A/N I still plan on writing Iconic Fashions. I had an idea for another story. I hope you enjoy.
Bill Spencer Jr was a powerful force in Los Angeles. He had fame. He had prestige. He had the fear of many celebrities in Hollywood. Nothing and no one got by Spencer Publications. The mindset was pretty much, if you didn't want it made public by Spencer you shouldn't have done it. Some congressman and congresswoman in California were also made nervous about Spencer. Some of their dirty secrets were exposed. The company won numerous awards and made millions of dollars. At the moment none of that matter to the man sitting in a rich black chair behind a huge glass top desk gazing out the enormous window at the night sky. The twinkle of lights from the various buildings of the city shined against the darkness. Bill picked up his small glass of scotch and took a sip. He pondered how he got to this point in his life. It had nothing to do with business. He was thinking of his personal life. His wife Katie was currently in ICU at St. Anne's Hospital. He was the reason she was there. It was all his fault. There was no one else to blame but himself. He took another sip of his drink and set it down. Would Katie ever forgive him was the question. Forgiveness. That was something he never thought he needed. He thought himself as God. Well he learned fast he was not God. He did need forgiveness. Not just from Katie but from the Lord Himself. He had been so blind and selfish…He could not see what God had given to him. God gave him Katie. She was the best thing that ever came into his life. Before her what did he have? That crazy bitch Quinn with her weird sexual fantasies he was convinced she got from reading Fifty Shade of Grey. He admitted he thought it was fun at first but that faded pretty fast. He was not interested in her bizarre sex games. But that wasn't the worst of it. The worst was Steffy Forrester. Why in hell did he ever entertain the idea of her? Was it because she was a young hot babe and his ego was flattered by it? Perhaps. Was it all the things she said to him about being better for him than anyone? Was it just the way she built herself up as if she was some prize? The girl was young enough to be his daughter for crying out loud! What could he possibly want with a young girl like that?
Bill shook his head. Why bother trying to dwell on that. It was a moot point. The point was Katie was in the hospital and he put her there. He tells her he is going to leave her and her heart gives out. Her heart gives out. To him that was a sign. A sign that he literally broke her heart. He wouldn't see it any other way. It was him who caused the pain in her heart. He picked up his scotch again and sighed. Never in his life had he ever felt this type of guilt. There was no justification nothing you could explain way. Those were just the facts. And the fact was he just about killed his own wife. He had to live with that knowledge. He took another swig of his scotch and set the empty glass down. The truth of the matter was that he knew deep down he was wrong to consider leaving Katie.
Steffy could never make him happy. Steffy was an immature brat. She wanted to play around with an older man. Well fine. If she wants an older man she can have one. It's not going to be him.
He stood up from his chair and noted a picture of himself and Katie on their wedding day. How beautiful she looked! How happy she was! He recalled the look of pure joy on her face when they said their vows. To him she looked like a fairy tale princess. And she deserved to look like one in his eyes. To him she deserved to have that dream wedding.
When he saw her in that white dress…she took his breath away. He couldn't believe she was actually going to be his wife. How could he ever think Steffy could compete with her! She couldn't! Katie was worldly and sophisticated and smart as hell. Also one of the most loving and kind beings he had never known. How she could love him was a mystery. She saw something in him that he didn't even see. She thought he was a good man. The only one who ever thought that. Most people thought he was just arrogant and egotistical. Well maybe that was true but when he was with Katie. That persona wasn't there. He never felt the need to be that way with her. Then again she wouldn't let him get away with it. She was kind but she was feisty. He loved that about her. He also loved holding her in his arms at night. Bill turned away from the window. He didn't know how to fix anything. He couldn't make a few calls and presto things go his way. This wasn't business. This was real life.
The door to the office opened and he looked to see who was there. He frowned. "Steffy." He said.
"How is Katie?" She asked.
Bill laughed. "How is Katie? As if you care?" He snapped.
"I do care." Steffy said walking in. "I don't want anything to happen to her. She is my…"
"Oh save it!" Bill yelled. "Just stop the bull right now Steffy! You don't give a damn about Katie! You don't give a damn about anyone but yourself!"
"How can you say that to me!" Steffy said. "I care bout you a great deal. I want to have a life with you."
"At Katie's expense." Bill finished. "You don't care who you step on as long at you get what you want. You don't care if another person gets trampled. It's just the way it is in your eyes. To you their feeling are meaningless. It's all about you!"
"That is not true!" Steffy shot back. "I…"
"Oh save it!' He roared. "Just save it! You tried to take that boy Oliver from Hope! You went after Owen! And now you want to take me from Katie! You think you are owed love! And don't think I haven't noticed you sniffing around my son Liam. You think you are owed a man in your life! Well I have news for you! You aren't owed a damn thing!"
"Do you know what it was like for me growing up?" Steffy said. "My father abandoned me. I had no father growing up. I had no real family. Now I have the chance to…"
"Oh cut the BS Steffy!" Bill exclaimed cutting her off. "Your father did not abandon you! He was always there in your life. He married Brooke Logan. Your mother didn't like that he married Brooke. So she filled your head with a bunch of lies. You bought into those lies and you never bothered to fact check them. Well here is a fact check for you. You are a spoiled entitled brat! You are immature and a child! I don't want a child in my life Steffy! Now get the hell out of my office!"
Steffy didn't know what to say as she never saw Bill like this before. Some of the things he said cut her to the core. "Bill." She began. "I know that you are upset about Katie and you need to lash out. I get that."
"You don't get it at all!" Bill said. "Do you hear yourself! Do you!"
"Do you hear yourself?" Steffy exclaimed. "You are angry because Katie's heart gave out and you feel responsible. You aren't responsible." She approached him. "She will be okay. She will pull through this. Trust me."
Bill looked at her. "Trust you? I would rather trust a rat then you Steffy. Now get the hell out of my office this instant."
"Okay." She said. "Just go home and get some sleep. You'll feel better in the morning and we can discuss what you are going to say to Katie."
"Discuss what I am going to say to Katie?" He said incredulous. "I can't believe you! No wait I can believe you! This is what I am talking about Steffy! You are thinking of you and you alone! You are all about what can I get! "We" are not going to discuss anything that I am going to say to Katie. What I have to say to her is of no concern to you. Now again, get the hell out of my office."
Steffy was silent as she turned and left. The door was shut behind her and Bill threw his empty glass at it causing it to shatter all over the floor. What an immature bitch! How dare she come in into his office and… and…He couldn't even think. It was too much to deal with. He needed to get out of there and clear his head. He picked up his car keys and left the office. Bill walked to his private elevator and hit the button for the ground floor.
A few minutes later it came to a stop and the doors opened. He walked over to his personal parking space and got into his custom made black Jaguar. He shut the door and started the car up. He pulled out of the space and drove through the spacious parking lot until he came to the gate. He entered his own personal code and the gate lifted. He drove out and onto the main road. A thousand things were going through his head. How was he going to turn this around? What exactly could he do or say? He reached over and flicked on the radio. A song that he never heard before began to play. The lyrics struck a chord. What do you think about when you look at me. I know we're not the fairy tale you dreamed we'd be. He kept listening and the more he listened the more he connected with it. Maybe you and I were never meant to be complete. Could we just be broken together. And then he heard that line really hit home. It's going to take more than promises this time only God can change our minds. Maybe there was a chance. Maybe just maybe there was some hope that he could make it work with Katie. He couldn't give up on her. Not now. Not ever. Whatever it took he was going to fight and fight hard.
Steffy's Place
Steffy threw her purse down in frustration. Damnit! She fumed. This was so typical! Those damn Logans! Always getting their freaking way! Her mother loses to that bitch Brooke! And now she was going to loose to that idiot Katie! What the hell did Bill see in that no good wench! Couldn't he see she was more desirable! Wouldn't it be great to be seen with her on his arm! Be the envy of L.A.! She could do wonders for him but now it was out of reach! All because of that stupid Katie Logan and her weak heart! Oh she bet she faked this whole thing just to get Bill…It made her so damn mad!
Steffy flopped down on her white sofa still steaming. There had to be a way! There had to be some way of getting Bill to see that saying with Katie was the wrong answer! He belonged with her! Maybe if he saw her with another man…no that wouldn't do any good. That would work for boys. Bill wasn't a boy. He was a man. A man she wanted and deserved. She lost Oliver to Hope. Sort of. Oliver refused to have sex with her even though she told him it wouldn't be a problem if he pretended she was Hope. What did she care? She wanted a piece of him. As long as she got her satisfaction what did it matter? But no he turns her down. And things end between Oliver and Hope anyway. Still. She lost to a Logan and that is was burned her up. Owen. Well she just wanted to one up Jackie because she knew that her grandfather had been fond of her when he separated from her grandmother and she knew that Jackie adored Brooke so therefore Jackie had to pay. She was sorry Pam couldn't take care of that slut Donna who was shacking up with her grandfather! Another Logan worming their way into the Forrester family! She was grateful that Katie stopped that marriage to Thorne but that was the only thing Katie did that was worthwhile as far as she was concerned.
She was sick of those damn Logans! She was sick of them taking away men from her family! Her mother, her grandmother. When will it end! She had to stop it! That was why she needed to get Bill. She needed Bill to get the power over them. She would be living the life they wanted to deny her. She wanted be more powerful and more influential. She could do that as Bill's wife. Did she love Bill? Not especially but she wouldn't mind the sex. He was pretty sexy and well she could give him great sex. What more could he want? To her it was a perfect deal. But now that plan was shot to hell because of Katie!
Bill's Mansion
"Thank you doctor." Bill said before he hung up the phone. Still no change in Katie's condition but they were optimistic. That was something. He walked into the living room and sat down on his black leather sofa. He wished he could be there at the hospital but he knew Steffy was right about one thing. He needed to rest and focus. What he would say tomorrow to Katie he had no idea. He had no idea what she would say to him. Whatever she said, even if she lashed out he would take it. He would take everything she may throw at him. It was the only way. He would deserve all of it. Every harsh word he earned. If he could just get Katie to…it may prove to be a challenge. She was everything to him. No other woman could ever compete. He was done being foolish. He wasn't going to be blinded by young things like Steffy Forrester. Never again. And Steffy was going to learn that no matter what. He got up from the sofa and walked up the winding staircase to the master bedroom he shared with Katie. He walked in seeing the king sized bed. His mind thought to the many nights he spent making love to her. The many many nights she fell asleep in his arms. He would wake up and she would be there. Sometimes she would wake him up in a most pleasant way.
Bill walked into his bathroom shedding his clothes. He tossed them into the hamper and found his pajamas. He put them on and climbed into the bed. He laid his head back his mind filled with visions of Katie. He closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep a beautiful redhead filling his dreams.
Next Morning
Steffy sat in her tiny office at Forrester Creations. She hated that office. It was too small. She was Ridge Forrester's daughter and this is where she is put? The fact that Thorne, her uncle, was down in the basement area didn't phase her. She didn't care about that. What she cared about was that she was stuck there. Hope had a nice spacious office to work in. Hope had the approval of Eric and Brooke and even her own father! And then there was that stupid Hope For The Future line of the bitch. So stupid! Telling girls to wait for marriage before banging a guy? Seriously? How freaking lame! What really got under her skin was the fact that Hope For The Future was ten times more successful than her Intimates Line. The truth of the matter was that Intimates was a giant flop. People actually mocked it calling it the Imitation Line saying she was trying to imitate Brooke's more successful Bedroom Line from past years. The reviews were awful. Too risqué , too over the top, trashy, vulgar, obscene. One even went so far as to say the ad put out for the line boarded on being an ad for a 976 number. Ridge and Eric were not too happy with what she had put together for it to begin with but she stamped her foot insisting it would be a smash. Brooke tried to tell her to tone it down but Steffy scoffed saying she was just jealous because she was the new hot thing and she Brooke was washed up has been. That didn't sit well with Ridge who forced her to apologize to her stepmother.
She stood up from her desk and sulked over to the small window that didn't provide much of a view not that she cared at the moment. Her mind turned to last night and the things Bill said to her. He couldn't have meant them. He was just upset was all. Even so it hurt to hear them. There had to be a way to make him see just how wrong he was. Make him understand that she was the perfect woman for him. What a power couple they could be! Imagine! Besides without Bill how was she going to exact her vengeance. She needed Bill in order to get those stocks he owned. Once she had them she could easily oust Brooke. And she could get rid of that stupid goody good line and reinstate Intimates.
Wait a minute. Why wait for that? Maybe she could talk to her grandfather and her father and perhaps convince them to give her line another shot! Yes that was it! She could look at the old designs that Brooke created and just give them an update! Then once she got her father and grandfather on board, she could then persuade them to make her the lead model. And once Bill saw how amazing she looked…he would fall over himself to get to her. Once he realized that she was the woman of his dreams, he would of course want to marry her and once they were married, she could get her hands on those shares and then good bye Brooke and Hope and hell even Donna with her stupid swimwear line! Steffy had no real reason to despise Donna but she was a Logan and she hated the Logans and that was all that mattered.
Steffy turned from the window and a smile formed on her face. Another thought popped into her head. Ridge was working on a new line himself that they were calling Siren. It wasn't set to debut for a couple more months and she knew that Brooke was supposed to model whatever the show stopper was going to be. If she could get her out of Forrester by then, she could bring her mother on board! And her mother could shine in the show stopper! Oh would that just kill Brooke! It was the perfect plan! But first thing was first. She had to snag Bill away from that no good Katie. And she would. No matter what it took. She would be the new Mrs. Bill Spencer Jr.
Hospital
Bill walked down the corridor and stopped when he came upon room 515 where Katie was residing. He spoke to the doctors prior to coming in and they were optimistic. Her condition was improving. Bill was relieved to hear that. He opened the door and saw Katie asleep on the bed. He shut the door and approached her carefully. "Hey." He said in a soft voice.
She opened her eyes and stared back at him. "Hey." She said quietly.
"The doctor said you are doing much better." He began. "How are you feeling?"
"Okay I guess." Katie replied. "I'm sorry I scared everyone."
"You don't need to apologize." Bill stated. "I'm the one who needs to apologize. Katie I am sorry. I don't know what else to say except I am sorry. I…I was wrong."
"You were wrong?" Katie asked. "Do you really feel that way?"
Bill nodded. "I do."
"What led you to that conclusion?" She asked shortly.
"I came to the realization that Steffy is nothing more than a selfish spoiled brat." Bill answered. "I took the time to actually think about what I almost did. Leave you for a child? That's what she is. A child. I don't want a child. Especially one with a Daddy complex."
"Daddy complex?" Katie said. "You think Steffy has a Daddy complex?"
"It makes sense. She actually had the gall to see me at my office last night. Laid out her load of bull about how Ridge abandoned her. Like hell he did. Everything she says is a pack of lies. Katie I honestly don't know what else to say to you other than I am sorry. I know it's lame. I know you deserve more than that." He gently took her hand. "I would like you to forgive me."
Katie sighed. "Bill. I love you. I do. I will always love you. You almost threw away our marriage for Steffy. Yes you are admitting that it was wrong. I want to know something. Will this happen again?"
"Happen again?" Bill asked confused. "You think I would consider Steffy…"
"No." She said. "I don't mean Steffy. I do believe you when you say you think she is a spoiled bratty child. I know you see that now. I just want to know if you are really happy with me as your wife."
"Of course I am." Bill insisted. "I love you Katie."
"I know you do." Katie said. "I don't have any reason to doubt that but I just question if you are happy being married at all. You looked at another woman and wanted to be with her. So it makes me question whether or not our marriage should go on. I am gathering that I don't make you happy."
"No that's not true at all." Bill said squeezing her hand. "You do make me happy. You are everything in the world to me. What happened with Steffy was a giant mistake on my part. And I think…you are going to think I'm crazy but…"
"But what?"
"I was thinking last night that what happened was a sign of some sorts. A sign from God that I was breaking your heart by leaving. I feel responsible for this. I am the one who put you in here. If I hadn't…Katie I love you and I swear to you that…"
"Bill." Katie interrupted. "I just want to know one thing. Do you want me to be your wife?"
"Yes." He said without the slightest hesitation. "I do. I want you Katie Spencer to be my wife. Do you still want me to be your husband?"
Katie managed a small smile. "I do." She said. "I don't need you to beg and grovel. That's childish and stupid. All I need to know is that you want me."
"You are all I want Katie." Bill said. "I promise you that."
"You are all I want." She said reaching up and touching his face. "There is something I want to ask of you."
"Anything. Name it. You got it."
"I don't want you to think I am using this as…."
""I would never think that." He said. "What is it?"
"I was wondering if you would consider giving your shares of Forrester to Brooke and Ridge."
"You want me to give my shares to your sister and Ridge?" He said surprised.
Katie nodded. "Yes. And I…I want to work at Spencer with you. I have experience in public relations. I would love to work side by side with my husband. I am your wife and I think I should be with you. I don't think you need to bother with Forrester Creations. Let Brooke and Ridge take care of that. I want Spencer Publications to be us. You and Me."
Bill thought a minute and then spoke. "I think that is a great idea. I would love to have you with me. And yes I will gladly hand over my shares to your sister and her husband."
"One more thing." Katie said.
"You got it."
"I would like do to a whole spread on my niece Hope. She is a fashion icon now. I would like to do a piece on how she got into designing and maybe she could inspire other young girls to know they can too work hard and perhaps their dream can come true."
"I like it." Bill said. "I think you have a fantastic idea. Putting Hope on the cover of Eye On Fashion would definitely be a hit. But first thing is first. I want you to get well. I can't lose you Katie."
"I'm not going anywhere." She said. "I want you to know that I do forgive you. I know maybe most women will think I'm crazy and say that I should kick you while you are down and take you for all you are worth but I think that's silly. What is the point? Hurting you doesn't even things out. I am not some raving man hating feminist. Yes it hurt to know that you were eyeing Steffy but that's over. I trust you. I know it's probably sounds insane but I do. You didn't sleep with her. She was hounding you and I know that it's not easy to resist temptation. You are human. When you say you are sorry I believe you. There's nothing left to say. I'm not going to throw in the towel on our marriage."
"I'm not either." Bill said. "You and me are in this till death do we part. So you will have to put up with my pain in the ass behavior for many years to come."
Katie laughed. "I think I can manage."
"You are and always will be the only woman for me." He said leaning over and kissing her forehead. "Now and forever. I love you and you alone. I will not allow anyone to come between us again. I promise you. No one is going to tear us apart. I won't let them. If they try they will be sorry. Very sorry."
