Summary: Buffy is a rich princess type, brought up by millionaire parents who care more for their reputations than for her. She meets Spike, an artist who's happy to work different jobs just to make a few bucks here and there. Of course, Buffy's parents don't exactly approve of their daughter's budding romance...How far will they go to stop them being together? And how far are Buffy and Spike prepared to go to do just that?
Buffy explained to her mother that she was feeling ill and was going to be driven home. She doubted Joyce even heard her as she fought for the Mayor’s attention. Dejectedly, Buffy slunk out the large front doors, feeling rejected by everyone and utterly inadequate. She searched the parked limousines for her dad’s driver. He was nowhere to be seen. Probably off having a smoke or something, not expecting to be needed yet. Luckily she had at least thirty dollars in her purse so she started walking along the footpath, deciding to find a cab on the way home. She had only been walking for around ten minutes when someone grabbed her mouth and upper arm roughly, pulling her into a side alley. She didn’t even have a chance to scream.
***
Spike dug his cigarette butt into the ground. The thought of going back into that party and serving more drinks to those people was almost more than he could bear. Sure he needed the money, but bowing down before others no matter what their status had never been his style. He resolved to quit immediately and find a new job. Having held this one for a few weeks was kind of a record anyway. Not bothering to even walk back in, he made his way round the front of the building and started to wander up the sidewalk.
He thought about why he was really here in Sunnydale. His dad, Rupert Giles, was the librarian at the local high school. He was divorced from Spike’s mother Jenny who still lived in England. Until a couple of months ago, Spike had been living in the UK with her. She started to get worried when he fell in with a rough crowd though, bleaching his hair and swearing constantly. Both Jenny and Rupert decided it might do him some good to come and live in a quiet little town in California. All Spike could see it doing was driving him insane but he was here now. Eventually out of a desperate need for money since his dad was not providing him with it, pretty fairly considering he did nothing to earn it, Spike joined a catering company as a waiter. Up until tonight it had been fairly easy and relaxed, but these people were just too much. His thoughts were interrupted when he glanced up at the footpath in front of him and saw one of them. It was the girl he’d snarked at, the beautiful blonde. Huh. Look at her ass in that dress. He suddenly saw a guy, that huge idiot she’d been dancing with, slip in behind her from across the street. He realized he must have been following her. Probably lovers or something. But then he saw the guy place his hand over her mouth and jerk her into an alley. Crap. Definitely not good. He broke into a run.
***
Buffy was shoved up against a rough brick wall. It scraped her bare back and made her gasp. She looked up into her attackers eyes as he pinned her shoulders to the wall brutally.
“Riley?” She wheezed, shocked at seeing him.
“Yeah, Buffy. What, you were just gonna leave me there all alone? Don’t you know my dad and yours are partners? Your dad owes mine a favour. Which means *you* are mine.” He emphasized his point by grinding his hips into hers and smashing his lips to her mouth, not caring that he could taste the blood from her lips. Her hands were frantically pushing at his shoulders as he started to pull on the straps of her halter-neck. All of a sudden, she couldn’t feel him there anymore but wouldn’t dare open her eyes. She could feel herself shaking violently as she waited for him to hit her or something, unable to move out of pure fear. Unexpectedly, she heard a familiar voice.
“Open your eyes, luv. Its okay. He can’t hurt you anymore.” She peeked out of one eye and saw the rude waiter looking at her in concern. Her eye roved around until she spotted Riley lying knocked out on the ground. Her knees abruptly gave way but he caught her in his arms, her hands clutching desperately at his shirt. He pulled her head to his chest as she started to whimper softly, then sob. The tears poured out of her eyes. Oh Jesus, what had almost happened! If this guy hadn’t come along… but she couldn’t think about it. It was too horrible.
Spike held the trembling girl in his arms, feeling a rush of protectiveness towards her and a surge of anger towards the man who had tried to hurt her. She was so tiny and fragile. He decided that she needed to tell someone in authority immediately. Picking her up in his arms as if she weighed nothing, he carried her to his car. She still clung to him, her head cradled in his shoulder. Reaching his car he whispered, “Pet? I need to put you down so I can open the car door yeah? Don’t worry, ’m gonna take you somewhere safe.” She loosened her grip on him and he lowered her gently, opening the door with one hand. She climbed in silently and he got in the other side.
“You need to report him, luv. Let me take you to the police station or the hospital, please,” he pleaded with her.
She looked at him, panicked, tear tracks still visible on her cheeks. “No! Please, I just need to go home. I know you don’t like me but please, I don’t think I can walk all the way there by myself.”
“ ’m sorry I was so rude to you before, pet. Its not that I don’ like you. Just havin’ myself a bad night, yeah? Din’ mean to take it out on you. Look, I really think you need to report what he did, okay? And there’s no way ’m gonna leave you by yourself.”
“Listen, you don’t understand. My dad, well, he’s Hank Summers.”
He stared at her blankly.
“Hank Summers? As in, Summers Corporation?”
“Sorry, luv, ’m new in town.”
“Oh. Well, to all these people in Sunnydale it’s a big deal. He’s a big deal. And that guy, Riley? His dad works with my dad. Its just… they wouldn’t believed me over him. And even if they did, my dad wouldn’t do anything. He’s like that with the Mayor.” She crossed her forefinger and middle finger together. “Which means, there’s nothing I could do, even going to the police. So what I really wanna do is go home and get into bed, okay? I’m sorry to put you out like this, I really am, but well… I don’t want to be alone in the dark again.”
He looked at her searchingly and finally nodded, turning on the ignition.
“By the way pet, what’s your name?”
“Buffy. And you?”
“Spike. Guess we’re two of a kind.” He caught her curious look. “Different names ’n all. Where do you live pet?”
“1630 Revello Drive.” He nodded again and pulled out. They were silent on the way home. He knew Revello Drive – it was the street with all the biggest houses on it. In fact, mansions might be a better term. They pulled up to her house and she silently climbed out.
“Thank you for saving me, Spike. Even if we didn’t get off on the right foot.”
“No worries pet. I’m sorry that he did this to you. I wish I could help you in some other way. Would you like me to walk you in?”
“No, no, that’s fine. There’ll be someone at the door. Well, thanks again. And thank you for not telling anyone.”
He nodded and watched her walking up the long driveway. Hmmm. Maybe not such a rich bitch after all.