AN: Thank you for the reviews! Things are already getting complicated for Dorothy and Quatre...
Chapter 2 "A List of Pure Maidens"
A bloody mess this- Sanderson Fellowes the head of the PR department for Winner corporation stared down at the short, athletic build of the heir to the Winner Corporation. As usual equal parts admiration and irritation warred within him.
7 years ago despite the hostile and shuttered political landscape here on Mars colony Quatre had made a name for himself. With fair business practices and competitive wages-till the offshoot of the Winner Corporation grew rapidly. Enabling them just 3 years previous to erect the glorious building they now stood in.
Unfortunately now this, their meteoric rise slowed- stocks had seen a loss; deals that had be running smoothly where stalling. Investors were beginning to hem and haw on loosening their bottomless purse strings. Hence Sanderson's team was frantically working to clean this up & what it meant for the Heir...Would be several rounds of PR stunts and important dinners with many of the high ranking stock holders of the company.
All to restore the faith that these stupid articles had stripped Quatre & the Winner Corporation of.
Served the little shit right Sanderson thought with feeling. The Heir was too sweet, too kind and far to stubborn.
Like his father Zayeed-Sanderson knew that Quatre would not marry for privilege or title. He would marry for the antiqued and naïve notion of love… unconsciously his hands clenched to fists at his sides.
As if sensing the hostile energy that flowed from him Quatre turned to him paperwork forgotten. His platinum blonde hair elegantly brushing his shoulders. Another idiosyncrasy which irritated Sanderson to no end was the Heirs growing length of hair. Did he think himself a bohemian or a 17th century French prince. Sanderson choked back a snort.
"What is it Sanderson-san?" Quatre asked as one of the PR associates looked on anxiously waiting for Quatre's verdict on the paperwork.
"My associates with the help of your sisters are drawing up a suitable list of candidates for your marriage. We plan your marriage to be at the end of the year Mr. Winner"
He watched with a deep sense of satisfaction the way in which the color left the Heirs handsome face. How those gentle eyes suddenly flashed with something like anger.
"I also heard you have taken up your acquaintance again with Dorothy Catalonia" he continued seeing the shock flash in Quatre's eyes "she -though having the reputation of a fallen noble with ties to the former Romefeller foundation is indeed a good match. She has a large fortune and her family profited greatly from the building of the new colonies."
Quatre's long lashes fluttered for a moment "Miss Catalonia is merely a good friend. You know this Sanderson-san."
Quatre also knew that the things which had happened those 10yrs ago was a chasm which separated them. He could not grow closer to her no matter how he wished to. Even though she was his equal in all things.
"Speaking of Miss. Catalonia- she called me this morning to help spearhead this little marriage campaign we are now undertaking in earnest. She wants to be your advisor- once we produce the list of eligible ladies"
"My advisor?" Quatre murmured head suddenly spinning- no that was wrong. Dorothy would tease and torture him, with that smoky feminine voice and the fragrance of fresh roses which lingered around her like a cloud. Those bold periwinkle eyes which challenged and dared him to step out of himself…
"Mr. Winner I do believe you are blushing" a familiar voice made him turn. Walking into the cluttered PR office dressed to the nines was none other then Dorothy herself. Seeing her so soon after the whirl of thoughts in his head left him speechless.
"Ah, Miss Catalonia it is a pleasure" Sanderson turned his muscled bulk barely contained in the severe suit to shake her hand. Dorothy smiled
"We are lacking manners today Mr. Winner- are you so stunned by my proposal?"
Quatre recovered enough to smile warmly at her "Not at all, I am most grateful"
"Under Sanderson-san's request I am putting together a little file to send out to all the talk shows and papers advertising Mr. Winner's eligibility." Dorothy began "would you be amenable appearing on a few of the more reputable talk shows to refute the terrible accusations of these salacious articles Mr. Winner? There are still a few personal questions that I will need to fill out before submitting. Could we step into your office?" she continued. Satisfied to have thrown him off his mental footing- Sanderson was impressed. No one had tripped up the Heir like this since he was a teenager... But he said nothing-
Dorothy waited patiently enjoying this little game. Almost seeing how the gears were furiously turning in his brilliant head. If he had been any other man Dorothy knew that Quatre would be quite angry at her for going over his head to offer her services to the Head of the PR department. According to her sources Sanderson-san and Quatre only grudgingly had a working relationship. Apparently there was some of Quatre's habits which Sanderson found irritating instead of endearing.
Finally Quatre seemed to gather himself up
"I haven't yet agreed to your involvement Miss Catalonia l-" something made him stop talking, as he cast his eyes to Sanderson whose own green eyes were as hard as flint. With a sinking feeling in his stomach Quatre knew he had no choice anymore. This was Dorothy's help and like in the past it was a poisoned pill he would need to swallow.
"Then shall we go to your office?" Dorothy said with a charming smile-taking him by the arm and steering him out of the door. With a snort Sanderson turned away and feeling much better went back to this PR nightmare...
000
Over tea in his office Dorothy began to ask him the personal questions that she knew the answers to already. Having memorized each of the Gundam pilots files some 10yrs ago, she had been looking forward to his discomfort all morning. They hadn't reached half of the first page and Saint Quatre was already squirming. What deliciousness
"Favorite color?" She asked innocently
"Lilac- or pale mauve" he replied taking a sip of tea.
"Favorite food?"
Quatre ducked his head clearly growing more embarrassed "Chocolate"
Dorothy's brows shot up "Chocolate? Quatre have I discovered your true weakness?"
He chuckled "What's your ultimate weakness Dorothy?" He countered tired of being her plaything. He had borne it nearly half the morning and he was growing weary.
For a moment Dorthy's heart pounded hard- wasn't her weakness obvious? It should have been since the day she had seen his picture in the file- HE was her weakness...
"Dorothy?" Quatre reached out and innocently touched her hand seeing how pale & stricken she had suddenly become. Without the shield of the ever present gloves she wore-his touch burned. Those long elegant fingers suited more for playing the violin then wielding the almighty power of a Gundam were lightly calloused against the smooth skin of her hand.
She pulled her hand away abruptly- "Croquembouche. I loved to eat it at family weddings" she forced out boldly meeting his eyes.
Dorothy could see the hurt that flashed in his expressive eyes- the slight mar in his forehead at her reaction. The wicked part of her rejoiced in seeing this
This moment broke just as there was a chirp from his cellphone. With a murmured excuse he removed his from his breast pocket and quickly read the simple message on the screen
Circus in town. Do you have time to meet?
There was no signature but Quatre knew who this was... Trowa. A profound sense of relief flowed through him-the 2 hr conversation he had with Duo last night via vid-phone had proved both enlightening and draining. Apparently the salacious news has now spread as far as Earth. Where no doubt Relena and Heero would finally hear.
But with Trowa here he knew he could sort out his confusing bundle of feelings. To make sense of this uncouth act by an unknown enemy.
Quickly he replied and put the phone away only to look up to see that Dorothy was gazing at the single framed picture on his desk. In his distraction he did not know she had turned it round. Revealing the romantic photo of his father and mother- newly married.
Dorothy perhaps unconsciously was fingering the edge of the gilded frame- her eyes seemed to be faraway.
"You look so much like your mother" she said in a gentle voice "but with the eyes of your father. I wish" she paused "I could have met them, your parents"
She turned to him then and there was a vulnerability in her eyes that Quatre did not understand. Her eyes usually alight with mischief were suddenly tender and beseeching.
The agony that Dorothy was feeling seemed to pass into him and before he knew it Quatre was standing. Coming around the austere wood desk to gently caress the side of her face with his fingertips. A single tear dripped down her cheek, and gently like a man possessed he bent to press his lips to that tear. Tenderly kissing it away
Dorothy felt the press of his warm lips against her cheek like the balm of benediction. The years of guilt for harming him on Libra- of harboring this perverse admiration and hate for his person welled up like a great wave. Yet it was flowing away as the warmth of his breath scented with tea whispered over her. His own cologne, incense perhaps- faintly spicy washed over her and the tide of guilt was replaced by hunger. With a soft moan she tilted her head and found his lips.
Perhaps it was this- that broke Quatre from the sudden sensual haze. The sweet taste of Dorothy's lips was strong enough to jar him abruptly back to reality. He pulled away to stare into her eyes, just as there was a knock on the door. Silently he retreated behind his desk and sitting heavily back into the chair called
"Enter" he called out wearily
Sanderson Fellowes strode in brandishing a several page list like a rapier ready for battle.
"Here it is- Miss Catalonia is the list is finished"
Dorothy calmly stood and presented him with the notepad "Of course Sanderson-san. If you give me that list I shall review it tonight and return tomorrow with my findings" she wouldn't -couldn't look at Quatre. She knew she would see in his eyes something that would drive her past the edge of no return.
"Of course- you have my thanks Miss. Catalonia. Knowing Mr. Winner we would have had to do some serious negotiation before answers were reluctantly pried from his lips." He glanced at the list quickly- noting the Heirs favorite color. Lilac- how apt, maybe a suit in lilac would be good enough for the PR photo opt at the Gardens in a week.
He paused noticing that something felt very different in the austere office. The sweet smell of Dimbula tea was high in the air, the spacious office seemed tight & small. Yet there was nothing on either of the young people's faces which betrayed anything untoward. Uncharacteristically however the Heir's single picture of his parents was turned to face Dorothy.
As if sensing this realization Dorothy gave Sanderson Fellowes a winning smile. "Sanderson-san is there anything else that you need from me today?"
"No- you can go" he waved a dismissive hand at her. "I have something to speak to Mr. Winner about" he added but Dorothy was already picking up her purse. Quitting the room as quickly as possible
000
Once home in the safety of her apartment Dorothy felt the stupid tears come, they poured down her cheeks in a torrent and no matter how she willed them to stop they would not
Hadn't she always wanted what happened in the office to come true? Quatre's lips had been warm- no hot and soft as a petal. The sweet potent taste of Dimbula tea was left on her lips after their kiss. Even now she felt the gentle pressure of his lips against hers- like a brand. A mark to brand her obsession.
Pulling herself together she angrily wiped her eyes- she steeled her spine to tackle the long list of eligible women in Sanderson Fellowes list.