Penny stood in front in front of the full length mirror surveying the image staring back at her. As always, she thought, she looked good, considering her plainness. She was sure she could be looked at twice, never a third time. Dressed in a pastel blue semiformal gown, her hair swept back with two black, CZ-studded combs, CZs dangling from her ears, and pumps on her feet that matched the dress perfectly, she felt she was dressed as her date had requestied, dressy. Letting the light weight shawl droop off her shoulders, she looked ready.

Any minute the buzzer would sound, telling her Carl had arrived. As if it was a ritual, she would push the buttom when it summoned her, saying she was on her way down. She'd hear his incessant reply, "Push the other button and I'll be up in a flash." They had only been dating the last three weeks, two dates a week like clockwork, same time, same channel. This thought made her giggle, then sober. He had been trying to get into her apartment since their first date.

Why, she asked herself in silence, do I let him insist on taking me out? I don't enjoy his company. The places we go are interesting, fun, regardless of his boring manner. The ever present 'it's better than sitting here alone, bored,' answer crowded her thoughts. She could look forward to a meal in an elegant restaurant, the opera or a ballet, his choice, and maybe dancing to end the evening.

No, it didn't end there, she reminded herself. It was always the same fight with him about a nightcap in her apartment. He wanted more than that, she knew. The hints were stronger each night she went out with him.

"Men!" She huffed at the speaker, waiting its signaling sound. "He's no more than an over-sized boy who is spoiled to getting his way. Well, Mr. Carlisle Kelsey, this is one way you'll not be getting, ever." She flinched at the noise the speaker returned to her, putting her hand over her jolted heart. Why am I so jumpy?

"Because the darned thing answered me." She spoke before her finger touched the answer button. "I'll be right down, Carlisle." Her voice sounded lighter than her heart felt. Closing her eyes, she dropped her head, remembering his request not to use his full name. He detested it.

"I do wish you wouldn't..." His brooding voice came from the speaker.

"I'm sorry, Carl. It slipped." She quickly blocked his voice.

"Hurry down. I've made special reservations for us tonight. I don't want to be late." The familiar voice spoke back, grating on her nerves already.

"What a change." She spoke aloud to herself again, closing the front door as she left her apartment.

Walking to the end of the hall, she entered the elevator, wondering what was so different about tonight. It wasn't unusual for him to request her to wear certain attire, but dressy hadn't been one of them before. Special reservations, asking her to come down in a hurry... She wasn't sure what was going through his mind, and it made her uneasy.

Her sigh was sharp when she saw him standing outside the secured door. He wore a tuxedo, another difference, but she had to admit he looked strikingly handsome.

As she opened the door, Carl stepped back. His clammy hands took hers as she joined him out in the chhilly air. "you look absolutely gorgeous." His smile was radiant.

"I could say the same about you." She lifted her cheek as he bent to place a kiss on it, as was his custom.

"I hope you don't mind." HIs voice wasn't deep, as she would have enjoyed. "I thought we'd do something a little different tonight."

"Mind? No, of course not." She held onto his arm as they descended the stairs to the waiting limousine. "I hope I'm dressed appropriately."

"You're perfect. I wouldn't want you any other way." His look roamed her entire length longer than she thought necessary. Comming back to her eyes, his burned with a lust that seemed ever-present. "I do mean that I want you." He emphasized what she already knew was in his mind.

"Carl, lets..."

"Sh-h-h. Let's not spoil things tonight. It's too special to me, and I'm sure it will be for you, too." He helped her into the back seat of the vehicle, following.

Spoil tonight? With the way he had been looking at her, and the insinuation given, how could she spoil it any more than he had for her? Without responding, she sat back in the luxury of the expensive car, promising herself she could be insouciant to him, as was her usual behavior.

The chauffeur took them to an out-of-the-way nightclub. She couldn't see the immediate area, except the fancy flower garden in front, lit by several colorful flood lights on the grounds.

This is definitely going to be different, Penny thought as she allowed Carl to help her out of the long car. She wasn't sure why he wanted to make such a drastic change. Had he not been comfortable with their dates or did he think she was not? Was he now showing his true self, or testing her to see what she liked? Was he trying to soften her, hoping she would give into his wants in exchange of an evening filled with...

Filled with what? She gave her shoulders a slight shrug at her thoughts, pushing them to the back of her mind so she could try to enjoy what was ahead, and allowed him to escort her inside the quiet building.

"Here we go." He spoke into her ear as she felt one of his hands on the small of her back giving her a slight push into the darkened room as he followed. As soon as she was inside, the door closed behind them and lights lit up the room, blinding her. She could see many people standing around tables, glasses held high as they yelled, "Surprise!"

"Would you care to fill me in?" Penny stared at her companion. His boyish grin gave her something else to worry about.

Though her words came out in a near whisper, his did not. "This is our engagement party. I've gathered all our friends so I could ask you in their presence to do me the honor of becoming my wife." He took her into his arms, feeling her physical protest of the near intimacy in front of all those people.

"Carl, I... I..." She couldn't find the words that would suit the exact way she felt totward him at that moment. She was repulsed, disgusted, shocked. Most definitely shocked.

"Just say yes loud enough so everyone can hear, sweetheart. That's all I want you to do right now." He whispered those words in her ear, then stopped trying to adhere them together, seeing a few puzzled looks from those nearest them.

"No." She whispered her answer because she knew he didn't want to hear it. But he had set himself up for it. "Why in front of all these people?" Her breathing was coming in gasps. "All your friends..."

Penny is an average young woman, nothing special about her, she thinks. She has been dating Carl about three weeks, always the same boring kind of dates, but sitting at home alone would be worse. When he asks her to wear dressy attire, she knew this was going to be something different. He'd never asked her to wear anything definite before. When Carl shows up dressed in a tux, and with a limo, Penny is a bit intrigued, and anticipates something exciting for this date.

Inside the Country Club, Carl leads Penny into the large darkened room, then the lights magically come on and there are a lot of people calling out "Surprise!" Carl turns to Penny and asks her to marry him. Knowing it was the last thing he wanted to hear, especially in front of all his friends, she whispers her answer. "No." Turning from him, Penny flees the building, leaving Carl standing there with a dumbfounded expression.