Chapter 15

“No, I’m sorry, not while HE’S on the judging panel. You’ll just have to find somewhere else to hold the book review finals”

“Please darling…for me – it’ll be good publicity for the restaurant” Jenny slipped her arms around Rupert’s neck.

“I don’t want him at the restaurant, it’s as simple as that – and publicity? – Jenny, it’s one of, in fact if not THE best restaurant in LA – I don’t need the publicity – good or otherwise. The food speaks for itself” Rupert said, he was holding her around the waist.

“But all this trouble between you and Ethan was over thirty years ago, can’t you forgive and forget?” Giles gently pushed her away, removed is glasses and began to clean them.

“Don’t you understand? - Ethan Raine held a lot of sway with both the public and the music business in those days; it was his comments on the Juke Box show that ruined the Rocketeers – our last single bombed because he rubbished it to hell and back, and we split up” He put his glasses on and faced her.

“Rupert…is it really that? Or is it the fact that Ethan had a fling with your wife?” Rupert felt all the blood drain from his face, and he gave her a cold hard stare. Immediately Jenny wished to god she hadn’t said that, she was disappointed, and wanted to show how upset she was.

“I’m going to the studios. Then I’m going to the restaurant. Goodbye” He turned and angrily wrenched the door open and left.

“Rupert, RUPERT – Come back - I’m sorry – please, I - I didn’t mean…shit. SHIT!” Jenny kicked out at the coffee table, and winced as the front door slammed shut and she heard his car start and speed off in a flail of gravel.

***

“………Jenny! – How could you say such a thing?”

“Oh Anya! I know, I know! As soon as I said it I could have bitten off my tongue…oh, what’s the use! I tried to get him at the studios all morning, I’ve left three messages for him at the restaurant, and he still hasn’t contacted me – this is another possible relationship I’ve ruined”

“Not necessarily, he just might be busy. Where are you now?”

“At your place”

“My flight is due in tonight at 9.30, will you meet me from the airport?”

“Sure, no problem”

**********


“So, we’ve got, Will Love Find a Way, Missing You, and Lovers Walk, those are the three definates…now, Wish Upon a Star, Maybe Tomorrow, I’ll Be There, Coming Home, and it’s between either Message To You or…um…Take My Hand, yeah?” Buffy looked at Spike

“Definitely. Which one do you prefer out of those two?”

Buffy shrugged and said

“I don’t mind – they are both nice songs”

“Well, you can always use the one you don’t use now on your next album, so shall we give Ford the casting vote, he might find one is better than the other time-wise for the CD” Spike suggested, and Buffy readily agreed.

“Okay!” As they were alone, Spike gently pulled her towards him and slipped his arms around her. Buffy smiled up at him, and he said,

“Want some good news?”

“Uh huh!”

“I’m coming to New York with you” Buffy’s face broke into a beaming smile, and she bubbled enthusiastically,

“REALLY! – Oh Spike, that’s fantastic! – Oh god, I’m SO pleased – It’ll be brilliant with you there too!” She gave him a big kiss and hug. Spike grinned, he was very happy that she was so pleased.

“Now, I won’t try and hide the fact that there’s a lot of work to do there pet, but if I manage things carefully time-wise with your commitments, we should have time for a little fun too, see the sites, go shopping”

“Oooh! I’m SO excited!” Buffy jiggled up and down grinning.

“Yeah, me too, Kitten. Ever been before?”

“No – can’t wait, so you will show me round?”

“I’d love to baby – oh, I hear footsteps” Buffy stepped from between standing between Spike’s legs, and they stood casually next to each other, Ford came in.

“Chosen then?” Ford asked Buffy

“Uh huh, you’ve got the casting vote on the last one – see which one’s better time wise Spike said, I’m easy which one it is”.

**********

The terrified screams from Dru had Cecily racing into Sweet’s bedroom, were she could see Dru in great distress, with her hands tied to the cast-iron bed-frame, which she was struggling and pulling against it with all her might.

“………Untie her… I said UNTIE –(Sweet quickly complied) There, that’s it…it’s ok, it’s ok. Dru, listen to me, Dru, it’s me…you’re ok pet, it’s alright, I’ve got you, shush…that’s better……… you’re ok” Cecily cradled Dru to her naked body, soothing her, and Dru calmed somewhat, panting and whimpering.

Sweet got up off the bed. He was naked. Lorne entered the bedroom, tying his robe.

“What happened?”

“Don’t know. She just freaked out on me” Sweet said, going across to his drinks cabinet and pouring himself a very large brandy.

“Bloody hell Daddy…couldn’t you see the state of her wrists? – They’re rubbed red-raw” Cecily said angrily.

“She was enjoying it! Begging for more – we weren’t doing anything we haven’t done before, and she didn’t use the safe word – I’d have stopped!”

“Can you get her tablets…they’re in her purse” Cecily asked Lorne, who went to fetch them.

“Well, have you re-established the rules, she forgets things easily, it’s been two years since you-“

“Of course I did! What do you take me for!” Sweet downed his brandy, reached for the decanter and poured himself another generous measure.

“Shush…you’re ok baby, I’ve got you” Cecily held Dru firmly, drawing the cover over them. Lorne came back with her tablets.

“Does she need water?”

“Please”

“Dru…Dru…what’s the safe word, hmm? Tell me, what is your safe word to make Daddy stop?”

“Butter- butterfly…it’s butterfly” Dru whimpered.

“Butterfly. Ok, so why didn’t you say it pet…here you go, take these…” Cecily handed Dru two of her tablets, and Lorne handed her a glass of water.

Dru looked scared

“It’s ok pet, it’s your medicine”

Dru complied and took the tablets. Cecily smoothed the hair out of Dru’s face.

“You scared us pet, why didn’t you use the safe word?”

“I don’t know…in the hospital…they put me in one of those jacket things…so I couldn’t get out…and I shouted butterfly, but nobody ever came” Cecily frowned, but then suddenly realised what Dru meant, and a wave of sympathy swept over her. She kissed her friend’s forehead and said,

“You go to sleep now, hmm? You rest love”

“Is Daddy mad with me?” Dru wiped the tears from her face.

“No pet. He can come play with us while you go to sleep okay?”

“Okay” Cecily got up out of the bed, and Dru lay down in the foetal position and pulled the covers up.

“Come with me” Cecily switched the light off and Sweet and Lorne followed her.

“Daddy, no more bondage games with her. Seems she had a – a flashback of some sort, and you tying her up reminded her of being in a straight jacket at the hospital, and it freaked her out, poor thing. She said she used to cry out ‘Butterfly’, but nobody came and let her out. She’s too fragile for this.”

“Cec, you coming back to bed?” Kendra’s voice drifted from the other bedroom.

“In a minute, baby”

“Come and join us if you want, leave her to sleep. She’ll be fine in the morning, I’m sure” Cecily tried to reassure Sweet.

“No, I – I’ll just stay with Lorne, okay?” Sweet said, finishing his second large brandy.

“Okay, see you later then” Cecily went back to her room.

“You ok Daddy?” Lorne asked

“I will be if you hold me” For the first time in ages, Lorne thought how small and vulnerable Sweet looked.

“Come on…Your Lorne will sort things. I’ll make things better for you” he led Sweet off to his room.

************

“Carling-Blake’s office”

“Ah, um…hell-hello. Um, your switchboard put me through. I er, I was wondering…see the thing is, it’s well – I don’t really know where to start-“

“Look, sir, can I help you, because I’m very busy, and my time is precious” Cordelia said frostily. She often had the switchboard put members of the public through to her with silly requests, for autographs or some such, and she went mad at them for wasting her time.

“My daughter, it’s about my daughter, I’ve been given to believe she’s signed to your record company”

“Your daughter? – I see. Who would that be then?”

“Her name is Buffy, Buffy Summers, she won the Search For a Star competition, I kinda lost contact with her, and I was wondering whether you could tell me, is she there?”

“I’m sorry sir, I do know who you mean, but I couldn’t possibly divulge any such information like that to a stranger over the phone. You’re her father you say – don’t you have a home phone number for her?”

“I do, but well, it never gets answered”

“Okay. Look, I’m not promising anything, but if you leave me your name, and a contact number, I could see that she gets it”

“Oh, um… I don’t think…well things ended badly, you see” Hank said. Cordelia rolled her eyes. She’d seen it a hundred times before. Father buggered off when the child was young, and then once their progeny got a whiff of fame, they came crawling out of the woodwork…

“I’m sorry sir, but taking your name and a contact number is the best I can do, company policy.”

“Well, I don’t hold out much hope, but here goes, I’m Hank Summers, and she can reach me on, 555 5042. Tell her – um no, doesn’t matter. Thankyou, bye”

“I’ll see she gets it, goodbye”

Cordelia went into the messenger bay and gave one of the runners a note for Spike. Ten minutes later he came up to the office.

“Hi, wanted to see me?” he held up the note. Cordelia nodded

“Yeah. Where’s Buffy?”

“First floor, having photo’s done for ‘Billboard’ magazine, why?”

“Has she ever said anything to you about her father?”

“Her father? – You mean the – hold on, let me get this right…the low-down, two timing, lying, cheating, no good son-of-a-bitch? Him, that father –“

“Hmm, thought so. He just phoned, wanted to speak to her. I told him I couldn’t possibly reveal her whereabouts, but I took his name and number, thought I’d sound you out first” She wrote down the info and held it out to him.

“Right. Good, thanks, Cordy”

“Welcome. They all come crawling out of the woodwork sooner or later, don’t they?”

“Yeah…I just hope it doesn’t upset-what’s that?” Spike frowned, then Cordelia did; they could hear singing (of a fashion) getting louder. The office door opened, and in walked Xander, wearing jeans, a denim shirt and a leather waistcoat – and horror of horrors – cowboy boots. EMBROIDERED cowboy boots. Cordelia and Spike exchanged looks.

“………even though you’re gone, my heart still yearns for-what. WHAT?” Xander stopped ‘singing’ and looked at the them.

“Don’t think you’re coming in here, singing ‘Home-on-the-bloody-Range’ songs
matey-boy, coz you’re not. I. Will. Slap. You” Cordelia said, leaning her head forward to emphasise the last four words.

“Yeah, and I’ll bloody hold you while she does it! Xander! – What have you got on?” Spike frowned, staring at his friend’s feet.

“What these?” Xander grinned and raised a foot, and then said,

“Neat aren’t they!” Again Cordelia and Spike exchanged another look.

“Um…what does Harmony think?” Cordy asked

“Well, she wasn’t too sure at first, but when Caleb said he’d get her a pair too, and she’s going to come to the Line-dancing session at the Cactus Gulch Saloon tonight meet some of Caleb’s friends”

Cordelia grabbed Spike’s arm.

“If I hear so much as one teeny, weeny, tiny ‘Yee Haw’ off of him, I swear I’ll-“

“Ow, Cordy, ow, ow, OW!” Spike winced and rubbed his arm where Cordelia’s nails had started to dig in.

“Sorry! But I mean it, Spike!”

“Well look pet, if he does, you have my full permission to lasso him to a chair
and subject him to any kind torture you think fit…starting with those boots!” Cordy grinned at Spike, and mouthed ‘thankyou’!

“Right, well, I’ll be off – um good luck!” Spike said

“I’m going to need it, I don’t have much sense of rhythm”

“I meant Cordy…and I think those last two words of your sentence were un-necessary!” Spike and smiling, and Cordy began to giggle, while Xander tried to work it out…

“Later!” Spike left the office still smiling.

“…Going to need it…I don’t um, don’t have much sense of…don’t have much sense. I. Don’t. Have. Much. Sense. – Hey! Bloody cheek!” Xander looked indignantly at a giggling Cordy.

“We’re only playing. I suppose we should be thankful you haven’t got to manage Ilyria – god alone knows what you’d look like if you did!”

“She of the blue hair? – She’s with us now?” Xander asked

“She signs with us tomorrow. She’s finished with Sony.”

“Wow…Spike going to manage her?”

“Actually, I don’t know yet, I suppose we’ll find out later this evening at the monthly meeting”

**********

“It’s a new one, Luigi asked us to try it, see what we think!” Spike handed Buffy a two-pint container full of extra rich Tiramisu ice cream.

“Ooh, yummy!”

“Buffy” Spike looked serious, and Buffy walked around the island counter in her kitchen, and put her arms around him.

“What’s the matter baby?” It crossed her mind suddenly that he was going to have to let her down over New York. Spike held her to him, smoothed hair from her face and said,

“Now don’t worry, all Cordelia did was take his name and number. It’s your father. He phoned this afternoon, wanting to speak to you”

“What? – Why the – of all the bloody- what a nerve! Huh, didn’t want to know when mom was dying – or the funeral…cheeky bastard! Um, sorry!” Buffy bit her bottom lip, and looked a little sheepishly at Spike, who just cuddled her up.

“Don’t worry petal. We see it a lot. It happens all the time. Wayward fathers come crawling out of the woodwork when they think their progeny are famous”

“Huh. Father. Just because a man donates sperm, doesn’t make him a father.”

“I take it you don’t want the contact number he left then”

“No I don’t. Besides which, he knows where I live, and this number!”

“I know kitten – so, we going try out this ice cream, or what?”

“Sure! I’ll – oh hold on” Buffy answered her mobile.

“Hi Cordy…Spike, yes he’s here, hold on – Spike, it’s Cordy” She passed him her phone and went to get some dishes for the ice cream.

“Hi Cordy - Is it? – Oh………it is, yes, sorry. I forgot to turn it back on when I left the recording suite” Spike switched on his mobile.

“So what’s the problem?………………BLOODY HELL – I clean forgot – I’ll be right there – thanks, bye”

“Problems?”

“The monthly meeting! I clean forgot all about it! I should have been there twenty minutes ago – I’m sorry pet – I’ve got to scoot – Sweet hates to be kept waiting” Buffy’s shoulders dropped, and she put the spoon down and came round to him

“It’s okay, can’t be helped. I can play catch-up (she eyed a mountain of correspondence) – have a bath, do some laundry, and I must phone Willow, and that”

“I’m sorry babe, I’ll make it up to you”

“I’ll keep you to that” He gave her quite a passionate kiss, and went to the front door.

“I am sorry love – don’t you eat all that ice cream, save me some!” They smiled at each other.

“I will, well, I might! Never mind – you drive carefully, now” she gave him another kiss and he left. Buffy waved and closed the door, and thought she’d better phone Willow.

***

Spike entered the room swiftly and threw his car keys down on the table.

“Sorry I’m late”

“Yes, well, you’re here now. Lucky Cordelia knew where to contact you since your mobile was switched off”
Sweet said, but Spike didn’t rise to it, he said nothing. Sweet addressed the assembled team, of Xander, Spike, Glory Benson, Ethan Raine, three other mangers and of course Cordelia taking the notes.

“Right, first things first, new signings. We have Caleb, from Midnight Music, I hope you’re up to speed with his style and venue’s Spike”

“Actually-“ Xander piped up, but Cordelia quickly gave him a light kick under the table so he’d say nothing. Xander took this to mean that Spike hadn’t got around to telling Sweet that he’d passed him over to him, so he stayed quiet. Sweet had totally ignored him anyway.

“Then we have Betty – sorry, I keep getting that wrong, Buffy. Buffy? – Is it?”

“Yes” Cordelia said.

“Right. I take it as read you’re ‘on top’ of things there”
Sweet said, smirking, as was Glory Benson. Cordelia could see Spike beginning to seethe out of the corner of her eye, and knew Sweet was needling him for being late. Dangerous. Boss or not, you only pushed Spike so far…

“Hopefully we have Ilyria signing tomorrow, Tom, I want you to take her over” One of the other managers nodded.

“Now, last but not least, we have Noiz…dear, dear, dear. What do we do about Noiz, hmm? Spike – you’re their manager, any ideas?” Sweet asked sarcastically. Spike had had enough. He looked at Sweet dead in the eyes and said pointedly,

“Plenty. First off I think that we should get to their drugs supplier and put him out of the picture – don’t you? - That might calm them down a bit.”

Sweet wasn’t stupid, he knew that Spike knew it was him supplying the band, he wondered whether Spike also knew it was him that supplied ‘Animal’ the drummer with the heroin he’d been found in possession of, and was awaiting sentence for.

Spike continued, thought he’d continue to needle Sweet.

“I mean, if it were to come out in open court just WHO had supplied Animal with the heroin, then maybe-”

“Hey, come on…I look at it this way – naughty boys, eh? It’s rock and roll! All good publicity, odd fight with photographers…and who hasn’t been caught in possession of class A drugs…practically de rigeur for a rockstar !” Sweet said jovially, trying to lighten the mood, and shut Spike up. But Spike wasn’t in the mood to be shut up, he continued,

“Yeah well if you’re prepared to put up with it Sweet – all well and good, you know what they say put up or shut up – just don’t come nagging me coz things are being cancelled right left and centre. Look, we need to get Trick into rehab-”

“You’ll be lucky, he won’t go voluntarily!” Glory said. Spike flashed her a look, and repeated,

“Get Trick – and Rack really, but most of all, get Trick into rehab, coz if this assault charge suddenly escalates and this photographer dies it’ll be a manslaughter charge he’ll be on, and he’ll have no option. What we need is damage limitation here. Get him into Rehab, one of those private London clinics, let them drop off the scene for a while until the heat dies down. Then we can do the comeback tour”

Spike was flying close to the wind here, but he didn’t care, Sweet wanted to play dirty – bring it on, but when all was said and done, what Spike had said was 100% right.

“Okay, moving on. Gunn” Sweet said

“That little spat on your show, wasn’t very well reported” Sweet addressed his comments to Glory.

“It was in your papers!”

“I know that, but it didn’t even rate a mention in any of the others”

“Because it’s self-publicity – the tabloids are sick of it, they KNOW it’s all a put up job” Glory said wearily.

“Yeah, get someone to do a ‘drive-by’ on her, get some proper publicity then!” Spike said quietly, only Cordelia, Xander and Glory herself heard this.

“DO YOU MIND!” Glory snapped at Spike, but he Cordy and Xander were grinning.

“Not at all.” Spike stared Glory out. Sweet wondered what was eating Spike, and it crossed his mind if it could be about Dru being back.

The put-down of Glory broke the tension a little, and Spike sat back, idly playing with his keys. He knew his value to Sweet, and Sweet did too. Spike was the best manager around by far – Sweet couldn’t afford to loose him. That’s why he let Spike get away with the sarcasm and answering back.

“Okay, anything else?” Xander looked at Spike.

“Yeah. I’ve passed over the managing of Caleb to Xander. He’s more up on venues and that style of music, personally, I wouldn’t have a clue. Xand’s the man. Also he now manages Harmony. The girl needs a change of image, she’s 25, and getting too old for the ‘Teeny-Bop’ princess label. Her change of style at the radio awards got her front pages in seven papers, all very positive – we should go with it. Plenty more ‘Harmony’ wannabe’s in the wings – we could pick up half a dozen no sweat” Spike said. Sweet looked at him, and nodded

“Okay, I’ll leave it to you, if you think Alexander here is capable”

“He’s more than capable” Spike said. Xander’s chest almost swelled with pride, and he was SO grateful at Spike for speaking up for him, saving him the job of stammering and bungling through it and making Sweet think he was an idiot…

“Getting back to Be-uffy. Her album coming on is it?”

“It’s done. That’s how much of a professional she is – just ask Ethan here – what was it you said about her when she came on your show?” Spike turned to the show-host

“Oh, um, er well I um, said that, erm…well, how m-much of a professional she was…I don’t like f-f-first timers – but you couldn’t tell”

“I LOVE them!” Glory smiled her evil smile

“Done is it? Well, when is it going to be released?” Sweet was impressed

“We’ll see this New York trip out of the way first, get some more TV behind her – I should say mid September – third week somewhere around there, then a Christmas release, and then January she’ll start a 20 date tour”

“Not let the grass grow on this little lady, have you?” Sweet tried to grin, but as usual, it looked like a lop-sided leer.

“Spike’s taken a ‘special interest’ in this one, haven’t you darling?” Glory said, acidly.

“Who’s going to New York with her?” Sweet asked

“Me. I am, taking two days personal time. The other two days I’ll be working, getting in touch with my contacts, getting her some TV and that”

“Personal time eh? How very…dedicated, but then, you always were dedicated, weren’t you Spike………” Glory said giving Spike an evil grin.

Sweet noticed his right hand beginning to shake, and knew it was time for him to go, and take his ‘medicine’. He stood up.

“Daddy! We were going to discuss my new show” Glory sat forward, shuffling papers

“Some other time, Glory” Sweet went to the door and turned

“But Daddy – you said - ”

“Now I’m saying some other time – Spike, a word please” Cordy glanced at Spike as he stood and followed Sweet out of the door.

“I know how things are, it must be a little hard for you at the moment, it came as a shock to me when I saw her, so I’ll let your – lets say, less than respectful attitude pass this time – but speak to me like that in front of the others again, and you and I will fall out”
Sweet didn’t give Spike time to reply, he turned and walked into the waiting lift.

Spike frowned, then his brows rose, he was thinking,‘ hard for me, and a shock when he saw her – saw who? What the hell was he on about now? And then he shrugged. It must be the drugs, he thought, addled his brain. He went back into the conference room to Xander and Cordy.

“Spike! Thanks mate – I can’t believe how easy you made that seem!” Xander actually hugged him.

“Hey! Steady on, it’s ok mate…um, oh, didn’t you have somewhere to be?” Spike spied Harmony, looking like an extra from ‘Annie Get Your Gun’ waving at them through the glass doors.

“What – oh blimey, yes – line-dancing - I’ll see y’all tomorrow, pardners!” Xander picked up a cowboy hat, plonked it on his head and left.

When Spike looked at Cordy, he grinned.

“Glad I’m out of the office tomorrow – he’ll be Yee Haw-ing and Howdy –Pardners all day!”

Cordy narrowed her eyes.

“I MIGHT just loose your expenses form if you don’t help me out here!”

“Ooh, temper, temper…you could always get Harmony in, discuss her change of image for a few hours”

“Is THAT supposed to make me feel better?” Cordy glared at Spike.

“Or, you could pass everything over to the typing pool as we know Sweet won’t be in for another week now, and you could go shopping with Buffy – I’ll even sign a chit for a little something for yourself” Spike smiled, Cordelia grinned, and kissed his cheek.

“I KNEW I liked you really!”

“I’ll bring her in for nine, there’s one or two things to sign, but if you could be available from, lets say………10 o’clock – I want her to shop for New York, Holden’s Weekly, and something really nice to wear at a fancy dinner”

“Company cheque book?”

“Of course”

“Right. Well, if I’m doing that, I’ll go type up these minutes now – see you”

“Thanks Cordy, I appreciate this”

“No, Spike, thank YOU!”

***********


“New York! – Buffy, that’s fantastic!” Willow and Buffy were sitting cross-legged facing each other on the sofa.

“I know, and even better, he’s coming with me! I’ll have to do work of course, I’ve got the show, and a signing in a big music store, and then there’s a magazine want to do a spread on me, and an interview with Chart Express at the airport, there’s one or two other bits and bobs, but Spike said that if he manages it right, we’ll still have time for sight-seeing and shopping!”

“Hmm…god, this ice cream is heaven! – So, come on, what’s he like – does he kiss nice?”

“Nice? NICE? Willow – he’s, he’s fantastic! I’m, well, I really falling for him”

Willow smiled a little hesitantly.

“Aren’t you happy for me Will?” Buffy asked

“What – of COURSE I am! – But, well, he must have hundreds of girls after him; he’s very good looking. And he meets all the top stars and spends time with them, and um…that”

“But he doesn’t – I said this…is it like this with all the female singers, but they usually have what’s called ‘minders.’ Managers only usually spend about an hour a week with their acts. He said it was different with me…I really, really like him Will” Buffy smiled at her friend

“Well good! Just, just be careful, I don’t want you to get hurt, that’s all”

“I know. Now, I want to ask you a big huge favour”

“What’s that?”

“Would you move in here for a few weeks, look after the house for me”

“That would be great – and doing me a favour! I could get some Oz time!” Both girls giggled.

“Not very romantic when you’ve got a heavy-metal freak the one side, and a girl that’s learning to play the viola the other side…kinda hard to get in the mood…”

“Oh guess what, Angel sent me flowers, and my dad rang the record company!”

“NO!”

“Oh yes – and I’ll tell you this much……………”

***********


“Is that it, one case – you travel light!” Jenny abandoned the luggage trolley she’d got and took Anya’s case off her.

“I went there to write songs – not to holiday, so, how’s things?”

“Let’s get back to yours, I’ve got a Thai style banquet for three in case you were extra hungry, get a bottle of wine open and I’ll tell you all about it”
Jenny hauled open a taxi door and they got inside.

***

“………Hmm, any more of that lemon grass and coconut chicken? – Thanks, so go on, what happened then?”

“Well, I was SO disappointed he said no I couldn’t use the restaurant for the book review, I said it then about Ethan and his Mrs, I couldn’t help it, it just sort of came out”

“The one thing I told you never to bring up – Jenny…I’ll tell you now, I spoke to him this afternoon” Anya said

“What – where? When? I’ve left messages everywhere, at the studio, the restaurant, his mobile – and he hasn’t got back to me“

“He’s too angry to speak to you”

“I’ve blown it then” Jenny’s shoulders dropped and she heaved a sigh.

“Give it a week or two, he may come round”

“If he knew just how sorry I was…”

“The more you push it, the more I think he’ll dig his heels in. Give him some time to cool off, and then in a few weeks, phone him, telling him you’ll be in town, suggest going for a coffee or something” Anya said

“But what if he says no?”

“Then you know you’ve blown it”

*************


“Dru…Drusilla”

“Hmm?”

“Do you want to come out with us? – We’re going to a rock concert, then clubbing”

“Oh, no…no thanks”

“Sure – you’re welcome”

“No thankyou. I’ll stay in and watch TV. Besides which, I haven’t any money”

“Ask Daddy! He’ll give you some” Cecily said, throwing off her robe and standing naked in front of her wardrobe, she began to sift through the rails of clothes.

“I don’t like to…Cecily, where are my tablets?”

“Hmm – sorry pet, what?” Cecily came out of her wardrobe, holding up a leather basque with a net tutu by Vivian Westwood, holey stockings and impossibly high platform heeled shoes

“My medication, where is it – it was in my purse”

“Oh, and it’s not there now? Um…let me think………ah, I know, it’s at Daddy’s, we had to give you some when you went all…well, shall I ring him for you”

“I DO need it” Dru looked pained, she didn’t want to be a bother to anyone.

“Ok, well let me get dressed, and I’ll sort things for you”

“………you will – great I’ll tell her, bye!” Cecily put the phone down, and went into the lounge where Dru was watching TV.

“Daddy’s sending Lorne over with them for you okay pet, don’t wait up!”

She kissed her friends cheek, leaving a smear of deep purple punk lipstick.

“Have a nice time”

“We will! – Bye-ee!”

Half an hour later, Lorne knocked on the door.

“Daddy’s worried about you. He wants you to come and stay with him” Lorne told her.

“He’s not mad with me then?”

“Course not. Cecily gone out has she?”

“Yes. To a concert, all punked up, scary makeup. I didn’t want to go”

“Come back with me Dru. I’ll take care of you. Me and Daddy” Lorne held his hand out to her, and like a child she nodded and allowed herself to be led to the car.

Chapter 16

Buffy couldn’t help grinning broadly as the taxi pulled up outside the Ritz-Carlton Hotel.

“I’m SO glad the Sheraton messed up the bookings – and now we can stay here!”
Spike grinned at her child-like enthusiasm.

“Sure about the suite though, I can book another-“

“Spike, I’m sure I’m sure, okay – it’s what I want” They smiled at each other, and Spike went to check in while the bellhops sorted out the luggage.

Five minutes later, Buffy was looking out over a magnificent view of Central Park, after looking around the suite in wonder at the huge bathroom with sunken whirlpool bath and giant walk-in shower, lounge with every thing you could want, and a bedroom with a massive bed.

“Wow…look at that for a view!” Buffy turned and saw that Spike was on his cell phone, but he smiled at her and ended his call and came over to the big picture window.

“Sorry, I didn’t realise you were on the phone” Buffy said

“It’s okay pet. Look, I’ve just bought that ‘One-To-Watch’ interview forward, if we can get that in before we have to go off to the record store signing, it means you can have…um…let me see…three – yeah, a good three hours shopping – before the shops close, if you want”

“Oh wow! Oh yes please!” Buffy bounced on the balls of her feet, she wasn’t in the slightest bit tired, more like a kid on Christmas eve!

“And er, where is it…ah, here we are – spending money” Spike held out a cheque to her. Buffy’s eyes went huge, and she sat down heavily in the nearest chair.

“Oh my god! I’ve never – I mean – but what if-oh!”
Spike chuckled at her incredulity.

“Babe, your single is number one, your album will do the same, that’s a drop in the ocean”

Buffy saw the words ‘five hundred thousand dollars’, and couldn’t comprehend such amounts of money…HER money!

“Are you tired pet?” Buffy shook her head

“Hungry?”

“Um…a bit. How long have we got before I’ve got to do anything?”
Spike looked at his watch again.

“Well, I didn’t know just how tired you’d be, so didn’t book anything until three o’clock this afternoon.”

“Oh good!”

“Would you trust me on this?” Spike said, holding her around the waist. Buffy smiled up at him, and slipped her hands around the back of his neck.

“Course”

“I know you said you don’t feel tired, but, have a rest now. You’ll feel better for it later on”

“Ok…will, um…will you stay with me?”

“Course I will pet” Spike had his lips by her forehead, and he kissed it softly.
Buffy yawned, and then giggled.

“I didn’t think I was tired!” Buffy led Spike into the bedroom. While she carried on into the bathroom, Spike took off his shoes and sat on the bed. He thought it prudent to set his watch alarm, just in case they fell asleep.

Buffy came back into the bedroom, threw the skirt she’d been wearing over the chair, and looked at Spike who was sitting on the bed with his back to her. She could hear a little beeping sound. She crawled over the bed and knelt behind him, slipped her arms around his neck and looking over his shoulder she said,

“Oh. I thought you’d got one of those computer game things…what are you doing?” Spike pressed the winder of his watch in, and put it on the nightstand, he turned his head and said to her,

“Just setting my watch alarm, so we don’t oversleep” He kissed her nose lightly and Buffy looked at his lips for a second or two, then she began to kiss him properly. Without breaking the kiss, he shifted around, and they somehow managed to manoeuvre themselves to lying down facing each other.

“Are you really sure about this love, I don’t want you to think I-“

“Sure I’m sure…” Buffy lay more on her back with Spike leaning over her, their kisses becoming more wanton and passionate.
He began to kiss and nibble at her neck, making her pant and writhe. Suddenly he stopped.

“Um…sorry babe, but I, well, I haven’t got any………I need to get condoms” Buffy shook her head and said,

“It’s ok, I’m on the pill for irregular… I’m safe, okay?” one thought hit Spike
**Wow, bare-back** not only was he going to make love to this beautiful woman, it was going to be as nature intended…he resumed kissing her

“God baby, you smell so good, you’re SO beautiful” Spike breathed in her ear. With slightly shaky fingers, she began to undo his shirt, and pushed it down his arms. Raising up slightly, Spike threw it off him and onto the floor, and he in turn gently removed her sweater.
He then started to kiss lower on her neck, and the tops of her breasts. Buffy could feel him trying to find the clasp of her bra at the back, so to help she pressed on the rose covered clip in the front and the cups parted, and she raised up and let it slide off her arms. All she had on now were her tiny panties. Spike still had his jeans on. He began to nuzzle at her soft firm breasts, kissing and teasing her nipples, flicking with his tongue and sucking them in turn to hard nubs, making Buffy gasp and hold his head to her. In between his ministrations, he would murmur how lovely she was, how soft she felt. He quickly skimmed down kissing her abdomen, and settled between her satin-soft thighs. Buffy raised her head off the pillow, slightly frowning,

“Wha-where are – oh – OH!”
Slipping her thighs over his shoulders, he undid the tiny bows at her hips, and dropped the little scrap of lace-edged silk on the floor, and then Spike said softly,

“So you don’t forget who’s doing this to you…I’m going to write my name with my tongue over a very special place………”
Her head snapped back onto the pillows as a wondrous sensation overtook her body.

Wiggling his tongue over her labia, he gently parted her inner lips until he found his prize, and proceeded with a stiffened tongue-tip to paint the letters of his name over her clitoris, every so often teasing her opening with long deep strokes, that had Buffy breathless. Her head whipping back and forth, she was totally mindless to anything other than the sheer unadulterated pleasure he was giving her. Clutching handfuls of bedding, her hips rocked of their own volition, and she couldn’t breathe properly, her neck arched, eyes tight shut, her mouth open, she was gasping, such sensations she’d never had, fact was she’d never had oral sex before.

“Mmm……… baby…is that good, huh?”
Buffy tried to answer, honestly she did. A slightly strangulated, ‘Yea –hmm, ooooohhhhh’………was the best she could manage, as words eluded her. Spike chuckled and continued his ministrations, finally sliding a finger inside her hot, tight depths to rub her G spot, causing Buffy’s already maximum loaded senses to trip to over-load and she cried out and bucked her hips as a series of mini-orgasms ripped through her.

Spike couldn’t stand the tight confines of his jeans any longer, and he quickly undid the belt and snapped open the top button. The sheer size and weight of his monster hard-on made the zip open on it’s own, and he speedily shed them and kicked them on the floor.

Leaning on one forearm, Spike reared over her and began to kiss her neck and then her lips, blindly Buffy reached for him, and she felt his whole body stiffen and he gasped when her fingers closed around his huge erection. Her fingers didn’t meet he was so big, and her eyes flew open, her first thought was that he’d never fit!

Glancing down what she saw only confirmed her first thought. He was absolutely massive! She circled her thumb over the leaking slit, lubricating the head, and Spike gasped and closed his eyes, letting his head drop to her neck.

“Baby – oh gods – I’ll be gentle, go slow – oooh!” he shuddered as he felt her put him at her opening, and he slowly began to enter her. Buffy arched her back, and Spike withdrew and thrust forward several times before he was a little over half way inside her. They were both gasping – she was so tight and hot and glorious – Buffy wanted him so much, she began to firmly thrust her hips up towards his. Spike reached down and snagged her behind the knee and drew her leg up towards her chest, and Buffy followed with the other leg automatically, and crossed her ankles behind his back, high up around is waist. Spike slowly sank fully inside her to the hilt, pushing right into her cervix, he could feel the tight hot cushiony squeezing of her inner walls surround him, and he knew she felt so good that he wouldn’t last, he wanted her too much for too long – he’d wanted her the second he’d set eyes on her, and the actual act of their union was so much better than he’d imagined.

Buffy’s fingers flexed, she held his shoulder, his biceps, feeling the straining muscles under her fingers, their hips churning, the sensations and feeling they were giving and receiving were so utterly unbelievably good that neither could speak at first, it was hard enough to just drag air into their lungs! He leaned down and kissed her, their tongues fort for dominance, before moving onto her neck. She had noticed that his neck was particularly sensitive, and when she lightly bit down and sucked, it sent him wild, as did the kneading of his shoulders and the light raking of her nails down his back. Spike upped the pace and began to thrust harder and faster much to Buffy’s delight; she too matched his pace. She marvelled at Mother Nature that she could accommodate him so completely, he utterly filled her to the brim – and the feeling was indescribably good.

“Baby…oh god, so good………you’re too, good……I can’t hold…” Spike began to babble

“Do it! Don’t…stop, ooh…oh yeah…oooh, Spike, don’t stop, harder…oh, I’m oh, ooooohhhhh – “

“Buffy – oh – me too…I’m…aaaaahhhhh – “

Thrusting at an incredible pace, Spike felt the first involuntary clench of her orgasm, and knew he couldn’t hold back any longer himself, he thrust up as hard as he could. She felt him swell, stretching her that little bit more, the sweet tight clench of her femininity milking him as he shot a heavy load inside her, both crying out the longest deepest hardest orgasm they’d ever had. Ever. Ever, ever, ever……………

Spike came to with his head on the pillow. Buffy had run a hand through her hair, leaving her palm resting on her forehead. They were both panting hard.
When she could speak, Buffy croaked,

“I honestly didn’t know it could be like that, so fantastic, so completely………”

“Incredibly, wow?” Spike finished for her.

“Babe, that was…well…quite simply the best, you were incredible” he leaned up and gave her a soft kiss.

“Me? It was you!” She deepened the kiss, her tongue fighting a duel with his. He was still rock hard, still inside her.

“Are you sore pet, shall I –“ he went to move, but Buffy gave him a squeeze with her thighs, and she held on tight to his shoulders, and Spike grinned down at her.

“More. Again” She demanded, smiling up at him, and Spike, ever happy to comply began to thrust slowly again; slightly awestruck that he’d remained hard. She picked up his rhythm and they were both able to last longer this time, bringing each other to the dizzying heights of pure ecstasy that even rivalled their first time, culminating in an earth-shattering climax that left them both exhausted, and they fell asleep wrapped in each others arms.

***

Buffy stirred, then came awake fully. The first thing she realised was that she was snuggled up to a very sexy, very naked Spike. The second thing she noticed, was that the phone was ringing.

“Spike…Spike”

“Hmm – “

“Phone’s ringing, baby”

Spike shifted on his back and groped for the phone on the nightstand.

“Yeah?” he asked sleepily, then he sat up

“Right, um sorry…jet-lag caught up with us, um, give us fifteen minutes would you, and um, send up some coffee and sandwiches please…thankyou” Spike put down the phone and turned to Buffy and said,

“We overslept! The watch alarm went off but we must have been in too deep a sleep to hear it. One-To-Watch are here for the interview, I said to give us fifteen, you go have a quick shower, I’ve ordered coffee and sandwiches, is that ok baby…sorry ‘bout the rush”
He leant over and kissed her.
Buffy hugged him to her for a second and said,

“That’s fine – I won’t be long” She got up and went and had a quick shower. Five minutes later she came back into the bedroom wearing her towelling robe.

“We doing the interview up here?”

“Don’t mind, do you pet?”

“Course not…jeans will be ok, won’t they, they don’t want pictures?”

“We can always get Cordelia at the office to fax through photo’s – oh – that should be the room-service”
Spike went and opened the door. And a man wearing a white jacket wheeled in a trolley with a mountain of assorted sandwiches and a huge pot of coffee and cups and that. Spike tipped him and immediately set about pouring them both a drink.

**********


All through the interview, Spike sort of hovered in the background. He kept on catching Buffy’s eye, and they couldn’t stop smiling at each other, a fact picked up on by the interviewer. At the end, as she was packing her tape recorder and things away she said to Buffy,

“Is he your boyfriend?” Buffy looked at Spike and grinned.

“Spike? Spike is my manager, and my…yes, my boyfriend” she glanced at him again, and he was grinning.

“Thought so…the air sort of, well crackles around you, and you haven’t taken your eyes off each other the whole time…” She smiled at Buffy and continued,

“Not that I blame you, he’s all sorts of gorgeous, isn’t he! Well, nice meeting you Buffy, and good luck with the album – not that you’ll need any luck”
She held out her hand and Buffy shook it, grinning and said thankyou. The woman left.

As soon as the door was shut, Buffy was in Spike’s arms, and they were kissing.

“What time is the car coming for us?”

“Twenty minutes”

“Right, well, I suppose I better put a bit of colour on my face, I must look a fright!”

Spike gave her a quick kiss and said,

“Nope, you look beautiful to me love” Buffy smiled and blushed slightly, which she knew was silly, but still…

*****

“Oh my GOD! They are not all here to see me are they?” The limo passed the front of the MegaMusic Store and Buffy stared with amazement at the huge crowds of people. She could see marshals holding them back behind barriers that tightly zigzagged their way up to the store entrance.

“Well they sure aren’t here to see me, pet!”

The popularity of her own celebrity still surprised her. The car slid smoothly into the parking bay at the back of the shop where they were met by the manager at the fire-exit door.

They were both ushered in quickly, and Spike said he’d wait in the manager’s office for her.

Buffy came out into the shop, through a door marked ‘Private’ and the first 50 of the waiting crowd had been let in. Stacked all around were copies of her CD, and a life-sized cardboard cut outs of the picture of Buffy standing on the shore adored the shop floor and windows advertising her song and the fact that she would be appearing at the shop to sign copies. Her song was playing over the air and for an hour and a half Buffy signed copies of the CD cover, and shook hands.

Spike had prudently got the store to get some already signed photos (stamped ones done by the secretaries) of Buffy in, so if they sold out of the single, the customers wouldn’t be too disappointed and would have something to show for their patient queuing.
This was good thinking on his part as the store had, in fact, sold out it’s allocated 1500 copies of the CD, people had been buying it all the previous day and the morning too.
After thanking the very happy manager, Buffy and Spike left and got back into the car.

“Here, put these on pet, and I bought this for you to put on…right, I think you said shopping was the order of the day, yes?” Excitedly Buffy put the little pale blue cardigan on, and the dark glasses, and Spike asked the driver to take them to Madison Avenue rather than back to the hotel.

Bowled over by the fact that she could see all the designer stores, let alone shop in them, Buffy went into Versace, Armani, La Perla, Prada, Dolce and Gabbana, DKNY and Calvin Klein. She also visited Bloomingdales, and she’d spent a fortune!
She’d probably spent more in two and a half hours, than she’d spent in her entire lifetime. But she was bubbly happy as they walked through the shops, shops she’d only ever dreamed about going into, let alone buying anything! She was hand in hand with Spike, she’d never honestly been so happy.

They’d had to make several trips back to the car to load her shopping. By seven o’ clock it was dark and they both were hungry.
Spike asked the driver to take them back to the hotel via Broadway, so Buffy could see all the theatres and the bright lights.

When they did get back to the hotel Spike asked her what she wanted to do, go out, eat in, or send for room service. Thanks to the afternoon sleep, they didn’t feel all that tired, and Buffy wanted to be out, experiencing it all.

“Don’t tire yourself out Kitten, you’ve got that TV show tomorrow morning remember, and we want you to be all bright eyed and bushy tailed for that!” Spike reminded her.

“I know. We won’t be too late back…now, I don’t know about you, but I’m starving!”

“Yup, me too babe!”

“I fancy a big, juicy steak…yeah that’s what I want” Buffy rubbed her tummy, nodding.

“Sounds excellent, I know just the place” Spike said grinning.

They both got changed and took a cab and went to a restaurant Spike knew off Madison Ave. Where they both had huge steaks with fries and salad a bottle of good wine and then they shared an enormous ice cream confection that defeated them both in the end and they had to leave some as they were both full.

“Shall we walk a few blocks, look at the shops and then get a cab the rest of the way?” Spike suggested, which Buffy was happy to do.

They were soon back at the hotel, were there was several messages for Spike. While Buffy did her thing in the bathroom, Spike set up his laptop in the sitting room and caught up with a little work. Buffy called him from the bedroom.

“Will you be long, baby?” She stood there leaning against the doorjamb, one hand seductively holding near the top of the door, her one hip thrown into profile. Saucily she ran her tongue along her top lip. She was wearing one of her purchases, a filmy little bit of lacy nothing, held together with tiny satin ribbons that accentuated her curves and made her look so utterly desirable and so sexy that Spike went and just shut down his laptop and join her straight away!

“You like?”

“Uh, uh, I LOVE…but I prefer you totally naked, c’mere you sexy little minx!” Buffy squealed as Spike made a playful dive for her and she very quickly allowed him to ‘catch’ her. She slid her arms around his neck and said seductively,

“So…whaddya gonna do now you’ve caught me, huh?” Grinning, she teased and ground her hips against his growing erection, making him catch a breath.

“Well now………let me see, I always thought actions spoke louder than words…” Spike gently walked her backwards and they both tumbled to the bed, where he began to pull open the little satin bows till all her delights were exposed to him, and he began to nibble on her neck fondle her breasts and suckle at her nipples, making her mewl like a kitten, getting her very hot. Emboldened by the wine she’d had earlier she gently pushed down on the top of his head and said,

“I’ve forgotten…remind me of your name again, would you?” Spike grinned at her, and after undressing himself in record speed, he quickly settled between her smooth legs and gave a repeat performance of writing his name for her, over, and over, and over again, until Buffy had lost count of the orgasms and had shouted herself hoarse.
****

Buffy woke and stretched she looked at the clock; it was 3.50am. She got up and went to the bathroom. Feeling ever so slightly sore and a little sticky, she had a shower and felt refreshed. The room was warm enough to pad around naked in, and when she got back into bed, she found Spike had shifted from lying on his side to on his back. She looked at him – and gods, he looked so hansom. His growing out bleach job tumbled mop of unruly curls, the chiselled jaw, full lips to his fine physique, well-muscled shoulders and biceps, to the six-pack abs. He was one neat package all right!

Feeling wide awake, and full of devilment, Buffy lightly traced her finger down his chest, around under his pectoral muscles and then she traced on down between his six-pack. Spike stirred slightly and she smiled. Under the sheet, she could see the outline of his huge manhood beginning to stiffen. Gently she inched the sheet down, until she had him full exposed. She fluttered her fingers through his crisp curls and tickled over his thighs. She was dying to touch him. It.
Swallowing and licking her lips, she bent her head forward, and licked the length of his shaft. Spike murmured a sigh and he moved his head to lay on his other cheek. Buffy stifled a giggle, and did it again, this time she gently took hold of him, and lifted the head to her mouth. She licked around the head, and then making her lips into a wet ‘O’ shape, she slowly slid them down, clamping them under the ridge, sucking gently. She began to slowly pump him, taking as much of him into her mouth as she could, and bringing her other hand into the mix, she cupped his balls, lightly squeezing and massaging circles over them with her thumb. Spike let out a loud pleasured groan and bucked his hips up toward her. Buffy for her part, was really enjoying herself. She’d only done this once before, and (or so she’d been told) needed a lot more practice.

The one thing she would be grateful for though, was to a certain young troubled student at her last job. Dawn her name was, always getting herself into scrapes…Buffy came round to her office area the one day to find Dawn looking at a website, ‘How to give better blowjobs’. Of course, Buffy had admonished her, closed the site and sent the girl on her way immediately, but later she secretly went back and made a note of the web address………

“Ooooohhhhh –babe!” Spike gasped.

She removed her mouth from him, although she still carried on both sets of hand movements.

“Never really done this before…tell me what to do” Buffy said softly

“You’re………you’re doing, oh, f-fine, love…oh god yes!” Spike thrust his hips up, he didn’t want to hurt her, but when her mouth returned to him and began the gentle sucking along with the slow pumping and the massaging of his balls, Spike was in ecstasy.

Trying to remember about what she’d read, she experimented with speed, and firmness of pumping and sucking, just sucking the head or sliding her mouth down as far as she could without gagging, to gauge his reaction to what he like best. The way his thighs tensed and his hips bounced when she pumped him fairly fast and firm, taking him as deeply as possible into her mouth had him mindless, his fingers tangled in her hair as he babbled how good she was doing.

She didn’t suck all the time, and for a while she just pumped and massaged, working her thumb over the fine seam that divided his balls, then she slid her fingers lower to stroke the firm ridge behind them, a very sensitive area, so she’d read, sending Spike wild. The head of his huge dick looked angry and purple and fit to burst, crying out for attention, and so Buffy took pity on him, sucking him greedily into her mouth tasting the clear fluid pre-cum. Twenty minutes of this and Spike couldn’t last out anymore. She noted his breathing got faster and shallower, his hips bounced a little higher and his moans and groans of pleasure got more frequent.

“Babe, I‘m, oh god yeah, so good…I’m gonna…oh yes…oh babe, don’t stop, oh yeah, yeah, oh – god, I’m coming – uhn, uhn, uhn, uhn – ah, ooooohhhhh………oh god, baby, that was…oh!

He’d warned her in plenty of time that he was coming, so she could move her mouth away, but much to his delight and pleasure she chose to stay and she even swallowed, without gagging. She kissed up his abdomen and chest and then she kissed him lightly.

“Any good?” She asked with an impish smile.

“What can I tell you babe…stupendous!”

“Good. I couldn’t sleep!” Spike grinned at her and cuddled her up, kissing the top of her head.

“So I gather. Lucky me then, eh?” They cuddled and just talked for about an
hour, and then they both fell asleep. They were both awake again by half past seven, and they made love slowly and gently, gradually building to a terrific crescendo for them both. Afterwards they decided to give the Jacuzzi a whirl before a room-service breakfast of freshly squeezed orange juice, cereals, bacon and eggs, tea, toast and honey. Spike said it was a good idea to have a hearty breakfast as she was filming and had no idea as to what time lunch would be.

“I was hungry anyway…must be all this energy I’m using!” Spike flashed her a sexy grin, and Buffy wondered just when she’d gotten so bold! She grinned while she buttered a piece of toast.

********

Buffy was shown to her dressing room, which was small, but pleasant enough. Spike said he’d take the opportunity to get on with some work, and when Buffy went off to make-up, he plugged in his laptop and set about catching up.

“Which show are you on, the first or the second, do you know?” the makeup lady asked.

“First, does it make a difference?”

“Well, they record two shows, and the set is changed in between, just a matter of colour co-ordination” the lady explained.

Holden’s Weekly was a popular show, a mixture of celebrities and the general public who had been in the news that week. Buffy had looked through the ‘running order’ and saw that she was ‘sandwiched’ between the local guy who’s dog had saved his life by literally dragging him out of a burning building, and a lady who had once weighed a little over 4001b, but thanks to a special diet had lost three quarters of her body weight.

It was Buffy’s turn, and she was introduced and she came on-set to rapturous applause, the previous guest was still seated, and his dog barked and wagged his tail, Buffy waved to the audience and sat down next to them. The audience laughed as the dog took a shine to Buffy and kept nudging her to fuss and pet him, which Buffy duly did! Holden was the perfect host, and he asked her the usual questions about winning the Search for A Star show, they showed a clip of her singing, as she wasn’t going to sing live, and he asked her how her life had changed, about her forthcoming album and the twenty date tour she was going to do.

They did something new to Buffy while doing a show, and took a ‘live’ phone call from a member of the public, which was put out on air. The call was from a lady who was getting married to her Marine boyfriend, and they both loved the song so much that they were going to have it played at the ceremony. Buffy was very touched and she said thankyou and congratulations to the lady and her fiancé.

Holden wound up the first half of the show, the two guests (and the dog!) getting their applause, and then a ‘before’ photograph of an enormous lady was shown, then it showed her as she was now in the flesh, a trim slim happy looking person, now a quarter of the size she used to be, who smiled and waved to the camera.

“All that plus controversial senator Brad Rico, coming up after this break, don’t go away now!” Holden said to camera

They cut to the commercials, and the first guests could leave. Buffy unclipped her microphone and made her way down the corridor to her dressing room where Spike was waiting for her, watching a small portable TV.

“Hey – was I any good?” She smiled and went and kissed him lightly.

“Brilliant as usual my little baby, although you were nearly up-staged by a cold nose and a waggy tail!” Spike kissed her nose.

“I know – Ruddles what a fantastic dog eh – he was so cute? It was amazing, they don’t know how a dog that size could drag an unconscious man out of a burning house…”

“Well, come on babe, chop-chop, we have to get back to the hotel, Hot! Magazine are due in an hour”

*******


There were six people from Hot! Magazine, the interviewer, a photographer, a lighting man, a sound recordist and two stylists, one doubled up as a makeup artist . Buffy was going to have a six-page spread done on her, she had hundreds of photos taken with at least two dozen changes of clothes. They chatted about her style and life-style, her music and taste in general – and the whole thing took just over two and a half hours.

While Buffy and the Hot! Magazine crew worked in the sitting room, Spike worked in the bedroom, phoning contacts and making arrangements. He’d got her two radio interviews, a teatime teen show slot and as a feature on a local cable-access music show.

She did one of the radio interviews over the phone, and the cable-access show feature from a bench in Central Park, all arty camera angles, that sometimes switched to black and white. It was late afternoon, and Spike knew that she would be feeling pretty tired by now, as he was.

“Anything else today?”

“Nope, just rest – I thought we could go to the Little Italy area tonight – grab us something wonderful to eat, that okay by you pet?” Buffy squeezed his hand and said,

“Hmm, sounds fantastic…so, what have I got to do tomorrow?”

“Sight seeing and more shopping, if you want, Empire State Building, Statue of Liberty, Times Square, and anywhere else your little heart desires”

Buffy leaned in and kissed his cheek, and Spike let go of her hand and put his arm around her shoulder, hugging her to him. She slipped her arm around his waist, leaning her head on his strong shoulder, and they slowly wended their way back to the hotel.

*********

“Oh my god, that has to be the best thing I’ve had in my mouth since…(she mouthed) ‘this morning’ !” They both giggled and Spike held out a forkful of spaghetti Bolognese to her.

“So, how come you know New York so well, all the best places then?”

“I used to live in Queens for a while – I started off in acting – did drama and English at uni, I got a chance to come to NY for twelve months. We used to do things in Central Park, off Broadway shows, stuff like that, then I drifted into music, became more interested in it than acting. I’d got a few good contacts in the music business, thanks to my father really. He used to let out the estate grounds for pop concerts…that’s how I met Sweet. He was just a manager back in the early nineties. He said to me if I ever needed a job, to go see him – so in 1998 I did. He’d just started Aphrodite then, and it was a case of being in the right place at the right time. Several of the top bands had contracts ending with the label they were all at, he broke away, signed them up, and never looked back since”

Buffy sat back and dabbed her mouth.

“That was superb!”

“Want to try their Tiramisu – even better than Luigi’s!”

“Really, is that possible?” Buffy laughed, and a small man, typically Italian looking came out of the kitchen.

“Hey Tony…long time no see!” Spike called over. The man squinted at Spike for a second or two, and then grinned and came from behind the bar over to their table.

“Will-yam! How are you…let me look at you…so, where you hide yourself these days, huh?” After a big back slapping hug Spike sat down and said,

“Based in LA now Tone, gotta go where the music takes me!” Tony pretended to look disgusted and batted the air in front of him.

“LA – Ah – My daughter, Sophia, she’s in LA – she say to me, Papa – nowhere do they do great Italian food – is all wheat-grass and egg-white omelette, she cannot get decent spaghetti vongolé!” Everybody smiled

“What is she doing?”

“Fashion – she is in final year at university – then she wants to go home to Milano” Tony looked at Buffy and smiled

“You have eye for very pretty lady!” Buffy blushed and Spike grinned

“I do indeed, let me introduce you, Tony, this is Buffy, Buffy, Toni Corelli “ Buffy smiled and shook his hand.

“So, you here long?”

“Unfortunately no, we go the day after tomorrow Buffy is a singer and we are here doing promotional work”

“Mixing business with pleasure, no doubt!” Tony nudged Spike, and they both grinned. A tall young man came through from the kitchen and called over to Tony in Italian.

“That is my youngest boy, Tomasso – I must go, try and come again before you go, huh?” He hugged Spike again, and kissed Buffy on both cheeks.

“We’ll try”

Tony went back into the kitchen, and the waitress placed a large portion of Tiramisu between them.

“Hey, do you know why there are so many Italians called Tony in New York?” Spike whispered, and smiling Buffy shook her head.

“Because coming from Italy, they had To NY on their luggage! Here, taste this and tell me what you think!”

“Hmm….this has GOT to be sin on a plate” Buffy said dreamily closing her eyes and savouring every mouthful.

When they left twenty minutes later, after Tony insisting that they didn’t pay, they walked a block and then got a cab back to the hotel.

The rest of the trip passed in a whirl, they went site seeing, shopping and Buffy did the interviews Spike had arranged. He’d also managed to get her a spot on one of the big late night chat shows, and they had to make a dash for the airport to catch their flight back home. They were sitting on the plane, ready for take-off, Spike was holding her hand.

“Well, did you enjoy it babe – your first trip?”

“I loved every second of it – New York will always be so special to me now”

“Me too babe!” They felt the plane pick up speed as it began to taxi down the runway and then take off.

Spike had always liked New York, and he had a better reason to do so now, it was where he fell in love with a girl called Buffy………

Chapter 17

“So, how was New York?” Cordelia asked a grinning Spike

“Loud, noisy, busy, fantastic! – How have things been here?”

“Loud, noisy, busy, not so fantastic”

“Oh?”

“I’m afraid I had to bring Xander into line!” Cordelia said grinning.

“Really? – Do tell!” Spike perched against her desk and waited for her to elucidate.
She went over to the photocopier and began to duplicate sheets while telling Spike all the office gossip and stuff that had gone on while he was away.

*******

“Buffy………Buffy, it’s one o’clock, lunch time” Willow gently shook her friend who’d fallen asleep in the armchair. A sea of designer shopping bags and her open luggage surrounded her.

“Wha- oh (she yawned and stretched) Hi Will…golly, is it that time already?”

“Yup…you don’t have to be anywhere, do you?” Willow asked

“No, got a day off!”

“Great, we can catch up, I don’t have any lectures this afternoon!” Willow said grinning, then she added,

“Want lunch – I was going to have a salad”

“Great, I need to cut down, I’ve been stuffing myself silly in New York. Let me go have a shower, and then I’ll tell you all about it!”

***

“………Look Will, real live, well, not live, but REAL Manolo’s!”

“Wow – “ Willow looked at the strappy sandals Buffy was holding up in awe.

“They cost an arm and a leg of course, and then I bought this dress in Prada. I mean, I didn’t think they’d let me through the door! – And um, oh here, this is for you!” Buffy handed Willow a DKNY bag with a dinky little shoulder purse in it in Willow’s favourite pink.

“Oh Buffy –thankyou – it’s lovely! Gods, I can’t use it – what if it gets damaged?”

“Don’t be silly! – Oh, and there’s this – I got one too - I might wear it in bed!” Buffy handed her another bag, and Willow took out an over-size ‘I (heart) NY’ tee shirt.

“There’s a baseball cap around here somewhere too…” Willow dropped her arms from holding up the tee shirt and grinned at her friend.

“So, how was it – you look different somehow”

“Different? How?” Buffy smiled and shook her head.

“I don’t really know…happy – you look really happy – your eyes are shining, and you’re all bubbly and excited – oh! I know! – I know what it is!” Still bemused, Buffy shook her head smiling,

“What, I haven’t cut my hair or anything!” Buffy smoothed her hair

“No. Not your hair. You’re in love!”

“What- no!” Buffy giggled through the word, lowering her gaze

“You are – aren’t you?” Smiling Willow ducked her head to try and look a smiling Buffy in the eyes. She looked up and smiled shyly and said,

“Well, yeah, ok, yes I am – Oh Willow – I had THE most FANTASTIC time of my life!”

She proceed to tell Willow what a brilliant time she’d had, obviously not going into detail on certain aspects of the trip, all about the things she did in the interviews and shows.

When she’d finished Willow got up and said,

“Now to bring you back down to earth with a bump!” She handed Buffy a bundle of letters and bills. Buffy rifled through them and stopped at one in particular, and held it up. She looked at Willow.

“You know who this is from, don’t you?”

“Your dad?” Willow said, biting her bottom lip.

“That’s the bastard” Buffy threw it to one side and began to open the bills.

“Oh, and um…I think your washing machine has had it, it works, just, but it’s making an awfully funny noise”

“Yeah, it was on its way out before I did the song at the Bronze” Buffy looked up from reading the bill.

“Actually, I don’t know if I could bear to part with it really, it was because it had developed a worrying squeak persuaded me to do the talent contest in the first place! I thought if I won the $1000, I could have it repaired. I’ll put it in the garage, and order a new one”

“Just like that!” Willow said, grinning

“Yeah…just like that! – No worries!”

*******

With her face devoid of makeup, and her blonde hair stuffed under a well pulled down baseball cap, and wearing tatty jeans, white tee and a denim jacket, nobody gave the woman a second look as she casually walked down the back alleyway. She stopped, made a very quick call on her cell-phone, and looked up and down the alley. The fire door opposite her opened, and Willy motioned for her to step inside, which she duly did.

“Well – what did this journalist mate of yours get?”

“A name, two addresses, and his birthplace”

“Come on then, hand it over!”

“I think you should be nice to me, if you want this-ah-a-a-a-ahh-h-h-h-OW!”

“Just GIVE IT, you little weasel!”

“Ow!” Willy frowned rubbed his throat and passed over the slip of paper to her.

“A frat house – and an Army Cadet Training Centre… …you said an address!” The blonde looked annoyed with the hapless barman. This time it was Willy’s turn to get indignant, and he bickered back,

“Listen, you do your own footslog – it’s not like you’re payin’ for any of this!”

“I’ll buy you a drink sometime – and remember, don’t go shooting your mouth off about this…I’m arranging a little surprise!”
The blonde said over her shoulder as she pocketed the piece of paper and pulled open the fire door and left.

Willy slammed the fire door shut mumbling to himself how she thought she was SO funny, buy him a drink indeed………

***************

Anya was almost annoyed at the lack of attention that Xander was giving her. He used to follow her around like a little lap dog with his tongue hanging out for her, hanging on her every word – and now, well, he didn’t even bother to look up from his computer monitor when he spoke to her.

It wasn’t that she fancied him or anything…she liked him enough, but well…she supposed it was an ego thing…since she split with Sven, there had been a distinct lack of action as regards men and her, and she was starting to feel it. She liked the company of men better than women, and most of all, she liked sex. And of late- well she’d had neither. She’d phoned Rupert Giles and arranged a lunch-date with him as she’d always been able to talk to him, she’d get a decent lunch, and commiserate with him over Jenny’s faux pas………


**********

“Where is she?” Sweet asked Lorne.

“In the garden, I was just going to call her in for morning coffee”

“Ok. She’s got to see the doctor again…although I’m not sure those tablets they’ve got her on are helping her much. She seems…Zombified”

“Well Daddy, you can ask him when he comes after lunch this afternoon. Maybe he can change them or something. There’s got to be more than one type of medication she can take” Lorne said.

“Yes. Ah, this will be my call from Switzerland, get the accountant on the phone for me please, I need to know exactly how much I can transfer to my accounts in Geneva and Zurich”

“Consider it done” Lorne said and left Sweet’s office.

********

“………You’re kidding, what, voluntarily – I don’t believe it!” Spike said incredulously

Cordelia nodded

“Honestly. When it was put to them what you said about if he was convicted if that photographer died, he knew he’s be looking at a mandatory 15 years minimum. Luckily for him, the guy came round Monday evening, and it looks like there will be no permanent damage, but he will still be charged with assault. As he’s in rehab of his own accord, his lawyer says that will count to the good of his case”

“And Animal?”

“Ah…if he gives up the name of his supplier, then they might go a little more leniently on him. The amount he was found in possession of was classed as for personal use, so the pushing charge has been dropped, so if he’s lucky, he could just end up with a fine, as long as he goes to rehab too”

“Well, he isn’t going to give up Sweet is he? – Oh, let him sort it out, no doubt if Sweet throws enough money at the problem it’ll ‘go away’ so to speak. Let’s see if we can get Rack to go rehab too, get three for the price of two!” Spike said grinning, and Cordelia laughed.

There was a knock at the office door and Glory walked in without waiting for an answer.

“Do you keep phone-books for different states?” She walked up to Cordelia’s desk.

“Uh huh, where do you want?”

“Iowa” Cordelia went over to the filing cabinets and found the appropriate book and gave it to Glory, who took it without a thankyou and left.

“Wonder what’s in Iowa?” Cordelia mused

“Who cares…so did Sweet sign those shopping receipts alright did he?” Spike asked

“Yup…he didn’t bat an eyelid. He never does with yours”

“Good. Did you get yourself something?”

“Nice little Chanel jacket, thankyou!” Cordelia said grinning, and Spike smiled.

“So, how did the trip go?”

“Fantastic – got a lot of work done!”

“I’m not on about work!”

“That’s ALL I’m telling you!”

“Spoilsport!”

“That’s me! – So where’s Xander?”

“Um…not sure, he was sorting out Caleb’s tour dates, I think”

“How are things between him and Harm?”

“Ah, the ‘secret’ relationship!” Cordy said, grinning. Spike also smiled

“Well, she’s stuck to him like a limpet every opportunity she gets, when she thinks no-ones looking that is, and they are totally nauseating when they rub noses and coo at each other…she calls him Pookie, and he calls her Poppet. I was half tempted to pinch the window cleaner’s bucket yesterday and dump the contents over them!”

“Ah, don’t be cruel…” Spike laughed.

“Anyway, if there is anything you want doing today, can I please have it by lunchtime, I’m going early”

“Oh – don’t tell me you actually have a life beyond these walls!” Spike quipped

“Funnily enough, I was only thinking that the other day. I reckon I’ve more than earned that Chanel jacket in unpaid overtime anyway! Yes, the said jacket is going to get an outing…I have a date!”

“With whom?”

“Mind it!”

“Come on, spill!”

“Shan’t, won’t, will not! – My lips are sealed!”

“Where’s that expenses form you forged my signature on?” Spike asked with a grin.

“Wes Price! You rat-bag! PLEASE keep it to yourself!”

“Darling, my middle name is discretion! And here…these are for you, coz I know you broke your last pair” Spike put a small packet with Dolce and Gabbana written on the front, on her desk.

She frown/smiled opened it and took out a pair of sunglasses, the type of which she had broken a month previously.

“What’s this? - Oh Spike! Thankyou! – Come here, you are a Sweetie” She gave him a light kiss on the cheek.

“You’re welcome pet. Now…I bet I’ve got a ton of emails to sift through!”

“Oh, I’ve put a Spam blocker on your account, and sifted out the rubbish, I haven’t opened anything personal, just left you the important and private ones”

“Aren’t you the bestest! Thanks!”

“Thankyou!” She waved the glasses at him and they both began to get on with some work.

*********

“Is Rupert there please…………Jenny Callender………yes, I’ll hold…………………He’s not? Oh. I don’t suppose you could tell me when he’s - no, okay then, thankyou, bye”
Jenny held the receiver to her chest, ended the phonecall with her fingers on the cut-off digits, and when she got the dialling tone again, she dialled Anyanka’s mobile.

The Four Seasons was closed, but Anya and Rupert had enjoyed a sumptuous lunch of grilled lobster and Champagne. They’d both heard the phone ring at the bookings counter, and the waitress blatantly lie about the boss not being in.

Grinning, Rupert sipped his Champagne and said to his lunch companion,

“You know who that’ll be calling, don’t you – I’ve instructed all my staff to say I’m not in – I can’t speak to her I just wish she’d take the hint!”

Not five seconds later, Anya’s cell phone rang, flashing up the name ‘Jenny C’.
“Oh, guess who this is? – I shan’t answer, I’ll let the message desk take it – anyway, sorry, do go on, Mick Jagger said what to you?”

Rupert finished his anecdote, and they both finished their drinks.

“Coffee?” he enquired

“Is it of the ‘Blended Gold’ type? Anya asked wickedly, grinning.

“Hey! That was years ago, nothing wrong in doing the odd commercial!”

“No Sweetie, I Know, in fact must run, I’m doing a commercial this afternoon for Steinbeck piano’s, it’s for the foreign market, and pays quite nicely, thankyou very much!”

Rupert stood up, and ever the gentleman he helped her on with her jacket. She turned to say goodbye, and suddenly found herself being kissed quite passionately. Slightly taken aback at first, she stood quite stiffly, but quickly yielded to his embrace and found herself totally enjoying it. She blinked open her eyes and thought, ‘wow, no wonder Jenny’s desperate to get back with him’.

“Anya…gods, do you know how long I’ve wanted to do that?”

“Huh? Erm…oh gosh, I er…”

“Meet me, tonight, please? Come for a drink upstairs at the cocktail bar – ring if you’ll be coming after hours” Rupert was rubbing her arm gently up and down, looking at her so earnestly.

“Er, Um…y-yeah – yes, yes, I’d love to!” They both smiled and the slight awkwardness had gone, especially when Anya launched herself at him for another toe curler of a kiss.

“Tonight, around nine-ish, I’ll ring if I’m going to be late…got to go, bye!”

Anya left on quite shaky legs. She got into her waiting car and told her driver where she wanted to go next. She looked up at the restaurant window, and Rupert raised his hand in a wave, she did the same. They both knew that a line had been crossed, and they’d moved on from being just friends to, well what exactly? A million other thoughts ran through her head, not least of which how would she break this to her friend Jenny?

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