Part 4<\/b><\/p>\n
\u201cAre you sure I can\u2019t get you something, Mr. Angel?\u201d Lilah\u2019s secretary was polished and composed but there was a tiny bit of hesitation in her voice. She knew who he was and she was just a little bit afraid. Angel was pleased. At least he still had the intimidation factor.<\/p>\n
It made it slightly easier to be here, in this building, on this floor. His old stomping grounds. All that had once been his.<\/p>\n
Of course, it had never been who he was.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s what Cordelia had always said. It had just taken him awhile to see her point.<\/p>\n
\u201cMr. Angel? There\u2019s Pellegrino. Fresh juice. I could run downstairs to the blood bank. We have a variety of\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m fine thanks,\u201d he assured her, before she could run through Wolfram and Hart\u2019s extensive menu of blood types. He didn\u2019t need the distraction. Or the temptation. He wasn\u2019t falling into that trap again.<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, if you\u2019ll just have a seat, Ms. Morgan will be out shortly.\u201d Angel nodded but remained where he stood. The secretary waited a beat, then returned to her desk.<\/p>\n
The sun had just set. Although drapes covered the windows, Angel knew. Even in smog-infested Los Angeles, night had a particular smell. Earthy. Seductive. 250 years and the onset of darkness still called to him.<\/p>\n
But not the way it once had.<\/p>\n
The needs were different now. Night brought out a more mundane type of hunger. A yearning not for the musky sweetness of blood but for the glow of a woman\u2019s skin in the moonlight.<\/p>\n
Tonight the pull was stronger, more powerful than it had been in the years he had been gone. Tonight they would be sleeping underneath the same sky.<\/p>\n
Angel had missed L.A. He\u2019d missed her, missed them, but that was a given. Los Angeles was his, it always had been. The first place he\u2019d ever felt at home, the first place he\u2019d ever made himself a home. In this city, in her arms.<\/p>\n
He\u2019d been away from home for far too long.<\/p>\n
\u201cIs there something wrong Mr. Angel?\u201d This time the secretary looked downright wary.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy do you ask?\u201d<\/p>\n
The young woman nibbled her lip. \u201cWell, you, um, you just growled.\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel frowned and turned away. He slowly let out an unnecessary breath, forcing his hands to unclench. It was important he project a certain image. Lilah was many things, but stupid wasn\u2019t one of them. For this to work, Angel needed for her to continue to believe she was in control.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s what it had always been about with Lilah; what was most essential to her. It wasn\u2019t an actual desire to do evil, it wasn\u2019t about pleasing the senior partners. It was about power. That\u2019s why she hadn\u2019t been content to just let sleeping dogs lie. That\u2019s why she\u2019d come up with this latest ploy. Why she\u2019d sent for him<\/p>\n
Angel adjusted his position, leaning more casually against the wall and perusing the room, focusing in on the painting directly across from him.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s beautiful, isn\u2019t it.\u201d Angel turned back to the secretary. She had a small, if slightly forced smile on her face. He had to give her points for trying. \u201cIt\u2019s a Picasso.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI know,\u201d he said quietly.<\/p>\n
Color flooded her cheeks. \u201cRight. Of course. I forgot this was\u2026you used to be\u2026\u201d She ducked her head, swiveling back to face her computer. Angel briefly wondered what she was going to say. He used to be a lot of things.<\/p>\n
Glancing back to the painting, Angel fought to keep his expression blank. It annoyed him, even though it shouldn\u2019t. It certainly wasn\u2019t surprising that Lilah had kept it there. Besides, he owned other paintings, other beautiful priceless works of art, and even if he hadn\u2019t, it shouldn\u2019t matter.<\/p>\n
From the minute he\u2019d made that first deal with Wolfram and Hart, in the wake of that awful awful year, Angel had learned that you could have many pretty possessions. It wouldn\u2019t fill the void.<\/p>\n
And yet the painting\u2019s presence still rankled something deep inside him. Not just the Picasso either. The entire room bothered him.<\/p>\n
Very little about the outer office had changed. He\u2019d been gone two long years. Made sacrifices, waited patiently. And suddenly none of it counted, because this room looked like he never left.<\/p>\n
Angel\u2019s painting hung on the wall and the drapes at the window were the ones he\u2019d ordered and the couch was the one he\u2026<\/p>\n
\u201cWe can\u2019t do it here,\u201d he warned her. His blood was rushing through his veins at an inhuman speed and all she\u2019d done was unbutton her blouse.<\/i><\/p>\n
\u201cOf course we can. You\u2019re the boss Angel. We could do it at the weekly board meeting if we wanted to.\u201d Cordy had a point. Or maybe she didn\u2019t. The argument was rapidly becoming moot. The shirt was completely off now, and he could see the dusky pink of her nipples through the white lace of the demi-cup bra. His throat went dry.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cSecurity cameras,\u201d he said. Surely she would stop now. She ran her nail over her right nipple in lazy circles. Stretched that long slender neck of hers.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cSo,\u201d Cordelia shrugged. She reached behind her back with both hands and he knew if the scrap of lace came off, he was a goner.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cNo,\u201d he barked. Cordelia raised an eyebrow and took a step towards him. Angel immediately took a step back and felt his calves bump up against the couch. \u201cI\u2019ll be damned if my security detail sees you like this.\u201d Out came that pouty little frown of hers, and then, suddenly, it abruptly disappeared.<\/em><\/p>\n Hands back at her sides, bra still firmly clasped, Cordy took another step over. \u201cYou make a good point.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Angel let out an unnecessary breath of relief. It wasn\u2019t often she took no for answer. And he didn\u2019t have the strength to say it again. He was already erect and every iota of his being was demanding that he push her down on the coffee table. Watch the flush spread from her cheeks to her breasts. Make her shiver when he ground against her clit.<\/em><\/p>\n “I am feeling kinda shy right now.\u201d She was so close he could feel her breath against his jaw. Her scent was all around him, weaving a familiar spell. The hair on Angel\u2019s arms rose and he swallowed reflexively. Age-old reactions, a fluttering reminder that part of him would always be predator.<\/em><\/p>\n She was feeling shy? Then why don\u2019t you put your shirt back on Angel shouted inside his head. \u201cThat\u2019s perfectly natural,\u201d he told her.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cWell, it\u2019s a good thing you\u2019re not as modest as me,\u201d she said. He was momentarily confused and then she smiled. Those glossy pink lips curved slowly up into that crazy dangerous grin that was all woman, all Cordelia.<\/em><\/p>\n Angel had always been a sucker for Cordy\u2019s mouth. It took everything he had to not give in right then. He had reasons for why they shouldn\u2019t do this here. Good reasons. He just couldn\u2019t seem to remember any right now. His mind frantically searched for something, anything, to put her off until they got home.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cCor, it\u2019s been a long day. Uh, long night. Whatever. I\u2019m really tired.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Cordy leaned up and pressed a quick close-mouthed kiss on his lips. A split second of firm dry pressure, inexplicably soothing and exciting all at once. Angel began mentally calculating how long it would take to close up here and head back to the Hyperion. Hell, who said they had to wait until they got home? It wouldn\u2019t be the first time they\u2019d ended up in the backseat of the Plymouth. \u201cI know you\u2019re tired baby, don\u2019t worry,\u201d she said.<\/em><\/p>\n Cordelia traced his bottom lip with her finger then slid her hand to the center of his chest, right over where Angel\u2019s heart would be beating. One gentle shove was all it took to push him onto the couch. \u201cYou just let me do all the work,\u201d she said, dropping to her knees.<\/em><\/p>\n With quick economy of movement Cordy hooked her hands behind his knees and tugged, scooting his body forward and spreading his legs. Both of their eyes were drawn to the impressive bulge in his pants. Angel glanced up at Cordy\u2019s face, and the desire in her gaze had everything in him throbbing harder and faster. Warm, humid heat was coming off her in waves, pounding against Angel like a pulse; all thoughts of stopping her skittered away.<\/em><\/p>\n His surrender must have shown on his face\u2014Cordelia blew him a smug kiss and went to work on his pants. All business, she unbuckled his belt and yanked down his pants and boxers at the same time. For a moment she just kneeled there, examining his erection with nary a glance up at his face. Cordy\u2019s tongue darted out, wetting her bottom lip and Angel struggled to bite back a moan.<\/em><\/p>\n He slid his body down, closer, and his hips pivoted up, offering himself, silently begging her to touch him. Need was boiling through him now and his patience was rapidly deteriorating. He shut his eyes against the onslaught.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cPlease.\u201d It came out low and unintelligible and sounded more like an order than a plea, but they both knew how much the word cost him. It went against everything he was, to ask rather than take. A measure of what he was willing to do, to be, for her.<\/em><\/p>\n He waited, and then suddenly there was the hot wet velvet of her tongue up the length of his cock. There was a split second of relief, before his body began to register the sparks of pleasure licking up his spine, and an all-new torture began.<\/em><\/p>\n Cordelia repeated the action, a long slow swipe from base to tip, swirling her tongue around the head. She ran her fingers down his inner thighs, the perfect amount of pressure, somewhere between scratching and tickling, nails leaving thin red trails in their wake.<\/em><\/p>\n The ache, that bone-deep ache was building. Every time it caught him by surprise. Desire, churning through and over him, making every inch of his skin tight and itchy. And the knowledge that even when it was sated, it would never really be sated. It would never really be enough.<\/em><\/p>\n That was the feeling. With Cordelia, he would never be close enough.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cAh-hem,\u201d she mock-coughed and then came the warm, slightly damp grip of her hand around the base of his cock. Soon her firm slip-sliding motions had him sucking air in through his teeth. \u201cThought that would get your attention.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Then Cordy\u2019s other hand reached for his balls, further insurance that his thoughts wouldn\u2019t stray again. She trailed her fingertips over him lightly, teasing, then made a ring around his scrotum with her thumb and forefinger and gently squeezed. Angel couldn\u2019t help it. He whimpered. The man who had laid siege to hundreds upon hundreds of women. Who had made a study of the whisper-thin line between pleasure and pain. Reduced to this.<\/em><\/p>\n Cordelia tilted forward and she wrapped those sinful lips of hers around the head of his penis. The suction, the sight of her, the searing heat\u2026Angel was panting now, using every ounce of control to tamp down the violent bucking of his hips, to not grab her by the hair and force her to swallow all of him.<\/em><\/p>\n She must have sensed his tenuous grasp, or maybe she was rewarding him for letting her take the lead. For whatever reason, her mouth widened, sliding down, taking as much of him as she could.<\/em><\/p>\n Angel gave an incoherent growl and Cordy\u2019s lips curved around his cock, clearly thrilled with her power. Her light giggle sent vibrations through his groin, echoing throughout his body, until Angel felt it in his toes. Her head began to move, her hand picking up the rhythm at the base of his shaft, pumping him.<\/em><\/p>\n He wasn\u2019t going to last long. She knew his body too well. He was trembling now, helpless, at her mercy. The world started to fade away, until all that existed was the throbbing electric heat of her mouth.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cCor,\u201d he groaned. She ignored his warning, increasing her suction, running her tongue over the seam. Angel\u2019s body jerked and he came with a shout. He felt the sides of her throat convulse around him as she swallowed and after he was done, she continued to work him gently, bringing him back to earth.<\/em><\/p>\n Finally Cordy straightened, letting him slide from her mouth with a soft pop. She tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear and then wiped primly at the corner of her mouth.<\/em><\/p>\n Rolling her eyes at the dazed look on her husband\u2019s face, Cordelia cast an appraising glance at the leather he lay prone on. \u201cHave I mentioned how much I like this couch?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Angel stared down at the couch. Why hadn\u2019t he taken it with him when he left? Of course, he knew the answer. He had been desperate. All that had mattered was getting as far away from Los Angeles, as fast as he could. And the last thing he had needed were reminders of what he was leaving. Why he was leaving.<\/p>\n The sudden click of high heels on a hardwood floor brought Angel back to reality. This was certainly not the time for trips down memory lane. He needed to be focused. After all, this latest crisis proved that one should never underestimate Lilah Morgan. The door to his old office opened and she slid out, closing it quickly behind her.<\/p>\n She looked the same. Lilah\u2019s premature death had seen to it that she would never age another day. She still had that self-satisfied smirk. That slinky allure. Like a snake.<\/p>\n \u201cHello Angel.\u201d<\/p>\n That old urge to walk over there and twist her head off? That was still there too.<\/p>\n He stayed where he was. \u201cAre they here?\u201d he asked quietly.<\/p>\n Lilah glanced over at the secretary, who quickly stood up and exited the room. Once she was gone, Lilah moved closer to the vampire.<\/p>\n \u201cWhy, Angel, how nice of you to ask, yes, I\u2019m doing quite well. You might even say that death becomes me,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n \u201cKiss my\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAh, ah, ah,\u201d she tisked, putting the pads of her fingertips up against his lips. \u201cYou had your chance to have me kiss anything of yours. I got tired of waiting sometime around your third year in L.A. You just don\u2019t\u00a0do it<\/b>\u00a0for me anymore Angel.\u201d The smug look disappeared when Angel grabbed her by the throat, swinging her around so that she now had her back to the wall.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m not here to play games Lilah.\u201d Fingers tightened reflexively around the cords in her neck.<\/p>\n \u201cYou can\u2019t kill me. I\u2019m already dead,\u201d she pointed out.<\/p>\n Angel leaned in. \u201cI can\u2019t kill you, but I can make it hurt.\u201d He searched for it, the flare of panic in her eyes. It wasn\u2019t there. In fact, under the lingering traces of Chanel No. 5 and the hint of coffee on her breath, arousal was blooming in the air between them. She wasn\u2019t afraid. She was getting turned on. Angel snorted in disgust and let her go.<\/p>\n \u201cRight, well, that was fun. Enough about me. How are you?\u201d Lilah seamlessly ignored what had just happened.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m not in the mood for small talk,\u201d Angel said, stating the obvious. \u201cI just spent the better part of a day on an airplane.\u201d<\/p>\n Lilah still had that same husky chuckle. \u201cThat\u2019s right. How was South America?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHotter than hell.\u201d<\/p>\n She slid to the left, moving around him to the center of the room. \u201cI suppose you would know, wouldn\u2019t you.\u201d When he didn\u2019t take the bait, she continued. \u201cThe senior partners weren\u2019t too happy about what you did to the Beunos Aires office.\u201d<\/p>\n Angel turned around slowly. \u201cYou were the one who said I could redecorate.\u201d<\/p>\n Lilah shot him a look. \u201cAngel, you blew the place up.\u201d<\/p>\n He shrugged. \u201cWell, you know what they say. Charred goes with everything.\u201d<\/p>\n She was silent for a moment, crossing her arms loosely over her chest. \u201cI don\u2019t get it.\u201d Her tone was more serious now, quieter.<\/p>\n \u201cWell it was a play on words\u2026\u201d Angel explained.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t get why you\u2019re bothering with all of this,\u201d Lilah corrected. \u201cNot that I don\u2019t appreciate you going along with our plans so docilely. I just don\u2019t understand why you agreed. It\u2019s too late you know.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cExcuse me?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s too late,\u201d she enunciated, slow and clear. \u201cShe\u2019d gone,\u201d Lilah gestured, spreading her arms wide. \u201cCordelia is gone and she\u2019s replaced you with a nice, normal man. The kind she\u2019s always dreamed of. The kind that you, can never be.\u201d<\/p>\n Angel remained silent, but the obvious clench of his jaw had her chest puffing up with pride.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd you know what I find absolutely hilarious?\u201d Lilah asked. \u201cShe doesn\u2019t even know that you quit the firm months ago. She doesn\u2019t care enough to find out about what you’re doing because she doesn\u2019t care about you. And hasn\u2019t, judging by how often she\u2019s appeared in the society pages, for quite some time.\u201d<\/p>\n Eyes narrowing, Lilah strolled back towards him, moving in for the kill. Placed a hand on his shoulder, whispering in his ear. \u201cAnd here you are, back in the place you hate, the place it took you two long years to be free of, and why? For her. To keep her psycho little family intact. To keep HER happy.\u201d<\/p>\n That wasn\u2019t entirely true, but Angel was glad to let her think that. Lilah didn\u2019t need to know the entire truth. \u201cDo we have a deal or not?\u201d he asked, removing her hand from him and forcing her back.<\/p>\n A tiny wrinkle appeared between her eyes as she studied him, trying to figure out if he was playing her. A slight mar on her perfection that left as quickly as it had come.<\/p>\n \u201cYes Angel, we have a deal. I presume the messenger informed you of the conditions?\u201d She didn\u2019t wait for him to answer. \u201cYou help get our two associates into the Hyperion and into the wedding. You do not interfere with their activities in any way. You absolutely do not alert Miss Chase\u2014I\u2019m sorry, I mean the future Mrs. Kittridge\u2014to what they are really doing there.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd in return\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIn return, Wolfram and Hart will make sure that Gunn makes it out of the situation in Paris alive and we will release Wesley from his contract.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo more legal wranglings?\u201d Angel clarified. \u201cHe\u2019ll be free to go?\u201d<\/p>\n Lilah nodded. \u201cHe\u2019ll be free to leave the firm\u2026if that\u2019s what he wants.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou know it is,\u201d he said bluntly.<\/p>\n \u201cYou know, if you ever come to your senses, there will always be a place for both of you here.\u201d Angel looked pointedly around at the office that used to be his. Lilah shrugged. \u201cUnder me, of course,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n They were standing eye to eye. Angel had to fight the urge to shiver.<\/p>\n \u201cCome on now, Angel, admit it. All that power. Fresh O-positive on tap. The clothes. The toys. It wasn\u2019t all bad.\u201d<\/p>\n This time Angel leaned in. \u201cLilah?\u201d The low seductive rasp of his voice in her ear had Lilah closing her eyes in pleasure.<\/p>\n \u201cHmmm?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWorking with you made the hundred years I spent in hell seem like recess.\u201d<\/p>\n Lilah\u2019s eyes snapped open. \u201cOh all right,\u201d she huffed. \u201cThey\u2019re in my office.\u201d<\/p>\n Angel didn\u2019t move. \u201cHow\u2019s this supposed to work? Who am I supposed to introduce these people as?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOld friends,\u201d she said, heading for the office.<\/p>\n \u201cI ate all my old friends. And just because I vouch for them doesn\u2019t mean Cordelia\u2019s going to let two strangers crash her wedding.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, that\u2019s just it, Angel.\u201d Lilah turned back to glance at him, hand on the doorknob. \u201cThey\u2019re not strangers.\u201d<\/p>\n She turned the knob and the door swung slowly open.<\/p>\n The Harris boy, slumped low in his chair, looking up to see the new arrival. \u201cXander?\u201d Angel exclaimed.<\/p>\n \u201cAngel!\u201d Xander squeaked.<\/p>\n \u201cAngel?\u201d That breathless voice. The door swung open more. Buffy. Standing up, quickly closing a thick black file and putting it back on the desk.<\/p>\n \u201cBuffy.\u201d Angel nodded. This was starting to make a lot more sense now. Sighing deeply, he walked into the room. Lilah followed behind him and Angel swore he heard her giggle.<\/p>\n \u201cIs it wrong that I\u2019m completely loving this?\u201d Lilah asked gleefully.<\/p>\n ***<\/p>\n The walls of Lilah\u2019s office seemed to quiver from all the tension in the room. All four of them found a seat. Waited, without speaking, to see how this would go.<\/p>\n There must have been a spark of humanity left in Lilah\u2014she buzzed the secretary. Jennifer quickly came in and silently poured four stiff whiskeys.<\/p>\n Xander took a gulp of the amber liquid, relishing the shocking burn as it traveled down his throat. He couldn\u2019t take the quiet anymore. Partly because awkward silences bothered him, and partly because Ms. Morgan was enjoying it way too much for his liking.<\/p>\n He put his drink down on the desk, purposely placing it next to the coaster and relishing the spark of annoyance that flashed in Lilah\u2019s eyes. He turned to the vampire sitting between him and Buffy. Angel was staring at the misplaced glass, lips quirking up into a slight smile. In the face of that disconcerting weirdness, Xander\u2019s gaze traveled over to Buffy She looked pale. He needed to do something.<\/p>\n \u201cSo, Angel\u2026\u201d Xander\u2019s mind searched frantically for something to say. \u201cHow\u2019s divorced life treating you?\u201d All traces of the vampire\u2019s smile disappeared.<\/p>\n Buffy hurried to cover. \u201cWe, uh, we were surprised. When we heard. I mean, it\u2019s\u2026well, the last time I saw you two things were\u2026you\u2019d just bought her a boat, right? What was it called?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cVision Girl,\u201d Angel said in a soft voice.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s right, Vision Girl,\u201d Buffy repeated, cringing at how loud and false she sounded.<\/p>\n \u201cA boat? And what, pray tell, does a vampire do with a boat?\u201d Xander couldn\u2019t help it. There was just something about Angel that pushed his buttons. Brought out the 16-year-old boy in him.<\/p>\n Angel stared down into his whiskey. \u201cMoonlight sails,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n As the initial shock began to wear off, Buffy began to feel bad for Angel. He looked different. There was a darkness, an edge about him that hadn\u2019t been there the last time. Buffy certainly hadn\u2019t left L.A. on the best of terms, but still, Angel deserved to be happy. They all deserved to be, had earned the right to be happy. That was the main thing she\u2019d learned in the years since Sunnydale.<\/p>\n They deserved happiness, no matter who they found it with.<\/p>\n Buffy decided a subject change was in order. \u201cWe, uh, we\u2019ve been in London.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cReally?\u201d Angel glanced at her, looking, well, grateful.<\/p>\n \u201cAlmost a year now,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n \u201cYup,\u201d Xander confirmed. \u201cI\u2019m fully schooled in British culture. Soccer is football. Cigarettes are fags. Apartments are flats. The trunk of a car is\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cXander!\u201d Buffy interrupted. \u201cI think he gets it. Giles, he\u2019s head of the Watcher\u2019s Council. We\u2019ve started this incredible slayer training program.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s great,\u201d Angel told her. He seemed genuinely glad for her, and Buffy realized, much to her surprise, she had missed him. She would never be in love with Angel again, but it was long past time for her to learn to like the guy. Be his friend. Maybe something good would come from this horrible deal with Wolfram and Hart after all.<\/p>\n \u201cExcuse me?\u201d Lilah tapped her fingernails on the desk. This was fun, but she had a deposition with a poltergeist in an hour. \u201cCan we begin?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSure, ah, how bout we start with what Angel is doing here?\u201d Xander said.<\/p>\n A horrible thought occurred to Buffy. \u201cWas all of this your idea?\u201d Since Angel had been out of the country, she just assumed he\u2019d had nothing to do with the deal they had made with the law firm.<\/p>\n Angel raised his arms in classic \u201cnot my fault\u201d pose. \u201cDon\u2019t look at me. I don\u2019t work here anymore.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou don\u2019t?\u201d Buffy asked. That news hadn\u2019t made its way across the pond yet.<\/p>\n \u201cI get it!\u201d Xander said, snapping his fingers. \u201cAngel\u2019s the inside source who\u2019s getting us into Cordy\u2019s.\u201d Lilah nodded slowly and Xander waggled his finger at her. \u201cPretty funny with all that \u2018not a man ALIVE\u2019 talk.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m so happy you see the humor in this situation Mr. Harris,\u201d Lilah said smoothly. \u201cI thought I was the only one.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI still don\u2019t get it,\u201d Buffy said. \u201cWhat\u2019s the cover story?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s just it.\u201d Lilah leaned forward, resting her elbows on the desk. \u201cThere is no story. Essentially, you\u2019ll be telling the truth. Angel came back to see his family. On the way home, completely to his surprise, he ran into his two old friends, Xander and\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n Xander made a face. \u201cI don\u2019t know if I would call Angel and I\u2014\u201d He shut up when Buffy smacked him.<\/p>\n \u201cHis two friends Xander and Buffy,\u201d Lilah went on. \u201cBeing polite\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh, yeah, cause that\u2019s something he\u2019s known for!\u201d Xander spit out.<\/p>\n Lilah made a face. \u201cBeing polite, Angel invited his old buddies to join him at the wedding. It\u2019s simple. It\u2019s truthful. It\u2019ll work like a charm.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAs long as we neglect to mention that we\u2019re setting up cameras and microphones that lead straight back here\u201d Buffy added.<\/p>\n \u201cWell I\u2019d certainly keep that under wraps if I were you,\u201d Lilah advised. \u201cYour Cordelia isn\u2019t particularly fond of our employees. I\u2019m sure Angel can vouch for that.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cExactly,\u201d Angel confirmed. \u201cIf Cordy finds out, she\u2019ll kick all of us out.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSomething I for one wouldn\u2019t mind,\u201d Xander said under his breath.<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t forget Mr. Harris, we have a deal,\u201d Lilah cautioned. \u201cThere will be consequences for not fulfilling your part of the bargain. Remember? Our money and research for your\u2026services, in certain select situations.\u201d<\/p>\n Xander groaned. \u201cI never agreed to become an indentured servant for Satan Incorporated. Couldn\u2019t we just pay you back in installments? Except for that minor incident with Columbia House, I have pretty good credit.\u201d<\/p>\n All three of them turned to stare when Angel barked out a laugh. Xander stuck his finger in his ear and wiggled, making sure there was nothing wrong with his hearing.<\/p>\n Lilah cleared her throat. \u201cBack to the matter at hand. Today\u2019s Thursday. I want you to have ample time so you should probably head over to the hotel tomorrow afternoon. You\u2019ll spend the night there before the wedding on Saturday.\u201d<\/p>\n She checked her watch and stood up, clearly expecting the rest of them to do the same. Xander remained where he was. \u201cYes Mr. Harris?\u201d Lilah asked impatiently. She picked up the black file folder and placed it in the open wall safe behind her, quickly entering the combination and locking it up.<\/p>\n \u201cWait a second.\u201d Xander tapped his finger on his chin, thinking. \u201cSomething\u2019s not right here.\u201d<\/p>\n Angel snorted. \u201cWell yeah, you\u2019re wearing a black shirt with brown shoes. That\u2019s not right.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh, you\u2019ve gone and gotten yourself a playful side,\u201d Xander gushed with obvious sarcasm. \u201cI don\u2019t like it,\u201d he deadpanned. \u201cBut what I also don\u2019t like is your role in all of this.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cXander what are you getting at?\u201d Buffy asked, face scrunching up in confusion.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, Angel, you said you quit the firm, right?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes,\u201d Angel said.<\/p>\n \u201cSo why do this?\u201d Xander\u2019s arms started to flare about. \u201cWhy help Lilah? Why ruin Cordelia\u2019s wedding? What I wanna know is, what\u2019s in it for you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell,\u201d Angel stalled. He didn\u2019t even consider telling the two of them about Lilah\u2019s little blackmail scheme, let alone his real motive for doing all of this.<\/p>\n \u201cHoly crap, I just realized,\u201d Xander said. \u201cIt\u2019s written all over your face. You\u2019re doing this for the oldest reason in the book!\u201d Angel paled, wondering how an idiot like Xander could have possibly known.<\/p>\n \u201cRevenge!\u201d Xander shouted. \u201cYou must be doing this for revenge!\u201d<\/p>\n Angel let out a sigh of relief. One day Xander would learn that revenge was actually the SECOND oldest reason for doing things.<\/p>\n \u201cOf course you want revenge,\u201d Xander continued, on a roll. \u201cWho wouldn\u2019t? You married her for the body and forgot about the acid tongue that came along with it. And now you want revenge for every single miserable day you spent with her.\u201d Standing up, finally, he reached over and patted Angel on the back. \u201cHey it makes total sense to me.\u201d<\/p>\n Angel shrugged off the offending hand and turned his steely gaze on Lilah. \u201cI\u2019ll have a car pick them up at one.\u201d Lilah nodded, pleased, and Angel turned on his heel and walked out of the office.<\/p>\n \u201cUh, okay, bye, it was so great seeing you again,\u201d Xander muttered to the empty space where Angel had stood. Buffy sighed and took his hand, pulling him toward the door.<\/p>\n \u201cI really don\u2019t like that guy,\u201d Xander whined.<\/p>\n \u201cI know, sweetie,\u201d Buffy said. \u201cHe doesn\u2019t like you either.\u201d<\/p>\n