Katherine smiled to herself as she looked over some papers in her office at Wentworth Tool and Dye. It had only been a couple of weeks since she and JR had started dating, but Katherine already felt as if everything in their relationship was perfect. JR was unquestionably the sweetest and most romantic man Katherine had ever been with. Katherine also loved how JR always asked her how she felt about things before they made any kind of decision about where they should go on a date or how she felt about situations in their future. Katherine could tell that JR was making an effort to ensure that he would not make any mistakes this time around so that they would both stay happy in the long run. Overall, she was comfortable with the pace that their relationship was moving at; not too fast, but not too slow either. JR was excited about their future, but at the same time, he wasn't trying to pressure Katherine into doing anything either. Even though she knew that they were still a ways away from it, Katherine couldn't stop herself fantasizing about a perfect wedding with JR.
The intercom buzzed, breaking Katherine out of her daydream.
"Katherine, there is a Miss Holly Harwood here to see you. Should I let her in?" Lara asked Katherine.
Katherine snapped to attention; immediately on guard. Judging from her and JR's past interaction with Holly, she knew that this could not be good. Holly had wanted revenge on JR for the way he had used her oil company in a business deal. This had led her to try to hit JR where she knew that it would hurt him the most: through Katherine. It had ultimately backfired, but Katherine was still wary of Holly.
I don't know why she even bothers. JR is mine now, and nothing can change that! Katherine thought to herself furiously.
"Send her in." Katherine said shortly. She wasn't going to let Holly play this game anymore.
"Hello, Katherine. I'm sorry for just showing up like this without making an appointment first. I guess you could just call it a snap decision!" Holly said breezily as she stepped into the office.
Katherine narrowed her eyes at Holly. This friendly behavior was all just front, and they both knew it.
"I hear that things are really going good for you lately. Good business, dating JR." Holly continued casually.
"Yes, I'm very happy. But we both know that that is something you don't really want for me or JR. So why don't you stop this charade and tell me why you are really here." Katherine said coldly.
Holly gave Katherine a look of mock surprise. "Look, Katherine. I admit that we didn't get off to the best start, and I apologize for that. I was angry at JR for what he did to Harwood Oil, and I ended up taking it out on both of you. But the fact of the matter is that it is in your best interest to stay away from JR." Holly explained.
"Is that a threat?" Katherine asked with an edge to her voice.
"No. You might not believe me, but I'm only trying to help you, Katherine." Holly said.
"Help me? Or try to help yourself to JR!?" Katherine asked angrily. Her patience was wearing thin.
"Do you really think that I would want JR after what he did to me? No. I know all too well how he operates. He's doing the exact same thing to you that he has done to so many women before. He goes out with you for a while, makes you feel like the best thing in the world, when in reality, he's just playing a game. And the fact is, he is so good at it that he could make you overlook anything you've heard about his reputation with women. You start to think to yourself: "Maybe he only cheated before because they weren't what he really wanted." You believe that you are "the one". But it never works that way. It's all just a game. And you have made this his most exciting game ever. Judging from how happy I've heard you've been lately, I'm guessing that you haven't slept with JR yet. Have you?" Holly asked.
Katherine felt her face heat up. "That is none of your business!" She replied furiously.
"That's a no then. But once you do, everything will change. JR has slept with a lot of women, including me. And once that happens, he loses interest. Because for JR, it's all about the chase. Sure, he was married to Sue Ellen for a while. But that was most likely just to increase his image and produce an heir. Clearly, marriage isn't his thing. Although now it looks like he's trying to go down that path with you. JR is quite bold, I'll give him that. After all, if someone with your resources caught him cheating, there would be hell for him to pay in court! " Holly said.
"Enough of this! It's obvious that you are telling me all of this just so that you can get back at JR. It's not going to happen, Holly. So I suggest that you leave." Katherine warned Holly.
"Katherine, I'm only trying to help you. Take it from someone who knows. JR is not who he has led you to believe he is." Holly said.
"Look, I get that JR has made mistakes in the past. Who he has been with before we started seeing each other means nothing to me. But if you expect me to believe that JR has slept with you while he's been seeing me, you're going to have to show me some solid proof of that. But since we both know that you don't have any, get out of my office." Katherine said coolly.
"Well, I tried. I had a feeling you would react this way, though. But you really should think about what I told you, Katherine. You could have any man in Dallas. Hell, probably anywhere. You shouldn't waste yourself on JR." Holly said.
"Get out!" Katherine practically shouted.
Without another word, Holly turned around and left the office; shutting the door quietly behind her.
Katherine was outraged. How dare that woman have the nerve to come to her office and tell her lies about JR like that!? There was no way that JR would ever cheat on her! He loved Katherine, and was doing everything he could to make sure that their relationship was comfortable for both of them.
But even though Katherine told herself all of that, the weaker, more vulnerable part of her that she usually kept tightly locked away from others was starting to worry. What if she was wrong? What if JR really was too good to be true? How could Katherine really know what JR did when they weren't together? After all, he was a man, and men had needs. And JR's needs were certainly not being fulfilled by Katherine right now. If JR was cheating on her, then that would certainly explain why he was being so patient with Katherine when it came to the transition into their physical relationship.
But for Katherine, scariest thing of all would be if JR really didn't love her, and was just pretending to in order to get what he wanted. Whether it was just to complete a conquest, or to gain any social status or business opportunities from a marriage with her, Katherine didn't know. But she did know firsthand just how awful it was to find out that someone's love had never been real in the first place.
Before Katherine could stop herself, she thought back to what he had said to her back then. Like a ghost from the past, his words echoed back in her mind: "The fact that you were satisfied with just the illusion of love from me for all of that time should tell you that love really doesn't mean as much as you think it does, Katherine."
No! You are wrong! JR really does love me! He is nothing like you! I will not let you torture me like this anymore! Katherine thought to herself fiercely.
Katherine couldn't believe that she had even considered doubting JR like that. Holly was just doing this to get back at him, and there was no real proof that JR had ever slept with Holly at all. But even though Katherine trusted JR, Holly's claims still left her feeling uncomfortable.
I'll talk to JR about this. I will probably feel better once I tell him what happened. Katherine thought to herself.
The next day, Katherine and JR were on a date at the park. The night before, Katherine had made lunch for both of them and placed it in a large picnic basket so that she could bring it with her to surprise JR.
"That was the best lunch I've ever had! For some reason, I had never imagined you actually cooking, but I guess I should stop being surprised by how talented you are, Katherine!" JR complimented.
"Thank you, JR. But I really need to give my mother credit for that skill. We always had a lot of fun cooking dinner together. She made it seem more like a game than anything else." Katherine recalled fondly.
"Well, I am glad that you like cooking, because I will probably end up abusing privileges like this in the future!" JR joked.
For a moment, neither of them spoke. Katherine was lying down on the grass; using JR's lap as a pillow. JR sat with his back against a wide tree. He smiled at Katherine as he slowly stroked her hair. A soft breeze blew the leaves in the trees around them, mixing with the sound of water bubbling from a nearby stream. Katherine hated to interrupt the peaceful moment they were in, but she knew that she had to if she ever wanted to put her uneasiness from yesterday behind her.
"There's something I want to talk about with you, JR." Katherine said.
"Something tells me this is serious. Did something happen to you?" JR asked gently.
"Holly Harwood paid me a visit yesterday. She was trying to convince me to break up with you. She even made up a ridiculous lie about how she slept with you." Katherine said bitterly.
JR looked just as angry as Katherine felt. "That woman doesn't know when to quit! If she has any issues with me, then she should take it out on me, not you!" He said furiously.
"I know. I also want you to know that I don't believe what she told me about you at all. I trust you JR, and I know that you would never cheat on me. Especially since I know that you know that I don't give second chances." Katherine said.
"Of course I know that. If I had ever wanted to do things that would lead me to hope for second chances, then I wouldn't be with you, Katherine. And it means a lot to me that you trust me. But even though you do, I can tell that you are still upset about all of this. Can you tell me what's wrong?" JR asked.
"Well, it was the fact that for a few minutes, I did feel worried. But you have to understand it wasn't because of you, specifically. I just wondered if all of this really is too good to be true..." Katherine trailed off quietly.
"Katherine, I know what you are thinking about, and it is normal for you to still feel a little nervous. But your past is over. I love you and I promise that I will never hurt you." JR said with conviction. He then took Katherine in his arms and held her close to him.
"Thank you, JR. I needed to hear that." Katherine whispered softly. They both then leaned in closely towards each other for a long, gentle kiss.
"I'm glad that you decided to talk to me about this, Katherine. I know it wasn't easy for you." JR said after they finally broke apart.
"Well, as nervous as it made me, I knew that I would feel better after we talked about it." Katherine said.
"That just leaves one thing." JR said.
Katherine was puzzled. "What do you mean?" She asked curiously.
"The fact is that Holly is not going to let this go. She hurt you, and that is unforgivable. So we need to put a stop to her once and for all." JR said firmly.
Katherine's eyes lit up with excitement. "I like where this is going! So, what do you propose we do, JR?" She asked seductively.
With a devilish grin, JR proceeded to explain his plan for revenge to Katherine.
The next day, Katherine and JR went straight to Holly's office, which was conveniently located inside her house. The secretary had been about to protest after they had requested to see Holly without an appointment, but he seemed to change his mind after realizing who they were.
JR practically threw open the door to Holly's office without bothering to knock first. Holly looked more than a little surprised to see both JR and Katherine together. But she quickly recovered.
"Well, well. Looks like you failed to take my advice, Katherine. I thought you were smarter than this." Holly said.
"Shut up. We all know damn well that you did this just to get back at me, Holly. And it wasn't just because of Harwood Oil, either. You're angry because I have always turned you down, even before I was with Katherine. You thought that I would be an easy win compared to Bobby, who also never fell for your act. I hate to admit it, but there was a time when I actually would have done it. But I've been done with having that kind of relationship for years now. I love Katherine and I will never do anything to betray her, so you might as well stop this." JR said.
"JR's right. We're together now, and if you don't get used to that, we will make you pay even more than we've already had so far." Katherine warned.
"What are you talking about!? You haven't done anything!" Holly said in a slightly panicked tone.
JR smiled evilly. "But that's where you're wrong. Your one o'clock appointment with Mr. Ackerman? Gone." JR said.
Just as Holly was about to protest, the intercom on her desk buzzed. "Miss Harwood?" Her secretary asked.
"What is it!?" Holly snapped.
"Mr. Ackerman just called. He said to tell you that he decided to cancel your meeting with him this afternoon to discuss that deal." Holly's secretary answered.
"What!?" Holly said in disbelief. She looked at JR accusingly.
JR smiled. "Oh, but that's not all. Unfortunately for you, it gets much worse." He said in amusement.
As if on cue, Holly's secretary came on the intercom again to inform her of another meeting cancellation, this time with a different oil company. It then happened two more times before the calls finally stopped. Holly looked too outraged to even speak.
"Do you get it now, Holly? It's over. This was just a warning, but if you try to do anything else to me or my Katherine, then I can guarantee you that there will be no more Harwood Oil." JR threatened.
"And don't forget that Wentworth Industries is above the rest in the tool and dye business. I can personally make sure that no one will ever make parts for oil drilling for your company ever again if you don't stop your pathetic little games. I don't know how you ever believed you could defeat JR alone, but taking on both of us is just suicidal!" Katherine said with a smirk.
It took Holly a minute to reply. "All right, I get it! You two are a sappy, soft couple that just wants to be left alone to play house! So why don't you get the hell out of my office so that you can start doing that!?" Holly said in annoyance.
JR smiled. "That's the best idea you've had all day!" He said.
After giving Holly one last triumphant smile, JR and Katherine linked arms with each other and walked out of the office together.
Author's Note: Sorry that it took me so long to write this. I should have a little more time now that my winter semester is over, though. The park where Katherine and JR had lunch in during this chapter is the same one that Katherine and Bobby went to in the TV show. Holly is gone now, seriously! Lol.