Summary: As Sebastian's wedding approaches complications arise.
Chapter 12: Picture's Worth A Thousand Words
The following morning or rather late afternoon Sebastian awoke with a history making hangover. His massive headache, nausea and strong need to piss were all thanks to his little celebration with Blaine the previous night.
Stumbling into his bathroom Sebastian's mind wandered back to the following day. He had awoken angry and ready for battle with Kathryn but that turned out to be a mistake. A big fucking mistake. Now Kathryn more or less despised him and he couldn't really blame her. However it wasn't something that he was necessarily thrilled about. It was what brought on the trip to Blaine's and the subsequent coke and voka party he threw for himself when he got home.
After vomiting several times then for some reason brushing his teeth Sebastian fell back into bed. He knew it was late and that he should get up and talk with Annette about the wedding but he couldn't. It wasn't like he was filled with some massive fear about his upcoming nuptials. Marriage or the possibility of being married to Annette for the rest of his life wasn't the problem. He did love her, maybe not the same way he did a few months ago but it was still there. He knew if he had to he could make himself happy with Annette.
As per usual his problems lay with Kathryn. A good part of his brain was telling him to forget about her, let it go. He has already managed to fuck up that relationship so there wasn't a whole lot of sense in trying to fix it when he was suppose to get married the day after tomorrow to another girl. Sebastian's fixation with Kathryn was the primary reason he was staying in bed and avoiding Annette. If she saw him she might figure it out. She might realize that she wasn't the girl he wanted to spend the rest of his life with. He was settling.
Closing his eyes he resigned himself to falling back to sleep when he heard Annette's soft voice calling out to him from a few feet away. "Sebastian. Sebastian are you ok?"
Too tired to lift his head up he mumbled "it depends how you define ok."
Annette laughed as she sat down on the bed and rubbed his back. "I take it you had fun last night with Blaine?"
He groaned "I don't think fun is the right word."
"Well it's after two are you going to get up at all today?"
Turing around slowly he asked "is it absolutely necessary?"
Gently caressing his face she murmured "well yes the rehearsal is tonight. I just came by now to remind you to be ready by six. We're going to have to leave early for your aunts."
"All right"
"Oh" she exclaimed happily "my dress got delivered this morning. I can't wait for you to see it but remember you can't see me until we're standing in front of the alter."
"Un huh" he said wondering if she would mind terribly if he fell back asleep.
"And I was thinking we should all go to Adrienne's for dinner after rehearsal."
"Whatever"
Although he didn't think Annette had caught on to his distracted mood she suddenly stood up and yelled "Sebastian what's your problem."
"Can you stop yelling please? My head feels like it's going to explode that's my problem."
In a much softer voice she shook her head "no that's not it. Something had been wrong with you for a while now. You never want to discuss the wedding or us. It's like your head is some place else all the time."
Although he knew it was true he muttered "no it's not. I'm here I just can't pretend to be enthralled about what center piece we should use for the reception or what kind of flowers for the ceremony."
Arms crossed firmly she looked him in the eye and ordered "don't lie to me Sebastian. Do you still want to marry me?"
Ignoring his throbbing head Sebastian sat up and told her adamantly "of course I do."
Sitting back down on the bed Annette told him "look I know this is hard for you. I know how hard it's been on you to change some of yourhabits. I also know we are young and this is a big commitment we are about to make so I'm offering you an out. If you don't want to marry me right now or ever I need you to tell me now. I love you Sebastian but I refuse to marry someone who isn't as committed to this as I am."
Looking into her determined face he could tell she was trying to be tough but he could see the fear behind her eyes. If he really had any balls he would tell her the truth, that he really didn't want to marry her. However he couldn't do it because as strong as she was trying to be Sebastian knew it would kill Annette if he told her the truth.
Leaning forward he took her hands in his and said with as much sincerity as he could muster "we are getting married Annette. I love you and nothing in the world can change that."
As he said it he lifted her hands and kissed them while Annette gave him a strange faint smile. "I love you too Sebastian."
"Good now what do you say we go back to bed?" he asked as he pulled her back into bed. Wrapping his arms around his soon to be wife Sebastian's smile faded. He would marry Annette but his mind would remain on someone else.
* * * * * *
Later that night Sebastian wasn't the only one whose mind was on second thoughts. Relaxing in a large tub filled with bubbles Kathryn considered her own upcoming marriage. She was still trying to figure out why she had agreed to the marriage in the first place. Sighing she let her head roll back as she muttered to herself "god damn Sebastian."
It really was all his fault. Kathryn never really had any intention of marrying Christian but after that night when Sebastian professed his love for her she had to do something. She was so angry at him for just coming right out and telling her that. So what if it was true and she might share the same feelings, it didn't change anything. Not when he was still all gun ho on marrying the virgin. What did he expect her to do? Tell him 'I love you' then watch all pathetic like as he married someone else? Well there was no way that was going to happen. Getting back together with Christian seemed to be the only way to convince Sebastian and herself for that matter that their so called relationship was a dead issue.
Although she was still plenty furious about him keeping the blackmail from her and accusing her of being behind it she was pretty much over it now. In truth the only reason she issued the threat in the first place was to keep him away from her. If Sebastian hung around her, begging forgiveness she would start to regret her decision and Kathryn didn't do regrets.
However it was too late. Sitting in the tub looking at the carefully engraved wedding invitation she was already starting to regret her decision to stay away from him. Kathryn and Christian weren't actually leaving for another week but she had told him she didn't want to attend the wedding. He for once didn't force the issue and agreed they wouldn't go.
Letting her hand trace over Annette and Sebastian's names she imagined what the wedding would be like. It was being held at the church on Sebastian's aunt's estate. She imagined the church would be full but that most of the people would probably be on the groom's side since Edward would most likely invite half of New York. He would stand up at the alter with his son trying to be pleasant but all the while inquiring if Sebastian really wanted to do this. Sebastian of course would ignore him and be the picture of calm and collected in his tuxedo. He would be cool and as always completely confident in the decision he had made, or maybe his confidence could be attributed to that joint he smoked with Blaine before going into church.
After a gaggle of mousy bridesmaids in horrendously awful dresses passed Annette would make her entrance. She would be dressed in some long white taffeta and lace creation that she probably thought made her look like a princess but in actuality just made her look like another boring magazine bride minus the perfectly coiffed hair and makeup. Sebastian would smile at her with utter love and devotion as he took her hand in his. The priest would speak, then they would say there vows. Annette's would be a bunch of lame ass crap about loving Sebastian even when they were old and gray. Sebastian's would be less corny with most likely a hint of poetry that would make all the girl swoon and just for an instant make Mr. Hardgrove forget how much he hated his future son in law.
Then Kathryn imagined she would enter the picture. She would be dressed in black because in some ways she was in mourning. Standing in the back of the church no one would see her as she watched the ceremony with gut wrenching nausea. When the priest asked Sebastian if he would take Annette till death due us part he would look up and spot her in the back. Smiling sadly at her he would wait a beat before answering. When he said "I do" Kathryn would smile to herself and leave. However as she left she would pull the fire alarm and set off the sprinkler systems drowning the so called perfect ceremony.
Kathryn smiled at the thought letting the wedding invitation sink slowly into the water. She was awakened from her day dream when Christian's voice called out to her from the bedroom. "Kathryn! We need to talk now!"
It wasn't the usual light tone he had with her. It was the way he spoke to one of his 'associates' when things didn't go his way. Sighing she called back "I'll be out in a second."
Getting out she wrapped a robe around herself while watching the wedding invitation sink to the bottom of the tub. Turing around Kathryn left the bathroom and found Christian pacing her bedroom. He didn't look up at her as she entered nor did he answer when she asked "what's wrong?"
Instead he started muttering but it was directed more at himself than at her. "I can't believe I didn't see it" he grumbled "I was so fucking dense. Of course that's why he told me."
Christian was starting to freak her out a little. "Christian? What is it?" she reached out to touch his arm but he threw it off right away.
"Don't touch me!" he barked at her his eyes completely cold.
"What the fuck is your problem?"
With his eyes locked firmly onto hers he pulled out an envelop from his jacket and threw it on the bed in disdain. "That's my problem" he hissed.
Kathryn gave him one last curious stare before turning around and examining the envelop. As she opened it and the first photograph came into view her breath immediately caught and her pulse quickened. The pictures in question were the ones she imagined the infamous Gwendolyn took. Kathryn and Sebastian were fucking each others brains out in picture after picture. She looked through them all till the images began to blur. Finally Christian's voice broke though as her snickered "there's a video tape too if you'd like to see it." Slowly Kathryn turned around to face him. Giving her a cold smile he remarked "but then again what am I thinking? You don't need to see it you were there."
The comment made her flinch. "Christian-"
"No!" He interrupted her "you're not going to charm your way out of this Kat. You told me that guy you fucked was a nobody, that it was a one time thing. You fucked Sebastian! In my house of all places, when I was just down the hall. How could you do that?"
"Christian it's complicated. I mean it happened once and I didn't plan on it happening again it just did. I never meant to-"
Shaking his head he didn't seem to be listening to her "he came to me and told me all that stuff about you. That little bastard was trying to break us up. All the while he's engaged to some other girl. Oh he's dead, he's fucking dead!"
As Christian started for the door Kathryn grabbed his arm and yelled "No! Christian don't please!"
"What you want to save your boyfriend? How honorable of you Kathryn. Too bad you didn't use any of that loyalty in our relationship" he scoffed.
Kathryn's inner bitch kicked in and she screamed back "I am loyal to you! Do you have any idea how many time I could have left you for him? You have no idea about our past or what he means to me but I choose you."
"Only because he's marrying another girl!"
Shaking her head she remarked "he would of left her, he wanted to but I knew-"
"You knew I would kill him" he finished for her. "Well guess what you're right."
"No don't you dare touch him" she yelled. "Look what do I have to do for you to forget about these?" She asked holding up the pictures. "I already agreed to marry you what more do you want?"
Almost instantly he answered "I want you to never see him or speak to him again."
The request surprised Kathryn as she recoiled from him. "What? You can't ask me to do that."
"Why not? He's getting married in a few days anyway it's not like you could ever be together anyway unless you fancy yourself being his whore for the rest of your life. I'm trying to spare you the pain of seeing him sweetheart."
"You're trying to control me Christian and I won't let you. You can't tell me who I can or cannot see understand? And if you so much as touch Sebastian I'll hurt you in ways you've never dreamed."
Christian's eyebrows shot up in surprise and he seemed to consider her. "If I didn't know better I would say you were in love with him." When Kathryn merely rolled her eyes he sighed he remarked "wow and here I was starting to think you weren't capable. I don't know if you ever really loved me but I love you and I still want to marry you. So what will it be?"
"If I don't agree will you hurt him?" Kathryn knew she was taking a risk with the question. With the mood he was in anything was liable to set Christian off.
He was silent for a moment before answering softly and calmly "no."
Kathryn nodded as she stared down at the diamond ring on her finger. It would probably be easy to just go off and marry Christian, pretend to be happy. However she realized she rather be truly happy and she never would be with Christian. Slowly she took off her ring and handed it to him. "I'm sorry Christian but I just can't."
"All right if that's how you want it" he murmured. "I just want you to be happy Kathryn."
"Then let me go and don't hurt Sebastian."
Christian nodded "I promise you I won't touch him. Good bye Kate."
* * * * * *
Sitting alone in an uptown bar later that night Kathryn stared down at her finger which was now empty. Taking a sip of her martini she told herself for the tenth time that night that she did the right thing. It was better to be alone and happy then with Christian and miserable. Hopefully.
She finished off her drink when a familiar voice called out "I thought you would be here."
"Hey Blaine" she sighed not bothering to turn around.
"Drowning your sorrows Kathryn?"
She smiled at him as he took a seat across from her. "Something like that."
Smiling at the empty martini glasses in front of her he asked "what brought this on?"
"I ended things with Christian" Kathryn explained showing him her empty ring finger.
"Oh?"
"Yes apparently someone sent him the pictures of me and Sebastian in bed. I'll give you three guess who."
"I'm guessing the ever popular Gwen. My she really has it out for the two of you doesn't she? Well I think I might of figured out why?"
Signaling the waiter for another drink she asked "what do you got?"
Reaching into his back pocket Blaine handed over a black and white photograph. Kathryn sighed more concerned about her drink then what Blaine was showing her. However that changed when she caught sight of the photo. Studying it closer she mutter "what the fuck?"
* * * * * *
At around the same time Kathryn was getting some answers Christian was boarding his yacht. He was feeling a mixture of sadness and remorse but at the moment something else which was much more powerful. Anger.
Stepping onto the top deck he was greeted by his right hand man Danny and another man who worked for him named Jasper. Jasper was a quiet but intelligent man who wore all black and spoke in a think German accent. Although be was a great deal smarter than Christian's other men it wasn't what made him so valuable. It was the fact that when he aimed he never missed.
Christian extended his hand as the men greeted each other "it's good to see you again Jasper. I'm sorry it's under these circumstances."
"Yes over the phone you said it was a matter of great urgency."
He nodded "yes I've been experiencing a few problems of a personal nature and I need them dealt with. I have a feeling you're just the man to take care of them"
"Oh course. Who's the target?"
Christian gestured to Danny who handed Jasper a photograph of the target. He then opened up a briefcase filled with money. "You'll get half now and half when it's finished. I need this done as quickly as possible. I would do it myself but I promised my fiancé I wouldn't touch him."
"I understand."
"Good" turning around and looking out on the dark water Christian hissed "I want Sebastian Valmont dead before he takes what's mine."
- to be continued (Please Review)