Summary: Sebastian goes to great lengths to stop Kathryn from winning the bet but all his effort might do him no good when an unexpected problem arises.
Authors Note: This was suppose to be done yesterday. Stupid blackout. Anyway I'm hoping to post the next chapter of Who Are You next. I only have about six more chapters left of that story but I just don't feel inspired to finish it but I will.
Chapter 4: Checkmate Baby
"You're going where?"
"You heard me" came her smug response.
I pulled the phone away from my ear and placed my hand over the receiver then proceeded to let out a loud "FUCK!" I couldn't very well do that into the phone even though at this moment I would have very much liked to. No if I showed that kind of emotion I would be playing into her hands and I couldn't allow that. So with a deep breath I put the phone back to my ear and asked "so what's the plan exactly?"
"No plan" she replied breezily. "Jackson asked me to spend the weekend with him down at the cape and I agreed."
She explains this as if she was telling me she's going to get a manicure. Of course I know she's not nearly so flippant and is probably sitting on the other end of the line with a malevolent smile on her face. Checkmate loser.
I knew when the phone rang early this morning I shouldn't have picked up. It's never good news when it rings this early. I know this and yet I picked up only to hear Kathryn and her absurd travel plans.
I want not to care and yet I do. Our recent amendment to our wager has me on high alert seeing as I know the odds of Kathryn keeping her legs closed while she was on his little holiday were slim to none. Still I wouldn't allow myself to get agitated over this because I knew that was precisely what she was after. Kathryn wanted me to scream, yell, demand that she stay but I wouldn't do it. Instead I inquired in a somewhat bored tone "won't that be a little difficult seeing as you've taken a vow of celibacy where Jackson is concerned?"
"Perhaps" she answered "but I might have a way around your little obstacle."
"Like what?"
Kathryn let out a soft mischievous laugh "oh nothing you should concern yourself with Valmont. Just rest assured that I will follow our agreement to the letter and I WILL make Jackson fall completely in love with me."
This time it was I who scoffed. "We'll see about that. Make no mistake when you return on Monday I'll get a full report from Jack and if you did indeed break our deal and fuck him I'll know about it. Then baby you will be forced to foresight the game and I win."
"Who said I was coming back on Monday?"
"Well you said-"
"I said we were going away, you just assumed for the weekend. No actually we're going away for the next two weeks."
Unable to help myself I exclaimed "two weeks! You honestly think you are going to be able to put him off for TWO weeks?"
There was that amused little chuckle of hers again. "I guess we'll see won't we? Now don't get your panties in a twist Valmont, isn't this what you wanted?"
"Come again?"
"To have Jackson out of your hair and away from your conquests" she reminded me.
It was true, that's how this whole mess started to begin with. With Jack away I could have my pick of the East Coast lovelies but at the moment all I could think about was that he was going away with the only conquest who mattered. I wanted to make up some sort of excuse for her not to go but at the moment I was drawing a blank.
When I didn't give her an answer to her question Kathryn sighed, "look I have to get going. He's picking me up in an hour and I'm still not dressed. I'll talk to you when I get back and if you're a good boy...maybe I'll bring you back a souvenir."
Before I could ask her what she meant by that I was met with a dial tone. With a frustrated yell I slammed the phone back into the receiver causing the sleeping beauty beside me to rise. "Hmm, something wrong?" she murmured.
I gave her a quick glance of disinterest wondering why I had allowed her to sleep over in the first place. Perhaps it was the bag of grass we smoked that made my judgment a little fuzzy or that she had been especially charming last night. Either way I was sick of looking at her and wanted her out of my bed.
Getting to my feet, not bothering to cover my naked form I ordered "do me a favor and leave by the time I get out of the shower." She picked her head up off my pillow and regarded me with disgust. Narrowing my eyes I asked "did I stutter?"
With an annoyed sigh she rolled over and grumbled "fine, whatever."
Something told me based of the events of the previous night that she was enough of a pro to know how the game worked. She'd be gone by the time I came back.
As soon as I was in the bathroom I turned on the shower along with the T.V. beside the mirror sink. I was going to check what the weather was like thinking maybe I'd take my boat out as a way to get my mind of the wager but as I was flipping something else caught my attention. It was one of the those teen films that was being rebroadcast on cable. Now normally those types of movies hold little interest for me but this one did because it featured in a small roll a familiar red head.
The scowl I had been wearing since Kathryn's call suddenly melted into a deviant grin as I watched my one time bed mate and Jackson's former love Charlotte on screen. Just last week poor Jack could barely get out of bed he was so depressed about losing her. I wondered if he was really over her yet. I intended to find out.
Checkmate baby.
* * * * * *
Seeing as Charlotte was no longer in New York I went to the next logical step and got on a plane to California. My parents were once again off on yet another vacation so I didn't have to worry about creating an excuse, not that it would really be necessary. I could fly to Hawaii come back married to an sea captain named Bart and they still wouldn't bat an eye.
If it seemed I might have been putting a little too much effort into winning this bet I suppose you're right but I just couldn't risk losing because I wouldn't just be loosing to Kathryn, I'd be loosing to Jackson. He could have any other girl in New York but not Kathryn. She was mine and refused to share her with that asshole.
It was with this new sense of determination I hunted down Charlotte at the abandoned building that she was filming at. Ironically it was Jackson who helped me find her. Before leaving New York I called up one of his current agents and told her that Jack desperately needed to talk to her so could they please tell me where I could find her. A few minutes later she called back with the info on where she was currently shooting.
I actually expected to be flanked by security and bodyguards but when I pulled my rental car (a silver Porsche) up to the vacant looking building I had no problem getting in. On the contrary when I entered no one seemed to notice me so I hung back waiting to spot Charlotte. It took me a moment to realize she wasn't filming a movie or a commercial but was getting photographed with...a giant bottle of motor oil.
My usual cold demeanor vanished as I snickered in amusement. Apparently without Jackson's influence her career was going down the toilet. This was only good news because I figured now Charlotte would be more than willing to help me break up her ex and his new girlfriend.
After at last spotting Charlotte sitting a few feet away in a makeup chair I approached her. She didn't see me at first seeing as she was far too busy pouting in the mirror. "So this is Hollywood? I'm not really seeing why you and Jackson find it so appealing."
Her eyes went suddenly alert at my presence but she didn't look necessarily pleased. Tightening the white fluffy robe that was wrapped loosely around her she asked "what are you doing here?"
I placed my hands of the back on her chair and leaned into her with a seductive smile. "Why, I'm here to see you of course."
Charlotte looked up at me in the mirror and then turned around suddenly getting to her feat. Looking around briefly she hissed "look you can just go back to Jackson and tell him I'm not interested. No matter how many flowers he sends me or stuffed bears, there's no way I'm taking him back. Not this time, not ever."
"Stuffed bears?" I repeated incredulously. "No Jackson didn't send me with flowers and trinkets, in fact he didn't send me at all."
"Oh" she muttered looking to the ground. I realized then that she probably still had a thing for him which didn't surprise me all that much. Charlotte wasn't the first girl I had seen get hung up on Jackson yet I was hoping she'd agree to my plan. I didn't hold up much hope when her next question was "then what do you want?"
I guess it wasn't so much the question as the nasty tone she used and the look on her face as she asked. Trying to remain pleasant I took her by the shoulders and led her back to her seat. Standing in front of her I explained calmly and professionally "I came with a proposition for you."
"Proposition?" she repeated skeptically. "Look if this is about that night on the boat when we...you know...messed around I'm rather just forget about it if it's all the same to you."
Yeah that's what I'm after from you, I thought rolling my eyes. Dumb bitch actually thought was going after Jackson's sloppy seconds. No fucking way. "Don't flatter yourself baby it has nothing to do with that night. Well at least not what happened between us anyway."
From a distance a booming voice was calling her name. With a tired sigh Charlotte got to her feet and told me with forced politeness "right, well as nice as it's been to see you again Sebastian, I have to get back to work."
I waited a beat until she walked away before I called out to her "how would you like to get back at him?"
Slowly she turned back to me and in that instant I knew her answer. The sadness that had been evident in her emerald eyes suddenly vanished and was replaced with curiosity. Still she was cautious as she walked back to me and in a hushed voice asked "what makes you think I would be interested in that?"
"Gee I don't know, perhaps because he cheated on you and left you to humiliate yourself doing print ads for motor oil."
"Hey I get all my jobs on my own, I don't need to sleep my way to the top" she exclaimed. However after a minute of me staring her down she sighed and admitted glumly "well not all of them but I'm not sure I would want to hurt Jackson. I mean we went through a lot together and I do still care for him."
I nodded understandingly then lowered the boom, "well I thought you'd like to know he's seeing someone else again. You remember my friend Kathryn?"
Moving away from me suddenly her eyes flashed in anger and her body went rigid as she hissed "Kathryn? That girl he was cheating on me with? He's DATING her?!"
A few of the crew members turned to stare at her and the makeup girl who was heading back over turned away when she caught wind of Charlotte's booming voice. Leaning back against the table I smiled "he took her down to his parents house on the cape for the rest of the month. Apparently they are getting serious."
"That son of a bitch" she muttered as she slowly sat back down in her folding chair. Charlotte sat deep in thought for awhile and for a moment I thought she might have forgotten I was there until at last she looked up at me and asked "why are you so interested in this?"
"It's complicated"
"You like her don't you? This Kathryn girl is the reason you want to hurt Jackson."
Looking away I admitted "there are many reasons actually."
"Such as?" she prodded.
"None of your business" I snapped. "Now I'm leaving tomorrow so I have to know now are you in or are you out?"
Charlotte got to her feet then and seemed to take in her surroundings with a look that was part dread, part hesitation. I honestly wasn't sure what she was going to say. I even began to get nervous that she would tell me to go to hell and then turn around and call Jack to tell him what I was up to.
Luckily I didn't have to worry about such a scenario because a moment later she tossed off her robe and turned to me with a decidedly confident grin and asked "when do we leave?"
* * * * * *
The setting couldn't have been more perfect. Central Park in the middle of a sunny July afternoon, surrounded by all of upper crust Manhattan gathered for the annual Warton house charity fashion show. Situated between the seventy second street entrance and the reservoir were two large white tents and a runway down the middle. One tent housed the liquor and ordervs the other the city's favorite debutantes who would be modeling the latest designer fashions in a few minutes. Among them was one such Kathryn Merteuil.
Two days earlier she arrived back home but I had yet to speak with either her or Jackson. I had been waiting until today so I could make my grand entrance with Charlotte on my arm. In theory it would blind side Jack and show Kathryn that I would stop at nothing to secure my winnings.
Sure enough when we arrived there was a soft murmur of voices who took notice and a few of the photographers stopped to take our picture. I took little mind to them though and concentrated on hunting down our target. As she threw smiles at the shutter bugs Charlotte mouthed to me "do you see him?"
Fixing the designer shades on my face I scanned the crowd of well groomed guests looking for Jackson. I spotted him standing by the tent the girls were changing in. When I noticed him staring at us with an atypical hard expression I whispered to my date "he's at your left. Don't look."
Charlotte let out an impatient sigh but judging by the way her hand was shaking I could tell she was more than a little nervous. "Calm down" I whispered in her ear before planting a gentle kiss on her forehead "just be cool."
"Right" she replied none to convincingly. "He's on his way over hear."
"Good and when he gets here don't say anything just make yourself scarce."
She opened her mouth to respond but then firmly shut it when Jackson strode up to us with a deceiving smile. Just as he stopped in front of me Charlotte told me "I'm going to get a drink."
I smiled at her pleasantly as she passed and then turned to my so called friend all chipper like. "Hey Jack, I didn't know you were back all ready. I thought you and Kathryn were staying at the cape for the rest of the summer?"
"No my parents needed the place" he answered coolly. "Sebastian what the hell are you doing? Are you seeing Charlotte now?"
Glancing over at the redhead who was now talking up a senator and his wife over at the bar I continued to smile as if I didn't have a care in the world. "No not really we just ran into each other a few days ago and she asked me to this. I didn't think it would be a big deal since you two are over and everything. You don't mind do you Jack?"
Flinching in surprise he looked down at the ground and then back at me trying his best to form a smile. "No, um no I don't mind. I'm definitely over her...it's just a surprise is all." He was so full of shit and I knew it. The pussy couldn't even look me in the eye which was both pleasing and a little disturbing for I now knew he really did still care for Charlotte. However something else occurred to me that I hadn't thought of before. If Jackson was capable of falling for Charlotte then it was more than possible he could and would fall in love with Kathryn.
Because of this I was a little hesitant about asking my next question but I didn't really see any alternative. I had to know. "So how was your vacation with Kathryn? Frankly I'm surprised you made it back in one piece."
Jackson smiled "it was...it was fantastic. Kathryn is amazing, more so than I ever thought. I mean she seemed like such a bitch at first but there's more to her. She's so different from any other girl I've been with."
I was smiling pleasantly at him but on the inside I was laughing. This loser didn't known Kathryn, he didn't have a clue. He was just falling for the same act she gave all her other former boyfriends and conquests. Jackson couldn't imagine what the real Kathryn was like...then he told me "I mean she's so sexy and smart, witty. The funny thing is no one around here knows what she's really like, they all think she's some kind of angel but man..." he leaned closer to me and laughed "she's so bad! The things she says...and the way she kisses, damn she gets me so worked up. I think I'll go crazy."
Somewhere between witty and she gets me so worked up my smile began to crumble as I listened to my exact description of Kathryn. In fact the Kathryn Jackson seemed to know and the girl I knew appeared to be one in the same but that was impossible. I was the only one who truly knew her, right?
"So you guys are serious?"
Jackson stared off as if in a daze "yeah I guess you could say that. I don't know everything was great except..."
"What?"
"Well we haven't fucked yet, I mean no blow job, no oral, nothing which is strange. I mean after that night on the boat I was sure she was into it and most of the time it seems like she wants to but it never happens. You guys seem pretty tight, has she told you what's up?"
"Maybe she's just not ready yet" I replied flatly.
Before he could press the issue a middle aged society women I recognized as Mrs. Warton was standing at the front of the stage, microphone in hand, trying to get everyone's attention so they could start the show. I followed Jackson over to his table in front and Charlotte soon followed, handing me a glass of champagne and taking a seat beside me. I noticed Jackson glance over at us and frown before turning his attention back to the stage.
Following a quick thank you to the contributors of the benefit, loud but non offending techno much began to blare out of nearby speakers signaling the first girl to strut down the runway. Ten to fifteen girls followed, all pretty and appealing in their own way, some of them I had even fucked before but none of them held my interest for more than a second. As usual Kathryn kept us waiting but in the end it was worth it.
As one of the last girls out Kathryn came strutting down the cat walk in a flowing, strapless white dress that accentuated her curves but made her appear delicate and lady like at the same time. Unlike the other girls Kathryn's movements were far more confident than any eighteen year old had the right to be. She smiled gamely with a hint of a seductive smirk underneath. Yes she looked oh so in control until she got to the end and just as she was turning around her eye caught mine...and then she noticed Charlotte who now had an arm draped protectively over my shoulder. In that half second her smile fell and I saw that brief look of fury. Then as quickly as it appeared it disappeared as she finished her walk up the runway.
"I wonder if she noticed?" Charlotte whispered in my ear.
Smirking I leaned down and kissed her hand before whispering "something tells me she did." I glanced over at Jackson who was busy talking to one of the photographers and told her "I'm going to go backstage and say a hello, why don't you go get reacquainted with our boy."
Getting up from my seat I slipped between the crowded tables and then back inside the white tent which was being over run by half dressed girls. Now normally this was my dream situation but I was on a mission and for once by short attention span was being put on hold. "Hey Sebastian" a curvy blond with a French twist greeted me as she passed.
I smiled at her and was about to go catch her name when I at last spotted Kathryn walking into one of the changing rooms with a glass of champagne. Quickly I made a bee line over to her and followed her inside to find her already guzzling her drink down. I walked in quietly before slamming the door loudly and asking "thirsty?"
She jumped and spun around at my intrusion, quickly wiping her mouth. When she saw it was only me she sighed "god, you scared me."
"I'll bet"
"You're not suppose to be back here but since you are, mind unzipping me?"
I leered at her as I reached for the zipper "do you have to ask?"
"So are you going to tell me what you're doing with her or should I just guess?"
"With who?" I inquired innocently.
Kathryn turned to face me and then slowly let the dress fall to the floor leaving her in a strapless white lace bra and a pair of matching panties. Kicking the expensive garment to the side as if it were a piece of trash she hissed "whatever you are up to with that slut it won't work. You think by bringing her here he'll go running back to her? No fucking way, Jackson is much too smart to fall for your bullshit."
Turning on her heels she stormed over to the vanity table and plopped down in front of it. I watched her intently as she proceeded to put her hair up and I wondered if I really just heard her right. "Jackson's too smart to fall for my bullshit? Are you kidding me?"
"No I'm not so go ahead and plot away but I'll still win." Stopping her movements she looked up at me with a confident gleam in her eye and revealed "he's practically in love with me already."
Scowling I leaned down and reveled "that's not the way he tells it. I talked to him before the show started and he told me all about your vacation."
She turned around quickly, her face anxious as she asked "what did he tell you?"
"Why are you so interested?" Gently touching her face remarked "I thought you had victory in the bag?"
"Valmont..."
"He wants to know why you won't sleep with him. Says you came close but you always pull away."
Kathryn's green eyes stared off lost in thought as she admitted "we almost did a couple of times. This one night on the beach..." Noticing that I was staring at her she looked back at me suddenly cold "but we didn't. So you should be pleased I'm following the rules of the wager."
"Yes but it has to be somewhat frustrating" I noted letting my finger tips caress her arms. "Do you really think you can go without any...release?"
"I think I can find some sort of suitable replacement in the meantime."
Leaning in closer I said "maybe I could help. I seem to recall a certain birthday gift you gave in the elevator..."
Kathryn stood up suddenly and replied "not interested."
Grabbing her roughly I forced her back down and snarled "you can't tell me that kiss didn't do anything for you."
"It was all right" she shrugged. "I've had better."
"Such as?" When I was met with only a coy smile my eyes narrowed and I yelled "him?! You prefer him to me?"
Shifting closer to me until her mouth grazed my earlobe Kathryn whispered "what if I did?"
It was then I realized there was a very real possibility that not only would I loose the bet but I might very well loose Kathryn. All along I was sure there was no way Jackson would fall for her. The idea that she could fall in love with him never crossed my mind. Kathryn was after all too hard, too cold, too in control to ever be guided by her emotions. Then again she was an eighteen year old girl who maybe I didn't know as well as I thought I did.
Pulling away from her I breathed "my god, you really like him don't you?"
"What?" she exclaimed. "Don't be retarded Valmont, it's just a bet."
"Yeah I'm fully aware of that but are you?"
Standing up she walked to the other side of the room and huffed "of course I do."
I watched her for a moment seeing that she was purposely avoiding my stare. Truth be told I couldn't figure out if it was all in my head or if she really did like Jackson. Getting to my feet I grabbed her from behind and pulled her towards me. "Prove it" I whispered.
Before she had a chance to act I crushed my lips to her hers and pressed my body flush against hers. Immediately I felt her nails dig into my chest, equal parts pushing me away and pulling me closer. When she started to pull away I grabbed at the back on her head and pressed her even closer. At last she gave in and kissed me back, tugging at my hair as I kissed her hard and furious.
Kissing Kathryn was almost like getting kissed for the first time. It was a completely new sensation that was both exciting and a little frightening. I was sure as we made out that she was into it, she was into me. But in the end I couldn't tell if she was just trying to prove a point or if she wanted me as much as I wanted her.
I decided to see how far I could push things by letting my hand crepe down to her panties. Just as I was sliding two fingers inside she pulled away completely breathless, "we're done now."
"Am I being dismissed?"
"Jackson will be here any minute and I'd hate to have to tell him how you attacked me first by taking my dress off then forcing yourself on me."
I cocked an eyebrow at her "well it's nice to know your sense of malevolence hasn't changed any."
"And it never will. Now get the fuck out"
When she turned her back on me I thought about saying something back, something witty or cutting that would make her turn and face me. Just as I opened my mouth however I heard Jackson come up behind me. "Hey baby" he called "you were amazing."
Kathryn, now dressed turned at the sound of his voice and smiled "I've been waiting for you."
As she threw her arms around him and they embraced I slowly backed out of the room. For the first time in my life I felt invisible. Kathryn didn't acknowledge me when I left, she had eyes only for Joshua. I knew then things were changing and not even I could stop them.
- to be continued (Please Review)
