Part 1
"I am afraid not, Mrs. Abbott." Mamie replied. Brittany's smile faded and she glared.
"Why the h*** not?" Brittany snapped.
"Because I no longer work for you and you....." Mamie started.
"What do you mean you no longer work for me?" Brittany asked dropping her bags by the stairs. She began to remove her jacket and gloves as Mamie spoke again.
"You needn't be removing those Brittany."
"Why?" Brittany asked.
"Because you'll want to wear them when you go out again, and this time you won't be coming back!"
"I don't understand?" Brittany asked with confusion. "What do you mean I won't be coming back?"
"Your bags are packed and waiting for you upstairs in the master bedroom. Please fetch them and then leave." Mamie explained.
"I'll do nothing of the sort!" Brittany gasped. "And why are you talking to me like this? I pay you your pay check!"
"You do nothing of the sort, Billy provides my pay check." Mamie replied calmly. "Let me explain things to you dear. After you left this afternoon, I packed your bags under the instruction of your husband. He told me you would be leaving when you returned and that you wouldn't be returning."
"I don't understand!" Brittany cried. "Why am I leaving?"
"Here," Mamie smiled wryly as she handed Brittany an offical envelope. "This should explain everything." After Brittany excepted the envelope Mamie walked past her and headed halfway up the stairs so she could observe Brittany's reaction to the news. Brittany opened the envelope with shaky hands and pulled out the documents. She unfolded them and began to read the small business like print. Then suddenly what she was reading began to sink in.
"A divorce!" she screeched. "There must be some mistake! I don't... No, this isn't happening! No, no, no!" She suddenly felt very faint as she finished reading the document. It informed her that Billy was well into the process and there was nothing that she could do to stop it. She could obtain a lawyer if she felt she needed one, but it was only going to cost her money that she was soon not going to have. At the bottom it informed her that the only things she was allowed to take were already packed for her and the rest would be taken back to the store, since half of what she bought had never been used or worn. If she took anything but what was packed in her bags, someone would be sent to take it forcefully from her. Anger washed over her again and she rushed to the phone, dialing Billly's office number at Jabot.
"Hello, Billy Abbott's office. How can I help you?" Billy's secretary answered.
"Gwen, this is Mrs. Abbott. I need to speak to Billy immediately."
"I am sorry Mrs. Abbott, but Mr. Abbott has given strict instructions that he's not to be disturbed, most of all by you." Gwen replied politely. Brittany listened to the silence and then slammed the phone down.
"You'll pay for this Billy!" she hissed.
"Excuse me Mrs. Abbott," Mamie suddenly said from behind her. "Here are your things, please remove yourself from this house and its premises."
"I'll do nothing of the...." Brittany began.
"Don't make me call security," Mamie warned walking over to the door and opening it. "A taxi is waiting for you outside." Brittany glared at her and then walked out the door. She turned to say something but the door was slammed in her face. Tears filled her eyes and she quickly shoved her bags at the driver. He loaded them and then slid behind the wheel.
"Jabot please!" Brittany hissed. "And step on it!"As they sped through the gates Brittany glanced back at the estate and thought vengefully, 'This will always be my home, one way or the other!' she smiled smugly.
Billy Abbott sat in his office that same evening wondering how things were at home. He assumed that the bomb had been dropped on his b**** of a wife and he knew he hadn't heard or seen the last of her. 'She'd be here anytime now and she'd come in swinging!' Just then he heard Gwen calling after someone as he stood to greet his visitor. Then the door opened and Brittany entered with Gwen in tow.
"Mr. Abbott said you can't be in here!" Gwen exclaimed angrily.
"It's alright, I'll handle her from here. Thank you, Gwen." She nodded and disappeared outside, closing the door behind her. He sat back down and stared at Brittany's angry face. "What can I do for you?" he asked politely.
"You can start by telling me what the h*** this is about?" she snarled throwing the divorce papers onto the desk in front of him.
He picked them up and glanced at them before saying, "They seem clear enough to me!"
"The h*** they do!" she cried. "What's going on Billy? Why are you doing this?"
"Why, do you really have to ask the question?" he asked smugly. "I am tired of you and your attitude! In general I am tired of you entirely, everything about you!"
"But this makes no sense!" she whined angerily. "We were happy!"
"You mean you were happy," he shot back. "I was never happy! I don't think I ever loved you!"
"Why are you saying this?" she asked. "I know you were happy! I am happy!"
"You may be happy Brittany...." he started. "But not with me. You're happy with the money, the fame, the houses, and the cars. You're not happy with me and I don't think you ever were!"
"That's not true!" she cried. "I love you!"
"No you don't!" he insisted. "Now please leave!"
"You know Billy," Brittany said. "I know why you're doing this!"
"Do you?" he asked looking up at her.
"It's because of her!" Brittany screamed. "It's always been her. You could never settle for second best and that just happened to be me!"
"Brittany," Billy sighed. "You always bring her into this, you bring pain onto yourself. You bring her name up constantly and frankly I am tired of it. I've moved on and put it in the past, you should try it. It does wonders."
"Oh shut up!" she snapped. "You always crack jokes at me, why?"
"I don't know what you're talking about?" he remarked. "Now I'll ask you again, please leave!"
"Fine I'll leave," she hissed. "But believe me, you haven't seen the last of me!" And with that she stormed out of the office slamming the door behind her.
"I was counting on that." he sighed picking up the phone. He dialed the number and waited for someone to answer when they did he asked, "Do you have what I asked for? Great, I'll be expecting it!" He hung up the phone and sat there thinking. He glanced down at his desk drawer and reached to pull it open. He hesitated and then pulled it open picking up a framed picture that had been turned upside down. He looked into those dark eyes and his mind wandered. 'Someday,' he thought before placing it back in the drawer and closing it firmly. 'Someday!'
That evening Billy walked out of Jack's office with a sober look on his face. They had just finished a meeting concerning the recent Glow By Jabot campaign, things weren't looking good. They had lost another webmaster and they were running out of time. He closed the door to Jack's office just as the phone rang. Billy shugged his shoulders and walked to the office down the hall. Jack picked up his phone and listened to his secretary.
"Yes Mary Beth, I'll take the call." He waited a few moments and then heard the voice on the other end. "Hello?" he greeted. "Yes, it has been awhile. Well I have a job proposition for you concerning the Jabot campaign. Yes, my associates should be in touch with you. Are you at all interested? You are? Oh that's fantastic! When can I expect you? The day after tomorrow sounds great! I am looking forward to seeing you again, it's been way too long! Okay then, bye!" Jack hung up the phone and smiled, pleased with himself. This was exactly what he needed, but he wondered how his little brother was going to take it. It didn't matter, they needed this webmaster, and from what he'd heard they were the best in the business. He sighed and picked up the phone dialing his brother's extension. Billy picked up his phone and heard Gwen.
"Yeah put him through."he replied, when she informed him it was Jack calling.
"Hey little brother!" Jack greeted him.
"Do you have more bad news for me?" Billy questioned as he put some papers in his briefcase.
"Well it depends." Jack replied.
"On what?" Billy asked curiously.
"On how you'll take to seeing someone from your past." Jack answered.
"Come on Jack, I don't have time for games!" Billy sighed. "I have to make sure my soon to be ex-wife is out of my house for good and then head to New York on business."
"Well I have good news," Jack said. "I've found a new webmaster."
"Who is he?" Billy asked gratefully. "Do I know him?"
"Actually, he is a woman." Jack answered.
"Oh Jack, you didn't!" Billy warned.
"Didn't what?" Jack asked worriedly.
"You didn't hire Phyllis again did you?" Billy asked. "You know what happened the last time and we don't need that again!
"No I didn't hire that woman, do you think I am crazy? Not after what she pulled with Brittany." Jack answered.
"Well as long as it isn't her, I don't care who it is." Billy insisted. "I trust your judgement Jack and after all, you've been at this longer than I have!"
"But you might mind." Jack insisted.
"Believe me, I won't." he assured him. "I am just glad you found someone on such short notice. What did you do, pull some strings?"
"Not exactly." Jack answered.
"Well whatever you did seems to have worked," Billy smiled. "But I have to go, when will she be here?"
"Day after tomorrow." Jack answered.
"Great, I'll meet her when I come back that afternoon." Billy said. "Bye Jack and don't let the place fall apart without me around!"
"Billy, I really think you should listen to me." Jack insisted, but all he heard was a dial tone. "I hope you're going to be okay with this." he sighed before hanging up the phone and going to talk to Ash about the new webmaster.
Mackenzie Browning drove towards Genoa City, her hometown. It had been several years since she'd been home and now she was beginning to wonder if she'd made the right decision. Too many memories were there, along with with alot of things she'd rather forget! She drove down the freeway from New York and thought of all the reasons she had decided to come back after all this time. She had been offered the same job by two different companies. Both the Abbott's and the Newman's had wanted her skills as a webmaster. The Newman's had offered more money than she'd ever dreamed of, but at the same time she felt loyal to the Abbott's, for more reason's than one! Mr. Newman was in great need of a webmaster due to the fact that he had married Phyllis Summers, in which she had decided not to work anymore. He had promised Mac everything under the sun trying to get her to work for him. But in the end, she knew she would work for the Abbott's no matter what he offered. She had worked for the Abbott's in high school and it had been a good experience, but also a bad one. She was thrilled to be doing something she enjoyed, but would the enjoyment be taken away by one single person? No! She had to put the past behind her. She had managed to do that in New York, but now that she was headed home things had changed. All the memories, good and bad came flooding back, even though she had tried to keep them locked away where they belonged. She really needed the job and the money, so she had to put things to rest and there was only one way to do that! Mac steered the car off onto the off ramp and sped down the road that led to the Jabot building. As she passed familiar surroundings, a smile spreaded across her face. It really had been too long. Being back here made her realize how much she actually missed home. As she pulled into the parking lot, she found a spot and parked the car. Shutting it off, she opened her door and climbed out. She grabbed her briefcase and hurried into the building, worrying that she would be late for her meeting with Jack. A few minutes later she stepped off the elevator and looked down at her dress suit. She had chosen a short black cotton skirt with a matching jacket, along with a nice cut white blouse. She smoothed her skirt down and then approached the secretary's desk.
"Excuse me," Mac said with a smile. "I'm here to speak to Mr. Jack Abbott."
"Are you Miss Browning?" the secretary asked. Mac nodded and was surprised at how quickly the secretary jumped up. "Mr. Abbott has been expecting you," she smiled. "Please come this way." Mac watched her open the door and then heard Jack's voice and her stomach did a flip-flop. The secretary stepped aside and Mac shyly walked into the office.
"Mackenzie!" Jack grinned. "I am so glad you're here!" He opened his arms and hugged her tightly. Then she stepped back and his smile brightened. "You look fabulous! It's been way too long since I last seen you." Mac smiled, but didn't know what to say.
"Thank you so much for this job, Mr. Abbott." she finally said.
"You're very welcome Mac, we're happy to have you." he replied sitting down in his chair. "But you know you must call me Jack, please have a seat." Mac smiled again feeling more relaxed, and sat down in the other chair. "So how was your drive down here?" he asked.
"Very tiring," Mac answered. "But I'm happy to be here."
"Well then we'll keep this short," he remarked, noticing the circles under her eyes. "I just wanted to see you and show you your new office down the hall."
"Okay." Mac agreed, as she stood and followed him out into the hall.
"Your office is this way," he directed. "And Ash's office is right here."
"Will I get to see her today?" Mac asked.
"Not today, Abby has a cold so she stayed home for the afternoon." They walked a litte farther then he said, "This office here is..." She waited for him to continue and when he didn't she looked into his eyes and knew that he was worried.
"What's wrong?" she asked. "Who's office is that?"
"Ah...it's Billy's." he answered.
"Oh!" Mac sighed. "Is he around?"
"Not until later this afternoon," Jack explained as he approached the office next to Billy's. "He'll be returning from a business trip later." He opened the door and then followed her inside. "This is the only free office we had so....." he started to say.
"This will be fine." Mac said with a fake smile.
"Are you sure?" he asked nervously. "Are you going to be able to work next to Billy?"
"Yes, I'll be fine." she assured him. "I have to deal with things sooner or later, right?"
"I suppose so," Jack answered. They stood there in silence for a moment then Jack said, "I should be getting back to my work, but if you need anything I'm right down the hall." Mac nodded and watched him leave. She heard the door close and then she looked around the room. Mac sighed heavily and walked over to her desk, opening her briefcase. She sat down in her chair and switched on the computer hoping she could keep herself busy. Hoping she wouldn't see Billy!
Billy stepped off the Jabot jet and walked to the waiting limousine with his overnight bag. He sighed heavily after the long flight and wished he had time to clean up before meeting the new employee. But he'd explain why he looked the way he did when he met her. He settled into the leather seat and closed his eyes as he felt the limo start to move towards the freeway. Images flashed before his eyes and he groaned. He'd been lucky enough not to have to deal with Brittany these last couple of days, but he knew she'd be paying him a visit soon. She'd fight him tooth and nail the whole way, but luckily he was almost done with the papers. They should be on his desk waiting for him when he reached his office and then all he'd have to do is sign them before sending them her way. He'd been fair in the proceedings and if she argued, he'd leave her with nothing. Take it or leave it he'd told her before he'd left, but somehow he knew she wouldn't listen to him. She wanted it all, but little did she know she was getting nothing if she fought it! Billy sighed as he pushed the thoughts from his mind, settling back to rest his eyes as they drove toward Jabot. Billy walked off the elevator several minutes later, hoping he hadn't missed the new webmaster. He would be working closely with her over the next couple of months and he hoped they could come up with some great new ideas. He walked down the hall and into Jack's office. He spotted his brother looking over some paperwork and greeted him as he looked up.
"Hey Jack." Billy smiled tiredly.
"Hi little brother," Jack smiled, standing up. "How was the trip?"
"Same as usual," Billy explained. "Look, is the new webmaster still here?"
"As far as I know, but look Billy there's something I wanted to talk to you about first." Jack replied.
"It'll have to wait," Billy said walking out the door. "I want to meet her and get started!"
"Billy wait!" Jack called but it was too late, he was gone. Billy stopped in his office to drop off his briefcase. He glanced in the mirror and smiled. He looked like he felt, but oh well he'd make excuses. He smiled at himself again and then headed to the office next to his. He knocked and then entered without waiting for a reply. He didn't look at her as he entered and turned and closed the door, but as he turned back around he gasped at the sight in front of him. Mac heard the knock on her door but before she could speak it opened and someone entered. She looked up and when she did she heard a deep gasp. Her eyes stared into intense blue eyes that were all too familiar. They belonged to no one other than Billy Abbott.
"Mac?" he whispered in surprise. "What are you doing here?"
"I work here." she replied quietly as she stood.
"You mean you're the new webmaster?" he questioned. She nodded and a deafing silence fell between them. All Billy could do was stand there and stare at her, not actually believeing she was actually there. "I'm ah...." he stammered. "I am not sure what to say, it's been so long!"
"Yes it has." she replied softly with a smile.
I laid the blanket there on the shoreline
And saw the water shine with the moon
What kind of fool would fail to notice
The best thing shining was you
Oh I laughed kinda nervous
I felt you move closer
And felt the world unwind
Once was a stranger not quite a lover
But steadily crossing the line
As she stood there looking at him, all her fears faded away, leaving her body forever. Looking at him this way, with the look in his eyes made the past disappear completely. And all her old feelings came flooding back as if the past had never happened. She wasn't sure what was happening, but all she could think about was how it would feel to be in his arms again, and how it would feel to press her lips to his. She took a deep breath and held his gaze for a long time, longer than she thought possible. Minutes had gone by and neither of them had said a word. Nothing needed to be said, it was all there in their eyes.
Carry me away
Don't hold back, I won't break
Leave the ghost behind
All I know wrong or right
Just the thought of this night
Will get me everytime
Everytime
Well the voice in my head said, what are you doing?
I thought about not listening to you
You see I'm taking a chance
I'm thinking about flying over the blue
Billy stared back at her and read the feeling in her eyes. He was as caught off guard as she was. He knew by the electricity shooting through them that the old feeling was there and he hoped they could act on them. They were no longer kids who had to hide how they felt from people who wanted to destroy them. Maybe if he gave it time they could be together, this time the way it should have been all those years ago. He heard her sigh and he watched her bite her bottom lip lightly. He stepped towards her and as he did he saw her brace herself against the desk. She was as weak as he was, if not more. He had to smile as he stood only a few steps away from her now. He never thought he'd be this close to her again and yet, here they were. Here she was close enough to reach out and touch. He reached his hand out but suddenly the phone rang and he dropped his hand away.
And have it all come so naturally
Don't you love knocking logic right off its axis
And watching it float far out to sea
Carry me far away
Don't hold back, I won't break
Leave the ghost behind
All I know right or wrong
Just the thought of this night
Will get me every time
Every time
Mac watched as he approched her slowly as if he were approching a scared animal that could bolt at any minute. She stepped a few steps away from him and she realized she was supporting herself against the desk. She felt so weak and she knew it was because he was so close. He stared silently back at her and she nervously bit her bottom lip waiting for him to act. She saw him reach out to touch her, but suddenly her phone rang and he dropped his hand. The noise had broken the spell and she wished she'd never plugged the phone line in. They both stared at the ringing phone and Mac reached for it, cursing to herself at the same time!
So now here I am reading my fortune
In the winding lines of your hand
Oh and I see a lost unwanted orphan
Headed right for the promise land
Carry me far away
I won't, I won't break
Carry me far away
Don't hold back, I won't break
Leave the ghost behind
All I know right or wrong
Just the thought of this night
Will get me every time
Every time
Mac picked up the phone and answered "Hello?"
"Hey Mac, it's Jack.'
"Hi Jack." she grinned.
"Ah, is my brother there by chance?" he smiled.
"Yeah he is." Mac replied, glancing at Billy who was still watching her intently.
"Could I speak with him?" he asked when she didn't say anything else.
"Oh yeah, sure." she smiled handing the phone over to Billy. As he took it from her, their hands touched and a shock went through them both. Mac pulled her hand away and then sat on the edge of the desk as Billy talked with Jack.
"Hello?" Billy answered.
"Billy," Jack said. "I guess you know what I wanted to tell you earlier."
"Yeah." Billy replied with a smile in Mac's direction.
"So how's it going over there?" Jack asked.
"Great." Billy replied.
"Are you sure?" Jack asked worriedly. "I mean I really tried to tell you!"
"I know, but we'll talk about it later okay?"
"Okay but....." Jack started.
"Things are fine," Billy reassured him. "Bye." Billy hung up the phone and stared down at it. The room was still silent and Billy could feel Mac's eyes on him. He looked over at her and his breath caught in his throat. She was sitting there on the edge of her desk and with her short skirt he saw her lovely long legs. Her hair hung down over her shoulders and he longed to run his fingers through it. As he looked at her he noticed she hadn't changed a bit, she was still the same old Mac he had always known and loved. His eyes traveled up her body and focused on her lips. He wanted to kiss them, but wondered if he should, or if she'd let him. So all he did was stare.
Mac sat there and watched him stare at her. That's all he did was look at her. It was as if he was afraid that if he looked away she would disappear. The tension in the room was thick and she didn't know what to do. She licked her lips and wondered if she should say something. There was so much she wanted to tell him, but at the same time she didn't know where to begin. She watched him move closer and she nearly jumped when she felt his hand on her leg. He was inches away from her and she looked him straight in the eye. She was scared to death at the thought of what would happen next, and then wondered why she wasn't stopping this before something started. But she knew why, she wanted this as much as he did! Billy reached out and placed his hand on her leg. He stared into her deep brown eyes and he was lost forever, drowning in there depths never to return if she allowed him to stay. He moved his hand up her thigh and he heard her gasp. Should he stop? He saw the glimmer in her eyes and and he knew it wasn't a disapproving gasp asking him to stop, but it was a surprised gasp wanting him to continue. He leaned closer and watched her soft velvet lips. He saw her lick her lips and he couldn't stop himself even if he'd wanted to. He brought his other hand up to her face and then laced it through her hair, pulling her lips to his. They felt soft and warm just as they had always felt. And until now he hadn't realized how much he'd missed them. Her lips parted and his tongue darted into her mouth. She moaned and he could hardly believe this was happening.
Mac watched his hand move to her face and before she knew it his lips were on hers. She allowed him to part her lips and the feel of his tongue touching hers made her moan. This was too good to be true. She moved her hands up to his face and then ran them through his hair, pulling him closer. She felt his hand move up her leg and shivers ran through her body. As he deepened the kiss she faintly heard someone outside her door. The voice was calling Billy's name and it somehow sounded frighteningly familiar.
"Billy where are you?" the female voice called. "I need to speak to you!" Billy gasped and they broke apart just as the door opened. "Billy darling are you in here?" the voice asked, as a woman walked into the room. "There you are." She gasped at the sight before her and cried out, "What the h*** is going on here?" Billy and Mac looked at one another, then Mac looked back at the woman and she instantly knew who she was!
"Brittany Hodges!" Mac gasped.
"Brittany Abbott now!" she smirked flashing her ring.
"Only for a little longer," Billy cut in not moving away from Mac. "Brittany, I am glad you're here!"
"Why?" she asked suspiciously.
"Because I am finished here and we can go to my office now and look over the divorce papers before we sign them." he explained.
"I am not signing anything of the sort!" she whined.
"Oh yes you are," he said angrily. "Now go to my office and wait for me!"
"But...." she cried.
"Now!" he insisted. She shot Mac a deadly look and then disappeared into the hall. Billy turned back to Mac and smiled. "Sorry," he said. "I don't know why I feel for her!"
"It's okay." Mac said sliding off the desk and walking to the window, hugging herself.
"Mac," he whispered walking up behind her. "It's been way too long, and I've missed you!"
"Have you?" she asked. "What about Brittany?"
"That was a huge mistake I made when I was young," he replied. "And now I am fixing it, I swear!" Mac still didn't turn to look at him, so he turned her around forcing her to look at him. "Will you have dinner with me tonight at Gina's?" he asked. "Say eight'o clock? We can catch up." Mac didn't answer so Billy said, "Please Mac?" Mac looked into his eyes and the feelings returned. She nodded and then watched the smile flash acrossed his face. It made her smile and as he turned to leave, he turned back around to kiss her cheek. He then hurried out of the office and she touched the place where his lips had touched her cheek. Was this something she should be doing? She touched her cheek again then looked at her desk. There wasn't much for her to do here yet, so she packed her briefcase and grabbed her coat before heading out the door to her new apartment. She needed to get settled and and decide whether things were working out for the best!
Billy walked into his office and found Brittany sitting seductively in his chair.
"It won't work." he glared. Brittany slowly stood up and moved around the desk as he walked to his chair to sit down. He searched his cluttered desk to find the papers and finally found them with several other legal files. He flipped through them and once he'd approved and signed his section, he passed them across the desk to Brittany. "Here you go. Look them over, but don't take long! I want this over with!"
"I am not signing anything!" she hissed.
"Oh yes you are!" he insisted, pushing the papers at her.
"No I'm not!" she glared. "All you care about is what you want! What about what I want?"
"What is it you want?" he questioned impatiently.
"You, but from the looks of things in the other room I've already been replaced!" she remarked.
"What goes on between Mac and I is none of your business!" he snapped.
"Of course it is!" she smirked. "I'm your wife!"
"Not for much longer!" he reminded her.
"Is that why you want the divorce?" she asked. "So you can be with her?"
"That isn't your concern, but if you must know Jack hired her to be the new webmaster for Jabot."
"Sure he did!" she sighed with disbelief.
"He did, I only saw her today for the first time since she left all those years ago." he insisted.
"Whatever you say!" she smirked. "But either way, it didn't take you too long to move in on her!"
"That doesn't concern you!" he hissed.
"You keep saying that." she smiled.
"Just sign the d**** paper!" he spat through clenched teeth. "Or..."
"Or what?" she asked.
"Or I'll leave you with nothing." he replied with his own grin.
"You wouldn't dare!" she cried.
"Oh I would, and you should know that dear." he said.
"Well I'd like to read over them first." she explained.
"Fine whatever, just bring them back within two days signed or everything is off." he frowned. "Now get out!"
"What? Do you have a hot date with Ms. Mackenzie?" she pushed.
"Just get out of here!" he snapped.
"Fine, but I'll be back." she said gathering her things.
"You'd better!" He called after her as she closed the door behind her.
He leaned back with a content smile on his face and closed his eyes thinking of Mac in the next room. His eyes suddenly shot open and he stood up from his chair. He walked out into the hall and knocked on Mac's office door. When he didn't get a reply he opened the door and looked around. He frowned when he noticed she was gone, along with her coat and briefcase. He closed the door again and headed back to his office. He grabbed his own things and headed for the elevator, praying Mac would keep their date!
An hour later after alot of debating between her heart and her good sense, Mac walked into Gina's and looked around for Billy. She spotted him across the room sitting at a table looking over a menu, and silently walked over to him. When she reached the table she cleared her throat, getting his attention. He glanced up and did a double take when he saw her. A dashing smile flashed acrossed the table and he stood up to help her with her chair. Once they were seated he started thanking God she'd decided to come.
"Are you hungry?" he questioned handing her a menu.
"Yes, thank you." she replied quietly. She looked over the menu then ordered quickly when the waiter approached.
When the waiter left Billy said, "So how have you been? What have you been doing while you were gone?"
"Um," she thought, biting her lower lip. "I attended NYU for a short period of time and acquired my degree in web design. Then I settled in New York and worked for a small business for a short time before moving to work for your family. There isn't much to share I guess."
"Any uh....serious relationships?" he asked, hoping the answer was no!
"Well...." she started hesitantly. "I dated someone I was in college with for about a year and he proposed, but I realized I didn't love him."
"I am sorry." he lied.
"Don't be, I'm not." she smiled. "How about you?"
"Well Brittany and I dated through my first semester of college and then I proposed, hoping things would work out." he explained.
"And I take it from what happened earlier, they haven't?" she asked.
"Far from it," he sighed. "I thought marrying her would make me forget, but it didn't. And she never really loved me anyway. She loved my....."
"Your what?" Mac asked.
"My money, my power, my family's position in the city." he said. "She only married me to futher herself in life, not because she loved me."
"How long did it take you to realize that?" Mac asked with sadness.
"Until a few months ago," he sighed. "I tried to be blind to her, but I couldn't be anymore, so I filed for divorce."
"How is she taking it?" Mac questioned leaning forward.
"Better than I thought, she was furious at first , but I think she's got something planned which is the usual Brittany, right?" he asked.
"Yeah, she always has a back up plan. Even......" Billy waited for her to continue.
But when she didn't he asked, "Even what?"
"Nothing, never mind." she said, avoiding the topic.
"No Mac, what were you going to say?" he pushed.
"It's nothing really," she explained. "Just something I'd rather not relive!"
"Well if you change your mind." he smiled. Mac smiled back and suddenly he reached across the table and took her hand. "Mac," he whispered. "We need to talk about what happened this afternoon."
"Do we?" she asked lightly, swallowing a lump in her throat.
"Yes we do," he grinned. "I want you to know I meant it." Mac stared back at him not sure what to say. She wanted to climb across the table and kiss him, but thought better of it. Instead she smiled and blushed. "I'd really like to get to know you better," he explained. "Again I mean! I've missed you alot!"
"I've missed you too," she agreed. "But....."
"No buts," he grinned. "I don't want to rush things. I just want us to take our time, besides at the moment I'm not in a position to move quickly." He was refurring to Brittany and she knew it, but at the same time she didn't care. "Will you give me the chance?" he asked. Mac stared at him wide eyed for a moment. Then she smiled and nodded happily. He smiled back at her and was about to speak when the waiter brought their food. He saved his thought and decided to wait for a better time to tell her what he almost said.
The next morning Mac walked in to her office and sighed. Her mind flashed back to the day before when she and Billy had kissed in the very room she was standing in. She smiled and walked over to her desk and switched on her computer. She checked her voice mail and discovered she had one new message, which was werid because no one had her number yet. She pressed one to play the message and then she sat back to listen. Suddenly Billy's voice filled the room and she smiled again.
"Hey Mac," he said. "Just wanted to say good morning and remind you that you promised to have lunch with me today after our meeting. Don't forget and I hope you're looking forward to it as much as I am! I enjoyed last night and hope we can do it more often. I'll see you later, duty calls." She heard him pause as if he was going to say more, but instead he said, "Bye!" The dial tone clicked on and she saved the message. She wasn't sure why but she did just in case.
'In case of what?' she asked herself and then turned to her computer. She clicked on some files and opened several of the older Glow By Jabot projection reports. Just then there was a knock on her door.
"Come in!" she called wondering who it could be. 'Billy?' she thought. The door opened and she smiled when she saw Jack poke his head in.
"Hi!" he greeted her, walking into the room. He approached her desk holding out several folders. "These are old files and data from the old projects," he explained. "Thought you might want to see them."
"Thanks," she smiled, excepting them. "I was just looking over some of the others that are on the computer."
"Sounds like you're getting right down to business." he grinned.
"As always." she replied.
"So how was your first night at home?" he questioned.
"It was good." she answered, trying to avoid the subject.
"Did you do anything special last night?" he pushed.
"Ah....what do you mean?" she asked nervously, turning to her computer again.
"Well," he grinned, noticing her discomfort. "I happened to be over at the Estate last night when Billy finally got home, and he was practically glowing, which is something he hasn't done in years and I thought maybe you were the reason?"
"We ah...had dinner last night at Gina's." she blushed.
"I see," Jack said trying to hide a smile. "And how did that go?"
"Okay."she lied, knowing that it had gone better than expected.
"Only okay?" he pushed.
"We had a nice time, we did some catching up." she explained. "What else do you want to know?" Jack walked around her desk and sat on the edge of it.
"Listen Mac," he started. "There are some things you need to know."
"Like what?" she asked curiously.
"Well, Billy hasn't looked so happy in years and you've been here less than twenty-four hours." Jack stated. "He deserves alot of happiness after what Brittany put him through for the last couple of years. And I personally think you're the best thing to happen to him, so if you are to start something, I won't object and I have a feeling no one else will either."
"Jack," she started "I...."
"I know Mac, just think about what you're doing before you get too far to change your mind. Billy doesn't need to be hurt anymore, okay?"
"Yeah Jack, I know." she smiled. "I want to take things slowly because....."
"Hey, you don't have to explain to me." he interrupted. "I just want to see you and my brother happy, hopefully together!" Mac smiled slightly, then watched as he walked to the door. "Call if you need anything!" he said before he disappeared into the hall.
I can stand with the weight of the world on my shoulders
I can fight with the toughest of the tough
I can laugh in the face of all my insecurities
But when you're holding me like this
I'm carelessly lost in your touch
I'm completely defenseless
Baby it's almost too much
I'm helplessly, hopelessly, recklessly
Falling in love
Mac sat there for a moment, staring at the closed door and thought, was she really doing the right thing? Was a relationship with Billy what she really wanted? Could she handle it? There was so many questions in her mind that she couldn't make sense of, one from another. But thinking back to the kiss they'd shared and to the dinner that had shown her what she'd missed all those years she knew that Billy was exactly what she wanted!