"…But then, I guess somehow she was offended by something I said. So she followed me to that freezer and somebody locked us there." The Butler added with a sheepish smile.

-"Hmm?!" Maxwell frowned.

-"What did you say that could possibly offend her?" Sarah asked skeptically.

-"Beats me." Niles answered coyly. -"Now, if you’ll excuse me. I’ll see how she’s doing." The Butler pointed to the Blonde’s door.

-"And we’ll have some breakfast in the cafeteria." Sarah pointed downstairs.

-"Oh, by the way, I’m sorry about your breakfast today."

-"No, Niles, you did us a major favor driving Winston." Max supported.

-"And I don’t know how to ever thank you for saving my best friend’s life." Sarah kissed the Butler on the cheek.

Niles bitter smiled as he watched the couple entering the elevator. Then he closed his eyes for a second, breathed deeply, and summoned up some strength to see C.C. still drowned in that horrible state.

He found her catatonic. Her eyes were open but blank. He approached the bed with a very sad semblance. -"Oh God, bring her back to me." He said loudly then prayed in silence for a long minute. But he couldn’t stand seeing her that way. His throat tightened. He caressed her cheek with his knuckles and headed out slowly.

-"Niles?" He heard it almost inaudible when he touched the doorknob; he turned around incredulously.

She was coming out of an almost 24-hour trance blinking and moistening her lips with her tongue.

He grinned. -"You are back! Good Lord in Heaven, you are back! How are you feeling?"

-"You owe me BIG!" Her voice stronger.

-"What?"

-"We’ll be working in the same house but you’ll owe me real big!"

-"I owe you?" He was so happy to see her back that he didn’t care for a moment if she was sounding completely ungrateful.

She knew it wasn’t his fault, on the contrary, if she was still alive it had to mean "thanks to him." Nevertheless, the accusations just made her feel better. -"You almost got me killed in there."

-"Is that so?" Niles at that moment made up his mind. He had learned to love the angry C.C.. He actually preferred that side to the vulnerable girl she had been when he was holding her in the freezer. Bossy, controlling Babcock was far sexier. But he was fed up with being insulted. He would fight for her in his own way, with his own tools, and by his own rules.

-"Yes, it is so." She insisted after a long silence.

-"You, damn stubborn mule! You were the one coming after me in the first place! You almost got us both killed!"

-"I don’t care what you say. I don’t care what other people say. I don’t care what Jesus H. Christ says. You, you low class butler, will pay me! You were rude and from now on you and I are enemies."

He gaped at her. -"Enemies?" Then his flat cheeks ballooned out and he put his hand over his mouth and let out the hardest laughter.

-"Shut up!"

-"Oh, brother!" He let out finding her attitude annoying but fascinating at the same time. -‘I will have plenty of time to understand how this beautiful blonde head works.’ He thought unable to stop laughing.

That made her hit the ceiling. -"I said SHUT UP, you son of a-…" In a flash he reached out and covered her mouth.

-"No, YOU shut up!" He leaned on the bed and came very close to her face keeping his hand over her lips. -"How can a woman your age be so childish, so stubborn, such a pain in the rear? Listen and listen very carefully because I won’t repeat this while I live."

Her beautiful blue eyes stared at his in a mixture of passion and hatred.

-"We could have had a fabulous relationship because we are meant to be together. I don’t know if you love me or not but I know you are attracted to me as madly as I am attracted to you. I’ll be there in that house in the years that are still to come. I don’t know how long a prima donna like you is going to last in that job but while you are there, you’ll meet some men and I’ll go out with other women. But I don’t think it will be the same. Now, don’t bother coming after me tomorrow morning, or next month, or probably next year. Despite the fact that my body is craving for yours I want more. I want a whole woman, mind and heart included. If I wanted a child by my side I could have one with any other woman or adopt. As you stated very well, from now on till the day you finally turn into a human being we’ll be definitely archenemies. I’ll "hate you"…you’ll "hate me" back. Get me?"

Her eyes were moist with tears.

-"No matter what you say - no matter what you do…I can wait one, five, twenty years, eternity, if bloody necessary! Just remember one thing. You belong to me C.C. Babcock…and I belong to you."

Saying that he took his hand from her face and gave her the most passionate kiss since her mouth had met his for the first time. She lost track of time and space. Her arms came slowly around his shoulders. For the first time in her life she knew that what she was feeling was more than joy, was like...love…  Something she thought would never happen to her. She kissed him even more deeply.

Suddenly, Niles regained a sense of who he was - who she was, and the pledges he had just made and with great effort he came back from that trip breaking the kiss. C.C. gasped for air as she realized she had finally found someone she could spar with on equal terms.

-"I hope you liked it." He said nibbling at her lips lightly. -"Because from now on you’ll only have that from me in your dreams or if you knock me drunk you blue-eyed long-legged witch." Then he walked to the door.

She snarled. -"Get out of here, you-you...bellboy!" She tossed her pillow at him but missed.

-"Brunette." He winked at her and exited closing the door behind him.

A blistering mouthful of growls was followed by a horrible metallic noise. With a crooked smile he recognized the sound as probably the bedpan crashing against the door. He looked at heaven and added under his breath. -"Thanks Father for bringing her back to me just the way she was… Just the way I like."

The Sheffields walked out the elevator and also heard the noise. -"For Heaven’s sake, old man, whatever happened there?" Max inquired worriedly.

-"Oh nothing, sir." Niles saw the elevator door close. -"I just had an argument with someone." Deciding to use the stairs rather than waiting for the elevator to return he kept walking. -"See you people at home."

Maxwell unsatisfied with the answer insisted. -"You were coming out of C.C.’s room. Was that argument with her?"

-"No, Sir, with the gorgeous Miss Siberia." Niles supplied without once looking back and then disappeared through the stairway.

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