The Winning Hand

Chapter 10 - Press Conference

Buffy stood nervously chewing on her bottom lip, while Spike watched
from a comfortable distance. He itched to go to her side and soothe
her, but knew from previous arguments that she wanted to do this on
her own. He didn't have any doubts that she could. That she had the
grace and poise necessary, but he wished that she would allow him
to offer some comfort to her anxious nature.

Xander was giving Buffy some last minute advice. "Don't let the crowd
get to you. You only have to answer one question at a time, no matter
how many they throw at you. Just point to one person and answer
that person's question first, ignore the rest."

Spike listened to make sure Xander wasn't forgetting anything, until
he felt the light touch of his mother's hand on his arm. He turned to
greet her with a half-hearted smile.

"You look almost as nervous as Buffy!" Joyce pointed out. "And I
know you've been in front of the cameras plenty of times."

"I know. I just keep thinking I pushed her into this. She's not ready."
Spike replied.

"Oh, I think she'll surprise the lot of us." Rupert answered, coming to
stand by his wife to wrap a possessive arm around her. His other
hand came up to play lazily with a few escaped strands of her hair.

Spike watched all of this, making note of the small gestures and quiet
touches his parents had constantly shared throughout his life. Buffy
had been right. He never noticed those things, because they'd always
been there. But now that she'd mentioned it, he could see the love
and affection practically rolling off his parents in waves. And he knew
that it was an affection that infected his entire family. They had
always been a hugging, kissing, and clapping group.

"What is it?" Joyce finally asked after enduring several minutes of
scrutiny.

Spike sighed and reached up a hand to cup his mother's cheek. "I
haven't appreciated you two enough." His voice was soft and caring.
"Not nearly enough." And then he placed a gentle kiss on his mother's
cheek and a warm hand on his father's shoulder before walking out
toward the podium to greet the reporters.

"What was that all about?" Rupert asked, bemused.

"I'm not sure, but whatever it is I hope it continues." Joyce smiled
back at him.

***

Buffy listened as Will spoke to the reporters, letting them know what
the press conference was about and that they would be meeting the
lucky jackpot winner soon. She marveled at the ease in which he
spoke to them, his charm shining through in its entirety. She turned at
the clasp of a strong hand on her elbow, meeting Thomas Giles'
searching look.

"Don't worry girl." He whispered roughly. "You've got more than just
beauty in you. You've got strength and intelligence. Don't let that
crowd intimidate you." Then he was pushing her forward while Will
gestured her toward the podium.

The microphone screeched as she made her first attempts at speech.
"Uhm…Hello…I'm Buffy Summers…and I won the jackpot." The
crowd of reporters laughed at that.

She really hadn't prepared anything specific. She had assumed that
she would just answer any questions that came up. But she found
herself panicking as the questions were fired non-stop in her
direction.

"Where are you from?" "Do you plan to stay?" "How do you like
Vegas?" "What do you have to say about the Giles family?" "What
about the Crypt?" "Are you going to quit your job?" "What is your
job?"

Out of the corner of her eye she saw Will stepping up to take over for
her. Shaking her head at him she took hold of the microphone once
more. "Please!" She called out waiting until silence descended. "I'm
not very good at this. I've never done this before." She gestured
toward the reporters. "Maybe it would be better if I just told you my
story?"

She began with her birth in Trader's Corners. Leaving out Angel, she
explained her desire to explore the world outside of Kansas, and her
subsequent road trip ending with her lucky pull at the Crypt's Big
Bertha slot machine. Spike watched the crowd as she spoke, and
wondered at her ability to capture the audience. None of the reporters
had tried to break in with a question, or comment the entire time she
told her story. His da was right. He shouldn't have worried.

The conference was over within half an hour; the press buzzing about
t lat latest story as they were ushered out the door. Buffy turned with
an exhausted smile on her face. "So it's over?"

Spike strode up to her, enveloping her in a warm hug. "Yeah luv, all
over. You were wonderful." He whispered in her ear.

Buffy felt the tingling start in her toes and spread throughout her
body. Will's nearness and soft praise making her flush with pride and
warmth. But before she could return the embrace he was already
pulling away.

fy! fy! You were wonderful!" Joyce swept her up in her own embrace.
"This calls for a celebration."

'Déjà vu,' Buffy thought as she was twirled and hugged and
congratulated. At least this time she was semi-prepared and there
were no emotional outbursts to follow. She smiled and accepted the
warmth and affection, almost as if she deserved it.

After all the congratulations and the obligatory champagne, Xander
stepped up with some last minute advice. "Now the hard part is going
to start."

"Hard part?"

"The phone calls, the solicitors. You need to get yourself a financial
advisor as soon as possible. I've left Spike a list of names that are
reputable. You should contact them to see if any of them are free to
handle your affairs for you." Xander explained.

"Do you really think it will be that bad?" Buffy asked with trepidation.

Spike's hand caught hers. "Don't answer your phone for the next few
days Buffy. In fact, we'll just have the front desk hold all your calls,
until things settle down a bit."

"Do you really think that's necessary?"

"Oh, quite." Rupert answered for his son. "You're going to discover an
entire slew of relatives you've never heard of before." He gave her a
chagrined look. "I'm afraid that's the price you pay for the fame and
fortune."

After a few last warnings, Buffy excused herself begging off dinner.
She was exhausted from the emotional roller coaster she'd been
riding all day. Fear of the press conference, fear of Angel, and now
anxiety over how to handle this new found fame was giving her a bit
of a headache. All she wanted right now was to lay down and shut
her eyes.

***

The next morning Buffy strode out onto the roof patio of the Crypt.
There was a small crystal blue pool, surrounded by several lounging
chairs, and small patio dining tables. The rooftop café was beautiful
especially on such a bright and cool morning. She spotted Thomas
Giles sitting at one of the tables, in the shade of a large patio
umbrella.

"Good morning Mr. Giles." Buffy greeted as she took the offered seat.
"Thank you for agreeing to meet with me this morning.

"I never turn down a beautiful woman's request." Giles answered
affably. "And call me Giles, please. Or Thomas, if you like."

"Thank you Giles. I asked you here beca - " Buffy broke off as the
waitress approached.

"What will you have lass?" Giles asked. He shook his head when
Buffy declined any food. "Bring the lady a plate of scrambled eggs,
bacon, and toast. And a large glass of orange juice. I'll have the
same, but bring me coffee instead."

After ordering, Giles turned to find Buffy gaping at him. "You are
much too skinny. You need to put some meat on your bones."
Prepared for an argument, Giles heart warmed when he heard Buffy's
tinkling laughter instead. "It doesn't matter Mr - Thomas, I can eat all
day and nothing sticks."

"Then indulge an old man." Giles answered with a grin of his own.

"You're far from old Giles." Buffy didn't think she'd ever seen a more
robust figure, unless of course it was the other two Giles men.

When their table lapsed into silence, Giles urged Buffy to speak her
mind. "So, why you you ask me up here Buffy? Besides the desire for
my company, that is." He winked at her, causing another bubble of
laughter to surface.

"Well, I was hoping I could solicit your help. I wanted you to take a
look at the list Xander left me and maybe let me know what you
think?"

Giles took the proffered list and studied the names. "These are all top
firms. Any of them would do well by you. I suggest you contact the top
five and make appointments with each. Justk thk the one that you're
most comfortable with after meeting them."

"The thing is, Giles, I sort of already have someone in mind." Buffy
hedged.

"You do? Who?"

"Youuffyuffy waited for a response and was met with only silence.
"Well? What do you think?"

"Why me?"

"Because I want the best, and you're it." Buffy explained. "You made
your own fortune, and you're damn good with money. The
investments you've made since earning your first million lea leave
more than triple that to each of your descendants."

Giles' eyebrow arched at Buffy's detailed description. "Did your
homework now didn't you?"

Buffy smiled. "Will you do it?"

"Yes." Giles agreed willingly. "Now, what do you want out of your
money?"

"What do you mean?"

"What do you want it to do for you? Keep you from working? Travel
the world? What?" Giles asked, trying to get a feel for what Buffy
would need.

"Well." She chewed on her bottom lip in thought. "I'd like to take some
a donate it to charity. I don't feel right not giving some back, you
know? I'd like to find one that deals with domestic abuse, if we can."

"Of course. That part will be easy. What else?"

"I would like to travel for a bit, but I don't want to stop working
altogether." Buffy answered.
WhatWhat do you do for a living child?" Giles asked.

"I used to run a small martial arts studio in Trader's Corners." Buffy's
mouth curved into a frown, her eyes darting down to stare at the glass
tabletop. "Until Angel had the building closed. They said it was for
structural damages, but I knew it was because Angel didn't want me
working anymore."

'Bloody bastard!', Giles thought. "Okay, so would you like to continue
doing that, or try something new?"

"Oh no! I love teaching Aikido. It really made me feel good to see my
students learn and progress; they're the ones I miss the most."

"Okay. So now that we know a few of the things you'd like from your
fortune, what else do you want?"

"Else?"

"Yes. A new studio, some travel, and a donation will only use a small
percentage of what you've won. What do you want from the rest of
it?" Giles inquired.

Buffy's eyes lifted to meet his before answering. "More."

Giles threw his head back in laughter. The warm rich tones
surrounded Buffy and ignited soft chuckles from her as well. "A gal
after my own heart." He smiled at her. "That's smart Buffy. You make
your money work for you, and you won't have anything to worry about
in the future." He nodded at. "C. "Can do. Why don't we start with just
a million for now? You'll need the rest for living expenses anyway."

"That sounds good." Buffy's heart was racing. She couldn't believe
that she was having this conversation. It was all so casual, handing
over a million dollars to another person. As she was pondering this
latest series of events, their food arrived and they both dug in.

That's where Spike found them, laughing and eating, on the patio
roof. His heart lurched at the sight of Buffy in the sunlight, her hair
shining and eyes sparkling as she laughed at one of grandda's corny
jokes.

"Well, good morning." Spike greeted them both.

"Good morning my boy!" Giles answered. "'Bout time you left that
bloody of! Th! There's a beautiful woman out here just waiting for a
leisurely drive through the desert with a handsome bloke like you."
Giles hinted.

Spike sighed. He knew his grandda just couldn't keep his hand out
things. "Grandda I'm a bit too busy to be taking drives through the
desert just now."

"What? It's a sign of the apocalypse when a Giles can't take a few
moments to spend time with a pretty lady. Here, at least sit and have
some coffee." Giles stood, pulling the chair out for Spike. "Buffy I'll be
sure to keep in touch to let you know what's happening." He
addressed her before striding off.

Spike sat, thinking this would be a good time to let Buffy know that
she couldn't take Giles seriously about these things. "Sorry Buffy. I
know grandda can be a bit pushy. I'm sorry if he got you up here on
some pretense."

Buffy's brow furrowed in displeasure. "What do you mean?"

"I mean, he's got it in that head of his that you'd suit me."

"Suit you?" Buffy willed her heart not to dance at the thought.

"Yeah. I love the old man, but he's got this thing. He thinks he's some
sort of bleedin' matchmaker. Always trying to setup anyone of us
that's still single. Just last month he orchestrated this whole thing for
my cousin Darla."

"And how did that work out?" Buffy asked.

"Well, in that case it worked. But still. I'm s if if he tricked you up
here."

Buffy's mouth thinned out into a scowl. "What are you implying?"

"Implying? Nothing. I'm just trying to apologize for grandda's meddling
ways."

"For your information Mr. Giles, everybody's world does not revolve
around you! *I* asked your grandfather up here, and he was good
enough to meet me."

"You? Why would you want to meet with grandda?"
usinusiness." She answered succinctly.

"Business? What kind of business?"

"The kind that is none of yours!" Buffy stood. "But since you clearly
won't let it go, I've asked Thomas to be my financial advisor." Buffy
noted Will's arched brow. "What? You think I've made some type of
mistake?"

"No. I think you couldn't have picked a better person for the job."
Buffy's tension eased just a bit at that comment.

"I'm sorry I jumped to conclusions. I just didn't want grandda putting
ideas in your head."

Buffy's eyes narrowed once more. "Ideas?"

"Yeah. You know the matchmaking. Thinking that you'd suit me as a
wife - "

"Which you clearly don't believe I would." Buffy cut him off coldly.

"No! I mean, it's not that *you* wouldn't. It's just that I'm not the
marrying kind. At least not yet, I'm not ready to settle down like that."
Spike tried to explain. He could see Buffy's features darken, and
knew that he'd already dug himself a pretty deep hole.

"Well, don't worry." Buffy's voice was calm as she spoke though she
was trembling on the inside. "Just because I was willing to sleep with
you, doesn't mean I wanted to spend the rest of my life by your side."
She took a few steps away from the table, and turned away from him
before dropping the final blow. "And you don't have to worry about my
getting any *ideas*. I know how you feel about me, and I'll try to stay
out of your way from now on."

"Buffy, wait I - " But she was gone, the doors of the lift closing silently
behind her.