Summary: Kathryn and Vincent have a falling out which leads her to confront Sebastian for setting her up. He insists one way or another the truth is coming out and soon.
Authors Note: Sorry for my lack of updates lately on my various stories but I've been busy, especially with this chapter which took forever. I know this was suppose to be the FINAL chapter but it would have been just too long so this is the final chapter with a much shorter epilogue coming soon. Thanks for your patience and keep reading. Also for your convenience a recap...
Recap: It seemed Kathryn and Sebastian had finally separated for good when she went off to heal from her accident and Sebastian tried to move on. Two years later she comes back with a new boyfriend Vincent, who just happens to be an old friend of Sebastians. She throws a party and attempts a prank on Valmont which backfires when he inadvertently lets the world know he's still in love with her and interrupts Vincent's marriage proposal. The next day he puts aside his pride and admits he really does still love her and want to be with her. After sleeping together Kathryn admits she wants the same thing but doesn't want to hurt Vincent. They make a pact that if Sebastian can break them up without hurting Vincent she'll own up to her feelings for him and devote herself to Sebastian. Valmont arranges for a reluctant Annette to seduce Vincent away from Kathryn, who upon hearing this new plan decides to withhold sex from Sebastian until she and Vincent are effectively broken up. The plan starts to work but hits a few snags when Annette starts to develop real feelings for Vincent and Kathryn drops the bombshell that Vincent wants them to head back to Italy. Sebastian is forced to do something drastic to make sure she stays in New York so he instructs Annette to tell Vincent every dirty detail she knows about Kathryn. At the good bye party a suspicious Kathryn corners Sebastian and demands to know what he is up to. She gets distracted when she spots Cecile arrive with Court and verbally attacks them. Vincent witness this and is stunned to see Kathryn treat his niece in such a way.
Chapter 22: The Truth Is Out There
The door of the Four Seasons nicest suite was violently thrown open. The heavy metal smacked against the opposite wall loudly, shuddering across the elegant room. In it's wake a porcelain vase knocked over falling to the marble floor in a million pieces. It was from the Eighteenth century, very valuable however the guest didn't even notice. At the moment she was far too angry.
Kathryn stormed into the living room area of the suite and made an immediate bee line towards the bar. Her boyfriend Vincent followed behind her, much more calm but just as angry. He loosened his tie as he watched her uncork the scotch bottle. Once the door was closed behind them and they were indeed alone his calmness melted away and he bellowed "how the hell could you humiliate me in such a way? You completely disgraced me tonight!"
Whirling around with her drink in her hand she shouted back "ME!? How about you? You completely embarrassed me in front of all my friends! You dragged me out of that party like some sort of child!"
"That's because you were acting like one" Vincent snarled at her in his broken English.
Had she not been so angry Kathryn might have admitted it was true. He had caught her in a rather bad moment but then again, it was a moment he was somewhat responsible for seeing as he neglected to tell her he was related to none other than Cecile Caldwell. Turning away from him she took a long, slow, satisfying drink of her scotch as she thought back to the nights events. She knew something was going to go down and sure enough she had been right. Sebastian had set her up, that son of a bitch.
How the hell was she suppose to know Vincent and Cecile were related? After all what did an well cultured, intelligent, Italian Count have in common with an insipid, spoiled brat social light? Vincent had told her once he had family in the states but he never elaborated and of course Kathryn had never told him about her past with Cecile. Well he knew all about it now thanks to Sebastian. He completely let her go off on the little tramp knowing full well her connection to her boyfriend. Realizing that he indeed set her up an angry Kathryn suddenly threw her glass against the opposite wall and screamed "bastard!"
Grabbing her by the arms, Vincent forced her to turn around. "What is wrong with you?"
"He set us up!"
"Who?"
"Sebastian! He knew Cecile was your niece and he purposely made sure I went off on her."
Vincent shook his head, completely baffled as to what she was talking about. "How is this Sebastian's fault and why would he do such a thing? He's our friend."
Kathryn snickered at this "Valmont's nobody's friend."
"Why are you accusing him of this?" He repeated.
She was about to respond but quickly stopped herself. What was she going to say, Sebastian wanted to break them up so he could have her for himself. By the way she wanted that also. No, now was not the time for the truth. Looking away she muttered lamely "I don't know. I guess I just want someone to blame."
Vincent sighed "forget about Sebastian. I want to know if it is true what you said to my niece. Did you do all those horrible things to her?"
Kathryn's first instinct, as it always was, was to deny it. Lie, manipulate do whatever she had to get back on his good side. However something stopped her. Maybe it was just general curiosity or the scotch but instead of denying outright the accusations she asked "what if I did?" Slowly she approached him and continued on in a mocking tone "what if I really did do all those horrible things to poor dimwitted Cecile?"
Vincent looked back at her with his steely gaze. "Then I guess that makes you a monster."
She sneered as she turned away from him. "Then you have your answer don't you?"
Charging up to her again he pleaded "how could you do it Kathryn? How could you-"
"She got in my way!" She screamed at him as she yanked out of his grasp. "And we both know how I hate that."
"But she was innocent!"
"Oh spare me, she was not! She's a spoiled, arrogant little brat who doesn't know the first thing about the real world!"
Vincent snickered at this. "The same could be said of you love."
Kathryn's eyes widened in anger as her hands balled into fists. "How dare you compare me to that...that...I made her! I showed her everything! She'd be the biggest joke in Manhattan if I didn't take her under my wing. I may have fucked the little princess over but I also helped her. I showed her things her idiot mother and none of her nit wit friends would ever have shown her. The bitch should be grateful."
During her tirade Vincent said nothing. He just shook his head sadly at her and finally he turned away and muttered "Annette was right."
"What was that?"
"Earlier this evening Annette came to me and told me things...about you. She accused you of ruining her relationship with Sebastian, playing games with both their lives. She also told me you were responsible for your brothers accident a couple years ago." Vincent looked back at her angry. "I didn't believe her, I called her a liar. I thought you could never do such things. Not my Kathryn. I'm starting to think I was sorely mistaken."
Taking all this in Kathryn was shocked but at the same time she wasn't. She knew Annette wouldn't be able to keep her mouth shut about how she really felt about her for long. "That's two faced little-"
"Are you denying it?" He interrupted her rant. "Is she telling the truth."
She shook her head "what does it matter what I say seeing as you obviously believe it. And why wouldn't you? Sweet little Annette would never do anything wrong unlike me. Perhaps that's why you prefer her to me in more ways than one."
"Oh you're drunk" he sighed exasperated.
"No I'm more than sober at the moment unfortunately. I know all about you seeing that little martyr behind my back. Going to lunch and the museum. You've been cheating on my for weeks. So are you going to deny it?"
Vincent shook his head "no I'm not. I have been seeing Annette but it's been only platonic. She is my friend only that."
Kathryn knew this to be true but she also knew Vincent likely wanted more. "You want her don't you?"
"You're being ridiculous. I'm leaving."
"Are you in love with her?" She screamed at his back.
"No!" He screamed back over his shoulder. "I'm in love with you but lord knows why!"
Kathryn was about to respond when she looked up and spied Annette standing in the foyer. "Well it appears your little girlfriend has come to pay you a visit."
Vincent looked back at her confused then turned around and saw Annette. He let out a tired sigh "what are you doing here?"
She looked back and forth between the couple before replying timidly "I just wanted to see if you were okay."
He didn't answer her but instead said to no one in particular "I'm leaving."
Without another word he strut past Annette and headed for the door. Following him Kathryn angrily demanded "where are you going?" When he didn't reply she yelled "Vincent!"
He left slamming the door behind him. Kathryn stood watching in shock, completely stunned that he was walking out on her. As she processed this Annette commented dryly "guess I don't have to ask what that was about?"
Kathryn spun on her heel facing her nemesis. "You had to open your big mouth didn't you goldilocks? Too self righteous for your own good, you couldn't leave well enough alone." Stepping closer to her she sneered "I knew we never should have trusted you. At the first opportunity you stabbed me in the back, filling Vincent's head with all that bullshit-"
"Excuse me" Annette spoke up "I hate to interrupt your psychotic little rant but which part exactly was bullshit? The part where you destroyed my relationship with Sebastian, when you nearly got him killed, or when you lied to him for months about what really happened? You did all those things Kathryn and Vincent has the right to know about the woman he wants to marry."
"Says who little miss holier than thou? Vincent doesn't need to know about anything in the past, you only wanted him to know so you could have him for yourself." Kathryn let out a short laugh "well that plan worked wonders. He thinks you're nothing more than a lying little instigator now."
Annette seemed to study her a moment. There was a look in her eyes that said she knew something Kathryn didn't. It made the brunette more than a little uneasy. "You're right I do like Vincent. He's a good and kind man who you don't deserve however I didn't tell him the truth because I wanted him for myself."
Kathryn rolled her eyes "oh?"
"I told him because Sebastian asked me to."
Her green eyes went wide as saucers as she took this in. "S-Sebastian did this?" Turning away from the blond she marveled "that fucking asshole. I can't believe he would do this to me?"
"Why? You told him to make sure Vincent didn't take you back to Italy. He was desperate to keep you here so yeah, he resorted to some drastic measures. It's what you wanted isn't it?"
"I told him I did not want Vincent hurt!"
"No you said you didn't want Vincent to find out you were seeing Sebastian."
Kathryn's face grew serious "did you tell him about us?"
Annette snickered "that's what this is all about isn't it? You're so worried about Vincent finding out but not because you don't want to see him hurt. No you're using him."
"Using him?"
"Yes to hide behind. With Vincent around you have a reason not to be with Sebastian. You're safe."
She shook her head annoyed and turned away. "That's ridiculous."
"Yeah it is but it doesn't make it any less true. You're afraid to commit yourself to Sebastian. Lets face it he's pretty much the only man who's ever excepted and loved you for the person you are and if you screw that up you'll have no one. There's always been obstacles between you and Sebastian being together. Your parents, me, and now Vincent but once he discovers the truth, that you've been lying to him all these weeks, there will be nothing keeping you from being with Sebastian and that terrifies you. That's why you're so desperate to make sure Vincent doesn't learn the truth."
Annette had hit a nerve and she knew it. Her rival didn't reply she just stared into space lost in thought. She would have given anything to know what Kathryn was thinking that moment but she didn't give anything away. Instead she turned to her and asked "is Sebastian still downstairs?"
"No I think he left."
Without another word Kathryn ran past her and headed out the door leaving Annette behind to wonder what just happened.
A few blocks away Sebastian stood out on his balcony, leisurely smoking a cigarette. He looked down at the busy street below as if he was awaiting something. Indeed he was.
Thinking back to the party earlier that night he allowed himself a smirk. Things had gone just as he planned and this didn't surprise him. Valmont's plans rarely if ever hit a snag but he was amused at just how well everything worked out. Kathryn had taken the bait just as he knew she would. As soon as she laid her pretty green eyes on Cecile she lost it and right in front of poor unsuspecting Vincent. Evidently his friend didn't know his beloved as well as he thought he did for Vincent acted utterly shocked at Kathryn's supreme nastiness. He all but dragged the social light out of her own party, no doubt effectively pissing her off in the process.
This of course would all benefit Sebastian in the long run. Kathryn would undoubtedly be furious when she pieced together what he did but she'd get over it once she realized he did it for them. He would make sure she got over it.
Not five minutes later he watched as a black limo pulled up to his building. Just as he suspected his favorite brunette bounded out of it, not even bothering to wait until the driver came around to open the door for her. Judging by the way she stormed into the building he could tell he was in for one hell of a fight. However he wasn't daunted, he simply sighed as he carelessly flicked his cigarette bud over the ledge and strolled back inside.
As Sebastian got half way into the room he could hear the sound of Kathryn's heels slamming against the marble stairs. He chuckled out loud as she screamed obscenities at the maids in Spanish, no doubt knocking the poor women to the ground in an effort to get to him quicker. Valmont crossed his arms to his chest and leaned back against his antique desk, readying for the battle to come.
"VALMONT!" She bellowed for down the hall "WHERE THE FUCK ARE YOU!?"
He smiled faintly as he called out in a sing song voice "in here sweet pea."
A second later the doors of his study were thrown open as Kathryn came thundering into the room. "You son of a bitch" she hissed as she headed right for him.
"Good evening to you too. To what do I-" he was suddenly and violently interrupted by a right hook to the jaw. Sebastian stumbled back against the desk as his face began to tingle with pain. "Jesus Christ, what the hell is wrong with you?"
"What's wrong with me?" She repeated incredulously. Kathryn raised her hand and smacked him once again across the face. "What the hell do you think is wrong with me asshole?"
He groaned as he straightened himself out and sneered "I take it things didn't go well with Vincent. What didn't you bat your eyelashes at him hard enough or perhaps you bedroom skills are losing their appeal."
Her eyes widened in anger as she once again raised her hand readying to hit him. However before Kathryn could make contact Sebastian grabbed her by the arms and pushed her forcefully back into the armchair behind her. Leaning over her he told her evenly "look you might be cute when you're angry but I'm not a fucking punching bag so knock it off unless you'd like me to return the favor. Just calm down."
As he stood back up and took a step back from her she didn't hop back out of her seat like he expected. No she stayed where she was, clutching the wooden arms of the chair as she stared daggers up at him. They eyed each other for a long moment with no one saying anything. Finally Kathryn spoke, her voice ice cold as she hissed "you set me up."
Sebastian snickered "set you up? A little dramatic don't you think princess."
She shook her head at him desperately trying to contain her anger. "You knew Cecile was Vincent's niece and you purposely made sure I would attack her and he would witness it."
"I did?" He replied mocking her. "Wow I must be a sort of Hudenie to pull that off. If so I'm quite impressed with myself."
"Fuck you!" She hollered. "You set me up to make a fool of myself in front of Vincent and then had the audacity to sell me out to that bitch Annette. What were you two plotting behind my back this whole time? I knew I never should have trusted you!"
"Oh Kathryn for the love of...no one is plotting behind your back. After everything we've been through how can you still be so paranoid?"
"Easy" she huffed getting to her feet. "It wouldn't be the first time you turned on me when your feelings got hurt."
Sebastian's face hardened at the mocking tone she used. "Do you really want to go there?"
Kathryn looked as if she was about to argue but then stopped herself. Instead she walked around the desk and began opening the drawers furiously. Finally she pulled out a document and thrust it at him angrily. "You swore to me Valmont! You promised you wouldn't tell Vincent about us."
He read over their agreement once again and sighed "did I break my promise?"
"DID you tell him?"
"What if I did? What if I told him all about us, what would you do? Just because I might have broken my promise that doesn't erase what I feel for you or what you feel for me."
She scoffed as she turned away from him "I don't know what I feel for you anymore."
Coming up behind her he placed his hands on waist and pressed his face against her neck. "You love me" Valmont whispered against her skin. "And I love you. You belong with me."
"Vincent loves me too" she responded softly. "I can't just ignore that."
Something in Sebastian snapped in that moment. Pulling away from her he slammed his fist on the desk and hollered "he doesn't love you! He loves that porcelain doll princess you pretend to be. The debutante who's sweet and gracious and the perfect hostess at dinner parties. But the real Kathryn, my Kathryn, he barely knows her."
"That's not true" she replied weakly.
"Oh really? Tell me how did Vincent react when you chewed out that cunt Cecile? Did he think it was funny, did he think it was deserved, did it turn him on a little?"
"No fuckwit it was his niece, how do you think he reacted?"
"I think he would react the same exact way if you had done it to a perfect stranger. Oh and for the record I never told him anything about us. All I did was have Annette plant some seeds of doubt in his head about you which evidently worked. It didn't take much for him to think the worst of you did it sweetheart. Tell me is that what you want, someone who has such little faith in you?"
Kathryn seemed to consider this a moment as she eyed him wearily. "Do you have faith in me?"
Calming down a little he replied "I have faith in us, what we could be together. What I did tonight was all so we could have a future. He was going to take you away from me and short of god forbid telling him the truth, I set up this ridiculous plan. It was all for you but if you can't see that then fine, stay with Vincent. I give up."
Sebastian started for the door, not really sure where he was heading. He just needed to not look at her right now. He couldn't stand to see the hesitation in her eyes. Just as he reached the doorway however Kathryn called out "Sebastian wait."
He stopped but didn't look back at her. "Why?"
A pause. "Because I do love you."
A smile slowly spread across his face at her words. It had been forever since he heard her say that to him. Momentarily forgetting his anger he rushed back to her and gathered her in his arms. Quickly his mouth found hers and he kissed her deeply and passionately with all the love he had ever had for her. Kathryn returned the kiss but only briefly. "Wait, Sebastian stop" she protested pulling away.
"What?" He groaned irritated. "You said you loved me so why can't we-"
"Nothings changed, I can't just forget about Vincent."
"Why not?" Sebastian huffed like an angry child.
"Because he matters to me and I'm not going to hurt him like that. Look I just need time okay? I'll make sure we don't go back to Italy...some how but I need a few weeks to break things off with him. I'll make him see that he's better off without me, I'll do something but please just back off and give me some time."
He shook his head miserably and grunted "it will never be the right time. Something will always be in the way but fine if you want to drag this out longer then fine do it." Stepping closer to her Sebastian suddenly reached out and gripped her by the face. His eyes burned intently into hers as he added "just remember something. Every time he looks at you, every time he smiles at you just remember...I love you more."
Letting go of her abruptly Sebastian turned away desperate to hide from her just how upset he really was. Meanwhile he left Kathryn standing there shell shocked as if she had just been punched in the gut. She knew Sebastian loved her, she always had known but for some reason it hadn't really sunk in until that moment. Slowly she found herself walking over to him. Gently she took him by the arm and forced him around. Without a word she slumped her head against his chest. He caressed her hair, wrapping his arms around her while she breathed in his scent. "All right" she muttered against his chest.
"All right what?"
Kathryn sighed then murmured almost inaudibly "tell him."
Not sure he had actually heard her right Sebastian pulled her away. He didn't need to ask because it was written all over her face. It wasn't defeat or anger but something else. Valmont couldn't be sure but it looked like something resembling love and possibly...trust. Before he could think to question her further and ask what brought on this sudden change of heart Kathryn leaned forward and captured his mouth in a kiss. Never one to resist her physical advances Sebastian eagerly returned the sentiment and what started off as tender kissing soon grew much more aggressive.
Still locked in a heated clutch the two stumbled back to the desk. Kathryn pulled herself up and sat at the edge, effectively spreading her legs in the process. Sebastian continued to bruise her mouth with his kisses but his hands wandered down to the hem of her long white gown. Without much subtly he yanked the dress upwards until it was around her waist. His hands then slid down to her warm, soft thighs. He massaged them, enjoying the way her silky skin felt against his fingers tips. Kathryn moaned against his mouth while her own hands slid around his neck in order to draw him down further to her.
Sebastian was just about to pick her up and carry her back to the bedroom when the sound of approaching footsteps awoke them from their erotic fog. They both simultaneously pulled away and looked at each other wide eyed. "Who-"
He pressed his finger to her mouth silencing her. Sebastian turned and scurried over to the door. He peered down the curving staircase and sure enough there was Rosario his maid leading Vincent up to his room. "Shit" Sebastian muttered. Quickly he spun back around and told a confused Kathryn "it's Vincent. Go wait in my room, I'll handle this."
Perhaps for the first and possibly the only time in their relationship Kathryn didn't put up a fight. Instead she straightened out her dress and quickly made her way out the opposite door a half a second before Vincent came walking through the other one. "Mr. Vincent to see you sir" Rosario announced before walking out the door from which she came.
Somehow Sebastian managed to produce a smile even though at that moment in time he was feeling anything but joyous seeing as he was about to break his best friend's heart. "Hey Vincent, what's going on?"
He offered a weak smile "I know it's late...but it's important."
"I'm guessing, you don't look so good." Indeed he wasn't exaggerating, the always well groomed Italian man was looking a little worn around the edges. No doubt Kathryn was the cause of this. Wanting to move things along as quickly and smoothly as possible he suggested as much. "So I take it this has to do with what happened at the party tonight?"
Vincent nodded glumly as he walked over to one of the leather couches beside the window and took a seat. "I fear perhaps I made a mistake letting myself fall for her."
Oh you think so? Sebastian replied sarcastically to himself. Although he did indeed care for Vincent as a friend he rather thought he was smarter than this when it came to women. "Well I warned you before, Kathryn She's got a dark side."
"After tonight I'm well aware of that" he replied stonily. "I always knew she had a temper but what she did to my niece...the things she said to her. I had no idea she could be so vindictive and ruthless."
"Yes some of her best qualities" he chuckled. When Vincent looked over at him startled he covered quickly "I'm kidding. Look perhaps Kathryn isn't the one for you. If she isn't the person you thought she was maybe you should just break things off before either one of you get hurt."
Vincent got to his feet and paced across the desk. "Perhaps" he mused out loud. "It's just..."
"What?"
Stopping mid stride he looked over at his friend and confessed "I love her Sebastian."
He scowled at his reply and his heart sank. This was going to be more difficult than he thought. "How can you love her? You barely know her" Sebastian asked coldly.
"No I do know her" Vincent insisted. "I know she acts tough and she has this darker side but there's more to her than that. I can't just forget the girl I fell in love with."
Crossing the room Sebastian looked out the window at the night sky as he contemplated which weapon in his arsenal he should use next. "And there's no one else?"
"Someone else?" Vincent parroted back. "What are you talking about?"
He waited a beat before replying "Annette."
Vincent strode over to him and angrily demanded "what makes you think-"
Sebastian chuckled darkly "I have eyes okay. It's perfectly obvious that you two are into each other. Anyone can see it, hell I'm sure even Kathryn has noticed it by now." Out the corner of his eye Valmont noticed him flinch and he smirked "I take it I'm right."
"She suspects something...but it's nothing."
"Obviously it is if you're still seeing her" he drawled as if the whole subject bored him. "Tell me is that the real reason you were so desperate to get back to Italy, trying to run from your feelings for Annette?"
Vincent contemplated this for a moment and Sebastian was quite proud that his bullshit amateur psychiatry might actually have worked. "Maybe it was."
"Then you're going to have to make a choice aren't you? Kathryn is nothing like Annette and you can't make her into that image and vice versa. Also I can tell you from experience that neither girl is particularly patient so you're going to have to make up your mind quick." Vincent nodded dully as he seemed to think it over. "I'm going to go downstairs to get you something. I often find bourbon can be quite useful when making decisions."
"Thank you my friend"
Sebastian ducked out of the room and crossed the hall to his bedroom. Kathryn was sitting back waiting anxiously to find out what happened.
Meanwhile Vincent took a seat at his friends desk as he considered the two women in his life. He was carelessly tapping Valmont's ball-point pen against the desk when something caught his eye, a piece of paper with his name on it...
"So how did it go?" Kathryn demanded as she bolted upright.
Closing the door to the bedroom Sebastian crossed over to her. He smiled confidently "I think I'm well on my way to talking him into dumping you."
"That actual sounds like good news."
"It is, this way we don't have to break his heart, he can break yours and what little conscience we have will be cleared."
The brunette smiled deviously quite pleased at this turn of events.
A few minutes later Sebastian headed back to his study with a bottle of bourbon determined to steer Vincent away from Kathryn and into Annette's arms. However as he entered the room he was surprised to find it empty. "Vincent?" When he received no answer he walked further into the room and noticed a sheet of paper laying idly on the ground. Setting the bottle down he scooped it up and read it. It was the document he has signed with Kathryn agreeing to break them up with the promise of getting her in the end. It had been a joke really but now it seemed as dangerous as a loaded gun. Realizing then that Vincent must have read it he cursed "fuck!"
Immediately he ran out of the room and scrambled down the stairs and out the front door. Sebastian desperately looked around hoping to spot his friend or his car. When he saw neither he turned back around defeated and was quickly met with a hard blow to his face. His third hit of the night and he most definitely felt it for this time it was a decidedly masculine hand doing the punching. Unprepared for the blow Sebastian immediately fell to the ground. Clutching his face he looked up to find Vincent standing over him looking very angry and very hurt.
"You son of a bitch" he sneered as he delivered a kick to his stomach. "You back stabbing prick!" Vincent proceeded to kick him hard while swearing at him in Italian. Sebastian somehow managed to get out from underneath him eventually and stumbled over to the curb. A moment later Vincent came stalking over to him and swiftly grabbed him by the collar and slammed him against Kathryn's limo. His face only inches from Valmont's he hissed "you set me up...all this time I thought you were my friend but you were after her the whole time. You, the two of you" he grasped for the words "you were lying to me all this time. Fucking her, my Kathryn..."
"No MY Kathryn" that was the absolute wrong thing to say at this time but Sebastian couldn't help himself. His inner asshole kicked in.
Vincent of course acted accordingly and proceeded to pound the shit out of him against the roof of the car. He hit him until his fists hurt and Sebastian couldn't feel it any longer. Finally giving up he sneered "you're not worth it. Neither of you are."
As he backed away Sebastian pulled himself up to a standing position. He watched as his former friend crossed the street to his awaiting Mercedes. He could have just let him go but he wanted to settle this for good and perhaps try to salvage some part of their relationship. "Vincent" he called out as he stumbled across the street. "Wait a second and at least hear me out."
Turning around mid stride the Italian once again grabbed him violently and slammed him against the car. "I don't want to hear your excuses! Their are no excuses for what you've done! I read your little paper and I know you were playing me ever since I arrived here."
Sebastian pushed him away and stepped back. "Look Kathryn and I began long before she met you. We have a history together. I'm in love with her and I wasn't about to give her up to anyone, not even you."
"Oh is that suppose to make me feel better?" He demanded with uncharacteristic sarcasm.
"It's the truth! The only reason we went through all of this bullshit was to keep you from getting hurt."
Vincent snickered obviously far from convinced. "Right, this was all for my well being. You expect me to believe you and that little bitch know the first thing about being selfless? No you did this for your own twisted reasons."
Before Sebastian could respond to that Vincent once again punched him only this time Valmont didn't lay idly back and take it. Blocking the hit he quickly delivered one of his own and then another and another. The two boys fought stumbling back between the front of Vincent's car and the back of one of Sebastian's neighbors BMW's. Eventually they fell to the ground both groaning as their bodies slammed against the blacktop. Sebastian was the first to get his barrings and quickly got to his knees and bent over Vincent hitting him. He wasn't even sure at this point why he was attacking him when he was the one who deserved it to get the shit beat out of him. Perhaps it was all that bottled up resentment he had felt for these past weeks. Watching his friend with the love of his life.
"SEBASTIAN!" He looked up at the sound of his name and saw Kathryn standing across the street watching them horrified. In a quieter tone she said "Sebastian stop."
Slowly he lowered his fist and looked down at his friend who's face was now bloody and bruised much like his own. Getting to his feet Sebastian looked back at Kathryn who now seemed relieved the fight was over. Watching her standing there looking so beautiful in her white dress and so vulnerable at the same time Sebastian melted. It was finally over. There was nothing more than could come between them. She was finally his.
So happy and near delirious with this thought he forgot about everything, including Vincent who was weakly trying to pull himself up. Sebastian started to make his way across the street when a car turned the corner and seemingly out of nowhere side swiped him. He was immediately propelled backwards and fell to the ground in a crumpled heap.
As Kathryn watched him her heart stopped for a moment she was sure of it. Watching him lying on the side of the road so still she snapped out of it quickly and darted over to him "SEBASTIAN!"
Ignoring the driver who was now out of his car, surveying the damage, she knelt down beside her love. Turing him over she gasped at the bloody beating his face had taken but she was more alarmed by his seeming unconscience. Cradling his head in her lap Kathryn pleaded softly "Sebastian, Sebastian can you hear me? You're going to be fine. Please open your eyes, please."
Crying now a few of her tears trickled onto his face as slowly his bruised eyelids began to flutter open. Slowly they tried to focus and as they did he looked up into her face as if he was trying to put something together. After a while he asked "w-who are you?"
For the second time in the past five minutes her heart stopped and it showed all over her face.
"Just kidding" Sebastian chuckled.
Epilogue Coming Soon
(I promise this time!)