Thanks everyone for your reviews, urm yeh sorry again for lack of updating, no excuses:(

Also sorry for dragging the story on a bit, this is an intro into where it's all going to kick off in chapter 9 :)


*3 months later*

I stretched and summoned all my strength to climb out of bed. Cold air instantly hit me, and another thing that made it so much harder to get up was the warm arms that suddenly wrapped around me. I groaned.

"Arthur! You're not helping." But that didn't stop me relaxing into his arms.

He laughed softly in my ear. "Five more minutes?"

I sighed. "Alright then. But you can face Cobb when he asks why we're late!"

"Done deal." And he pulled me back down under the warmth of the covers. I kissed him enthusiastically, hardly able to believe that he was mine at last. He ran his hand up my back, and reached to undo my bra when-

BRINNGGG. A annoying trilling sound disturbed my happy fog. Irritated, I groped around the bedside cabinet for my phone and snapped "Hello?"

"Ari?"

Fuck. Just when I was making out with my boyfriend, my other 'boyfriend' happens to call. Fate really must hate me.

"Oh, hey Lucas." Arthur rolled his eyes and gagged, causing me to shove him. He pulled the duvet off me and I shrieked in the cold, tugging it back. We ended up having a few minutes tug of war fight until I remembered my 'boyfriend' waiting on the other line.

"Crap! Lucas, you still there?"

"Yes." He sounded annoyed, no wonder. "What was that about?"

"Oh, um, I fell out of bed and dropped the phone, sorry."

"I thought I heard another voice."

"Just the TV darling." I hurried to find the remote and switched on the TV, relieved when CNN flickered on.

"Hmm, ok. Well I just wondered if we were still on for our dinner later?"

"Sure, I'll see you at 6:30."

"Okay darling, see you then. Oh and could you wear that sexy red dress I bought you?"

"Oh. Isn't it a bit...overdressed for dinner?"

"Nonsense! I want everyone to be looking at us and thinking how jealous they are of my girlfriend."

"Ok-ay..."

"Great. Bye gorgeous, I love you."

"Bye...love you too" I hung up and glanced at Arthur who was lying calm and composed on top of the covers.

"So, hows loverboy?"

"Arthur. Are you sure you're still ok with this? You know it's killing me right?"

Arthur got up and took my hands in his. "Look, I trust you completely, and I know that you're love for him isn't real. That's all that matters." He smiled and pulled me into a hug, leaving me feeling like a proper whore as I remembered the tender kiss I had shared with Lucas three months ago. I had been careful not to kiss like that since, only pecking him on the cheek and lips occasionally, something Lucas was quick to pick up on and get irritated with.
I had not since had any luck with getting into his secretive study, since I was avoiding any cosy scenes at his house, and I knew I couldn't have it both ways: either I had to sacrifice Arthurs' trust and gain Lucas' properly, or continue behaving like the virgin mary with Lucas. God life was hard.


Later...

Pulling out the red dress Lucas had given me, I stared at it in distaste. It was a vivid red colour that would have outshone Rudolphs' nose, and unflatteringly tight and skimpy. Urgh. Just urgh. With a sigh, I pulled it on in defeat, just in time for Arthur to come in the door.

"Ari? I got our favourite chinese, I thought we could have a quiet night in for once. Eames was badgering us to go out for the night with him, but I know I would end up hammered on the sofa so I gently declined." Arthur laughed and walked into the bedroom where I stood, yet again, in front of a mirror.
I had felt suprise, happiness, and uncertainty in front of that mirror, but I none of those things came back to haunt me this time. Only disgust.

I knew Arthur shared my exact same feelings. He emitted a kind of strangled noise as he took in my new prostitute look.

"It's awful isn't it?"

Arthur tried to regain a composed face, and failed. "No!" I gave him a glare. "Ok, maybe just a little. It's not you, it's the dress."

"I wish I didn't have to wear it!" I moaned.

"Then don't?"

"Huh?"

Arthur came over and wrapped his arms round my waist, speaking into my ear. "He doesn't control you Ari. Remember Cobb saying he likes women who are a challenge? Be defiant. It'll probably turn him on."

I rolled my eyes. "You really think so?"

"Darling," he said, imitating Eames, "trust me. I know the way the male mind works."

"Fine. But if he dumps me and a whole 3 months of work goes down the drain, I blame you."

"Cool with me. Now why don't you let me help you out of this dress?" He said demurely, unzipping the dress.

"Arthur!" I chastised, trying to compose my trembling body. "I'm already running late."

"More reason for me to help you. Two pairs of hands are better than one." He reasoned, and swung me up in his arms, whilst I laughed in defeat.


30 minutes later...

"Lucas! Sorry I'm late, I had a bit of a clothing crisis."

Lucas raised his eyes from the expensive menu and appraised me as I kissed him on the cheek and plonked myself opposite him, still flushed pink from the run here.

"Well, would've thought that would've been the smallest amount of time you would've spent on tonight. After all, the choice was simple: my red dress."

My eyes narrowed. "I had to run from a business meeting just 15 minutes ago, and couldn't find the dress in my closet. Probably lent it at one of my girlfriends."

"Lent it?" His eyes bugged out. "Do you have any idea how much it cost?"

"Well that's odd, I guess the saying 'you'd be amazing how much it costs to look this cheap' is true after all!"

There was a nasty silence. Once again, I'd let my anger get the better of me. It was a wonder he liked me at all.

Taking a deep breath, I said apologetically "I'm sorry Lucas, it's been hard at work recently." A sudden idea filled my mind, something to make the last 3 months actually worth it. I bit my lip and looked downwards, going for a remorseful look. "Money's a bit tight at the moment, I think...my company want to let me go."

Burying my face in my hands, I began to sob realistically. I was no actress, but had seen Eames fake cry enough when he was trying to pull ladies gave me something to go on. The man seemed to think it would warm them to him, I mean please, if anything it made him look like a wimp. Lucas seemed to be lapping it up though, as he hurried round the table to cradle me in his chest.

"Oh Ari! I didn't know, I'm sorry. But you know you don't have to worry about money. Not anymore!"

I looked up into his face. "Lucas. I can't depend on you, I mean I wouldn't anyway as I can't be unfair to you like that, but you're only a businessman, like me, it's not like you earn a lot either!"

Please please please take the bait!

"Ari. I love you, what's mine is yours, remember? And...I may earn more than you think!"

Lucas' face was earnest. He looked like he'd been wanting to tell me this for ages. "What do you mean?" I said breathlessly. Leaning forward, I hoped he was about to reveal everything to me.

But...

"Lets not talk about this now, not over dinner. Come back to mine after, and we'll talk then."

Dammit. Come back to his house? It was risky, but I knew I could have a shot at finally completing the job.

"Ok."

Dinner was a blur after that. I was so focused on what he might/might not say after dinner and actually ending this horrible task that I could scarcely keep up with the conversation. I was tired of leading a double life, I just wanted to share one. With Arthur.

"Ari?" Lucas' voice snapped me out of my daydream. "You ready to leave?"

"Yes, sorry, I was just preoccupied with the whole work situation again." I deliberately brought it up to make it fresh in his mind.

Lucas held out his hand, and we left, hailing a taxi. The whole ride to his house was tense (on my part) and exhilerated (on his part). I couldn't figure out if it was because he was about to tell me a huge secret, or because he hoped something would happen tonight. My heart beat faster and faster as we neared his house. It was a wonder it hadn't stopped by the time we got there. Lucas got out first, paid the driver, then opened my door. It took a huge amount of will power to take the hand Lucas was offering to get out the car.

Once we were inside, I immediately sat down on a large couch just so I was sure my legs wouldn't collapse under me. Lucas suddenly seemed as nervous as me, pouring himself a whisky and knocking it back. Suddenly, he turned to face me and said seriously "Ari. I need to tell you something, somehing I've never told anyone. I feel so differently about you than any other women I've met. I feel like I can trust you."

Oh Lord, someone shoot me now.

"But before I can tell you this, I need to know you feel the same way, that you love me too."

"Of course I-" I began, but he cut me off.

"No, Ari. For 3 months now, we haven't been acting like a couple. You barely let me touch you."

"I have...intimacy issues."

"I would have respected that if you'd have talked about it with me. But, you're driving me crazy, and if you won't let me show you my love through physical means" (I could feel my cheeks burning already), "then I can think of no other way then proving our love to each other than like this."

He got down on one knee, and my mind went completely and utterly blank.

Producing a velvet box, he opened it to reveal a ridiculously big diamond. "Will you marry me, Ariadne?"


Know it's kinda ridiculous for him to ask after only 3 months, but that's the point, he's a bit crazy. You shall see later on my darlings :)