"Katherine! We're late!" His yell made Katherine jump where she stood, studying her reflection in the mirror. For the past ten minutes, she had been deliberating her choice of dress, but it had been a gift from Jim a couple of days ago, so she figured it was a hint. But for the past five minutes, he had been screaming her name throughout the whole house, causing servants to scuttle out the way and his bodyguards to cringe. Katherine however, tutted, much to the amusement of the maid helping her dress.
"Oh, do tell him to shut up." She muttered under her breath causing the older woman to smirk. She was an employee from before the break in, moved to this residence and promoted to Miss Reine's personal assistant after the other girl's…passing. She was nice, kindly like a mother but she knew her place. "He insists I look so good for his clients, then he must give me time to do so." Tina fastened the chunky gold bracelet around Katherine's wrist as she fixed her hair and took one last look in the mirror.
Her dress was a tasteful metallic green from Vivienne Westwood's Couture Collection. When it had been hanging on her wardrobe this morning it had looked breath taking, but on her with the faint bruising peeking out at her shoulder, she wasn't sure. She felt confident but, shy. This was the most dressed up she had ever been and it was the first time she was going to be by Moriarty's side, and it was as his fiancé. She wanted to look perfect.
"Katherine!" It was easy to tell by his tone and by how the volume was increasing, that his patience was wearing thin. It was time to go.
"You look stunning Miss Reine. I am sure Mr Moriarty will be pleased." With a small smile aimed at Tina, Katherine bowed her head with thanks and then turned to make her way towards the stairs.
"Katherine!" Her eyes rolled before planting firmly on his back. He was dressed just as formally as she, in a black tux and his back was to her, his focus centred on the blackberry which never seemed to leave his hand.
"Are you quite done screaming?" The first thing he saw upon turning was the smirk drawn across her painted lips. Since becoming engaged, her behaviour hadn't changed, much to Moriarty's surprise and pleasure. He had expected her to become lovey dovey, acting all pathetic and doting, but she still stood up to him. She still had a back bone, and what made it sweeter was that it was one he could bend over his desk when he pleased.
"Are you quite done delaying me?" Jim wore a face similar to a spoilt child's who had just been denied dessert. Continuing to look smug, Katherine sauntered over to him and straightened his tie, brushing the imaginary dust from his shoulders. She wouldn't give him the satisfaction of answering, besides he seemed far too bust surveying her appearance.
"Do you think it is too much?" There were some seconds pause, he was obviously in a mood to tease her. Jim bit his lip and squirmed his face as if he was unsure, but then he smiled and pulled her in by her hip.
"Not on you. You look perfect." He kissed her harshly, causing most of the men to turn away in respect. He had been full of compliments the past week since she had awoken, on a couple of occasions she would even go as far to say he was a true gentleman. Of course, there had been dark times as there always would be with him. But he was tolerable. "Time to go." He walked ahead of her without another word, out of the main doors and down the stone steps to where the car lay out front.
A bodyguard opened the door for her, causing her to mutter a thanks as she slid into the backseat next to Jim.
For the majority of the first part of their journey, Moriarty sat on his phone rapidly typing out emails. So she sat quietly and stared out the window, wondering just what this 'ball' they were going to would be like. She'd never been to a ball, she had not even thought they existed outside of Cinderella until Jim told her about it the morning after their engagement. Upon hearing it was being held by Charles Magnussen, at his estate, she refused to step foot into it. But after some…forceful convincing from Jim, she had agreed. But she wasn't comfortable, not after the last time she had been in his presence.
"He's not going to interrogate me is he, this Magnussen?" She couldn't help herself any longer and spoke out, interrupting Moriarty from his thoughts. But surprisingly, he looked up from the small screen and sighed.
"It has been strongly recommended that he keeps his conversation strictly professional." He then began typing again, but Katherine wasn't convinced. However just as she went to complain, Moriarty spoke again. This time in a much darker tone. "Never the less, try not to find yourself alone with him. I want you to socialise, introduce yourself, mingle with the wives of the big boys." Jim reached across and took her hand, finally making her look at him. "You are about to become one after all." That comment made her smirk finally and she looked down at their hands, eyes fixed on the large, sparkling sapphire. "You'll introduce yourself as Katherine Reine, my fiancé. You will not utter a word of your past. You will only speak of the life you've rehearsed. You will not mention anything about the Samson's nor react should anyone else speak of them." Moriarty paused, leaning so far in his seat so that his lips were at her ear. "And most importantly, you will act like a good girl for daddy. I will not tolerate embarrassment." He wasn't teasing anymore.
"Understood." Their eyes met. Jim calculating how much he could expect from her and she trying to guess what the punishment would be if she disappointed. He seemed to be pleased with his final deduction since he chewed on his cheek and muttered under his breath.
"Good." Katherine turned away, ready to go back into her own world and leave him to his business, until she felt a hard object land in her lap. Eye's widening, she frowned at him, asking for an answer as to why a small glittery gold box now rested upon her dress. "You look beautiful."
A blush rose to her cheeks, threatening to make her trip over her words. So, she delayed speaking and concentrated on the box. Pulling open the thin gold bow, she lifted the lid and almost gasped. Inside, lay a thin gold chain with a bumble bee hanging from it, encrusted with diamonds. "Thank you, you shouldn't have." Katherine let him take it off her and bowed to help him fasten it around her neck.
"It's a husband's duty to shower gifts." As her back was to him, she couldn't tell whether he was being sarcastic or not. "Besides, I want them to envy you." That made more sense coming from him.
"Why?"
"Because you will be at the top of the food chain…darling." Jim kissed the hollow of her neck softly, causing goose bumps to rise along her skin. At least she thought it was the kiss. What it really was, was his words. She as going to be a lioness and this was her first chance to prove so, to everyone including Jim.
It was a while longer before the arrived, and once they did, the overwhelming feeling to return straight home swarmed Katherine. It was a large estate, different to the one they'd been flown into earlier in the year, but it looked alive. There was crowds of people entering what already looked to be a crowded home. Her heart started to rapidly thump against her rib cage, loud enough for Jim to hear apparently.
"Calm down, don't embarrass yourself." Jim got out the car first, not allowing her to bite back at him. Before she could exit the car herself however, a voice spoke from the front passenger seat.
"You'll be fine." Sebastian had been silent for the whole journey, so much so she forgot he was there. But Katherine caught his eye in the rear view mirror and inherited his small smile. Her words were cut off this time however, by the door being opened for her.
She joined Moriarty at the foot of the stairs leading into the estate. No eye contact was made and no words were spoken as he escorted her, leading her all the way through the sea of couples and waiters, into the main hall.
"Do you know everyone in this room?" She was first to speak and she didn't care if he hadn't wanted her too. She was nervous and she was going to force him to take her mind of it.
"Most." That's all she thought she was going to get. Then, he unlinked their arms and instead, wrapped one around her small waist, bringing her ear closer to his lips. "Some are clients, some are just good people to have on hand." He was smirking. Jim had failed to tell her why they were here but she guessed it was of some sort benefit to him, something which would earn him extra recognition or another buck.
"James Moriarty, surprised you could make it." They were interrupted by a grinning older man, hair slightly reseeding but a suit which could not be better fitted to his build. Only a second later a woman appeared by his side, dressed much like Katherine in formality, only in a much more muted black gown. Katherine stood out more by miles, a fact both she and Jim noted. "Who is this fine woman?"
"Carl." Jim made his greeting before gesturing to her, his arm caressing her hip as he did so. "This is Katherine Reine…my fiancé." The surprise behind both Carl and his escorts eyes was...noticeable to say the least.
"A pleasure to meet you Miss. Carl Mathers, this is my wife, Annabelle."
"It's an honour to meet you both." As Katherine spoke with a smile and allowed Carl to raise her hand to his lips, Jim did the same to Annabelle, muttering how it was good to see her still doing well. But the pleasantries were dropped all too suddenly and Carl's face dropped, his eyes locking with Jim's.
"Jim, we have business to discuss, something has come up." With a nod, Jim turned to Katherine and gave her a knowing look, a one much practised before he'd let her leave his office to get ready for the evening. It was the "get out of my way until I find you" look. And like a good little future wife she knew just what role to play.
"Well, I think I should leave you boys to talk. Annabelle, would you like to get a drink?" The woman looked older, but much more doting in a sickening way. Just by looking at her posture Katherine could tell she was more nervous and much in need of a stiff drink and someone to talk to.
"Oh, yes. I think I could do with one." The woman gave an honest smile and stepped aside to allow Katherine to go first, but not before she gave Jim a smug look and draped her hand on his shoulder, seemingly lovely.
"Excellent. See you soon darling."
They left the men to talk and weaved throughout the people who seemed to separate for her, but it was all in her mind. She was attempting to start on a pedestal, the higher the start the longer the fall, but she didn't have plans to fall.
"I must congratulate you on your engagement." Annabelle was the first to speak once they were alone and slowly approaching the bar.
"Thank you, it was quite recent, I'm still getting used to it." Katherine smiled across at her, the small pieces of hair falling out of her up-do, framing her face.
"Oh, have you known each other long?" Don't give many details, those were Jim's words and thankfully Katherine had thought of an answer to every possible question anyone could throw at her.
"We met late last year, ever since it has been hard to shake him." She chuckled lightly under her breath and leant gracefully on the pop up dad that had been set up in the corner of the room. They were surrounded by people who looked just like she and Moriarty on that night, it was...overwhelming. "And you and Carl, have you been married long?"
"Almost 8 years now, yet I am still not used to his lifestyle. All these businessmen with model wives..." Annabelle herself trailed off as she gazed around the room, obviously feeling much like Katherine and out of her depth, but she was doing such a better job of letting it show. "What do you do, for a living I mean?" She asked, once snapping out of it.
"I work for Jim, I see over some of what he does." Vague...when it comes to the business, be vague. It was like he was speaking in her ear the whole time.
"Oh, how interesting. I don't think Carl would ever allow me in his office, never mind let me be part of the business." It was meant as a joke but as Katherine turned away from the approaching bar tender and looked at Annabelle, she could see the flash of weakness behind her eyes.
There was an opportunity to put herself above this other woman so soon. Her main aim for tonight was to climb the social ladder from no one to someone amongst these people, one by one. And she'd just found her first level to tackle.
"Well...it's all just a matter of trust." Katherine's smile was off, enough to make Annabelle stutter but not enough to come across a bitch. The perfect measure of power to these people.
"...Yes. Of course." What Katherine missed as she turned to order her drink was how Annabelle eyes loitered on her after she had spoke. Eyes trailed over her clothes, loitered on the ring on her left hand and analysed her stance. Then...the submission happened and instead of speaking up to stand up for herself, Annabelle turned to order her own drink.
Before either woman had the chance to speak again, a woman approached them from the side. Katherine spotted her first as she took the first sip of her gin and tonic, but she also noticed the awkward look of recognition on Annabelle's face...and it wasn't positive.
"My, if it isn't Annabelle Mathers, we have not seen you and Carl at an event for some time." Her voice was high pitched, unnaturally so. Her makeup was heavy and she was, like most other women in the room, the same age as Katherine. Her hair was down and poker-straight, and she wore a dark purple satin gown. A bag choice for a woman of her age and for the time of the occasion. It was May, the approaching summer called for Spring colours, she was a nightmare in autumn.
Before this over dramatic, squeaking hawk had a chance to notice Katherine's immediate dislike towards her, Katherine put on a smile and waited to be introduced.
"Oh. Good evening Jennifer, good to see you're well." Annabelle spoke with a small voice, obviously intimidated.
"You as well." The woman, now named, pursed her lips as she took in Annabelle's black dress and then moved her focus to Katherine. It was like someone had switched on a lightbulb. Her lips thinned as they spread in to a smile and her brows raised considerably. "Are you not the girl we saw accompanying James Moriarty?"
She knew there had been eyes on her, but she did not for a minute think it had cause any interest. To her she was just in a room full of men like Jim. She was no different to any other woman here. Apparently it was not so simple. "Katherine Reine." She nodded her head, refusing to offer a hand.
"Jennifer Sprawler. I work as one of Magnussen's top researchers." The conniving sweaty Paige of rotten meat that was the Newspaper businessman. She worked for him, well no doubt she was just as sickly as him, one of his little spies. The information peaked her interest but she didn't dwell on it.
"Nice to meet you."
"So, you are James's...?" Jennifer trailed off, leaving the space for Katherine to fill in.
"Fiancé."
"How lovely...you must allow me to introduce you around since your fiancé seems ever so busy to do so himself." Katherine wasn't sure if it was meant in an innocent jest or whether it was a purposeful stab to try and get a reaction. Given her occupation, Katherine guessed the latter and smiled.
"And where is your husband?" It could have been better but it got the woman off track to sniffing out details.
"Much too busy for all that." Thickly lined kohl eyes moved between Katherine and Annabelle before Jennifer turned and loosely gestured towards a table of woman in the opposite corner of the room. "Come, let me introduce you to some ladies."
Without another word, both women followed Jennifer across the room. Unlike before, people had to be tapped and asked to mind out the way before letting her through. But it was all most likely Katherine's head, she was no Moses, the sea of people wouldn't part for her. But as they reached the table, every one of the women looked up, all of them hosting the same look of wonder of their faces and all focused on her.
"Ladies, this is Katherine Reine, and you all know Mrs Mathers." All eyes stayed in place, but each woman smiled in time with one another. It wasn't exactly a grim but a knowing smile. A couple of them took a sip of their drinks as Jennifer took the honour of announcing their identities. "Katherine, this is Felicity Hawkley, Dayna Feilding, Victoria Salley and Rebecca Darcey." They wore similar dresses to one another. Strapless, showing off their slender shoulders, all with their hair down. If Katherine had to make a comment, she'd say she looked the most sophisticated out of all of them.
"Hello, you all look so lovely this evening." Her smile wasn't honest but she kept it light as her eyes narrowed. She wasn't trying to be nice, or a suck up, and her face showed it.
"You're sweet." One of them chuckled, meeting her eyes with a furious stare. Rebecca, she remembered the name which went with the face.
"Katherine is the fiancé to James Moriarty." Katherine broke the contact to smile at Jennifer and then look across the rest of the women. They were all watching her now, long smiles on their faces.
"Oh really?" Another spoke, Felicity who sat the closest to Katherine. She then gestured to the empty seat next to her and Take a seat, you must tell us how you both met. I love an engagement story."
"No better story can come that of a millionaire's wife to be." Dayna joked, sending the full table into giddy laughter as Katherine placed down her drink and accepted the invite to join them. Next to her, sat Jennifer and in the one remaining empty seat, Annabelle.
Katherine smirked as she organised her dress under the table. "Oh, it was not that spectacular, I assure you."
"Please. James Moriarty proposed and it was not a dramatic affair?" Victoria, the one woman who had remained silent, spoke and peaked Katherine's interest. It wasn't just a suspicion now. She was sure Jim wasn't just 'another man'. He was someone, something, that they all knew. His 'dramatic' flare they noticed, his wealth was noted. "You can't possibly expect us to believe that?"
Katherine paused, stopped her hands from playing with each other, and chuckled. When she looked across the women, they were all anxiously awaiting, awkwardly so to the point where she knew she was going to have to be the one to speak first in order for them to either drop the subject, or accept her.
"We...like our privacy." The disappoint on their faces was evident.
"Don't we know. We didn't even know he was seeing someone, never mind engaged." Felicity spoke, looking at her friends for support before eyes settled on Katherine. "He has always played things close to his chest though, that one." Unsure what she was actually meant to make of that, Katherine stayed quiet but smiled as if she was all too aware.
"Businessmen, all the same."
She thought she'd gotten away with it. That they would leave the topic. But then, one sly little vulture pushed on. "Come on, let us in on a bit of it, you must be dying to tell."
Katherine straightened her back, sat up and picked up her glass, letting it hover in front of her lips. "Like I said, I like my privacy." She wanted to be a mystery to them, she wanted to be professional, she didn't want to relapse to please them. "But I suppose I should expect such questions from ladies like yourself, I don't expect your husbands to entertain you with any of their own stories."
Silence greeted them and she smirked, finally taking a sip.
There was a table of women she hated. A full circle of Mrs Samson's, the woman she had hated enough to rob and then stand over and shoot, multiple times as she sobbed and tried to run from her dead husbands body. They were everything she hated, everything she had cursed over for years, they were what had forced her to run. These women were all married to men like Samson, who had spoken down to her, tortured her. But now she was sat with them, trying to get them to cosy up to her. And no matter how much "Lucy" would have wanted to kill herself for it, Katherine liked it. She wasn't becoming one of them. She was surrounding herself with them but it was to get them to envy her, just like Jim had said. She was going to be the alpha female. In a world of Mrs Samson's...she was going to rule them all. She would be the small rat with a happy dog who ordered cleaners about and went out on lunch dates. She would be the one who their husbands wanted as well as envied, the one who turned them down for lunches and the one who cleaned up their blood when another fed up maid spilled it.
"I went to Benjamin's office the other day, for lunch." Katherine let a smile slip, then looked at the rest of the women who seemed to be watching her before letting their opinions on Felicity take form.
"How very thrilling." She made sure her eyes locked with the girl, who may have possibly been a couple of years younger than herself. Blonde hair, pink painted lips. She'd made herself an easy target. "I say, how do you fit in such excitement between your own work and organising your household?" Small subtle hints at the difference in power status. That's all she had to do. It may have been a bitch move but she was just doing what Moriarty had instructed. Build your own walls up and make others come crashing down so they cower behind yours.
"Oh I don't work." Felicity laughed but it stopped abruptly when she noticed the lines in Katherine's brow. "And I manage like every other woman."
"Right. I must say I am jealous. Jim would never let me sit and waste the days away." It was Katherine's turn to laugh, but she made sure to focus her attention on Jennifer, the apparent leader of the pack. "Makes me every so grateful for our staff."
Jennifer's posture stiffened, she held her drink at a different angle in her hand and smirked. "I can see why he likes you." Katherine felt every inch of her body being inspected by each woman at that table in that moment. Judging the value of her dress to the quality of diamond hanging from her neck. Then their judgement was presented in one single question. "Would you care for anther drink Katherine?"
She had won. They wanted her. "I would love one, I just have to visit the restroom." With that, she stood and left the table on her own, leaving the women to their gossip. It would all most likely be about her, but that was good. She had made her impression and from here on out it would grow until it swarmed them all.
Katherine's posture was lifted compared to how she first looked upon entering the ball. Her head was held high, her shoulders back as if she truly believed she belonged here. Which she did. She belonged with these people. She ,Amy have hated them, she may not have wanted to be one, but she needed to be surrounded by them. Their power, their wealth, the high she got from seeing them deflate as she spoke down to them. It was all intoxicatingly brilliant.
As she walked to the restroom, she noticed the crowds parting again and saw heads turning but took no notice. There was nothing more affective then having attention but not seeming to care. She was more focused on other things.
Her head was still spinning with thoughts on how to advance with those women when she left the bathroom, but behind the first corner she turned, her head emptied and her stomach dropped.
"Miss Reine." The foreign accent made her blood run cold. All too suddenly, Katherine found it very hard to put on that proud smile she had possessed only seconds ago.
"Mr Magnussen, its...good to see you again." Her first mistake was stuttering. Her second mistake was looking over Magnusses's shoulder, into the ball room to try and spot Jim or anybody else she could use as an excuse for escape. "Its quite the night you have organised." Pulling herself together, Katherine pulled her shoulder back, kept her hands detached and gave a daring smile to the older gentleman.
"Thank you." He offered her a full glass of champagne which had been sat in his left hand as he drank out the out in his right. As she thanked him, he noticed the ring on her finger. The shark never missed anything, although it was hard for anyone to miss the precious sapphire. As he looked back to her face, he read the details on her, the file which seemed in constant need of updating.
KATHERINE REINE (LUCY SCOTT)
PROFESSION: CLEANER
PORN PREFERENCE: NONE
FINANCES: UNKNOWN
FAMILY: DENIS SCOTT (FATHER)
LINDA SCOTT (MOTHER)
FIANCÉ TO JAMES MORIARTY (SEE FILE)
OFFICIALLY REGISTERED MISSING (SEE FILE)
WANTED SUSPECT FOR TWO ACCOUNTS OF MURDER (SEE FILE)
STATUS: UNIMPORTANT
PRESSURE POINT... SAMSON MURDERS
- ABIGAIL SAMSON (SEE FILE)
- PETER SAMSON (SEE FILE)
- 2007 KIDNAPPING (SEE FILE)
- JAMES MORIARTY (SEE FILE)
"I hear you are engaged." He had become a pressure point, the napoleon of crime. But it was a one way street...at least Magnussen thought it was at this moment.
"News travels fast, that's all I seem to be talking about tonight." A small laugh left her lips before she took a drink.
"People are surprised. Those who know Jim are...shocked for lack of a better word." The smirk which presented the words made it hard to interpret the meaning behind them. It was like he was teasing her, or testing her. "But no fretting, I only wish to congratulate the both of you." She didn't trust him. His eyes made her uneasy and his presence was proving to cause nausea. His small mouth and his ever so subtle stoop, nothing about him was right.
"Thank you, but...I must be going. No doubt James will wonder where I am." She knew he wouldn't believe her. He'd obviously followed her in hopes of catching her alone, why else would he have an extra bottle of champagne? He had been watching her.
"If you never need anything Miss Reine..." Magnussen took a step closer, making it so there faces were closer than she could tolerate. "I am a powerful man, should you ever come to doubt James." He presented a card and pushed it into her hand. She could feel the layer of moisture even though such brief contact and squirm, turning her face away from him.
But he loitered, forcing her to look at him. "What-"
"Katherine." A bold voice interrupted her as she went to question what she needed the card for and what he meant. Looking up and over Charles's shoulder, she gave a silent sigh of relief. Walking towards them was the man she could apparently come to doubt.
"Speak of the devil." Magnussen was right. He was the devil, a force much stronger than the sweaty man who stood before her. He would be clever to remember that.
Jim stopped a few feet away from them, hands in pockets and eyes narrowed at the both of them. He wasn't going to come save her from Magnussen, he wasn't going to get himself involved, he was watching her.
"Excuse me...Charles." Katherine excused herself easily and stepped around Magnussen. She kept her sainted strong until she stopped in front of Jim, whose eyes were still perfectly focused on the man she new still loitered behind them.
"What are you doing? I thought I told you to socialise?" Slowly, Jim's dark pupils rolled down to study her. He saw the faint remained of disgust on her face and the nervous shaking of her hands which held the rapidly decreasing level of champagne.
"I have been, I was just on my way back from the restroom when he..." Katherine's head dropped for a second as she composed herself, but tried to hide the card she still held. It wasn't that she doubted Jim, she just wanted the chance to read it herself before Jim got his hands on it. She was curious. What was he trying to do? "I don't trust him." It was one thing to turn politicians against each other using the tabloids, but trying to turn a wife against her husband?
"No one does, darling, that's why he's so good." Jim turned, wrapping one arm around her waist as he did so, and started guide her back towards the centre of the room. "Now, how about you spend some time on my arm?" She chuckled darkly, hiding her light blush by taking a drink.
"But I thought you wanted me to socialise?" She teased him.
"You spend much more time alone and people will think you're not here with anyone, and we can't be having that." Jim, unsubtly, let his hand slide down to give her behind a smack, earning him a soft smack on the chest.
"Certainly not." She looked at him from under her lashes, taking note of his smirk. She didn't have him down for one being fond of public affection. Then again, to him is wasn't public affection, it was more of a boasting tactic. Like a peacock fanning its feathers, he was simply showing off what was his. Making a display of what others would indeed envy.
"Now, how would you like to meet a man whose wife I helped kill?"
"Charming."
The night had finally ended. Her feet were throbbing and her eyes were getting heavy. She never thought it would last until the early hours of the morning but apparently the men had poker games to entertain them and the women had more gossip that she could ever imagine. She'd learnt names, occupations, she learn about scandals and affairs, robberies and murders, addictions and secrets. She had been Jim's ears and although what she learn wasn't so...interesting to him as gossip it was very interesting should it come to blackmail. After all, Jim had been very clear about what happens when depts are not met.
But thankfully it was over. Katherine was tired and was ready to go home. She just had to wait until Jim finished settling a deal with a client in the emptying room.
"Katherine, you should come to lunch with us when your not too busy. It would be an honour to get to know you without such formalities." Samantha, the young second wife of a banker, cooed at her as she was slowly guided past her.
"It would be a pleasure. I'm sure I'll here from you soon." Katherine smiled, nodding her head politely as a good bye as the girl left on the shoulder of a badly maturing man. That's another thing she had up on the other woman, her own future husband was actually handsome.
"So, how did you enjoy your first glimpse into the big bad world of being my wife?" She jumped, having been too engrossed in her own thoughts to notice Moriarty coming to stand beside her. Before she answered, she gave a weak smile and took the arm he offered in order to be led to the car.
"It was...eye opening. Not to mention ego boosting." With a voice diluted with sleep, she fought the temptation to lay her head on his shoulder. But thankfully, she could see the car already waiting, Sebastian stood awaiting them like a good little lad.
"They loved you, better yet they envied you." Her arms stroked his, running up his shoulder as they descended the steps. "I saw you with those women, they all looked like they wanted to kill you and replace you."
"Is that necessarily a good thing?" Katherine looked up at him when they stepped in front of the car. With a smirked, Jim took her face in his hands and forced her to look at him.
"It's what we want." His thumb caressed her cheek. Jim started to nod slowly and scoffed. "You did good Katherine, I'm impressed. Surprised even." With his lips parted and eyes narrowed, he separated himself from her and opened the car door for her.
But before she climbed in, she smiled slyly, with her back half to him. "I'm disheartened James, that you expected so little of me." Nothing more was said. She sat and the door was closed and a few minutes later, Jim sat in the seat next to her and they eventually rolled forward, on their way home.
A few minutes in, Jim set down the phone he'd been tapping on and scrolling through and pulled her across the seat until their hips were pressed together, side by side. She looked up, instantly surprised when he kissed her softly and pushed the hair away from her face, burying his hand in the messy curls gathered and pinned up. It was short, but once they separated, Jim leant his forehead against hers and smiled.
"I trust you. I didn't think I did. But I trust you." Words spoken from any ordinary man would be sweet but not so surprising. From Moriarty, they were the highest level of acceptance...if he meant it. But from his tone and the position they were in...Katherine believe him. Without a second thought, she reached into her small clutch bag and presented the same card Magnussen had handed to her. She hadn't looked at it but she did watch as Moriarty frown, taking it from her."What is this?"
"Magnussen handed it to me before you interrupted." He spun the thin card between his fingers until it was able to be read. She couldn't see, but something inside told her she didn't want to know, the way his eyes dilated and his teeth gritted. She was happy being innocent. "I haven't looked at it. All he was was if I ever needed anything, or if I should ever doubt you."
There was a small pause, then Jim muttered Dow to her. "Do you? Doubt me?" It was quiet but questioning.
"No, that's why I'm giving it to you." Katherine offered him a small smile, wrapping her hand around his and pushing his hand down, paper out of sight. "I don't need whatever it is on that card, you give me no reason to doubt you, he gives me every reason in the world."
He kissed her again, longer this time, before slipping the card into his pocket and pulling her head down to rest upon his shoulder. The rest of the ride home was silent. As Katherine slept soundly, Jim turned the small card in his hand over and over.
'07891 348 654 - he can't keep you safe from himself, Lucy'
He'd be keeping an eye on Charles Magnussen from now on.
Bit of a long one eh?
A few people have been asking if this is the end and I can finally announce that there are...2 left...maybe ;) who really knows!
But it thank you to everyone who follows this, and I still value reviews so go leave one! Please! The button is just down there :D let me know how you see Katherine, maybe even who you think could play her if she was the real deal?
Thank you again and keep reading! Xx