AN: Back on Wednesday, I had been in a rush to upload before I had to go to work. There were many things I'd wanted to talk about in the author's notes in the previous chapter that I forgot about, so I'm going to talk about them here. I had included those scenes with Mr Henry talking with his daughter to show that he does care about her in case some people thought he didn't. Also, notice how Mitzi's guy, Wick, was at that party with another woman? Was that just a cover or are those two over? You'll all find out the specifics in an upcoming chapter. Lastly, Mr Henry brought up that Clara made some sort of promise. What promise is that? Again, you'll all find out in a future chapter. Before we start, I'd like to give a trigger warning for attempted rape.
Ch 8: The Final Day
It is now the last day before Clara and her father return to Chicago.
Ever since the kiss, the white cat has been quite gloomy. Despite Mordecai's best efforts, her spirits haven't been lifted and even things she previously enjoyed fail to make her smile.
The tuxedo cat believes this has something to do with their kiss and feels it's a good thing he hasn't brought it up. Not only could talking about it possibly makes things worse, Mordecai's not sure what he'd say about it. He has no clue what to think of the action. He can't exactly say he hated it, but the idea that he might have liked it is not one the tuxedo cat is willing to entertain in the slightest. 'I am still in shock over the fact that it even occurred at all. Yes. That is what I am experiencing.' Regardless of the kiss, Mordecai doesn't want his final day with his charge to be spent with her feeling miserable. So, he has a surprise for her.
"Where are you taking me?" Clara asks her bodyguard, wondering why they're so far out from St Louis.
Mordecai keeps his eyes on the road. "Miss Henry, the point of a surprise is the recipient not being aware of it until said surprise is given. What I will reveal to you is that finding anyone to accommodate this surprise was quite the challenge."
The blonde accepts this and she becomes very curious when they turn onto a farm. "I am stumped. I'll never guess with a location like this."
"That should increase the surprise then." The tuxedo cat parks the car, gets out, and helps his charge out before they head for an approaching farmer.
"Welcome," says the young farmer. "Just follow me."
Mordecai turns to Clara. "Close your eyes."
The young woman glances over at her bodyguard, a little unsettled by the sudden request. "Why?"
"For the surprise, of course. Trust me."
So, Clara does as asked and allows the tuxedo cat to lead her where he pleases. She can't tell how long they walk, but it doesn't feel like the time's short. When they do finally come to a stop, the young woman hears a large door opening.
"You may open your eyes now, Miss Henry."
With eyes opened, Clara gets the surprise of her life. "That…that's a plane."
The young farmer steps into the barn and stands by his plane. "Yep. She's fueled up and ready to go."
"Go?"
"For a scenic flight," says Mordecai. "You shall be able to fly."
Clara gasps and shakes. "Really? I'll be in the sky?"
"That's right," the young farmer says while patting the plane. "It's not the most comfy of rides, but you two should be alright."
Clara giggles before rushing for the door on the side of the plane. Once the farmer helps her in and he heads for the cockpit to start the engine, the white cat sees that her bodyguard's just standing still, staring inside with an uncertain look on his face. "Something wrong, Mr Heller?"
The tuxedo cat blinks. "Perhaps…this was not the best idea."
"You came up with it."
"Yes, but now I doubt the safety of this endeavor."
"The pilot would never let us do all of this if he wasn't capable or if he thought the plane wasn't working right."
"I did happen to pay this man a ludicrous amount of money. That may have something to do with it."
"Please? My father and Maxwell hate planes. This'll be my only chance to fly in one."
Mordecai pushes his nerves aside, steps into the plane, and shuts the door behind him.
The pair sits on a tied down crate, the only thing that can really be used as a seat.
When the engine starts, Mordecai flinches. "I changed my mind. This is not happening." He stands up and tries to take his charge by the arm.
Instead, Clara tugs her bodyguard's sleeve to bring him back down.
"Here we go!" the pilot shouts back to his passengers as the plane starts moving forward.
Clara has a grin of anticipation as the plane starts lifting up into the air.
Mordecai has his eyes shut and his claws gripping the crate.
After about a minute, the plane stops rising and stabilizes.
"You two are free to move about now!" the pilot calls back.
Clara instantly gets up and heads for the nearest window. "Wow! This view is amazing!"
Mordecai's eyes shoot open. "Get back here this instant!"
The white cat ignores her bodyguard's words. "Come to the window and look outside!"
"I believe it is much safer here and you should consider the same thing!"
"Please?! Just once!"
Getting swayed by Clara's plea and the look in her eyes, the tuxedo cat retracts his claws from the crate, stands up, takes some uncertain steps forward, and turns his head in order to gaze out the window. What he sees leaves him in awe.
Green can be seen all around far below. The occasional wispy cloud passes by just under the plane. The sky's blue has never appeared so vivid as it does at this very moment.
Mordecai stares out. "This is…breathtaking."
Clara smiles. "I feel just as I always imagined I would."
The tuxedo cat looks over at his charge. "And what way is that?"
"In this moment, above the clouds and all my problems…I feel free."
"Yes," Mordecai says without realizing he has a smile on his face. When the plane shifts, he grabs Clara just as she starts to lose her balance. "Umm…perhaps we should hold each other for the rest of this flight. For stability, of course."
The white cat can't help suspecting her bodyguard's making excuses. Despite feeling she probably shouldn't, she can't find it in herself to not go along with it. "Yes."
The pair gets back to enjoying the view.
Later that night…
Mordecai and Clara are eating supper at a table outside of a restaurant.
The blonde looks up from her food. "I still can't get over that you did all that for me."
The tuxedo cat avoids his charge's eyes. "It was nothing. Really."
"It was everything. You have no idea what it means to me."
Mordecai finally looks at the white cat. "You appeared to be upset about something and I wished to give you an enjoyable activity on your last day in St Louis. It also happened to be my way of showing you gratitude."
"Really?"
"I can say with complete honesty this was the most enjoyable assignment I have ever had. A vast majority of that enjoyment was because of you." The tuxedo cat can't believe that he's so emotionally open right now, but he can't seem to stop either. "Whatever does occur in the future, I know I shall recollect the time spent with you with great fondness, Miss Clara Henry."
The blonde has to hold back tears. "Mr Heller…I'm going to say something to you and I want you to accept it. Don't try using your regular occupation as a way to deny it. I'm aware of what you do, but it won't change my opinion of you. You have not only kept me safe, but you've also treated me so kindly in your own Mordecai Heller way. You…are a wonderful man."
Mordecai feels his heart thundering in his chest. He's faced many life or death situations, but he never felt such an intensity until now. His mouth opens to say something, what it is he has no clue, but he's going to say it.
"Clara Darling!" shouts a voice from across the street.
Both cats flinch.
Clara turns feeling a pit form in her stomach. "Maxwell."
A sharply dressed brown cat with sharp features is crossing the street from his parked car. He stops in front of Clara. "I've missed you so!" He takes one of her hands. "I never should've let you go! I beg you, please take me back!" He gives a pleading look with his icy blue eyes.
Even before an answer's given, Mordecai knows exactly what Clara's going to say. 'This is her fiancé, Maxwell Mason. He is who her father wishes her to marry. Of course she is going to say yes. Our arrangement…is over.'
"Of course I will," Clara says with as much enthusiasm as she can fake.
"Oh, Clara Darling!" Maxwell dramatically exclaims as he pulls the white cat into a tight embrace. Once the brown tom releases her, he turns to Mordecai. "Sorry, Old Sport. The better man won in the end."
Clara can't look her bodyguard in the face. "We're just…meant to be."
"I understand," is all Mordecai can say.
"You are an employee at the hotel my darling Clara is staying at, correct?" Maxwell asks the tuxedo cat.
"Yes."
"As a form of compensation, allow us to drive you back to the Maribel Hotel."
"Very well then." With dinner finished, Mordecai follows Clara and Maxwell to the other man's parked car, where the driver awaits.
The driver opens the back passenger door for Clara and Maxwell to get inside. He keeps it open for Mordecai.
"I shall take the front passenger seat," the tuxedo cat informs the driver. "I also intend to open the door for myself." He goes around the car to his chosen seat and gets in.
Once the car takes off, Clara breaks the silence. "I knew you were coming tonight, Max, but I didn't think it'd be this early."
The brown tom chuckles. "You know my Friday classes are all morning classes. Rowing Club's meeting was cancelled. So, I took the first train here. What a relief that must be for you. Now, you don't have to pretend to be in any form of relationship with this Jew."
Clara looks out the car window to hide the anger she's feeling at her fiancé's words. "Mr Heller did his job exceptionally well."
"I find it hard to believe. He seems more of an accountant than a gunman."
Mordecai keeps his eyes forward. "I have experience in both occupations, Mr Mason."
Maxwell leans forward and places a hand on the tuxedo cat's shoulder. "Still, I just can't see you being the violent type."
Mordecai flinches at the contact and glares back at the other man. "Would you care for a demonstration of my skills?"
Immediately, the brown tom takes his hand away and puts on a smile. "No, no. I believe you." Maxwell turns his attention back to Clara as the other man uses a handkerchief to wipe the shoulder that'd been touched. "There were a few elite members of society in the area during my little performance, a recognizable face or two amongst them, Clara Darling. I should hope news of our reconciliation will spread like wildfire."
"That's very likely," the white cat says while still looking out the window.
"Your father explained to me his reasoning behind the whole charade before you came to St Louis, but I still find it silly."
"It's what he decided."
Maxwell, not enjoying his fiancée's lack of attention, moves over to sit beside her.
Mordecai feels great annoyance when he notices the brown tom messing up the formerly symmetrical seating. The tuxedo cat then sees something that makes even something as beloved as symmetry leave his mind.
Maxwell places a claw under Clara's chin and uses it to turn her face to his. "Darling, it's me. Your loving fiancé. The man you shall be wed to upon his graduation from university. The future king of a construction empire who can give his future queen the world if she wishes for it. I'm here now. You should be happy." He leans forward.
Mordecai realizes the other man is about to kiss Clara. He feels a sudden and strong urge to grab the brown tom and throw him out of the moving vehicle.
Suddenly, the car comes to a screeching halt, making all the passengers brace themselves.
"WHAT DID YOU STOP FOR, IDIOT?!" Maxwell screams at his driver.
"Sorry, Sir," the driver says to his employer. "A child ran across the street."
"Probably a street orphan. Nasty, disgusting things."
Once everyone gets back to their original seating, Mordecai catches the driver giving him a wink before the car continues on. 'Wait. Was there not a child after all? Was that sudden stop for my benefit?'
Soon…
Maxwell, Clara, and Mordecai are walking through the halls of the Maribel Hotel.
The tuxedo cat has been feeling annoyed that many he has passed, including that one trio of thugs from the first day (Moe, Larry, and Curly), have quietly commented on how he "lost his girl to a richer man". Despite the fact that it was all supposed to be a facade, Mordecai can't stop feeling anger about those words.
Maxwell unlocks the door to the room he reserved for the night before noticing the other two continuing on. "Clara Darling? Where are you going?"
The blonde stops and looks back feeling confused. "To my room."
"What for? I'm your fiancé. Stay with me."
Clara is not happy about the suggestion and tries to come up with an excuse. "But…you know Father would never approve."
"Your father won't be back until morning and I know you wouldn't want to go spending a whole night alone in a suite. Wouldn't you rather stay with your fiancé over some Jew servant?"
"But…my things."
"Have the Jew there pack them up and bring them here. You can stay and wait with me."
No longer able to come up with anything without appearing suspicious, the white cat has finally given up. "Very well." She moves past Maxwell into his suite.
The brown tom watches her for a moment before signaling to Mordecai. "You. Here."
The tuxedo cat keeps his annoyance at being addressed in such a blatantly rude manner at bay as he approaches the other man. "Yes?"
Maxwell pulls out a wad of cash and hands it to the other man. "Do whatever you can to make sure the process of packing her things is as slow as possible."
"Why?"
"Let's just say I've had a long train ride and I wish to relax by having a little fun with my fiancée." The brown tom heads into his suite with a glint to his icy blue eyes.
'He neglected to lock his door. Not the brightest individual.' As Mordecai looks down at the money in his hand, he suddenly feels a great sense of unease. The way that Maxwell had said "fun" makes the tuxedo cat uncomfortable, which is why he doesn't move from his spot.
"Stop!" Clara's voice shouts from the other room.
Mordecai's head looks up to the door of the suite.
"I came all this way!" Maxwell exclaims. "You owe me!"
"NO!" Clara screams out.
Mordecai drops the money and opens the door.
Inside, Maxwell has Clara pinned down on a table with one hand covering her mouth and the other up her dress.
In this moment, Mordecai finally understands what others meant when they said they felt so angry that they saw red. Never before has the tuxedo cat truly wanted to mutilate and destroy someone as much as Maxwell Mason. He rushes at the other man and throws him off Clara.
The brown tom hits the couch, but quickly recovers and starts running for the open door.
Mordecai gets there first and shuts it.
Maxwell, feeling desperate, throws a punch.
The tuxedo cat dodges, grabs the arm, and uses it to force the other man against the floor. He then breaks the arm.
Maxwell's scream is muffled by Mordecai's hand.
The tuxedo cat reaches into his own jacket, pulls out a knife, and raises it to strike.
"STOP!" Clara screams at him.
Mordecai looks back at his charge, hardly believing she actually told him to stop.
"I know what Max did, but don't kill him. I'm begging you. Please, Mordecai, spare his life."
With a deep breath, the tuxedo cat puts the knife away. "You are quite the fortunate man, Mr Mason, to have Miss Henry be such a merciful woman." Mordecai glares at the whimpering man. "Now, listen to me. I will let you go and you may find a doctor to fix your arm. You shall not reveal the true reason it happened, otherwise, I would be forced to give my explanation. You may be Miss Henry's fiancé, but I do not believe for a moment that her father would condone the attempt to force premarital relations on her. Understood?"
Maxwell quickly nods.
"Excellent." Mordecai gets up and opens the door. "Now, get out."
The other man scrambles to his feet and rushes out the offered exit.
Mordecai looks over at Clara. "Shall we…spend your last night in your suite?"
Soon…
Having changed into his sleepwear, Mordecai exits the restroom to find Clara (already in her nightgown) sitting on the couch he has been using to sleep. "Miss Henry?"
The blonde doesn't look at him. "Thank you, Mr Heller for stopping that…incident. I'm afraid though that Maxwell will eventually have his way with me. He's my future husband, after all."
"You still intend to marry him?"
"It's what my father wants."
"After what that monster almost did to you?!"
"He's the only acceptable option left! Anyone else is either already married or refuses to associate with me! Maxwell is the only one arrogant enough to think he can change me into their version of the 'proper lady'."
"Still…him?"
"My father needs me to be married to someone capable of taking charge of the business if he ends up dying. At the very least, he needs a grandson who can one day run it. My fate…is to provide my father an heir."
Mordecai looks down at the floor, frustrated at his charge's situation.
Clara stands. "Before my mother died, she let me know that I was likely going to end up in an arranged marriage. Before that could happen, she wanted me to find a man and have a true romance with him. She wanted me to build memories to treasure during my years to come being married."
"Memories to help you endure an unhappy marriage?"
"Yes. You know how I was mostly trapped inside after Mother passed."
"So…you have nothing?" The tuxedo cat feels sad for the young woman.
"Actually, I do have something."
"Really? With who?"
The white cat takes a deep breath knowing that she has quite the revelation for Mordecai. "The idea to have a bodyguard pretend to be my boyfriend wasn't actually my father's. I was the one who suggested it to him, but in a way so subtle that he now thinks it was his plan."
"You? You are the mastermind behind this whole facade? Why?"
"I was desperate for those memories to have even if the relationship was fake. I couldn't have imagined how lucky I'd be to have you as my bodyguard."
Mordecai is already feeling quite overwhelmed and this opinion Clara has of him has just pushed that even further. "Me?"
"You are so wonderfully unique, I don't think I would've had anywhere near as good of a time these past two weeks with anyone else as my bodyguard. You have given me so many great memories, Mordecai Heller. All of the driving lessons, comforting me by discussing your former religion, that beautiful picnic." Clara starts to cry, all while still facing away from the tuxedo cat. "And I'll never forget you taking me on that plane. That is, without a doubt, the greatest moment of my life. I'll treasure it and every other moment spent with you forever."
Mordecai is trembling as his charge passes him on the way to her bedroom.
Clara stops right in the doorway. "This might have just been a job to you, but there were so many times where I forgot our relationship was supposed to be a facade, it felt so real. Thank you for the happy memories. Now, for the last time, good night…Mr Heller." The crying young woman tries to shut the door behind her, but something stops it.
Mordecai has his hand on the door to keep it from closing. He is giving the young white cat in front of him the most intense stare. "It was real for me…Clara."
The young woman's crying intensifies. "Mordecai."
As the tuxedo cat wipes away the tears on the white cat's face, he can't help thinking she looks so beautiful. That thought urges him to lean forward and press his lips to hers.
Clara had never thought she'd get to kiss Mordecai again after the night of the party when she initiated that first one. Having the tuxedo cat be the one to go in for the kiss now has excited her. When he tries to pull away, the white cat almost despairs because she doesn't want this to be the last of that amazing sensation. So, she grabs Mordecai's face and brings him in for more.
In this very moment, the tuxedo cat's mind shuts down and his body's now in control. He takes the young blonde in his arms and lifts her off her feet.
Clara wraps her legs around her bodyguard's waist.
As the two head for the bed, Mordecai uses his foot to shut the door behind them.
AN: For those few of you who haven't figured it out, Mordecai and Clara are losing their virginities together. Some of you readers who've been following since my other stories might have been hoping for an explicit scene between the two, but I've already stated in a previous story that I'm done doing that kind of thing in my stories. I'm sorry those of you who were into that, you'll just have to imagine it for yourselves. Anyway, it's unlikely to the point of being practically impossible that there aren't any repercussions for Mordecai and Clara sleeping together. Tune in Wednesday to see the beginnings of said consequences.