When Buffy returned to her apartment, she took a long, hot shower. Scrubbing herself clean.
When she finally emerged, she retrieved the USB from her purse and plugged it into
her personal laptop.
“Jesus,” Buffy swore. As she began scrolling through the thousands upon thousands of documents and emails.
She checked her phone again. Still no message from William. Part of her felt hurt, but part of her felt relieved. And hated herself for it.
Still, she couldn’t help but wonder where he was. What he was doing. She pushed that thought away and shook her head. Then clicked on a random document and began reading.
As the hours turned into days, Buffy spent all of her free time scouring the documents. Thankfully, Xander hadn’t called on her again.
The sheer number of words and legalese often leaving her head spinning. So much so that she, gritting her teeth, called in Faith for reinforcements. And a couple of her law firm interns.
Slowly they began piecing things together. A firm that bought the bank that called in the loan in her mom’s museum? A subsidiary of a subsidiary of a company. Owned by Xander Harris III.
“Holy shit,” Faith had whispered.
More was to come. The law firm that her husband formerly worked at? Merged with a white shoe firm. Both of them now on retainer to many companies owned by Xander Harris.
They uncovered an internal email from the night manager
demanding to know why Buffy and William were being offered a suite that was already taken – at the expense of a paying customer – especially when their room was free and clear.
Call me, came the curt reply from the floor manager. Now.
Months later, Xander’s people had reached out to Cribs – inviting them to film an episode of his beachside home. Attaching a peculiar condition – that it ran on repeat in Sunnydale every few hours for an entire month.
“He planned this,” Buffy said. She was so numb she didn’t even feel the anger. “All of it. Right?”
For a moment, Faith looked as bewildered as Buffy.
“I mean, this isn’t a smoking gun, but I’d say it’s pretty loaded B,” Faith said.
Buffy said nothing.
“So what are you gonna do?” Faith asked. Finally.
“We could turn this over to the newspapers, right?” Buffy asked.
“Sure,” Faith said. “But what’s the angle? I mean, this is a private affair, right?”
Buffy found herself gnawing on her lip. Thoughtfully.
“Maybe there’s a better idea,” Faith said.
“And what’s that?” Buffy asked.
“Take that loaded gun,” Faith said. “And aim it right at his head. There’s no telling what we might find.”
“Go on,” Buffy said.
A week later, Buffy quietly slipped out of the ten million dollar apartment – the same day that Faith filed suit against Xander in civil court.
A few weeks later, they found themselves sitting across a table from Xander, Willow and a veritable army of lawyers, Buffy found herself growing a bit nervous. Faith, on the other hand, seemed unruffled.
“Relax B,” she whispered. “It’s nothing but posturing. Half of these guys are interns.”
“Buffy,” Xander said. Smoothly. With the smug look that only someone who could buy his way out of any situation could give.
“I’d like to begin by stating that my client is suing for...” Faith began.
“Emotional pain and personal distress,” Buffy seethed. “Asshole.”
“I’m sorry it’s come to this,” Xander said. So sincerely she almost bought it. “Believe me when I say I never meant to hurt you.”
“Bastard,” Buffy spat. Under her breath.
“Please refrain from addressing my client,” Willow said. Smoothly.
“B,” Faith cautioned. Placing a hand on her arm. “Relax. I got this.”
“Hold up,” Willow said. Turning over the documents and quickly scanning them. “I’m still not sure what the basis of your case is.”
“You don’t know?” Buffy asked Willow. Skeptically. “Or are you just pretending?”
When Willow gave Xander a ‘what don’t I know?’ look, he shrugged.
“You didn’t tell her, did you?” Buffy asked. Folding her arms over her. “What you did.”
“What exactly are you accusing me of?” Xander asked. Reclining his chair back. “Just so we’re clear.”
“You manipulated Buffy,” Faith said. “Called in the credit on her mother’s museum. Got her husband fired from his job. Backed her into a corner so she had no choice to sleep with you for money. All of it with malice and
forethought.”
“You…” Buffy began. The anger choking up her throat.
“You ruined my marriage,” she said. Bitterly. “Just so you could get what you wanted. Do you get that? What you did to me? To Will? Was it worth it?”
Xander paused. He seemed to consider the question.
“Xander,” Willow said. Out of the corner of her mouth. Warning him to say nothing.
“Prove it,” he said. Cockily. It was a dare.
“Oh we can,” Faith said. With grim satisfaction. “And we
will.”
The brunette leaned across the table, then handed over a USB drive to Willow.
“We have the papers to back it up,” Buffy said. With a wry smile. “A-hole.”
“And how did you do that I wonder?” Xander asked. Shooting his army of lawyers a displeased look. One of them rose to his feet and practically fled.
“A whistleblower,” Faith lied. Smoothly. “Someone within your organization who wishes to remain anonymous. Someone
with a conscience.”
“Oh I doubt that,” Xander said. Easily. “I don’t make it a habit to employ anyone with a conscience.”
“Might I have a moment to confer with my client?” Willow asked. Politely.
Rising to her feet with her hand on Xander’s arm as she handed off the USB drive to a flunky. Who also fled. Ostensibly to verify its contents.
“Get up,” she hissed. In his ear. “Now.”
“Relax Will,” he said. “You’re cramping my style.”
When Willow shot him a murderous look, Xander sighed and rose to his feet.
“Excuse me,” he said. Buttoning his coat.
“Don’t go anywhere,” he told Buffy. Who gave him an icy look.
“What?” he asked Willow. Once they were safely outside.
“You didn’t deny it,” Willow noted. Folding her hands over herself.
“So? Xander asked. Blithely.
“You asked how they got the documents,” Willow said. Pointedly. “But you didn’t deny it. I guess you were
having too much fun in there to cover your ass, Xan. Or maybe you’re just getting sloppy in your old age.”
“Hey!” Xander protested. “Come on Will. I thought you were on my side.”
“You told me nothing would happen that they didn’t want to,” Willow said. Folding her arms. “Isn’t that the point of your little game?”
“Oh Buffy wanted to,” Xander said. Cheekily. “Trust me. She just… needed a little incentive.”
“Xan!” Willow said. Looking appalled. “She doesn’t deserve that! No one does! That’s way over the line!”
Suddenly, Xander found himself irritated.
“Why am I explaining myself to you?” he asked. “I mean, you do work for me. Right ”
“Right?” he asked. Fiercely. Willow blinked. Struck by his fervor, she nearly took a step back. But didn’t.
“Yes,” she said. “I work for you.”
“Good,” Xander said. That seemed to calm down a little. “Now, let’s get back in there and crush them.”
Willow merely nodded. But when Xander turned his back on her, he missed the foreboding look she gave him.
Back at the table, the first thing Xander did put both feet up.
“Cigar,” he demanded. To which a faceless assistant popped out of her seat and immediately provided him with it.
Retrieving a lighter from his jacket pocket, Xander immediately lit up.
“I’m gonna you tied up in litigation for years,” he warned Faith. Puffing on his cigar. Finding himself impressed by how suitable unimpressed the brunette managed to look.
Maybe I should hire her, he thought.
“And you,” he said. Addressing Buffy now. “I’m gonna make you famous, Buff. The woman who slept with a billionaire for money. That’s what you’ll be known as. For the rest of your life.”
Enjoying the fleeting look of nervousness that flitted across Buffy’s face as he taunted her.
“Slut-shaming,” Faith said. Shaking her head. “Way to keep it classy my guy.”
“Is that a threat?” Buffy asked.
“That’s a promise,” Xander said.
Willow had listened to all she could. She knew she had to act. And what she had to do.
“Look,” she began. Placing a soft hand on Xander’s arm and squeezing. “Why don’t we all just take a breath here. Take a step back and see how we can solve this.”
When Xander gave her the subtle nod to play good cop, Willow swung into action.
“Buffy,” she began. Her voice soft and soothing. “I don’t know you. And you don’t know me.”
“I know enough,” Buffy snipped. “Working for a man like that.”
I probably deserve that, Willow thought.
“But I know Xander,” she added. “And I know I’ve never him so happy.”
When she shot Xander a look, he jumped in.
“And you’re the reason Buff,” Xander said. “We’re good together. Really good. In the end, isn’t that what really matters?”
The speed with which he went from threatening her to
flattering her left Buffy suffering whiplash.
“You’re right Xan,” Willow chimed in. “Buffy really is the best of them. She’s your best bet.”
Buffy gave Faith a puzzled look.
“Sorry?” Buffy asked. “The best of them? Who is them?”
“The million dollar club,” Willow said. Leaning forward. “You are. You really are.”
“The… the what?” Faith asked. Noting the surprised look on Xander’s face, and the sheer panic on the face of his
lawyers, she knew they’d struck gold.
“The million dollar club,” Willow said. “You know… all of Xander’s women. I mean, there are so many of them. We talked about it, right Buffy? In the apartment?”
“Yeah,” Buffy said. When Willow gave her a follow my lead look. “In the apartment. Right. Of course.”
“Miss Willow,” one of the lawyers said. But Willow was undeterred.
“How many members would you say there are worldwide?” she asked Xander. Guilelessly. “Fifty? Sixty?”
“Mr Harris...” one of his lawyers said. “You don’t have to…”
“You told me you’ve never done that before,” Buffy said. Accusingly. Exchanging a glance with Faith. The brunette looked overjoyed to hear this information.
“Thought you were special, did you?” Xander taunted. Unable to stop himself from taunting her. “That’s the problem with you women. You all think you’re so special.”
“50 sounds about right,” he added. Pompously.
“Remember the real estate lady from Florida?” Willow continued. “Every time you came near her she would convulse into hiccups.”
Xander grinned at the memory.
“Quite a night,” he said. “You don’t even wanna know what I did to get her to stop.”
“Mr Harris...” another attempted to stymie him. But Xander was enjoying himself now.
“The best part is…” he began. “Both parties are clear about what they’re getting right from the start. The money is right on the table. Where everyone can see it.”
“Mr Harris, please!” he heard one of his lawyers cry out.
Only then did Xander come to his senses. He blinked, then turned to look at Willow.
You fucking bitch, he thought. His eyes narrowing. She’d pushed his buttons perfectly. Played him like a fucking fiddle.
And don’t you forget it, Willow thought. Giving him a disdainful look.
“Nothing said here can be used at trial of course,” one of the other lawyers said. Sounding desperate now.
“Of course,” Faith said. “But these things have a way of getting in the press, right? Especially in this Me Too world?”
“Is that a threat?” Xander asked.
Faith said nothing. But her expression said it all. That’s a promise, she said.
“I’m gonna make you famous,” Buffy said. “Your stock will tank. Your shareholders will be pissed. You might even lose your cushy CEO job.”
“Unless we settle this,” Faith added. “Right here. Right now. For lots and lots of money.”
This is gonna cost me a fucking fortune, Xander thought. Fuck.
He looked at Willow out of the corner of his eye. He couldn’t help but admire Willow’s ruthlessness. He made the fatal mistake of disrespecting her. And she responded by going scorched earth on his ass.
Reminding him that he needed her as much as she needed him. More, even. Even though he’d never admit it to her.
“Do what you have to do,” he told Willow. Standing and rapping the table with his knuckles twice.
“Buffy,” Xander said. She folded her hands over herself when he looked her up and down. “It was a real pleasure to meet you. And even more of a pleasure to have you.”
“I’m afraid the pleasure was all yours,” Buffy responded. Through gritted teeth.
“And that’s another O on the end of the cheque,” Faith added.
Xander merely chuckled. He turned to go, then paused.
“Give William my regards, will you?” he asked Buffy. “And tell him… I’ll be in touch.”
Before Buffy could ask him what he meant, he’d turned and walked out of the conference room.
“So,” Faith asked. “We clear on what we’re asking for? The number, the therapy, the public service?”
Faith could see Buffy was still uncomfortable about it.
“I need him to pay Faith,” Buffy said. “I need him to hurt. For what he did to me. To Will.”
“C’mon B,” she said. “We already discussed it. A trial could take years. And in the end it all comes down to the almighty dollar anyway. We have this motherfucker over a barrel right now.”
Just then, Buffy’s cellphone buzzed.
She opened her purse and checked it.
“What?” Faith asked. Seeing Buffy’s complexion turning ghostly white.
“It’s Will,” Buffy whispered. “He wants to meet.”
“Now?” Faith asked.
“I have to go,” Buffy said. “You got this?”
“I got this,” Faith says. “I got you B. Trust me. I’ll make him hurt.”
Buffy inhaled deeply. Then, shutting her eyes, rose to her feet.
“Excuse me,” she said. “I have to…”
“Goodbye Buffy,” Willow said. “And good luck.”
The women locked eyes.
Thank you, she wanted to say.
“You too,” Buffy said instead.
An hour later, when she turned up to her new apartment, she saw him waiting outside. When he looked up, they just stared at each other for a moment. Then he looked away.
He looked terrible, Buffy thought. Gaunt. His eyes sunken.
She could tell he hadn’t been sleeping and eating much, if at all. It made her heart wrench.
“Hi,” Buffy said. Softly.
“Hi,” William said. Softly.
“Do you…do you wanna come inside?” she asked. Hesitantly.
He shook his head.
“You said… you wanted to meet,” Buffy began.
“Yeah,” William said. His voice hoarse and scratchy. “I just wanted to say…. I’m sorry, yeah. For… everything.”
“Me too,” Buffy said. Hastily. “I’m sorry too. I mean, you were totally right. I never should have…”
Buffy knew she was babbling now. But she couldn’t stop.
“I love you, you know,” he blurted out. That stopped her in her tracks.
“Still?” she asked. Hopefully.
“Always,” he said.
When he smiled weakly at her, Buffy’s heart jumped for joy.
“I love you too,” she said. Softly.
“Still?” he asked. Wryly.
“Always,” she said. Which made him chuckle.
“Maybe we could grab a…” she began. She stepped forward eagerly.
Suddenly, William stepped back. Shaking his head.
The somber look on his face gave her pause. Buffy felt her heart drop into her stomach.
“I… I confronted him,” William said.
“Oh,” Buffy said. Softly. “When?”
“After,” he said. Simply. They both knew what he meant.
“What…” she began. “What did he say?”
William shook his head. Buffy could see whatever Xander had said had wounded William deeply.
“Will,” she began softly. “Do you… do you wanna talk about it?”
“Do you?” he asked.
“Not particularly,” she said. Letting out a weak little laugh.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
“You…” William began. “You were attracted to him, right? From the beginning?”
Buffy gnawed on her lower lip for a moment.
“Yes,” she breathed.
William exhaled also. Then nodded to himself. He’d suspected as much.
“Why Faith?” she asked. Sincerely.
“Because,” William said. He looked back at her. Blinking slowly. “I wanted to hurt you. Like… you hurt me.”
“Mission Accomplished to quote Dubya,” Buffy said. Giving him a mock salute. She’d meant to play if off as a joke, found herself wincing at how bitter she sounded.
“I mean, you always said you she wasn’t your type,” she added. Weakly.
William waited. Until they both realized Buffy had asked a question.
“She was there,” William said. Gently. “I guess… that’s all I needed that night. A warm body.”
A long silence followed. It was his turn, Buffy knew. She steeled herself.
“Was… was Xander good?” he asked. Finally.
She just stared at him for a moment. Wide-eyed. Wondering if he actually expected her to answer that. She didn’t know what to say.
“Was Faith?” Buffy asked.
William audibly paused. He looked down, unable to meet her eyes.
“Yeah,” he said. Softly. His eyes were moist, she saw.
Buffy felt her own eyes fill with water.
He wasn’t trying to hurt her, she knew. He just wanted the truth.
“Yes,” Buffy said. Finally. “He was good.”
That pained him, Buffy saw. Cut him to the quick.
“Was he?” William began. His voice caught in his throat. “Was he better than me?”
Oh Will, she thought. Oh sweetheart. Why are you torturing yourself like this?
Buffy found herself torn. Part of her wanted nothing more than to soothe his hurt. The other wanted to be honest with him. So she said the only thing she could.
“It was only sex Will,” Buffy said. Softly.
For a moment, he looked stricken. As if his worst fears had been realized. It wrenched Buffy’s heart. She stepped closer. She could almost reach out and touch him. But found herself afraid to.
“Just sex. Not love. Not what we…” Buffy began. Her eyes pleading with him. To let her explain herself. For him to understand. If only I could touch him, she thought. If only I could make him see.
“Can we just…” she began. At last, he looked at her again.
“Someday,” he said. “Yeah. Maybe.”
“But.. but not today?” she asked. Mournfully.
“Not today,” he said. Shaking his head. Then he turned on his heels and walked away.
Buffy stood there for a few moments. Dazed. Confused. Then, as if waking up from a dream, snapped out of it. She withdrew her keys from her purse, then opened her
apartment door.
Once inside, she gently shut it, then placed the keys, purse and cellphone on the table.
Buffy just sat there in her cold, empty apartment. Never had she felt more alone than in that moment. She didn’t know how much time passed before her cellphone rang.
“Yea?” she said. Sounding as tired as she felt.
“It’s over B,” Faith said. “We got everything we wanted. And more.”
“K,” Buffy said softly.
“You okay?” Faith asked.
“I just… I can’t right now,” Buffy said. “Call me in a couple days. Okay?”
“Okay,” Faith said. "I'll send over the settlement papers for you to sign."
Buffy hung up, then found herself sinking into her couch and curling into a ball. Into a dreamless, deep sleep.
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