Black Velvet
Chapter 28- MATCH STICK
R-M This chapter has a lot. And is the first in a TRIO of chapters, which affects the direction of this story. Note the title: "MATCH STICK" Please Enjoy it!
Kai, walked to the door of his office, when the knock was heard. He opened the door, and Bonnie stood with her Chanel bag, her cell phone, some Chanel sunglasses on, and her usual working attire. "Thanks for coming."
"Of course. I'm guessing there is some new info."
"Yeah. Well... yes and no." He moved out of the way let her in. When she walked in, he heard a distinct sound of delicate heels click clacking on the ground. She didn't make any unusual facial or body expressions. She remained fairly neutral, in every way. "So, thanks for coming. It's kind of important."
"Sure. I must warn you I don't have much time. I have to be at work. Kat is out today with some last minute wedding planning."
"Gotcha. Sorry, I won't waste your time." He moved to the other side of his desk where his chair was and sat down. "Bonnie, you have a solid case against your husband. I have here a folder, of all of the evidence you need to hold against him in a court of law. According to the date of your restraining order, he had had this software illegally installed before you filed. But, the evidence he wants to use against you, are concurrent with the dates from the point of filing your restraining order, and after."
"What does that mean? Do I or don't I have a contest, to his claims of cheating, and conspiracy?"
"He still has the right to claim cheating and conspiracy. But, you can counter claim it. The dates provided shows he had control issues before the separation. The proof is him tapping your software. It also shows, you had reasons to fear your life. And it shows you felt trapped in an mentally abusive marriage."
"Good. So, if I can prove these things, I have a case." She felt some relief.
"It doesn't men that you'll be exonerated of his claims. Depends what his prenup stated."
Kol didn't write the prenup, his parents did. He did nothing on his own. Everything was done for him. At the time, Bonnie didn't remember the small details of his prenup. She just remembered she got married for love. And she was young. So, she signed it.
"My lawyer is going over all of those details in the prenup. So, are we done here?" Her hasty attitude forced his nerves out of him.
"Yeah." He stuttered a bit trying to speak gain. "Uhh, I was-a , well, umm. About last week. Bon, I didn't get to finish-"
"Kai, it's okay. I really don't have time. I should be going."
"Listen, I apologize for how I came off. If I offended you. It wasn't my intention. It's just," he looked up at her, and she seemed agitated. She wasn't one for explanations, anymore. She wanted to know that she could have a disagreement with someone, and move past it. She didn't want to attach feelings to too many things. It made her life more difficult. "I saw those videos. I wish I had a warning, ya know. We've been hanging out for a few weeks. And you don't owe me an explanation, but... it felt like we kind of had this connection. And seeing that, took me by surprise."
"Sorry, Kai. I didn't stop to think you'd see anything in the footage, because most of it was innocent. We didn't do things like that in my house often. My office, sure." Bonnie caught herself. "Sorry, tmi. Listen, it was harmless exhibitionism."
"Bonnie, I saw a man wrap his hand around your throat, and slap you. Several times. It was very fucking disturbing."
Bonnie was relieved. She thought he saw much more than that. Like the crazy sex and the obscene torture methods, or Damon sticking anal beads inside of her. But, he just saw a little slap, and a choke. That's not too bad. Right? "Why do you care? It's no big deal, he never hurt me. It's just the way we were sometimes-"
"What do you mean? I get it, that some people are into that weird shit, but abuse?" Bonnie snapped her eyes at him, and gave him the first RBF that intimidated him more than her smile did.
"Kai, fuck you." Bonnie stood up quickly forcing her body to slide the chair backwards.
"No, stop... I'm not judging you. The thing is, how, do you expect me to unsee what I saw? I can't. And it makes me angry that you let someone, abuse you like that."
"He didn't abuse me!"
"Oh really? Wow. So, tell me, were bruises ever left on your body somedays? Did you ever have to cover scratches, or marks." Bonnie shook her head no, lying through her teeth. She didn't say a word out of annoyance. "Listen, what you and him had going on, fine. That's your business. But, I think, he's sadistic. And you deserve better. As your friend, it bothered me to see it, is all." He was nervous to speak, and she just paused, because she was annoyed. "And if I'm being honest, I just got out of something serious, a about eight months ago. We stay in touch here, and there. But, I really did love her, and I couldn't commit to her, so I lost her, to someone else. Now, I know that has nothing to do with you, but I realized, seeing those images of you and that guy, I felt something for you."
"Kai-"
"Let me finish, please. I have these feelings for you. And I know more than anyone, I'm not ready for something like that, because I'm fresh off of loving a woman, that I had no real reason to break up with, other than my career. And yeah, I lost her. But, you... you just came along, and I instantly thought you were easily one of the prettiest women I'd ever seen. And that smile-" he shook his head, "that laugh, that sense of humor is addictive. But I also know, we are good friends, and I don't want to ruin that."
"Honestly Kai, I had felt some type of connection too. But, just as you, I'm just... not looking for anything, because if I'm being honest, I'm not over my ex."
"See, and this is crazy, because I think we'd be great together. If it was another time, I guess."
"Well, it's okay. We can be friends. I have a lot of fun with you. And until last week, you were the only person who got my mind off the stress."
"Yeah? Well, I would like to be friends. It just, bothered me so bad, to see that guy hurt you. How could I face you, and not be honest with you?"
"I get it. But, he and I, it's not what you think. Trust me."
"A man, was violent with you, and it was on video. What is it, if it's not what it looked like?" Bonnie swallowed hard. She didn't have the mind to tell Kai she was into kink and BDSM. She wasn't trying expose her lifestyle, nor Damon's lifestyle. She knew Damon never hurt her, and that he tested her limits plenty of times before pleasuring her, then eventually pampering her. But somehow, Kai had to see a clip of him torturing her. And sure, it was questionable. But, it was her questionable life, and she didn't want to explain it to him.
"Despite, what you saw, that wasn't what it looked like. He is a good person. He's not the person violating my rights, and trying to take everything from me. My husband is. So, I'm not asking you to forget what you saw. I'm asking you to move on, and let it go."
"Sure. But understand, it bothered me, and angered me to no end. And I figured, that you'd defend it. So, I thought, maybe we should keep it professional. For your sake, for my sake. I didn't want to have to go find the guy and kick his ass."
"Totally understandable. Keeping it professional makes sense. And no, don't look for him. He's not who you think he is. He would never hurt me." Kai had a hard time believing her. "So, I'm over what happened last week."
"Except, I felt like shit after you left. I didn't want to end our friendship, Bonnie. I like hanging out with you. And, I acted too quickly, because what kind of friend, just says... I can't accept you because of your past? I'm not perfect." Kai stood up and walked towards Bonnie. "Listen, I would love to go back to being your friend, if you'll accept me. I'm sorry."
"Kai, you don't have a right to judge my past. Because it's none of your business. Being my friend, means just that."
"You're right. I'm sorry."
"Fine." She smiled, forcibly, and put her sunglasses back on. "I have to go." The air was stiff, and the moment was rough, but quiet. She reached for the heavy wooden frame, and pull at it, until it opened.
"Umm, you still need a date to the wedding?"
"Are you asking me if you can still be my date?"
"No, well...actually I think I am." He had no shame for it either, which was one of those things Bonnie enjoyed about him.
"Fair warning, though. My friends don't really know about our friendship. Except for Kat."
"I'm not intimidated, if that's what you're wondering."
"Whatever. I'm not." Her eyes rolled before she looked back at him. "Sure. You can be my plus one. But, both of my exes will be there."
"Oh. Well-"
"Well, nothing. You can accept it or not."
"Cool. Of course, I accept it. I'm going for you." He could almost feel himself twitching at the lie, that it didn't bother him. "So, can you still go suit shopping with me? I still suck at it."
"Okay. Tonight. It's the only availability I have."
"Fine. I'll clear my schedule." He paused. "Bonnie, for the record, I was angry, because I care. Because I hate the idea of anyone hurting you."
"Well, just know, that what you saw, wasn't what you thought. And that person, in the video... he's a good person. I promise you." Kai would take her word for it. But he wasn't a fan of what was unexplainable to him in a small block of footage which had mere seconds of an interaction. Other footage he'd seen of the two of them also looked tense. But he tried not to violate the entirety of her life, and therefor, he stopped viewing the videos.
"Okay. I have to go on what you say to me. So, anyways, friend... tonight?"
"Yes. Suit shopping. I'll, call you."
...
oOo Bonnie oOo
Hours later, I'd met up with Kai. I won't lie and say it wasn't awkward at first. It took a while to warm up to him again. But, he eased me into it. I think what made everything awkward, initially, is I just, wanted to feel something, some... one that wasn't Damon. I wanted to hurry and get the itch of Damon off me, because he was all over my skin. I ask myself why, most days. Why? How this man enters my mind at the most inopportune times. For example, when Kai and I almost kissed. Or, when I'm in the shower. When I'm sitting with Lily, and talking about THE Review. And, the times, I'm focused, on not focusing on him. But tonight, I got to hang out with Kai, and it was one of those times, Damon didn't pop into my head. Because Kai was very good at making me laugh. No, we finally picked out a suit for him. It only took one store, because he's not picky. And also, I realized, Sarah's boutique, was on the same street downtown, as a suit tailor. All that needed to be done, was a seem needed to be adjusted in one of the suits in store. On both the pants, and the sleeves of the jacket since Kai was taller. But it was by sheer luck we walked away with a suit, that he could pick up in a couple of days.
"Hey, let's grab some dinner. I know you haven't eaten."
"I know I'm kind of hungry, but, I'm watching my figure. The dress Kat had made for me, fits a little too perfectly. I don't want to, take a chance."
"Bonsters, we can do this little bistro that just opened two streets over."
"Uhh-"
"Come on. It's a friend of mine. There's an amazing wine bar."
"Kai, I don't know." She was confused because, Kai sent her mixed signals. She wasn't trying to go there with him, but it certainly confused her most days.
"Please. We can actually walk there. It's a nice night."
"Okay, sure." They headed in the direction of the bistro. It was a busy place for being newly opened. "Wow, this place, is crowded. How do you know the owner?"
"We went to school together."
"Oh okay. Sure, I'm not sure we'll get a table, though."
"Sweetie, I know the owner, pretty well. And you know I hate these types of places, but, I assure you, we are good." Bonnie walked up to the podium with Kai as they headed inside. "Parker for two."
"Parker for two, hello sir. Right this way."
"You made reservations."
"Pft. Earlier today when you left my office. I wanted to make up for, last week."
"Kai, you didn't have to."
"I did. I'm sorry. I was acting in foolishness."
"Sure." Once they got to their seats, Kai pulled out her bar seat. "Oh, ya know, I actually need to use the restroom. I'll be right back."
"Sure. Should I order you a drink?"
"Yes. Malbec, please." Her grin tilted to the right, before she turned and headed toward the restroom. She allowed her herself to attempt to relax, as she strolled to the bathroom decked in Chanel. The place was dimly lit, but very floral, and reminded her of something from a romance novel. Yet, somehow, the floral decor, also accented its discreetness. It kind of made for, upscale bar meets, romantic getaway. And it got away with being called a bistro somehow.
She saw a lot of lawyer types, and political types. It was too much for her to accidentally make eye contact with anyone, because she wasn't in the mood to say hi to strangers tonight. She reached in her purse for her phone having realized, it was ringing, and that's when she bumped into a hard chest. "Oh, sorry." She said in passing, and when she made eye contact accidentally, he smiled.
"Well, if it isn't the infamous, Bonnie Bennett." She would've kept walking until he said her name. She casually turned and looked at him again at the dirty blonde with the medium build,
"Do, I know you?"
"We only met once. It was the night you met Damon, I think. It was very brief, and it was at the spot." She gave him a look of confusion. "You know... the spot?" He said.
"Oh, yeah. Uh, I had met Damon before that. But, yeah, I'm sorry. I apologize for not remembering your face. I was hit hard that night with a lot of interesting dynamics."
"Sure." He laughed. "It's a lot, everyone's first time." There was an awkward pause, and she looked around, uncomfortably. Her phone rang again, and that was her out from this awkward encounter. She tried to pull it out of her purse, and give herself an excuse to leave. "I'm actually here with a friend, so..."
"Oh, yeah. I uh- OH!" He snapped his finger. "Actually, I've been asking Damon for your number."
"Excuse me?" Bonnie rolled her eyes and ignored the phone call before she crossed her arms, thinking to slap him hard enough for Damon to feel it.
"No. I'm sorry, let me rephrase. I've been asking him for your lawyer's number. Because, I don't know if he's told you, but he's been getting hit, with some pretty foul shit by your ex, and he's in jeopardy of losing a lot. Now, I know I can beat this guy, but he's playing very dirty, I have been patiently asking Damon if I could corroborate with your attorney. And he keeps avoiding the inevitable, not wanting to involve you."
"Oh... you're Oliver Queen." She nodded her head. "I've heard a lot about you."
"Good I hope."
"As good as you can hear about a defense attorney in Los Angeles."
"Feisty. And fair. I see why he's so..." he bit his knuckles, "secretive about you. Wow, you are beautiful." Oliver was taken aback by Bonnie, because she had an slight attitude traced in her trained politeness. But she was divinely pleasing to the eyes, and ears.
She took the compliment with a smile. "Thank you. But, what do you mean, my ex is doing foul shit, as if I didn't know? He's always doing foul shit. Am I missing something?"
"Well, here, Ms. Bennett. My card, I'll be in town, in a other week. I'm leaving tomorrow. But please you or your lawyer can contact me." He handed her a card, and in turn she nodded her head. "Please, think about it. I know he wants to keep you out of it, but, I like to fight fire with fire. And I'll answer any questions, provided, I can let Damon know we spoke."
"Absolutely." It wasn't processing quick enough for Bonnie. She just heard Kol was fucking with Damon, and now, she knew her attitude for the rest of the night was going to change." Well, I need to be going."
"Sure thing." He stare at her a few more seconds, before she smiled, and walked passed him towards the restroom. At that point she was worried about Damon again. She hated allowing herself to worry, when she was clearly trying to fight her own battles. And, so close to nailing Kol, herself. But Damon, was her soft spot, she couldn't help it. Still playing phone tag with him, and still waiting for a response to the voicemail she left him, she slid the card in her purse, and tried to block it out. At least for tonight. And that's when her phone rang again as she entered the ladies room.
She ignored it silencing it for a minute allowing herself to finish up in the bathroom. But even when it stopped, the silent phone continue to buzz inside of her purse as she washed her hands, and felt the need to check who'd been calling her over and over, and when she saw the caller ID it was Lily.
"Oh shit." She grabbed it, and answered it leaving the restroom. "Lily, hello. Everything okay?" She paused and waited as Lily spoke, slowly, but struggled. It sounded like she was in pain. "No. of course it's not bother. What's wrong?... are you sure?" Whichever answers Lily was given wasn't enough. She continued to speak to Lily to calm her nerves, and before she knew it, "I'm on my way."
Kai noticed Bonnie's worry when she made it back to the table.
"Hey, what's wrong, you were gone a while?" Kai said at the table with her wine, and his beer ready for latent consumption, as she'd been gone a while.
"Uh, Kai, I'm sorry. I need to go. It's a family Emergancy."
"Oh. I'm sorry. Everything okay, anything I can help with?"
"No. I just, need to get back to my car and go. Lily needs me?"
"Lily? Your exes mom?"
"Yes, its very complicated. I'm literally the only one who can help. Stefan and Damon are both out of town. And Sarah has the kids. I'm, just the only one who can get to her right now. Would you mind getting me to my car?"
He didn't know what to say. It was an awkward situation, but he knew she needed to go. After a second of hesitation, he agreed. "Yeah. Of course. Let me pay the tab, and we can, go."
"Thanks Kai, and again. I'm really sorry."
"No. No, don't worry. You've, gotta do what you've got do." She could tell he was bummed they had to cut the night short. But the way Lily sounded, she couldn't have it any other way. And like that, the night was cut short, and she headed right to Lily after she got to her car. It almost felt like she couldn't get there fast enough.
...
Lily lay in bed exhausted. Bonnie was searching for her medication and couldn't find it. "Lily, when's the last time you saw it?"
"I honestly don't remember. I last took medication... maybe two days ago."
"Lily why aren't you taking it everyday?" Bonnie asked walking into the room.
"I was running low. I had to go pick up some more."
"Okay, perfect. After you went to the pharmacy, where do you remember putting your meds?"
Lily shut her eyes to think, and also to try and avoid thinking about the pain, which was impossible. Bonnie watched her try to remember. In the meantime, she kept shuffling through the drawers in Lily's room. "I really don't remember after the pharmacy. All I remember is, I was kind of hungry after that. I came home and I think I ate a banana. And I slept a lot. And woke up today, and I've been searching since."
"Okay. Lily, where are your car keys? I don't see them on the key holder."
"I'm so sorry, Bonnie. Everything's a blur right now. The pain has exceeded my capacity to think straight about anything but the pain."
"It's okay. Don't apologize." Bonnie walked around her house, until she had the idea to check Lily's car. When she walked outside, she ran to Lily's car and looked at the keys, which were left in the ignition. Bonnie opened the door and tried to start the car. It wouldn't start. She looked over to the side and saw the bag of medicine on the passenger seat, along with Lily's purse. She was shocked Lily forgot to bring everything in. Bonnie quickly ran everything in, and let Lily know. "Lily, I found your things in the car, along with your keys. But your car won't start."
"Seriously?"
"Yeah, but don't worry, okay. I'm going to give you your medication. And you just rest."
"Damnit. I honestly, never forget anything like that. I used my key to come in the house. I promise Bonnie, I did. Then, I went back outside to the car. Oh, I remember, I wanted to finish listening to a radio interview, and... I must've just got tired, and came in. Geez. I can't believe I was so absentminded."
"It's okay, Lily. You are being too hard on yourself. You were in pain." Bonnie said sympathetically. She was so worried about Lily's state of being, that she couldn't imagine not checking on her everyday. Lily was a young woman still. But her exhaustion was impeding on everything else. "You did nothing wrong. Take these meds, with this juice. I'm going to get your car started. Just rest, okay? I'll be here when you wake up."
"Thanks My Bonnie."
"Of course. Just rest." Bonnie rubbed Lily on the forehead, and put a blanket over her, before heading out to jump Lily's car with her own. Something Damon taught her while they were together.
...
Kaleb, sat still on the edge of the bed. April was holding her baby, and singing to her. It was hard to imagine his sister being a mom. She had barely turned twenty, and Kol was in and out of the picture already. Barely serving a purpose during the pregnancy aside from sleeping with her still.
However, he handed her cash every time he came, and paid for her medical bills. Kaleb barely wanted Kol in his sister's life. If it wasn't for Kaleb working for Kol, he would've screwed him over months ago. But, somehow, April was determined to keep Kol around, convincing herself that what they had was love.
"How could he be the dad?"
"He just is, K. Okay."
"Listen, I know you think this guy loves you, but he doesn't. He is selfish."
"Like our dad. So, what? What do you expect? He has a lot going on with his psychotic wife."
"How do you even know she's psychotic? Maybe he's the reason she's that way." Kaleb stood up and walked to the window of the tiny room in the tiny apartment they lived in.
"She tried to attack me K. And I thought your dumb as fuck girlfriend was supposed to be helping us take her down. She seems to be more preoccupied with dodging your calls."
Kaleb rubbed his hand down his face and started to sweat as soon as Davina's was mentioned. He stood up and started pacing making April take her eyes off of her baby and look up at him, suspiciously.
"K?"
"What?" He called out, but didn't stop moving.
"K!"
"What Ape?"
"What the fuck did you do?"
"Nothing."
"No. I know that look. You did something. Where's Davina?"
"She's fine, okay. She's, just... I took her somewhere to get her out of my way a while. Just til everything blows over."
"Where?"
"Don't worry about it. Look," he paused, one hand on hip the other waving in the air slowly, as if he had to reason with himself. The peeling paint on the walls could almost be felt drying out, as the place was so so cheaply built, somewhere in the outskirts of the city. "She likes this bitch. And, I don't know what this Bonnie bitch did, but... my fucking girlfriend, won't have any parts of it anymore. So, I need her far away, from it all til we get what we need from this piece of shit Kol."
"We aren't getting anything from him. He supports me and the baby. He's going to get us a bigger place when the divorce is settled. And it'll be okay. You know it will. But I want Bonnie to pay."
"Pay? Like what, how?"
"The bitch has to pay. She's fucked me over, fucked over Kol. And, I just want her to be out of the way, so we can be happy. Me, Kol, and little Kori. And Kaleb, you too."
Kaleb walked out of the room and April waited a minute hearing him shuffle through papers, and walk back inside of the room as she sat the baby down. "This." He said paranoid. "This is a bank account, I opened in Bonnie's name. The uh... documents I had Davina forge were basically power of attorneys. Bonnie never signed them. But, I basically made Davina forge it, and it gave Kol permission to open an account in his wife's name. And Kol was on board. He was removing money from her other accounts, little by little. He found the shit she was hiding from him, and he was taking it. But, it's totally illegal. So, the plan is to take all the money out of it. And go. What can he do? He was breaking the law, already."
"How much money we talking?"
"Eighty-five grand."
"What?"
"Exactly. Enough for us to just get a start. I can get us some fake ID, and we can go."
No. I'm not leaving him."
"You're so dumb. He doesn't love you. He is living his life."
"He loves me and our baby."
"Sure, he does. But not enough to marry you. Get you out of this apartment. You were the other woman Ape. You couldn't offer him more than he had. No offense sis. But you're young, and he played on it. We can do better. We take this money. Bonnie loses, and Kol takes the fall. It's a win/win. We stay... and we are begging to get caught up. But we leave now, and only Kol deals with the repercussions."
He stare at his sister, who still didn't look happy enough with that. "I can't think right now. Just go. Get the fuck out Kaleb. Let me be alone with the baby. Kol, is coming tonight."
"So, kick me out?"
"You have a girlfriend."
"Everything I do, is for us. Our family. Somehow, he's your knight and shining armor. What happened to family?"
"Kol and Kori are my family. I love you K. But, I have a child to think about. And I'm not gonna screw over Kol. So you can deal with it, or not. But tonight I need alone time with him. So, go find your little girlfriend, and think about it." And with that she turned around and acted like what she said, wasn't as painful as it was. The two of them only had one another, and he almost felt like she'd abandon him for Kol, and he practically gave up his life protecting her.
The life of a con artist, was such a scam, trust was hard to come by, even from your partner.
xXx
The following morning Kai called Bonnie with a name, "Kaleb Westphall."
"This is the hacker?"
"Yes. I can't stay on long sweetie. I am headed to the airport, and I need to find some place to park. But that's the name. I've sent you an email of his information to you."
"Okay. Thanks a lot Kai."
"You're welcome. I'm just glad to finally get you a name. And the info in the email will definitely have a lot for you to take in."
"Kai, I don't know what I would do without you."
Kai blushed. "I honestly busted my ass all week, for this. After our little fall out, I wanted to make it up to you."
"Well, I appreciate it. It means a lot."
"Anytime. Well, I have a plane to catch, but I'll be available while I'm gone if you need to chat with me. About anything. Don't hesitate to call me, Bons. I mean it."
"You're too sweet. I'll keep that in mind." Bonnie smiled greatfully.
"Well. enjoy your Bachelorette weekend in Vegas. I'll see you Sunday for the wedding."
"Yes Mr. Parker. It's a date." They both smiled before hanging up. Bonnie hung up the phone. The name sounded familiar. "Westphall. Westphall. Where have I heard that name?" She walked around her house barefoot, with a cup of coffee. She left Lily's house this morning, and upon her leaving Stefan and Sarah and the kids showed up with breakfast for Lily. They had no idea Bonnie was there, but, they had enough food, offering her to have breakfast with them. But she declined to get home. She needed to get into a headspace to figure out a plan for Kol. She headed to her laptop to see a new email from Kai, and another one, from her lawyer, which was forwarded from Queen and Associates. "So, Oliver Queen, let's see what else Kol is capable of?" She clicked the email to read it. She saw both lawsuits from Andie and Kol, directed at Damon. "What the hell? Andie? That fucking bitch! You and Kol deserve each other."
She quickly picked up her phone and thought to dial Damon's number again. She swore she wouldn't call him after he ignored the last message she'd left him. And how she was contemplating, attempting to reach out to him once more. She dialed, and he didn't answer. Maybe something was seriously wrong with Damon, to not answer again. This time she didn't leave a voicemail. And again, the phone tag between them continued.
She continued reading through both emails from Oliver Queen and Kai Parker. And this was how she spent her afternoon. Reading about how three people were trying to destroy her life.
She and Katherine decided to close up shop four days this week in preparation for the wedding. She had four days off, and three days would be spent celebrating her best friend's happiness.
...
Damon's mind was occupied with situating himself for the possibility of loosing his license. He'd been checking on his investments, and preparing to give himself some permanence for a new career direction. The case study he was writing on Kol, was temporarily put on hold. The case study on the lifestyle he chose, was a work in progress. Until, he met Bonnie. He put her above everything. Above work, above money, above his ability think clearly, and be honest.
He heard his phone ring and decided not to answer it. It was on the other side of the room, and he didn't want to talk to anyone. Not until Saturday when he went to Vegas for Elijah's bachelor party. He had no idea, it was Bonnie.
...
LAX was packed, Friday night. Bonnie sat on the phone talking as Katherine and Elena walked up. She looked tense, and angry at the same time. Both women were laughing until they noticed Bonnie's face. "Bon, what's wrong?"
Bonnie held her hand up, with her finger, signifying to wait a minute. She continued to listen to whomever was on the other end of the phone explaining something to her. "Yes. I hear you, and it makes no sense." She continued listening, and her eye brows both furrowed in annoyance, wrinkling up the space in the middle of her forehead. "I can't believe this. How stupid was I?"
"Bon, what the hell?" Katherine asked again. But Bonnie's not listening to her, because she heated from the conversation she was having over the phone.
"I honestly didn't think, that you of all people would have any involvement. I trusted you. I hired you. I gave you a chance. Same Alma Mater. I gave you all the tools you needed. I typed out recommendations for you. Offered you a permanent position on my staff, for when you graduate. I invited you to business functions, and introduced you to the chair holders in the LACWAGP (Los Angels County Women's assoc. of. Graduate Professionals) Davina... how could you let this go on for so long?"
"Whoa, what?" Katherine sat next to Bonnie, and grabbed her phone, putting it on speaker phone.
"Ms. Bennett, I tried several times to tell you, and I struggled. I wanted to but Kol threatened my boyfriend. He told him, that he'd report him if he didn't help. We tried to get out of it, but he promised he'd pay him worth his while. So, Kaleb helped, and asked me to help him. I didn't want to. But he guilted me into it. Then I found out it was you. And I told him, how I idolized you and how I couldn't go through with it. But Kaleb guilted me because Kol threatened him."
"At some point, you could've fucking said something. He was stealing from me Davina. And now, he's trying to take everything. You're a smart girl. You don't need some asshole guy making you risk everything."
"I know, Ms. Bennett. I'm sorry."
"I can't trust you. I just can't. And I have to recant my Letters of Rec. I should put you behind bars."
"I know, and I wish I could go back in time, and tell you. I wish I could fix this, but-"
"But we can't." Bonnie hung up the phone, and raised her glasses looking like she just got hit by a truck. "Well... nearly a year later and I feel like a fucking idiot."
"What the hell was that about?"
"Davina claims she was forcibly working with Kol. Those papers signed with the bank account opened in my name... she was responsible for that, forging between documents. She also is dating the asshole who hacked my entire software system."
"No. Fucking. Shit...?"
"I'm so serious."
"I'm in shock, she worshipped the got damn ground you walk on. You helped her with so much." Kat sat next to Bonnie and rubbed her back. "You okay?"
Bonnie rubbed her hands through her hair, and stretched her neck on either side. "I'm not surprised. I mean, that it's Davina, sure. It hurts. But that Kol would go that far... not at all shocked. And if it wasn't for Kai, giving me that name, I'd totally not have put two and two together. Remembering April's last name, was Westphall. Then he sent me the file on Kaleb, and I remembered I'd seen him before. Davina's boyfriend. I see him all over her social media."
"Kai, found out who hacked you?"
"Yeah. He's the one who figured it out. He's been amazing through all of this."
"Bonnie, that's great. I'm sorry for giving you shit about him."
"Stop, it's okay. You were totally right. Kai and I... it's too much right now with everything that's going on."
"Yeah. I just want you to be careful is all. But, if you ever decided to take it to the next level, at least he already knows about Kol and Damon."
"Pft. Exactly what I want a guy to know." She sighed heavily. "No thank you. Anyways, enough about my disastrous life. Please just, get my mind off this shit. I have three days to forget it all. Come Monday, I'm back to beast bitch mode."
Elena took the cue to change the subject to something, she knew would have the girls talking Shot about her. "So, Tyler was uncomfortable with everything about this weekend at first."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, Stefan being in Vegas, with Damon, Klaus and Elijah this weekend?"
Bonnie was taken aback. She looked at Katherine, who lowered her sunglasses and sipped her iced tea, through a straw. When her body turned the opposite direction, of the girl's, Bonnie walked around to look Kat in the face. "Katherine Jiselle Gilbert-Pierce..."
"Oh God. Don't. I'm about to get married, can we leave that hyphenated shit in the past."
"Katerina Jiselle Mikaelson! Since that is what Elijah will be calling you when you piss him off. Which will be frequently, I'm assuming."
Kat sipped her drink again, "you know what they say about assuuuumiiiing." Bonnie wasn't impressed, or entertained by her sarcasm.
"Bitch!" She sighed.
"Bon... come on. I didn't think, it would be a big deal?"
Bonnie dropped her bag and poked Kat in the chest, "You didn't think I deserved to know, that my ex would be in Vegas, so I could mentally prepare myself?"
"I forgot."
"Liar! Come on. If I don't like being lied to, why would you lie?"
"It wasn't a lie." Bonnie squinted her eyes disappointingly at Kat and shook her head, scrunching up her nose. "Don't do that face to me. Come on best friend. I didn't lie. I withheld information."
"No Kat. It was fucked up of you not to tell her." Elena said.
"It was an accident. I forgot!"
"Well, the truth is, we weren't going to do a joint thing, and we aren't. But we each promised the other that we would make tomorrow night one last hurrah. I told you Bon. I have free reign of my pre-marriage status this weekend. So does he. We just found out yesterday we were going to the same city. And what better city than Las Vegas. In all fairness, you planned this weekend. Not me. He and the boys will be there doing their own thing. And you and Elena and I will be doing our own thing. Rebekah couldn't make it. So..."
"God Katherine!"
"Bon Bon..."
"No! Don't Bon Bon me. We both know you love Damon for me. It's not secret. But, you could have told me!"
"Hey, you and Damon won't see each other. That's how I saw it. Why worry you over something, that wouldn't even occur? Don't you trust yourself, Bonnie?"
"Oh Pft. Don't put this on me." Bonnie rolled her eyes and walked away. Sure she trusted herself. Didn't she?
"Where are you going?"
"To get a got damn drink!" She flung her hair, and walked with her chest leading, like she was ready bombard a crowd of people.
"It's only a forty-five minute flight babe." KT knew Bonnie would calm down, so all she could do, was... play it cool until they landed. "You don't need a drink for a forty-five minute flight."
"I need it to deal with you."
"I'm not that bad." Kat yelled at Bonnie as she walked away. Bonnie put her sunglasses back down and tossed her middle finger in the air not even looking at her best friend. "Am I that bad?" She asked Elena.
"Your definitely an asshole. She likes you better than I do. Remember?"
"Oh yeah."
The girls boarded the plane, and Bonnie ignored Katherine the whole way there. She made Kat and Elena switch spots in the plane. The three of them sat together but she put Elena in the middle. Elena slept the whole time. Bonnie drank the whole time. And Kat read a magazine, taking a page from Bonnie's book and taking premarital cosmo sex quizzes.
xXx
Bonnie sat on the bed in her suite trying to look through her bag and pick an outfit, as she'd brought more than enough.
Elena walked out of the bathroom and sat on the bed next to Bonnie. She crawled up her shoulder and hugged her from the side. "Hey, you mad?"
"Not mad, so much as caught off guard. I would've like to know before hand."
"You think you couldn't handle seeing Damon?"
"Not at all. I mean technically we ended amicably. No we didn't, did we? I honestly don't know. But we've played phone tag, and it's just... it's not what I needed his weekend. This weekend was about freedom, and girlfriends.
"Yeah. I get it. It's scary if you run into him, and hope to manage to be able to say hi and move right along, then you'll know you're over him. And it's good for your mind and heart. But, I doubt Kat wanted to sneak attack you."
Bonnie reached over to her purse, and grabbed a joint. Then she searched for a lighter, and lit it. "I'll be fine, my mother-in-law made sure I would be okay." Elena listened to Bonnie say mother-in-law and found it strange she'd mention Kol's mother at a time like this. But she was referring to Lily, unknowingly. Bonnie lit the J and inhaled. She passed it to Elena, and exhaled after a few seconds. "Lily started buying weed with her medicinal marijuana card a couple weeks back, and we started smoking together."
"No shit? She smokes?"
"She has cancer. So, it helps to ease the pain. It also helps her to relax." Elena passed it back holding a breath while Bonnie took her next turn.
"Wow. This..." she coughed it out, "this is some strong stuff." Elena said, with watery eyes.
"Oh, gosh. Girl you're a lightweight." Bonnie took another deep inhale.
"Yeah. Well, I I haven't done this too much since college." Bonnie laughed at Elena. "What?"
"No wonder your uptight all the time. Take another hit, and this time, just hold it longer." Bonnie watched Elena awkwardly hold it, as she struggled to inhale. The second she decided to try and cough it out, Bonnie stopped her with a finger signal making her hold it. When Katherine walked back into the room from the kitchen she stopped, and watched the two girls. "Okay, release it."
It was like Bonnie was teaching Elena how to smoke weed, like back in college. Elena exhaled and coughed over and over again, this time her eyes were not just glossy but watery. Both Bonnie and Katherine laughed. "Now, that got her. She's going to be so fucked up." Kat laughed.
"Yeah. You're done Lena." Bonnie helped her up and directed her to the kitchen to get water.
"Sooooo, you still angry with me?"
Bonnie rolled her eyes, and shook her head. "No."
"But you're going to continue with the cold shoulder?"
"Maybe." Bonnie handed Katherine the joint. "I can't fully take you right now. Give me some time."
"Understandable. And I promise, I'm sorry. I wouldn't try to deliberately sabotage your progress."
"I know you wouldn't. I guess I'm just nervous, because even if I've said, I can't have anything serious right now. Kat..." Kat handed the joint back to Bonnie, "... Damon's a touchy subject for me. And I'm not ready to face him. I still have until the wedding Sunday. That's what I've mentally prepared myself for."
"I get it. I don't know what I'd do, seeing Elijah, if we broke up. Let alone with another woman."
"Damon's coming with someone Sunday?" She asked nervously.
"Well, Bon. He has a plus one. Remember? Just like you, bringing Kai. You'll have to expect it."
It hit Bonnie differently now. Especially with the high she was experiencing. Seeing Damon with someone else would probably be heartbreaking. She hadn't given much thought to that, and it was a new thing to add to her list of worries.
"Don't sweat it. Tonight we dance on the roof top of Club Moon. Then we head to Drai's after hours. And we ain't sleeping 'til six in morning."
"Girl, we are going to Sapphire!"
"The strip club? Shut up when?"
"After the club. So, we'll go, get drunk, make all the men buy our drinks. Then, we have the driver take us to Sapphire, and Hustlers. Sapphire has men and women strippers. Hustlers is just women. Because, why not pay beautiful women to dance for us?"
"Yessss." Kat fell back on the bed kicking her legs."
"But first, we have to get ready for the Male revue show at Planet Hollywood. It's called STORM."
"Ahhhhhhhh." Kat screamed taking Bonnie's joint and passing Bonnie her tequila in a bottle.
"Oh, wait, here I have all the cheesy shit. The sash. The crown. The button that says, I'm getting married bitches, and the dick lollipops, along with the dick necklace." Both girls got extremely excited, and started throwing things around, screwing up the room as they got clichéd and ready.
Elena walked back in the room with perfect timing. Eyes red, and laughing at absolutely nothing. The girls looked at each other and laughed. "Fuck yeah. This girl is getting my mind off everything tonight."
"Hey, this smoke is good. Where'd you get this?" Kat asked.
"Lily?"
"No shit. She smokes, I'm impressed."
"Yeah. The cancer is starting to effect her daily now. She's exhausted, and in pain. We smoke together."
"Bonnie stop." Kat joked amusingly. "You smoke with Damon's mom? That's like... kind of freakishly, mother/daughter-like."
"In some twisted way, I guess. My mother would never light a blunt with me. Even though she desperately needs one." A voice walked into the room and filtered into their conversation.
Kat busted out in laughter. "Leave my Ms. Abby alone."
"Pft. My mom can use it. And so can I. So, I can't talk shit I guess."
"Why, what's up?"
"Oh, nothing. If I tell you, you'll just think it's got something to do with Damon, and it doesn't."
"Come on, Bon. I'm not going to judge. Talk to me."
"I haven't had an orgasm in two months. I haven't had sex in two months."
"There's so much out there, to get you off. Toys, videos, dirty talk, sex, foreplay..." Bonnie huffed at Kat. "You and Kai really never did annnyythhhhinnnng?"
"No Kat. I just masturbate in the shower, and in bed, and nothing! Damon pops into my head."
"I know how you feel. It happened to me when I masturbate, with Elijah. It's like he's so deep in side of my head, that I can't cum without him being a part of it. Any good dominant, will make sure that your entire body relies on them in some way in order for you to orgasm."
Bonnie shook her head, in frustration. "I can't let Damon ruin me for other men. It's, not right. Or fair!"
"Bon, Damon was your man. Your dominant counter part. He doesn't care what's fair and not when it comes to other men pleasuring you. As long as he has a say, no other man will ever pleasure you, the way he does. And vice versa, so, don't feel bad, because as far as other women, he'll never feel for other women, what he feels for you."
Bonnie gave silence to the words and thought about it. She couldn't do anything but respect it. But it didn't mean she was okay with it. "Well, I'm a grown woman, who wants to partake in being sexually active, without his permission. So, I may not have had my magical moment yet, but it'll come. And there's nothing Damon can do to stop it."
She hoped.
"Geez, two months, no orgasm, girl... I feel for you. You need some release, or you're going to be uptight at my wedding. We can't have that. We need to get you pleasuresd this weekend."
"Pft, no. I'm not the one night stand type. And yes, I'm ready to have sexual liberation, but a stranger is out of the question."
Kat smirked wickedly. "Of course. I wouldn't think of it."
"I'm lost, but... let me not find myself." Elena laughed at her hand, looking at her mirrored manicure, with the chrome finish. "I guess I can't stick my finger up Tyler's ass during sex anymore, with these." What a perfect moment to fall backwards on the bed again, and die of silent, laughter. The form of laughter where you laugh so hard you don't make a noise, and tears flood your eyes like leaky water faucets. Bonnie and Kat laughed so hard at Elena, they were crying off their highs.
"TM-fucking-I bitch." She stare at them confused for mere seconds before joining them in laughter. "Let's get out of here. "Two nights in Vegas and then I'm married. Let's get me drunk, and let's get Bonnie laid."
"Kat, no! I'm good with being just drunk. I won't be cranky at the wedding. I promise."
"Yeah, we are getting you fucking laid, that's why."
xXx
Twelve hours later.
Bonnie's head was pounding. She lay in the hotel bedroom under the covers, refusing the light. But it was quite possibly the only time she'd remembered having a headache this bad in her life. She groaned realizing they had to drive back to LA today. The worst part wasn't even the headache. The worst part was realizing she wasn't wearing any panties, or anything to be exact. "What the fuck?"she slowly pulled her head out of the cover, and the sunlight barely shifted through small opening in the curtain, so the room was luckily dark. She didn't remember coming back to the room, let alone where she last seen Elena and Katherine.
She felt the heat of another body in her bed, but she couldn't make out who it was in the dark. She figured it was Kat, because they'd shared a bed before. But the hotel suite had three bedrooms, so it didn't make sense except them being too drunk and falling asleep talking.
Which she didn't remember. Especially being naked. She stood up and wobbled to the edge of the bed. And that's when she felt her feet hit men's dress shoes. "Oh shit." She breathed out quietly. Over and over she said it in her head. Oh shit. Oh shit. Oh shit. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.
She reached over to the table and tried feeling for her phone. Nothing.
She searched endlessly for her clothes. And that's when she heard the other body in the bed stir. She looked up quietly hoping the "possible man or woman" in the bed didn't wake up. She froze until said body turned over, and became still again. She grabbed the first thing she could find, a men's black dress shirt. Which she barely saw in the slither of sunlight. Before anything happened, or she found out about the man in the bed, she dipped out of the bedroom, searching for Kat, and found herself in a strange situation. Not being in her hotel suite. "Fuck this isn't my room." When she made it to the open space of the hotel, near a kitchen, that's when reality hit her, in the most face slapping kind of way, along with the smell of coffee.
A handsome man stood with the most devilish smirk on his face, smiling at her. "Rise and shine sleepy head."
This couldn't be right. Bonnie wasn't the type of woman. She had no choice but to succumb to the confusion, with all that she'd drank last night. That's it she must've been dreaming. What an elaborately decorative, true to life dream she was having, as her head pounded. She pinched her hand, and when nothing changed, she stood about to do the walk of shame in front of the man, who'd probably seen the worst of her the night before. Based on her being naked underneath what appeared to be his shirt. One-night stands weren't something Bonnie ever wanted to claim. But, she couldn't escape this.
"This isn't real."
"Sorry baby, you're not dreaming."
"Oh fuck."
Recap for chapter: MATCH STICK! Kai and Bonnie finally talk about what happened and he opens up about his break up. They will find they have a lot in common. Bonnie runs into Oliver, and he spills some tea. Lily has a seriously sad moment, that causes Bonnie to worry. Kaleb and April finally make an appearance, and they're quite a fucked up pair. Kai finally figures out Kaleb is the hacker, and sends an email of his information to Bonnie. Bonnie realizes it's Aprils brother, and Davina's boyfriend all at once. She confronts Davina over the phone, and decides she needs to lose herself in the next three days of the bachelorette party and the wedding, because her life gets very real come Monday. And a surprise... slaps her in the face! Next chapter... a long awaited confrontation.
Thx for reading!
