A/N: Here's the next update in the "stuff I had started on my computer" saga. I actually have a whole outline for this one, but I know better than to promise another chapter beyond this one for it. You'll have to wait and see the same as me. My life's going through quite a bit of upheaval, so my writing time may soon become even more limited, which means I'll only focus on my original works.
Thanks to FitchSwitch for the quick beta.
Disclaimer: I don't own Skins or the characters.
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"Dad, are you sure everything is all right?" Katie asked for the fourth time in their conversation. She couldn't escape the nagging feeling that her father had something to tell her, but for some reason he was refusing to come right out and say whatever it was. Maybe it was just the hint of stress in his voice that had alarm bells going off in Katie's mind.
The hesitation on the other end of the phone line did nothing to alleviate Katie's concerns. To make matters worse, Christmas was just around the corner, and she wasn't even sure that she and Emily would be able to go home to her parents' house for it. Sure, she'd be happy to go without her mother's cooking, but she wouldn't mind checking in with them in person.
"Yeah, Katie…Everything's…everything's just fine here."
Everything didn't sound fine, but before Katie had a chance to press him further, he changed the subject again. She repressed the urge to sigh, but she couldn't parent her dad and she knew it. Hopefully she'd make it home for Christmas day, at least. Her and Emily both. It had been far too long.
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"You look hungry."
Katie looked up from opening the door to her room at Stone's house to find Tony leaning ever-so-attractively against the wall beside her. Katie couldn't help thinking that he looked incredibly cool (and with the same ease that his sister always seemed to possess) as he stood there clad in dark jeans, a grey and white horizontally striped shirt, covered by a stylish black leather bomber jacket. She wasn't blind to the way his eyes raked down then back up her body, either. She grinned back at him. "You know what? I am."
Tony's lips spread into a charming grin and his eyes had a little twinkle in them that Katie found both exciting and inviting. "How about I take you out to dinner, then?"
Katie bit her lower lip as she considered the invitation. It would hardly be the first meal they'd had together since Tony's arrival a few weeks ago, but this felt the most like it had the potential to be a date. Somehow all of the other meals they'd had had managed to be interrupted in one way or another either by people walking into the kitchen while they were there or Katie getting called off on a job. Tonight, had the potential to be different. She'd just finished a few days' worth of recon and she knew that Stone wouldn't call on her to do another job tonight. On top of that, Tony had said "out" to dinner, which implied not just in the kitchen at the mansion, which eliminated the other form of interruption. "I suppose that would be all right," she replied cheekily, being sure to look up at Tony through her long lashes in a way that had proven a rather successful seduction technique with men in the past.
His grin grew a little wider. "Well, I wouldn't want to push you into anything you don't want."
Katie rolled her eyes, but couldn't resist the smile that tugged at the corner of her lips. "Just let me change."
Tony let out a small chuckle and nodded. "Well, you look gorgeous in anything, but suit yourself."
Katie felt her cheeks flush a little at the compliment and she pushed open her door and stepped in quickly in the hopes that Tony wouldn't see.
She went to close the door behind her, but Tony had moved to the doorway and was lingering there, watching her expectantly.
"Looking for a show?" she challenged.
"Offering one?" he shot back cheekily.
Katie rolled her eyes again and shook her head. Without responding aloud she crossed to her closet (and despite her initial reservations about staying at the mansion, she managed to have developed a decent wardrobe there). She began to rummage through her closet for something suitable to wear that would suggest date, but not make Tony feel pressured if that wasn't where he thought the evening was going. She settled on a short black halter-top dress and grabbed a black leather jacket to throw on over top. Then she went to her dresser and pulled out a lacy black thong and a matching bra while blocking what she was doing with her body so that Tony wouldn't see, then she slipped into her bathroom and closed the door.
She changed quickly, and looked herself over in the mirror. After a slight touch-up to her makeup, she decided she was ready to go. She could hardly keep Tony waiting forever in her doorway, after all.
She was greeted by a wolf-whistle as she stepped out of the bathroom, and she couldn't help but blush again.
"Ready?" Tony asked, proffering his arm, which she hooked her hand around.
"Ready," she confirmed with a smile.
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It was remarkably easy to talk to Tony. She was vaguely aware that he didn't provide a lot of background information on himself or his family, but on the other hand, Katie had learned to talk while giving less about herself and her family away (not that she had any delusions that Stone couldn't find out anything she wanted to, and that probably extended to Tony's capabilities as well). Besides, they had so much else to talk about that there was rarely a moment of silence.
It wasn't until towards the end of dessert (a decadent chocolate mousse that Katie couldn't help but keep dipping her spoon into), that Tony mentioned anything about her work, even.
"My sister's been keeping you rather busy of late, hasn't she," Tony commented, and Katie felt his eyes study her intensely as she answered.
Katie shrugged. "At least she's paying me well."
"Oh?" Tony raised an eyebrow and the hints of a smirk graced his lips, and Katie couldn't help feeling like there was more meaning behind the simple sound than she was getting.
"Besides, it's still better hours than my last job," Katie added, feeing somewhat self-conscious.
Tony nodded. "That was crunching numbers somewhere, right? And being rather underappreciated, or so I hear."
Katie's eyes widened, surprised that he knew that. She was surprised he'd bothered to find out, to be honest.
"You're rather intriguing, you know. I can't see you sitting idly by and letting people underappreciate you. You've got far too brilliant of a spark in you," he says when she doesn't say anything else.
She feels her ears grow hot and she knows that she's blushing. She takes a big gulp of wine to help her compose herself, and when she looks back across the table, Tony's gaze hasn't wavered, the candlelight flickering in his gorgeous blue eyes.
"Yeah, well, you lose a job or two because of your hot temper, and you figure out that being underappreciated isn't the worst thing in the world."
"I don't think that's something you have to worry about with my sister. She likes your feistiness."
Katie couldn't help but smile at the comment, and she wasn't entirely sure why. Had she really come so far that she felt good knowing that she had job security with the mob? Was she really so okay with what she was doing? Except the truth was that she was all right with what she'd been doing. She'd had no nights since her first few weeks working for Stone during which she'd laid awake, tossing and turning, regretting things she'd done. Even in the first week, it had mostly been worry about things she might have to do that had kept her awake, rather than things that she had done.
"She thinks rather highly of you, I think," Tony mused, and, again, Katie felt like she was missing some hidden message beneath Tony's words, but she couldn't figure out what it might be.
She studied his face curiously, but he shook his head and reverted to his charming grin. Before she had a chance to pry further, he changed the topic and Katie soon forgot that they'd been talking about Stone at all.
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"I had a lovely time at dinner, Katie," Tony informed her as they stopped in front of the door to her room in Stone's mansion.
Katie turned a flirty grin in his direction. "Me too."
Tony grinned down at her and started to lean in. Katie felt her heart rate increase as she locked eyes with him.
To her left somebody cleared their throat. Tony paused in his movements and looked past Katie, and a smirk formed on his face.
"Goodnight, Katie. See you tomorrow," Tony said, turning his focus back to her. He closed the distance between them, and placed a soft kiss on her cheek right by her mouth that left her skin tingling.
"Goodnight," Katie murmured in reply. She watched Tony walk away to his room before turning around, ready to give whoever had interrupted their moment an earful. She thought better of it when she saw Stone standing there, examining her with an expression Katie couldn't decipher.
She felt suddenly wary. She had just gone on what could very probably be considered a date with her boss's brother. Her boss: the head of the mob. Her boss who had warned her away from Tony. Although Stone had made no more comments as they'd spent time around the mansion together in the days since then.
Stone studied her for a long minute that seemed to stretch on forever, and then her face turned stoic. "I'm going to need to meet with you tomorrow night. We need to go over the recon you've been doing."
Katie raised an eyebrow. "Tomorrow night?"
"Nine o'clock. Sharp."
"Does that mean I get the day off?"
"Unless something comes up," Stone replied, and Katie thought she heard a coldness in her voice that hadn't been there when she'd checked in with her earlier in the day and it puzzled her.
Katie's brows furrowed, despite that she was happy about the prospect of having most of tomorrow off. Maybe she'd even go home to her apartment for a bit. It had been almost a week since she'd even stopped by. (She'd even contemplated just letting the lease run out given that Emily showed absolutely zero interest in ever going back there as long as Naomi lived elsewhere. She just couldn't give up her one piece of independence from the mob just yet, though.)
"Great," Katie murmured when she realised that an uncomfortable silence had settled between them, and she felt Stone's eyes boring into her with an intensity that made her uneasy. She made to enter her room when Stone didn't say anything more, but Stone's voice stopped her.
"Katie…"
Katie flicked her eyes back up to meet Stone's and was struck, not for the first time, with just how stunning they were. She waited expectantly for Stone to continue her thought, but Stone's mouth closed a moment later and her jaw set hard. She stepped forward, invading Katie's personal space, and Katie found her heart rate increasing for the second time in the span of minutes. She would have thought that she'd have grown used to the way Stone constantly invaded her personal space, and she knew it was just a tactic to make her uncomfortable and give Stone an edge, but somehow it always affected her.
"Goodnight, Katie," Stone said, her voice low, her eyes boring straight into Katie's. A moment later she looked away and brushed past Katie, her arm grazing Katie's stomach as she passed.
Katie swallowed hard once Stone had moved on down the hallway, but she didn't move to enter her room until she saw Stone enter Naomi's room without knocking. She couldn't help thinking that she wouldn't dare do that just for fear of what she might walk in on.
The door beside her own opened a moment after the door to Naomi's room closed behind Stone and Tony peered out into the hallway. He grinned at Katie when he saw that she was the only one left.
"Hot date with my sister tomorrow night, then?"
Katie rolled her eyes. "Hardly."
Tony let out a low laugh that Katie couldn't help finding extremely attractive. He stepped out into the hallway and moved towards her. He leaned down and placed a lingering kiss on her cheek. "Don't let her push you around too much, Katie. You're fierce, remember," he murmured in her ear.
Katie knew that she was blushing again as he pulled away and disappeared back into his room. She took a deep breath and finally entered her own room.
As she got ready for bed, she couldn't help feeling somewhat conflicted, though every time she tried to focus on what exactly she was conflicted about it eluded her. Thank goodness her days of work had left her exhausted, she decided as her head hit the pillow and her eyelids immediately began to droop. As she drifted into unconsciousness, piercing blue eyes flitted through her mind.
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"So we have a plan, then," Stone said, the hints of a smile creasing the corner of her eyes, and Katie couldn't help thinking that it looked especially attractive.
Katie was especially aware of the way that Stone was leaning over the building plans beside her, shoulder brushing her own, personal space thoroughly invaded. It felt like she'd been pushing that their entire meeting.
Katie nodded. "We have a plan."
"Good." Stone straightened and stretched.
Katie's eyes flitted down to where her untucked pale blue oxford shirt pulled up and exposed a bare stretch of pale skin around her stomach. Stone had long ago discarded her black suit jacket onto her chair. Her hat lay haphazardly on the desk beside her black tie. When Katie's eyes came back up to Stone's face, she saw Stone eying her curiously.
She took a small step forward so that there was barely any air between them at all, and reached up to brush some stray strands of Katie's hair out of her face. She let her fingers trail down the side of her face to Katie's shoulder.
"The company Christmas party is Friday."
"We're a company now, are we?" Katie asked before she could think better of it, and instantly regretted it.
Stone's fingers traced down her arm, nails digging in slightly. "Of a sorts," she replied, eyes daring Katie to contradict.
A small shudder ran down Katie's spine, and she nodded ever so slightly.
Stone's hand fell to her side and a dangerous grin crossed her features. "You're coming with me."
Katie opened her mouth to say that of course she was going, and then Stone's words sunk in. She frowned. "I'm going with you?"
Stone's grin morphed into a smirk. "I need a date."
"I think you have the wrong twin again," Katie replied, but Stone's piercing blue eyes held her gaze.
"Is that a no?"
Katie searched for a threat behind the question, but she found none. Stone simply stared back at her with a smirk and those incredible eyes of hers, and Katie found herself shaking her head.
"Good," Stone replied, and the smile on her face morphed again, this time to something more genuine than Katie had seen from her in a while. She leaned in so that her lips were practically ghosting against her ear and her cheek brushed hers ever-so-slightly. "Guess I won't be getting laid again, though."
Katie swallowed hard, but suddenly Stone was gone, moving to the door to her office, the spell of her proximity broken.
"Damn right," Katie muttered stubbornly, feeling the need to assert a little bit of power in the situation.
Katie heard a light, musical laugh escape Stone's lips before she opened the door. "That's all for tonight, Katie."
She left without another word.
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Katie gave a last look in the full-length mirror. She'd only been half surprised when a box with a dress and shoes in it had shown up at the door to her apartment earlier that day. She'd been stunned speechless when she'd opened the box to find an elegant, one-shoulder black evening gown covered in sequins and beads, including strips of silver sequins across the top and the back straps. It fitted her like a glove and fell to her ankles. The shoes were gorgeous black stilettos that came to a point at the toe and had red soles. What surprised her the most was the box in the box that contained dangly diamond teardrop earrings. Katie had no doubt that they were genuine. A matching diamond bracelet was in another box, and Katie was aware, as she looked in the mirror, that she was probably wearing more money than she'd ever earned in her life.
She'd done her eye make-up dark with hints of silver to match the dress and left her hair wavy and in a partial updo. She grabbed her red lipstick from the top of her dresser and ran it over her lips again. She snagged a tissue on her way to the door and blotted before dropping it in the bin in the kitchen. She grabbed her clutch from by the door, took a deep breath, and headed down the stairs.
She stopped short when she took in Stone leaning against the dark Audi A8 that Katie had ridden in the first night she'd met Stone, her breath catching in her throat.
Stone stood tall and elegant as a dark red, satiny evening gown flowed over her body, diamonds adorning the thin straps and traveling down over her breasts, scattered further and further apart to create a shading effect. The deep v-front of the dress accentuated her breasts perfectly, and the rest of the fabric of the dress hugged her body in all of the right places, falling all the way to her feet, where just the tip of black shoes were visible. Her eyes were done in their usual smoky eye makeup, making them pop, and her lips were painted with a dark red lipstick. Her hair was left wavy and down apart from a red rose clip pinning back one side that matched the dress. Black and white diamond teardrop earrings, a delicate diamond necklace, and a matching diamond bracelet, as well as the same black arrowhead ring that she'd worn to the charity event topped the outfit off. She was a vision to behold and Katie was having trouble wrapping her head around the fact that she was actually seeing someone so incredibly stunning in person.
Stone's eyes lit up when they met her own, and Katie shivered suddenly, unsure if it was from the chill in the air or the woman before her.
"You once complained that all I wear is suits. Does this meet more with your fashion approval?" Stone asked, a smirk gracing her perfect lips as she stepped forward to greet Katie.
Katie swallowed hard, trying to find her voice and failing. Her eyes couldn't stop drinking in the woman in front of her. She nodded after a moment when she realised that she still hadn't replied, and Stone's eyes glinted back at her in response.
"You look stunning, by the way," Stone murmured, leaning in and kissing Katie's cheek ever-so-lightly.
Katie swallowed hard again, and managed to stammer a small, "Thanks." She noted, as she breathed in, the sweet and incredibly enticing scent of lilac perfume.
When Stone stepped away, Freddie had emerged from the driver side of the car and was standing with the rear door open. He was dressed in a black suit and tie, and Katie couldn't help notice that it was properly pressed for once. She didn't miss the glare he shot her way as she climbed into the car either.
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The drive passed quickly, although Katie thought perhaps that was because she spent the whole of it trying to regain control of her breathing. Every time she looked Stone's way she felt suddenly lightheaded, and Stone's piercing blue eyes met her with more and more mischief in them each time.
Freddie opened the door for them upon arrival, then followed them inside. Katie followed Stone as she led her across the foyer and down a hallway in a part of the house that Katie hadn't explored yet. Music trickled to her ears as they neared a big set of double doors, and then the hum of conversation reached her ears as they came to a stop in front of them.
Freddie stepped forward and slipped into the room, closing the door behind him, and Katie heard the hum of conversation stop. The music changed, and then the door opened. Stone smirked at Katie and offered her an arm. Katie wanted to protest because they both knew this wasn't a proper date, and if she took Stone's arm it would seem more like one, but she knew that everyone was waiting on the boss to step through the doors, and it was probably a bad idea to make her do it alone when she'd brought Katie, so she placed her hand gingerly in the nook of Stone's arm and the two of them stepped inside on to what Katie realised was a balcony that lined three walls of the room, leading to spiral iron staircases on either side.
Katie was aware of jaws dropping all around them, and she couldn't help wondering if maybe she wasn't the only person who'd never seen Stone in a dress before tonight.
A wolf-whistle from Cook broke the silence, and cheers broke out around the room as Cook shouted, "Let's give it up for the incredible Stone and her gorgeous arm candy!"
Katie would've objected to her title, except that her sister and Naomi caught her eye off to her left and she fell speechless at the picture they presented. Emily was dressed in a silky, royal blue evening gown that hugged her form to her waist, then flowed beautifully to the floor. Her hair was done in an elegant up-do and she had gorgeous, long, dangly diamond earrings and a matching necklace. Her eyes were done up in an intense purple-ish hinted dark silver and her rosebud lips were painted with a burgundy lipstick.
Naomi, standing beside her and gazing at Katie and Stone appraisingly, was clad in a bust-hugging strapless dark green evening gown with swirling diamond detail work that started between her breasts and curved around one, bunching the dress in a flattering, yet a-symmetrical way. She had a looping diamond choker that had tendrils of diamonds stringing down towards the top of her dress and matching diamond earrings dangling almost to her shoulders. Her eyes were done in a smokey, silvery eye makeup that made them pop in an almost otherworldly way, and her lips were painted with a vibrant red. Her striking blonde hair framed her face in soft waves, pinned back on one side with a dark green clip.
"Wow," Katie murmured as they approached, and then instantly regretted it when Naomi shot her a smug smile.
"See something you like, Katiekins?"
Katie glowered at the unwelcome nickname and the implication. "Sorry, but I don't really go for blondes," she commented snidely.
Naomi let out a small laugh and her eyes danced to Stone. "Well, this is new. Haven't seen you in a dress since…"
Katie found herself disappointed when the sentence trailed off. She looked at Stone who was smirking in reply. "Thought I'd try something besides a suit. Seems you thought the same."
"I've been known to wear something besides a suit on occasion," Naomi countered, glancing sidelong at Emily before flicking her eyes back to Stone. "You look stunning. You should try it more often."
"You do look really beautiful," Emily gushed, before turning her eyes to Katie. "Speaking of beautiful…" She threw her arms around her sister, and Katie hugged her close. "New dress?" she heard Emily whisper in her ear.
"Isn't yours?" she shot back.
"Funny how only one of us has a girlfriend and both of us are being dressed by girls," Emily replied before pulling away.
Katie frowned, but shook the comment off. Stone was her boss, she wanted her to look good. It was reasonable. Expected, even. Even Freddie didn't look his usual somewhat messy self tonight. Katie didn't have more time to think on it as Stone's hand at the base of her spine guided her around the balcony towards the spiral staircase, and then on down to the main floor of the room.
Small round tables, elegantly decorated with a snowflake theme lined the walls and against the near wall stood an elaborate bar that seemed to only stock top shelf liquors and expensive-looking aged bottles of wine as well as an extensive variety of beer. Two incredibly decadent chandeliers hung from the high ceiling, its soft yellow light contrasting with the white lights of the decorations on the lower floor.
Stone made her way towards the bar and two drinks were handed to her automatically. One of which, Katie realised, was for her: a martini with two olives. Katie had to smile as Stone handed the drink to her.
"Let the party begin," Stone murmured with a mischievous twinkle in her eye.
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"Don't fret, I have arrived, and I've brought the party with me!"
Katie looked up to find Tony, dressed in a black suit with a silver tie, making his way through the double doors on the balcony level. His hair was newly cut and styled neatly, and he looked incredibly handsome.
On his arm was a woman who was easily twice his age with blonde hair that showed darker roots, but despite that fact, she managed to look both stunning and intimidating. She was dressed in a sparkly silver dress with a black feather boa draped around her neck. She struck a pose at the railing of the balcony and called out, "He means me, of course!"
A chorus of cheers and wolf-whistles went up through the crowd, but Katie furrowed her brows in confusion, especially when Tony took a step back and shot the woman a look that clearly showed that he was less than entertained. Nonetheless, he stepped forward again and offered her his arm as they made their way around the balcony level and down the spiral staircase.
Katie glanced at Stone, who was wearing a carefully guarded expression, but her eyes trailed the pair down the staircase.
Stone stepped towards them, and Katie followed, but someone beat both of them to the pair. The woman was tall and sturdily built. She had light brown skin and dark hair, and was pretty in her own way, but somehow she managed to make her looks appear almost sleazy.
"Anthea, always a pleasure," the woman was saying to the blonde on Tony's arm as Stone and Katie approached.
The blonde, Anthea apparently, gave her an almost surprised look, and then a puzzled frown formed on her face. "You're that suck up, aren't you? Macy? Malty?"
The woman's face flashed with contempt before a fake smile took its place. "Mandy," she replied, her voice sounding strained.
"Mandy, so glad you could come," Stone cut in, and Katie could tell that the sentiment wasn't genuine. She remembered hearing Tony mention a Mandy once, and Stone had clearly not thought much of her.
"Stone! You're looking stunning this evening. Then again, when don't you look stunning?" Mandy flattered, and Katie couldn't help thinking that the woman brought a whole new meaning to the term 'smarmy'.
"Thank you. If you'll excuse us, please, I have a few things I'd like to discuss with Anthea," Stone said, a fake smile on her lips.
Mandy looked from Anthea, to Stone, to Katie, and hesitated. She clearly expected Katie to leave as well, but Katie had no intentions of doing so, and the subtle pressure from Stone's fingers on her hip assured her that she didn't have to. After an awkward moment, Mandy's face fell and she moved off to bother somebody else.
"I never liked her. Why do you keep her around? And where's my bloody drink? I've been here two solid minutes already!"
As if by magic, a young man that Katie didn't recognise appeared with a tall glass that clearly contained coke and smelled strongly of whiskey.
"That's better," Anthea declared, taking it from him before he disappeared back towards the bar. Anthea dropped Tony's arm and leaned in to kiss Stone on both cheeks. "Hello, darling."
"Hello, Anthea."
Anthea let out a hearty laugh. "I know you're running things now, but there's no need to be so formal with your own mum!"
Katie's eyes widened. This was Tony and Stone's mum? Katie looked at her with fresh eyes and realised that she could see certain similarities. It wasn't until Anthea's sharp blue eyes turned on her that she realised that there was no denying the family resemblance.
"This must be Katie. Tony was filling me in on you and your sister on our way here. Seems you've been good for business in more ways than one."
"Anthea," Tony's voice cautioned.
Anthea waved him off and sucked down several large gulps of her drink.
"Anthea!" Naomi swept in and greeted her, Emily trailing behind her.
"Naomi, darling. You're looking…rather fucking satisfied, actually."
Naomi grinned and Emily blushed behind her. Naomi reached back for Emily and pulled her forward, wrapping a possessive arm around her. "Oh believe me, Anthea, I am."
Emily's blush deepened as she extended her hand for Anthea to shake.
"You're Emily, then," Anthea concluded, ignoring the hand and pulling Emily into a hug. "Shoulda known that someone who looks as innocent as you would be a tiger in the sack. About time Naomi found someone who could keep up with her."
Emily's face what bright red when Anthea let her go.
Anthea turned her attention back to Katie. "What about you? You don't look as innocent, but I bet you're one hell of a shag."
Katie set her jaw firmly and held Anthea's gaze. Her eyes were as piercing as Stone's and Katie fought the urge to look away. "I'm fairly certain that that's none of your business."
Anthea threw back her head and howled in laughter in a way that made Katie wonder if she wasn't also somehow related to Cook. "Oh, I like you. You're feisty."
Katie felt Stone's hand slide around her side, and she couldn't help feeling like maybe she'd passed some sort of a test when she looked up into Stone's eyes and saw a smile dancing in them.
"Katie, I can't help but noticing that your drink is running low. Why don't we go get you a new one," Tony said, stepping forward and Katie didn't miss the look that he shot in Stone's direction, though she couldn't decipher it.
She felt Stone's grip tighten ever so slightly on her side before she pulled her hand away. Katie was aware of Naomi leading Emily away as she took Tony's arm.
"So, I just realised that I've neglected to tell you that you look absolutely stunning," Tony murmured in her ear, leaning in close so that his breath fell hot against her cheek.
Katie felt herself blushing. "Yeah, well, you clean up all right yourself," she replied.
She glanced up at Tony to find him grinning down at her. She shot a look over her shoulder to find Stone talking to her mother, and despite the smiles on their faces, Katie couldn't help feeling like there was an air of tension between them.
"Tony!"
Katie turned at the familiar voice and was delighted to see Maxxie, dressed in a stylish white suit with a flare of colour in his green bowtie, making his way towards them. His blonde hair was styled in a neatly messy way that kept it just out of his pretty blue eyes. Katie grinned. She only saw the man rarely, but whenever she did she always enjoyed his company.
"Maxxie! Looking good!" Tony greeted him with a warm embrace. "How's the dancing?"
"Dancing?" Katie inquired.
Maxxie took her in for the first time and let out a low whistle. "My, my, Miss Fitch, you look dazzling. Stone pick that out?"
Katie nodded and leaned in to give him a kiss on the cheek in greeting. "You look quite handsome yourself."
Maxxie grinned and brushed his fingernails against his chest. "This is all me."
Tony laughed, and gave him a playful shove.
"Anyway, yes, dancing. It's my side job, I guess you could say. It's as good as it can be around here. Still, I'm not complaining. What about you? How's being off in the real world?" Maxxie asked Tony.
Tony shrugged. "As always, it has its ups and downs."
"Ever think about coming back to the business?" Maxxie inquired.
Tony grinned and shook his head. "Never."
Katie watched the back and forth with increased curiosity at the familiarity between the two of them. They were clearly old friends, but Katie had never been under the impression that Maxxie was very deep into the business, so she wondered how the two of them had grown so close.
As if reading her mind, Maxxie threw and arm around Tony and turned to her saying, "This man here saved my life once, you know. Don't get me wrong, he can be a total wanker, but he's a good man."
Katie's eyes widened. "Oh? When was that?"
Tony shrugged nonchalantly. "Back in college. Some arseholes couldn't stand that fact that a gay boy was hotter than them and decided to take it out on him using violent tactics."
"And a belt," Maxxie added, flinching at the memory.
Katie remembered the scar she'd seen on his back and cringed sympathetically before Tony's words really sunk in. "Wait, you're gay? That explains why you never stare at my tits."
Maxxie grinned. "Sorry, love. You have great tits, they're just not really my thing."
Katie smiled back.
"That's fine. There are plenty of us who are more than happy to appreciate your tits for him," Tony offered with a cheeky wink at her and Katie let out a small laugh.
"I couldn't help noticing that we're all in need of a drink," Maxxie commented, looking from the empty glass in Katie's hand to his own bare hands. "Shall we?"
"Definitely," Tony declared.
Katie nodded her agreement and grinned.
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The party wore on late into the night, and by the time Naomi and Emily disappeared up a staircase in a flurry of kisses and giggles, Katie was far too tipsy to care that they were probably embarking on yet another shagathon.
People trickled out slowly, until Anthea, who Katie had decided that she rather liked (especially four or five drinks in, even if she acted like she still ran the organisation), left with Freddie (who Katie had been rather put out to see had glowered at her on and off all night) as her chauffeur. After that, even the stragglers had headed out, including DJ Thommo, who had left a playlist playing and packed up the rest of his equipment.
Stone sent the bar staff away, claiming that she was more than capable of mixing her own drinks, leaving her, Katie and Tony seated around one of the small circular tables near one of the staircases. The chit chat was idle, but Katie was sure that she could sense an underlying tension in the room. It was strange because she would have sworn that the tension had lifted slightly after Anthea had left, though she couldn't figure out why. She remembered Tony once telling her that families were complicated, and she found herself wondering what complications exactly Stone's family had (other than the obvious one of running the mob).
She did her best to stifle a yawn as Tony and Stone sipped at their drinks in a silence that Katie suddenly found far too lingering.
Stone smiled at her. "Let me walk you upstairs to your room," she offered, and Katie wanted to protest, but another yawn told her it was in her best interest to accept.
She almost pointed out that Tony could do it, as his room was just beside hers, but then Stone was already standing expectantly and her stunning blue eyes were peering at her so intensely, and Katie had to nod. She got to her feet and let Stone take her by the arm as she swayed slightly in her heels before finding her footing.
The walk to her room felt longer than it should have, she thought, but then again maybe it was just the alcohol and the fatigue playing tricks on her brain.
She and Stone finally came to a stop in front of her door, and Katie found herself facing Stone, incredibly close to her. Katie looked her up and down and decided that it really wasn't fair that she looked just as gorgeous now as she had at the beginning of the night: not a hair out of place or a smudge to her makeup. She was breath taking, really, Katie thought. She wasn't sure what she expected to happen, but she found herself frowning as Stone stepped away and picked up her hand, placing a tender kiss on it, while keeping eye contact with Katie the whole time.
"You were once again a lovely date," Stone informed her, lowering Katie's hand, but not letting go of it just yet.
Katie smiled. "You were a pretty good date yourself, even if you keep picking the wrong twin."
Stone grinned. "I don't think that's true at all."
Katie swallowed hard as she stared into Stone's eyes.
Stone let go of Katie's hand and stepped back further. "You and Emily have through Christmas off. Your parents live only half an hour from here, don't they? Why don't you go home and visit them. Take James with you. I'm sure some family time would do him some good."
Katie opened her mouth to ask how Stone knew where her parents lived, but then thought better of it. She was Stone. She had her ways. Instead, she said a heartfelt, "Thank you."
Stone smiled and nodded. "Goodnight, Katie. See you soon."
Katie took one last look at Stone as she turned away, wondering briefly when she might ever see the woman in a dress again, then entered her room.
She took off her shoes, and placed her jewellery carefully on the dresser, before she realised that she wasn't sure that the items were actually hers to keep. She opened her door in the hopes that Stone hadn't gotten very far and she could ask her, when she caught sight of Tony and Stone in conversation just down the hall.
Katie kept her door only slightly ajar and strained her ears, but she couldn't make out their words. There was a tension between them, though, and Katie couldn't help thinking that it had the same air of tension she'd felt between them all night.
She ducked away from her doorway when she saw Stone turn back in her direction, her face hard, but apparently Stone didn't see her, because she turned away again and headed on down the hallway.
Tony stood in the hallway for a moment longer, and Katie found herself peering out again curiously. He seemed to sigh, and then he turned and caught her watching him. His face broke into a grin.
"Did you have a good night?"
Katie nodded, opening her door wider.
"Don't suppose you have any interest in a nightcap?" he suggested, shooting her that irresistibly charming grin of his.
Katie bit her lower lip, debating the idea. Her bed was calling her name, and yet she found herself drawn in by Tony's grin. "Sure."
She followed him into his room. It was the same size as hers, she noted, but decorated in an even grander fashion. It was also distinctly more masculine, she decided as she took in the portrait of a nude female on one wall and the black satin sheets on the bed.
Tony moved to a cabinet in one corner of the room and pulled out a bottle of Irish cream. He then moved to the mini fridge beside it and pulled out a tray of ice cubes. He set to work pouring them both glasses on the rocks, then turned back to Katie who was still lingering unsurely by the door. He beckoned her over to a stylish, yet comfortable looking loveseat next to a small black table.
Katie couldn't help wondering how many other women Tony had brought to this room for a nightcap.
"You know, you really looked beautiful tonight," Tony informed her as he took the seat beside her and handed her her drink.
Katie sipped on it slowly, hoping that it might hide her blush at his words. "It's a beautiful dress," Katie murmured, glancing down at it.
"On a beautiful girl," Tony remarked, his eyes gazing steadily at her face.
Katie's blush deepened and she took another sip of her drink.
"You seem to have won everybody over, you know," Tony said, leaning back but still studying her face as he sipped on his own drink.
"Won them over?"
"Well, word has gotten around about the fabulous Fitch twins. You've gotten yourselves a bit of a reputation, and it's a bit of a scary one at that. Word is that you get people to pay up faster than anyone else in the business."
"It's clearly my height that intimidates them," Katie joked, though she couldn't help the swelling of her chest at the compliments.
Tony let out a light laugh. "I'm sure." He leaned in towards her a bit and let his eyes fall to her lips, licking his own, and Katie felt a rush of excitement.
She leaned in towards him, too, and brought her lips gingerly to his. The sensation of his lips against hers as he pressed a little firmer was electric.
She let him pry her drink from her hand and place it on the small table beside his own, and then his lips were kissing hers again, deeper this time. She found herself getting lost in the kiss, and then, all too soon, he was pulling away.
She opened her eyes to find him pursing his lips as he looked at her, and then she frowned as he moved away slightly.
"You're important, you know. To the company."
Katie waited for him to say more, hoping that it would shed light on why they were no longer kissing.
"My sister thinks very highly of you."
"Oh?" she prompted, when it was clear that he wasn't going to say more.
"She doesn't think very highly of very many people."
Katie's brows furrowed. She felt like Tony was trying to say something without actually saying it. "What do you mean?"
Tony took a deep breath. "She doesn't trust many people. I'm not even sure she trusts me very much."
"I'm sure she does. You're her brother," Katie countered.
Tony nodded. "Yes, but…she has her reasons."
Katie still couldn't see what any of this had to do with Tony breaking their kiss, and she was about to say so, when he continued.
"You're too good for me, Katie Fitch. And it's late, and you're a bit drunk. I wouldn't feel right doing anything tonight. Let's just get some sleep," he suggested, standing and picking up the only partially consumed drinks from the table.
He set the glasses down on the cabinet from which he'd produced the alcohol, then returned to the loveseat and offered Katie a hand, which she took, but not without some reservations. He walked her to the door and kissed her gently on the cheek before closing his door behind her.
She wandered back to her own door feeling both confused and irritated. There was still the lingering feeling that Tony had been trying to tell her something about Stone that she'd missed and it was annoying her. She caught sight of Stone on down the hallway as she opened her door, but Stone was looking the other direction, and Katie found herself relieved that Stone hadn't seen her as she slipped into her room and closed the door quietly behind her.
She was exhausted, she realised as she stepped out of her dress, draping it over a chair before moving tiredly to the bathroom to remove her makeup. It had been a long day, she decided, and she wouldn't try to figure out any of the mysteries it had presented tonight.
.
.
Tony was noticeably absent when Katie woke. His room was empty and the place that she'd come to think of as his at the breakfast table remained conspicuously unoccupied.
She had little time to think of it, though, as Emily informed her that she wanted to leave for home early in the afternoon and they had yet to pack. Katie decided to push all thoughts of Tony and Stone and anything mob related to the back of her mind while she was at home with her parents. It would be good to have a bit of a holiday, after all.
.
.
A/N: I hope you enjoyed it (if anyone is actually still interested in this) and that the length of the chapter made it worth the wait.
xx