Well.... here's chapter 4.... lol... took a long time I know, but school is hard. -.-;;
Anyways, I hope you guys enjoy it. If you have any comments review, review, review!
Siren03
-------
Chapter 4 - S.O.S.
The car ride to the Winner estate was anything but short. Dorothy wanted to know who had the bright idea of working in a company more than and hour away from their house.
She had believed that Quatre would have a stretch limousine take them home so she could keep her distance from him, but she had no such luck. Instead he had a town car, which wasn't small, but she would have preferred to keep more of a distance between herself and Quatre. She was sitting next to him trying to think of things that would help her become distracted, so that the smell of his cologne would not take over her senses. She decided to make some conversation to make the long ride feel a bit shorter.
"So... how's life?" she asked. The minute the words left her lips she cursed herself on the inside for sounding like a school girl. Something she was far from. Exactly what kind of question is that Dorothy Catalonia? 'How's life?', what are you some prepubescent 13 year old. Next thing you know I'll be thinking he has cooties. That's the kind of question women with no experience in the world ask. And Dorothy Catalonia had more experience then she would have liked.
"It's fine," he answered. He looked at her a bit perplexed. "Why do you ask? In fact, why do you care?"
She didn't have to think hard to come up with an answer, she just let the words flow out as they wished. "Because I'm your bodyguard, and I need to know every aspect of your life. Be that economical, psychological... romantic. Anything that might be helpful to me for detecting who might be a possible danger to you... And there is no need for the hostility Mr. Winner."
Quatre tried to hide his chuckle but could not. Then he just burst out laughing. Through his half closed eyes he saw that Dorothy did not know what was so funny, and was becoming quite irritated. He stopped laughing after a couple of seconds and cleared his throat. "Exactly what is it that you want to know Dorothy Catalonia. You know, better than anyone else, everything there is to know about me. I'm pretty sure you researched my life thoroughly before coming to L4. It's very unlike you to beat around the bush and not ask the question."
Dorothy's blood boiled. She hated the fact that he knew her so well. Oooooh this man! "I'm just trying to make polite conversation to make this long ride shorter. Had I remembered how far your estate is from Winner Enterprises, I would have brought some work."
"Polite conversation huh? If I remember correctly you never believed in such a thing. Especially when it came to someone you obviously hold a grudge for. Say, for example, me."
"Well people change." She said this and looked out the window. And oh how you've changed. "And you are mistaken in your belief that I have anything against you". As she stared at the artificial sky she thought about how things had been between them years ago. How one day everything just ended suddenly.
Quatre looked at her and felt his chest burning on the inside. "Nothing endures but change Ms. Dorothy."
Dorothy heard the ring of a cell phone, looked in his direction. Quatre picked up, and suddenly his eyes seem to light up when he heard the voice on the other line. She then turned back to the window. Looking at the artifical night sky she wondered who was the person who had such an effect on Quatre. She remembered how he used to look at her with the same eyes and made her feel like she was the only one in the world for him. Like she was the only one in his world. She remembered his kisses and his scent, his embrace, his laughter, and his smile.
When she heard his laughter she turned from the window to look in his direction. He seemed so happy. He had moved on with his life. How could he have moved on so quickly? Oi, don't bother yourself with thinking about that Dorothy. Remember you moved on and made a life for yourself too. A life without him. It's only normal he would do the same. She heard him laugh again and she her chest became hot and began to ache a bit. She felt as if her heart had broken a little.
Quatre looked at her and saw something in her eyes. He couldn't figure out what it was, but he knew he had seen it before. He had seen the same look on one particular day, many years ago. He hung up the phone, and just then the car stopped. "I'm sorry Ms. Dorothy you were saying?"
"Nothing." She answered sternly. She picked up her bags and almost ran out of the car.
Quatre got out as well. "Are you angry Ms. Dorothy?" Or are you jealous. He shook his head. Stop it Winner.
"I don't know why you would come to that conclusion, but no, as a matter of fact I'm not angry. I'm just a bit tired." She looked as the driver went to the trunk to take out her suit case in order to avoid his gaze.
"Well after waiting for 4 hours at the landing area I wouldn't blame you." He said with a twinkle in his eyes as he waited for her.
Dorothy looked at him, with realization written all over her face. "You did it on purpose! You knew I had been there waiting and you never really intended to send your men to go and get me did you? You... you... you jerk!" she exclaimed. She could imagine Duo pulling a stunt like that, but never Quatre.
"Are you just going to stare at me, or are we going to go inside the house?" Quatre asked. That was the exact reaction he had wanted from her.
"Let's go" she said as she walked past him.
Quatre caught up with her and they reached the doors of the house side by side.
Dorothy calmed herself down and prepared to see the smiling, warm face of Quatre's house keeper Mrs. La Salle. When the door opened and she was about to give the woman a hug she realized that the woman had gotten taller. And that, in fact, the woman was a man.
"Welcome home Sir. I'm glad you're here safely." said the man as he bowed slightly.He then took Dorothy's bags gently from her hands and moved aside so they could enter the house.
"Thank you Jeremy." Quatre said as he and Dorothy entered the house. "Please take Ms. Dorothy's luggage to her room. I will escort her there later, but first we have some work to do. Please have Yasmine bring us some tea to the library." Quatre took Dorothy's jacket off and gave it to Jeremy.
"As you wish sir." Jeremy turned around and headed for the stairs.
Yasmine? Dorothy thought as Quatre led her to the library. She gave him a questioning look. "I was not aware you and I had work to do."
"The library is where I tend to relax. But there are a couple of things you must help me with," Quatre said as he opened the library doors. "Unless of course, you are too tired and wish to retire for the night."
Dorothy shook her head and walked side by side with Quatre. All the paintings that had been hung in the walls were changed. The walls were a different color. Even the floors were different. When they finally reached the library she was glad she atleast recognized the door. When they entered the library she looked around and almost didn't recognize it.
Quatre looked at her but didn't say anything. He sat on the black leather couch and picked up some paper work. Dorothy sat in the chair in front of the couch and looked at her nails. I need a manicure. She had never expected to be alone with Quatre in his study again. It was strange and familiar at the same time. She studied him carefully. What happened to us Quatre? she thought to herself. Then she shook her head. Oh! Dorothy snap out of it, this is not the time and the place for you to be sentimental. And why the hell did you not bring your manicure kit? These nails are shameful!
There was a knock on the door of the library and then two maids entered. Twin maids. Twins? Wow, never thought I'd live to see the day this happened. Dorothy thought. Then she looked suspiciously at Quatre. I hope they're just maids, or else this is one twisted house.
Quatre looked up and smiled. "Yasmine, Jeannine. Please leave the tea on the desk. You can both retire for the night. And please make sure to tell Gerard to close the front gate."
The two women did as directed and put the tea on the table. They then bowed and left the room quietly.
Dorothy stared at the door, and then the library. And then she thought about how much of the house she had seen during their short walk to the library. She barely recognized the house. She remembered how she had helped redecorate it when her and Winner were dating, or whatever it was.
Quatre got up from the couch and poured them both some tea. He walked towards her and gave her a cup and then proceeded to sit back down on the couch.
Dorothy put the tea in the coffee table in front of her. She wasn't a fan of tea. Coffee was more her thing.
He felt like he was being watched so he looked up at Dorothy. She averted her gaze somewhere else, but he had already seen her looking at him. "Is there something wrong Ms. Dorothy?"
"I thought you needed my help with something. But you seem to be doing fine on your own." Dorothy answered nonchanlanty.
"I'm sorry it seems that I have already resolved the problem. My apologies." Quatre said as he looked at the papers in his hands.
"When did you remodel the house?" Dorothy asked suddenly. She would have prefered to have eased into asking that question but sometimes she didn't have control of her tongue.
Quatre looked at her straight in the eye. For a second there Dorothy thought she saw pain in his eyes, but she wasn't sure. "The day after you left I called a decorator. I didn't need any reminders that you had been a part of my life." He looked at her and saw something like shock on her face. "Catherine also helped me decorate some parts of the house when were involved."
"I see." Dorothy felt hurt, but then again she couldn't blame him. What were you expecting Catalonia? He wasn''t going to wait forever. She just never expected he would start moving on the day after she had left. "I didn't --".
Quatre stood up from the couch abruptly, and put the documents back in their folders. "Ms. Dorothy I think we should call it a night. I'll escort you to your room now."
Dorothy nodded and stood up. "Let's go." She was a bit startled by his quick motions but didn't mention it. She wasn't in the mood either.
As Quatre led Dorothy to her room he couldn't help but look at her. The woman who he had never wanted to see again, and yet always wanted to be near at the same time, always found a way back into his life, and was now walking right next to him. His impossible love, his only love, was the woman who standing right next to him. She had changed since he had seen her. She looked even more beautiful then when he had seen her at his birthday celebration. When they had been left alone in his office during the afternoon he had wanted nothing more but to take her into his arms and kiss her until he had no breath left. What she does to my heart no one else can do. Why are you still in my mind when I'm obviously not in yours?
When they reached the room Quatre opened the door for her and left without saying anything.
What's with this guy? Dorothy thought. One minute he has manners and the next he doesn't. And I thought Duo was something.
She entered the room and closed the door behind her. This was going to be a long mission.
--------
When she entered her room she walked to the window and opened the balcony doors. As she stepped onto the balcony she saw a blob of white in the gardens. She saw that it was Quatre, who seemed to be having a light conversation with one of the servants. Dorothy turned to go back inside and didn't notice that Quatre had been staring at her.
Once she was in the room again she heard the phone ring. She sat on the side of the bed and picked it up.
"Yes?" she asked rather annoyed.
"Ms. Catalonia you seem to have a phone call from a gentleman called Duo Maxwell. Would you like to recieve his call?" said the voice on the other line.
Dorothy sighed. Duo a gentleman, if that's not a joke then I dont know what is. "Yes, put him through please."
"Ey Dorothy, how are ya?" Duo asked.
"I'm fine. How did you know I was here?" she asked as she walked to the bathroom.
"You know how Relena's a gossip?"
"Uh huh." She said, not really caring where he was getting at.
"Well it seems to be rubbing off on Heero."
She heard Duo yawn and wondered why he was so tired. It was only 9:30. "Yes, well. What do you want Duo? I'm busy at the moment."
"Geez, Dorothy where's all your food? There's only coffee and sugarless cornflakes in here. Which is funny because you put four spoons of sugar into your coffee."
"Jesus! What are you doing in my apartment Duo? Ever heard of privacy? If my skirts go missing again I'm really going to begin to worry about you. That and I'll tell Francis you really are his type. If you get what I'm saying. Which of course you don't."
"HEYYYY" Duo said loudly. "I resent that! And anyways I explained to you last time why I needed to borrow your skirt."
"Yeah, yeah. I'm just warning you. Anyways, I'm going to hang up now. If my coffee cans go missing, I'm gonna kill you."
"I'm sure. Anyways, your grandmother called me to ask me to tell you that she wants to know how your engagement is progressing. Which is funny because you don't even have a boyfriend. And if you do, why haven't you told me?"
Dorothy rolled her eyes. "Goodnight Duo!" She hung up the phone and went back into the room, closing the bathroom door behind her. I tell the woman it's just work, and all of a sudden I'm engaged. Next thing I know she has a date for a wedding and three priests lined up.
She had taken all of her clothes off while she was in the bathroom and slipped on her night gown. Her grandmother was too much. I wonder how Duo got into my apartment. With that, she turned the light off and went to bed. She had a long day ahead of her.