Summary: A horrible birthday gift leads Sebastian on the path to what he's always wanted.
Authors Note: I know I haven't updated my stories as frequently lately but that should change next week. When classes end I'll have about a month before they start up again. Hopefully in that time I'll finish Trip On Love, Who Are You and The Tribunal. Please keep reading and reviewing!
Chapter 3: What, Like A Date?
You would think for his only son's eighteenth birthday the man would come up with a fabulous gift. A trip to France, a sizable raise in the trust fund or a boat of some kind, any of these would do. Then again most men aren't Edward Valmont.
"Tickets to the Opera?" I spat looking down at two pieces of heavy paper still wrapped in their crisp white envelop.
Completely unaware of my obvious disgust at the gift the old man smiled pleasantly and informed me "yes and believe me they weren't easy to come by. This is the last show of the season and everyone is going."
"Oh I can think of one person who isn't." Shaking my head in amazement, not at the gift but the fact that the man truly was this much of an idiot. True my father and I had never been close before but you would think he'd know his own son well enough to know that a night at the opera wasn't exactly on his to do list. I mean this was my birthday for crying out loud, I wanted something spectacular not this bullshit.
Tossing the tickets disinterestedly down at my bed side table I crossed my arms to my chest and glared at him with obvious disapproval. My fathers eyes went dark as he finally caught on that the gift wasn't exactly wanted. With a sigh and a tired roll of his eyes he said "I see, you don't like the opera."
I shook my head "what the hell made you think I did?"
"Well your mother mentioned-"
At that I sat up suddenly alert "no she didn't. Mom knows I hate that shit and she would never force such an experience on me." Eyeing him suspiciously I demanded "what are you up to?"
"Up to?" he huffed all indignant as if he was the injured party. "Here I am trying to give my only son a sincere gift. Tell me something Sebastian, do you really think so little of me that you believe that even giving you a birthday gift is some sort of angle?"
"Yes" I admitted quickly and it was the truth. Years of experience had taught me that my father never does anything, even giving horrible gifts without some sort of alternative motive. Usually I prided myself on knowing what he was after right away but I have to admit this time I was stumped. "What's the real reason for the gift?"
Shaking his head he grumbled "how could you think-"
"If you don't tell me I'm going to mom and telling her all about this. I'm sure she'd have a few questions herself" I smiled knowing I trumped him.
My father's dark blue eyes narrowed at me as he sighed in defeat "okay fine smart ass here's the thing, I need you to go in my place tonight. And whatever you do you can't tell your mother about any of this."
Immediately I started to feel nauseous because I knew then what he was really trying to hide. Yet again my father couldn't keep it in his pants and was screwing around behind my mothers back. It was the only explanation for him not wanting her to know about it. Getting up from my bed suddenly I grabbed my robe and stormed out onto my balcony. I stared out at the busy street below and desperately wished in that moment that I could be down there, among the crowd, away from my scum bag father.
As I knew he would my father followed me out. This time he didn't act indignant but stated simply "I promised Jackie that I'd meet her tonight but your mother thinks I'm going to the opera with a business associate. I need someone in my seats in case one of her gossipy friends tells her it's empty."
My eyes closed as I tried to contain the need to vomit at how casual he discussed cheating on my mother. Not bothering to hide my disgust I asked coldly "when they see me in your place won't they know you skipped out?"
"No necessarily" he explained almost chipperly. "If they see you they'll just think we came together. If anyone asks I'm sitting up in the Catalons box. No one can see it from the floor."
Turing to face him suddenly I smiled nastily at him and said "well thanks for the great birthday gift dad but I don't think I'm going to be able to go, I have plans."
Crossing his arms he looked at me skeptically and asked "oh and what are those?"
"Anything that doesn't include me helping you hurt my mother."
Taking a careful step towards me he advised "and if you don't agree to go tonight you will be the one responsible for hurting your mother."
"Excuse me!"
"Keep your voice down" he whispered. "Look Sebastian you of all people should know a man has certain needs..."
"Oh spare me" I spat. "I don't give a shit about you 'needs' and I sure as hell am not going to let you blackmail me into helping YOU hurt your wife. No fucking way!"
I started to storm back into my room when my father grabbed me by the arm and pulled me back. "Sebastian you are going to the opera tonight because if you don't not only will you possibly hurt your mother but I might be forced to do something drastic."
"Like what?"
"Like that military school in Main the headmasters dying for me to send you to." I don't know why I was surprised he would threaten such a thing but I was. It was nastier move than normal for him. When he saw the look of defeat wash over my face he asked "do we have an understanding?"
Yanking out of his grasp I snarled "yeah, whatever."
I went back to my room with my father following behind, now as happy as could be that his little affair was cover up for the time being. "Well have a nice time son and happy birthday" he said as he left with a spring in his step.
As I watched him leave I couldn't help but feel a weird sense of deja veu. A few years ago it seemed I was having the same type of discussion with my father over one of his infidelities. It had been after Kathryn and I walked in on him and her mother in bed together. Fearful that I would go straight to my mother with what I saw, on the way home that afternoon he threatened me with spending the whole summer at my aunts if I said anything. Scowling at the memory I cursed myself for keeping silent. I should have told her and then they could end this farce of a marriage.
Knowing I couldn't change the past and I had absolutely had no intention of going to military school any time soon I realized I was going to have to go along with my fathers ridiculous plan. The only question now was, who should I bring as my date?
* * * * * *
The answer to that question was surprisingly simple. Going through my list of possibly choices I realized my options were incredibly limited seeing as I pissed off most of my recent conquests to the point of making a date nearly impossibly. In the end there was only one person possible, even if we had a pending wager between us.
When I arrived at Kathryn's the maid tactfully told me Ms. Merteuil was still in bed. Judging my the redness in her cheeks that appeared and they way she avoided my eyes I could that Kathryn was probably not alone. Looking down at my watch I saw it was nearing one, which was pretty early for sex unless of course said partner stayed the night. Knowing it was unlikely she got Jackson in bed this early in the game I wondered who the lovely Kathryn's latest conquest was.
I went to her room and let my ear rest against the heavy wood. "Ahh...ahh...ahh..." came Kathryn's enthusiastic grunts. "All...most.."
"THERE" she yelled as I swung open the door just in time to see Kathryn and the rather burly man she was fucking fall to the floor in a messy heap. With an annoyed sigh her head spun around and she looked like she was going to start screaming at whoever was interrupting her but when she saw it was me her scowl turned into a mischievous grin. "Hello Sebastian" she purred.
Leaning against the doorway I crossed my arms casually and asked "I'm not interrupting anything am I?"
The dark haired muscular guy who I didn't recognize pulled himself up from Kathryn and hollered "actually asshole you-"
"We were just finishing up" Kathryn interrupted him as she wrapped her sheet around her naked form, allowing me only a momentary blissful glance at her supple breasts.
Her latest conquest looked like he was going to protest as he glanced back at her with an expression of hurt and confusion. However one look at Kathryn's ice cold stare and he quickly go the hint. Throwing his pants on he grumbled "yeah I was just leaving." He quickly but clumsily dressed then pushed past me calling out "later Kathryn."
Still on the floor she sighed "not likely."
I walked over and casually sat down of the bed beside her. "It's a little early for such fun and games isn't it Kathryn?"
She shrugged, amused "not if you've been at it all night. Besides I love morning sex."
Taking her by the hands I helped her to her feet laughing "I'll make sure to make a note of that. What are you doing with that guy anyway? What if Jackson walked in instead of me?"
Kathryn rolled her eyes as she slid her black kimono back on. "I don't think that will be a problem" she sighed. "I haven't heard from him since our little boat trip last week."
"Oh?"
"Yes apparently he's more hung up on that Charlene girl than we thought"
"Charlotte" I corrected her. "And you better hope he's not. If Jack doesn't fall for you, HARD, then you're mine."
Her green eyes locked on mine as she replied "I know believe me. I'm just going to give him a little time before I make my next move. Now what are you doing here anyway?"
With a sigh I reached into my coat pocket and produced the tickets my father gave me earlier that evening. I handed them to her and as she pulled them out her eyes went wide "wow, how'd you get these?"
"It's my fathers deceitful idea of a birthday gift."
Glancing at me she asked "today's your birthday? Had I known I would have given you a gift..or not" she admitted with a wicked smile. "Why is it deceitful, I'd kill for tickets like this."
Finally some good news today, although I found it incredibly surprising. "You like opera?"
"Love it and this show has been sold out for weeks"
"You are just full of surprises Merteuil. Well today's your lucky day because you're going with me."
Kathryn turned to me and spat "what like a date? I don't think so, I told you I can't have people thinking you and I are together in any sort of vicinity. It would kill my reputation if people thought I was another one of your insipid conquests."
"Look it's not a date but I have to go to this thing even though I detest opera with every fiber of my being" I grumbled as I got up from the bed. "It's last minute so I don't have time to find anyone else."
"Well gee when you put it like that...no" she hissed tossing the tickets aside. "Anyway why do you HAVE to go. Just tell your father you don't want the tickets."
"It's not as simple as all that" I admitted. "The truth is my father is blackmailing me into going so he can once again screw around behind my mothers back."
"Classy"
"You have no idea" I muttered. Looking back at her with pleading eyes I asked with as much sincerity as I could muster "Kathryn will you please just go with me. If you don't I'll have to ask Jennifer or Bambi or some else I can't stand which will only make the evening more horrible."
Kathryn tilted her head back in thought and sighed "I'll think about it."
I knew that was her way of saying I'll put you off for as long as humanly possible until it's absolutely necessary that I have to give you an answer. Likely that answer would turn out to be a no just so she could torture me that much further. Rolling my eyes I stormed back to the bed and pulled her face close to mine. "You're going to the damn opera with me otherwise I'll tell Jackson all about spring break when you-"
"You're blackmailing me for a date?"
"Looks that way doesn't it?"
Yanking her face from my grip she hissed "okay fine. Pick me up at seven."
Standing over her I grinned triumphantly for the first time that morning. "It's a date."
* * * * * *
"I would have much rather sat in a box Valmont."
As the two of us took are seats in the middle of the row, sandwiched between a fifty year old women and a sixty year old man I let out an exasperated sigh. "Well next time my father blackmails me I'll put in a request for better seats, okay? Jesus are you going to bitch all night?"
"Possibly" she smiled. "And quit your whining, do you have any idea how many guys would kill to be in your position tonight?"
"Not as many as I'm sure already have" I shot back.
We sat in silence for the next few minutes as the orchestra tuned up. Thinking back to earlier that day I realized it truly had been a shitty birthday. Barely any gifts outside of my fathers, I was unable to coarse Guienevere into coming over and to top it off I spent a better part of my day trying to dodge Jackson's phone calls. He kept leaving these long messages on my machine saying he needed to talk to me and that he was all upset over Charlotte. However I didn't give a damn about his so called problems.
The only highlight of my day thus far had been seeing Kathryn descend the foyer stairs in her sexy low cut black dress. She looked elegant and perfect, just as I hoped. I hadn't told her how amazing she looked, fearing some sort of bitchy retort but thinking back maybe I should have.
"Kathryn you.." When she looked back at me for whatever reason I couldn't get the words out so instead I asked "what's with the interest in opera."
She shrugged as she stared up at the stage "my father use to take me when I was little."
"Oh and what happened to him? Don't tell me, he found mommy in bed with the pool boy and ditched her right?"
Kathryn's face fell as she looked away and muttered softly "he died."
For some reason this surprised me although it did make a certain kind of sense. In all the time I'd known her Kathryn had never talked about her father, not that I ever cared to ask. Still it gave me a weird sort of insight into the girl. It certainly explained her hatred of men. Letting my hand slid across the armrest I reached out and touched her hand "sorry Kathryn, I didn't-"
"It's not a big deal" she sighed, "it was a long time ago."
I nodded "well at least your father's not around to make your life miserable, like mine."
"Well thank god for small favors" she smirked.
I smiled at her when I looked past her at the older guy seated beside her. He was openly ogling her breasts even though his date was sitting next to him. Leaning over her I said "hey perv, if you don't stop leering at my girls tits I'm going to pull your eyes out of their goddamn sockets, got it?"
The man sputtered and coughed in embarrassed surprise before turning around and averting his eyes from the both of us. Kathryn laughed at this "aren't you full of surprises this evening Sebastian, defending my honor and all that. Tell me what would you have done if he continued to stare down my dress."
"Then I would have gladly took him outside and kicked his ass in" I explain confidently.
She gave me a bemused smile as her fingers lightly caressed my hand. "Keep talk like that and I might want you to win this little bet of ours after all."
My smile crumbled as she mentioned this. I didn't want to think about Jackson right now, I especially didn't want to think about the possibility of him being the one Kathryn was smiling at seductively and caressing. "Let's not talk about the bet tonight, all right?"
"Fine by me" she shrugged as the theater lights started to dim and the crowd fell hushed.
As I sat back in my seat my eyes weren't on the stage but rather Kathryn who's face seemed to light up and her whole body tense in anticipation. I found this new found side of her very appealing, she wasn't the nasty bitch who could only spew put down's and come on's. She looked like a little girl, almost innocent. For whatever reason she never seemed more appealing to me as she did in that moment.
* * * * * *
"So how'd you like it?" Kathryn asked as we locked arms and stepped into the burgundy hallway of the theater.
Truthfully I found the whole experience as dull as any other time I went to the opera and spent most of the time observing my date. Still I lied and said "I found it very stimulating."
She gave out a light throaty laugh at this "ever the bullshit artist Valmont. You looked like you were trying to stay awake the whole time. Admit it you were bored shitless."
"Okay fine" I spat. "I've had root canal's that were a more pleasant experience than that."
"And you call yourself an intellectual..."
"Fine, fine tease all you want but..." Before I could get the thought out I looked past Kathryn and noticed a familiar blond standing only a few feet away. "Oh fuck"
Her eyes went wide in alarm "what is it?"
"Amber Tyler" I sighed "I slept with her last week and I've been avoiding her calls ever since. Shit we need to get out of here before she..."
Amber's bright blue eyes suddenly looked in my direction causing her to exclaim "Sebastian!"
With an amused smile Kathryn whispered "I think we've been spotted. Maybe we should go say hello."
Before she could start over to Amber I grabbed her by the arm and pulled her towards the elevators that led to the upstairs bar area. Luckily the door opened just in time for us to get in. However they wouldn't close and as I looked up I saw Amber coming towards us. "Come on, come on" I groaned hitting the close button. When Kathryn only laughed I snarled at her "this isn't funny."
"Oh just relax Sebastian." Just as I was about to inform her that she wasn't helping any she took me by the back on the head and drew my lips down for a kiss. Her mouth was so soft and warm that I completely forgot about Amber and let go of the button. The elevator doors closed a moment later but we were still entangled in the kiss. My arms wrapped tightly around her waist pulling her towards me as her mouth opened slightly.
Then just as quickly as it happened it stopped. Kathryn pulled away from me with a small smile, leaving me to simply gape at her. Touching my mouth I asked "what was that?"
"Something tells me what's her name won't be following us up here now" she informed me as her tongue brushed over her lips. "Consider that your birthday gift Valmont."
When the elevator doors opened Kathryn walked off first leaving me to stand stupefied in the elevator. Turning her head back she grinned at me, "come of Sebastian buy me a drink."
As I watched her head to the bar I sighed "what the hell?"
It was then I started to think that perhaps this birthday wouldn't suck after all. I had just gotten kissed by the one girl that had managed to hold my attention for longer than five minutes and the night wasn't over yet. Who knows maybe I'd get an advance on my winnings?
With that thought I headed after Kathryn who was already making herself comfortable at the bar. However before I could join her I was stopped in my tracks by a familiar voice, "Sebastian there you are!"
No it wasn't Amber but to my disgust and horror it was Jackson. I grumbled a curse under my breath before turning around. As I did I saw my so called friend make his way towards me in not the most graceful of ways. In fact he practically fell into me as he approached. "Bastian, I've been looking all over for you" he slurred.
Taking a quick look around the room to make sure no one was witnessing this little scene I said "hey Jack, you're drunk."
"No, not really"
"Right" I sighed wishing to god I could just join Kathryn and pretend I never saw the prick. "What are you doing here?"
"Your maid, your maid told me...you were here. Man I need your help with Charlotte."
I rolled my eyes at this as I silently chuckled inside about how pathetic the once great Jackson Maguire was. Before I could make some cutting comment at him however Kathryn appeared from behind wearing a very phony concerned face. "What's going on? Oh Jackson what's wrong?"
He smiled at her "hey Kat, wow you look pretty."
"Thank you"
I scowled "Jack was just leaving. Buddy why don't you go home and sleep it off. Call me in the morning and we'll talk about Charlotte then."
Putting her arm around the unstable asshole Kathryn said "Sebastian you can't let him drive home by himself, not in this condition."
"Why not?" I asked coldly.
Her eyes narrowed at me tauntingly "he's obviously hurting and what kind of friend would you be if you didn't help him?"
I knew she was doing this purposely, not only to get closer to Jackson but also to rub my nose in it. I wanted to tell her to forget about it, no way would I lend a hand to help him but I didn't namely because I knew she would just leave anyway and in doing so she would have the victory of knowing she got to me. Instead I helped Jack to his feat and grumbled "lets go."
* * * * * *
It was that night I got my big idea, the loop hole that would keep Kathryn from winning the bet...or so I thought. Following our non-date I drove Jackson to his empty townhouse and Kathryn insisted on coming along even though I insisted I drop her at home. Then some how when we got there she was the one who took Jackson upstairs to bed and I was left to wonder just what the hell they were doing. The whole car ride home the two of them sat in the back talking quietly, about what I couldn't be sure. All I knew was that I had to put a stop to whatever Kathryn had in mind.
As I was sipping my second scotch of the evening Kathryn at last came down stairs with a small grin on her face. She crawled onto the couch opposite me and said casually "you're still here?"
"So are you I noticed."
"I promised Jackson I'd stay until he wakes up" she explained as she played with the strand of pears around her neck. "Feel free to leave if you like, we'll probably be busy later."
I finished off my drink and slammed it down on the glass table. Kathryn jumped but in the end her smile only widened. "You really think that's all it takes huh? Just a quick roll in the hay and he'll fall in love with you?"
She shrugged "it's been known to happen. Look at you, one kiss from me and you're practically salivating."
"Don't flatter yourself sweetheart, it's long forgotten and I promise you if you nail Jackson it won't be any different."
Kathryn's smile fell and she seemed to realize the truth in the statement. Sitting up on the couch she told me "well then I'll just wait a little while."
I laughed at her "come on admit it Kathryn sex is the only weapon you got. The only chance he'll ever fall for you is if flop on your back and spread those supple thighs of yours."
"Don't be crude"
At that I laughed even harder "that's amusing coming from you. Okay you think it will be so easy to tame Jackson, how about this? You have to make him fall in love with you WITHOUT sex."
Kathryn's green eyes went wide in alarm as she suddenly got to her feet. "Are you serious?"
"Completely" I told her pouring myself another drink. "Of course if you aren't up for the challenge..."
When I saw the momentary look of apprehension flash through her eyes I knew then my idea was perfect. Now not only would Jackson never fuck her but she would likely loose the bet as well. From my point of view it was a win win situation.
At first I thought she wouldn't go along with it but after a minute she looked up at me, eyes blazing in determination, and said "I'm always up for the challenge."
- to be continued (Please Review)
