Disclaimer: I DO NOT own any of the CI characters!

Tough Love

Chapter 12- Cornered

Summary- The wedding reception doesn't goes as planned. Kathryn gives Annette an ultimatum.

Kathryn's POV

Tonight's the night that Annette and Sebastian reunite to stand in front of New York society and proclaim their love for each other. The reception that I had been waiting on for months was only a few hours away.

I had gotten a little bigger the past few days, but it wasn't highly noticeable. And since then I had been getting rather emotional, and I hated it. I promised myself that I wouldn't cry at all anymore. I didn't think it gets anyone anywhere by acting like a pussy.

Since the day Court was convicted, I hadn't heard from Sebastian. I just assumed that he and blondie had made up. I knew tonight would be the night my mother would set up Annette because she likes to embarrass people publicly. That's just her style. To make it hurt as much as possible.

Court had been sentenced to 5 years for domestic abuse. I had to testify against him in order for him to go to jail, and it felt good to smile in that bastards face as he watched his freedom go right down the gutter. It felt too good.

~Flashback~

"The court calls its' first witness, Ms. Kathryn Merteuil" Kathryn got up from the back of the courtroom and sat in the witness seat.

She took a deep breath as the prosecutor began to ask his questions.

**

"Ms. Merteuil would you please describe the events prior to the alleged attack?" The lawyer asked. (AN: I know all these court words because I always watch Law and Order.. lol)

"I came over to see Court to give him the news of my pregnancy. When I found him, there were several of his friends over and they were watching a football game. I asked Court if I could speak to him alone and he obliged. We went into the sitting room and I gave him the news." She looked over at Court to see him glaring menacingly at her. She directed her attention back to the prosecutor.

"He screamed and then charged at me. He asked me what I had said and when I went to explain, he hit me really hard in the face." She brought a hand up to the side of her face and took a deep breath.

"He sat back down and told me that I was going to get rid of the baby and I disagreed. I told him no and he threw the chair that I was sitting in over. He told me that he had a girlfriend on the side and she was smart enough to not get pregnant." She clenched her fists at the memory.

"He told me that he didn't want me to have his child and that our engagement was over. When he stuck his hand out for the ring I was wearing I dropped it on the floor and stomped on it. I then ran for the door to where his friends were, and he grabbed my shoulder and I punched him in the face. He pushed me into the wall and I screamed for help. As he reached back to hit me again, his friends ran through the door and pulled him off of me. As they took him out of the room, he said that he was going to get me and that it wasn't over." She looked back down at her hands and smiled at Sebastian who was sitting in the back of the room. He smiled back as she was escorted out of the room.

**

They were told to stand up as the jury read the verdict. "In the case of Court Reynolds versus the state of New York, the court finds Mr. Reynolds guilty."

Kathryn gave Court an evil grin as he was dragged out of the courtroom in handcuffs. He gave her a last glance and mouthed 'It's not over'. She turned back to Sebastian and hugged him tightly. At least that problem has been solved.

~End of Flashback~

Kathryn wore a short tan Gucci dress with a wrap. It hid her rounding belly, and lately Kathryn had been getting cold wherever she went. Her hair was down and hid the healing bruise on the side of her lovely face. She stepped in the limo and smiled at Aaliyah who sat across from her. She had worn a short brown dress that accentuated all of her curves. Her hair was up and framed her face nicely.

Aaliyah moved to sit next to Kathryn and gave her her trademark smile. "How's the baby doing Kathryn?"

Kathryn rubbed her growing belly and smiled at her. "It's great now that everything's starting to come to an end."

Aaliyah looked at her sincerely. "After this is all over with, we'll still be the best of friends right? No matter what?"

Kathryn smiled back at her and nodded. "Always, I'll always be there for you Valmont. Always." And for the first time, Kathryn pulled Aaliyah into a tight hug.

When they pulled away from each other, Kathryn looked out the car window and saw the Plaza hotel come into view. "The beginning of the end."

**

Annette's POV

A few days ago, Sebastian had come home and said that he didn't want to fight with me anymore. He apologized and we put everything behind us. He loved me and I loved him, and love is all we needed for our marriage to last. Right?

I put the 'thing' with Edward behind me, and I'm moving on.

~Flashback~

Annette stirred and turned over to feel a hand on her naked back. She didn't open her eyes, she just murmured a "Sebastian."

But the voice that responded wasn't his. Her eyes flew open and met those of Edward Valmont. He turned onto his side and fell back asleep. She immediately slid away from him and jumped off the bed. She pulled the covers over her body and tried to piece together what exactly happened the previous night.

She looked around the room and saw bottles of liquor spilled on the silk sheets that they had been sleeping in. As realization kicked in, Annette started to hyperventilate. She put her hand on her chest and slowly began to relax. As she looked at the clock, she noticed Edward had fallen back to sleep.

Annette grabbed her clothes off the floor and got into them as quickly as possible. She ran down the stairs and put on her shoes. She took her purse from off the couch and jogged out of the front room. As she took in a breath of the fresh air, she thought 'As long as no one ever finds out, it didn't happen. Right?'

~End of Flashback~

Annette's POV

I walked into the ballroom in a dark blue dress that stopped at my knees. My hair was down and compared to most of the other women at the reception, I looked rather plain. But it was my night and I wouldn't let anything ruin it.

It was time that the queen bitch gets taken down and I saw to it that it would happen. Yes I was going to sacrifice my wedding reception for revenge, but in my mind it was worth it.

I was met with various compliments by several of New York's members of high society. I just smiled graciously and thanked them. As I got to my table, I saw Sebastian and Tiffani talking to someone who looked rather familiar. As I got closer, I recognized the man as the Headmaster Hargrove!

As I turned to walk away so they wouldn't see me, I heard the lavish voice of Tiffani calling me back. "Annette dear, your father's here to see you. Let me just announce to everyone about the return of the infamous Headmaster Hargrove."

I ran and grabbed her hand as she turned the microphone on at the front of the ballroom. I covered it with my other hand. "You know good and well that isn't my father. Why are you doing this Tiffani?"

She gave me an evil grin. "Because I want to. Besides, every one should know about where you come from because you're going to be quite famous after you marry my step son and I don't want any scandal."

She smiled at the people who were watching us and pried my hand off the microphone. I stepped back and she gave me a sly smile and spoke into the microphone.

Everything seemed like it was in slow mode as I watched my life crumble around me. I looked at Sebastian who was looking at his stepmother and talking with Hargrove. He looked back at me and gave me a loving smile. Soon, that smile would vanish and a look of betrayal would replace it.

The people who told me what a nice family I had would soon be looking at me like I was a stranger. And worse, the jealous looks I always got from Kathryn and Aaliyah would give way for gloating grins.

Yes, now I finally have something in common with the two of them: I will soon be fucked over by the great Tiffani Merteuil.

I looked back to see Tiffani blabbing about how happy she was for Sebastian and I. "I am proud to introduce Annette Hargrove's mysterious father, Rodger Hargrove." She pointed to him and he gave her a confused look.

She called him over where she was standing and he shook his head. He grabbed the microphone and looked at me. "I have no idea who this Annette girl is. My daughter drown a while ago, and this young woman is not my daughter."

The crowd gasped in shock and I closed my eyes. I opened them a few minutes to meet Sebastian's betrayed glare. So much for my revenge on Tiffani. I never though in my life, that she would do this to me, and once again I thought wrong.

**

"I'm done with it Annette. Everything I knew about you was a lie. The reason I stayed with you was because I thought I knew everything about you. And for all I knew, you were truthful. I guess I made the wrong decision." Annette grabbed his arm and he looked back at her with a hurt face.

Annette spoke quietly. "I'm sorry Sebastian. Please forgive me. I forgave you when you cheated."

"No. How do I know you're not lying now?" When she didn't answer, he shook his head sadly and walked to the door. "Goodbye Annette."

Everyone had already left after the announcement Hargrove had made about Annette. Sebastian left the room and Annette had chased after him.

Kathryn's POV

I had over heard the argument between Annette and Sebastian and smiled. I went into the next room and my cell phone rang. I sat down and answered it. A voice on the other end replied.

"I got them." I smiled to myself. Everything's coming together.

"Good. I want you to burn them. All of them. Make sure she knows that you were never there. Okay?" I asked looking down at my nails. I pulled a nail file out of my purse and cradled the phone against my ear with my shoulder. I started to file a nail down as I listened to the person on the other end of the phone.

"Got it. Goodbye Kathryn." I turned the phone off and continued with my nails. After I finished, I got up and left the room I was sitting in. When I got in the limo, Aaliyah looked back at me.

"Did they get the photos?" I smiled and nodded my head.

"Phase one is over. Now to the fiesta resistance." She grinned and looked out the window. (I'm not sure if I wrote it right "fiesta resistance". I just liked the phrase so much I wanted to include it.)

I sighed and rubbed my tummy. It's almost over.

**

Annette's POV

Sebastian had just walked out on me and I sat down on a chair to think. The door opened and in walked Tiffani Merteuil with a wicked smile. I rolled my eyes and sighed.

"Have you come to gloat, because I have no time to listen." She just sat down and said simply.

"I want you to leave New York. I know all about Sara Leoni." I looked at her confused and she laughed.

"You know what I'm talking about. That girl you hired to seduce Edward. You wanted to wage war, and now you've got it."

I just shook my head in realization and just laughed sullenly. Job well done Kathryn. She gave me a glare and asked. "What's so funny?"

"I don't think you'd understand even if I told you. I've got to go Tiffani, and don't count on me leaving anytime soon." She steamed as I walked to the door. "You may have won the battle Mrs. Merteuil, but you haven't won the war."

~The Next Day~

Sebastian walked into the Valmont residence to see Tiffani sitting in a chair in the front room. She smiled at him and gestured for him to sit.

"Sebastian, I need to tell you something."

"If this is about Annette, I've heard enough. I just came to see my father." He started to get impatient.

She just shook her head and continued. "Actually, this is about Kathryn. You may not like what you hear, but it's the truth."

"What is it Tiffani?" He braced himself for the worst.

"Well."

** Annette's POV**

I rushed over to Kathryn's the next day to confront her about what she had done. I was going to send in the pictures to the NY Times, but I decided to give her the benefit of the doubt. I walked up to the receptionist in the hall and she told me that Kathryn had been gone all morning.

I went home to see all of Sebastian's things gone. I played the voice mail to hear Sebastian's voice: "Annette, I can't marry you. I'm in love with someone else. I want you out of the apartment in a week and I never want to hear from you ever again."

I held back the tears and decided to finish a book that I had left in the study. As I walked into the study, I saw Kathryn seated behind the desk. Her legs were crossed and she was looking rather big. She wore a black pants suit and her stomach looked rather large.

As I walked farther into the room, the door closed behind me and I turned to see Aaliyah leaning against it. She told me to take a seat and I agreed. Aaliyah gave me a mock grin and I huffed.

"I don't have time for this, so let me cut to the chase. I know that you're pregnant with Sebastian's kid. And believe me, it's over for you in New York, so you should start packing." They just laughed at me, which got me even more worked up.

"I have something you might want to see Annette, and maybe this will change the way you feel." Aaliyah put a tape into the tape player at the other side of the room. As the picture came on, my mouth dropped wide open.

There on the TV, was Edward and I having sex with some other woman. I quickly ran over to it and pressed stop. I looked over to Kathryn to see a wicked grin on her face. The apple never rots far from the tree. (Translation: like mother like daughter. If you haven't seen 'Matilda' you probably wouldn't know.)

"This position feels awful familiar, doesn't it Aaliyah?" Kathryn looked at Aaliyah and she nodded her head.

"It sure does, except we're not on the receiving end. How does it feel Annette?"

"I'll get you two. Remember I have the pictures. And I know you don't.." Kathryn laughed again and Aaliyah joined in.

"I don't think so Annette. It seems that instead of keeping your eye on me, you've been distracted with this battle between you and my dear mother. And now you're cornered. Annette, what should we do?" I jumped up and walked over to the safe then dialed the combination.

It opened and I pulled everything out onto the table and the pictures were nowhere to be found. I just looked at her and sat back down, defeated.

"What do you want Kathryn?" She looked over at Aaliyah and then back at me.

"I want you to end this little fight with my mother. You're going to join up with us." I looked at her in disbelief.

"How do you know I won't betray you?"

"Because unlike you, I made copies. Anyways, I have some things I need you to find on my mother. I have a plane ticket for you to go to London in a few days." I decided to put up a fight.

"And what if I disagree?" Aaliyah spoke up.

"Then we'll find you and destroy your reputation wherever you're living. How's that?" She smirked as I gave in.

"Fine. I'll help you destroy Tiffani Merteuil." I stood up and shook their hands and sat back down. Curious about what they had planned I asked anxiously. "What exactly did you have in mind?"

To Be Continued

Please Review!

AN: The next two chapters are rather sad, and will be coming probably tomorrow. I'm going to finish the rest of the story by the end of the week. Let me know what you think.