JR couldn't help smiling to himself. He and Katherine were having one of their regular meetings at her house. Ever since Katherine had started actively helping him in the fight for Ewing Oil, things had started going well for him. Katherine was providing JR with as much inside information as she could about what Bobby was doing with his side of the company. She had also provided some useful information on Cliff as well. But so far, the nicest part of all had been a deal in Alaska that Katherine had managed to secure for JR. Katherine had used her connections and influence at Wentworth Industries to help JR get a deal that he probably would not have been able to get by himself. JR was quite happy. In only a short amount of time, Katherine had proven herself to be a valuable ally.
But what had made JR the most happy was the fact that Katherine always seemed so happy to help him. He wasn't used to people genuinely wanting to help him. Especially during this contest. Lots of people had been all too happy to help Bobby, and they had had no problem with openly expressing their preference for doing business with him over JR. That was why it meant so much to JR to finally have someone on his own side for once. Katherine was becoming more and more perfect every day, and JR found himself falling for her more than ever now.
Katherine's voice interrupted JR from his thoughts. "So, I guess I won't be able to see you for a while once you leave for that business trip, will I?" She asked.
"It will only be for a few days." JR answered.
"I'll still miss you." Katherine said.
JR laughed lightly. "You would miss me that soon? Now that is flattering! Especially when most people would probably feel the opposite about me right now! But don't worry, I'll be back before you know it!" JR said.
Katherine laughed softly at JR's response.
"Well, you should know that it looks like it will probably take quite a while for Bobby's Canadian deal with the McLeish brothers to be of any use to him. Apparently, the weather has other ideas. So, any sort of drilling has become impossible. But the bad news is that if Bobby decides that he wants to quit and sell in order to regain his investment, a certain other person is more than willing to buy this deal." Katherine explained.
"Let me guess, Barnes?" JR asked.
"That's right. He thinks he's a real big shot just because Pam got Mark Graison to feel sorry for him and sell another company to him." Katherine said bitterly.
"They just never get tired of playing that card!" JR said in annoyance.
"But if Bobby does end up selling, I can at least try persuading him to choose a much more reliable buyer." Katherine said. She then pointed to herself with emphasis.
"Interesting. But is that even something you would want to invest in? I don't want you to have to go to that much trouble for me." JR said.
"Well, let's just say that he wouldn't need to know who the real buyer would be. That is, if you're interested in owning those fields yourself." Katherine said.
JR couldn't believe it. This was beyond devious.
"Now that is brilliant! To have Bobby think that he's selling to you, when in reality, he's made a deal with me!" JR said gleefully.
"And we could arrange it so that he never even finds out who the real owner is. After all, I wouldn't want to blow my cover." Katherine said.
JR smiled. "I have to say, I'm very impressed. You've already helped me so much. I want you to know just how much that means to me. I've never had anyone on my side in this contest before. And...I've never admitted this to anyone else, but for the first time, I have hope that I can actually win. Thank you so much, Katherine." JR said.
"You don't need to thank me, JR. You're my best friend. Of course I want to help you." Katherine said softly.
JR's heart soared. If Katherine considered him her best friend, then maybe she could also end up seeing him as something more in the future someday.
Later that night, JR was in his office, deep in thought. Despite how much Katherine was helping him, there were still a few things that JR was uneasy about.
For one thing, he would now have to go to much greater lengths in order to sell his oil to Cuba. JR's original plan of having his contact, Walt Driscoll, make the exchange for him had been completely ruined. Bobby and Ray had replaced the money in Walt's briefcase during a staged fender-bender with something that had ended up getting him arrested at the airport. JR was sure that Bobby had probably tipped off the security workers at the airport, too. JR was furious. Not just at his brothers, but at Walt, too. The pathetic, stupid little man hadn't even been smart enough to check his briefcase after what had obviously been a staged accident. Because of this, there was no way for even JR himself to meet the buyer at the original location. The only way for JR to complete this deal would be to travel to Cuba himself. It had been a hassle, but JR had been able to get official permission for a visit.
JR hadn't told Katherine the truth about where he would really be going. Even though she was his best friend, and he had strong feelings for her, JR was still too afraid to tell her about this.
Even though Katherine had been helping him, a small part of JR wondered if all of this was just too good to be true. He wasn't used to having a real friend who supported him and expected nothing in return for it.
There was also Bobby to consider. JR still hadn't forgotten how happy Katherine had looked when Bobby had asked her to have a drink with him. She obviously had some sort of schoolgirl crush on his brother. After being around so many women, JR could tell what the signs were. Getting information from Bobby meant that Katherine had to spend time with him. What if this only ended up strengthening her feelings for him? That might also make Katherine want to help Bobby win the contest as well.
JR knew that he should try to trust Katherine more. He knew how much his friendship meant to her. But JR was still afraid. It wasn't just because of his feelings for Katherine, either. JR's business instincts had always made him be more suspicious of others.
"Knock, knock." A voice interrupted JR from his thoughts. JR looked up to see Holly Harwood standing in the doorway to his office with a sly smile on her face. Great. Just what I need right now. JR thought to himself sarcastically.
JR had met Holly earlier in the year, when the contest had first started. In the guise of teaching her about the oil business, JR had also been using her company, Harwood Oil, to help him win the contest. Holly was not at all happy when she had found out about this. Even though JR had promised Holly that he would make up for any financial losses that her company suffered from after this was all over, she was still furious with him. JR had been annoyed. If Holly could just stop panicking, she would see that everything would go smoothly. After all, JR always made sure that a favor to him was returned. Holly had also made it a point to report everything that JR had done to Bobby. After all, she had made it no secret that she preferred the younger Ewing brother's company to JR's.
"I don't believe that we had an appointment arranged." JR said coldly.
"Sorry, the door was open, so I decided to just let myself in." Holly joked.
"What do you want, Holly? I'm not in the mood for games." JR said wearily.
"Well, lately I've been thinking that we both ended up getting on the wrong side of each other. So, I'd like to declare a truce." Holly said sweetly.
JR was immediately suspicious. "What makes you think that I would believe that?" He asked suspiciously.
"I've already tried going against you. And look where it's gotten me. I think that we would be much more beneficial to each other as friends than enemies." Holly explained.
Holly walked right up to where JR was sitting at his desk.
"I know that I've teased you, but the truth is that I find you very attractive, JR." Holly said seductively.
Holly brushed her leg against JR's in what was meant to look like a seductive gesture.
With thoughts of Katherine in his mind, JR immediately pulled away from Holly in disgust. He wasn't tempted to have this kind of phony relationship with a woman anymore. Holly looked surprised.
"Sorry, Holly. But I'm afraid that your recent actions have made you very unappealing to me." JR said coldly.
"And yet, for the longest time, you were all too eager for this to happen." Holly reminded JR.
"What can I say? I lost interest. I don't think that anyone can blame me for that." JR said carelessly.
Holly chose to ignore JR's insult. "I guess that the chase isn't all that exciting for you now that you've realized that your marriage is over. It's just not as thrilling when you know that you have nothing to lose. Unless...you actually do have something to lose. Or should I say, someone?" She said.
JR thought of Katherine again. There was no way that Holly could know about that. The look on JR's face must have given him away, because Holly then laughed delightedly.
"It looks like I'm right! But it's not a total shock. After all, you probably want to find a new wife so that you can build up the whole family man image again. It's great for business. I just can't help wondering how crazy this woman that you have your sights set on must be! Especially since you seem to think that she would actually want to be with you!" Holly said in amusement.
"Holly, you're obviously just angry that I've turned you down. And so that pathetic little brain of yours is trying to come up with any sort of ridiculous explanation that it can so that you can take the sting out of my rejection. It doesn't feel so great to be the one on the receiving end of it, does it? But who knows? Maybe Bobby will feel sorry for you and end up giving you a chance. It doesn't hurt to dream, right?" JR taunted.
Holly looked at JR coldly. "This isn't over yet. Just remember that, JR." She warned.
Holly then turned around and stormed out of JR's office.
JR couldn't help feeling relieved after Holly left. Her accusations had actually left him more than a little bit rattled. If Holly found out about JR's friendship with Katherine, then she would probably try to find a way to hurt Katherine just so that she could get back at him. JR couldn't let that happen. JR was disgusted that Holly was willing to take out her anger at him on someone who had done nothing to her at all.
JR still couldn't believe that there had been a time when he had actually been attracted to Holly. Thank god I never ended up actually sleeping with her! He thought to himself. While it was true that he had once wanted to have a brief fling with Holly, JR had eventually ended up changing his mind after he had gained some perspective on his feelings from his conversations with Sue Ellen.
But more than anything else, JR was upset because Holly's words had reminded him of just how much of a scumbag he had been during his marriage. How could JR expect Katherine to ever want to be with him when he was already known as the biggest playboy and cheater in Dallas? When he thought of it like that, JR couldn't really blame Katherine for liking Bobby. But she still trusts me enough to be her friend! She wouldn't do that if she thought I was beyond hope already! Would she!? JR thought to himself. JR had to try to hold onto any hope that he could if he wanted to make himself believe that he had a chance to be with Katherine.
Author's note: A lot of this chapter was based on the season six episode, "Hell Hath No Fury". I'm not going to give anything away, but be prepared for some heavy drama in the next few chapters. Thanks for reading!
