A/N: Dun-dun-daaah! Another chappy is written and ready for your reading pleasure… ^_~
There's just one thing I want to get clear for Chapter 17. Seifer's hair. OK, since I've dyed my hair quite a few times in the past I should have remembered that when you dye it a darker shade than your own, it can't fully return to its original color. My bad. For this story just pretend that doesn't apply 'Mmmmkay'? For the sake of Seifer's sexiness, let's just say that after the mission, his hair can return to its lovely blond shade. I hope that appeased your anger Ling-San… ;-)
Now, on the character that will re-appear… I got a couple of guesses and I'm happy to say that you were both… WRONG! *Sticks out tongue* Nyah-nyah, nyah-nyah, nyah! *Adjusts clothes* Sorry 'bout that… Just got carried away… Anywayz, I told you guys the character was from the first chapter… And that's why I also mentioned Candy… ^_^ The title will reveal the identity of the person, although I'm sure hardly any of you will remember her… You don't have to go back to Chapter 3 to see who she is, the story will tell you itself. If you still can't remember her though, might as well check the very first dialogues of Chapter 3.
And once again, thank you for your reviews!
Enjoy the new chapter!
Chapter 16: We meet again Dixie Robinson…
The Great Hall in Lucius Wallace's mansion was more than impressive. Numerous dining tables were placed inside for the guests, while a great portion of room was saved to serve as a ballroom. Crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling, giving out lots of light. Two large stairways came from the second floor all the way down the Hall, providing a really impressive entrance to anyone who came down from it. The guests had all arrived and everybody was on stand-by.
Seifer was wandering around the room, holding a tray of champagne glasses, handing them out to the guests. From time to time he looked around carefully, to spot any suspicious movement from anyone. When the tray was emptied, he returned back to the kitchens, while putting a finger on his ear to activate the small microphone that was hidden inside it.
- "It's clear for now. What about your sector Zell?" he asked.
- "I don't see anyone who looks suspicious… Better keep our eyes peeled though…" came Zell's distorted voice through the microphone "Wallace talked to me just a few minutes ago; he said he and Quistis will be coming down any minute now. Better watch it when they come down the stairs."
- "Roger that." said Seifer.
Seifer went inside the kitchens, where he got the tray re-filled with champagne glasses and went back to the Great Hall. A middle-aged woman, wearing an outrageous golden outfit that matched her golden glasses approached him.
- "Would you care for some champagne Missus?" asked Seifer, playing his role perfectly.
- "Why yes… Thank you… And that's Miss actually…" she said picking up a glass, ogling at him.
- "Oh… Excuse my mistake Miss."
- "Don't even think about it… Do I… know you from somewhere?" she asked looking at him closely. Her curious eyes traveled all over him, but rested upon his face mostly. She could obviously recognize him as Seifer Almasy, but the disguise made it difficult for her to realize who he really was.
- "I don't think so Miss… I am but a humble waiter."
- "Still…You look familiar… What's your name?" she asked.
- "Jonathan Davis Miss…" said Seifer, mentioning the first name that came in mind. The woman gave him a puzzled look "Yes, just like the singer…" he added smiling.
- "Oh… Ha, ha…" she laughed "I thought I'd heard of that one before…" Seifer felt relieved she'd bought it.
- "So, Jonathan… Are you new here at Mr. Wallace's staff? I've been to many of his parties, but I've never seen you before."
- "Brand new. I just came two weeks ago."
- "I see… Goodness… Where are my manners? I forgot to introduce myself: Dixie Robinson." she said extending her arm. She obviously expected Seifer to kiss it, but he just shook it.
- "Pleased to meet you Miss Robinson. But if you'll excuse me, I've got to get back to my work. Wouldn't want to get fired on my first real job here…" he said smiling.
- "Of course Jonathan. Go ahead… I hope we'll get the chance to talk again sometime…" she said giving him a wink. Seifer just nodded and left.
- "Horny old hag…" he mumbled when he was out of earshot. But something kept bugging him. Her name seemed awfully familiar "Zell?" Seifer said, turning on the microphone.
- "Yeah, what's up?" responded Zell.
- "Does the name 'Dixie Robinson' ring any bells?" asked Seifer.
- "Dixie Robinson…? Oh yeah! She's one of them stupid tabloid reporters! She works for the 'Deling City Scoop' magazine."
- "I see…" said Seifer rubbing his chin "How come you know? Are you reading any of those stuff Chicken-wuss?" asked Seifer laughing.
- "Hey! I only read them 'cause they wrote shit about us! And did you just call me…"
Seifer never heard the end of Zell's sentence, as he turned the mic back off and laughed hard 'The little guy's fun after all… Maybe I should give him more credit…' thought Seifer 'Anyway, better keep an eye for that Robinson woman… She sounds like trouble to me…' Right then, everyone in the room went silent for a moment and then lots of applauding was heard. Seifer turned around and saw Wallace descending the stairs with Quistis by his side. He was smiling broadly and looking at Quistis as if she was some kind of trophy. Seifer snatched a glass of champagne from his tray and drank it in one big gulp. He held the glass tightly in his hand, watching the pair walking down the stairway. Quistis tried to look cool, but Seifer could tell she was feeling awkward. That made him feel a bit better…
- "Good evening my friends!" said Lucius Wallace when everyone had stopped clapping "I hope you're all enjoying the party so far! The food will be served shortly, so please make yourselves comfortable." he said putting his hand around Quistis' waist.
Wallace wandered through the entire Hall talking to various political personas, dragging Quistis along, never removing his hand from herwaist. Seifer felt angrier than even and squeezed the glass he was holding into shards.
- "OW! Dammit…" he cursed running back to the kitchens.
When he got back inside he banged the tray hard on one of the empty tables, sending glasses flying all over the place.
- "Hey! Watch it! Those are expensive you know…" said one of the chef's aids, sweeping up the broken glasses from the floor.
- "I know…" said Seifer smirking. He then looked at his hand. It had a deep cut on it and was bleeding profusely, while a small piece of glass stuck out of the wound "Fucking glass…" he mumbled, looking around for a napkin.
- "What's wrong? Why d'you leave like that?" said a blonde-haired Xu, who had just entered the kitchens.
- "I got cut…" said Seifer, still looking for something to stop the bleeding "What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be doing the presentation for this Hyne damn circus?" asked Seifer smirking at her.
- "Cute one Almasy… Anyway, I'm on after the dinner is served… " she said approaching him "Can I get a wet napkin?" she asked one of the aids on the kitchen "Geez… What the hell did you do to yourself?" she said holding his hand, looking at his wound "Not that it makes me sad really…" she added smirking as well.
- "Nice try, but you'll never be able to do that as well as I do…" Seifer said referring to the smirk "Takes years of practice…"
- "I bet…" she said pulling out the shard of glass stuck in his wound.
- "OW! FOR FUCK'S SAKE, WATCH IT!" yelled Seifer in pain.
- "Don't be such a baby!" snapped Xu "Thank you…" she said to the aid that brought her a wet napkin.
- "That fucking hurt you know…" said Seifer, trying to redeem himself.
- "You need to learn to control your anger Seifer." she said, while carefully wiping his wound clean.
- "That wasn't a matter of anger, it hurt!" he protested.
- "I'm not talking about that…" she said looking at him. Seifer raised an eyebrow "Damn, and I thought you were a smart one… I'm talking about the glass you broke out of anger Almasy…" she said tying the napkin around his hand "She doesn't like him you know… It's just her job…" she added looking at him meaningfully.
- "Who doesn't like who?" asked Seifer playing stupid.
- "You know what I mean…" she said letting go of his now tied hand.
- "Thanks, I suppose…" Seifer looking at his hand.
- "Don't change the subject…"
- "What subject?"
- "I've never seen her so happy before… Just don't let me hear you hurt her Almasy, or you'll be dead from my hands before you even have time to say 'cocky, arrogant bastard'." said Xu, putting her hands on her hips. Seifer could tell she was serious.
- "My dear Xu… I'm hurt… Is that what you really think of me?" he asked crossing his arms.
- "Did you hear what I just said?"
- "Loud and clear…" he said seriously "She told you then?" he asked.
- "She didn't need to tell me a thing. I know her much better than anyone in the Garden, even her closest friends. And she's not really known as a good liar…"
- "Don't tell anyone, OK?" he said worriedly.
- "Why shouldn't I?" asked Xu raising an eyebrow.
- "Because it would hurt her reputation if anyone knew she's with someone like me. And because I was just starting to think you're not the bitch I believed you were…" he said smirking and left the room.
Xu scoffed 'That guy's got balls; I'll give him that… At least he's not all looks after all, or I'd have to shake Quistis back to her senses…' she thought, leaving the kitchens as well.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
- "May I have you attention please?" said Xu through the microphone, while up on stage. Every head inside the Great Hall turned around to look at her "Thank you. I think I speak on behalf of everyone in this room when I congratulate Mr. Lucius Wallace on the excellent party he's thrown!" All the guests clapped. Seifer grunted, watching the whole scene from a corner in the Hall, while leaning against a wall "As all of you know…" went on Xu "…this splendid party is given today to raise funds for the 'Galbadian Institute for Children with Disabilities'. I would like to thank all of you for your contributions and I'd also like to ask Mr. Wallace and his lovely escort to stand up and lead the dance for tonight!" said Xu. Seifer scoffed 'Mental note to self… Xu really IS a bitch!' he thought.
Everyone clapped as Lucius Wallace got up and helped Quistis up her seat. He took her hand and helped her to the dance floor. The band began to play a slow waltz song and the two of them began dancing. Seifer looked at them, feeling the blood boiling in his veins.
- "Seifer?" said a blond girl that approached him. Seifer recognized her as part of their SeeD team. She was called Svetlana… something.
- "Yes?" he said turning back to look at Quistis and Lucius dancing.
- "We have to start 'serving' again." she said handing him a tray.
- "Oh boy!" he said in mock excitement, taking the tray "I always dreamed that one day I'd be playing waiter as a SeeD!"
- "Come on… Maybe we'll get some action soon…" said the girl giggling.
Seifer hated those girls that giggled like bimbos. That was one thing he liked about Quistis; she was serious, she never giggled. She only did when they were together, when she was in his arms… And those were giggles of joy, of pleasure and not of light-headedness…
- "Seifer? You there?" asked Svetlana, interrupting his thoughts.
- "Huh?" he said jolting back to reality "Sorry, I missed that last one…"
- "I said that those contacts really don't do you justice… They hide your impressive green eyes…" she said smiling.
- "Uh-huh…" said Seifer never taking his eyes off Quistis.
- "And your hair… I like them better when they're blond…"
- "Uh-huh… Listen, I gotta go. We have to start serving again, right?" he said and left, without giving her one glance.
- "Well, that certainly wasn't… nice!" said the girl out loud, putting her hands on her hips.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Quistis felt incredibly uncomfortable in Lucius Wallace's arms. He was a really charming man, but even if she overlooked the fact that the man was twice her age, she just… felt that her heart belonged somewhere else.
- "You are a really beautiful woman Quistis…" said Wallace, cutting away her thoughts.
- "Thank you Lucius…" she said blushing.
- "You know… After tonight, I'd like to ask you to meet with me again somet…" he began, but Quistis interrupted him
- "Would you please excuse me Lucius? I need to go to the Ladies' Room." she said politely and left to head towards the bathroom.
'This is just great…' she thought on her way 'A successful, charming and rich man is openly hitting on me and the only thing I can think of is Seifer…' She pushed the door of the bathroom open. Lucius Wallace had had this certain bathroom turned into some sort of a public toilet especially for his parties. Quistis scoffed at the sight of that, then looked at herself in the mirror 'Who am I kidding? Seifer may appear to have changed, but he's with me just for the sex. It's only a matter of time before he dumps me and finds another woman who'll please him more than I do… But still… I can't…' It was then that she noticed the reflection of the mirror better and saw a black-haired man in a suit looking at her.
- "Took you some time, didn't it?" said Seifer grinning.
- "Hey… I'm sorry, I was just thinking stuff…" she apologized.
- "'Stuff'?" he asked, walking over to her "Care to tell me?" he asked putting his arms around her.
- "*Sigh* I just can't stand him…" she said hugging Seifer's waist, resting her head on his chest "I wish this mission was over…"
- "Do you want me to walk in there and kick his ass?" asked Seifer touching her cheek.
- "Could you?" she asked jokingly. To her surprise Seifer let her go and made a move towards the door "Wait!" she said grabbing his hand "I was only kidding silly…"
- "Silly? Silly?!" he said in mock anger "You'll have to pay for that…" he said and pulled her into a passionate kiss.
- "Mmm…" she said with eyes still closed, when they broke apart "I think I'm not quite punished yet. Could you do that again?"
Seifer laughed and kissed her once again. With his long and slender fingers, he held her face while kissing her deeply. His tongue searched her own, twirling around in her mouth. His hands soon left her beautiful face and traveled down her curved body. One of them slid down to her bottom, caressing it softly, yet lustily. The other went on her waist at first, but quickly found its way up to her breast, cupping it. Quistis rested her elbows on Seifer's shoulders, while holding his face tightly onto her neck, where his lips were now planting kisses. A small moan escaped Quistis' lips and Seifer made a sound between laughter and a heavy breath.
- "I love it when you moan…" he whispered huskily to her ear.
- "Seifer…"
- "Mmm?"
- "Stop…" she said, but he was certain she was more than reluctant ask him to let go.
- "Why?" he asked-slash-whined, slightly biting her earlobe.
- "Because we both have to go out before we get too carried away…" she said and let out a small laugh.
- "I don't wanna…" said Seifer like a child who was told to stop playing and go home.
- "We have to go do our job…" Quistis said, as she tried to push him away softly.
- "*Sigh*…" Seifer sighed, holding Quistis' arms, never taking his nuzzled head off her neck "I guess you're right…" he said raising his head up to look at her. His face read 'disappointment' all over it.
- "I promise to make it up to you, once we get back to Garden…" she said mischievously "And I promise I'll wear the nightgown you liked so much…"
- "Get out of the frickin' bathroom now, before I jump on top of you!" said Seifer letting go of Quistis.
Quistis laughed, gave him a peck on the cheek and left the bathroom. Seifer poured some water on his face, straightened out his hair and left the bathroom as well. As soon as he did, one of the bathroom stalls' door opened and a woman came out. She was wearing a golden gown that matched her golden glasses…
- "Well now…" she said out loud, smirking. She took out her cell-phone and made a call "Hello? Jack? Dixie here… Better get your stuff ready 'cause we'll be leaving for Balamb first thing in the morning! Scoop you ask?" she asked laughing "If we don't become millionaires after this, then my name's not Dixie Robinson! What we have here Jack, is a secret affair… No you idiot! Not that shmuck Wallace! I'm talking about Quistis Trepe and Seifer Almasy… What do you mean who's Almasy you moron? Don't you remember Ultimecia's lapdog who got acquitted because he was supposedly possessed? Thought so… Yes… Trepe is the blonde woman… Stop drooling already! No, of course we can't just burst out with this! We need proof! And that's why I'll make sure we become their shadows…"
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
A/N: Eep! The happiness of our beloved couple is being threatened by that nasty reporter! He, he, I love to torture my characters… *Rubs hands mischievously*
ON THE NEXT CHAPTER OF 'LOVE CONQUERS ALL':
It's the grand finale for our heroes' mission! What will happen?
Will they be able to stop the ones threatening Wallace?
Will they get out of there alive?
Will that nasty reporter get a scoop out of Seifer and Quistis?
Will the body of Jimmy Hoffa EVER be found?