Winner Take All
“I can't do this.”
“You've chosen a heck of a time to decide that, William.” Charles said.
“I know,” William replied as his shoulders sagged. “I suppose there's no graceful way out of it now.”
“Not one that wouldn't cause you even more embarrassment, engender a great deal of disappointment and ill will between you and the board--not to mention the entire female population of New York--as well as ruin the image I have been working so hard to cultivate for you as a real live human being.”
William glared at him, but after a moment his shoulders sagged. Charles was right, as usual. There was no way out of the commitment he'd made to the foundation months earlier. Unless...
“I could write a check,” he suggested optimistically. Charles gave him a look that would have made the stern headmaster at his prep school weep with envy.
“They don't want your money, William. Well, they do want your money, but what they need is your participation. It will mean a lot more to them to have you present at the event than your wallet.”
“All right, all right. Why I ever allowed you to talk me into this--.”
“You know, there's just the slimmest possibility that you'll enjoy yourself tonight.”
“I doubt it.” Charles only laughed at William's expression. “If I had a bunch of women competing for my attention--.”
“Feel free to stand in for me.”
“It's you they want.”
William rolled his eyes and picked up his garment bag.
“Let's just get this over with.”
“Did you pack your swimsuit?”
“That's not funny, Charles.”
Charles disagreed, and he laughed for the next three minutes.
**
“Awesome dress, Lizzy!”
The recipient of the compliment smiled at her best friend and did a star turn.
“Thanks, Char! I spent my last three lunch hours at Loehmann's searching for the perfect thing to wear.”
“You? At Loehmann's? Why did you go to an outlet store? You usually spend your quality shopping time in the trenches in one of the four B's.”
“Four B's?” the third in their party asked.
“Yes, Olivia: Barney's, Bendell's, Bergdorf's or Bloomingdale's,” Charlotte explained. “Lizzy occasionally prowls Saks when she wants a little variety. But Loehmann's?”
“I had a good reason,” Lizzy said enigmatically.
“Pray tell,” Charlotte said.
“I got a look at the list last week and decided that I needed to have a little extra cash on hand tonight.”
Olivia and Charlotte exchanged a glance.
“What does that mean?” Olivia demanded.
“How did you manage to get a peek at the list?” Charlotte asked. “I thought it was supposed to be top secret until tonight.”
“Let's just say that it's very convenient to have a father on the planning committee,” Lizzy said smugly. “He accidentally left the folder open on the counter and I stole a peek.”
“And started counting your pennies.”
“You got that right, Olivia. It turns out that I needn't have bothered cutting corners. The moment my mom saw the list she gave me a cashier's check for $5,000.”
“You're kidding!”
“Nope.”
“Wow!”
“I want to know what she saw that made her ante up,” Charlotte said. Lizzy shrugged.
“She didn't name any names. She just wanted to make sure I come out on top tonight.”
“Well, I want to know what you saw that made you set aside your mad money,” Olivia said.
“Yeah, who's the big attraction?” Lizzy smiled. “Skip the Cheshire cat imitation and speak, girl.”
“All right: William Darcy.” Charlotte and Olivia gasped and exchanged a look.
“William Darcy, Jr.?”
“It's the third, I think,” Lizzy corrected.
“Honey, we're stopping at an ATM on the way to the ballroom,” Charlotte said.
“Amen, sister,” Olivia replied, grabbing her purse. Lizzy picked up her own bag and followed them out of her apartment.
**
“I hate these things,” William said.
“Which: tuxedos, charity events or--.”
“Annoying public relations officers?” William smirked.
“Good thing I won't be at your table, then,” Charles smiled. He was completely immune to William's snarling. He knew that William didn't really mean it. The young CEO had become too reclusive and serious over the last few years as he built his empire and Charles was determined to revive the easygoing, gregarious William Darcy he'd known since childhood. William had, in fact, hired Charles to do just that.
On the surface of it, Charles was hired as the public relations officer for his company, but the truth was that William hired his old friend as a personal advisor. He desperately needed to turn his life around before he became completely isolated, as his father had done years before. William vividly recalled watching his father grow more and more distant as his obsession with his career drove him further and further apart from his family. Eventually, his father's behavior led to the dissolution of his marriage. The painful estrangement of his parents led William to vow to be a better man. Although he had yet to marry--or even look for a wife, for that matter--he was determined to avoid his father's mistake. Thus, when William found himself becoming too obsessive about his business he made the call to Charles. His friend had been dragging him kicking and screaming out into the world ever since.
William would never admit to Charles how much he was enjoying himself. But this time, Charles had gone too far. William was not up to what lie ahead on this evening. In fact, he found the whole idea more than a bit distasteful.
He wasn't the only one.
**
“This is madness,” Thomas Bennet said for the third time as he surveyed the ballroom.
“Don't be ridiculous, Thomas,” Edith Bennet said. “It should be fun and it's a wonderful way to raise money for the children's hospital.”
“A charity auction, yes. A bachelor auction is quite another thing,” Thomas said.
“It'll be great fun! It certainly brought out the younger crowd. I know that the foundation has been working hard over the last two years to encourage greater participation from the younger generation. I think they've finally hit on something.”
“Yes, and because of that I'll have the pleasure of watching my daughter throw her dignity to the wind and try to buy herself a date.”
“I hope she gets a good one. There are some very handsome young men around this evening,” Edit said as she scanned the crowds. The bachelors were circulating among the guests, essentially on display for the bidders. “I do hope Lizzy arrives soon. William Darcy is so very handsome. If she doesn't get here soon one of the other girls will definitely catch his eye.”
“It's not about catching a man's eye, Edith. It's about making the winning bid. And why should she set her sights on William Darcy? I'm sure my Lizzy could do much better than the man the Wall Street Journal dubbed the `enfant terrible' of the telecommunications industry.”
“But William Darcy is the richest man here, Thomas! He's also the handsomest man in the room--present company excepted,” Edith said with an affectionate squeeze of her hand and a smile for her husband of thirty years.
“Lizzy has no need of a rich man or a handsome man,” Thomas insisted. “She needs a good man.”
“Why can't she have all three?”
“I have no problem with that, but if William Darcy is not all three he'd be wise to steer clear of my girl.” Edith was about to argue with him but she spied the young woman in question and squeezed her husband's hand once more. Thomas rose to greet the new arrivals.
“Hello, daddy,” Lizzy said as she kissed his cheek.
“Hello, Lizzy. Good evening, ladies,” Thomas said gallantly.
“Lizzy, you look marvelous!” Edith gushed. “He won't be able to take his eyes off of you.”
“Who?” Lizzy asked in confusion.
“You all look lovely tonight,” Thomas said, attempting to distract Lizzy from pursuing the matter.
“Thank you, Mr. B,” Olivia said.
“The ball looks like it'll be a huge success,” Charlotte said. “And I think the idea of a bachelor auction is fabulous.”
“So do I,” Edith said. “In fact I was just saying as much to Thomas. He seems to find it vulgar.” A lively debate ensued and Thomas rolled his eyes as Edith, Olivia and Charlotte defended the concept. Lizzy looked on in amusement.
“What say you, Lizzy?” Thomas said when he could get a word in edgewise. “You've been mum on the subject till now.”
“Well,” she said thoughtfully. “I can see where it could be deemed vulgar and embarrassing, but it's good clean fun and for a worthy cause. Besides,” she said with a smile, “I just might meet the man of my dreams tonight.”
**
“I have bad news,” Charles said as he approached William and drew him aside.
“What?”
“Caro's here and she's carrying enough money to buy a Titan missile.”
William rolled his eyes.
“I knew this was a bad idea,” he groaned. “But I guess that I can survive one evening with her if it means some kid gets a new kidney.”
“You're a stronger man than I am, William,” Charles laughed.
“Just remember that I'll never forgive you for this,” William said, resigned to his fate. He wasn't active enough in social circles to recognize the faces of the rich and famous among the crowd. It was possible that someone out there could outbid Caroline, he supposed. But there seemed to be no point in hoping for a miracle.
**
“Thomas, you're not sitting at the committee table?”
Thomas looked up and saw a fellow member of the ball's organizing committee. He rose and introduced her to the others at his table.
“I bought a table so I could sit with my family and a few of my daughter's friends.”
“I'm not sitting with those stuffed shirts, either,” Bess O'Donnell admitted. “My escort bought a table and I'll be joining him up front. It's close to the stage, girls,” she said with a wink to the young women. “If you want a good view of the auction, don't hesitate to join me after dinner. We'll have plenty of room; all the men at our table will be participating in the auction.” Lizzy, Charlotte and Olivia quickly agreed to the scheme. Bess smiled and left them to find her table.
**
“For a moment there I thought you were going to stand me up,” William said after he seated the matronly woman.
“I'd never abandon you at a time like this. Charles told me you were very nervous. I'll be here with you the whole time to give you moral support.”
“Will you come along on the date to support me, too?” William asked, only half in jest.
**
The bachelor auction got off to a rousing start, with Olivia placing the winning bid on a handsome young actor who was appearing in his first Broadway show.
“Daddy's going to flip when he sees my bank account this month,” she laughed before she went to ante up her $2,000.
“He sure will,” Charlotte said when she was out of earshot “He wanted her to go for a doctor or lawyer.”
“I suppose they'd come cheaper,” Lizzy smiled.
“Oh, why go for one of those dullards when she could get her hands on that hottie for a night?” Bess said. “Life's too short to pass up a chance like that.”
Lizzy and Charlotte exchanged a glance and laughed. Olivia returned shortly with her “purchase” in tow and announced that they were going to the lounge next door for a drink. Lizzy and Charlotte sent her off with their blessing.
“You know,” Lizzy said. “Call me crazy, but I don't think that it's going to be just one date between those two,” she said as she watched the pair walk out hand in hand. Charlotte shrugged.
“He's an actor, Lizzy. He's just playing his part. None of the men take these things too seriously.”
“Oh, I don't know,” Lizzy said, “he was looking at her pretty warmly just now. What do you think, Bess?”
“I think that if a prime opportunity presents itself one ought to go for it,” she said. “Like that one,” she added, pointing at the young man who'd come out on the stage. Charlotte made a bid, but dropped out at $1,000.
One by one, more bachelors came out on the stage. By this time, Lizzy was growing bored. Sensing that the stakes seemed to be getting higher with each man, she decided to dive in and make a bid while she could afford to. She didn't want to leave empty handed. Lizzy was about to raise her hand when Bess grabbed it.
“Wait. There's someone better coming up. I think he's right for you,” she said. Lizzy sighed and sat back and watched Charlotte bid timidly--and again unsuccessfully--for another bachelor. When the last bachelor stepped onto the stage, Lizzy perked up.
“Yum!” Charlotte said as William Darcy strolled across the stage, his hands casually shoved into his pants pockets. He paused at the center of the stage as a brief biography was read. Then William reluctantly walked the runway to show his wares.
“Now, Lizzy,” Bess smiled.
Lizzy returned the smile and opened the bidding at $100. The amount quickly escalated to $2,100, the highest bid since Olivia's actor took the stage. Lizzy sighed and kept on bidding. She had $7,500 at her disposal and she was determined to meet William Darcy.
Unlike the previous rounds, few women dropped out of the auction till the bid reached $2,500. Lizzy confidently raised the bid, but a woman at the back of the ballroom rose to her feet and doubled it. A gasp went around the room and several woman grumbled about being outbid.
“Sit down, Caroline,” a voice was heard in the room that had grown quiet.
Onstage, William groaned aloud. The woman at the podium turned to glance at him, but William averted his eyes. When he raised his head again, he managed a weak smile. Up to that point, William had actually enjoyed the auction. Much to his surprise he'd found it amusing to watch, not to mention a boost to his ego to see so many women vying for his company. He couldn't bring himself to look directly at any of the bidders, but he quickly identified Caroline's voice among the others and his enthusiasm promptly waned.
Lizzy sat back and considered. She could meet the last bid and raise it, knowing that the woman would probably match it without batting an eyelash. More importantly, though, were the consequences of such an action. Would William Darcy appreciate being in the company of a woman who'd so aggressively pursued him as a trophy? What would being so competitive say about her? Lizzy glanced up at the man on the stage. He looked stricken and she suddenly didn't want to be the woman who won William Darcy. She sat back and smiled, gesturing with her hand for the auctioneer to proceed without her. In a few seconds it was over and a triumphant cry went up in the back of the room, presumably from the woman who'd placed the winning bid. Charlotte sighed, patted Lizzy on the shoulder and headed off to the powder room.
“May I ask what was going on in your head just now?” Bess asked as William left the stage and reluctantly headed for the back of the room to meet his fate.
“I've had a crush on William Darcy ever since I first saw him in an article in the Times. But my interest in him is not strictly superficial. I've followed his career and even adopted some of the business strategies he's endorsed.”
“I don't blame you. The man is a marketing genius.”
“I know,” Lizzy sighed wistfully. She animatedly described how he had influenced her career, much to Bess's delight.
“So when I found out he was going to take part in the auction tonight,” Lizzy continued, “I jumped at the chance to bid on him. But you know what? What Charlotte said earlier made sense. It's just for charity. It's just for one night. I can't buy a dream. More importantly, I don't want to be the woman at the back of the room. She'll never be anything more to him than a huntress. If I want to meet William Darcy I suppose I'll just have to do it the old fashioned way.”
“If you want to meet William Darcy, just sit right here,” Bess said. She rose and let the table, leaving Lizzy to wonder what she was about. She was left alone at the table; everyone else rose was either dancing or circulating about the room. Lizzy cupped her chin and sighed. Thomas spied his daughter and went to her.
“Are you all right?” he asked gently.
“Yes, I'm fine,” Lizzy said, realizing as the words left her lips that it was true. She smiled at her father, who extended his hand.
“Come and dance with your old man.”
“Oh, I promised Bess I'd stay here,” Lizzy said reluctantly.
“I'll bring you back after a quick turn around the floor. Come on, I want to show you off.”
Lizzy was still dancing when Bess returned with William in tow. She looked around and saw her on the dance floor. Shrugging, she sat down to wait for Lizzy to return.
“Thanks again for rescuing me from Caroline,” William said as he sat down beside her.
“She bought an evening with you. That does not constitute a claim on you for this evening. You're still my date tonight, honey,” Bess said possessively. William leaned across the table and kissed her cheek. They chatted amiably for a few minutes before Thomas brought his daughter back to the table. Lizzy's heart was in her throat when William rose and smiled at her.
“Thomas, Lizzy, I'd like you to meet my grandson. William Darcy, this is Thomas Bennet and his daughter Lizzy. She's a young entrepreneur like you, William. In fact, you were the honoree at her graduation from business school last year and you inspired her to start her own business.”
William extended his hand to Thomas first, but he barely took his eyes off of Lizzy as he exchanged the obligatory pleasantries. He turned to her and shook her hand.
“Why don't you tell me about what you've done since graduation while we're on the dance floor? I'd love to hear what I said that inspired you.” Lizzy nodded and he led her back to the dance floor.
“Thank you, Bess,” Thomas said as he watched the pair walk away.
“Oh it was my pleasure, Thomas. I've been sitting with that girl for the last hour and what a treasure! She's got more sense, pluck, intelligence and charm than half the women in this room combined. She's just the kind of woman William needs.”
“Is he a good man?”
“He's the best of men.” Thomas eyed her suspiciously. “All right, so I'm a little biased. You don't have to take my opinion for it, though. You can ask Lizzy later...if he ever brings her back.”
William never did return Lizzy to her father. And Lizzy didn't leave the ball empty-handed, either.
The End