I DO NOT OWN BEAUTY AND THE BEAST

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So, here is chapter 3! I hope you like it. :)

And PLEASE REVIEW! More feedback, means that there surely will be a chapter 4... :)

She did look up… and saw it. She couldn't believe her eyes! She gasped out loud, her mouth fell open and her eyes almost popped out. No, it couldn't be. No, this was… it was IMPOSSIBLE…

Vincent gave Catherine some time to let it sink in. She was frozen at her spot and couldn't utter anything. Her mind went on overdrive.

'Who was this Agathe person? Was this the reason why the old woman believed that she was me? And why in heaven's name did Agathe look exactly like me?' she thought.

All kinds of questions popped in her head, but she just didn't have a logical explanation.

'Okay, maybe it was a prank? But why? If… if the painting was not of Agathe, but of me. How and why did someone made a painting of me?' she thought.

Vincent sat patiently on a chair and knew that she was in total shock. She probably had a dozen questions. He looked at the woman before him and mentally slapped himself. She was here just for 7 weeks. It was foolish to believe that she has come here for him. Aargh! He never believed in the curse, never believed in the legend. They were just stories made up for strangers. They weren't true. But if you'd think about it: each and every ancestor of his was always very unlucky in love.

His mother was Greek and fell in love with an American tourist. They had a powerful romance and had gotten married; but before he was born his father died in a speed boat crash. His mother never got over him and disappeared one day, leaving him with his grandmother. He never saw his mother again after that. Yes, he had an American name but his mom was fully Greek.

He must be losing his mind! But his family always had to endure pain and sorrow. But is it, because of the curse? Is that the reason, why he and his ancestors before him experienced only tragedy in their lives. Sighing deeply, he thought about his own life. Alexia, a woman who loved herself more than anything else. He wished that he'd never met her. Demetrios; thinking about him, made his throat close up… What happened to Demetrios was one of the greatest tragedy in his family history…

He must be losing his mind, but… maybe just maybe the curse is real? If you add everything up, it looked like it was real. Plus the fact that Catherine is here. In the book is written that Agathe will return. But never in his wildest dreams, did he ever think it would happen.

He never believed, but it all added up. Catherine fits the whole 'profile'. But if the curse is real and he should try to break it with Catherine's help, how will he possibly do it? He's forgotten how to TRY to win someone's heart. Come to think of it; he never was that forward. Alexia was the one who had done her best to win over his heart. Not the other way around…

At the moment, he's single. He doesn't go out much, he just works his butt off. He doesn't have a hobby. To the world, was he a boring, wealthy man?

Vincent shook his head, cause he really didn't know what to believe anymore…

"Catherine, please take a seat?" he politely asked.

She stammered a 'yeah, ok' and took a seat, but her eyes were still plastered on the painting.

"Do you have any questions?" he politely asked.

She looked down and put her hands on her hips." So, uhum… this is a prank, right?"

He chuckled and replied."Nope, I am not the kind of man to do pranks."

"But, but… if this… this isn't a prank. Who… who is the painting of?" she asked nervously.

"Agathe, an ancestor of mine." He replied.

"But, ho… how is that possible? How? Why?" she stammered.

"Why does she look exactly like you?" he asked.

Catherine nodded, because she was too shocked to answer.

Vincent got up, walked to the bar and poured some whisky for her. He walked back towards her and sat on his chair again.

"You probably don't drink this strong, but I am sure that you're going to need it. Here you go." He said and handed her the drink.

Catherine sighed deeply and accepted the drink without asking why.

"We have this book. It's about my ancestors and a certain page is written about a 'family curse'. I will translate it for you, ok?" he said.

Catherine just nodded in agreement; she wasn't able to answer him.

Vincent grabbed the book from the book case and began to read.

Our last name is Niarxos. A long time ago, our ancestor Soterios was walking on our private beach, enjoying the magnificent sunset. And just as he was about to walk back home, he saw something in the water. But the better he looked at it, he soon realized that it was not a thing. It was a person! He immediately took off his shoes and shirt and jumped into the very cold water. It almost took his breath away, but there was just one thing on his mind. Save the person in need!

Soon enough, he reached the person and saw that it was a woman! He dragged her back on land and began trying to wake her. At one point she coughed, making all the sea water leave her body. The second Soterios looked in her gorgeous, hazel eyes, he knew that she was the one!

It was love at first sight, also for her. He brought her to his home and they took care of her. After a good bath and some warm clothes on her back, he saw her again at dinner. His parents asked the young woman how she ended up in the open sea, but she did not remember.

'What is your name?' Soterios' mother asked.

The stranger thought very hard before answering. 'Agathe. My name is Agathe.' She replied.

In the next weeks, Soterios and Agathe spent most of their time together. Within the next weeks, they fell in love. Soterios' parents were glad that Soterios finally found a woman to marry, but they were a bit worried about something. About someone. Her name was Henimia.

They had a family friend named Henimia. She was around Soterios age. It wasn't a secret that Henimia was in love with Soterios. Heninia's and Soterios' parents were friends and a long time ago they made a pact with each other, that their kids should marry, so their riches will be combined. But when Agathe came into Soterios' life, his parents had to tell Henimia's parents that Soterios was going to marry someone else. And they did. Henimia was heartbroken and committed suicide.

When Henimia died, her mother wasn't able to grieve normally. She was furious at Soterios and his parents! She wanted them to feel the pain that she was feeling right now. The pain of losing her beautiful young daughter was so excruciating that she did the unthinkable. She visited a 'witch' and gave her a lot of gold. In return, she casted a curse on the Niarxos' family. Beginning with Soterios and Agathe.

Before Soterios could see his first born son, he was lost at sea and was never seen again. Agathe believed that it was the curse. And she was the reason. If she hadn't washed on the shore, Soterios would have married Henimia. One day, Agathe disappeared. She left and never came back, leaving her son behind. After she left, people began to make up stories of her. Some say that she was immortal, that's why she survived the ship wreck. Years later, they found out that the ship she was in, was swallowed by the sea. Everyone died, except for her. People believed that the curse that had been casted on the Niarxos' family, was her fault.

And that's why we call it 'The curse of Agathe.'

Vincent sighed and looked from his book to Catherine. She had been drinking the whiskey and tears welled up in her eyes.

"That's a… a very tragic story." She uttered.

Vincent closed his eyes and took a deep breath. If only Catherine knew how tragic all of his family members lives had been. Including his.

"Yes, it is." He whispered.

Vincent thought very hard and just slapped himself mentally! The curse is not real! How could he ever think it was. And if it is real, he would never want to use Catherine for something like that! He must be out of his mind! She is a beautiful, independent young lawyer with a bright future ahead of her. He could never ask that much of her! In that moment, he decided to stop this illusion!

Yes, he had a tragic life. Yes, his marriage with Alexia was a marriage from hell! Yes, he had lost the one person in his life that meant everything to him. But he cannot believe that it's because of a so called curse! That's just life and life decided to be cruel to him and his family. He just had to accept it. And he did not want to drag Catherine in all of this. He should stop seeing her! He should save her… save her from himself…

"Okay, that was the story of the so called 'curse'. I think I should bring you home. Your father must be worried about you. Shall we?" He said and began to walk away.

Catherine frowned and immediately walked behind him. she grabbed his arm and said.

"Wait. Wait, theres gotta be more. I mean why did that old woman say that Agathe has returned. I remember clearly that she said that Agathe has returned to… to break the curse?"

That's nothing, really. You look like Agathe. So what, its just a coincidence. The curse is not real. Come on, you cannot believe it! Come on, Catherine. Lets bring you back to the hotel." He pleaded.

She shook her head and said."No. I am not going anywhere until you tell me why I look like her. And tell me why that old woman said that 'I' have returned to BREAK THE CURSE."

Sighing deeply, Vincent looked at her and said." Its not important, okay. Lets go, please."

Catherine saw that Vincent was losing his patience, but he cleverly masked it from her. He probably had a reason why he did not want to tell her. But she wanted him to let her in. She wanted him to open up to her, but he's got his walls up again. Catherine did not know why, but she wanted to trigger a reaction from him, besides his politeness. She had just met him. Then why was it so important to her, for him to let her in? She did not understand herself anymore...

She shook her head."No!" she replied with determination in her eyes.

Vincent looked at her like he wanted to explode! But in a split second, he controlled himself.

"Fine. You wanna know? Then come back tomorrow morning and have breakfast with me? I will tell you the rest. But please note that it is all FAKE." He said politely and walked away.

Catherine walked behind him and saw him talking with his butler.

"Calinico, miss Chandler will be going now. Can you make sure she gets to the hotel safely?" he said.

He turned to Catherine and said." Calinico will escort you home. Is that okay with you?" he said very politely.

Catherine didn't want to wait. She was going to ask the butler about the rest of the story. Catherine was determined to know why she looked like Agathe…

'I bet a 100 bucks that he knows about it.' She thought.

Catherine looked at him and just nodded."Yes, why not. That seems like a good idea. And I like him a lot."

Vincent looked her in the eyes and said."Good night, Catherine Chandler. This evening has been very nice. Thank you. And I will see you tomorrow morning, okay?"

She nodded and said."Thank you for a wonderful evening. See you tomorrow morning."

Calinico escorted her out of the villa and into the limo. The moment she stepped in the car, she groaned out loud.

Calinico looked at her and asked."What is wrong miss Catherine?"

She sighed and blurted out." Whats wrong? I am really sorry to say this about your boss, but he really FRUSTRATES me!"

Calinico smiled and asked."How so?"

"Well, he is nice right? I believe hes a very nice man. Hes always polite, talks friendly and seems like an all around nice guy... but he has got these walls around him that just frustrates me!"

"I can relate. I know what you mean, miss. But he wasn't always like this you know. But life has made him this way. Life has been very, very cruel to him. So this is his defense." He said sadly.

"But Calinico. You don't mind that I call you by your first name, right?" she asked and he shook his head.

"But it's so frustrating. One moment I can almost feel that he wants to open up or he's about to blow up but in seconds, his walls are around him and he talks at me so politely that I want to strangle him! Can't he just let go of his control for once?"

Calinico looked at her and had a feeling that she was truly the one.

"I just want him to let it out, you know!" she said.

He nodded and said." Yes, I know."

"Btw, Calinico I wanna ask you something." She said.

"Yes?" he replied.

"Please tell me why I look like Agathe? And why an old woman told me that I have returned to BREAK THE CURSE?" she asked with a serious look on her face.

"But my b…" he began, but she cut him off.

"I know, Mr. Vincent is planning to tell me tomorrow, but I have a feeling that he's planning to leave important stuff out. Cause even if I could get my hands on 'the book'. I do not read Greek." She said, convincing.

Calinico took a deep breath and knew she was right. Vincent didn't plan to tell her the whole story. He was torn: should he tell her or not? He wanted to, because like the old woman, Calinico believed that Catherine was the one. The one who has come here to… BREAK the curse.

But he didn't want to do anything that his boss didn't agree with… Should he?

Will he?

PLEASE REVIEW!

Ruby

:)