"I just came in to check how my darling nephew was holding after all, you know how all these legal matters can be, especially when the legal team isn't all that competent." Catherine remarked and Lizzie didn't miss how the last part of the sentence was aimed at her.
"Of course, but don't you worry Lady De Bourgh, I have decided to take over this matter personally and I assure you, that pemberley will come out unscathed. "
Lizzie smiled, baring her claws to the older woman, proving that she wasn't going tolerate her entitled bullshit.
The two women smiled at each other and, William reading the atmosphere tried to divert the matters.
He had spent enough time with both the women to be aware of their temperaments and knew that if not stopped things could get ugly.
He spent the rest of the hour, trying to mitigate between the two women, in order to avoid any kind of unwanted car fights and finally breathed a sigh of relief when the older one left for one of her many social appointments.
"I think I should be leaving as well, I have to fix an appointment with your cousin Anne as well, after all she was my actual client. Also, please send two signed copies of attorney representation to me, I have to send one back to my office." Lizzie ratted off, as she stood up fixing her attire, ready to leave, because if she didn't leave now, she might as well fornicate with the man in his very own office.
Damn, the sexual tension.
Over the last year, Lizzie had a few of her own sexual endeavors primarily one night stands, but none had left her as satisfied yet wanton for more, as Darcy had did to her, which agitated Elizabeth to the core.
The man had set standards too high and it was becoming difficult to find another who could rid her of the itch.
"Of course Miss. Bennett, but before you leave may I request your company for dinner tonight?' William asked Elizabeth in the hopes of finally having some time alone with her.
"Yeah, sure I'll see you at home." Lizzie smiles, absentmindedly and walked out of the door, leaving a flabbergasted William behind.
It wasn't exactly what he had wanted, since he had thought more of an evening out like a date, but he had to make the best out of this situation.
But he needed help and too immediately.
*
Lizzie and Anne had decided to meet for lunch at an upscale bistro to discuss the matters of expansion face to face and Lizzie had to accept that the daughter was nothing like her mother.
The two women laughed as they sipped on their drinks and worked over the legal specifications of the business expansion, making little quirks and witty remarks every now and then.
"It will be an easy task to expand, however you have to know that you will have a lot of established fabric supplier's already." Lizzie warned Anne as she leaned back on her chair, sipping at her fancy cocktail.
"I am aware, that's why I am going to be creating connections with designers and not fashion houses. I want to hunt talented fashion designers with a passion, who would be willing to try new and take risks, you know these big brands they stick to their rigid perspectives and the way to do things." Anne explained.
"But wouldn't it be easier to just contact these fashion designers who are already established since they also have more demand. I mean it would surely save time."
"Well, it would be easy yes, but I like promoting talent and that was what my father also made a point to do. After his death, mum did not have the confidence to take risks so she tried to maintain the clients my father had built and since they owed one to my dad they never tried to double cross us." Lizzie leaned back in her chair and am awed by the young woman in front of her.
Anne was surely younger than her and had led a life full of being pampered and cared for especially with a mother like Catherine De Bourgh, she had remained a genuine and down to earth person and Lizzie couldn't help but feel proud for being her representative.
"Hey, I'm sorry about my mother, she gets quite intense at time." Anne apologized shooting a sheepish smile towards the American woman, obviously embarrassed about her mother's behavior.
"It's not a big deal, my mother ain't easy to tackle either so I can understand quite well." Lizzie smiled and shrugged the situation off, she didn't want to ponder over the situation anymore than was needed.
"It's just she's always wanted me to get together with William, and whenever she sees a female around him she goes into attack mode."
This was news to her, and somehow a wake up call, Lizzie had caught herself staring at William, being pulled towards him a lot recently and the constant urge to jump his bones just didn't seem to end. But she never once thought, that maybe he wasn't interested in her anymore the same way she was and that he might have moved on from her, after all it had been more than a year and especially after the way she had rejected him.
As the two women parted, Lizzie couldn't help but feel dejected but even more a need to distance herself from him.
On the other hand, William waited for Elizabeth at home so that they could have dinner together.
