Sorry for the delay, but here we go! Big thanks to LoveInkfor all her support and help!
"Here we are," Daniel announced gallantly as he pulled open the antique brass handle of a heavy wooden door. "My paralegal said it's the best in town."
"I'm excited," Kathryn replied around a wide, bright grin as they entered the small, upscale bridal boutique. "I hope we find one."
"We will," Daniel said confidently as he told the receptionist that they were there for their appointment. He had woken her up that morning and taken Kathryn to breakfast at a delightful cafe' and they spent the time remaining before their appointment walking down the chilly D.C. streets while holding hands and window shopping.
It had been a perfectly lovely morning.
"Hello, I'm Mrs. Mabry and I will be helping you today," a distinguished older woman with her silvered hair in a crisp bun greeted with her hand out for them to shake. "Welcome. Please, have a seat Mr. Hale while Miss Moore and I begin our consultation."
Daniel followed directions and pulled his phone out while Mrs. Mabry led Kathryn into a tastefully decorated room with an ornate golden desk. "Now, Miss Moore. What are we looking for today?"
"Well," Kathryn began nervously, pushing a stray strand of hair behind her ear, "I've looked in California, but I never found a dress I really liked or Daniel's mother liked."
"Well, we're not concerned with her. You are the bride, Miss Moore. Tell me what your vision for your wedding day is."
"I want something sleek. Not poufy. Preferably not strapless. I just think it's overdone."
"Something a'la Kate Middleton?"
Kathryn nodded. "Yeah. Something like that. Delicate, pretty and not too much, you know. I've learned I'm really not a flashy type of girl."
Mrs. Mabry nodded. "All right then. I'll make the selections."
The experience was much more pleasant than the previous attempt at finding a dress. Mrs. Mabry had expert, curated selections and encouraged Kathryn to go at her own pace without pressuring her to go one way or another.
"What do you think of this one?" Kathryn spun in an ivory tulle dress while she waited for Daniel to input his opinion.
He shrugged. "It's okay. I liked the other one you had on. That champagne-y color, you know."
"Yeah, I did too," Kathryn agreed, "but this one is pretty, too." She put her hands on her hips and cocked her head as she watched him. He was absorbed in his emails, as he had been most of the day. "Hey, what's your favorite movie?"
"What?" He kept his gaze on his phone as he typed.
"What's your favorite movie," Kathryn repeated, now genuinely curious as to what it was.
Daniel shrugged and glanced up at her. "Citizen Kane," he answered plainly.
"What?"
"Citizen Kane. It's only the finest cinematic masterpiece to ever be created."
Kathryn blinked as she tried to process what he was saying. "Okay, but that's not what asked. I asked what your favorite movie was. Not what the best movie ever made was."
"And I answered Citizen Kane," Daniel insisted. "It's a classic and I really do like it. Haven't you seen it?"
Kathryn shook her head. "No. I haven't even heard of it until now."
"You can't be serious." Daniel eyed her critically. "We'll watch it tonight." His gaze dropped back down to his phone as he flicked through his email.
Kathryn continued to stand there with her hands on her hips. Daniel didn't look back up at her. "Aren't you going to ask me what mine is?"
"Your what?"
"What my favorite movie is," Kathryn replied softly. "I asked you and now you're supposed to ask me."
With a huff, Daniel put his phone down and looked at her. "Okay, fine. I'll indulge you. Kathryn what is your favorite movie?"
"Cinderella."
He scoffed and picked his phone up. "That's not a movie. It's a cartoon."
"It's a classic," Kathryn rebutted, throwing his words back at him. "And it's my favorite movie." She turned to look at herself in the mirror and smoothed the skirt of the dress. She couldn't help but think about Juice and his easy going manner.
And his favorite movie: Gremlins.
"Baby? You ready?"
"Just a minute," Kathryn called out as she slipped on her earrings and smoothed her hands down her dress. They were going out to dinner and cutting it close to get to their reservation. They had successfully found a wedding dress that Kathryn loved that day. Mrs. Mabry was rush tailoring it before overnighting it to California.
Tonight was supposed to be a celebration dinner before Kathryn went back to Charming in the morning.
"Okay, I'm ready," she announced stepping out, noticing a displeased look on Daniel's face. "What?"
"Is that what you're wearing?"
Kathryn looked down at her deep pink cocktail dress. It had a plunging neckline, but not obscene. "What's wrong with it?"
Daniel shrugged and tried to control his face. "Well, it just . . . you know . . . looks cheap."
"Cheap," Kathryn repeated blandly. "I can promise you it was not cheap. You can check your statement if you don't believe me."
Daniel shook his head and pinched his nose. "Oh, I'm sure you paid as much as you could for it. I'm just saying it makes you look cheap. I mean, your breasts are practically hanging out! Have some respect for yourself. For me!"
"No, they're not," Kathryn snapped. "And if I just look so trashy maybe you should just go without me. I'm so fucking sorry I look hot in the dress, Daniel. I thought you would appreciate it. Asshole." She stomped towards the door with her keycard in hand.
"Where are you going?"
"Leave me alone," Kathryn snapped, slamming the door behind her. She was angry and could feel her blood bubbling in her veins and she punched the lobby button in the elevator. She was not a piece of trash and she sure as hell didn't look like it in her dress. Just because her collarbone was showing didn't make her a tramp.
She marched to the hotel bar and took a seat on the of the stools.
"What can I get you," the young bartender asked.
"Vodka tonic and charge it to my room," she said, slapping the key card on the bar. She broodily stirred the tiny red cocktail straw when her drink arrived. She always made an effort to look nice for Daniel and tried to be cautious of his conservative views. But this was supposed to be a special night.
Kathryn ignored other patrons that took various stools at the bar. An older gentleman moved down a stool to sit next to her while she waited for a refill.
"I know you."
Kathryn spared a glance at the older, slightly overweight man with a peppered combover. "I don't think so," she muttered as she slid her fresh drink towards her.
Her response seemed to invigorate the man instead of deterring him. He chuckled and took a sip of his scotch. "Sure I do, Kitten."
Kathryn froze momentarily with her drink close to her mouth. She kept her gaze on the television above the bar that played a football game. She didn't know anything about football, but it was a welcome distraction and helped her pretend to ignore him.
"You may not remember me," he said softly, leaning closer to her. Kathryn could smell his musky cologne. "But I remember you. I was in Seattle on business and I heard of you through some colleagues. Paid you a grand at you met me at my hotel. The Westin. That was a good night."
His hand cupped her knee.
"Stop," Kathryn hissed as she tried to push his climbing hand away. "You don't know me. I am not that person. Stop it!"
"Is there a problem?"
The bartender stood in front of him with his hands tensely placed on the bar.
Kathryn pushed the man off of her and stood. "You are sadly mistaken," she said to the stranger. "I'm done," she said to the bartender, throwing some cash on the bar. "Keep the change."
As she waited for the elevator the scent of musky cologne followed her. "How much?"
"I am not for sale," Kathryn spat, pushing his sweaty hand off her shoulder. "I am not your whore."
The man chuckled as they both stepped into the elevator. Kathryn's heart pounded as the door closed and left them enclosed in a tiny space. "Once a whore, always a whore," he sneered. "Yeah, you cleaned up but we all know you're that dirty slut that called me daddy while I came on those fake ass titties of yours."
He dared to reach up and squeeze her right breast. Kathryn slapped him. Her engagement ring had left a cut on his cheek.
"Don't you ever touch me," she growled. "I'm not that girl and even if I was you have no right to speak to me like that. No amount of money in the world would be worth touching your sorry ass."
She stormed off as the doors slid open.
The man didn't follow her.
Kathryn hurried to her room and quickly shut it behind her. Daniel wasn't in the room. She sighed as she kicked off her heels and took out her earrings before plopping on the couch.
That had been close. She had recognized that man just as he had clearly recognized her.
Then he put his hands on her.
Kathryn shivered at the memory. How would Daniel of reacted if he had been there? Would he defend her? Or question her of things she had sworn she would never admit to him?
Her stomach churned as she gnawed on her bottom lip. This fancy hotel room and heirloom engagement ring were the epitomes of what she had always wanted.
Money.
Security.
And she didn't have to take her clothes off to have it. But would Daniel ever understand that at one point in her life that was what she had to do?
He probably wouldn't.
Juice, on the other hand, would.
She flicked through the channels on the television hoping to find something to take her mind off everything. Nothing seemed appealing or interesting until she got to the movie channels.
Gremlins was on.
It was like a sign. She pulled her phone out of her clutch and hit dial.
"Hello."
"Hi. It's me," Kathryn said quietly.
"Kat," Juice drawled. "Thought you didn't want to talk to me anymore. You know, being on the East Coast and all with your fiance or whatever."
"No, I do want to talk to you," Kathryn insisted. "I'm sorry and I miss you Juice."