Author's Note: Thanks to everyone who has reviewed so far, you guys are amazing! I love the feedback, please keep it up. I appreciate any help in finding errors I've made or things that aren't quite clear. I hope you enjoy the rest of the story!

The Worst is Yet to Come…

It began with the roses. Tristan walked beside Rory to her desk, hoping to tease her into a conversation with him but she had remained stubbornly silent. He had just about given up when he heard her gasp in shock. He looked at her desk and saw red.

Two dozen red roses choked up the space on Rory's desk. The sight of them reminded Tristan of the boyfriend Kat had told him about. He stiffened in jealousy and resolution. There wasn't a ring on her finger, so the field was still open. And he planned to play for all he was worth.

"Tokens of appreciation, Mary?" His voice was cool and collected as he leaned forward to peek at the card but Rory grabbed the card before he could. He watched as her eyes scanned the card and was amused to see the angry flush that spread across her face. She balled the card up and tossed it into the trash.

"Excuse me." She stepped around him with the fragrant bouquets clutched in her hands. She stomped resolutely towards the break room with the obvious intention of disposing of the flowers.

Once she was out of sight he quickly recovered the now crumpled card from the wastebasket under her desk. It read,

"Rory, Forgive me for the other day?

I'll pick you up from work today at 5:00

Love, Preston Grant"

Tristan grinned as he pocketed the card and sat at his desk. Preston would see Rory today, but he'd also see him. The thoughts of what he'd do to Preston perked Tristan up considerably and he whistled while he worked.

Later that day, Rory's POV…

"Are you serious?" Kat gaped at Rory sitting across from her, sipping her coffee. Rory nodded.

"She was right between his knees and I happened to walk in at the climactic moment." She smiled wryly. "Unfortunate choice of words, but it works."

"What did you do?" Kat leaned forward, bracing her forearms on the table. She loved gossip almost as much as she loved a good lead.

"I told him it was over and walked out. I didn't think he deserved a scene. But apparently he wanted one. He followed me to the elevator, trying to plead his case. He even went so far as to say I was the reason he had an affair."

"Idiot." Kat snorted.

"Indeed. I told him off then in front of the clients in the reception area. Now he's trying to make up, figuring the one night was sufficient for me to get myself under control and forgive him." Now Rory snorted.

"Are you going to take him back?"

"No. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me." Rory shrugged. "It's a simple rule to live by. I don't even feel that upset over the fact that I've lost Preston. I am more upset over the fact that he cheated on me then used my reluctance to go to bed with him as an excuse." Rory laughed and leaned back in the booth. "I guess I should also be upset I don't have an escort to the fine arts galas I have to attend."

"What about the new guy? He seems to like you." Kat smiled deviously before purring. "I wouldn't mind having him as an escort."

Rory frowned. "It's not like that between us. We knew each other in high school, like he said. He calls me Mary because I looked like a goody-two-shoes and he chased me because he wanted to prove himself when it came to girls."

"First of all, looked? Rory, you still look like a do-gooder. It's the eyes and skin. Second, prove himself with girls? That man has proved himself with girls just by existing. He exerts testosterone like most men exert sweat. Why would he have to prove himself to girls in high school?"

Rory frowned again and stared into her coffee cup. "I don't know."

Kat smiled as she saw Rory begin to doubt her judgments on Tristan. She offered what she hoped would be the final straw to break her walls of defense towards the guy. "Was something going on back then that might have made him act like that?"

Rory stared at Kat. "Maybe, someone did mention his home life wasn't very good…" she trailed off. She shook herself back to the present and gathered her things. "Come on, let's get going. I have to finish my article and then find a new escort for the new play opening on Broadway tonight."

As Rory sat at her desk and tried to finish her article, she found her gaze straying to Tristan. Paris had said his home life hadn't been good. Could that have been the reason he'd tried to prove himself with girls? He needed to show he was good with something? Her typing was slower than normal, so she didn't finish until a little after five. When she looked up after having sent the copy to Gary, she found Tristan standing beside her desk.

"Hey, is it alright if I walk you out?" Tristan asked even as he picked up her bag. Rory smiled at the easy maneuvering but refrained from complaining. Maybe she had been too harsh on him. They had seemed to reach an agreement right before he left. Perhaps it was time to actually solidify their friendship.

Tristan waited for Rory to walk in front of him before following her. He had felt her gaze on him during the last stretch of the day and he'd had to resist returning her stare. He didn't know what had caused the sudden lack of hostility between them, but he was not going to question his good fortune. As they stood together in the elevator, Tristan decided to push a little.

"So what are you up to tonight?"

"I have to go the new play opening on Broadway, "Body of Water." Have you heard of it?"

"No, but why do you have to go?"

"I cover the fine arts for the paper. I'm sort of a critic, I guess, but I wish I had a different job, something more substantial." Rory looked away but Tristan still caught the wistfulness in her eyes.

"It's okay, Gary already told me you were the home favorite to get the international job but the CEO pulled rank. I'm sorry about that."

Rory smiled at him and his knees weakened. "It's okay, it's nice to see you again despite the circumstances." The bell dinged and announced their arrival at the main floor. Tristan followed, not fool enough to let that statement go.

"Nice to see me again? Yesterday you gave the impression that you were regretting being forced to breathe the same air as I. What changed?" She stopped and faced him. The sight of the relieved and hopeful expression on his face made Rory feel flattered and guilty considering her attitude yesterday.

"I'm sorry about that, I had had a horrible day and I took it out on you. I remembered today that we had reached a truce before you left for military school and I thought, we're both adults now. We can let bygones be bygones, right?" She offered her hand and smiled. Tristan set her bag down and grasped her hand firmly in his. The heat radiating from his skin shot up Rory's nerves straight to her heart. The shock and pleasure she felt from the contact must have shown in her eyes because Tristan stepped closer.

"Rory, I-" he began. She shivered at the undercurrents in his voice.

"Rory! There you are, I've been waiting for you." A tall man with dark hair wearing a black suit strode over to where the two stood together. He frowned at the lack of distance between their bodies but smiled at Rory. "Ready to go, dear?" He ignored Tristan completely as he reached for Rory's bag but Tristan refused to let it go. Preston frowned harder. Tristan smiled back.

"Rory, tell your friend to let your bag go. We're going to be late." Rory stepped in front of Preston and folded her arms.

"No, Preston. This is my friend Tristan and I don't want him to let go of my bag. I want you to let go of my bag. Then you can leave and be late for whatever you had planned, because I have different plans. And you don't figure into them."

Preston straightened up but kept holding onto the bag. "This is ridiculous. I made reservations for us at Le Chez. You have to come. Dear, I've already explained what happened yesterday. Please don't make me repeat myself." Rory gritted her teeth against the annoyingly patronizing tone.

"No, Preston, you don't have to repeat yourself. I'll repeat myself. We're over. I don't want you anymore, and I seriously doubt I ever did. Maybe the reason I didn't go to bed with you was because you repulsed me, not because I was frigid. You can't blame your infidelity on me." Tristan's eyebrows had risen when Rory had mentioned not going to bed with Preston but after hearing Preston had cheated on her they slammed together. He was furious. And trying to place the blame on her? That was over the top. He yanked harder on the bag and received immense satisfaction when Preston lost his grip and stumbled. Tristan placed a protective arm around Rory and waited for Preston to stand up.

"The lady said she doesn't want you anymore. You're going to have to leave." Preston looked affronted.

"Sir, you have nothing to do with this. Kindly remove your arm from my fiancée and leave."

"Fiancée?" Rory yelled. "We were only dating. I'm not marrying you!"

Preston spread his hands and smiled. "I was going to surprise you with the ring tonight but you forced my hand with your temper tantrum." He pulled a robin's egg blue ring box from his pocket and snapped open the lid. A diamond winked bewitchingly from the nest of satin.

Rory's stunned gaze traveled from the ring to Preston's smug face. She couldn't believe it. He thought he could buy her off? It was degrading and infuriating. Tristan kept his arm around her waist as he summoned security. Rory was busy telling Preston off for the second time in as many days.

"Could you please escort this gentleman from the premises and make certain he doesn't bother Ms. Gilmore again? She doesn't wish to see him anymore." The guard nodded and grabbed Preston's elbow. His expression of shock was so comical Tristan laughed.

"Let me go! I've just proposed to the lady, can't you see that you imbecile?"

"But I've refused you! I broke up with you yesterday, you jerk!" Rory yelled after Preston's departing figure. The lobby was unnaturally quiet as the onlookers processed the scene. When everyone returned to their previous occupations, Rory buried her head in Tristan's shoulder. Her muffled laughter comforted him and he wrapped his arms around her, always pushing his luck. Otherwise he'd never win, he reasoned.

"Did that really just happen?" Rory asked. Even though she'd just made a fool of herself in her place of business and in front of a large amount of people, she felt oddly safe in Tristan's arms, as if this was the respite she'd been looking for. His arms, leanly muscled, held her tight with his strength but the control he showed over that strength comforted Rory more than she thought it should.

"Yeah. Are you going to be okay?" He wanted to bury his nose in her hair. It felt soft against his cheek and smelled heavenly. She smelled heavenly. Emotions he'd thought he'd left behind at Chilton rose up in him and swamped his mind. She stepped out of his embrace far too soon for him but he let her go. He pushed his luck but he also knew when to stand.

"I'll be fine, thanks. I have to go get ready for the play tonight." She picked up her bag from the floor of the lobby but stopped to look consideringly at him. Do it, her mind urged. Ask him.

"Do you want to come with me to the play tonight?" The question surprised both her and him.

"Sure, what time do I need to pick you up?" Tristan was encouraged by her inviting him to the play. Maybe this was where he could prove that he was an adult but still infatuated with her.

"Curtain is at 8:00. How about 7:15? That'll give us enough time to get there and get our seats." Even as she wrote down her address and waved to him from her cab, Rory was calling herself all kinds of a fool for doing this. But part of her had hoped that this might be the end of her string of bad luck.

Unfortunately, the worst is yet to come…

Author's Note: Thanks again to all the reviewers. Please let me know what you think so far of the story and I'm sorry it took me so long to update!