Reflections of Beauty
By Obsolete Love
Chapter 7
Shanah rubbed her temple. Her head ached with a bad migraine while her chest constricted painfully…
'God… I won't cry… I won't cry… It's only…' She checked her watch.
'It's only noon… the day isn't over yet… besides… Quatre is going to come back anytime now…'
She drew in a shuddering breath and willed herself to stay calm and composed… And for a moment she was, until anger washed over her…
'Who the hell did they think they were?!' she slammed her folder over her desk, trying to vent out her frustration… 'I mean… that picture had been taken over 6 months ago!!! I'm his personal assistant! Of course they'd get pictures of me beside him!!!'
And yet… the words those women who had been coming in and out of the doors so far for the whole morning kept on ringing in her head… Name calls… derogatory terms… accusations… shameless back stabbing reputation stripping-
'God, Quatre… come back soon…' Shanah bit her lower lip… She didn't believe them… didn't even pay much attention to them… 'Where the hell have all those women been? I mean… I'd have been ready for them 6 months ago…! Besides, why'd they only pick me?! Why didn't they think Relena and Quatre had something?!'
But she already knew the answer to that… She looked at the piece of newspaper that was slapped to her desk earlier… How was she able to miss this part of the news?! Oh yeah… the rush projects…
'According to sources, Mr. Winner was sharing the room with his Personal Assistant Ms. Winter! How personal is it?!'
'The way they phrased it!!!'
'I suppose Mr. Winner is opting for the bookish librarian look from this point of view.'
'Alright, so what?! Maybe he does!' The moment she said that, she knew that it wasn't a 'maybe'… Her thoughts flitted back to the past few weeks that had been more than heaven to her… Rashid definitely knew that there's something going on between them… After all, he caught them kissing inside the confines of the small coffee room, for Pete's sake!!!
Shanah's cheeks blushed a deep red… 'Well… not exactly kissing… uhm… more of… making out…'
"So there! Quatre could have chosen whomever he wanted and he chose me!" Shanah proclaimed to the article in front of her, making her mood feel better. "He doesn't care about looks, he cares about what's inside." She crumpled the paper and threw it in the trashcan. "So there!"
Shanah slumped back in her chair, arms crossed over her chest, feeling quite murderous. 'Okay Shanah… Take a deep breath… Don't let them get to you…' she closed her eyes and willed her body to calm down…
Suddenly, Shanah nearly fell off her chair at the sudden crash of her door against the wall. Her eyes quickly reverted to the doorway and she couldn't stop the grimace that came over her face.
'Calm… Relax…'
"What the hell does this article mean?!"
Shanah watched, with steel eyes, as the woman in tight fitting clothes walked to her desk and slapped the newspaper clipping on the table. She tried her best to remain calm but her inner anger was already raging… She'd been through the exact routine seemingly a 100 times this morning already! When will it stop?!
"Well?! I demand an answer!!!"
Shanah's eyes slanted as she picked up the paper. She tried… God knows she tried! But anger got the upper hand. "I'm sorry, but if you would like to receive reading lessons, this isn't the place for you. You should have paid more attention to your English teachers."
The woman's hand was like lightning and the sound of palm slapping skin reverberated through the room…
~*~
Quatre gave a sigh of relief as he went inside his limo, let his form slump for a few seconds then properly sat up once again.
'What I wouldn't give for one of Shanah's massage…' Quatre's eyes twinkled. 'And some other things…' He cleared his throat. "Rashid, any word from Relena?"
Rashid nodded. "She just wrote 'Yes' and sent the message via Main Base. Smart of her to do that."
Quatre grinned. "I told her to keep it a secret…" His grin disappeared. "So… let's just hope Heero and Trowa are coming… You haven't received any postcards yet… have you?"
Rashid shook his head.
Quatre looked out of the limousine's window as he tried to picture his friend's face… It's been too long since they last saw each other face to face… it would be great if they could spend even a few days just to catch up… "He'll come…" I hope…
Rashid looked at Quatre in slight anxiety. There's been something on his mind lately… something he's musing about… but… even with that, he'd never seen Quatre happier than he'd been these past few months! Of course there's only one person responsible for all that… and it's all rright with him…
"Master Quatre…" he tried to think of something that might cheer Quatre once again as the man turned to him. "Polls for #3 rose up 500 credits on No this week."
That brought out a laugh from Quatre. "I bet they heard the little fight between Ms. Explosives and Mr. Chang, eh?"
Rashid grinned. "Very much so."
The car door opened to the entrance door of his father's building and Quatre instantly walked out, ready to see her smiling face once again.
"The memos are in order already, Rashid. You just need to drop it by Shanah's desk." He waited impatiently for the elevator to stop on his floor, tapping his foot…
"Of course, Master Quatre." Rashid followed Quatre to his office, frowning slightly when he saw Shanah's open doors…
Suddenly, Quatre stopped and Rashid nearly collided against him.
"Darn!" Quatre muttered as he saw one of his usually 'uninvited' guests inside Shanah's office.
Rashid looked up and saw Shanah's face-off with the irritating woman… Ahh… she's usually good with-
Quatre's eyes widened in shock as he saw a hand connect with Shanah's cheek that snapped her beautiful face to the right with the blow. Even Rashid's eyes bulged out!
Fury enveloped Quatre, but before he could take a step forward, Rashid's iron hold stopped him. Quatre looked at Rashid, his eyes slanted. 'Dammit!' He wanted to… well… he couldn't hit a woman but he's going to do something about it!
Rashid saw the anger in Quatre's eyes and slowly shook his head. 'This is her fight…' He thought, knowing that Quatre would understand his message.
For a few seconds, Quatre didn't seem to understand but then Rashid saw him nod and turn to face the scene in front of them once again…
Shanah, still stood her ground and faced her visitor once again with a sarcastic smile. "You know what I'm wondering? Where have all you women been? I mean, this paper is over six months old!"
Eyes slanted in fury remained fixed upon Shanah. "You wouldn't understand a model's career. I had been in a photo shoot."
"Ah… you and how many other women?"
"Ms. Winter. I told you once that you're not going to get Quatre. I've been after him far longer than you have and you're not going to get him without a fight!"
That sarcastic smile didn't leave Shanah's half-numbed face as she leaned over her table, palms braced against the desk. She's had enough of them all! "And I told you once that I don't intend to stoop so low as to fight with you… or is it that those spray nets have clogged your brain cells already and none of them are functioning correc-"
She wasn't able to finish as her head snapped to her right once again and her glasses flew off her face… Another coat of sting was added on her already throbbing face, then before she could think, another slap made her face snap to her other side.
'Shanah!' Quatre's mind cried out.
Rashid's hold on Quatre's shoulder tightened as he felt him jerk forward. "No…."
"Dammit Rashid! Let go!" Quatre muttered out through gritted teeth, but Rashid's hold was strong.
Shanah's left cheek hurt more than her right but she didn't care as, once again, she forced her eyes to look straight to where she knew her opponent stood and tried to will the stars that appeared in her vision to go away. "You don't want to pick a fight with me. I can assure you that." Her calm voice belied the fury she was feeling inside…
"You better stop insulting me!"
"I? Insult you?! You have been the one insulting me in the past months!" Shanah retorted, finally able to gaze straight at the vicious red-faced woman. Shanah saw the woman's eyes turn to smaller slits, then… as if reaching a decision, all anger disappeared from her face.
"You know… I don't even know why I even bother with you. I really don't. Blame it on jealousy… then again… what is there for me to be jealous of?"
Shanah felt her whole body eyed and stripped critically. A feeling of dread encompassed her… But as she did so long ago, she forced her mind to block it and keep her face…
"You don't have a single fashion sense. Your hair is limp, your face is shallow… you are the ugliest, most disgusting person I've ever seen… Quatre could never ever love someone like you!"
Quatre's fury raged to a degree even he couldn't understand, and even Rashid's eyes were flashing red as he let go of Quatre's shoulder. The young man didn't need any prompting as he zoomed inside Shanah's office.
"GET OUT RIGHT NOW!!!"
The sudden roar drew both women's attention to the door. Shanah saw Quatre as she had never seen him before! Eyes blazed with clear contempt and wrath… fists clenched tight and shaking at his sides as if he was having trouble with containing the ferocious tempest that raged within him.
"Why Quatre darling. I… I didn't know that you were back…"
Quatre's eyes zoomed straight at the woman who spoke. "Lee Anne…" Quatre breathed in deeply as he fought for control.
"Yes, Quatre?" she smiled sweetly into his eyes.
"I am giving you three seconds to vacate this room- no, this building! And never show your face here again."
Shanah's eyes widened in surprise.
Lee Anne frowned, her anger sparked, but opted to still play her game. "What do you mean?"
"One."
"Quatre, darling." Lee Anne walked to him, trying not to flinch. 'Could it be that he saw…?'
"Two."
Rashid and Shanah felt the dangerous strain in his voice and the hair at the back of their necks rose in fear…
Lee Anne didn't move from her place in front of Quatre. "Dear Quatre, aren't you even going to say hello-"
"THREE!!!!"
Quatre's bellow nearly rocked the whole floor.
Lee Anne frowned. "Don't you dare shout at me!"
Shanah shook her head.
"FINE! BE THAT WAY!" Quatre yelled as he walked to Lee Anne, unceremoniously grabbed her around the waist and then dropped her on his shoulder.
"What are you doing?!" Lee Anne angrily demanded while Quatre walked out of the room.
Shanah moved her feet to follow the screaming Lee Anne and the stoic Quatre, and saw Rashid waiting for her in an open elevator.
"Rashid? What's happening?" Shanah asked in bewilderment. She actually feels a bit sorry for the girl.
"Something that should have been done a long time ago." Rashid answered as he herded Shanah into another elevator.
The elevator opened just in time to see Quatre walk to the main entrance while some of his workers watched the parade curiously as a seemingly insane woman pounded at their employer's back.
"LET ME GO!!! LET GO OF ME THIS INSTANT!!!"
Quatre pushed the glass doors open and then dropped Lee Anne on the asphalt- very carelessly.
"OW!!!"
"I gave you three seconds to vacate properly and you didn't listen. Be happy that I do not hit women. Do not EVER show your face around here again!"
A stream of wildly shouted curses followed Quatre as he walked back inside the building. Workers parted for Quatre and he instantly saw Shanah's red face with Rashid beside her… but first thing's first. His gaze traveled around until it landed on his security.
"Noel, that woman is not allowed in the premises. Bar the doors. If you even see her around the area, arrest her."
"Y-Yes Mr. Winner." The man stuttered as he walked to the door and stood guard.
Quatre shifted his gaze on Shanah once again and she felt the want to hide herself. He walked up to them. "Rashid, get everyone calmed. Shanah. Upstairs."
"Yes, Quatre…" Shanah whispered and followed him into the elevator. It was the first time she felt him so distant and cold as he stood with his back straight and tension wrought… his hands still in fists… It was stifling inside that small room and she was instantly happy when it opened on their floor…
He opened the door to her office and she went in… The door clicked shut and she cringed. Shanah couldn't bear it any longer! She felt as if she had to explain everything… She turned around just as she started to speak. "Quatre I-"
Her words were muffled as his lips crushed hers while his hands embraced her body tightly against his own… She hadn't even known that he had been right behind her! And, involuntarily, her hands went up around his neck, not at all minding the bruising kisses he rained on her lips.
They wrenched away from each other only to gasp for air and Quatre's hands went up to her face, cupped it and tenderly brushed her cheek. He could see the slight red imprint of Lee Ann's hands, contrasting with her white skin. "Are you alright?"
His raspy voice was soothing, so was his touch on her face and Shanah nodded. "Yes… I'm okay."
"Shanah." He tilted her face up to his, made her meet his gaze to let her see the truth. "Nothing she said was true… you believe me, don't you? Nothing she said was true."
Shanah nodded once again, choking up and starting to feel her eyes water.
Quatre felt and saw the telltale signs on her face and he shook his head as he hugged her to him. He pressed her face against his chest while he brushed her hair. "Shanah, please don't cry… Please… I don't want to see you cry…"
His soft voice and tender embrace only incited more tears to cloud her vision.
"Shanah, sweetheart." Quatre pulled himself away from her and tilted her chin up once again. His aquamarine eyes met her cloudy emerald green ones. "I think that you are the most beautiful and wonderful person I've ever met and I love you."
The tears that threatened to fall from Shanah's eyes now fell freely at what Quatre said and Shanah felt like crying and laughing at the same time, but tears got to her first.
Quatre groaned as he kissed and brushed away her tears, not being able to stand seeing her like this. "Shanah… oh God! I'm going to murder that woman!"
At those words, laughter freely left her lips while more tears flow down her face.
Quatre didn't know what to do! 'What's happening to her?!'
"Oh my… I think I'm acting crazy… don't you think so?" Shanah asked through hiccups as she leaned against Quatre's chest. Her arms went around his waist while his went around her shoulders. "I feel like crying and laughing at the same time… and I'm doing it… I probably look very much like an insane woman right now… a true blue crazy woman."
Quatre shook his head, just happy to hear her talk. "No…"
"Yes."
"No." Quatre's voice became harder.
"I said yes."
"Shanah, are you trying to create an argument?" Quatre asked as he looked down at her just as she looked up at him, smiling impishly through her tears.
"No, I'm not. But I'm still saying that I'm crazy and I like it."
"Dammit Shanah. Stop it! I don't understand what you're saying." Quatre's frustration came back once again as his hands tightened its hold on her shoulders.
Shanah took a small step away from Quatre, creating a space wide enough for her arms to move up and around his shoulders once again and then locking them together by his nape. "I love you, too." Shanah whispered. She saw a look of surprise on his face before she tiptoed and kissed him to prove exactly what she said… His lips smiled against her own and she felt the happiness that coursed through her once again.
If she had to fight to keep him… so be it… she'd fight on their turf and beat them all. They'd all wish they'd never met her… Shanah won't hide anymore…
~*~
"Coming!" Ann shouted as she ran to her door and wiped her hands against her jeans. She opened it and stopped dead in her track. "Shanah!"
Shanah smiled at the blonde woman's shock. "Hi… I hope you don't mind the intrusion…"
Ann shook her head as she opened the door wider. "No… come on in…" She closed the door and herded Shanah into the living room. "Can I get you anything to drink?"
Shanah shook her head.
"I had a feeling that this isn't exactly a social call… and with what the tabloids have been raving about you, Quatre, and Lee Anne Star…"
Shanah looked away then glanced back at her friend. "You're right… this isn't exactly a social call… Uhm… I need to ask a favor… actually… quite a few favors…"
Ann's right eyebrow shot up inquiringly. "Let's hear it first."
From her bag, Shanah took out three envelopes. "I can't go out that much because of uhm… the sudden… interest on my behalf."
Ann nodded.
"And I've decided to finish something that needs to get done."
"And how are you going to do that?" Ann inquired as she looked at the envelopes.
"That's why I need your help. If you could deliver these two messages and return with the stuff I've asked for… then contact the list of people from this paper and give a message… and finally, ask Quatre to come with you-"
"Wait. Hold on." Ann leaned forward and took the three envelopes from her. "All I have to do is to be a messenger, call some people and take Quatre somewhere, basically, right?"
Shanah nodded. "Right. Those women will not stop until I fight on their own territory… I'm not about to let Quatre go, so I will fight."
Ann grinned as she heard the sincerity in her voice. "I'm in. What's the plan?"
Shanah smiled as she leaned forward…
~*~
"Thanks for coming with me, Quatre…" Ann cheerfully said as they walked inside the most fashionable restaurant in the colony.
"Anything for a friend, Ann." Quatre answered with a smile. "I wish Shanah could join us too… but, I guess her headache was getting bad…"
Ann hid a grin. "Yes… must be." She looked around and saw some very popular people staring at them… a few people with cameras ready…
'So far so good… Shanah, I hope you know what you're doing…'
A waiter guided them to their table- right in the middle of the room… just as planned… 'I wonder what you're planning, Shanah…' Ann thought, her mind went back to those two first class private fashion companies she had gone to last week- the companies Shanah's letter was addressed to- and then she was given items. She didn't even know what they were! Well… except that one of them were clothes… that's for sure…
Quatre sat in view of the restaurant's entrance then checked the menu… He accidentally glanced up and instantly recoiled. He wanted to be one with the chair as a woman was ushered in his plain view… "Darn…!"
Ann's head shot up and saw Quatre's grimace. "Hey, what's wrong?"
"Ann… do you think it's alright if we switch seats? Please?"
The slight panic in his voice made her nod. To others, it would have seemed that it was Ann who wanted to change seats…
Quatre sighed as he reached for the menu once again menu and looked up. His eyes fell on too many familiar 'uninvited' guests around… and reporters… Quatre muttered a silent prayer then brought the menu up to cover his face.
Ann checked her watched and saw that they were right on time…8pm… So… 'Where's Shanah?'
The door opened and closed, and for a moment, Ann felt the whole restaurant become still and silent- and then frenzy!
"That's Felicia Lance!" Someone cried out from the second floor balcony as light bulbs flashed and cameras snapped.
'Felicia Lance?!' Ann's head jerked up, intent to see the woman who revitalized fashion and suddenly disappeared two years ago… The elusive Felicia Lance… Face amongst the face… When did she come back in town?
She watched as a woman in fashionable emerald silk dress posed gracefully, and stylishly in front of people. Her brown hair in a half sweep with curls that framed her features and her clear face smiled perfectly into the cameras.
A frowned appeared on Ann's face. She knew that face… Ann gasped in surprise as Felicia Lance glanced at her direction and then winked.
"Oh my God!" Ann muttered under her breath in disbelief. She could only stare as Felicia started to walk towards her table.
Quatre glanced up and saw Ann's pale face. "Ann… what's wrong?"
Ann couldn't speak and… Felicia- Shanah stopped right behind Quatre.
"Quatre."
Shanah's voice made Quatre turn around. "Sha…" His voice trailed off as he stared into a woman's smiling face…Familiar face… familiar smile…
"Hi."
Familiar shy smile… beautiful emerald green eyes…
"Shanah?" Quatre gasped out in confusion. The same… but not…
"Hello, sweetheart." Shanah whispered just loud enough for the reporters to hear and then leaned down to kiss Quatre full on the lips, instantly making him forget about his train of thought as very familiar lips kissed his…
Quatre's eyes closed to shut out the confusion around him… to shut out everything around him but the feel of the woman in front of him… Concentrated on her… and he didn't make a mistake as he deepened the kiss, oblivious to the snaps of cameras or irate women crashing out of the restaurant.
Slowly, their deep kiss ended and Quatre stared into those mesmerizing emerald gems once again just as she stared into his.
"Wanna escape?" Shanah asked hesitantly, her eyes squinted as flashes from some cameras nearly blinded her.
Quatre sternly looked at her, but couldn't help the smile on his lips. "You have a lot to tell me." He grabbed her hand just as he stood up. "Let's go." And the two ran out of the restaurant.
The security personnel of the respective place stopped the press while Shanah pointed to the waiting black limousine in front of them.
Quatre shrugged as he pushed her inside then closed the door behind them.
"Drive. Take us anywhere just lose the press." Shanah ordered to the driver from the speaker and the limousine revved forward.
Quatre turned to face the woman in front of him, not really knowing what he should do…
Shanah reached out for his face and gently rubbed the sides of his lips. "You have some lipstick around your mouth."
"I bet those reporters got a very close-up picture of that." Quatre said patiently as he waited for the explanation due to him. For some reason, he's actually calm.
Shanah sighed as she looked down at her hands. "I'm sorry… Please don't get mad… It was the only way."
Quatre reached out to touch her hands… Same hands… Same person… Two names… Just two names…
"What do you mean?" Quatre asked as he squeezed her hand to urge her on.
"Quatre… My stage name is Felicia Lance… I'm… was a model."
"Pretty famous one from the way those reporters rushed at you."
Shanah's shy blush made Quatre feel more comfortable around her… It's just so Shanah-ish to blush like that…
"Uhm… I had my time… And… I guess it's because I was pretty good with avoiding the press that… Their curiosity was tweaked."
Shanah breathed in as she tried to calm the pitter-patter of her heart. "I've been modeling since I was a child… My mom's salary was low, and… I made more money than she did… So, we basically lived off my salary… We were able to save enough… but she died and hospital bills…" Her eyes clouded as she remembered those times…
Quatre could only hold her hand… rub her skin with his thumb…
"I… wanted to get a degree… so I decided to begin modeling again… My salary got me through… I was able to save enough again so, I decided to leave it… I never felt like I belonged anyway… I never liked the way they only look at your face… your figure… They never really cared about the person inside…" A tear fell from her eyes then another…
Quatre nodded…. Now he understood… He never really noticed it, but he's heard some of his sisters' say something about Shanah's clothing…
"I had to do what I did… I know how those women think… I've gone through seven months of repeatedly trying to stop them and barely succeeded because I didn't do it right. Been there… done that… move on… But I also know that they won't stop until they're beaten on their own terms…" Shanah looked up to see if she could make Quatre understand. "Tonight was that term, Quatre… They won't bother you anymore… And… if you… I mean… I won't bother you either if you-"
Quatre's finger on her lips hushed her, his eyes showed clear understanding… "As you said… Felicia Lance was your stage name… Shanah Winter is your real name… and it's Shanah Winter I know."
He took off his coat and folded a tip of it then started to pat Shanah's face dry of her tears, taking off half of her make up. He's just so surprised that her true self hadn't been destroyed…
"You don't have to hide, you know… you'll still be the same Shanah Winter I love."
Shanah timidly smiled while Quatre grinned.
"No… Quatre… there's no more hiding for me, either as Shanah or Felicia."
Quatre sighed and then he started to crack his knuckles dangerously. "I guess that only leaves one thing for me to do…"
Shanah frowned in confusion. "I don't understand what you mean…"
"I have to start practicing my defensive, evasive steps to fend off guys that'll be after you."
At that announcement, Shanah started laughing softly, she scooted nearer to Quatre and placed her head on his shoulder. "Remember, I also need to fend off women who are still after you… so you're not the only one worrying."
Quatre sighed as he wrapped an arm around her shoulder. "Ah well… we're two of a kind, I guess…" Then he leaned down as he tilted Shanah's head up. He kissed her fervently and Shanah returned his kiss with as much ardor… with both her heart and soul. Bodies meshed, ready to face the future together with each other's hand… No hidden secrets to cast a shadow of doubt in their hearts, only happiness that rang with the purity of true love that flowed between the two joined hearts…
[I hope you all enjoyed this. I will now say-- THE END *bow* Everyone Take Care!]
