Katherine stood in front of her full-length mirror; looking herself over for the final time. In a few minutes, JR would be coming over to pick her up so that they could both go to the Oil Baron's Ball together. The scariest part about this was that everyone in Dallas would see them together tonight. People were going to assume that they were a couple, especially since it had been a few years since JR had taken a date with him to the ball. Katherine didn't mind what other people would think. Not even the press, since she knew all too well how they operated after her time as a reporter. Katherine was just about ready to start having a real relationship with JR, so their belief about them being a couple would be pretty accurate. It was the fact that this was such a huge step for them. Right now, very few people knew how close they were. But after tonight, that would all change. Everyone would see that two of Dallas' most wealthy and important citizens were dating each other. It would be sure to cause a storm of gossip.
But the worst part is that Cliff will see us together. And he's not going to be happy about it… Katherine thought to herself grimly.
There was a knock at the front door. Since JR was the only person that Katherine had given the code for the gate to, she knew that it was most likely him at the door.
After Katherine had opened the front door for JR, both of them stood there staring at each other. JR looked even more handsome than usual in the tuxedo he was wearing. But it was the way that he was staring at her that Katherine couldn't believe. JR had a look of absolute awe and amazement on his face that made Katherine blush. He was looking at her in a way that no other man had before.
"Hi." Katherine said somewhat awkwardly.
JR finally snapped out of his trance. "Hello, Katherine. You look even more amazing than you usually do. I have a feeling that all of the men at the ball are going to be even more jealous of me than they usually are once we get there! After all, they aren't the ones who get to take a goddess with them to the ball!" JR said.
Katherine laughed lightly. "Thank you! But be careful about what you say there, JR! If I'm a goddess, then I might just have to make you do my bidding for the rest of your life!" She teased.
"That doesn't sound so bad to me! But really, you do look incredible, Katherine. And I'm not just talking about your looks, either. You look so much happier than you did since you came back to Dallas again. It makes me so happy to see you like this." JR said.
"I'm happy because of you, JR…" Katherine said quietly.
Before they could get lost in each other's eyes for a second time, JR spoke up. "We should go now if we want to get there in time." He said.
"Oh. Yes, of course." Katherine said somewhat dazedly.
After a short ride, Katherine and JR were both in the main room at the Oil Baron's Ball. Katherine couldn't help noticing that it seemed like almost everyone kept stopping to stare at them. It was a bit unnerving, especially considering the fact that more than a few cameras from the reporters present kept clicking and flashing away near them.
The worst part of all was how a lot of the men were reacting to Katherine. She hadn't exactly told JR just how many men had asked her to be their date for this. Last week, about ten different men had come to her office not only to ask her to go to the ball with them, but also if she had been interested in some kind of business deal with them. It had infuriated Katherine that they were using the ball as an excuse to get a possible deal with Wentworth Tool and Dye. Now, a lot of those very same the men looked irritated to see her with JR. One of them even muttered angrily to himself as he walked away: "That damn JR gets all of the good women!" JR seemed to be enjoying their frustration immensely. But what he didn't tolerate were the men who stopped to slowly stare at Katherine, their gaze traveling slowly down the length of her whole body. It was a look that had been directed at Katherine all too often in her life and she hated it. JR glared at them so ferociously that they quickly backed off. Katherine was eternally grateful for JR's reaction. She smiled at him and squeezed his hand.
Katherine and JR both stopped short when they saw Bobby and a woman that Katherine guessed was probably Jenna Wade approaching them.
"Hey, guys! It's good to see you two here together!" Bobby said.
"I can say the same to you as well, Bob! And Jenna! It's been forever since I last saw you! I see that it hasn't taken long for you and Bobby to find your way back to each other again! I always knew that you two were made for each other!" JR said happily.
"It's good to see you too, JR! I wasn't sure if I'd be up for this tonight, but your brother has a way of convincing me to do things sometimes!" Jenna said.
"Heh, I won't disagree with you there!" JR said.
"Are you going to introduce me to your date?" Jenna asked JR with a slightly teasing tone.
"Oh. My apologies! Jenna, this is my good friend, Katherine Wentworth. She's the loveliest lady here! Well, anywhere, actually! No offense to you, though!" JR said.
"Hi, Jenna. It's nice to meet you. Bobby has been so excited since you came back! I'm glad that you two were able to run into each other again. You must've had quite a history together for him to be this happy!" Katherine said as she and Jenna shook hands.
Katherine hadn't been able to resist adding the last remark in her greeting. She still felt guilty about causing Pam and Bobby's divorce, and Katherine couldn't help feeling worried that seeing Bobby with Jenna would hurt Pam's feelings. Jenna and Bobby's relationship clearly wasn't as perfect as JR had made it sound. Why else would Jenna have left in the first place?
Katherine was also a little bit angry with Bobby. Didn't he even care how Pam would feel to see him going out with another woman so quickly after their divorce!? He could have been a bit more discreet than this, especially after all of his agonizing conversations with Katherine about his divorce. Had all of that been an act? Katherine was starting to wonder if maybe Bobby wasn't as wholesome and clean as she had believed him to be.
"It's nice to meet you too, Katherine. Bobby told me that you have become quite famous in the tool and dye business!" Jenna said.
"Thank you. I only recently started running my father's company. I hope that I can become as successful as he was someday." Katherine said.
"So, is it really true that you are Pam and Cliff's sister? I didn't even know that they even had any other siblings!" Jenna said.
"Well, technically I'm only their half-sister. We all had the same mother. And believe me, I was even more surprised than you!" Katherine said.
"I have to admit that I was quite surprised to hear that you are dating JR now! I didn't think that he and Sue Ellen would ever end up getting divorced!" Jenna said with false innocence in her voice. Katherine could tell that Jenna was responding to her earlier jab.
Before Katherine could respond to Jenna, a group of people approached the four of them. With a growing sense of dread, Katherine saw that it was Cliff, Afton, Pam, and Mark.
Oh, well. Might as well get this over with. It was bound to happen anyway. Katherine thought to herself miserably.
JR's face broke into a delighted smile. "Well, if it isn't the Barnes family!" He said.
Cliff was staring at Katherine and JR with a look of absolute outrage on his face. While Pam did not look at all surprised to see Katherine with JR, she was staring at Bobby and Jenna with a crestfallen expression. Katherine couldn't really read Mark and Afton's expressions, but she could tell that they weren't exactly pleased, either.
"For those of you who haven't met her, this is Jenna Wade. She's Bobby's date tonight. But I'm sure that you remember Jenna, Pam. Am I right?" JR taunted. He was thoroughly enjoying Pam's reaction to all of this.
Katherine felt uncomfortable. Did JR have to rub it in so much? This wasn't easy for Pam even without his taunting.
"Of course I remember, JR. Jenna, it's nice to see you again. You look well." Pam said with a forced smile.
"It's nice to see you again too; Pam." Jenna said with the same forced smile that Pam was wearing.
"Enough about that! What are you doing here with my sister, JR!?" Cliff demanded furiously while he pointed to Katherine.
"Simple. I asked her to come with me, and she said yes. You can't blame Katherine for being the only one in your family who is actually pleasant to be around!" JR said. He flashed Katherine a dazzling smile.
"And you! I thought that you had more sense than this! JR is NOT a man that you want to get involved with!" Cliff practically shouted at Katherine.
Katherine's eyes narrowed. "I don't care if you like it or not. I'll see whoever I please, thank you very much." She said coldly.
"That may be true, but we will be talking about this later! You can count on that!" Cliff warned Katherine. Katherine rolled her eyes at Cliff's response.
"As amusing as all of this is, I did promise to show Katherine a good time, and I intend to do just that! So, we will have to leave it at that." JR said.
JR turned to face Katherine. "Would you like to dance now?" He asked softly.
Katherine smiled at JR. "I would love to." She said just as softly as JR had. Cliff looked like he wanted to throw up.
After one last satisfied glance at everybody, JR took Katherine's hand in his and led her towards the dance floor.
Once they were both a good distance away from Cliff and the others, JR turned to face Katherine. "May I have this dance?" He asked softly.
Katherine's face flushed with pleasure. JR really was a perfect gentleman in situations like this. "Of course." She answered with a smile.
JR put one hand on Katherine's shoulder while he placed the other one on her back. The heat of his touch made her feel dizzy with pleasure.
Once they started dancing, JR pulled Katherine a bit closer to him. "How is this?" He whispered to her.
"Very nice. You're just as good at this as I thought you would be." Katherine said.
JR laughed softly. "Well, it helps when I'm with a special lady." He said.
"Thanks, JR. Although I have to admit that I really didn't feel all that special back there." Katherine said ruefully.
"Don't let all of them get you down. These things tend to make everybody get a bit dramatic." JR said.
"Yeah, but Cliff's not going to let me hear the end about this." Katherine said tiredly.
"Well, he was bound to find out about us sooner or later. And it's not his decision." JR said.
"You're right, JR. And it is a relief to finally be able to stop worrying about everyone's reactions. But speaking of decisions… I have a feeling who the judges have decided on for this year's Oil Baron of the year award…" Katherine said as she gave JR a sly smile.
"You flatter me too much, Katherine!" JR said with an amused grin.
"What do you mean? You're amazing at your job and everyone knows it!" Katherine said.
"True, but that's never been enough to get me a nomination." JR said.
"You've never won!? But that's insane! I've researched your work in the oil business, and they are just fools if they honestly believe that you never deserved to win!" Katherine said angrily.
"You've researched me? Wow. You really know how to make a man feel special! I'm honored." JR said teasingly.
"But why wouldn't they pick you?" Katherine asked curiously.
"It's simple. I may be successful, but don't forget how many people I usually step on to get what I need!" JR said.
"Well, that's hypocritical of them! Everyone in this business has to get dirty at some point." Katherine said.
"Exactly right." JR agreed.
"Well, maybe this year will be different. You did win your rightful place as president of Ewing Oil after all!" Katherine said.
"Only with your help, Katherine…" JR said.
"Then it will be a victory for both of us." Katherine said.
For a few moments, JR and Katherine didn't say anything to each other as they danced. They just continued to gaze into each other's eyes.
"You are so beautiful…" JR said softly. His hand caught a stray lock of Katherine's hair and gently tucked it back behind her ear.
Katherine seemed to forget how to breathe for a moment. Everything about JR seemed to be conveying how much love he felt for her.
"What's gotten into you tonight!?" Katherine asked. She was trying to sound light, but at the same time, she couldn't stop herself from sounding a bit breathless.
"It's just that I've dreamed of dancing with you like this for so long now. And I love you. I know that you are used to hearing other men tell you how beautiful you are, but I really mean it. You are beautiful in everything you do. You've made me happier than I've ever been before. I just don't know how it is possible that some other guy has never realized how special you are, and hasn't ever even tried to give you the happily ever after that you deserve so much..." JR said seriously.
Katherine was at a loss for words. She didn't know how to respond to JR, so she remained silent.
"Well, I'm ready to give you all of that and more. Just say the word and I'm all yours, Katherine." JR said softly; his face only a few inches away from Katherine's.
"Let's just focus on tonight for now. But I will admit that I'm enjoying myself with you more than I've ever had with anyone else, JR." Katherine said quietly.
"I'm glad to hear that." JR said with a smile.
Katherine danced with JR for a while longer. She couldn't tell how long it was for. Time didn't seem to matter. Katherine didn't want the evening to end. The way JR held her. How he looked at her. Everything was perfect.
"There's not much more time left before they make the announcement. Would you like to get something to drink and sit down for a while?" JR asked; breaking Katherine out of her trance.
"Oh, is it already that late? I guess I do need a quick break. I'll head to the restroom for a minute." Katherine said.
"Okay, I'll be waiting at our table. Don't take too long now!" JR teased.
Katherine laughed. "Don't worry! I'll be back before you can even start to miss me!" She said.
As Katherine headed toward the restroom, she couldn't help feeling that the music sounded ten times louder than it had when she had been dancing with JR. She had been caught up in her own little world with him. More than anything else, Katherine had needed a few minutes to herself to recover from how she was feeling right now. Her feelings for JR seemed about ready to burst out of her at any moment.
I love him, and I don't want to wait any longer to show him that. Katherine thought to herself.
Still lost in her own thoughts, Katherine suddenly stopped short after entering the restroom. Standing in front of one of the mirrors was JR's ex-wife, Sue Ellen.
To be continued…
Author's note: This chapter and the next one are based off of the episode, "The Oil Baron's Ball." I apologize for the delay in getting this done. I just started school again, and the classes are really hard and boring. I've also had a really hard time writing this whole Oil Baron's Ball thing. It was super long, so I had to break it into two chapters. And it's been hard deciding exactly how I want the scenes to go. The next chapter will still be from Katherine's point of view. I will try to keep adding a new chapter every week, but it might not be possible for me to have regular updating schedule from now on. Thanks to everyone who has been reading this!
