Summary: A shell shocked Annette refuses to be Kathryn's victim as the party continues on after hours.
Authors Note: Just wanted to point out something brought up in a review. Kathryn is very evil in this but I promise no children will be raped or hurt during this story. In fact no children will even be in this story. Believe it or not even I have limits (albeit very few)
Chapter 5: Praise You
* Annette *
Kathryn Merteuil, I couldn't believe it. Even as I stood there stiff as a statue as she embraced me in a room full of strangers it still didn't seem real. For a moment what she said about being my boss didn't even register with me. All I kept thinking was she CAN'T be here after all these years. Not now.
However as I quickly came back to reality and realized I wasn't in the middle of some nightmare, I broke free from her and demanded "what the hell are you doing here Kathryn?"
Kathryn was the picture of cool and grace as she explained "the Liuetrem corporation is my company. We are the one's who are sponsoring you and this party-"
"What game are you playing" I interrupted her my voice filled with malice. "You're Kathryn Merteuil not Kathryn Tourvelle and you most certainly don't own anything!"
Kathryn did nothing but stare at me blankly as the handsome blond man beside her who spoke with a British accent, addressed me "if I may, Liuetrem is indeed Ms. Tourvelles. I'm one of Kathryn's assistants and believe I talked with your partner...Owen on the phone concerning the grant for your little project. Do you need some sort of proof about the matter?"
Keeping my eyes on Kathryn I said "no I don't doubt that she does own the company. However I know you Kathryn and in four years you haven't changed at all have you? You purposely funded my organization and I want to know why now!"
The room at this point had grown very quiet as everyone waited for Kathryn to answer. Just as she started to open her mouth however my father suddenly appeared. "Kathryn this is quite the surprise. I see you've done quite well for yourself in the past few years."
Turning to my father with a smile that could melt ice she replied "yes I have. In fact while I've been away for these past years a lot about my life has changed. You could say I've become a completely different person. I've learned I can't get ahead by hurting others and one of the reasons I came back to New York was to make amends."
"Amends?" I repeated skeptically.
"Yes" Kathryn said as sweet as could be. "I hurt a lot of people but none worse than you Annette. What I took from you...well I know there's no way to replace it but I would like to try. That's why when I heard about the trouble your organization was having getting off the ground I decided to offer my assistance. I was planning on doing it all anonymously of course but then you and your partner kept insisting that I come tonight."
Looking towards the ground with this bashful smile she continued "I know it might sound selfish, but I did really want to come tonight to see you. You see Annette you are the reason my life has turned around so much. After a lot of soul searching I realized I did all those things to you because I was jealous of you. Anyway I just wanted to come here tonight and say how much I admire you and hope maybe some day you can forgive me."
I swear to god I thought the whole room was going to burst into applause after that little performance. I mean you should have seen everyone smiling in admiration for Kathryn at what she had become. Even my father was smiling and shaking his head "my Kathryn you really have grown. I am very proud of you and I'm sure Annette feels the same way, right sweetheart?"
With a tight smile I replied "sure."
"Do you think you can forgive me Annette for what I've put you through and accept my grant?"
I really was in the middle of some nightmare. While everyone around me seemed to be buying the crap that came from her mouth I apparently was the only one left with my sanity. Had they all forgotten about the terrible things she had done to them? How she used and manipulated everyone around her? Sadly I was the only one who saw through her sweet smile to the snake that lay underneath. She was up to something all right and I was going to be damned if I let her get away with it.
Still instead of telling her off like I wanted to instead I played her game and gave her a fake smile. "Of course I can Kathryn and I would really like to talk about this with you some more." Taking her by the arm gingerly I led her away from the party into one of the back rooms. Her two 'dates' for the evening immediately followed but I turned to them and said "in private." Kathryn gave them a small nod and they relented.
As soon as we were safely inside one of the offices, with the door closed behind us I ripped into her "all right now tell me what you are really after?"
"Excuse me?" Kathryn said with wide eyed innocence. "Annette I told you why I was here."
"Yeah and I didn't buy a word of it. You're forgetting Kathryn, Sebastian told me all about you. I know all your tricks and this is just another one of them. I will NOT let you hurt me, my family, or my work."
Taking a step towards me she smiled but not the angelic smile of before. This time it was more of a smirk but she still spoke in that good girl tone of hers as she told me "Annette I assure you I am not up to anything. I really want to make amends with you, that's why I gave you the money and got involved with GATT. However if you don't want the grant just say so and I'll take my money back. All though if I do that I'll also have to take back the building and Liuetrem now owns a part of your organization since you signed those papers, it's a business matter you understand. I'm sorry it has to be this way."
I knew when I was being threatened and even though she was saying it all with mock sympathy that's exactly what the witch was doing. Her words roughly translated to 'you're screwed and I own you now'. With my hands on my hips I showed no fear as I told her "of course I'll take the money, GATT needs it."
"Good, I think you are making the right decision Annette."
"Just so we're clear Kathryn I don't buy any of this turning over a new leaf crap. I don't believe it and it's only a matter of time before everyone else sees through you too."
Her smug smile dropped and we glared at one another for a long moment before Owen suddenly came through the door. "Oh sorry I didn't mean to intrude on anything" he said apologetically.
"You're not" I told him still glaring at Kathryn."Owen Crane meet Kathryn Merteuil, oh wait I'm sorry Kathryn Tourvelle" I laughed sarcastically.
Giving him her seductive smile she stuck out her hand and said "nice to meet you Owen. Are you Annette's husband?"
"No I'm her partner in GATT" he said coldly. I notice Kathryn try to hold on to his hand a minute longer than necessary but Owen quickly pulled away and I smiled. At least there was one man immune to her charms.
It took me a second to realize she mentioned my husband. Staring at her suspiciously I demanded "how did you know I was married Kathryn?"
She smiled "your ring."
"Oh" I muttered fingering my gold wedding band.
"I should be getting back to the party" she told us. "I'll talk to you two later. Maybe tomorrow Owen we can go over the cost projectors."
"Uh, no thanks I think I can handle them on my own. I'll just call up one of your assistants if I have any questions."
Her smile once again fell as she said with a chill in her voice "fine, see you later."
When she finally left I let out a loud groan "I cannot believe this is happening!"
"Who is that?"
"Someone from another lifetime ago who caused a lot of trouble in my life" I sighed. "I'm telling you Owen that girl is pure evil."
He nodded in disdain "yeah she seems like she would like to cause trouble."
I smiled at him "you know she was completely flirting with you and any other guy would have jumped at a chance to spend time with her."
"Well I'm not just some guy besides I prefer blondes" he told me touching a strand of my blond hair.
I blushed and for a minute forgot all about Kathryn but only a second later it all came rushing back to me. "God what are we going to do? We have to figure a way to get her out of here."
"That might be a lot easier said than done."
"What do you mean?"
"Well when we signed those papers for the grant be basically signed her over more than half the company. As much as I hate to say it, Kathryn officially owns GATT."
* Kathryn *
Oh the look on her face was fucking priceless. It was everything I imagined and more. Poor Annette and the rest of the idiots surrounding me never saw it coming. And to think, this was only the beginning.
Walking around the party with one around locked around Drake and the other Thomas I smiled graciously as everyone kissed my ass and praised me. They were all just so impressed by how I had managed to change my life around. It was all bullshit of course. The thing that really impressed them was how I was able to acquire more money and power than any of them would see in this lifetime.
I must have talked with half of Manhattan before zeroing in on my real pray for that night, my dear mother. Taking up one of Donald Trumps associates she worse a low cut Armani gown that accentuated her newly surgically enhanced breasts. Glaring at her in disgust I whispered in Thomas's ear "there she is."
"Hm, she has your eyes" Drake commented as I glared at him in return. "What, she does" he laughed.
"I'm going to go get reacquainted. You boys have fun."
Leaving them I came up behind her and said in the sweetest little girl voice possible "mother?"
Turning around she stared at me in surprise before grinning broadly "Kathryn! There you are darling I've been wanting to talk to you all night."
I'll bet you were mother. Now that everyone loves me once again and I have lots of money you're just dying to ride along on my coat tails. Forget that you threw me out of my home and robbed me of my trust fund. As much as I wanted to go off on her for what she'd done to me I forced a smile and said "I've been eager to talk to you too mother. The truth is I would really like it if we could have a fresh start. I know I let you down and disappointed you in the past but I would like it if we could maybe put that aside and be a family again."
Like I expected the bitch lit up at this idea "oh Kathryn I would love that!" She pulled me into a hug and I rolled my eyes over her shoulder. "Oh honey I've missed you so much over these past years but I was always afraid to give you a call. But now here you are and look how successful you've become!"
"Are you proud of me mother?"
"Of course I am! And now that you're back home we can spend lots of time together."
I nodded and smiled "I would like that. Also I know that you've been having some, um, financial difficulties ever since you ended things with Edward." Actually the truth was Edward left HER shortly after she threw me out and he took most of his money with him. My mother of course still had money my father had left to her but thanks to some creative banking that a few associates of mine did, she barely had enough to afford her oh so lavish lifestyle.
Tiffani's smile faded as I said this but she quickly followed it up with a pained expression "yes Edward was very bitter about our divorce and refused to give me anything, can you believe it?"
"Well that's men for you" I sighed. "However I would like to help you if you'd let me."
Her eyes went wide and I could practically see dollar signs staring back at me. With a casual smile she replied "oh course dear if it would make you feel better."
"It really would" I nodded. Hugging her suddenly I practically squealed "oh mother I've missed you so much! Is there anything I could do to make up for the horrible way I've treated you just let me know."
"Well" she said pulling away from me "you could perhaps give me a small loan. You know to pay for bills and this lovely mink I saw at Channel the other day."
"Of course mother" I said as I looked over her shoulder and saw we had an audience. Ben Hardgrove, Annette's father was watching us with a kind smile. Deciding to use him as an excuse away from my mother I told her "how about I stop by the house in a few days and drop a check off?"
"That would be splendid" she gushed.
"I'll talk with you later mother but right now I see someone I must say hello to."
I left her there to dream about all the purchases she could make with my money while I approached Ben. "Hello again Mr. Hardgrove."
"Kathryn I was just watching you and your mother. It's so nice to see the two of you patch things up and make amends. I know she missed you very much after you left."
"Not half as much as I missed her" I replied with a fake smile. "We're starting to come together as a family once again which I'm very grateful for but I just wish..."
Putting a comforting hand on my arm he said "what is it dear?"
"Oh I just wish Annette could forgive me for what I've done to her. I mean I can totally understand why she wouldn't be able to look past what I've done but I guess I was just hoping she'd show a little kindness towards me. All I wanted to do was make amends."
"Well my daughter can be stubborn sometimes but give her time. She'll come around eventually when she realizes you really aren't out to get her."
I looked up at him gratefully and then noticed Annette standing on the other side of the room glaring at us. I smirked at her then turned back to her father "Mr. Hardgrove maybe you could help me figure out what to say to her so we could maybe, I don't know connect somehow."
"I would love to help you Kathryn."
"Great" I said with a beaming smile "how about we get a drink and you can give me some insight into Annette."
Sometimes I was so good I even fooled myself.
* Annette *
It was finally over. After hours of smiling and being polite during a night when I was suppose to be celebrating my victory I was feeling anything but victorious. Instead of going home to my husband I staid there at the office. With most all the lights turned off and the offices a mess I stood drinking a glass of champagne while staring out the window in thought. This was the night everything was suppose to come together but somehow it all fell apart.
I still couldn't believe that after all these years Kathryn had come back. As paranoid as it sounded I knew she was out to get me. I had seen that look of malice in her eyes when we were alone. It was the same look that appeared when she held a fire poker to my throat.
Although I saw through her act to my great astonishment no one else did. Just because she now had power and money everyone thought she was changed. It was like that all just conveniently forgot all the terrible things she had done to them because now she was part of the elite. Normally I would just try to steer clear of Kathryn but she had made that nearly impossible by taking over what had been my dream for the past three years.
I poured myself another glass of champagne and guzzled it down quickly when a voice called out behind me "working late?"
"Owen" I called out as my partner appeared from the doorway of his office. "I was just going to...clean up. What are you doing here?"
He sighed "going over some budget information. I was trying to see if there was possibly a way to get your friend Kathryn off our backs but so far it doesn't look like it. She's really screwing us over."
"Tell me about it" I groaned as I walked past him into his office. "I really have no idea how I'm going to be able to work if she's here. Even having her in the city is distracting. Just knowing she getting ready to pounce any minute."
Owen studied me with concern in his eyes as I took a seat on his couch. "Annette" he asked softly "what exactly happened between the two of you? What did she do?"
Shaking my head sadly I remarked "what didn't she do might be a better question. She's responsible for getting the first boy I ever loved killed and she turned my virginity into a spectators sport among other things. Oh and she once tried to kill me with a fire poker is that enough of a reason to hate her?"
"Jesus" he muttered as he sat down beside me. "You weren't kidding when you said she was dangerous."
"You have no idea what she's capable of Owen. Everyone thinks she's changed but I can tell it's all a lie. She's out to destroy me, I just know it." Tears began to form in my eyes as I told him "and now she owns part of GATT and she'll probably destroy that too..."
Putting a comforting arm around me Owen pulled me to his chest and let me cry. "It's ok Annette I promise you I won't let her do anything to this company or to you."
Pulling away I looked up into his kind eyes and smiled "you really mean that don't you."
"Of course."
Touching his face gently I leaned up and gave him a kiss. It went from light to very intense and passionate. Before I knew it I fell back onto the couch and pulled him on top of me. Part of me was aware of what I was doing and the other part was screaming that I couldn't cheat of Richard like this.
However when I felt his warm hand against my bare flesh and he started to unzip my dress I didn't protest. In fact I helped him take off his clothes and then we made love right there in the office. I had to admit it was amazing, Owen make me cum twice before he came himself. When he did it was intense and I realized in that moment as we looked into each others eyes that I was in love with him. Maybe I always had been but I only realized it in that moment.
Afterwards we laid in each others arms for a long time. As he caressed my hair and kissed my neck I whispered "I love you Owen."
He pulled back from me obviously surprised. "You-you love me?" When I nodded a large smile broke out across his face "Annette I love you too. I always have but I never said anything because of..."
When he trailed off I finished for him "because of Richard."
"Yeah"
As soon as my husbands name was said I quickly sat up feeling slightly ashamed of myself. Yes I loved Owen but I couldn't just walk away from my marriage. I did love my husband even if I may no longer be in love with him and I did now wish to hurt him. Still as I began to get dressed and noticed Owen watching me I realized I was hurting him. "Owen I do love you but I'm married and I'm not sure if I can leave Richard yet."
Looking away obviously in pain he nodded "yeah I understand, you have to go back to him."
"Not forever" I assured him. "Look just give me some time okay? Let me find the right way for me to tell him about us."
"So you're going to tell him?" He asked hopefully.
I sighed "I think I should. Lying just causes more pain in the end. I have to go."
Owen sat up and pulled me down for a final kiss before releasing me. "Call me tomorrow, promise?"
"I promise" I smiled as I left him to head back home. I didn't think it was possible but my night just got a whole lot more complicated.
* Kathryn *
I seriously thought I was going to be ill after what I just witnessed. Watching little miss muffet do the nasty with her partner had to be one of the more horrifying things I had seen in my lifetime. God she was so pathetic just lying there like a rug while her boy toy did all the work. It made me wonder not for the first time what Sebastian could have been thinking when he chose her over me. Fucking idiot.
Still waiting around after the party had ended had been worth it. I stayed hidden upstairs smoking a cigarette until I heard goldilocks crying on poor Owen's shoulder. I had snuck down just in time to see them fuck and then watch as Annette freaked out and ran off. Now Owen was all alone getting dressed so I decided to sneak up behind him. "That was truly nauseating" I called out making him turn quickly around. "Definitely not spice channel material."
"What the hell do you think you're doing here?"
I shrugged smiling "enjoying the show."
"You're disgusting" he snarled at me.
Walking into the room I strut over to him "you know she has a husband."
Owen glared down at me then turned and walked over to the book case. He moved some things around a moment before producing a small video camera. Holding it up he told me confidently "she won't after he sees this."
Taking a step towards him I tried to take it from his hands but before I could Owen grabbed me from around the waist and pulled me into a rough, passionate kiss. When I pulled away breathless we stared into each others eyes a moment before erupting in laughter. "Oh baby" I laughed caressing his handsome face "well done!"
- to be continued (Please Review)