Title: Much Ado About Something 3/3
Summery: The Home Secretary's recently divorced daughter is on the prowl again. She's decided she wants her third husband to have a title and Sir James Lester has no other option than to fight fire with fire.
Spoilers for series 1-3.
Rating: T and M in chapter 2.
Disclaimer: I don't own Primeval
A/N: This plot bunny hopped into my brain and I had to get it out. I'd like to thank the lovely Fredbassett for beta'ing this for me. All remain mistakes are totally my own.
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Work was... work. It wasn't nearly as interesting as managing the chaos of the ARC but very few things were. The scientists and computer technicians he was in charge of weren't nearly as insane as Cutter and his merry band. James tried not to dwell on how much he missed what he'd once had.
He pulled up outside her house at exactly six o'clock. She wasn't waiting outside. Damn woman. James went up and knocked on the door. Dimly from inside the house he heard her yell for him to come in. He tried the door and found it open.
"I'm nearly ready," she shouted. "I'll be out in a minute. Make yourself at home."
He pursed his lips and settled down on the sofa. He turned the television on and discovered that the last thing she had been watching was a cookery programme. That was interesting, he could tease her about that. A woman's natural place and all that.
Ten minutes later, she came into the living room and his jaw dropped. She was wearing a brilliant red dress with a plunging neckline that emphasized her naturally curvy body. She'd curled her hair into big waves and it framed her face beautifully.
"What do you think?" She twirled. "James?"
He realised he was staring. What had happened to the woman who'd worn those concealing suits? Who knew she had such a hot body? That thought jolted his attention to early that morning and he got totally distracted.
She seemed to like the fact that he hadn't answered him yet. "James?"
"You look beautiful," he said, trying to ignore the pull in his groin and the memory of her body under his. "Truly."
Her face lit up in a grin, "Thank you." She slipped on some shoes with very low heels, presumably picked out especially so that she wouldn't tower over him the way she usually preferred, and picked up a tiny little beaded handbag. "Shall we?"
"We shall."
They got in the car and he realised that he had no idea where they were going for dinner. "Where are we eating?"
"There's a little Chinese place near the theatre district. They're fast." She gave him directions and they settled into companionable silence for the drive.
It wasn't until they had placed their orders that something occurred to him. "What if he asks when we started dating? We've got to get a story going, he knows that we hate each other." It was a very odd thing for the people on the next table to overhear if they were listening and it was going to get weirder.
"I don't know." He could see her start to think frantically. "He's most certainly not going to believe we suddenly fell into each other's arms."
The problem had them both stumped for a minute. Their soup arrived before a loose idea started take shape in James's brain. "What if we didn't know? What if we were set up on a blind date?"
She was skeptical and immediately started poking crater-sized holes in his idea. "Why would either of us stay once we'd discovered who the date was? Who would set us up? Anyone that knows both of us knows that we have a very longstanding dislike of each other."
"It was just an idea," he groused dourly. "Have you got a better one?"
He was surprised when she tried to smooth his ruffled feathers. "It has possibilities once we remove the extra person from the problem. What if we found each other on a dating website?"
He scoffed. "Please."
"No really, suppose you were on London Singles and it matched you with me?"
"Why would I go out with you from a stupid dating website? And can we please come up with something that doesn't make me sound so pathetic and creepy?"
"You wouldn't use your real name, obviously." She ignored his other objection, then relented. "I would be on there too, so we would be equally pathetic. Dating websites aren't creepy unless you're pretending to be a thirteen year old."
"I still think they're creepy." He sighed but he didn't have a better idea. "Fine. Keep talking." Their food arrived as they hashed out the story. It was a nice, relaxing meal. He noticed that she completely ignored the fork and was using chopsticks. "Show off," he commented idly, just before picking up his own set.
She looked like she didn't know what he was talking about for a minute. "Oh? This? I spent five or six years in Hong Kong when I was a kid. I had to learn to eat with chopsticks or starve."
He chuckled.
O-o-o-o-o-o
James paid the bill without her having to drop hints about fake-dating and escorted her out of the restaurant with one hand on her back, like a normal boyfriend.
"Get your game face on," she warned him as he found a parking space surprisingly close to the theater. Just before Christine got out of the car she caught a familiar sharp face and blonde head in the back of the car behind them. Even at the distance she was positive she'd just seen Angelica. Her wicked sense of humor rose to the surface.
James evidently hadn't noticed who was behind them when he walked over to where she was waiting on the curb. Christine kept her body turned so that the Jacksons didn't see who she was when she slid her arms up around his neck. She leaned in and threaded her hands through his hair and pulled his head down. He reached around and rested his hands on her hips, clearly intensely curious at what she was playing at.
"Don't panic," she breathed when her lips were bare millimeters from him. Then she kissed him and his eyes fluttered closed briefly before opening again in surprise as she slipped him a little tongue.
o-o-o-o-o-o
He tasted cherry lip gloss. The sound of a throat clearing behind him made him look up enough see his boss, and host, the Home Secretary, standing just a few feet away. His wife was beside him looking delighted and Angelica looked as if she could chew steel and spit nails before her pointy face smoothed out to her normal stingy expression.
"Oi!"
James yelped and jumped and felt the tips of ears go red. Christine turned around and tried to look embarrassed.
"Aren't you going to introduce us to your date?" Angelica said frostily to James.
He smoothed his shirt briefly and was acutely aware of Christine's subtle perfume on him. He devoutly hoped he didn't have lipstick on his face. "Of course. This is Christine Johnson. Christine, I believe you know the Home Secretary-"
o-o-o-o-o-o
"Yes." She met his gaze boldly and tried not to think about standing in his office while that damn recording was played off his computer and the ensuing dressing down. She hadn't been chewed out that badly in years.
Completely oblivious to her momentary discomfort, James carried on, "This is Mrs. Jackson, and their daughter Angelica."
They all shook and made the appropriate 'pleased to meet you' noises and as they joined the crowd walking into the theatre Mrs Jackson urged Christine to call her Caroline as none of them were standing on ceremony.
The Home Secretary clapped James on the back and said, "I was so certain you would call me and tell me that you had the flu or some silly thing. I can't believe you actually have a girlfriend." He lowered his voice and let the three women get a few steps ahead of them, although Christine could still make out his words as he said, "Especially that one. You'll have to tell me the story behind that."
"Of course."
It went wonderfully. Christine found the time to do a little research and she bonded right away with Caroline Jackson over a mutual admiration of the lead actor, David Tennant.
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Angelica slowed down until she was behind the others. She gritted her teeth and kept her eyes glued to the other couple, searching for some sign of weakness. She'd had her eyes on James since before she made her two previous mistakes. She swore to herself that if she had just picked him to begin with it all would have worked out. He had a title! Why the hell had she ignored him?
It would never in a million years occur to her that he had most definitely passed on her. She knew she was beautiful. She knew if she could just get him to really look at her and realize what a wonderful opportunity he had to trade up then all her problems would be solved.
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They made their way up to the box section and got settled in. Christine seemed to notice that there was space for one more in the area. "Angelica, why didn't you bring a date?" She made sure she sounded mildly curious and nothing more.
James went slightly pale as he was suddenly immersed in the world of female cattiness.
"He canceled," the blonde woman said shortly. Her father looked at her oddly. Christine presumed that Angelica hadn't mentioned anything about bringing a date and had probably been very upset when he'd told her that James had planned to bring a plus one.
"How sad," Christine commented idly as she sat down. There were two rows each of three chairs in the box. She happened to be the first one in the box so she took the chair the farthest from the door. James went to sit beside her and that gave Angelica the opportunity to sit on his other side. Oh dear.
Angelica laid her arm on his and started to point out the various features of the historic old theatre, presumably to show off how educated and cultured she was. Christine merely hummed along and got deeply immersed in conversation with Caroline Jackson about the various actors in the play. They didn't have to spend too long making small talk before the lights dimmed and the show started.
o-o-o-o-o-o
James felt Christine brush her foot against him. He knew what she was hinting at. He pushed the armrest up from between their seats and casually slung an arm around her. Angelica didn't take the hint and kept her hand resting on his. It was a damn good thing they'd practiced sitting together. As soon as the lights went all the way off, Christine leaned herself against him and snuggled into his side. It would be highly unsettling if they hadn't done so much else that was more disturbing.
Angelica obviously noticed the other woman cuddling up against what she saw as her chosen man and she leaned in a bit as well, with a little flip of her hair to send a bit of her no doubt expensive perfume floating his way. James suddenly noticed the overwhelming flowery smell from her direction. He coughed quietly and tried to focus on the play.
He imagined Christine had noticed it as well and he saw her small smile. She was going to have to fight for her fake-date but he knew she loved a challenge and was never opposed to a little fighting. Especially if it got a bit dirty and underhanded.
o-o-o-o-o-o
During the intermission, all the woman did as expected and retired to the loo. They weren't close enough to be in first so they ended up in line, slowly inching their way forward.
"So Christine," Angelica said with total innocence in her voice. "How did you and James meet again? We've known each other for simply ages but he's never mentioned you before."
Her mother perked up also, eager to hear the answer. Christine would have been surprised to learn that James had been to many of her dinner parties and she would have almost certainly got used to relying on being able to seat him next to some lady or other.
Christine merely quirked her lips up as she carefully phrased her answer. "We've known each other for ages as well, also at work. The idea of dating didn't cross our minds until recently."
Angelica narrowed her eyes. "How recently?" She tapped one of her perfectly manicured nails up against her lip.
"A few months." Now they were up to the stalls and the conversation stopped, only to be picked up again a minute later while they were washing their hands.
"So how serious are you? I didn't know James was even seeing anyone." Angelica was fishing for details and wondering how much of a chance she still had to steal him away.
Christine laughed. "Serious enough. It's such a pity your date canceled. It's always hard being the odd one out."
They exchanged mean girl smiles as they walked back into the box. Christine could see that Caroline was hiding her own smile as she accompanied the two younger woman. Unlike her husband, Christine was certain she knew why her daughter was so annoyed dear James had showed up with a girlfriend.
She might even be thinking that it was refreshing to see someone rubbing her daughters nose in it. From the intelligence Christine had gathered, Caroline Jackson had liked her previous son-in-laws and it was a good guess that she didn't want to see James go the same way, discarded when Angelica decided she could do better.
The men, of course, were oblivious to the hostile atmosphere from the two woman. As Christine slipped into the seat next to James, Caroline settled herself down beside her husband and prepared to watch the rest of the show... and the play.
James was evidently relaying how they started out. "-So I sat down at a table in the pub and I did a double take at who was staring back at me. Imagine my surprise." He grinned at them all and it was so odd to see him so relaxed instead of glowering at everyone like he normally did.
Christine picked up the story that they had made up only two hours before. "Your surprise? Imagine my surprise that the man I had been emailing for weeks was you!" She leaned in and brushed a kiss across his cheek.
Caroline broke in, "I must have missed something...?"
Her husband caught her up. "They 'met'-" he made the obnoxious finger quotes in the air, "on that dating website they advertise on the television late at night."
"That's right," James confirmed for Caroline's benefit. "Neither one of us was using our real name because of our jobs but once all the extra work-related drama was stripped away, we really had a lot in common."
He chuckled. "That didn't stop me from panicking once I saw who 'Alice Peterson' really was." James sighed happily and really started to get into character. Christine was most impressed by his performance. "But I was there and I thought I might as well have one drink with her before I left. One drink turned into dinner and well...here we are." To Christine's amazement, he somehow managed to say that without sugar cubes falling from his lips.
"How romantic!" Caroline burst out. "That's so sweet. Don't you agree, Angelica?"
The blonde nodded and watched as her chosen man was stolen away from her by what she clearly thought of as some trumped up tart. But right then, James only had eyes for Christine and he didn't see the flash of pure hatred and anger that crossed her face. Christine did, just out of the corner of her eye and she felt quite a buzz of pleasure at knowing she had won the dominant chick fight.
o-o-o-o-o-o
The only thing James noticed was that he didn't have Angelica casually resting her arm on his but Christine was still leaning on him like she had been. Could there have been a breakthrough while they were in the ladies?
There must have been. He was glad that was sorted. James relaxed totally and enjoyed the rest of the play.
It really was a good show and they joined the rest of the crowd in giving a standing ovation before slowly making their way outside.
"That was fabulous. Truly fabulous." Caroline and Christine gushed to each other about how wonderful the show was. The two men exchanged a look that said it all on the subject of women. Angelica trailed along behind them all, frantically texting someone, probably about how unfair life was to deny her the next perfect man.
"I had a lovely time, darling." Caroline hugged Christine goodbye. "We simply must do this again."
"Of course, just call me. You've got my number? I heard a rumor that Matt Smith was going to be in the new production of 'Casanova' in the autumn."
Christine was busy bonding away with her new friend while James went to fetch the car. They were still discussing the upcoming theatre schedule and he was pretty sure they had made a date for some ballet he had never heard of before by the time he opened the door for her.
"Darling?" he called out to her, "You'll have make a date another time, we're holding up the traffic."
Jackson guffawed at Lester's dry tone and Christine tossed him a cool, but mischievous look. They said their good byes and even Angelica made herself behave long enough to wish them a nice night.
"That went wonderfully." James was very chuffed when they finally got away.
"Of course it did," she grinned. "I was involved."
They fell into a comfortable silence on the way back to her house. All too soon he pulled up in her driveway.
"Well," he said, not really sure where he was going with this now. "Thanks for saving me. If they ever do restart the ARC, I will definitely call you."
"Yes. I had a nice time, and I really did want to see that play."
As the silence stretched out he wondered if she was thinking about inviting him in for some tea... and so he started to talk again. "Well, I'd better go, doubtless those two bottomless pits will be wanting to be fed again."
He thought he caught a brief flash of disappointment on her face, but she hid it swiftly. "Right. Well. See you around."
"Yes, see you around."
He waited in the driveway until she slipped in the front door, wondering if there wasn't something else he should have said.
"Damn it all," he cursed and went home, confused and not liking it.
Sid and Nancy were acting like they were starving when he got back and so it was after midnight before he managed to herd them into their room. Afterwards, he went into his bedroom. He could smell the tiniest trace of her perfume. It was hard to believe all that had gone on only that morning. He had the sudden urge to call her and ask exactly what she'd meant when she'd said she had a lovely time.
He picked up his phone and looked at her number. Did the past three days mean anything? Had it all been just for show? What if she laughed at him and shot him down? He was not going to look desperate and pathetic to her. He put the phone down.
o-o-o-o-o-o
At her house she was lying awake in bed, thinking of the bed she had woken up in. She picked up her phone and looked at his number. He was a fabulous kisser, but suppose he'd only really wanted her for that date? What if he would rather be alone than with her? That would be completely humiliating.
She put the phone down.
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The End