AN: Dear Readers thank you again for your kind reviews. This was a fun chapter to write :) Please enjoy!
Chapter 5
"The Unexpected"
Dorothy awoke all at once to the loud ring of her cellphone, in the hullabaloo of the last few hours she must have forgotten to turn off the ringer. Groggily she rolled over and answered
"Hello?"
"Miss Catalonia we will need you to meet us in the morning at the Corporation. Mr. Winner has decided he will marry you" Sanderson said quickly
For a moment Dorothy said nothing- a strange feeling of elation mixed with despair warred within her. She knew instinctively that for whatever reason Quatre had been called away had forced his hand.
"Why?" she asked in a strangled voice, the sleep completely gone from her eyes. Her eyes burned with unshed tears
"I'm afraid I cannot disclose the reasons over the phone- we would like you to come in tomorrow" Sanderson said tiredly "how does 7:30 sound?"
"I will be there" she replied woodenly.
Dorothy hung up and lay gingerly back down in her satin sheets staring blindly at the ceiling till the sun had come up.
0000
"I hear rumors that Dorothy may be getting married" Relena began over her cup of tea that morning.
Heero's prussian blue eyes flicked up to Relena's own over the morning business edition of the paper.
"Is she finally marrying Quatre?" He commented easily taking a sip of coffee.
Relena's eyes widened briefly "Did everyone know about this relationship except me?"
A ghost of a smile shaded Heero's sensual lips
"Trowa called me last night about his meeting with Quatre. He said it was most peculiar- Quatre is violently in love with Dorothy."
Relena was stunned "After she wounded him on Libra?" You must be joking"
Heero set the paper down and stood up- coming over to Relena's seat & bending so that he was nearly nose to nose with her
"You cannot help who you fall in love with"
Those prussian blue eyes were hypnotic, they always had been even now after 7yrs of their marriage. Relena felt her lashes flutter "That may be true but"
Heero bushed his lips over hers "No buts Relena- maybe it would be a good enough time to give your old friend a call" a hot hand was curling around her waist. Relena shuddered as Heero dipped to kiss her once more.
Yet the chime of Vid phone ringing in the kitchen broke the moment, Heero reluctantly released her and went to answer it. Feeling a bit dazed from Heero's kisses, Relena wondered if Dorothy's number was the still same...
0000
"Sada-sama was most insistent on bringing this with us" Rashid said as Quatre rose with the sun- he hadn't slept a wink all night so to have the Magnac Group here so early in the morning brought him a strange kind of comforter. Still feeling a bit numb he watched Rashid bring a large teak box into his bedroom, from the looks of the polished wood and its carvings it seemed to be very old. Gingerly- reverently Rashid placed it in front of Quatre upon the rumpled covers of his bed. The three men looked expetantly down at the young man.
"Open it Quatre-sama" Rashid goaded gently, Quatre lifted the heavy lid off the box to reveal the luxurious red silk garments of a Middle Eastern bridegroom. Some he noted were surprisingly sheer. Glimmering on top of the golden embroidered robes was a smaller box. Without needing prompting he opened this one to reveal what looked like to be a headdress, a collar and two jeweled cuffs for his wrists. They too sparkled with rubies some of them as large as pigeon eggs.
Quatre had never seen anything like this- it seemed almost ancient in style...
Wordlessly he looked up to the 3 men "I am to wear this?" he asked weakly
"Of course Sada-sama never had a son to wear these, they have been waiting for wearer for many years"
Quatre clenched his jaw "I... I'll look like a girl"
He heard a cough that sounded suspiciously like a laugh "Like it or not Quatre-sama we will not allow you or Miss. Catalonia to wear any Western clothing for the wedding ceremony. Miss Catalonia must understand she is not marrying into a Christian family by any stretch of the imagination" Ahmed said with an almost imperious sniff.
The sudden image of Dorothy wearing the traditional wedding garments of his ancestors made his face quite red.
Rashid tapped the Rolex on his wrist "Time is going Quatre-sama- we need to get you to the Corporation building on time"
000
Dorothy was already waiting for him when he walked into his office that morning. Her eyes were red rimmed as if she had been crying
"Good morning Dorothy" he managed with a somewhat weak smile, Dorothy quickly looked away from him.
"Sanderson-san has told me everything- with the added bonus that you are only marrying me out of sheer desperation" she said through clenched teeth no longer caring to be witty or charming with him. She had no time for such pretense
Quatre came around to face her "It is not desperation, you are the only woman here who knows me best" he replied gently. Seeing how she almost physically winced at his words- her repulsion of him so clear. Quatre's heart twisted in his chest
"Why not Sahar?" she looked up at him her periwinkle eyes raw "is she not a childhood friend. Does she not share the same religious faith as you?" Dorothy demanded
Quatre took a deep breath to compose himself "She does not know me as you do Dorothy. While she would make a lovely wife she will never be my equal" he replied gently.
Dorothy's eyes widened "Then what of your declaration to me those few short weeks ago about not marrying till you can love someone with passion? Are you telling me that you" she choked on the word "love me? Love me with this grand passion you think so necessary for matrimonial bliss?"
The former Gundam pilot nodded "Yes"
A spell of dizziness seemed to assault Dorothy "Impossible- you and I have been sworn enemies from the beginning- not to mention" she paused for breath "that you are the most unromantic man I have ever met. You are cold like a statue, no a saint- perfect-shining Saint Quatre-"
Dorothy regretted the words the moment that they left her mouth, never in her wildest dreams had she imagined she would ever say that terrible nickname aloud. She saw those expressive turquoise eyes flash not with anger but with hurt. For the first time Dorothy could not find any triumph in this. No matter how her pride had been wounded by this strange turn to events. The man had just told her he loved her- though now much she believed that she wasn't sure.
Hadn't marriage to Quatre Winner been one of her deepest and most darkest desires?
Dorothy rose unsteadily to her feet, a fine trembling had begun in her limbs "Quatre I didn't mean-" she grasped his arm tightly
"I perfectly comprehend your words Dorothy. Should I summon Sanderson now & tell him of your refusal? We will still need to find a safe place for you to stay" gently pried her hand from his arm and brought it to his lips. Though his hands were unusually cold, his petal soft lips were hot as they pressed to the back of her hand.
A potent thrill went through her, leave it to Quatre to inflame her with the smallest of kisses. Before he released her hand and pressed the button at his desk which would summon Sanderson to his office.
"I accept" Dorothy said the moment that Sanderson stepped into Quatre's private office. Beside her she heard the slight intake of breath, she wouldn't- couldn't look at him then.
Sanderson saw the shock that was plain on the Heir's face, apparently things had not gone so well between them judging from the icy tension in the room. Flavored with the bitter taste of agony.
"Congratulations then Mr. Winner and Miss. Catalonia. The wedding will be in a week"'
0000 3 days later 0000
Relena gazed at her old friend in the high end and exclusive bridal boutique of Spectre de la Rose. Dorothy ever outwardly charming looked as she always had-serene, confident and witty. But Relena knew from the wavering glimmer in her eyes that inside she was screaming.
"What do you think about this one Relena?" Dorothy asked as the women held up a beautiful and ethereal blush pink gown. It was soft and fae like made from the lightest gossamer & silk layers embroidered with seed pearls . The sleeves as per Dorothy's usual style were long and flowing with a bit of a plunging neckline that was far from her usual modesty.
Perhaps she wanted to entice Quatre at the reception dinner, which would be very much a Catalonia affair. Even with the tight security & short timing Dorothy had still managed to scrape together over a 100 guests on her side alone.
Knowing the gentle Quatre he would probably have few people there other than his sisters and the Maganac group. He was a private man- perhaps as much as Heero. Well this image had been shattered in the recent weeks.
Relena smiled "Its beautiful Dorothy go try it on"
000
Quatre stepped into the darkened apartment around 8:30 in the evening feeling exhausted. The air was redolent with the smell of incense and amber which immediately despite the situation brought him comfort. Removing his shoes & donning his house slippers Quatre crossed the living room to pull back the brocade curtain of deep red paisley. It was nearly dark and security was out in full force on the well manicured grounds in the quiet suburb of Dubai.
"You are home late" came the familiar smoky voice of Dorothy Catalonia.
Quatre did not turn "The extra security is slowing us down, apparently a car was following us on our way back from Headquarters"
"There were two men following Relena and I yesterday when we went shopping for my reception gown"
Quatre gazed over his shoulder at her for a brief moment trying to suppress the surge of pain and attraction for the woman before him. Indeed when the Head of Security had told him that he must travel with Dorothy to Dubai and allow her residence in his own private home had been quite... disconcerting. His home was more like the inside of pasha's palace- antiques and exquisite rugs adorned the rooms. Incense filled the air & paintings darkened with a patina of age decorated the walls. Very few people knew that it was he who had decorated yet he felt very vulnerable when she had come to stay.
"I am glad that you nor Miss. Relena were not hurt" he replied with a smile. Turning to devote his full attention to her. Dorothy was holding a cup of tea in her hands, which he noted a faint trembling in her limbs by the way the china was shaking lightly. His drank in the simple dress she was wearing loose for the heat – her hair in a long braid down her slender back.
She looked pale- tired and he noted beneath her light makeup dark circles under her eyes. She was also wearing that alluring coral gloss again over those pale shell pink lips. Her mouth had been driving him to distraction for weeks- even before that dirty dream.
"Do you still wish to go through with this Dorothy? I can see that you are suffering a great deal being here with me." Quatre asked closing the distance between them and removing the teacup from her hand set it on the carved coffee table beside them.
"I-" her voice failed her for a moment "it is my fondest wish to marry you" she replied in a small voice. His presence ever serene was overwhelming, she could not erase what she had said or how she had acted that morning 3 days ago.
Would he ever forgive her? Could she ever forgive herself?
Quatre reached out to clasp her chin "Such contradictions" his lightly calloused thumb brushed over her full lower lip. The coral gloss which she so favored, smeared across Quatre's thumb & he made a little groan in the back of his throat- lids growing heavy.
"How this mouth has tortured me all these weeks. Do you wear this color to tempt me Dorothy, even after all you've said?" he asked huskily bringing his thumb to his lips.
Dorothy was no stranger to seduction yet she felt her face flame like a schoolgirls, watching like a snake beneath a charmer as Quatre's pink tongue darted out to taste the flavored gloss gathered on his thumb. Dorothy's lips parted in silent moan as the heat from her cheeks seemed to suffuse her whole body, her heart pounding wildly in her chest. Her gaze holding Quatre's own whose turquoise eyes had darkened, shading with flecks of amber.
A loud "Ahem" broke the silence. Dorothy felt all her strength leave her as Quatre broke eye contact.
Slowly he lowered his hand & pasted Abdul with his most innocent gaze "Yes Abdul?"
"Dinner is ready" Abdul replied shooting a look at the back of Dorothy's pale blond head. He would have given all the gold in the world see her face after that wicked stunt Quatre-sama had pulled. That would teach the little minx for sure that to coldly dismiss his the Master's feelings would have consequences. Abdul squelched the fiendish laugh that threatened to burst out as Quatre kindly excused himself and made his way toward the kitchen.
As if on some invisible cue Rashid appeared having just returned home, he paused for the brief moment to see the wicked smile that curled Abdul's lips & watched as Dorothy half sat, half collasped into the nearby velvet wing chair. Even from his view he could see a hot blush stained her alabaster cheeks.
"What has happened here Abdul?" he asked in Arabic
Abdul let out a little snort "The Master's form of payback I think. Sada-sama would be proud- I don't think that young woman has had her heart beat that fast since Libra" he replied in the same language.
Rashid cleared his throat loudly "Miss. Catalonia?" he called out to Dorothy
"Yes Rashid-san?" she replied evenly.
"Would you like some dinner?" he asked solicitously, Abdul hid his chuckle with a cough.
He watched Dorothy's slender frame stiffen before she shot out from the chair "No thank you Rashid-san I think I am going to bed" and with that declaration Dorothy hastily crossed the living room and took the grand stairs to the second floor.
Rashid watched her till she disappeared on the landing before with a grin turned and followed Abdul into the kitchen.