Counting the Seconds

Lisbet had been hoping the extra work she had put in, the long hours and being a team member for every project would pay off in the long hall. The evidence was the gold and white invitation card sitting innocently on her dashboard.

Her plan was simple. Be available anytime, volunteer to get coffee or take notes for the partner meetings, and contribute to every project, but most importantly work her ass off. This was the year. It had to be this year. There was too much riding on her being the one.

The man to make it happen was Simon Regett. Simon Regett the blue eyed, blonde haired angel. Simon Regett the sophisticated male Adonis. Simon Regett soon to be Junior Partner.

Yet for all his good so called good qualities, he had just as many bad ones.

Simon Regett player to the extreme. Simon Regett two face liar. Simon Regett coat rider. Most importantly, Simon Regett rich boy and eldest heir to Regett fortune.

Lisbet didn't think of herself as a gold digger and to all honestly she wasn't. In any other case she could be considered one, but not under these circumstances. The wonders of wealthy people. Simon played a game every New Year. The girl he kissed at the end of the countdown would become his charity case as Lisbet had heard him say to a few of his close business friends. Oddly enough many doors were opened for these women. One year he donated ten thousand a week to charities of her choice. To say the least, Shelly quit working for him and became a Peace Keeper.

The selection was held at the yearly Regett News Years party. To put some rumors to rest, the party was not held for his game but for his family to celebrate the coming of a hopefully productive year. It was held at the Regett Estate out in the countryside. The land was covered in terraced vineyards with a large forested area surrounding it.



Lisbet drove her little blue bug through the steel gates and up the mile long driveway. She leaned forward marveling at the view. At the top of a hill lay a cream colored mansion covered with vines giving it that mysterious feeling.

She came to a stop at the circle. A man opened the door with a gracious smile and held his hand out. "Miss." Her gaze was instantly directed to the security that loomed all around. Handing him her invite, she unfolded from the car shaking out dress.

He quickly verified the card for counterfeit. When he deemed it real, he gave her another winning smile and bowed lightly. Lisbet shyly walked past him, feeling very out of place.

Seeing some clearly powerful people walking up the steps, wearing gowns and tuxedos worth a small fortune had her feeling wholly underdressed and overwhelmed. She was tempted to head back to her car, but it was too late as the valet slammed the car door and drove away.



The inside was glitter and gold with high ceilings. Right away she noticed Simon surrounded by a half moon of women; some were coworkers others were random women. Single men were off to the side giving dirty looks, while couples and older business men were giving disapproving looks.

Lisbet knew she should enter the fray, but she just couldn’t. It disturbed her to see the rumors were true and to see them in action. These women were throwing themselves at him.

Lisbet avoided other party goers, trying to get a better view of her potential competition. The scene played out like one would see in the movies. Simon fiddled with a redhead’s earrings. He peppered compliments to a curvy lady, as she preened for him; he leered at her backside.

Lisbet shifted from foot to foot deciding if she should leave. To the hell with it, she thought. She had dressed up nice, which she hardly ever did. The party was nice, the food smelled great and the music was good too. She would stay. There was no other party to attend or anyone but her dog at home.



"Lisbet! You’re here!" Lisbet braced herself as Cary suddenly had her in a death hug. "I knew it! I just knew it." Cary pulled away and took in Lisbet. "Wow. Knock out much. Simon won't know what hit him. So has he noticed you? What about a compliment? An air kiss?”

Cary just kept rambling off reactions, but when Lisbet made no effort to acknowledge any Cary frowned. "Am I missing something? He did invite you? That was your plan to be The Kissed." Still Lisbet didn’t respond. "Well?"

"Well are you done flapping your lips? And to answer all your questions. He has not acknowledged me, and I no longer wish to be The Kissed." Lisbet chuckled from Cary’s stunned look. While it looked like Cary was rebooting, Lisbet decided to follow her nose to the delicious smelling food.

"Lisbet are you kidding me!" Cary trailed behind her earning a few glances, even garnering Simons gaze. "Who cares about Simon, no one can tame the beast; it’s the perks that everyone wants. You’re doing this for your mom. He can donate a lot of money towards cancer facilities." Lisbet sorted. She never would have guessed her to be in such an awkward position. "He knows he’s a player. We are just names in his little book and charity cases for his reputation.”

"Cary, wait. Breathe and listen. I want to help my mom, but if she knew I was doing this, this way she would be disappointed. She would want more for me, I want more for me." Lisbet popped a grape in her mouth.



"I...don't understand." Cary said flatly. She watched as Lisbet slowly nibble on the hors d'oeuvres. "If you wanted something more out of this other than donations then why even try for Regett?" Lisbet didn't respond. There were other ways to help her mom, but none that would get her the results she needed to potentially prolong her mom’s life.

"I can't believe you. No one gets the cake and eats it," Cary uttered in disbelief.

"Hey!" Lisbet glared. Cary had no room to judge she had been The Kissed once and all she and Simon did was have sex. Plus all the traveling they did not to mention all the jewelry she was gifted.

Cary put her hands up in a peaceful gesture. "I meant no harm, but come on. If you wanted more you should’ve tried for the other Regett." Cary flung her hand towards the “other” Regett.



Rigby Regett was a couple years younger than Simon and held more responsibility over the company than Simon. He was the glue that held the company together; he would most likely inherit the business.

Lisbet followed Cary’s hand, only to meet Rigby gray eyes. He was watching them with a blank look. The group he was talking to, judging from the snippets of conversation she could hear, were other business men.

"What’s wrong with him? I worked close with him, he’s rather nice." Honesty Lisbet thought Rigby was a handsome young man. She had worked with him closely on all the projects and a few times they bought each other dinner when work ran late. Once she even slept on his couch when they were crunching to finish by the deadline.

"That’s not the point. You’ve done all this work all this year and now you’re bailing...because of your conscience?" Lisbet shrugged her shoulders and wandered done the table towards the sweets. She ignored Cary for a peppermint bar.

She had done the hard work, but not the work needed to get Simons attention. When she did try to flirt, he either looked at her oddly or gave an awkward chuckle and left quickly.

"Okay you know what. I have to make an appearance with Simon, follow me I can help you get your foot in the door." Cary put her arm in Lisbet’s, leading her towards the hyenas.

"Cary thanks really, but I’m just not willing to do the dirty work." Lisbet slipped her arm from Cary’s.

Cary huffed. "Never say I didn't do anything for you." With that Cary walked away to Simon giving him a kiss on each cheek like that were the best of friends.



It was rather depressing, now that Lisbet thought about it. She was dressed up with no one to talk to or dance with. There was only a half an hour till the ball dropped and all she wanted to do was go home. If she left now she could make it home to her dog.

"Penny for your thoughts." Lisbet stared blankly at Rigby as she was startled out of her thoughts. Rigby nervously shifted. "Sorry I didn't..."

Lisbet quickly recovered. "No your fine I was just lost in my own thoughts." Lisbet smiled brightly, trying to hide her embarrassment.

Rigby shrugged, sliding his hands into his pockets. "How do you like the party?"

Lisbet couldn't help but smile, she got the feeling Rigby was nervous. It was sort of cute to see a different side of him.

"It’s nice, but I think I’m going to head home soon." Lisbet bit her lip in a nervous reply.

"Really? But you've worked so hard. You deserve a night out. All expense free party basically, well on me.” He smiled cheekily.

"That’s sweet, but I’m here for all the wrong reasons." Even though Rigby was a Regett, it didn’t mean he knew of his brothers actions. Lisbet didn’t want to tarnish hers any further.



"You mean trying to be The Kissed?" Rigby so plainly questioned. Lisbet’s face grew red and she looked down in shame.

"Well..." Lisbet felt sheepish. There wasn’t much she could say.

"I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable. There’s no reason to be. Just most women are here for that reason. I should’ve known, that’s why you had changed so much.” Rigby’s shoulders slumped a little.

Lisbet looked at his questioningly. "Changed?"

"Your leadership on the projects was impressive. Your ideas were genuine. Your willingness to work at any cost to get what needed to get done. Or maybe it was the fact that I was around you more that I noticed."

Lisbet couldn't help but smile at the compliments. Then it hit her.



"You invited me." She was shocked. She thought there might have been something between them but with her luck she didn’t want to be too hopeful.

This time it was Rigby’s turn to blush. "I may have mentioned it." Rigby gestured to Simon, who oddly enough was ignoring Cary to watch them. He gave a coy smile and bowed his head in acknowledgement to his genius. Rigby was too shy to ask, so Simon did it without his knowledge.

Lisbet blinked completely dumbfounded. She could hear people starting the count. "You told your brother-"

"Is it hard to believe that you caught my attention?" He moved into Lisbet’s personal bubble.

"Actually-”



Lisbet was taken by surprise as her chin was gently tilted upward and slightly chapped lips met hers. When the night started she had hoped to kiss a Regett but not Rigby Regett.

"Happy New Year." Rigby breathed over her lips.

"I think I am going to like this year." She smiled before returning the Kiss.