Well, I have decided to try to write a longer story this time. This idea actually came to me in the shower. And right now the baby is napping and my husband is out of town and my house is mostly clean. So I thought: why not spend this time writing and getting this story out of your head! Thanks to my beta who has been so wonderful to have helped me; and no, I do not own P&P.

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Lizzy sat at the Hotel bar nursing her mojito. She glanced down at her watch; the party had been going on for about forty-five minutes now. How could she show her face in there knowing that everyone was waiting to meet her "fiancée"? For the thousandth time that evening, Lizzy cursed herself for inventing one. She just couldn't stand the thought of Clint moving on before her. They had been dating for three years when he suddenly decided that they were not a good match. It had been like a bucket of ice water being dumped over her head; they had been planning on moving in together. Lizzy had notified her landlord that she was going to be moving at the end of her lease and so Mr. Fields had found another tenant. So now she was living with her sister and looking for a new place. All the while having to work and smile in the face of the man who broke her heart.

When Lizzy heard that Clint was suddenly dating some model, Lizzy felt humiliated. When confronted with said couple, she suddenly came up with her 'boyfriend' stating that they met at the coffee shop two months prior and had been together ever since, and no they could not meet them for coffee because he was away on business. According to Lizzy, her new boyfriend spent quite a bit of time out of town. Four months later, Lizzy's friend Charlotte told her that Clint was going to propose. She could not let that happen! Lizzy went to her jewelry box and pulled out her grandmother's ring. It was a simple little thing but it would do the job.

Charlotte had told everyone that Lizzy was engaged and that they would all get to meet him at the company party. Lizzy could have killed her best friend. How was she supposed to find some handsome businessman who traveled a lot to play fiancée?

Lizzy put her face in her hands and groaned.

"Tough night?" Lizzy looked up and saw the bartender standing there pouring some scotch over ice.

"I guess you could say that." She answered.

"Fight with the husband?" He nodded towards the ring on Lizzy's left hand.

"No." Lizzy sighed. "I am supposed to be at the Leyena & Smith party. But I don't have a fiancée." The bartender gave her a confused look. "I made one up because I couldn't stand the thought of my ex getting engaged before me." Lizzy blushed and looked down at her drink.

The bartender left to deliver the scotch on rocks and came back leaning forward on the bar top. "So what you are saying is that you need someone to play fiancée for the evening?"

"Yes. Afterwards I can just say that I found him to be a douche and I broke it off." Lizzy took a drink and glanced back at her watch.

"What kind of fiancée have you made up for yourself?"

"He is tall and handsome. He is a successful businessman who is frequently away on business and does not care for social engagements. That is why no one at work has ever met him yet."

"And you are just going to break up with this handsome successful businessman?" The bartender looked at her skeptically.

"Yes?" Lizzy shifted in her seat uncomfortably.

"I see. How about him?" The bartender pointed over his shoulder to the gentleman who now had the scotch on rocks. He was most definitely handsome, in a dark brooding sort of way. He was dressed in an expensive looking suit and seemed to be waiting, for he glanced down at the watch on his wrist.

"He could do. But I am not looking for long term." Lizzy joked smiling.

"One sec." The bartender pushed off the bar and walked over to the mysterious man.

Lizzy did not want to be caught watching so she busied herself with going through her clutch looking for cash to pay for her drink.

"Paul says you need a date for tonight?" A deep voice with a sexy English accent said.

Lizzy looked up into a pair of perfect blue eyes. "Ye…" She cleared her throat. "Yes. I need someone to play fiancée for my company party." He looked over at the bartender with a look that said Paul had not been so giving in all the information.

"Sorry. I do not think I am able to help you." The blue eyes man turned around.

"It is only for tonight. Then I can tell everyone that I broke up with you and we never have to see each other again." Lizzy sounded desperate even to herself. "I cannot go in there and face them alone."

"That is not my problem. I am not the one who made some phony engagement." He said coldly.

Lizzy hung her head. "I know. I know. I just…. I just couldn't stand the thought of him finding happiness so quickly after we broke up." She said quietly.

"Only this party and then we part ways?"

Lizzy looked up with hopeful eyes. "Yes. And next week I tell them that due to your being out of town on business all the time it was not going to work and I broke up with you and that is that."

The man pondered this information. "Okay."

"Okay? You will do it?" Lizzy smiled brightly. "Thank you so much! Paul, I will pay for the gentleman's drink." Lizzy put the money on the bar top and hopped down from her stool. She picked up her white clutch and ran her fingers through her chestnut curls. "Let's do this then!"

The man offered her his arm and escorted her to the ballroom where the Leyena & Smith party was being held. "So what is this party about?" He asked as they neared the doors.

"Our company just got a big contract with a Bandy's Construction. So we are celebrating." Lizzy answered. "You know," she suddenly stopped and looked up at him. He was at least a head taller than herself, she barely came up to his shoulder. "I don't even know your name."

"William." He looked down at her and she looked back as if expecting more. When she didn't get anything else she sighed and smiled up at him.

"Nice to meet you William. I am Elizabeth Bennet."

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