Head in the clouds – Pt. 7
By GayforKurt
Summary: Ten years after leaving Lima, Kurt has found fame and fortune. Life should have been great, but what is success without love – or a reasonable facsimile? A Kurtofsky story set in the not too distant future. Please read and review.
A/N 1: This chapter is more of a teaser for the full monty to come. I really want to do justice to the wedding and I'm not sure I can do that if it's squished into this one chapter. Well, please read, enjoy and review.
Disclaimer: I don't own Glee. If I did there would be more boys kissing boys and definitely no bullying!
CHAPTER SEVEN
Vivian was tense as she directed one of the lighting technicians on where to put the banks of baby spots. She stepped over what seemed to her like miles of cable and wiring and prayed that everything would be pristine and beautiful tomorrow. She walked over to a woman who was putting the final touches to one of the towering floral displays and stood back with her to admire it. The flowers were in every shade of white and cream imaginable and, along with the tower, stacked and tapered candles, would give the place an ethereal beauty that would take one's breath away.
This venue she had chosen had a bank of floor-to-ceiling windows along one whole wall that would provide a spectacular view of the cityscape at night. The special lighting that had been ordered would play shades of violet and blue that would mimic the sky outside and the ceiling had tiny lights that would imitate stars. Vivian knew that this setting would be dubbed the most romantic ever after the press got a look at it. High-profile weddings had a certain pull for the usually cynical journalists and the happy couple would be photographed to within an inch of their lives before, during and after the ceremony and the reception afterward. She only hoped they would all survive the night.
She took a deep breath, let it out, and continued the mantra she had woken up with this morning: "Only the best; only the best." The woman next to her looked at her quizzically but she just shook her head and smiled. "De-stressing technique, my dear; you need one in this business."
The woman nodded understandingly and Vivian moved off to consult with the chef and his staff. It seemed as if they had ordered tons of food but she was still worried that it would not be enough. 'Get a grip, girl,' she told herself. 'You've done this scores of times already.'
She plastered a super confident look onto her face, drew her shoulders back and pushed through the swing doors to go head to head with one of the industry's most famous chefs. Chef Brinn was a doll but he was just so temperamental! They had collaborated several times before and she knew the great regard in which he held Kurt but he was as stubborn as a mule and some days, she just did not have the time for it.
As she stepped into the huge kitchen with its massive chrome worktops, refrigerators and ovens, she saw the stocky man sitting on a stool with reams of paper in front of him. No doubt those were the menu and lists of ingredients for tomorrow's wedding banquet. She approached him with a huge smile on her face and when he looked up and saw her, he returned it with a large smile of his own.
"Ah, the beautiful Vivian! You have come to crack the whip, ja?" His eyes twinkled at her merrily and she chuckled. She really didn't have to worry about anything when he was in charge. It was just that this wedding was special and she would die if anything were to go wrong.
"Hello, my dear Chef, everything's in order?" She pulled one of the lists towards her and glanced down at it before he could reply. They had met several times before to come up with something special for the wedding reception and she thought they had done a great job. There would be appetizers consisting of NY steak canapés topped with Brie and caramelized onions, jumbo lump crab salad in lettuce cups with avocado, cilantro and white truffle oil, mixed melon ball skewers with mint-infused maple syrup, caprese skewers with mozzarella, tomato and basil, chicken sate with peanut sauce, grilled jumbo shrimp with pesto sauce, artisan cheese board with olives, hummus and guacamole dips, flatbreads and organic vegetable crudités with Chef Brinn's own no-fat yogurt
She moved on to the main menu and was pleased that chef had kept all her suggestions. The salad course would see their guests dining buffet style on a mixed organic green salad with imported heirloom tomatoes with a cilantro vinaigrette . There would also be roasted vegetables, grilled asparagus with lemon butter and mixed new and heirloom fingerling potatoes with melted butter and parsley (Irish-style, which is slightly mashed).
Finally, the entrées that she and chef had argued over would be wild-caught fish of the day, grilled and served with fresh basil avocado aioli, beef (filet, NY, or rib eye) with caramelized sweet onions with a red wine reduction sauce and panko-crusted chicken stuffed with goat cheese and sundried tomatoes served with a leek and sweet Maui onion cream sauce.
Vivian's mouth watered as she eyed the list of haute-cuisine dishes they had selected for their guests' appreciation. Kurt would have no fault to find with any part of this major production, she was certain. Giving the chef a grateful hug and a quick peck, she explained that she had to dash but that she would see him the next day, at least an hour before the guests turned up.
As she headed out of the kitchen, she was already going through her I-pad, sorting through the pre-wedding day checklist and making sure she had not skipped anything. She had had no idea that when Kurt had promoted her to Executive Assistant, that so many responsibilities would have been hers to handle. She sighed at the thought but cheered up slightly when she remembered that she wasn't doing everything on her own. Kurt Hummel Events had an excellent staff and she, like Kurt, was extremely proud of them.
Vivian paused to survey the beautiful penthouse space of the famous hotel and recalled that it had recently undergone a $90 million dollar renovation that stayed true to its classic Art Deco heritage. When her lighting and décor team was done with it, everyone would be blown away by the spectacular display which included dramatic floor-to-ceiling white gauze curtains that would reflect the delicate colored lights the technicians had set up. She had made certain to stress, however, that nothing should truly distract from the Manhattan skyline.
One last thing she had to do was call the manager of the string quintet she had engaged for the wedding. She had already sent over the list of special music and other specifics but the manager assured her that they had provided the soundtrack for countless wedding ceremonies, corporate events and private parties for over thirty years so she had no need to worry. Vivian smiled to herself and thanked the prissy little man for his time and hung up.
Finally satisfied that everything was being handled well, she decided to call it a day and head home for a much-needed Caldon-infused bath and a glass of her favorite pinot noir. She hummed to herself as she thought of its rich, dark red fruitiness and spicy undertones. Yes, she admitted to herself, she was quite a sensualist and had found the perfect job to complement her own preferences. Once again, she thanked God for Kurt Hummel and ran outside to hail a yellow cab.
GLEE
The day dawned crisp and clear and Dave stretched languorously before looking at his bedside clock. He had a lot to accomplish before the wedding but wanted to take a few minutes basking in bed before the madness descended on him.
Pat, Jeremy, his parents and Kurt had enjoyed the dinner he had cooked for them last night and a glow of satisfaction spread throughout his body as he remembered their praise. Words were alright but it was the constant demand for seconds and even thirds of the hearty food that made him feel really happy. He hadn't told anyone, not even Kurt, about his dream to one day open a restaurant because it was still so far ahead in the future. He still had his career to deal with and his post-football obligations so he had given himself another ten years before he could get that particular dream off the ground.
He wasn't worried though that Kurt wouldn't be on board with his plans. Kurt Hummel Events and Dave's future business would dovetail perfectly and he looked forward to the day he would unveil his plans to his beautiful partner. Thinking of Kurt always brought a smile to his lips and, according to his nosy sister, made his eyes glow. He turned over onto his stomach and sighed as his morning wood pressed down into the warm, still crisp sheets beneath him. He flipped back over onto his back because he didn't want to fly solo today; he liked the feeling of anticipation that built in him to the point that, when he would finally touch Kurt, he felt as if he would fly apart, even from just a kiss. Kurt's luscious mouth was seriously addicting and he groaned as he realized those thoughts were helping his problem to subside at all!
He finally flung the sheets aside and got up, striding into the bathroom to start the shower running. He leaned closer to the mirror and noticed a hickey just about where his neck met his shoulder and he grinned at himself. His little incubus had gone to town on him last night after he dropped him back at his penthouse suite and Dave groaned as he remembered the sounds Kurt had made as they made love. Knowing where these reminiscences would lead if he didn't do something about it, Dave adjusted the shower spray to a lot cooler than he would normally have it. He needed to get going if he was going to be on time for the event later.
GLEE
Kurt smiled to himself as he sipped on his morning herbal tea. Though he was sitting at his gorgeous glass and chrome dining table, he could still stare out at the city that beckoned to him and lured him with the sound of its traffic. He really loved living here; he loved the hustle and bustle and the drama. He loved eating at fine restaurants and going to the theatre and he definitely loved his job and his company. Most of all, this morning in particular, he loved the fact for once that his picture was plastered all over the front of one of New York's top tabloids.
He glanced down at the newspaper folded over to show the full-color photo of Dave kissing him as they danced at Pat and Jeremy's engagement party. Though the paper was over a week old, Kurt still basked in the shock that had reverberated through his social circle when it came out that Manhattan's own Ice Queen was engaged to marry the hunky pro athlete, Dave Karofsky. 'Has The Fury Melted Our Ice Queen?' was the header on the photo and Kurt giggled uncontrollably as he read the caption.
"Seen last night at the engagement party for financier Jeremy Hallandsby and his assistant Patricia Karofsky Soon Lee were the brother of the bride-to-be, pro athlete David Karofsky and the gorgeous Mr. Kurt Hummel. The boys were locked in what looked to be a passionate embrace after a special announcement. We didn't get details, dear readers, but judging by the sparkler on Mr. Hummel's hand, dare we guess? Stay tuned!"
Kurt laughed out loud as he read once again the arch words and coy tone of the caption. He set his cup down delicately and raised his hand to admire said 'sparkler'. The ever-present glow he felt these past few weeks seemed to intensify as he thought back to the night Dave had gone down on one knee and changed Kurt's life forever. Now he wished Dave had spent the night with him, a wish that came more and more often, so he could see as much of him as possible before he flew back down to his training camp.
Kurt showered and got dressed absent-mindedly, his mind still on Dave and the events of later that day. He knew Vivian had things under control and whereas some time ago he would have been all over her double checking everything she had done already, these days he was much more mellow. A state of affairs he knew his staff attributed to his fiancé and were grateful for. They loved Kurt but he was a bit of a perfectionist and they had felt the rough edge of his tongue more than once when things had not lived up to his expectations.
Finally, he was ready for the office, taking in the thick cream-colored Irish sweater with a small cowl neck that fell to mid-thigh of his rust-colored suede leggings. Matching boots completed the ensemble and he grabbed an ankle length beige trench coat before heading out the door. He hadn't spent much time on his face and hair but he hadn't needed to. These days he always seemed to glow and, judging by the admiring looks he received as he strode out into the Manhattan street, he figured less was more.
He hummed happily to himself and then found himself actually singing out loud for the first time in a long while. His mind went back to his glee club days and the verbal tussles he used to have with his current sister-in-law Rachel, nee Berry. Then he thought about the others: Mercedes, Puck, Artie, Tina, Mike, Sam, Santana and Brittany, the members whom he barely kept in touch with or rarely saw. He felt a little guilty about that and wondered if they thought, because he was so successful now, he had forgotten about them. He hoped that was not the case because, truth be told, he had been extremely busy over the years going to college and getting his business off the ground.
He continued to stride up the sidewalk, dodging the hurrying folks all around him and sang a few verses of one of the many songs he had sung with Rachel, Defying Gravity. Really, he needed to stay more in touch with folks, he missed them so much and he had so much to tell them. He was engaged to David Karofsky, a development he knew would shock many as he knew Finn must have mentioned it to some by now. Kurt shook his head ruefully as he thought about his stepbrother and his perennial foot-in-mouth problem. Seriously, you can choose friends but you can't choose family, he sighed.
Kurt finally decided he had enough of the Manhattan ambiance and these boots were not really made for walking so he hailed a cab and gave directions to his office to the leering cab driver. The drive was not that long and when he arrived, paid the driver and headed upstairs, he was already on his Blackberry checking over his schedule for the day.
Breezing past his staff with a cheerful 'good morning all!', he flung himself on his couch to go over his to-do list. The day wasn't really jam-packed with stuff but what there was needed his own touch. He called Vivian and she filled him in on the last-minute things she was taking care of, and satisfied, he hung up after telling her he would leave early that day and so should she.
Kurt had spent enough time in this business and around women to know that, even though the wedding was not their own, they still needed hours to primp that involved mad dashes to hair salons, getting manicures, pedicures, facials, etcetera, etcetera. He himself had planned a couple of those things for himself, especially the facial as they definitely relaxed him, and he had already tried on his suit that had arrived from the shop yesterday. He smirked as he thought about the look that would be on Dave's face when he saw him. God, it felt so good to be loved and wanted the way Dave loved and wanted him!
Realizing that things would not be taking care of themselves, Kurt marched over to his huge desk and sat down to work. Kurt Hummel Events was booked solid for the next several months and Kurt spent most of the rest of the day returning phone calls, setting dates and setting up appointments. When several hours had passed and his stomach decided to interrupt his latest call with a definite growl, Kurt decided to throw in the towel, go get something to eat and then go get his facial.
Breezing back through the front office with a 'have a nice weekend!' to his staff, he headed downstairs and out to the street again, this time to hail a cab immediately for his destiny with a Waldorf salad and a bottle of Evian. If he timed it right, he could get his facial then head back to the apartment and his bed for a tiny nap. Yes, that should recharge his batteries and prepare him for the blow-out event of a wedding tonight.
GLEE
Meanwhile, Pat sat with her parents Paul and Helen Karofsky, chatting about the years past and the events in each other's lives that they had missed. Eventually, the conversation turned to David and his famous fiancée, Pat chuckling as she took in her dad's bewildered expression.
"You know, I still don't get it, but as they say, the heart wants what it wants," he shook his head but Helen only smiled back at Pat, sharing her daughter's fascination with young Kurt Hummel.
"Oh, sweetie, don't you see that's why Davey went through such a rough time back in high school?" When he still looked a little confused, she continued. "David was never one to open up and talk about his feelings or whatever was bothering him. When he started changing so much we should have noticed and forced him to talk to us. It really shouldn't have come to the point that it did; I'm sorry to say that we're partly to blame."
She patted his hand and he covered it with his larger one. He spoke quietly. "That's true, but when I see the way those boys look at each other now, I can hardly believe that's the same kid he used to bully. Was it really just a case of 'pigtail-pulling', as we used to call it?"
Pat jumped in before things could get too melancholy. "It was a little of that, Dad, but a large part was that having feelings for another boy was not as accepted as it is these days. Heck, even now you hear the occasional horror story of some kid committing suicide because of peer bullying. Thank God those stories are very rare and only seem to happen in less enlightened places, certainly not in the big metropolitan areas."
They sat in silence for a while then Pat continued with a smile. "Besides, Dave and Kurt had sorted things out from way back then, remember, according to what he told me. I doubt they could ever have reached where they are now if they hadn't cleared the air at all."
Her parents brightened up considerably at that reminder and eventually they rose to go about the various errands they had before the main event that night. Pat had to talk with Vivian about all the arrangements they had put in place and she definitely needed to talk to Jeremy as well. She missed her wonderful fiancé, even if she had just seen him the night before when Dave had had them all to dinner. Boy, could her brother cook! She thought he should probably do something serious about it and maybe she would corner him one day and talk to him about it.
Kissing her parents on their cheeks, she headed out for her own hair, nail and facial appointments, chatting happily over the phone to Jeremy and sending lots of kisses down the line to him. She couldn't wait to see her beloved at the wedding and her heart skipped a beat as soon she would be Mrs. Jeremy Hallandsby. Her next call was to Viv and even though she knew she didn't have to, she needed to hear that everything was in place and nothing would go wrong on this wonderful day.
Viv's laughter-filled voice boomed through the tiny phone. "How is the bride this morning; sleep well?"
Pat laughed. "As well as can be expected. I am so nervous which I suppose is to be expected, but I've got it under control. I'm heading for the first of my primping appointments but I know there's a bottle of wine in my near future before the big event tonight."
"Well, whatever you do, don't turn up drunk, honey!" Vivian laughed as she ended the call. She was still chuckling as she put in a call to Dave. "Hello, I'm just checking that everything's on schedule with you? I just got a call from Pat and she seems fine right now."
Dave, who was at the moment staring at his suit still in the clear plastic in which it had arrived, nodded though she couldn't see him. "Yes, Vivian, it's all good here. The folks are taking care of various errands but we should all be on schedule; thanks for calling."
"Okay, sweetie, I spoke with Kurt earlier and he's shortened his day; I think he's going to get a facial. Relax, okay, and we'll see each other later, God willing."
She hung up and headed out to see if her mom had her stuff sorted out. She was accompanying Viv and her boyfriend to the wedding and she had bought the loveliest outfit for her. No doubt everyone would be dressed to the nines as the paparazzi would be out in full force for another 'wedding of the century'.
TBC
A/N 2: I can't be sure if the next and final chapter should have one wedding or two, or maybe we should skip a few months or so. Please, let me have your feedback, dear readers.