Spike walked down the last of the stairs as he pushed the remaining button through the bottom hold of his suit jacket. Both Wesley and Gunn followed behind just as Gunn’s phone began to ring.
“Talk to me.”
“We’re here.” Faith said on the other side of the line.
“Okay.” Gunn closed the phone and looked to his boss. “They’re here.”
“Call Harris. Make sure you find out where Buffy is and how long they plan to stay out. Make sure Harris doesn’t let Buffy think that I want her back sooner.” Even though you do. Spile’s inner self told him. Yes, he did want Buffy back and to just spend the day with her rather than do his work like a good mafia leader.
“Got it boss.”
Gunn stayed behind and began to dial Xander’s number while both Wesley and Spike continued down the foyer hall into the main sitting room. The wet bar was already restocked with new bottles of drinks and crystal glasses. Spike sat down automatically when entering the room, pulling out the three files that were already made, telling him about the three potential girls that were to be hired at Kendra’s Harem. Harmony Kendall, Amy Madison, and Debbie Foley. The first two seemed just your regular Los Angeles girls that were going into the escort business. The ones who had tried to make it as actresses but found they had no talent and dwindling money with no way of a job. Though the third had an eye catching past. A problematic boyfriend who had beat her. There was a note from Kendra that advised Spike the ex ‘boyfriend’ Pete might become a problem and if the girl was okay with it he should be dealt with.
“Hey boss.” Both Spike and Wesley looked up to see Faith and the Jamaican woman, Kendra, who ran her own escort business. In a way. After Spike had set up to take over the L.A. branch from his uncle, he had come upon Kendra’s who he found was constantly having problems with her own problematic boyfriend who ran one of the thug gangs in Los Angeles. Which was why Kendra hated boyfriend for her employees, especially abusive ones. Spike had stepped in and promised Kendra complete protection of her business as long as he got almost 30% of her monthly earnings.
And since going under the wing of protection from the Giles’ family, Kendra’s Harem had flourished into one of the best escorting services in the city.
“Hey sexy.” Faith said teasingly to Wesley.
“Kendra.” Spike addressed standing up from his seat.
“Mr. Giles.” Kendra’s rich Jamaican accent rang as she walked in slowly giving her head boss a courteous nod.
Kendra seemed to always be afraid of high powered men, unless they were making exchanges of service. Which was why it had been so easy for the gang banger to walk all over her until the Mafia King came in.
“Tell Wesley what you would like to drink.” Spike suggested us Faith handed him the drink that Wesley had given her to give to Spike. Drinks were made and given to as comfortable talk of business came about. Kendra informed Spike of the tedious problems occurring and Wesley made note of them for later. All the while Faith took to cleaning her 35 magnum at the wet bar with a bored expression on her face.
Finally after ten minutes, Spike told Faith to bring in the girls. Faith did as she was said and soon in came three girls, followed by Charles Gunn, who gave an okay nod to Spike. Right off the bat Spike took notice of each different style they held from each other.
“Mr. Giles, these is the girls. Harmony, Amy, and Debbie.” Kendra said. All three girls were standing in a row by height, with Harmony being the tallest due to her high spiked heels.
Harmony, a full out blonde, was sporting way too much pink even for a valley girl. She reminded Faith of a fuller out Reese Witherspoon as her character from Legally Blonde. However to Spike she looked like a similar but very different version of his Buffy. A bad version.
Amy, who seemed to dress like a much calmer Faith, wore dark clothes and did her make-up dark. She stood with her arms crossed over her chest having the bored look.
The third girl, who Spike knew was Debbie, stood timid looking in an outfit that no one would have guessed her to be a potential girl of the sex business.
Well Kendra you picked out a fine slew of potentials.” Spike said putting his drink down. “Now ladies you have the approval but it is still up to Kendra to make the final decision. If you are found having any other dealings with any other family, you will be fired and stripped of any protection from us. However that is left for Kendra to deal with. Any dealings with the police, I will personally deal with it.” Spike said to them making it clear that they may not live if they were doing such.
All three girls nodded and Spike noticed Harmony look over at Spike with a heavy flirtatious smile.
“Good. Now Debbie, pet…I understand you have a problem with a wanker by the name of Pete Clarner.”
Debbie looked up, clearly shocked that Spike Giles was speaking to her. After the shock, came the confusion.
“Oh no Mr. Giles!” Debbie finally protested with a shake of her head.
“Well pet, if he ever interferes with your brining in the money then things will be taken care of.”
“Yes Mr. Giles. He’s no longer in California, so you don’t have to worry.”
“Good now all of you please take a seat. We’ll make a toast to your potential success in your job.”
It didn’t go unnoticed to anyone in the room at the fact of how close Harmony came to sit down next to Spike on the leather couch. Faith just rolled her eyes at Malibu Barbie and poured herself another drink.
Mingling conversations took place between Kendra, Gunn, and Amy while Faith discussed life as working for the Giles family with Debbie and Wesley.
“You know Mr. Giles,” Harmony started and taking a sip of her drink. Spike looked over at Harmony as he sat casually on the couch, his arms flung on the back, the same bored expression he always wore. “This isn’t my first job in servicing men, I’ll have you know.” Harmony leaned forward obviously showing off her well-endowed cleavage and her hand coming down to rest on Spike’s suit clad leg. Surprisingly her attempts did nothing to flare up Spike’s desire. “I use to be an exotic dancer.”
Spike internally rolled his eyes. The blonde was certainly not very good at coyly expressing that she was coming on someone. “I know Ms. Kendall. I do have a file about you.” Spike informed her with a matter of fact attitude. Where as most people would be disturbed by the fact someone had a file on them, Harmony wasn’t. She was more upset by the fact that her past didn’t have Spike flirting back with her. Her look faltered at the fact.
“Well…” Harmony said with another broad smile as the light bulb went off in her head. “I was particularly well known for my lap dances.” Suddenly Harmony stood up only to sit back down again but now in Spike’s lap. Her legs came to straddle across his and she pressed her hips erotically into his crotch trying to get a sexual reaction out of him. Spike sat up, about to push her off, but it gave Harmony Kendall a chance to wrap her arms around Spike’s neck tightly.
No one in the rest of the room seemed to notice it.
“Would you like a lap dance Mr. Giles?” Harmony asked, her voice becoming even more light and flirtatious.
“Sorry pet.” Her eyes became lustful at his little nickname. “I can’t say I’m in the mood.” Spike informed.
“Aww how come? I could give you a real good time, and seeing as you’re the top boss you won’t be charged.”
Suddenly Gunn’s phone rang and everyone’s attention darted around the room until they settled on the sight of Harmony sitting on Spike’s lap. Both Faith and Wesley looked at each other with eyebrows raised.
“Talk to me.” Gunn said into his phone. “Oh hey Miss Summers. Yes he’s right here.” Gunn brought the phone over to Spike and putting his hand over the talk area. “Spike it’s Buffy and she wants to know if she could ask you a question.”
Spike stood up, rightfully pushing Harmony off of his body, her tumbling haphazardly back onto the cushion she had been previously occupying, before taking the phone from Gunn. The bleached blonde looked to the three women and Kendra. “Well, it was a pleasure to meet you and I hope business goes well for you.” Spike put the phone to his ear as he, Gunn, and Wesley began to walk out of the room. “Kitten? You need to ask me something?”
When the three men left the room Harmony was still collecting herself. She sat up shocked that she had been turned down.”
“Whose Buffy?”
“Faith looked to Harmony with a glare in her eyes but a pleasured smile on her lips. “His girlfriend.”
Buffy stood outside the shop in the mall, Xander’s cell phone pressed to her ear as she waited for Gunn to put Spike on the phone. Both Xander and Dawn were off in the Bath and Body store, Xander enduring his nose being tortured while Dawn looked for the perfect perfume of the season.
The blonde dancer tapped her foot that went to the steady rhythm of her heart beat as she waited. Her eyes kept on a look out, doing as Xander had advised, making sure no suspecting people were watching her.
Finally Spike came onto to the phone. “Kitten? You need to ask me something?”
“Oh hi Spike. Um, well, my parents suddenly planned this trip I guess, and are going to this little resort thing in Laguna and Dawn kind of doesn’t want to be home so, would it be okay to have her stay in the house?” Buffy asked. Suddenly three pre teen kids ran by, screaming and laughing nearly knocking into her. She pressed her free hand to her other ear.
“Of course, pet. I’ll have Tara make up the room next to yours. Where are you?”
Buffy sighed. “At the mall. Dawn and I decided to go shopping.”
“If I would have known, I would have given you a credit card?” Spike told her.
“Oh it’s fine, I got money. We’ll probably be back around one if that’s okay.”
“Well why don’t you call me and I’ll meet the lot of you and take you out for lunch. I have yet to formally meet the niblet.”
She couldn’t help but smile at the gentle fact of Spike wanting to get to know Dawn. “That’s sounds like a nice plan.”
“Right I’ll make quick reservations at a nice little place I know. Till then pet.” Spike said. Buffy was about to say farewell until Spike spoke again. “Oh and kitten don’t hold back to buy something…nice. If you know what I mean.” His voice took on that velvet sensual sound that made Buffy shiver. It shocked her even through the phone. At what he was suggesting it made Buffy blush.
“Goodbye Spike.”
“Goodbye Kitten.” He said reluctantly.
Buffy walked into the store just as Dawn was paying for her newly chosen perfume. She handed back Xander his cell phone with a thank you.
“Spike said he’d meet us later for a late lunch if that’s okay.” Dawn nodded adding the bag to her arm.
The three of them walked out of the store and onto another clothes one, which Xander said he’d sit out on outside the front of the shop while they looked around. Buffy and Dawn both giggled at how all the shopping would probably leave Xander to question his manliness.
Both her and Dawn walked around aimlessly once in a while to observe a rack of clothes and do the shopping thing of discussing it and possibly looking for their size.
Suddenly as Buffy was going through a rack of dresses Dawn spoke up. “Have you boinked Spike yet?”
Buffy’s eyes looked to her little sister in shock. “Dawnie!” She admonished in her big sister tone.
“What I’m just asking.” Dawn said to her sister defensively.
Buffy simply rolled her eyes. “Even if we had I wouldn’t tell you. You’re far too young to be hearing about pre-marital sex. Which means that you shouldn’t even be thinking about it. Hint hint.”
Dawn picked up a top from a rack and began to look it over. “Guess that means you haven’t boinked.” She said carelessly. Buffy looked over at Dawn with shocked, wide eyes. Was Dawn channeling Anya or something? “And don’t even say ‘Dawnie!’” The brunette girl said mimicking Buffy’s voice. “Well if you’re not going to talk about you and Spike being all sexed up tell me about his house. If is huge.”
The blonde chuckled. “Definitely. Way more huge then ours. It makes sense seeing as it’s called an estate.” They continued onto the display racks for accessories picking and choosing pieces to try on. “He has this library and I simply drooled over how large it was.”
“Only you could get all drooly over books.”
Buffy turned to glare at Dawn, sticking her tongue out. “Hey! I’m hip.”
“True, but deep down you’re bookworm.”
“Am not!” Buffy threw a bracelet at her sister where it hit her on the side of the head.
Dawn just rolled her eyes taking the bracelet and trying it on. “Buffy when you were way younger, if you weren’t hanging out with Willow and your friends, or dancing, you’d be in our library at home reading and studying.”
“Well…” Buffy said trying to find a defense. “Mom and dad were strict. Remember dad making that rule on me if I didn’t have good grades I couldn’t dance.” Her argument was lame and it was true.
Through out her high school career she had been always the same. School, low social life, and dancing. She’d dated yes, but they were never big. She only went to her senior prom and at the forcing of Willow. Going to New York had spirited her up, and made her a little more of a social butterfly but she still had the book loving side to her.
Spike sped down the streets of Los Angeles as the breeze that had turned into wind, due to his high speed, whipped through open windows and began unraveling his gelled back hair. The engine roared softly as he changed gears of his silver porsche. Pressing his foot down more on the accelerator, he saw the traffic light turning from green to yellow. Spike felt the rising need to speed and make the light. He passed the line just as the light turned red. Speeding across the intersection, he made an illegal change of lanes, just barely missing the cars that were starting to go at their right of way. A yellow taxicab honked as he cut the driver off getting in the last right lane quickly before he missed his turn.
The adrenaline due to the fast driving began to rise up in Spike just like it always did when Spike got behind the wheel and drove like this. Dodging cars of the L.A. traffic, itching to make the lights, making tire marks on the road, as a way to leave his mark on it, saying ‘Spike Giles was here’.
Music blared from the car stereo system louder than the street traffic. God this is bloody exhilarating. Seeing his next turn he switched lanes going into the left lane and turning across the intersection just as the light turned to green. Up ahead he saw the structure of the mall and smiled. Soon he’d see Buffy again. Spike didn’t notice that deep inside of him for the past few hours he had been dying to spend with the woman that was his mistress, minus the fact that he had yet to bed her.
While most men would be driven crazy by having their desirable woman next to them in bed with the great temptation and not even doing so much as fooling around, Spike on the other hand found it simply content. Ever since he had dealt with the evil bitch monster from hell, as Spike was so pleased to refer to the girl that actually broken his heart, Spike Giles had been just plain mean to women.
Using them and losing them. Taking exactly what he wanted and then tossing them to the side just as the evil bitch had done to him. She had never really cared for him. Not unless ‘him’ was Spike’s money and the great title of fame she would gain if she had married him. She had followed him to L.A. from their home country of England thinking in due time Spike would just take over the whole family for his father. But as a couple years had gone by she found the only thing Spike would be gaining for now was L.A. unless Rupert Giles, Spike’s father would die. And well, Rupert Giles was just as healthy as it was easy for Moses to part the red sea.
Spike made a sudden hard right into the G parking lot of the mall. Up ahead he saw them. His mistress and her littler sister standing on the sidewalk of the main entrance into the mall. His grip tightened on the steering wheel till his knuckles turned beyond white as he noticed there was no sight of his employee Xander Harris, who was supposed to be with his girl at all times.
He stopped at the edge of the sidewalk with a screech and pulled his parking break. Buffy jumped at his sudden appearance of pulling up so close to her and Dawn, she dropped two of her bags. Spike tried not to chuckle.
“Ello, luv.” Spike greeted forcing a smile even though he felt he was going to rip of Harris’ head off for leaving Buffy. He hopped out of the car and pulled her close all the while surveying the area. She hugged him softly and willingly which made Spike smile and kiss the top of her head. He took her bags and went to go place them in the trunk. “Kitten…where’s Harris?”
“Sorry about that Boss. I went to go and get their dance gear.” Xander said exasperated as he came jogging up with Buffy and Dawn’s dance duffel bags. “Got to start working out if that stuff is heavy for me.”
Buffy smiled and gave a light laugh. “It’s okay Xander. It’s not normally heavy. I just got a lot of big catalogs in there for set designs that we need to order for the performance.”
“Ooo can I help?” Dawn pleaded. Her eyes glazed over at the thought of going through all the catalogs. Looking at all the pretty pre-made backdrops and the glamorous dance outfits.
“And, this must be Dawn.” Spike said peering over Buffy’s shoulder. Buffy was right. For a little sister, Dawn was tall, at least compared to Buffy.
“Dawnie, this is William Giles.” Buffy introduced stepping to the side. Dawn came forward and shook Spike’s hand.
“Call me whatever you wish niblet. William, Will, or Spike.” Spike gave her his charming smile.
Dawn giggled and looked to Buffy. “What’s a niblet?” She asked Buffy.
The two of them watched as Spike strolled over to tell Xander something in hushed tonoes. “Beats me.” Buffy said shrugging. She couldn’t help but smile at the Spike’s use of nicknames. He constantly called her by ‘kitten’. She was sure he didn’t use it with anyone else. And if that was the case it made her feel special.
“I like it.” Dawn said matter-of-factly.
“I think it’s because you’re the little sister.” Buffy made note of.
Dawn simply rolled her eyes. “But I’m taller than you.”
Buffy couldn’t hold back the scowl at how her sister pointed out the fact that at nearly twenty-two years old she was shorter than her 16 year-old sister. “Well you don’t have to rub it in. This world is constantly discriminating against short people.” Buffy whined going into her vertically challenged rant. “Rides at amusement parks, shelves at stores, cabinets in your own home sometimes, and-”
“I like your size kitten.” Spike said interrupting her. Suddenly his arms wrapped around Buffy’s waist from behind. Without a thought or worry, Buffy rested back against his back comfortably. “You fit nicely in my arms at your height.” Buffy blushed, her cheeks turning a nice tinge of rosy red.
“Yes, but my closet is against me, remember?” Her eyes looked up at him with a sparkling green color.
Spike smiled at the memory of her two days ago when he had come upon her in her closet on he brink of getting toppled over by boxes.
Buffy looked to Dawn and noticed the awed look on her face. Little did she know that Dawn and many other people around found her and Spike to be an absolutely adorable couple.
“Alright you three. I’m off. Anya wants her lunchtime rounds before we actually lunch.” Xander expressed aloud pulling his keys back out of his back pocket.
Buffy and Spike both couldn’t help but laugh. Buffy was finding that both Xander and Anya were a very horny married couple. However the innuendo of sex went unnoticed by Dawn who just stared at the three adults with complete confusion.
“You’re not joining us Xander?” Buffy asked sobering up from her laughter.
“No ma’am. If not I don’t get any fun before bed.”
“Drive safe mate. And if you have time talk to Andrew he got some new gadget.”
“Oh is it blood-bash 2000 edition?” Xander asked suddenly showing great excitement.
“Bloody hell if I know.” He said with a roll of his eyes. What was with most of his staff and their liking for playing video games?
Xander shrugged giving up and waved farewell to Buffy, Dawn, and his boss. Leaving the three alone on the sidewalk of the mall, Spike opened the door allowing Dawn to get in the back before leading Buffy to the front and opening it for her as well. After getting into the car Spike started the car and began to pull out of the parking lot with an easy speed. Ten times slower than when he pulled in. Got that precious cargo mate. Not only that but her sister as well and even though Spike was the dare devil on the road he wasn’t going to risk it.
“Is your house really big?” Dawn asked out of nowhere just as the waitress had left, finished taking their orders. Buffy coughed on the sip of her ice tea she had just taken. She gave Dawn a shush look.
After leaving the mall Spike had driven down to Marina Del Ray, ten minutes at the most from Los Angeles, deciding to eat at Jer-ne Restaurant and Bar. A nice prestige restaurant with a great view of the marina. They had chosen to sit outside on the deck since the weather was nice. Spike sat next to Buffy casually, while Dawn had taken a seat across from her.
“Well...it’s got a lot of rooms.” Spike told Dawn without trying to sound like he was bragging.
“Buffy’s in love with your library. She’s a book worm you know.”
“Am not!” Buffy began with the argument that she and Dawn had just had at the mall.
“Sure you’re not.” Buffy gave Dawn a kick under the table.
Spike laughed draping his arm on the back of Buffy’s chair. “Well bit there’s a pool, a game room, which I’m sure Andrew would be more than happy to show you around in.”
“Oh I don’t know.” Buffy said hesitantly. “That’s next to the room you’re having construction done on.” She looked to Spike worried.
“Buffy I’m not going to get hurt!” exclaimed Dawn. “What kind of games do you have in there?”
“Yeah kitten. The construction is inside the room not around it.”
“Wait what are you having done?” Dawn questioned tilting her head to the side and looking to Spike.
“Just some re-modeling.”
Suddenly a soft but shrill ringing came from Spike’s belt. He picked up his cell phone excusing himself from the table and walked to other end of the deck.
“Giles.”
”Spike. It’s Wesley. Andrew located that shipment.”
“Well it’s about bloody time.” Spike said into the phone through gritted teeth.
”Yeah it’s about seven hours away still. It should be here around eight.”
Spike pinched the bridge of his nose as he tried to quickly to think of what should be done. “Alright call Maurice tell him to stay there until the truck gets there. Also tell all the other’s that we’re going to pay a visit the warehouse to greet the late shipment.” Spike’s voice held menace as he knew exactly the warm welcome he would give the truck crew while still finding out why they were nearly over two days late. Spike hung up the phone and walked back over to Buffy and Dawn, sitting down. He listened to their discussion that was related to the dance performance they were part of.
The two were so animatedly talking. Spike smiled as he watched Buffy happily explain a sequence with the use of the food utensils and Dawn watched and listened carefully. This was her life. A simple but still glorious life that she loved. Spike couldn’t help but feel a little guilty for the fact that he was ruining it a little by taking her as his.
Buffy looked to Spike. “You okay?” She gave him a hundred watt smile and it seemed to just melt away Spike’s guilt making it forget.
“Bloody perfect.” He said leaning in to give her a soft, gentle, and PG rated kiss.