Chapter 2
The elevator opened onto the top floor of Hank Summers penthouse office space and Riley Finn, Mayor Wilkins’ stepson strode out. Bypassing the secretary he headed straight for Hank’s inner sanctum, knocking briefly before entering.
Hank was on the phone, but seeing Riley, he smiled and waved him into a seat. Quickly finishing up his call, he turned to his visitor.
“Riley. Good to see you.”
“You too, Hank. How’s things?”
Hank grimaced. “It’s been a hell of a morning. First of all I get hauled downtown by your stepfather, because my nephew can’t keep his pistol sheathed.”
“Angel has a fiery temper.”
“You’re telling me. And I try to get it through to him that his actions could earn him a death sentence, but does he listen? Unfortunately the boy has more brawn than brains.”
“Dick’s pulled out the big guns then?” Riley enquired.
“Not that I can really blame him. I mean, I understand in part where Angel’s coming from. Back in my younger days, fighting was fun and exhilarating. But now I’m older, I can see things a little differently. Ethan and I are part of two rival families – that’s not going to change – but we should at least be able to be civil.”
Hank had never made mention as to why the two families hated each other so and Riley had never asked, despite his curiosity. “Indeed. Hate each other if you have to, but at least forgo the bloodshed.”
Hank nodded in agreement.
“Anyhow, the real reason for my visit was to see if you had come to a decision yet on my proposal.”
A few months ago, Riley had approached Hank with the intention of asking for his daughter, Elizabeth’s hand in marriage. Riley had seen Buffy at a party and fallen head over heels in love with her and decided he wanted her for his own. But instead of choosing to woo her, he preferred to go about his acquisition in a business type way and speak to her father. As the stepson of the city mayor, Riley was not only wealthy, but could offer his bride a certain amount of protection, something Hank rated very highly considering who he was.
“Look Riley. I’ve said this to you before. Elizabeth is only sixteen. She’s still very young and inexperienced. If you could wait another couple of years, till she’s at least eighteen, then I would happily give you my blessing.”
“I know people who married at Elizabeth’s age and have been perfectly happy,” Riley countered.
“But if the timing’s off, marrying her could be disastrous for you. Trust me on this, I know my daughter.”
“I understand, Hank. Its just I want her to be my wife more than anything.”
“Elizabeth’s happiness is important to me, Riley, but I’ll make you a deal. Get to know her, court her if you will and see how she responds. As I’ve said, I would be happy for this marriage to happen, but it will be easier for all involved if she were to be consenting. If she is happy with your pursuit then I may feel better about accepting your proposal.”
“Sounds like a fair compromise to me. How do you suggest I begin this ‘courtship’?”
“Well, you’re coming to the ball tonight, aren’t you?”
“Of course,” Riley replied. Every year, Hank Summers and his wife, Maggie threw a huge fancy dress ball at their mansion.
“Well, I’ll make sure you’re introduced to her. Then the rest is up to you.”
“Ok.” Riley stood up and shook Hank’s hand before turning to leave. When the door shut behind him, Hank pressed the button of the intercom.
“Suzy,” he said to his secretary. “Can you pull up a copy of tonight’s guest list and ring around for confirmation of numbers and then let the caterers know.”
“Sure.”
Hank sat back in his chair and mulled over his meeting with his potential future son-in-law. The boy was right – it was a fair compromise he had made. But it was still up to Riley to gain Elizabeth’s affection and knowing his daughter, it would be a complex task.
“So what you having?” Xander asked Will as they entered the Bronze. Though a thriving nightclub, the establishment was also open during the day.
“Beer,” Will replied, heading for the pool table to rack up.
Moments later Xander returned with two beers in time to see Will make the break and pot two colored balls.
“You’re stripes, mate.”
“Good,” Xander said, cracking his knuckles before taking the cue from Will. “Now you can concentrate on kicking my ass and forget all about Cecily.”
“Easy for you to say,” Will muttered.
“Think of it this way. You feel like shit, but there’s people in this world who have it far worse off than you. So no matter how much pain you’re in, there’s always someone who’s in more.”
Will glared at him. “Really not helping here.”
“Ok, ok, I’ll shut up.”
They continued to play and as Xander had predicted, Will won. As Xander set up for another game, Will went to the bar to get another beer. When he got there, Willie was on the phone.
“Ok, thank you for calling. Yes, I’ll be there with bells on.”
He put the receiver down and turned to Will. “More beer?”
“Please. So Willie, you got plans for tonight?”
“Yeah. I’ve got myself an invite to the Summers fancy dress ball. I’ve no doubt it’s my dear cousin’s influence but who am I to look a gift horse in the mouth.”
“Should be fun.”
“Fun? Its gonna be the best party of the year. The whole town’s gonna be there. Unless they bat for Rayne’s team.” He paused, realizing who he was talking to. “Sorry, didn’t mean to rub it in.”
“That’s ok.” Will brushed off Willie’s apology with a wave of his hand. “So its gonna be big then?”
“Yeah. All of Hank Summers friends and their families are invited – the Chases, the Hopes, the Adams’s, the Kendalls.”
Xander joined them in time to catch the Willie’s words. Smiling he picked up his beer and then dragged Will back over to the pool table.
“Did you hear what he said? All of Hank Summers friends and their families are invited.”
“Yeah, well we’re not so what does it matter?”
Xander rolled his eyes. “It matters because your fair Cecily’s father is one of Hank Summers best friends. She’ll be there.”
“Xander, I’ve already told you. She’s not my Cecily – she doesn’t love me.”
“That’s not the issue. The issue is that you don’t believe anymore could measure up to her and this is the perfect opportunity for me to prove you wrong.”
It was the perfect plan, Xander decided. Sunnydale was full of gorgeous girls – girls even hotter than Cecily – and the majority of them were going to be at the ball tonight. Will believed that Cecily was the most beautiful and charming creature he had ever set eyes on and until he saw her next to all these other beauties, he was unlikely to be convinced otherwise. If his plan went well, Will would leave the ball tonight, his young heart free of Cecily’s hold and with another knockout on his arm.
Will paused in taking his next shot. “You can’t be suggesting what I think you’re suggesting?”
“Why not?”
“Its Hank Summers ball! As in Hank Summers, my father’s biggest rival. As in Hank Summers who hates us and would pull a pistol on us if we dared to darken his door.”
Xander grinned. “You forgot one important point. Its Hank Summers fancy dress ball. We can go in disguise and no one will recognize us.”
Will still looked slightly skeptical. “I guess it could work. But I still refuse to believe there could possibly be anyone there tonight more beautiful than Cecily.”
“Your opinion’s a little biased, don’t you think? You’ve only ever seen her alone or with that butt-ugly sister of hers. I bet you won’t be saying that when you can compare her to the other girls on show tonight.”
“Fine, I’m in,” Will conceded. “But if you’ve got Harmony Kendall in mind for this comparison, your plan’s gonna fail. That girl could make my ears bleed with her incessant prattle.”
Xander grimaced in agreement. Harmony was notoriously irritating. She had dated most of the boys in Sunnydale, but in the end, they had all gotten so fed up with her, they’d dumped her. Consequently when she went to parties, her main aim was to find someone to take her home; someone she hadn’t already dated that is.
“Don’t worry, cuz. Harmony’s not on the list. But there are plenty of other girls to choose from. And Will, I think you’re going to be pleasantly surprised.”
squawks
05/18/17 04:16 am
pj! I remember wishing one of your stories would be finished seriously about a decade ago. Amazing. I just tried an old password I used to use and amazingly got in too. Memories!
pj
03/20/17 01:20 am
10 yrs later, i finally rem my username and password. Pari, you rock. Hope you are well.
Rabbit_moon1
12/23/16 01:12 pm
I donate every month. Please donate to keep this site up!
AudryDaluz1
10/06/16 08:34 am
Great post.
Chrissel
08/31/16 03:45 pm
And anyone else who loves this site, it's worth mentioning there's a nifty little "Donate" option just below the shout box here! ;)
Chrissel
08/31/16 03:43 pm
Just wanted to take a moment to thank Pari and all the mods for maintaining such a great site!
05/18/17 04:16 am
pj! I remember wishing one of your stories would be finished seriously about a decade ago. Amazing. I just tried an old password I used to use and amazingly got in too. Memories!
pj
03/20/17 01:20 am
10 yrs later, i finally rem my username and password. Pari, you rock. Hope you are well.
Rabbit_moon1
12/23/16 01:12 pm
I donate every month. Please donate to keep this site up!
AudryDaluz1
10/06/16 08:34 am
Great post.
Chrissel
08/31/16 03:45 pm
And anyone else who loves this site, it's worth mentioning there's a nifty little "Donate" option just below the shout box here! ;)
Chrissel
08/31/16 03:43 pm
Just wanted to take a moment to thank Pari and all the mods for maintaining such a great site!