For the second time in three days, Katie found herself in Danny's bed…lying against him trying to even out her breathing after experiencing an intense climax. When she finally felt able to move her legs, she started to get up, but Danny quickly stopped her. He took hold of her arms and rolled on top of her…essentially pinning her to the bed. "Not so fast. I'm not letting you go without some answers this time."
Katie looked up at him and rolled her eyes. She made a couple of half-hearted attempts to push him off, but really she didn't want him to let her go. "I've already told you everything. There are no answers. There's just reality. And the reality is that I am getting married in less than a month."
"I don't get it. Who the hell is Eric Mathews? He's ten years old than you. And according to the gossip columns, he's nailed half the socialites and several actresses in Manhattan. What gives?" he asked as he searched her eyes and continued to lightly hold her wrists against the pillow.
"I met him a year ago at a friend's party. It was love at first sight…for both of us. He's not 'nailing' anyone else but me now," she replied knowing that she was stinging Danny with her words. "And I know you, Danny. I'm sure you haven't been celibate for four years."
Danny tightened his grip for an instant and let his weight fall against her. Her breath caught as she felt the strength of his body. "Love at first sight, huh? So I'm gonna ask you again…if you love him so much, then what are you doing here with me?" he asked as he looked in her eyes.
"I don't know," she replied breathlessly feeling a combination of arousal and emotion. "I'm confused. And you're not making it any easier."
When he saw the tears come to her eyes, he felt bad…so he let go her, rolled away and fell back on his pillow. She covered herself with a pillow and sat back against the headboard. Then, out of the blue, she asked, "Did I ever tell you what made me fall in love with you?"
Danny looked up at her as she wiped a couple of tears from her eyes. "No, I don't think so. I always kind of thought it was born out of pity…"
"No…no…I fell for you way before I found out how hard your life was. You're locker was right across from mine my freshman year. You didn't know I existed. There was this freshman scholarship student. I think her name was Katina…."
"Katina Mobley…she bussed in from the South Bronx everyday," Danny interrupted.
"Right, Katina Mobley. Do you remember how little she was? I swear she was barely five feet tall. A couple of Brentland jerks were giving her a hard time. They'd pretend to be nice, but then they'd be cruel. It was really…awful. And you stepped in…you tried to divert their attention from Katina to you. And then I think you threatened to break their legs or something…."
"That's what got you?" Danny asked disbelieving.
"No…after the guys took off, you sat next to Katina and talked to her. You made her feel better about herself…because those boys tried to tear a part any self-respect she had. I just remember listening to you talking to her with such compassion, and…that's when the feelings started. I think I built you up into this perfect figure."
"I didn't know."
"I started watching you…almost immediately. I'd watch you with Payton…and I wished it was me."
"I'm surprised that didn't diminish my so-calledperfect imagein your eyes. That's not something I'm particularly proud of…"
"I know. When we finally did meet, I literally prayed that you would see the light about Payton. I wish that whole thing wouldn't have been so painful for you. But Danny…I don't think I fell in love with you…but more the idea of you. You were so different from anyone I'd ever met before."
"I was a novelty?" he asked in a slightly hurt tone.
"And I was a child. I really believed that we could run away and live happily ever after. And maybe we could have…but who knows. You want to know why I'm here? I'm here because you represent the innocent time in my life. Everything changed after I left you that day in your dorm. I guess I just wanted to capture that feeling again…that naïve, innocent feeling of unblemished love. That love I always read about in plays and books. It's not real, Danny. What we had…and whatever we have now…. it's not real."
"It could be real…if you wanted it to be…" he said as he looked up at her. "Is this about your family? Are you marrying Eric because it will make your parents happy?"
Katie sighed again and laughed. "On the contrary…my father hates Eric Mathews…and hates the Mathews family."
Danny sat up and leaned against the headboard next to her. "I don't understand…"
"My father and Eric's father have been enemies for years. Mr. Mathews crossed my father at some point…and you know how dangerous it can be to cross my father. And then two years ago, Eric represented stockholders in a class action lawsuit again my father. They won a huge settlement. So…needless to say…my father was not happy when I started dating Eric. And he was pissed beyond comprehension when we got engaged, but appearances are appearances. So he is throwing me the wedding of the year."
"So is that what this is? Are you getting back at your dad?"
"Maybe that's how it started, but…"
"I don't buy it, and I don't believe it. The Katie I remember couldn't be in love with someone and sleep with someone else."
"I'm not the Katie you remember, Danny. I'm far from that girl," she said as she rose from the bed and searched for her dress.
"Postpone the wedding. Tell Eric that you need some time to figure things out. Give us a chance, Katie."
Katie looked into Danny's dark, pleading eyes and couldn't deny him. "I'm going to my grandmother's place on Long Island this weekend. I'll be there alone. Meet me there, and we can figure all of this out," she said as she zipped her dress and slipped on her shoes.
Danny got dressed and then walked her downstairs. They shared a brief kiss before she got in the cab and left.
The next day, Danny was at his job at the Ritz. He'd been in an unusually good mood ever since Katie gave him hope about their relationship. That hope dimmed when Danny opened the door of a silver Mercedes and saw Robert Mason, Katie's father. Mr. Mason stepped out of the car and handed Danny the keys. He gave Danny a cold smile. "Isn't this a surprise?" Mr. Mason said sarcastically.
"Is it?" Danny asked.
"No, it's not. I'm going to ride with you while you park my car."
Danny rolled his eyes as he got in the driver's seat. Mr. Mason went around to the passenger side and got in. "What do you want?" Danny asked.
"I had an interesting conversation with my wife the other day. She said that she caught you and Katie in another compromising position…not as compromising as the first time…but considering Katie is engaged, compromising nonetheless."
"I didn't know she was engaged when I ran into her. Now I know. So…"
"What do you think about Katie's engagement, Danny?"
Danny shook his head as he pulled into the garage. "I'm happy for her," Danny lied.
Mr. Mason laughed. "You're a terrible liar."
He pulled into a parking place and turned off the car. "I'm not sure where you are going with this."
"Where am I going with this? Well…Eric Mathews is a slimy bastard. Katie is only with him to spite me. Just like she skipped out of Oxford to spite me. She's still making me pay for keeping you two a part. So when I heard that you were still in the picture, I saw an opportunity. I'm successful because I take advantage of opportunities. Now…do I want my daughter to marry a valet? Of course not. But you could provide a means to an end. From what I understand, you're about to graduate from NYU. That's impressive, to say the least. I thought for sure you would crash and burn."
Danny shook his head. "I don't have to listen to this. You can't do anything to me now. Maybe I felt threatened when I was an 18 year old kid, but not now."
"100,000. I'll give you 100,000 if you stop this marriage from happening," Mr. Mason said as he stepped out of the car and looked at Danny.
Danny stood in shocked silence for a moment. He couldn't believe the lengths Mr. Mason would go to control Katie's life. "You really think I am that stupid, Mr. Mason? You want to kill two birds with one very expensive stone. You pay me a hundred grand, and then I break up Katie's marriage. And then you can sweep in after that and tell Katie you paid me off. No thanks, Mr. Mason. I'm not interested," he replied and then started to walk away.
"You know what is sad? You could have avoided all of this if you just would have let Katie and I stay together four years ago. I would have encouraged her dream of going to Oxford. You blew it, Mr. Mason."
"What if I could offer you a job instead…a good job? You put a stop to Katie's upcoming wedding, and I will give you the opportunity of a lifetime. If you and Katie are happy, and you want to get married…then I will be fine with that."
Danny laughed. "Let me get this straight. Now you're okay with Katie and I together?"
"Provided you take a job with my company…and make sure that Eric Mathews is out of her life…" Mason added.
"You must really hate this Mathews guy, but I don't trust a word you say. So, no thanks. My advice…and I know it's not worth much to a guy like you…stay out of your daughter's life. She'd be much better off," Danny said before walking away.