Author's Notes: WAH, I HAVE THIRTEEN REVIEWS!!! Xx Somebody review quickly—not unlucky number thirteen!!! dies Hehe—kidding!!
Angel of Mirth: Ooh, you ARE the sister of my soul. ) Ezra… whee!! Love him, really. Heero here… I really could see it. I really think that Dorothy and Heero would either a) still be at each other's throats, b) end up together, c) become great friends. C is the choice I liked the most. Thank you for your kind words and pointing out some errors and stuff. )
TenkunoMeiou: Yes, I WILL!! XD
Skydancer1: Yes, I know. sniff In this update, Quatre's reasons for the trouble will be alluded to… just a bit. )
Chisakami Saiyuki: Thanks. Yeah I know, it is. This is sort of personal to me actually… ) I'm not a Muslim, but somebody related to me was one.
Hopeless Delirium: Err… I know what you're feeling!! I feel that too when I read some 4D fics!! I'm sorry I can't go 3D no matter how good that looks!!, if not for Quatre's sake, then for Catherine's. Dorothy will 'win' though, I promise you that, and a VERY satisfying victory it will be… Oops, did I just give away too much? XD
Disclaimer: Gundam Wing not mine. OCs and plot mine.
Four Weddings and a DivorceChapter 8:
"Dorothy Catalonia? Oh, it is you!!"
From her perch in Chez Pierre's VIP table, Dorothy looked down at Elirea and smiled that cultured smile that never does seem to reach her icy blue eyes. "Elirea," Dorothy said by way of greeting.
Unabashed by the ice princess' demeanor, Elirea tottered up the steps, up the platform for the VIP tables. "What a coincidence!!"
"Truly," Dorothy nodded indifferently, studying her perfectly manicured fingernails. She had had years to master that 'my-nails-are-far-more-interesting-than-you' look, and that mild irritation was marked upon Elirea's features proved it.
Truth be told, Dorothy actually kind of liked Elirea. Not that the woman has endeared herself to Dorothy, oh no. It was just that, Dorothy had been forced to put up with Elirea longer than the other wives; she was the second wife after all. Elirea—she always did try to fight back whenever she got into a tiff with Dorothy. Not that it ever got her anywhere. But Dorothy took to Elirea's nature better, rather than to Kiki's passive deviousness or Sera's passive… well, passiveness. Dorothy hated passiveness.
"How is the divorce going?" Elirea asked with feigned cheerfulness.
Through gritted teeth that still looked like a sweet smile, Dorothy said, "Oh, Quatre is dragging his feet."
"Don't worry, I'll tell him to hurry up." Elirea replied.
You would, wouldn't you? "I doubt that it would do any good my dear." Dorothy batted her eyelashes. "Quatre just wouldn't let me go. You know how love works…"
The furious red of Elirea's face and the strangled sounds she made nearly made Dorothy's day.
"I will try harder, of course." Dorothy continued. "I know I can convince him. After all, he has to give in to the one and only woman he loves, doesn't he."
The red on Elirea's face deepened and she made more strangling sounds. So entertaining.
"Good morning, Ms. Catalonia."
"Good morning, Mr. Thompson."
Elirea turned to the new arrival, appraising the handsome, designer-suited lawyer with an expert eye. "Well, I see you're not wasting any time replacing our husband," she said spitefully.
Dorothy laughed throatily, throwing her head back for emphasis. "Oh Elirea, you are so naughty, girl… Mr. Thompson, this is Elirea Al-Hardi, one of Quatre Winner's wives."
Elirea held out her hand at Gerard. "Good morning, you may start calling me Elirea Winner—"
"No, Elirea, he can't. You still remain to be second wife." Dorothy said in deliberate tones.
"I am pleased to meet you, Ms. Al-Hardi." Gerard shook the proffered hand. "I regret that I must interrupt your conversation with Mrs. Winner—"
"That's perfectly fine," Elirea interrupted coldly. "I am running late myself—lunch date with my husband, Quatre. I'll see you two around." She flounced away.
"She is so bluffing…" Dorothy grumbled, with an almost undetectable hint of uncertainty in her voice. She turned to Gerard, "Please Mr. Thompson, let us sit…"
The two of them took their seats on the table. After ordering refreshments—a decaffeinated cappuccino for Dorothy and an espresso for Gerard—they got down to business.
"This is a certified true copy of our prenuptial agreement." Dorothy held a document in one delicate hand.
Gerard reached out and took it, making certain to brush his fingers against hers as she did so. He enjoyed the slight thrill that coursed through him. He almost felt like a teen again.
"Let me see…" Gerard scanned the document and gave her an assuring smile. "You are guaranteed to keep twenty percent of Winner Corporation, just as he is guaranteed to keep twenty percent of the Romefeller Corporation. You have agreed to split your joint bank account—containing all income generated after marriage. You have agreed to keep all estates and accounts gained before marriage separate, except for several estates he's transferred to your name, and several estates you transferred to his name—"
"Yes, yes," Dorothy waved those provisions off. She didn't really care about the material aspect of their agreement. "The statements about our children…"
"Yes." Gerard turned to the page of interest. "It says here that he will pay child support. 12,000 annually for each child, exclusive of educational expenses which both of you pay half of, until the child reaches eighteen—"
Dorothy sighed. "I don't care about that."
"Ah, of course…" Gerard skimmed over the statements again. Dorothy was certainly unusual. Having come from a family of privilege, Gerard knew that people who had money usually wanted more money. Not Dorothy, and it seemed, not her husband either. "You are the one who will see to the children's needs, using the money meant for child support. Every third month, the children will go to Mr. Winner, the two months before that they are yours. You will alternate weekends however. And for Christmas, spring and summer breaks, there is no clear way of dividing the children's time, only that they are to spend half their time with each of you."
"How troublesome…" Dorothy lit a cigarette. She took one whiff and instantly felt bile rising up her throat. She threw down the cigarette on the table and made sounds that are somewhere between a choke and a cough.
"Have some water," Gerard quickly grabbed her glass and held it towards her. Dorothy accepted it gratefully and drank.
Gerard snuffed her cigarette on the silver ashtray. "Would you like some refreshments?" He raised his hand to call the waiter.
Despite being in a table at the remote edge of the bistro, the waiter came quickly. Nobody made VIPs wait. "What can I help you with, Sir, Madam?"
"Take this away," Dorothy pointed to her cup half-filled with lukewarm, decaffeinated coffee. "And bring me a glass of lemonade—with honey, not sugar. Thank you."
"Another cup of espresso please," Gerard requested.
"Anything else?" The waiter asked.
"A small tray of pate-stuffed mushrooms." Dorothy said. She looked at Gerard. "How about you?"
"Oh… how about… a clubhouse sandwich."
The waiter nodded in assent then left them. Gerard smiled at Dorothy. When she called to meet him so they can discuss her case, Gerard had suggested they meet in a conference room in his firm so their privacy would be ensured. But Dorothy insisted they go to Chez Pierre, saying she hated stuffy professional spaces and would be more at ease at the quaint little eatery. He was glad. It felt more like a date than a business meeting.
"How about the clause on our children's inheritance?"
Of course, it was still a business meeting.
"Ah, yes…" Gerard turned to the page. "They will inherit fifty-one percent of Winner Corporation—the portion which he owns, upon his death or if he sees fit, before it. Half percent of all his stocks in other corporations—excluding Romefeller—will be theirs as well as soon as they are of legal age. And at least half of his estates." He didn't find her inquiry odd, he was sure it wasn't like she suddenly decided she cared about the money after all. He suspected it was more of sentimentality than anything. Her next words confirmed his guess.
Dorothy nodded. "Well, at least I'm sure my children are favored…"
Gerard wasn't sure whether he should reply about that, but luckily the waiter came with their order, sparing him from the discomfort.
He watched Dorothy as she took a dainty sip of her lemonade. There was something to be said about an honest-to-goodness, authentic, certified princess. She maintained a regal bearing even while doing the most mundane things—like drinking lemonade. Everything about her was feminine. This might have intimidated other men, but not Gerard. He thought she was sweet. She had exceedingly good taste, having had the best money could buy but she regarded money almost indifferently—having so much of it and yet keeping sight of what was important, like her children. Not to mention that she was gorgeous. What a fascinating woman.
He was really glad to be on a pseudo-date with her, being able to see her relaxed, enjoying food and drink…
And seeing her little quirks. Right now, she had a bottle of honey in her hands and was pouring some over her mushrooms. He was just about to ask her about it when she suddenly spoke.
"What is your take on this, Mr. Thompson?" Dorothy tapped on the document with one perfect fingernail. "I don't like the idea of treating my children like some cheap piece of property on timeshare. It would be hard for me not seeing them for long periods of time, but don't you suppose you could arrange something better for them? Like they could stay with Quatre for a whole semester, the next semester with me and split their vacation times…"
"I'm sure I could, if Mr. Winner agrees…"
"But do you think it will be better for my children?"
"You are asking my personal opinion?"
"Yes."
"I don't have any children, I don't have a parent's perspective."
"It doesn't matter."
"Well…" Gerard looked thoughtful. "I actually think the original arrangement is better. Having them stay with one of you for an extended period of time will get them used to it… they might have a bit of culture shock every time they go to the other one.
"But the best way to go about this, is to ask your children what they want and accept it. I'm sure being the good parents that you and Mr. Winner are, you would honor their request."
"What they want?" Dorothy gave him a wry grin. "They told me they would stay with me all the time and stay with their father one weekend a month and just drop by for special holidays, and maybe take a random vacation with him."
Gerard chuckled. "Then isn't that all the better for you?"
"If I were to be selfish, yes." Dorothy propped one elbow on the table and rested her chin on her hand. "But I don't want my children to feel alienated from their father. They adore Quatre."
"Are you sure?"
"Of course! Absolutely! They love their father, why wouldn't they? Quatre is kind, caring, sweet, honorable…" She stopped at the amusement on Gerard's face. "But anyway, that is not the point."
Gerard smirked. The princess was still very much in love with the prince. He would just have to change that. Gerard Thompson was never one to back away from a challenge. "Yes, it isn't."
"But I noticed something that might help our case…" Dorothy slapped a hand lightly on the document. "There is no clause here that says Quatre can marry other women. But he did—doesn't that make my reason for divorcing him legitimate?"
"If you were to look at it that way, then yes." Gerard took a sip of his coffee before continuing. "But—there is also no clause that says he can't marry other women. Since he is Arabian and that is their custom, then the judge just may think that it is within his right."
"But I am European," Dorothy said. "And that is not our way. European women are to be their husband's only wife. They would have to consider that too. We were betrothed in an Arabian ceremony but our wedding itself was in a European tradition…"
"Indeed." Gerard nodded. In a bold move, he swept up her hand and gave it a squeeze. "Fear not, Ms. Catalonia, I shall make it work to your favor."
Dorothy let out a low, throaty laugh. "You are too kind, Mr. Thompson."
Gerard shook his head. "Oh no Ms. Catalonia, don't be naïve. I am not kind. I just have my reasons…"
Author's Notes again : … Gerard wasn't supposed to turn out into a pompous jackass, he was supposed to be like a tempting sort of second choice for Dorothy, but what the heck… if that's where his character is heading…