The Affair
Summary: A Charity Ball holds more than a few surprises for Sebastian.
Chapter 10: Surprise, Surprise
"Ok let me get this straight" Blaine said with a hint of a smile on his face. "So Kathryn shows up at your engagement party, you sleep with her, you sleep with her again at her boyfriends house, who rumor has it is some sort of international arm's dealer. You then end it only to get black mailed by said boyfriends ex girlfriend into breaking them up. You do, Kathryn finds out, you tell her you love her, she tells you to get lost. So now you're what?" he took a breath and shook his head "getting married next week?"
"That's about the long and short of it" Sebastian nodded as he lit a cigarette.
"Jesus I go away for a couple of weeks…"
"Yes Blaine because my problems can be solely contributed to your absence. And where did you do anyway? I thought you were coming to the engagement party."
"If I had known Kathryn was going to show up I would have made a point to be there. Seeing as I thought it would just be you, blondie and the rest of the rich uptight assholes I didn't really see the point in toasting your soon to be demise. Anyway something tells me even if I had showed up you wouldn't have noticed. What with being so busy nailing Kathryn and everything." Blaine lit up a joint, inhaled deeply then said mysteriously "Argentina."
Before Sebastian could ask him to elaborate the bathroom door opened and a tuxedo clad elderly gentleman walked in to relieve himself. The two guys moved over to the other side of the large bathroom. Blaine held up his joint to Sebastian "it's quality stuff."
"Pass I have enough problems right now without being stoned at this party."
"What problems would that be? I mean this Gwen chick is done with the blackmail, you have the evidence, so what are you worried about? Is it Kathryn?"
Sebastian watched the man leave as he told Blaine "she won't return my calls. I showed up at her place a couple of times but she won't talk to me."
"Yeah I wonder why? You only fucked with her royally. What do you expect her to do?"
"I don't know. But it wasn't like I had a lot of choice in the matter. If I didn't do what Gwendolyn wanted she would tell Annette who would then certainly tell Christian."
"Who would then kill you I get it. I'm still a little unclear on why you didn't just tell Kathryn about the blackmail."
Sebastian sighed as he tried to remember why exactly that was. "I couldn't tell her Blaine. This Gwendolyn women would have found out I told her. I'm still trying to figure out how she got the pictures of us in the first place."
Blaine shrugged "I could look into it for you."
"No" he said immediately "I'm done with it. I'm done with Gwen, I'm done with lying to Annette" sighing he continued "and I'm done with Kathryn."
"Just like that?" Blaine asked raising his eyebrows dramatically.
It was the first time Sebastian had said it out loud. But as he stood there in the bathroom with his oldest confidant he realized it was his only choice. Nodding he said "yes just like that. I do…have feelings for Kathryn but it can't work."
"Remind me again why not?"
"Well for starters she hates me"
Blaine smirked "well she's hated you before and got over it. She'll get over this."
"Maybe but then what? I do love Annette and I promised to marry her. What am I suppose to do? Tell her, sorry honey but I have to call the wedding off on account of being in love with the one person you hate in this world. No I won't do it. I went through all this crap so I wouldn't have to do it. I'm marrying Annette end of story."
"All right you don't have to convince me" he said putting his joint out. "Where is she anyway/"
"She had to go out of town overnight with her father. Some family business."
"And she's letting you go to this party all by yourself?" Blaine mocked him.
He gave him a tight smile "Annette isn't like that."
"Whatever you say" Blaine laughed as they walked out of the men's room and back to the party.
Entering the elaborate ballroom of the Ritz filled with all the well coiffed beauties and gentlemen there high crust society had to offer Sebastian mused "besides it's a goddamn charity event for some geriatric disease. What kind of trouble could I get into here?"
As if on cue Kathryn walked in dressed in a slinky black dress on the arm on Christian. As soon as they entered the ball room the cameras went off and people gathered around as if greeting royalty. Sebastian's mouth hung open slack jawed while Blaine patted him on the back obviously amused "you're right Valmont. What possible trouble could you get into? You want that joint now?"
He glared at him before muttering "what is she doing here and what the fuck is she doing with him?"
"Well she did say something earlier about stopping by."
Sebastian slowly turned to him and hissed "you knew she was coming."
"Guilty, however she did fail to mention her companion for the evening."
Watching Kathryn wrapped around that moron's arm Sebastian felt an intense mix of jealousy and rage. "She is unreal" he muttered "what does she think she's doing?"
Blaine grabbed a glass of champagne from the waiter "why do you care? You're getting married remember."
Before he could reply Blaine left trailing after the cute waiter. Sighing Sebastian focused his attention on Kathryn who was making the rounds with Christian. At this point he knew he had to make a decision. He could leave the party without saying a word to Kathryn or he could do something. He opted for the safe thing.
Sebastian was turning to leave when he watched Kathryn lean up and whisper something it Christian's ear. She then walked away and made her way to the bar. Changing his mind suddenly he muttered "fuck it" under his breath and made his way over to her. As he approached her he heard her order a drink in a tone that didn't match the happy expression she was wearing. "You look gorgeous" he whispered in her ear letting his hands discreetly rest on her slender hips.
Kathryn slowly turned around and replied with her usual confident smile "I'm aware. Come to critique my dress or do you have another purpose for bothering me?"
He looked over her low cut dress and smiled "well I like the dress. Your date on the other hand…"
"Oh do you really want to start critiquing dates? Where is Ms. Seventeen magazine anyway? She's not following after you like per usual."
Ignoring the snarky comment he answered "she's out of town."
"How convenient. What hoping to snag some cheap pussy tonight?"
His inner asshole kicked in causing him to reply "possibly. What are you doing later?"
Kathryn's eyes narrowed "and with that I'm gone."
As she brushed past him Sebastian grabbed her arm to stop her. He whispered "dance with me."
She laughed coldly "dream on loser."
"Do it" he smirked "or I might have to make a seen."
"You wouldn't" she muttered. When he gave her a simple shrug she rolled her eyes and sighed "fine but make it quick."
Sebastian led Kathryn to the dance floor all ready filled with guests dancing slowly and gracefully to the orchestra set up in the corner. He pulled her close wrapping his arm tightly around her waist. Soundlessly they said nothing as there bodies pressed together it that oh so familiar way. Leaning in Sebastian whispered "why haven't you returned my calls?"
"You called?" Kathryn asked in mock innocence. "What ever for?"
"Stop it" he said trying for once to be sincere with her. "I needed to talk to you."
"About what exactly? What more do we have left to say. We slept together a few times it was nothing more."
He flinched "and that's all it was to you?"
"Of course and obviously you feel the same way. That was your wedding invitation I go this afternoon wasn't it?" Kathryn asked her eyes locked on to his.
"She sent you one?" Sebastian didn't recall Annette running that by him.
"Yes but since you're here now do me a favor and tell your dear fiancé that I won't be able to make it. I'm sure she'll understand."
"Right. Heading off on another trip? It's a little cold for yachting isn't it" he snickered looking over her shoulder at Christian.
"No we're going back to Europe" she said nonchalantly.
Sebastian looked back at her and asked uneasily "for how long?"
"For good. Were leaving in a few days."
He said nothing. He couldn't even look at her. Pulling her even closer he asked "were you going to say goodbye?"
She eyed him indifferently "probably not."
"So that's how you did it huh? You promised to go away with him so he took you back."
Kathryn averted his eyes "not exactly. Christian wanted a stronger commitment."
"Like what your blood in-
Suddenly Sebastian felt a sharp object digging into his palm. Immediately he knew what it was. He stopped dancing and looked down at Kathryn "Jesus tell me you didn't."
Without a word Kathryn slowly released her hand from him grip revealing the large diamond on her finger. Studying it she explained "after you left he came over and I asked what I had to do for him to forgive me. He said marry me and I said yes."
Sebastian dropped her hand and stepped closer to her "don't do this. He won't make you happy."
"And what staying here and fucking you whenever you're bored will?" When he didn't answer she let her lips graze his ear as she told him a voice barely above a whisper "you made your choice. We both did. Now it's time to move on."
At this point they were so close they could nearly taste one another. "Can you really do that? Just forget?"
"If I have to I can do just about anything. I can even pretend to hate you." Before he could respond she pulled away and smiled at him with that beautiful, confident smile. "Good bye Sebastian."
Sebastian stood helpless as he watched her walk away into the crowd. He never thought he could feel pain like that, watching her walk off to be with another man but sure enough there it was. He did love her he realized that now. But she was right it was too late. He made his choice and now so had she.
He turned around in the opposite direction that Kathryn had gone and made his way to the bar. Blaine was talking up some stock brokers but Sebastian didn't care. "She's marrying the prick" he exclaimed as Blain's client left.
"She's marrying the arm's dealer? That can't be good."
"You think?" he griped sarcastically.
Blaine sighed "don't get all huffy you brought this on yourself. You had your chance and you-
"Blew it. Yes I'm well aware but now…" Sebastian trailed off when he spotted a familiar blond holding court on the other side of the room. Talking up two guys at the other bar was Gwendolyn. "Oh fuck me."
"Well there's a request I never though you would direct at me" Blaine quipped.
"Gwendolyn is here" he told him.
"What? Where?" Sebastian gestured over in her direction. "Hmm I wonder what she's doing here? Didn't she tell you she got back together with Christian?
"She hinted at it."
"Is she aware of his wedding plans?"
Sebastian sighed as he rubbed his temples "one look at the rock on Kathryn's hand and she'll figure it out. Christ I bet the son of a bitch is fucking her behind Kathryn's back."
"What kind of asshole would cheat on his fiancé after just getting engaged?"
Sebastian glared at his friend not in the mood for jokes. "I'm going to go have a talk with Christian."
"Shouldn't you go deal with Gwendolyn first? Make sure she isn't pissed that you didn't quite hold up your end of the deal."
He knew Blaine was right but he also doubted Gwendolyn would do anything especially in the next ten minutes. He wanted to find out from Christian what the deal was exactly with him and his nut job mistress. "Look it will only take a minute. Just do me a favor and make sure she doesn't go near Kathryn. I don't want her opening her mouth about…anything."
"Sure" Blaine said sipping his drink. "Maybe I should go introduce myself to the little lady."
Sebastian only nodded at him as he headed off to talk with Christian. As he approached him Christian looked up and muttered something to one of his goons who quickly scattered off. "Sebastian" he greeted him extending his hand. "It's good to see you. Where's that lovely fiancé of yours?"
"Out of town."
"That's too bad"
"Yeah, I hear congratulations are in order. You and Kathryn are getting married."
Christian lit up "thank you. We're very excited. I'm sorry though we won't be able to make your wedding."
"That's alright. So everything's ok with you and Kathryn now?"
"Yes" he nodded seriously "we worked through our problems and all's forgiven. No need to worry."
"I think there is. You see I care about Kathryn very much and I would hate to see her get hurt so do me a favor would you?"
Christian smiled "of course."
Sebastian dropped his smile "stop screwing around on her with Gwendolyn." He hadn't meant to just come right out with it but there it was. Christian looked at him with a strange expression but Sebastian went on. "I know you're seeing her again but I'm telling you it ends now. I won't allow you to hurt Kathryn with that psycho."
"All right Sebastian I have a question for you. Who the fuck is Gwendolyn?"
"Your ex girlfriend. The one you dumped for Kathryn." Turing around he gestured to the blond who was chatting with Blaine. "The one sitting over there."
Christian looked over at Gwendolyn and shook his head. "She's very attractive but I've never seen that women before in my life and I don't have an ex named Gwendolyn. One named Gretchen and Ginger but no Gwendolyn. "
Sebastian's eyes went wide as the information began to register. "Then who the hell is she?"
- to be continued (Please Review)