Summary: Kathryn gets unsettling news from her mother and goes to great lengths to win her bet with Sebastian.
Chapter 10: Avoiding Temptation
"The son of a bitch is doing this on purpose" Kathryn spat as she peered down at the happy couple below. "Sebastian knows how much I despise Janessa so he purposely choose her to pursue."
Slumping his head down on the biology lab table Blaine let out a tired moan "yes I know Kathryn since you haven't shut up about it in the past hour. Now how long do you plan on holding me captive in this classroom?"
She turned away from the window and told him "until you come up with a way for me to break them up and win this bet."
It had been over a week since Kathryn had made that bet with Sebastian in the Hamptons. When she had spotted him getting cozy with her enemy Janessa she never imagined he would actually choose her to settle down with. However when they returned to the city and school started up again sure enough there was Janessa wrapped around him like a pretzel.
Over night it seemed they had become every one's favorite couple. All the girls were lavishing Janessa with praise for finally being able to tame Sebastian Valmont. Meanwhile Kathryn was so angry she was spitting nails because not only was Janessa now soaring past her on the social latter but it appeared she was loosing the bet as well. To top it off she had barely spoken with Sebastian since returning home which led her to think that maybe he was getting a little too much into his role as the perfect boyfriend.
After spotting the two making out in the courtyard in front of everyone Kathryn finally had enough. She grabbed Blaine and brought him up to the empty science lab for a strategy meeting. So far though he was proving to be anything but helpful. "Blaine, has Sebastian told you anything about the bet?"
He picked his head up off the desk and swiveled around to face her "no, I didn't even know anything about it until you told me. I just assumed like everyone else he was really into her. In fact the way Janessa tells it Sebastian is completely devoted to her and even lets her drive his car."
Kathryn's mouth fell open in surprise then she let out a strangled cry "god I am so sick of that girl! I have half a mind to..."
Suddenly the sound of Jannesa's giggling was heard followed by "oh Sebastian you're so bad."
"That's it" Kathryn grumbled as she grabbed for a glass beaker then started to make her way to the window to throw it at them.
However Blaine came up behind her and stopped her before she could. "Okay as amusing as that would be to watch, it won't solve anything" he said prying the beaker from her hands. "What are you upset about exactly? The fact that Sebastian is winning the bet or that he's having fun doing it?"
"Both!" Slumping back onto a stool Kathryn sighed "what if he really likes her?"
Blaine was surprised by the sudden flash of vulnerability she was showing him. It wasn't a side of Kathryn he had ever seen before or even knew existed. Taking a seat behind her he placed his arm on her shoulders "Kathryn everyone knows Janessa is just a carbon copy of you. She might be pretty and charming but she's NOT Kathryn Merteuil. I'd also like to remind you that Sebastian is doing all of this just so he can have you. Trust me he's not into Janessa. Why would he want the imitation when he can have the real thing?"
"I hope you're right Blaine."
* * * * * *
Following another nauseating school day Kathryn returned home determined to relax in a nice warm bath. However as she entered her bedroom she soon realized she wasn't alone. "Mother what are you doing in here?"
Tiffani Merteuil had been sitting at her daughters vanity table admiring herself. Dressed in her typical Channel suit she looked as if she was making herself right at home in her daughters room and that was something Kathryn wasn't pleased about. Slamming the door she tossed her school bag on the bed and glared at her mother not bothering to hide her hostility. "Kathryn dear don't frown, it causes wrinkles."
Forcing a fake smile on her face she asked "what do you want?"
"Well I just stopped in to tell you not to expect me at dinner tonight. I'm having dinner with a very important man."
"Fine, good-bye mother."
Smiling pleasantly Tiffani started to leave when it suddenly occurred to Kathryn that her mother was hiding something from her. Normally when she went out on a date she never bothered to inform her. Sure she liked to brag about her conquests from time to time but she never made it a point to show up in her bedroom just to rub her face in it. "Wait" Kathryn called out to her. "What aren't you telling me?"
Turning back around she sighed dramatically "there's no need to be paranoid Kathryn. I thought I would just share my good news with you is all."
"Right" Kathryn replied not buying a word of it. As she approached her mother she could see that specific glint in her eyes that told her whatever she was hiding it couldn't be good. "So who is he mother?"
Tiffani shrugged and answered nonchalantly "Edward Valmont."
Kathryn's eyebrows shot up in surprise "what? How can you go out with him? I thought he was seeing Judy."
"He was but not he's not and that's all there is to it."
"Somehow I doubt that. So what did you do, seduce him while I went to Janessa's yacht party?"
Tiffani rolled her eyes as she started once again to leave "Kathryn it's really none of your business."
She grabbed her mother's arm and pulled her back "like hell it isn't! You had no interest in Edward until you realized I was friends with his son."
Pulling away from her daughters grasp she spat back "oh is that what you and Sebastian are, friends? Last I heard he was seeing that charming girl Janessa."
In that moment Kathryn never hated her mother more. Tiffani knew how she felt about Sebastian and she couldn't stand it. Not just because of his reputation but because she had something her mother could never get. That killed her mother worst of all and she wouldn't stop until she destroyed it.
Charging over to the door Kathryn threw it open and ordered "get out."
Straightening the sleeves of her powder blue suit her mother smiled smugly as she walked past her daughter into the hallway. "Have a nice evening Kathryn. I know I plan to."
With that she slammed the door behind her then let out a frustrated cry. She wanted to scream and vent her frustrations to the high heavens but she wouldn't because it would be letting her mother win. Instead she charged over to her phone and dialed Sebastian. After a few rings he picked up "hello?"
"Hey it's me"
"Janessa?"
Kathryn scowled "very funny asshole."
Sebastian chuckled on the other end "judging by your tone I'm guessing something's wrong. Having second thoughts concerning our bet?'
"No not at all but now that you bring it up, are you?"
"Not at all, so is that why you're calling?"
Kathryn sighed as she laid back on her alcove bed "I just got done having another run in with my mother."
"About what?"
"Her date for the evening, your father."
There was a long pause on the line before Sebastian came back on "you're concerned about this?"
"Yes!" she exclaimed exasperated by how causal he sounded. "You should be too! The only reason she's going out with him is to get back at me for fucking you."
"Wait a minute...you fucked me? When? Cause I think I would have remembered that."
"She thinks I did but never mind that. We have to stop them. They can't date, I mean what would happen if they-"
"Kathryn" he interrupted her rant before she could finish. "Don't worry about it. I know my dad and trust me he's not the long term commitment type."
"Hmm like father like son."
"Well not anymore" Sebastian replied arrogantly. "In any event they'll probably go out a few times, screw, then he'll dump her like all the rest. Trust me I know what I'm talking about."
Kathryn took a deep breath as she once again started to relax. "You're probably right. I shouldn't let her get to me."
"No you shouldn't."
"However I'm still all tense. Why don't you come over and help me work out all the kinks in my body" she purred seductively into the phone.
"I can't"
Kathryn sat up suddenly "why not?"
"I have dinner plans with Janessa tonight."
"Well cancel them."
"Sorry I can't do that. Besides we've been looking forward to this all week."
"WE? Did you just refer to the two of you as one entity?"
There was a sigh on his end "Kathryn I have to go. I'll talk to you tomorrow, good-bye."
"Sebastian wait-"
However he had already hung up. Kathryn listened to the dial tone and muttered "that son of a bitch."
She realized then that Sebastian would most likely win the bet. Janessa was already falling for his act and so far it appeared he was avoiding temptation. Well if she had anything to say about it he wouldn't for long.
With a malicious grin Kathryn picked up the phone again only this time she dialed the Millers. She was greeted by a soft spoken young women "hello?"
"Bonnie it's Kathryn."
"Kathryn?" she repeated in surprise. "What is it? I haven't gone near Court just like you ordered and I-"
"Shut up" she sighed. "I'm not calling you about that."
"What is it?"
"Well Bonnie after I found you with Court I was considering taking drastic action. I was going to have a talk with your mother..."
"My mother?" Bonnie exclaimed. "You can't! She'll ground me till summer."
"Yes I know but lucky for you I've had a change of heart. I've decided instead that in exchange for my silence you're going to do something for me."
"What?" she asked hesitantly.
"I'm going to need you to come into the city right away. It concerns Sebastian..."
* * * * * *
"More wine?"
Sebastian looked up at the waiter and gave him a slight nod. Janessa did the same then took a small sip on her red wine and grinned. "Don't you just love this place? It has to be my favorite place to eat in Manhattan."
"The foods good" he said taking her hand in his. "But I think I prefer the company instead."
Janessa smiled as she leaned forward and gave him a light kiss on the mouth. As she did Sebastian chuckled to himself at how easy this all was. Getting Janessa to fall for him had been just as easy as he imagined. She thought herself to be tough and cold just as Kathryn but underneath it she was just like all the others he'd seduced. Janessa just wanted a guy to seem genuinely interested in her and that's exactly what he gave her. It wasn't that he disliked her, on the contrary he found her amusing. She was beautiful and smarter than he would have thought. His usual lines didn't always work with her but she seemed charmed by him none the less.
For the past week Sebastian had felt as if he was in a play. He was acting out being in a normal, monogamous relationship and he was having fun. It was surprisingly easy to avoid temptation but then again that was most likely due to the fact that Janessa was pretty good in bed. However the real thing that kept him going through this whole thing was the knowledge that in two weeks Kathryn would be his. Court would be permanently out of the picture and he could finally go to bed with her.
"What are you smiling about?" Janessa asked noticed the grin on his face.
Sebastian shrugged "I'm just thinking about how I never thought I could ever be happy with one girl. But then I meet you and it turns my whole word upside down."
"Wow Valmont that was corny" she laughed. "Coming from you though it's sort of sweet."
He leaned in once again to kiss her but before his lips could make contact he looked up to see Bonnie making her way over to them. Dressed in a elegant black suit she pushed past the waiter and stormed right up to their table looking pissed. "Oh fuck" Sebastian muttered under his breath.
"What is it?"
Janessa got her answer when Bonnie appeared besides them and demanded "what the hell is going on? Sebastian what are you doing with her?"
"What does it look like we're doing? What the hell are you doing here Bonnie?"
"I came down to the city to see you" she exclaimed as tears started to fill her eyes. "But your maid told me you were out with this slut."
"Excuse me?" Janessa repeated. "What did you call me?"
Bonnie however completely ignored her and continued on with her rant. "Sebastian I thought you cared about me. All that time we spent in bed together and you told me I was the best you ever had! It was all a lie wasn't it?"
At this point the other people in the restaurant were all ignoring their food and watching them instead. Sebastian realized almost immediately that something wasn't right here. Why would Bonnie suddenly show up? Not wanting to cause any more of a scene then they already were he addressed her softly "Bonnie I'm sorry that you thought we were something more than we were but I'm with Janessa now."
"You bastard" she exclaimed as she picked up the pitcher of water from another table and threw it all over him. "I thought you loved me!"
Now wet and very angry, Sebastian got to his feet "that's it! I'm going to take care of this" he told Janessa. "I'll be right back."
Grabbing Bonnie by the arm he dragged her out of the restaurant and over to the side of the building. "What the fuck is your problem!"
"I'm sorry" she replied softly. "I don't know why I did that. I just saw you two together and got upset is all. Can you forgive me?"
Sebastian nodded "sure, whatever. Now why don't you go-" Before he could get the sentence out Bonnie was suddenly all over him. She pushed her tongue down his throat and pinned him against the wall. Sebastian was surprised at the sudden attack but he quickly got his bearings and pushed her away. "I don't think so Bonnie."
"Why not? Don't you like me?"
"Yes I like you it's just..." Sebastian started to trail off when it hit him like a thunder bolt why this whole thing seemed so off. The Bonnie he knew was in no way incapable of pulling a stunt like she did without any persuasion. When he sent her after Court he practically had to give her hand written instructions on how to seduce him. Someone else had to be behind this and he knew exactly who that someone else was.
"Oh Christ she got to you too, didn't she?"
Bonnie shrugged innocently "who?"
"Bonnie baby, lying is not your strong suit. Kathryn sent you here to wreck my date." Turning away from her he shook his head and laughed "that sneaky little bitch."
"Sebastian I don't know what you're talking about."
"Yeah right, look I want you to give Kathryn a message from me."
Bonnie opened her mouth like she was going to rebut but then sighed and asked "what is it?"
* * * * * *
"What do you mean it didn't work?" Kathryn screamed into her tiny cell phone. "I told you exactly what to do and what to say. A monkey could have pulled it off yet you couldn't?"
"I'm sorry Kathryn but he didn't buy it" Bonnie sighed. "He knew I was lying and he knew you were behind it."
"How?"
"I don't know but he gave me a message to give to you."
Kathryn laid back on Sebastian's bed. She had come over to his fathers house and the maid had let her in. After making herself comfortable in his room, Bonnie called with the news of her evening. Of course the twit couldn't pull it off and Kathryn was beginning to wonder why she ever thought she could. Sebastian was too smart to fall for an act, especially if it was performed by Bonnie. "Well what did the bastard say?"
"He told me to tell you, if you want something done right you have to do it yourself."
Kathryn rolled her eyes at Sebastian's attempt to be clever. "Is that all?"
"Yes" there was a pause on the line before Bonnie came back on and softly asked "um Kathryn, are you going to tell-"
Suddenly Kathryn heard the sound of approaching footsteps so she quickly shut her cell phone off not bothering to give Bonnie an answer. A moment later the bedroom door opened and Sebastian stepped into the room. He didn't look too terribly surprised to see her as he drolly greeted her "you know last I checked breaking and entering is a crime."
"Not if you're invited in. How was your big date?"
"It was fine, no thanks to you."
Feigning innocent Kathryn asked "are you accusing me of something?"
"Oh cut the innocent routine" he grumbled loosening his tie. "I'm in no mood for it. I know you sent that idiot to ruin my date and I have to admit Kathryn I thought you were above such stunts."
Giving him a wicked grin she replied "I guess you were wrong."
He nodded "yes I suppose I was. I never thought you would stoop to such juvenile actions over jealousy."
Kathryn sat up suddenly "you think I'm jealous? Of what?"
Sebastian laughed "I think you mean who. It just eats you up inside that I choose Janessa, doesn't it?"
Slowly Kathryn made her way to the edge of the bed where he was standing, then got up onto her knees so they were at eye level. In a cold controlled voice she told him "let's just get one thing straight. I am not, nor will I ever be jealous of that wanna be little bitch, understand?"
"Fine whatever you say. Did Bonnie give you my message?"
Letting her icy exterior melt she smiled while wrapping her arms around his neck. "Yes she did and I have to admit I whole heatedly agree."
"Good"
Kathryn's hand moved away from Sebastian's neck and snaked down to his pants. As she unzipped him and slid her hand inside his trousers she moved in for a kiss but Sebastian turned his cheek. Not one to be swayed easily Kathryn went for his dick wrapping her hand around it. "What are you doing?" he asked
"Well you did say if I wanted something done I'd have to do it myself" she whispered.
He nodded while pushing her hand away "well I'm not in the mood."
"Yeah right"
Kathryn made another grab for him but this time Sebastian promptly pushed her off the bed and onto the hard floor. She looked up at him stunned "what the hell?"
Zipping his pants back up Sebastian told her coldly "may I suggest a cold shower Kathryn. "
"You son of a..."
Turning away from her Sebastian walked into the bathroom and called out before closing the door, "get out, before I call security to toss you out on that beautiful behind of yours."
- to be continued (Please Review)
