I wanted to repost this with out my little rant. I apologize for it; it was uncalled for. After posting this chapter and going to bed I felt awful. Yes there has been a lot of stress at home and other aspects of life that have prevented me from updating like I was hoping to. For this I am sorry and I will strive to do better.

Thank you for the positive reviews thus far and I hope you all continue to enjoy the story.

CH5

Elizabeth put her elbows up on the table and smiled at her older sister. "So, Janie. Tell me how last night went."

"Oh, um…" Jane blushed a pretty pink. "It was good. He works for a friend of his."

"And… that can't be all. What does he look like? What are his hobbies?" Elizabeth pressed.

"Did he kiss you goodnight like this Darcy guy kissed Lizzy?" Charlotte asked.

"No. He was a perfect gentleman." Jane smiled.

"Excuse me? Are you saying that I behaved in a scandalous manner? That this guy that I find myself engaged to is no gentleman?" Elizabeth said in mock offense. "You know I blame that kiss on you, Janie."

"Me? How could I be the reason? I wasn't even there!"

"True. But you made me put that dress on. If I had worn the classic long black one that wouldn't have happened." Elizabeth pointed to the papers.

"I doubt it." Charlotte spoke up.

"What do you mean?"

"Lizzy, the man clearly was attracted to you. I would wager you could have been wearing your old college sweats and he would have jumped you." Charlotte took a sip of her coffee. She seemed to be making her way back to the land of the living.

"So what was the kiss like?" Jane leaned forward eagerly.

"Hold on a sec. We are not talking about me anymore." Elizabeth held up her hand. "I want to hear about your blind date with the ever enchanting Mr. B you met through that 'find a date in your area' app." Elizabeth looked pointedly at her sister.

"What is it that you want to know? We just met for drinks and then he had to go meet with his friend. He did not kiss me, and we are going out again tonight for dinner." Jane smiled her perfect smile.

Elizabeth's face lit up. "You are? That's great!"

"Now, tell me about that kiss."

"It was amazing to be honest. And no, there was no tongue." Elizabeth looked pointedly at Charlotte who had her mouth open to ask that exact question. "It was very chaste." Jane held up the paper with the 'hotter than hell kiss' picture on it. "Fine, so maybe it wasn't all that chaste."

"Looks like a pretty intense kiss." Elizabeth jumped at the sound of Charlotte's voice right behind her. "Definitely looks like he's claiming you as his." She took another sip of her coffee. "I gotta say, with all that passion passing between you two, he should be pretty amazing in bed."

"Oh puh-leeze Charlotte let it go!" Elizabeth exclaimed. "We are not having sex! That was part of the agreement."

"What! No sex?" It was Charlotte's turn to be amazed. "Elizabeth, it is not everyday a girl finds herself engaged to William Darcy! He's been named People's #1 Hottest Bachelor for the past…" Charlotte trailed off trying to do math in her head. "I don't know. But it has been for several years now. And you are not going to take advantage of that?"

"Charlotte, I don't even know him! I don't go sleeping around with random guys you know." Elizabeth said.

"He is not just some 'random guy', Lizzy." Charlotte stated. "He is William Darcy, Head of Darcy Inc. If you want to get to know him go Google him, or pick up any magazine. Better yet, read the paper." She picked up the day's paper and placed it on the table in front of Elizabeth. "I hear he's happily engaged to a beautiful woman." Charlotte smiled.

"Calm down, Charlotte." Elizabeth looked up at her friend. "It is not the end of the world if I don't sleep with this guy."

"I know," Charlotte replied, placing her hand on Elizabeth's head. "It's just that it's not every girl finds herself engaged to William Darcy and has the right of advantage of him. Also, it is about time you got laid. It has been awhile and that's not healthy."

Elizabeth rolled her eyes. "I think I'll be fine waiting a bit longer before I do any of that."

"Lizzy, I know Clint hurt you. But living your life trying to… I don't know what to call it, 'beat him to happiness'?" Jane dithered trying to puzzle out what she was saying. "I think it is only going to end up hurting you more in the end. Clint's a jerk, and we all know that he shouldn't find happiness before you. However, I think I can safely say that I don't think Clint's engagement is going to last." Jane smiled.

"Yeah, girls like that will use him for whatever he's got to offer. And it isn't much." Charlotte chimed in.

"Hey, what does that make me?" Elizabeth exclaimed. "I dated him for something like three years!"

"It makes you one lucky woman!" Charlotte beamed. "Because now you are 'engaged'," Charlotte made air quotes. "To the hottest man alive and could pretty much have anything you want! Even great sex." She waggled her eyebrows.

"Charlotte, enough with the sex already!" Elizabeth said exasperated. "We are only doing this for two months and then we are done! We won't have to pretend anymore and we definitely will not being seeing one another again!"

"Two months huh?" Richard leaned back against the counter in Darcy's kitchen. "Think you can handle it?" He smirked.

"You were the one who suggested I keep her around until after the Benefit!" Darcy said. "That's two months away."

"Yeah, but I didn't know she was going to make demands, and that you would agree right away without counter offers." Richard responded. "How do you let her make, and you agree to, that stupid rule of 'no sex'? I mean come on! You two are engaged for the next two months. Why shouldn't you get to have sex?"

"Richard, we don't even know one another very well."

"What better way to get to 'know' one another. If you catch my meaning." Richard winked.

"Oh please. A deaf man could understand your meaning." Darcy rolled his eyes.

"Darce, look at this picture." Richard tossed the morning paper at his cousin. "If this woman's response to a simple kiss goodnight looks like this and can evoke such passionate feelings in anyone who looks at it. That tells me there is something BIG awaiting anyone who can unlock it and let it out."

Darcy glanced down at the paper, the image eliciting a blush to rise in his cheeks. "We are not having sex."

"So you're telling me that if a time comes and she throws herself at you and begs for sex, you will walk away?"

William cleared his throat. "If we did I certainly wouldn't tell you."

"Party pooper," mumbled Richard.

Caroline Bingley awoke that morning feeling good. She may have been initially left out of last nights dinner invite, but she managed to find out where her brother was meeting William Darcy. And she just happened to be walking by the restaurant window where, coincidentally, she spied them. The fact that the men were sitting nowhere near the window was lost to her.

As she sat down at their table Charles was telling William about the girl he had met for drinks just before meeting for dinner. Caroline could tell William was distracted, and she incorrectly assumed it was because he was thinking of her as she sat close to his side. Moving slightly, she angled herself so her dress showed off what little cleavage she had to its best ability - at least that was the effect she was going for. To the surrounding tables it looked like the skinny woman with the obviously bleached blonde hair was someone who was trying desperately to gain the notice of the dark gentleman who was, in turn, studiously not looking in her direction or taking notice of lack of bosom being thrust forward.

Caroline smiled to herself at the memory as she stretched in her bed. She had been calling him William to herself and to her friends for almost two years now. Once at a gala that she attended with her brother - although it was more of a tag along - she had called him by his name and he immediately corrected her to 'Mr. Darcy'. It is cute of him to not want his business associates to know of the intimacy between himself and his best friend's sister. If things keep going the way they are we could be engaged by this time next year, and I can finally be Mrs. Darcy the following year. I think a summer wedding will be perfect.

Glancing at her phone she decided that it was a good time to get out of bed. Society hours kept her out late and trying to get out of bed early was difficult. Caroline decided to compromise and rouse herself around eleven. When she became Mrs. Darcy she was unsure what time William would like her to rise. She knew he kept early hours, but did not know if he would expect his wife to as well. Caroline walked down to the breakfast parlor where her breakfast was being kept warm for her, as well as hot coffee. Last night she had heard William mention going into a coffee shop; she determined that he must like the drink a great deal and ordered it with her breakfast for the next morning.

After pouring a mug of the strong drink she took a sip and immediately spat it out. Who drinks this awful stuff! Caroline had grown up in a family who only drank tea, and even through her college years those who drank coffee were considered beneath her. Tea was the drink of high society and she had only ever seen William drink tea. She had even noticed that he liked it with a spoon full of honey. Caroline smiled to herself once again. Yes, I will make William a fine wife. I already know how he likes his tea, and now I also know he drinks coffee on occasion. She looked down into the mug of offending dark liquid. Probably only when forced to by the lower businessmen he has to associate with.

It was then that she happened to notice there was no paper on the table. How was she supposed to keep up with what was happening in society if she couldn't read the paper? Caroline picked up the little silver bell at her left elbow and rang it vigorously. A young maid appeared in a fluster and bobbed a curtsey.

"Where is my newspaper?" Caroline demanded.

"Sorry ma'am, I think it was placed in the front parlor." The maid said meekly.

"Well, go and get it!" Caroline snapped.

The maid bobbed another quick curtsey and ran out of the room. Why must Charles insist on keeping incompetent help around the house? Caroline took another sip of the bitter drink and grimaced. Lord, this is awful stuff. How horrible for William to be forced to drink it.

It was not the maid who returned with the paper but her brother. "Sorry about the paper not being here Caroline. I was reading a most fascinating article and wanted to finish it. I completely forgot to bring it back in." He smiled.

Charles Bingley was a very optimistic man. He always went around with a smile on his face and said 'hello' to random people as he walked by. There was not a vindictive bone in his body. Until today, that is. When Charles woke up and saw the photo in the paper the biggest smile came across his face. He knew - really everybody knew - all about Caroline's ambitions to become Mrs. Darcy. The embarrassingly blatant attempts to attract the man's attention was horrendous. Charles had repeatedly told her that Darcy had absolutely no interest in her but she just brushed him off and continued on as ever.

Charles sat down next to his sister, and before placing the paper in front of her nonchalantly pulled out his phone and feigned looking at email.

"Charles!"

"Yes?" Charles took his time in looking up from his phone to see his sister glaring at him and holding out her hand. Despite her urgency he deliberately hesitated to supply her with the paper. "You know, there really isn't anything worth reading today." Then adding, "You just saw Darcy last night at supper. I am sure nothing happened to him from the time we finished eating to him going home." He allowed himself a small, lackadaisical smile. He knew that the picture had to be taken before he met up with him for supper, because the poor man was so distracted the entire night!

"Really Charles, I do not care one lick what Mr. Darcy is up to." Caroline feigned indifference. "Now give me the paper!"

Her brother finally surrendered the paper and then resumed the pretense of staring down at his phone so he could watch his sister's reaction. He was looking forward to this for a very long time. He was not disappointed.

Elizabeth tried to take her time in getting to work the next morning. Unfortunately her internal clock was less than accommodating and, despite her best efforts, she was her standard ten minutes early. She quickly walked toward her desk while keeping her head down. Avoid all eye contact and you can get through any rough ordeal.

Whoever said that was a liar.

Elizabeth was stopped every other desk and asked endlessly about William.

"You met in a coffee shop?"

"Lizzy, he is so handsome!"

"You two make such a cute couple."

"You look so happy together."

"When is the wedding date?"

"You guys are going to have such cute babies." Elizabeth glared at Charlotte for that one. That statement sent the ladies in the office in raptures over the future offspring she and William were supposedly going to have.

Finally making it to her desk she flopped down and sighed. Good gracious! I need to get my story straight and let William know. Ugh, I don't have any of his contact information! Why didn't we exchange information? Because that would make sense, you idiot. Elizabeth rolled her eyes at herself. If they were going to be a couple then it would have made sense to make sure they had each others phone numbers.

"LIZZY!" Alice from accounting came rushing up to her and flopped a bunch of newspaper on her desk. Putting her hands on either side of the stack of papers she leaned forward. "I knew that I had seen your fiancé before. He is THE William Darcy! The world's most eligible bachelor! And you just happen to meet him in a coffee shop? Talk about being in the right place and the right time!"

Elizabeth put her head in her hands and rubbed her temples. "Yes, Alice, thank you." She looked over at the stack of newspapers. "What are these?"

Alice picked up the top two. "Every newspaper I could get a hold of that has your story. It's so romantic, Lizzy! I can totally see why you kept him a secret all this time." She smiled at Elizabeth. "I would have too. " Alice winked, but her face quickly became serious. "Just so you know, Clint has a bunch of these papers too. I think he is looking for inconsistencies in the stories."

Elizabeth picked up a paper and scanned the article. 'DARCY TO BE WED, WHO IS THE LUCKY LADY?' Elizabeth let out a small sigh - the papers still had no clue who she was. That was, at least, a relief.

"Richard!" Darcy all but yelled into the phone. "What is this in the papers?" He waived the morning paper in the air as if Richard on the other end could see it.

"What do you mean 'What is this in the papers?' It could be a lot of things." Darcy could hear the smile on his cousin's face.

"You know damn well what I mean. How did the story about this girl and I meeting in a coffee shop make it into the papers?"

"Dude, first of all 'this girl' you are talking about is your fiancée. Second, I thought it best to get the story out there before the press start digging for their own story."

"You thought it best!" Darcy put his head in his hand. "What am I going to do?"

"Get ready for your date this week? Oh, and you better remember those flowers you promised to get her too."

Darcy slammed the phone down and ran his hands through his black curls. How did this get so out of hand? How did he get into this mess to begin with? He glanced over at the paper sitting on the desk next to him. "DARCY MEETS MYSTERY WOMAN IN COFFEE SHOP!" Why had he agreed to be a part of this ridiculous charade to begin with? He leaned back in his chair and sighed.

Thinking back on the previous morning he wondered why he hadn't thought about getting the girls phone number. He needed to let her know what was in the papers and figure out what their story was going to be. The more he thought about it the more he felt uneasy about not knowing, but how could he find out her number?

"Mr. Darcy sir?" Mrs. Kennedie's voice sounded over the line.

"Yes?"

"Your sister is on line 2."

"Thank you Mrs. Kennedie." Darcy picked up the phone a bit worried how his little sister was going to handle the news of his 'engagement'. Taking a deep breath he connected the line. "Georgie?"

"Soooo, how are things going?" Georgie asked.

"Fine."

"Anything new happening?"

"Not really."

"Oh. Are you sure? Because according to this mornings headlines I am late in offering you congratulations." She sounded hurt and angry. "Who is she, Will, and why have I not met her!? How could you do this? What were you thinking?" Georgie ranted a bit more and Darcy let her. It gave him a little more time to think on his answers.

When Georgie paused for breath Darcy thought it a good idea to intervene. "Are you quite finished?"

"Almost. Will, if you are engaged and getting married I have a right to meet my future sister. I am on break this next week and I think we should all get together so I may see for myself if she is good enough for you."

"Georgie, I am sorry I did not call you first thing yesterday. Things have just happened so fast. Can we meet for dinner later this week?"

"I can come down tonight."

"No, you do not have to…"

"Will, you have gotten engaged to a woman, according to the papers, that you met in some coffee shop. I didn't even know you frequented coffee shops! It's like I don't even know my own brother!"

"Fine. Come down tonight and we will order in." Darcy said his goodbyes and hung up the phone. He then put his head in his hands and groaned. He really needed to speak to the girl. Lizzy, his brain reminded him. Her name is Lizzy. Elizabeth. It was a beautiful name, for a girl with beautiful eyes. Darcy sat back and thought about those eyes. He had never seen such eyes. Yes, he had come across girls with brown eyes before, but these eyes were different. There seemed to be a spark behind them. A spark of what, exactly, he wasn't sure - but there was definitely one there.

When she walked into the coffee shop after her run Darcy could not believe how attractive she looked. Of course she had looked great the night before all dressed up for the event, but somehow he expected to be disappointed in her looks that morning. Having her come into that coffee shop that morning he was once again amazed at how attracted he was to her.

Darcy paused in his thoughts, a memory from the night before catching his attention. They had met at the hotel bar - in the hotel where her work was having an event! That's it! Turning to his computer Darcy did a search for Leyena & Smith. He had heard of them before. He had never used them in his constructing needs, but they had always been a consideration. He found the office address and phone number easily enough. Calling his receptionist he asked her to call over and see if an Elizabeth Bennet worked at that location and what department she was in.