Page 9 of First Impressions (Passion and Perseverance #1)
Chapter Seven
Beth was the first to arrive at Peacock Alley which was pretty typical when meeting with high profile clients; they liked to be fashionably late.
She ordered herself an iced tea and a small fruit and cheese plate for the table.
As the waiter left, she saw Mrs. DeBourgh walking into the restaurant, followed by a larger gentleman whom Beth assumed to be her personal security.
Mrs. DeBourgh, while in her early sixties, still looked very good for her age - whether that was her genes or a very good plastic surgeon, Beth wasn’t going to speculate.
She was very elegantly dressed in a pale-pink pantsuit with a white blouse and navy scarf.
Beth observed her demeanor from afar and while cordial to the hostess and others working at the restaurant, she still exuded a degree of hauteur.
She appeared kind, but only because she was ‘above’ them.
As she approached the table, Beth stood to greet her.
“Mrs. DeBourgh, I’m Beth Bennet with the Gardiner Group. It’s a pleasure to meet you,” she said as she shook Mrs. DeBourgh’s hand.
“A pleasure, Miss Bennet. Now, I assume Mr. Gardiner has brought you up to speed on our arrangement,” Mrs. DeBourgh responded as they both took their seats.
“Yes, I spoke with him this morning and he informed me that we are on a three-month trial. I just wanted to speak with you and get a feel for what events you have planned during that time and what your press goals are.”
“Lovely. Yes, now that Mother’s Day is over, we slow down a bit for the summer to work on designs for the fall/winter collection; however, we have a few events planned over the coming months – the biggest of which takes place at our private residence in the Hamptons, which it would be essential for you to attend.
We host the ‘Summer Ice’ White Party every year and invite a slew of high profile persons, from public officials to celebrities, to bid on select, rare pieces, which a portion of the proceeds then go to fund one of our charities.
We would obviously need you to put out information on the event, as well as a few pieces on some of the guests expected to attend.
I have a feeling this year is going to be the most talked about event of the season. ”
“Wonderful. I’m familiar with the event and I can certainly put together several releases to major print and online news outlets in advance. Is there anything else I should be focusing on?”
“No, not for DeBourgh Diamonds. However, personally, there is something more important that I will need you to investigate and keep me apprised of,” Mrs. DeBourgh continued very seriously, her genial smile leaving her face.
“I’m sure you are aware of the press several years ago surrounding my daughter and the CEO of Fitz Corp, William Darcy.
I’ve heard that he is back in town and was seen at your father’s firm.
I specifically requested you because I will need you to keep me apprised of his business here, but more importantly if he is seen with anyone that would suggest his being in a romantic relationship. ”
Beth couldn’t believe her ears. She’d been kidding when she wondered if Darcy would come up. She was a publicist, not a private investigator - what was this woman thinking?
“This is the most important thing that I need from you and I trust that you will remain discreet about it,” Mrs. DeBourgh finished with a very stern stare indicating that this was the real reason for her approaching the Gardiner Group and any disagreement or refusal to perform the task would result in her taking her business elsewhere.
“Of course, ma’am, but you know that this isn’t what I normally do.
I’ve barely even met Mr. Darcy, so I’m not sure I’m going to be privy to any of his other business outside my father’s firm, especially anything involving his personal life.
” Beth tried to gently lower Mrs. DeBourgh’s expectations of what she thought she was capable of.
“Yes, yes, but I know he is there on behalf of Charles Bingley and that man is very open with information, so I’m sure between you and your sister, you’ll be able to track down these details for me.
I know you will be able to do this for me.
I assured Mr. Gardiner that you were the one I wanted for the job.
I would hate to have to go back and retract my statement,” Mrs. DeBourgh then not-so-subtly intimated.
Beth couldn’t believe what she was hearing; first, being asked to spy on a man she despised, then realizing that the only reason she got the job was because of her close proximity to him and one of his good friends, and last basically being threatened if she didn’t get the job done.
What was she going to do?
Not that she really had a choice in the matter. The DeBourgh account was a major account for the Gardiner Group to acquire and she wasn’t going to ruin that for Phil after all that he had done for her.
How bad could it be?
She really wasn’t going to be able to find out much; the man barely spoke two words to people that he liked, let alone to those he found just tolerable .
“Of course, Mrs. DeBourgh. I’m more than capable of handling everything for you,” Beth reassured her.
“Wonderful. If you could provide me with an update by the end of the week and then at the end of this month we can start work on the summer party. It’s been a pleasure, Miss Bennet. I knew I wasn’t wrong in choosing you for the job,” said Mrs. DeBourgh as she stood to leave.
As she left the restaurant, Beth wondered what the woman could possibly have planned for Mr. Darcy; maybe she was still intent on his marrying Anne – the poor girl. Whoever ended up saddled with Mr. William Darcy was in for a very sad life, that was for sure.
As Beth headed home for the day, she tried to figure out how to explain to her family why she was going to be hanging around the law firm so much for the next several weeks.
She finally decided to tell them it was because Phil, being good friends of her family, wanted to make sure that with ownership of the firm changing, that there would only be positive press associated with it.
It wasn’t a great reason, but it’s not like she could tell them that she was sent there as a spy.
She would tell Jane though; she told Jane everything.
When her sister got home that night, her face lit up as she recalled how she spent her day with Charles - going over the history of the firm, taking him for a tour, having lunch together.
It was clear that Jane was head-over-heels already.
Apparently, Mr. Darcy had had other business to attend to today and wasn’t there, but he was going to be at the firm tomorrow talking to the other associates and employees.
“It just feels like we’ve known each other forever. We were basically together the entire day and there was no awkward silence where we had run out of things to say; it just felt so natural to be with him,” Jane gushed warmly recalling the object of her affection.
“That’s wonderful! I’m sure he feels the same way too. I’m so happy for you!” Beth exclaimed. Jane was obviously falling in love with Charles, but Beth didn’t want to tell her that quite yet and have her recoil from her happiness in fear that he might not reciprocate her feelings.
When Jane had finished telling her about her day with Charles, Beth told her about the meeting with Mrs. DeBourgh; Jane was shocked.
Beth, though, left out the part where she was supposed to squeeze Charles for information if she couldn’t get it from Darcy directly; she didn’t want Jane to be nervous having Beth and Charles in the same room.
Jane, of course, always giving everyone the benefit of the doubt, suggested that maybe Anne DeBourgh was still so upset over their breakup that Mrs. DeBourgh wanted to make sure that she didn’t bring her daughter any place that he might be.
Beth admitted that could be part of the reason, given that one incident she had read about, but she couldn’t refute it without mentioning the request for information about Darcy’s personal life and if he was dating anyone.
It seemed like there was more to her demands than the need to simply protect her daughter; Mrs. DeBourgh was too smart for that – she had other, bigger plans in mind.
Before heading to bed, she gave Jane a heads up on her cover story for why she was going to be at the firm frequently over the next few weeks; Jane thought it was a very plausible reason, though, and that it would be good for her to be there anyway.
“Then you can also see Charles and me and give me your opinion of his actions; I want to know if you think he really likes me or not,” Jane suggested hopefully, needing Beth’s validation on his feelings for her.
“Ok, I don’t need to know that he’s really into you, but if it will ease your mind…” she trailed off as she texted her father to let him know to expect her tomorrow morning.
Beth got ready for bed and as she climbed under the covers, tried not to think about having to deal with Mr. Intolerable tomorrow morning, hoping that at least his memory would let her sleep in peace tonight.