Yea, so I lied. I was going to wait until I had the next chapter of this completed, but I felt bad witholding this one, and plus I really wanted to hear feedback on this one since I'm pretty proud of it. lol. So in the end, everyone wins.
ah, and a quick note to Something Not So Normal: thats a good point you brought up which I actually hadnt even considered, but you'll see how that works out in this chapter, actually ... :)
Oh, and I noticed something strange I had done with the names of the characters. Let's see: George and Michaels (singer anyone?) and Lilly and Rose (two flowers). Completely unconscious, but I just noticed and it made me laugh. Oh well :P And even though I keep feeling as if theyres something else I wanted to comment on, I can't for the life of me remember what it may be. So on that note, read on !
The following week went by in a blur or paperwork, assignments, and people. Lilly often found moments where she would run and lock herself in her office for a few minutes, just so she could escape the constant flow of people looking for her and catch a breath. She had found time to bond with Rose and George, however. In fact, the three had often grabbed coffee or drinks a few times after or right before work and had therefore, grown fairly close.
Lilly had especially bonded with Rose, as they were two of very few women doctors in the hospital. Even though the woman was older than Lilly by about ten years, they got along as well as sisters. Lilly learned a lot about the woman, including Rose really liked to drink and have fun and was never in a relationship for more than a few weeks. The latter was something Rose was hoping to change, however, as she was getting older and losing interest in the single life.
Bonding with her colleagues had made her first week at the job all that much tolerable. Like Michael had promised, she had quickly learned her way about the hospital, only getting lost a few times, but getting redirected by helpful people whenever she did. She had yet to perform a surgery, especially so soon, but already, she had two on her schedule due in a few weeks. But finally it was Friday, and she was free for the weekend. That is, until Saturday evening when she was asked to attend a fancy dinner party with Michaels, George, and Rose.
Lilly entered her apartment, tired beyond belief. She tossed her purse onto its usual place on the end table near the door and wandered into the living room with the invitation to the dinner in her hand. The invitation had been given to her by Michaels right before she had left work at the end of the day. He had told her that the dinner was being given as a sort of celebration of science, medicine, and technology for all of the prestigious companies and institutions in the country.
Lilly looked through the information of the invitation with mild interest as she sat down on the leather couch facing the fireplace. The dinner was Saturday evening at 8 PM and formal dress was required; meaning evening gown for ladies and black tie for men. Lilly ran a hand down her face and thought to herself what dresses she owned that would be appropriate. Standing quickly with invitation still in hand, she walked into her bedroom. She tossed the invitation onto her bed and stepped into her large walk-in closet, examining the clothing hanging from the racks.
After thumbing through a few pieces, Lilly found the dress she had been looking for, and with a triumphant smile, pulled it out into the open. It was a backless number, the back dipping low to touch the very base of her spine. The front, therefore, had a neck that encircled directly at the base of her throat, before dropping off sharply in the back. The dress itself was made of satin and was a deep burgundy that contrasted amazingly against her pale skin and platinum blonde hair. Lilly held the dress up to herself and examined her reflection. The dress reached the ground in an all around even-length hem.
"Perfect," she said, grinning to herself, suddenly very excited to be going to the dinner. She hung the dress carefully on a separate display hook next to the mirror, and left the closet, closing the door behind her. She got herself ready for bed, but opted to read for a little before actually going to sleep. It was into the wee hours of the morning when she finally tore herself away from her latest Stephen King novel, shut off the light, and went to sleep.
Lilly woke up late the next morning as she knew she would, and the day went by in a blur. She spent a leisurely time before the dinner taking a scented oil bath and pampering herself to be sure she looked her best at the dinner tonight. Michaels and her two colleagues were scheduled to pick her up in a limo at 7:45, so she was dressed and ready before then. She had swept her waist-length hair up into a loose pile in the back of her head, setting it in place with small silver bobby-pins set with shining black gems on the ends, creating an interesting design in sparkling black on the back of her head.
At precisely 7:45 she left her apartment and went to the lobby and out the front door where the limo was just pulling up to the curb. As she stepped closer to it, the back door opened and the chief of medicine came out.
"Lilly! You look absolutely beautiful!" he exclaimed raising his one hand which held a champagne glass. Lilly beamed, blushing prettily.
"Why thank you, sir," she said.
"Please, come along," Michaels said, helping her into the limo then climbing in behind her and allowing the doorman to shut the door behind him. Lilly arranged herself in a seat next to George who smiled warmly at her.
"Looking good, Dr. Scott," he commented, his eyes doing a quick sweep of her outfit as he held out a glass of champagne for her. Lilly smiled back as she accepted the glass.
"Why thank you, Dr. McCabe." Rose was also in the limo and she quickly struck up a conversation with Lilly about the prospect of who was going to be at the dinner. The conversation didn't last long, as the ride was relatively short, and they arrived at their destination a quarter after 8.
"Always good to be fashionably late!" Rose exclaimed with a small giggle, as George helped her from the limo after they had pulled up to the carpet and stopped moving. Lilly chuckled in return and allowed herself to be helped out of the limo by the Michaels.
The four of them emerged onto the red carpet into a sea of flashing lights, many faces, and animated hum of reporters and paparazzi alike. Lilly was cemented to the spot for a brief moment in time in initial shock at the suddenness of the lights and noise. She would have stayed rooted to that same spot had Michaels not had her arm looped around his. He moved forward down the carpet after George and Rose, pulling Lilly along with him and snapping her out of her daze.
Lilly got used to the flashing lights of many cameras and loud talking of the paparazzi very quickly and was soon posing for pictures and smiling comfortably for the cameras with her three colleagues. Lilly glanced casually around the red carpet as they grew closer to the door, just so she could catch glimpses of the faces of some of the other participants of this dinner. Michaels had been pointing out well known surgeons, scientists, researchers, etc. the entire way down the red carpet for her. As she let her eyes rove over the many faces that were still outsides and conversing with each other and the reporters, her eyes fell on a man who was conversing with a reporter across the carpet from her.
He was gorgeous! He looked to be about 30 or so and standing at around 6 feet tall. He wore a black bowtie and a smart, black suit that fit in a way that revealed he was very fit and in shape. His almost black hair was arranged casually and in such a way that his bangs brushed across his forehead, brushing the tips of his eyelashes, which arched over deep, mahogany eyes. He laughed at something, suddenly, that the reporter had said; a deep, bass tone that reverberated deep in his chest. His pleasant smile revealed a perfect set of white teeth. Lilly could feel herself blush so she turned away quickly and tried to focus on something else to make her blush recede. Once she felt comfortable it was gone, she tapped Michaels on the shoulder.
"Who is that?" she whispered, nodding her head in the mystery man's direction, who was now posing for a photo-op with a larger and taller bald-headed man with a bushy white beard.
"You mean the dark-haired man?" Michaels asked, glancing in the direction Lilly had motioned. She just nodded. "That's Tony Stark. He became a billionaire at 21 when he inherited his father's business, Stark Industries, after he died. That was about, oh, 12 years ago, I believe? He's an insanely intelligent man, a scientist through and through. His company works to supply the armies of the world with weapons."
"So he's an arms dealer?" Lilly asked, a little incredulous. Such a trade just seemed a tad strange, especially in this day and age; almost a little barbaric. Michaels nodded.
"He's also known for being an alcoholic and womanizer; quite the playboy. So you just watch yourself, Ms. Scott," Michael teased with a smile. "Stark is a good man, but he falls to worldly vices all too easily." Lilly glanced back at Tony Stark, running the newly learned information through her head, analyzing the man she saw before her. He was now shaking hands with the bearded man he had previously been posing for pictures with and they spoke to each other, something only those close to them could hear. Tony then gave one more wave to the crowd of paparazzi then turned and walked into the building by himself.
"Come on, let's go. The dinner should be starting soon and I would like to have a glass of wine in hand within five minutes," Rose said, coming out of nowhere to appear at Lilly's side. Lilly jumped slightly, broken out of her pondering. She smiled and laughed.
"All right. Let's get you a drink before you go insane," Lilly joked, walking with Rose and the other two men into the building.
The grand ballroom had been lavishly decorated with deep greens and creamy whites, bright orange flowers accenting the colour palette as they adorned the tables as centerpieces. The four doctors were led to their table, situated towards the front of the room near the stage. They took their seats, ordered their choice of wine, and relaxed a bit, all glad to be sitting. As they were being seated, most everyone attending the dinner was also being lead to their tables, so Lilly barely had time to look around at the other tables, before waiters came out with huge carts with the first course.
The four doctors chatted amicably amongst themselves. Rose prodded Lilly every now and then to point out a man she seemed to find attractive. They soon found it a game to not only just point out the attractive ones, but also the hideously unattractive, and there were many of the latter. Pretty soon, the two women found themselves giggling like school girls.
Pretty soon, the meal part of the dinner was finished, and those who were content with sitting at their tables did just that; either talking with others who remained or picking at the remains of their desert. Others got up again to explore the ballroom and mingle with others or to check out the bar located in the back.
"I'm in the mood for something a little heavier than this wine. Come to the bar with me?" Rose asked Lilly suddenly. Lilly nodded, following her slightly, already tipsy friend and colleague to the back of the room towards the bar where many others already were crowded.
"Martini, please, very dirty," Rose requested, winking slyly at the bartender who smiled in return, filling out her drink order.
"Whiskey on the rocks, please," Lilly asked when the bartender turned to her. The bartender gave her a slight questioning look at such a harsh and "un-ladylike" drink, but didn't say anything and handed her what she ordered. He then went back to flirting with Rose who was nearing the verge of embarrassing herself with every sip she took. Lilly just smiled to herself and sipped her whiskey slowly. She was one of the only women she knew who could take the taste and bite of the drink. She had grown up in a family that drank like fish and had started her and her sister at a young age for reasons none other than simple family tradition and habit. Therefore, she had built up quite a tolerance and an affinity for the stranger and stronger drinks.
"Whiskey on the rocks, please," came a deep, masculine voice from Lilly's left. She casually turned to see who was standing beside her, and she almost choked on her drink when she saw who it was. Lilly quickly looked away and pretended to be looking busily elsewhere, unable to decide if she really wanted to engage in anything, even a conversation, with this man.
"Thank you," Tony Stark said, thanking the bartender as he accepted his drink. He took a sip, wincing at the first sip as the liquid fire poured down the back of his throat. He then glanced over in Lilly's direction, as she was looking away, still debating madly in her head. His eyes moved languorously over her form and smile crept onto his lips as he leaned on the bar casually, supporting himself by leaning on his elbow.
"I don't think I've ever seen a woman drink whiskey before," Tony commented in a lazy tone, turning to face Lilly. Lilly swore mentally to herself, caught now. She turned and looked at him, smiling coyly.
"And I've rarely seen a man who can handle the drink, but I guess there's a first for everything," Lilly said glancing at Tony's glass and punctuating her words by taking a sip of the drink, not even making the smallest face at the taste. Tony Stark grinned at her and half raised his glass to her in a sort of salute.
"Touché, Ms. ...?" he said, trailing off at the name, trying to get her name. Lilly smiled prettily.
"Scott. My name is Lilly Scott," she said, extending her hand. Tony took it and raised it to his lips, brushing them against her knuckles and causing electricity to go shooting up Lilly's arms at the contact. His eyes never left her even as he released her hand, nor did his half smile.
"Pleased to meet you, Ms. Scott. My name is Tony Stark," he said.
"A pleasure to meet you, Mr. Stark," Lilly returned.
"Please, call me Tony," he said.
"Tony," Lilly repeated, smiling. Tony took another sip of his drink, and looked out over the ballroom. There was a parquet dance floor set up where many couples were already dancing on. Lilly took this momentary opportunity of his distraction to also look away and take a large sip of her drink to try and calm her nerves. This was Tony Stark she was talking to! Billionaire, world-wide arms dealer, play-boy; a dangerous man when it came to involving emotions, she concluded.
"Can I interest you in a dance, Ms. Scott?" Tony asked, turning his mahogany eyes back on Lilly.
"I don't know, Mr. Stark. I've heard stories about you. Some that give you an ill reputation concerning women," Lilly responded smartly, immediately wincing inwardly as she hoped that comment didn't sound as caustic as she thought it might. Despite her jangling nerves and her insistent inner yearning to dance, touch, do the unthinkable with this man, she was determined to keep poised and protect herself.
"Do you really believe everything people tell you? And please, call me Tony," he said again, flashing another dazzling smile. Then before she knew what was happening, her drink was suddenly gone from her hand and Tony was leading her out onto the dance floor. A slow song was playing so Tony reached an ideal spot then turned and pulled her close to him, resting one hand primly on her waist, and offering her the other.
"I don't bite, I promise," Tony reassured when Lilly hesitated in taking his hand, even though the grin he was giving her suggested exactly the opposite. She glanced into his eyes, still unsure, but slowly placed one hand on his shoulder and her other hand neatly in his offered one. Once they assumed the position, they began to sway back and forth in time with the music, their bodies separated by a few inches that Lilly made sure was always maintained.
"So, Ms. Scott, what is it that you do?" Tony asked in a low voice. With his mouth placed right next to her ear, Lilly shivered ever so slightly at the warm breath of air his words sent past.
"I'm a neurosurgeon," she answered plainly, readjusting her fingers in Tony's hand. She felt Tony pull back and look at her oddly. She met his gaze and chuckled.
"What?" she questioned. A hesitant smile played on his lips, as he was unsure of whether she was pulling his leg or not.
"How old are you? I thought it took years and years to achieve a career like that. That, and have the required minimum age of one thousand," Tony remarked, clearly amazed if what she was telling him was indeed true.
"I'm 25. And yes, that is incredibly young to be doing what I do, but, not to toot my own horn, I was a bit … ahead of my peers and so I skipped some grades and graduated early from college," Lilly explained.
"Ah, so a fellow prodigy like myself," Tony boasted. Lilly gave a small laugh.
"I guess one of us has to be humble for the other," she said, teasingly. Tony chuckled.
"I guess so."
They moved in time to the music, conversation ceasing between them for the time being. Lilly realized, that during their conversing, they had gotten closer together, so that they were now brushing against each other with each sway; not pressed together, but close enough. Lilly felt herself blush and she hid her face against Tony's shoulder, that being the only place to hide, willing the blushing to go down. Such is the curse of being fair.
"You look absolutely stunning," Tony whispered against Lilly's hair. His hand that was resting on her waist had moved only an inch lower. But now, his fingers were absently playing with the dip of her dress, running casually along the line where skin met fabric. Lilly shivered at the sensation and unconsciously pressed herself into Tony so that their bodies were aligned flush against the other. Tony responded by pulling her even tightly against him with the hand on her lower back, pressing her to him, intimately.
"Th-thank you," Lilly stuttered. She had been so adamant to keep from falling under his spell, but her resolve was rapidly weakening.
"You're very welcome," Tony whispered in reply. Lilly's breath hitched slightly in her throat as Tony brushed his lips against her ear as he spoke. She felt him smile in response to her reaction. The smile instantly brought back her resolve as she chastised herself inwardly, reminding herself about Tony's true intentions: seduction and a one night stand.
"What are your plans for the rest of the night?" Tony asked in a low voice. Lilly knew what his words insinuated and thankfully, she had gathered her wits about her by this time and could think clearly.
"They include going home and taking care of my cats then heading off to bed," Lilly said, pulling away from Tony, thanking the music which had coincidentally ended at the time of his question, giving her the perfect reason to pull away. Dull surprised flashed in Tony's eyes at her actions, but he quickly collected himself and his once warm eye grew hard and cold.
"Very well. It was a pleasure meeting you, Ms. Scott," he said, formally. Lilly frowned inwardly, but tried not to let the slightly hurt emotion show on her face. She had just wanted to get out of the situation, not turn him against her completely.
"The same, Mr. Stark," she replied. And with that, Tony turned and left her standing there awkwardly, not even correcting her and asking her to call him Tony. Lilly sighed and left the dance floor, heading in the direction of her table with the rest of her colleagues. As she neared the table, she found George and Michaels donning their jackets.
"Ah, Lilly. I was just about to go searching for you. We've decided to call it a night and were wondering if you would like a ride home?" Michaels said, greeting her as she neared. Lilly nodded her head.
"Yea, that would be wonderful," she said, taking her purse from her chair. "Let me find Rose because I'm sure she's somewhere right now torturing the male population and should probably be called off." George and Michael laughed in agreement and let Lilly wander back towards the bar where she was sure Rose still was. Sure enough, Rose was leaning on the bar, chatting now with a man who was nearly twice her age and not as intensely interested in what she was saying as he was in peering down the front of her dress.
"Rose, I do believe it's time to go," Lilly said as she came up next to her friend.
"But I was just telling … who are you again?" Rose began then stopped, pausing confused for a moment before turning towards the elderly gentleman. Lilly took Rose's drink from her grasp, set it on the bar and despite her friend's protestations, all but dragged her away, and walked out with her and her two male colleagues who met them near the door.
Once back in the limo, Rose all but passed out on Lilly's shoulder.
"At least she had a good time," George said, chuckling, helping Lilly pull Rose up off of her. Lilly watched him as he gently patted Rose's cheek, murmuring in her ear for her to wake up. A small smile slowly grew on Lilly's face as realization hit her full force. Sure, she had only known these two for a week, but she knew how to read people. It was then she realized that George had feelings for Rose. It was obviously apparent to her as she watched him handle Rose's unconscious form delicately and in the way he watched her sleeping face. It seemed almost ironic that George, who had worked with Rose for years and years, had feelings for her. Especially since Rose was always out looking for someone to love and take care of her, always finding the wrong kind of man, totally oblivious to the fact that she had a man right here who would do anything for her in a moment's time. Lilly shook her head, still smiling, and knew that Rose would figure it out soon enough.
"I think I'm going to take her back to my place and let her crash there. There's no way she's getting into her house tonight and taking care of herself," George commented after a while, not succeeding in rousing Rose. Lilly and Michaels agreed and the rest of the ride to each of the doctor's homes was filled with periods of conversation, and then periods of individual reflection of the evening.
Lilly turned and stared out the window, watching the many buildings go racing by, as her mind turned to the enigma of a man, Tony Stark. He screamed dangerous in her mind, but she could see how women so easily let their guards down around him. He was insanely charming and not to mention, beautiful to boot. With wealth as great as he had, she knew that any woman would throw herself at him for just one chance. And according to his status as the resident playboy, that's exactly what they did.
She sighed quietly to herself as she went over the happenings during her small amount of time with him at the bar and then on the dance floor. The way his eyes went dull and distracted when she turned down his invitation for the rest of the night bothered her more than she was willing to let it. She remembered how he had abruptly disappeared quickly after that, no doubt to go find another woman to seduce and take back to his home with him; one who would more willingly leave. Lilly frowned at this thought and soon found herself growing a little angry. She had thought he would have more class than that. But obviously he did not. Apparently she had expected too much of the man. Completely annoyed now, she banished all thought of Tony Stark from her mind, and instead, turned and joined the conversation that Michaels and George were having about work.
'No more thoughts about Tony Stark,' she swore mentally to herself, laughing along with something George had said. 'He's just not worth it.'
Tony thanked his driver as he opened the door for him, closing it behind Tony when he slid into the back seat of the jet-black Bentley. Once in the car, Tony immediately leaned over to the small bar and poured himself a glass of whiskey, settling back into his seat and taking a sip as the driver started the car and began to drive Tony back to his home.
Almost immediately, Tony's thoughts turned to the woman who had most surprised him that night, that Dr. Scott. He absently swished his drink around as he remembered the sparkle of her emerald eyes, the way tendrils of platinum hair escaped from their pinnings and delicately framed her face, the way her full, lips turned up elegantly at the sides when she would smile at him, driving him crazy with the coyness hidden in her smiles. He took another sip of his whiskey as he remembered what she was wearing. The dress was deceivingly modest when viewed from the front, but as she turned, revealing that the back was basically missing. Her back had been smooth and white, without a single blemish or mark to mar the perfect skin. Having that great an expanse of skin revealed had made Tony just want to run his hands over it, and perhaps put his mouth to work there, also. Remembering this about that woman caused Tony to abruptly down the rest of his drink, pour himself a second, and down that one completely. His eyes watered and he coughed once.
"Tony, my dear, you've already had so much to drink tonight. I don't want you to pass out on me," came a feminine voice from the seat next to Tony just as a petite hand snaked its way onto his thigh, running up and down it. Tony sighed inwardly, turning his attention to the brunette he had decided to bring home with him tonight. As much as Dr. Scott had tormented him, he was never one to simply focus all his attention on one woman.
"Don't worry, I'm perfectly coherent and won't miss a single moan of yours," he said seductively, leaning over and kissing the brunette's neck. He felt the brunette's breath hitch in her throat and then she giggled, still running her hand up and down his thigh.
In his mind, Tony recalled how Lilly Scott had stepped away from him as she declined his offer for further plans for the evening. She was smarter than the rest, something Tony found irritatingly sexy. He frowned slightly at the memory, recalling his own surprised at her declination. He didn't think he had ever been refused. Because of that, he had left quickly, the blow to his ego leaving him annoyed and a little frustrated. That was when he had found the brunette who had been all too willing to do anything for him, and that small victory had repaired his bruised ego.
This woman was no Dr. Scott, but she would simply have to do for the night.
And done! Poor Tony getting dumped . But hey, everyones got to experience it at some point! Diligently working on the next chapter in hopes it wont take too long to get up here. But in the meantime, you all know the drill. Push that pretty little button down there and tell me what you think!