Jenny entered the gallery quite late. She had been already on the way to her father's new gallery, when she received a message from him that plans had changed. The opening gala would take place somewhere else. She was pretty confused about it, as it was supposed to be an event to open up his new place – why take it somewhere else? Even though she was there to support her father, and that's all that mattered.
She walked into the building, which seemed to be a huge art gallery. She spotted her dad and Ivy immediately, as well as Lily. What was Lily doing here? After their split-up Jenny was pretty sure they wouldn't talk any more. At least not that much, only necessary things.
Ivy spotted her, and made her way over. "Thank god, you're here Jenny", she exhaled the moment she stood in front of her. "I could really use some back up."
Jenny only looked at her irritated. "I don't get it. What's wrong? Why is the opening gala here?"
Ivy snorted shortly. "Just one word, or better one name: Lily!"
Jenny gazed at her, still not understanding what it was all about. "Sorry, I can't follow. Might fill me in."
"Lily had this charity event planned to sabotage Rufus opening. She clearly knew that we had planned it for tonight. She managed to put up this charity party, ending up that all the important persons out of the art industry replied to her event and not ours. Charming, isn't it?"
Jenny couldn't believe her ears. She knew that they broke in anger, but not that there was a war going on between them. She looked over to her former stepmother.
"I don't get why she hates my dad that much. If anyone had a reason to be angry, it's him. She left him for Bart, not the other way around", Jenny mused. "So, how come that this became dad's event now?"
Ivy let out a laugh. "We bought all the pictures that she had gathered for her charity event, and replaced them with the art from Rufus gallery. You should have seen Lily's face when she found out. It was hilarious! Beating her in her own game, just great!"
Jenny could see where Ivy was coming from. She had a long talk to her, after her lunch with her dad and Ivy. She wanted to know the girl that her father was now living with. Jenny couldn't say that she was happy over his choice, but it was his life, and she hoped he knew what he was doing.
"Be careful, Ivy. It might not be over yet. They don't like to lose, and you already saw first hand what these people are capable off. Lola may gave you the money back, but that doesn't mean that you're automatically on the same level as Lily", Jenny warned the young blonde in front of her. She knew their games all to well. And clearly Lily wouldn't give up that easy.
Just thinking about Lily's next move her father walked up to them.
"I can't believe that woman", he exclaimed. "She just decided to give a piece of her private art collection for auction, so she can beat our amount. She just can't let it go. First she tries to ruin my entire gallery opening and now she needs to beat us with the charity amount. Only to get her name above ours. Unbelievable!", Rufus muttered.
Jenny walked over to him, stroking his arm. "Dad, she's not worth it that you freak out like this. If she thinks she has to win, let her. You know that you're better than that", Jenny said gently, still holding on to her dad's arm.
He gazed down at her, eyes softening. "You're right. I shouldn't let her control my life any longer. It's just so frustrating that she is fighting my new start like this", Rufus sighed.
He gave his daughter a short kiss on the forehead. "It's good to have you back, kiddo. There are a few things I have to take care off. See you later?"
"Sure", Jenny nodded and watched her father go back to business.
"You know what, I think teaching Lily a little lesson wouldn't be too bad", she said towards Ivy.
Ivy immediately smiled at her. "And what exactly do you have in mind?"
"If Lily puts a piece of her private collection on sale, it's definitely one she cares about. You got all of CeCe's money, right?"
"Yeah, everything that she left me behind", Ivy replied.
"Well good, than it should be enough to buy that art. Lily wants to top your charity amount with it, but she definitely doesn't want you to buy her art. The second she realizes that you're going for it, she will try to stop you. Does she know you have the money back?", Jenny asked curiously.
"No, at least not that I know. She was already wondering how we were able to afford buying all the other arts. I think she believes in that we took a loan or so."
"Perfect, than it will be an even bigger surprise for her to hear that you bought one of her pieces with her mom's money. She will totally blow on that one", Jenny smiled devilishly.
There used to be a time when she truly liked Lily, even looked up to her. But it all changed when she got to hear how she was treating her father, and that she pretty much immediately left him after Bart's return. Now she only felt disdain for her. Jenny had turned to her worse while being in the UES, and somehow Lily did it too. Although she always had been a part of it. Probably she was a very good actress, always hiding her real face.
The auction was in full swing. The auctioneer had announced the tremendous amount that her father and Ivy had collected due to their effort of buying the entire art pieces. But of course, just as planned of her, Lily's rainbow woman was the highlight of the event.
And just as planned, Ivy had started to bit for it too. The second Lily realized, she started to bit for her own picture. Sometimes she is so transparent. Jenny couldn't help but smile. To her surprise Chuck had run in, and joined their game.
All three of them were placing bits, always trying to trump the person before and be the highest bitter. It actually became quite insane. It looked like a war battle to Jenny. They were beyond crazy.
The sum went higher and higher. And they ended up arguing. About whether they have the money or not, or why they would bit at all. Jenny didn't pay any attention to the auctioneer, neither did Chuck, Lily or Ivy. So it all got unnoticed to them, that all the sudden the auction was at an end.
They all looked confused and surprised at the highest bitter, which turned out to be – Rufus. Jenny couldn't stop smiling like the Cheshire cat. This was too good to be true. Ivy looked also quite satisfied, only Chuck and Lily looked like they have been hit by a car.
"Did I miss something special? I tried to get here as fast as I could", a well known voice to Jenny's left spoke up.
She gazed over to Nate, who all the sudden stood in a suit on her side. Jenny chuckled a little.
"Just the most stupid and funniest auction ever", she only stated.
Nate looked over to her too, cocking an eyebrow. "Don't think I can follow. What happened?"
"Lily put her rainbow woman on sale, and Ivy, Chuck and her battled about it massively", she explained.
Nate nodded in comprehension. "And who won the fight?" He hoped for Chuck, as he knew that this art contained something Chuck urgently was looking for.
Jenny let out a laugh. "Neither one of them", she giggled.
Nate looked at her in surprise. "It was my dad who made the race", she finished explaining. "You should have seen their faces when the biting was over. Hilarious!"
"Sure it was. So, does your dad really wants to have the art, or is it only payback?", he asked curious. "And how is he even able to afford buying it? I mean, pretty sure Chuck and Lily bit quite a lot."
"I don't know. Guess he only wanted to show her, her boarders. She tried to ruin his gallery opening with this event. So it's only fair that he paid her back. And about the money, no concern – he has it", Jenny only replied.
Nate's eyes widened on her comment. "He has it? How?", he asked flabbergasted.
"No need for you to know, Nate. But he is able to afford Lily's art. Now excuse me please, I want to talk to my dad."
She left him standing alone, wondering where Rufus Humphrey would have the money from.
Thirty minutes later Nate had solved the question. Chuck had talked to Ivy, who told him that she had got CeCe's money back. It must have been a shock for Lily. But he didn't care much. He was more pleased that Ivy was willing to sell the art to Chuck. This would mean that he soon would have some evidence against his father. They were on a good way.
Nate was about to leave the event, when he spotted Jenny standing in front of a huge painting. Admiring it. The urge to talk to her once more, and this time longer, drove him over to her.
"It's a nice painting", he approached her, while trying to find some kind of theme to talk about. The painting seemed to be the most fitting one.
"Hmm, yeah, it's not that bad. But I'm not a huge fan of the impressionism. But it's okay though. You enjoyed the event?", she asked casually, changing the topic. In first place trying to get to know if he came alone.
"Sort of. Chuck kinda dragged me here. At least he got what he came for", Nate smiled back at her.
Jenny blinked at him in confusion. "Since when is Chuck into art?"
"Since today, it seems. He needed one piece, and he got it", Nate tried to end this part of the conversation.
"The rainbow woman?", Jenny caught on.
She always was damn smart and could read people pretty fast. "Yes, the rainbow woman. Ivy sold it to him."
"Why does Chuck want that art of Lily's? I know why Ivy or my dad wanted it, but Chuck?", Jenny mused.
She fixed her eyes on Nate. Trying to see if his face expression would give something away. Chuck was on to something, and Nate obviously knew it. Stay away girl! You promised yourself not to get involved with their games any more. And here you are questioning Nate. Just let it go!
"I don't know. Maybe it reminds him of something. I can't tell", Nate waved it off. "So, how is your line doing?", he changed the topic instead.
"Can't complain. A lot of orders came in. Berkdorff and Barney's want to talk to me. I got a lot of positive press, including the Spectator. Thank you therefore", she answered.
"You deserved every word Shannon wrote about you", he only stated.
Jenny blushed slightly. Getting compliments from Nate Archibald still swept her from her feet. "Thank you", she stammered like a little child.
"Do you have any plans now? Maybe we could get some drinks somewhere and catch up", Nate tried to sound as normal as possible. His heartbeat and pulse were talking a different language.
"That sounds good. Why not", she replied, cheeks turning a little red.
"Ah, there you are Jenny. I was looking for you all over the place", an English accent got them out of their own world.
Jenny's eyes grew wide when she took in the young man standing now in front of her.
"Jasper? What ... what are you doing here? I thought you're in London", she said baffled.
"Well, I was my love. But I missed you so much that I had to come over", Jasper replied with a huge grin. Closing the gap between them and taking her in a tight hug, before kissing her passionately.
Nate was totally taken aback. Just a few seconds ago he was about to leave this event with Jenny. Now she was in the arms of an English guy, who tried to check her tonsils with his tongue as it seemed. He felt the huge urge to kick that guy all the way back to England. Who the hell is that bloke? And why did he call her my love? Is she seeing him?
Nate took that guy closer in. About his height, sportive, black hair. Casually dressed. This couldn't be her taste. Sure not.
Jenny broke the kiss. She was still caught off-guard by Jasper's appearance. She gazed him over, and then she took a quick look at Nate, who seemed very confused by the entire situation.
"Jasper, how did you know that I'm here? And what are you doing here?", she asked again.
"As I said, I missed you. And your brother Dan was so kind to tell me where to find you. I wanted to surprise you, and it seems like I did", he answered with a huge smile on his face. "Ah sorry, my manners. Hello, I'm Jasper Montgomery. Jenny's fiancé. Nice to meet you."
He held out his hand to Nate, who had remained in his spot. Now close on collapsing. Did he just said fiancé? What? When? How? She hasn't said a word about a fiancé. What on earth?
"Hello, Nathaniel Archibald. Pleasure to meet you", he barely brought out, and shook Jasper's hand as hard as he could.
"Archibald? Why does that name sound familiar to me?", Jasper mused.
Did Jenny tell him about me? If so, why didn't she mention him to me? Or anyone else? Don't think that anyone knows about her engagement.
"Wait, are you related to the Vanderbilt's?", Jasper asked all the sudden.
Nate nodded. "Yes, William Vanderbilt is my grandfather". He answered quite surprised that Jasper knew his family.
Jasper let out a laugh. "I knew it. My grandfather Jameson used to play golf with yours. I knew I heard the name Archibald before."
Nate only nodded once more, while Jenny shifted a little. She wanted to be anywhere else but here. This wasn't meant to happen. Jasper bonding with Nate, no, this clearly wasn't meant to happen.
"As funny as this coincidence is, we should leave. I just wanted to go home, and pretty sure you're jet lagged. Shall we, Jasper?", Jenny tried to put a stop to their conversation.
He looked at her in surprise. "You sure? I just got here, and don't mind to stay a bit longer. You were just talking, don't need to stop because of me. And honestly, I'd love to meet your father."
"Another day. He is busy with gearing everything up. We can invite him for dinner, that's better to get to know each other than here between door and ankle. And Nate and I – we were just done. He needs to head home too, his magazine is waiting for him in the morning."
Nate shot her a short look. He was upset that she didn't even consider in the tiniest way to mention her fiancé. He was hurt that she was with someone else. He was angry that she was trying to hide that he was more than a friend to her. At least her body reactions spoke a different language earlier.
"Yeah, I should leave. I have quite a few appointments tomorrow. It would be best not to oversleep and attend them tired. And obviously you two have to do some catch up. It was nice meeting you, Jasper. Jenny, I guess we see us around."
Before either one of them could reply to his goodbye, Nate turned around and left the gallery as fast as he could. Never in his wildest dreams did he think this event would end this way.
Nate entered the Empire thirty minutes later. Still angry, and still under shock. When he marched in he found Chuck downing a glass of whiskey in one huge gulp.
"Wow, what happened to you? Didn't think your evening was as bad as mine", he stated when plopping on the couch.
"You think?", Chuck replied dryly. "I paid Ivy a fortune to get that damn painting. It got delivered an hour ago."
"So, you got what you wanted. Found what you were looking for?", Nate asked.
"Nope, that's the point", Chuck let out frustrated. "Whatever there was in that painting – it's gone. It's over. The backside is missing. I can't defeat my father."
He got up to pour him another drink. Only to down it within seconds again. Nate watched his friend in concern and sympathy. He knew how much it meant to Chuck to defeat his father.
"It's not the end, Chuck. You'll find another proof for his guiltiness", Nate tried to comfort him.
Chuck laughed bitterly. "And what should that be? No, he made sure I won't find anything."
Nate sighed. "Why don't you ask Ivy? Maybe she knows where the backside has gone to. She bought it, so she should know who shipped it here, right?"
Chuck's eyes lit up a little. "Nathaniel, sometimes you're smarter than you look like. No offence."
"Non taken. You do remember that I'm running my own business, or?"
"Well, each chicken finds a corn once in awhile. So, what happened to you tonight? You mentioned it was bad", Chuck changed the topic.
"It actually started good. I talked to Jenny, she agreed on getting some drinks with me, but then her fiancé from England showed up", he explained exhausted.
"Her fiancé? Are you sure? Maybe it was a misunderstanding. After all she's only nineteen", Chuck tried to comfort his best friend.
"Yes, I am sure. He introduced himself as her fiancé Jasper, and she didn't correct him. So, no misunderstanding existing", Nate brought out.
"Isn't it hilarious? I mean, I come to the point where I know for sure that I want to be with Jenny. That I want to start over again with her. And of course that won't happen. Of course there is a guy that pops up out of nowhere. I was a fool to believe in that she was alone or even that she came back for me."
"You're not a fool, Nathaniel. You may have been when you let her slip away in the first place, but not now. You're not the only one who thinks that she didn't only come back for launching her line. She could have done that as well in London. She chose New York for a reason, and Blair as well as I believe in that this reason is you", Chuck told his friend.
Nate only sighed once more. "I'd love to believe that. But I don't think it is. If she came back for me, why did she accept his proposal then? They're engaged Chuck. She said YES. There is no way that she came back for me."
"And since when do you give up that easily? You know how hard I fought for Blair, and she for me. And we still fight for our happy ending. Jenny did it too for you, long time ago. Now it's your turn, Nathaniel. If you really want her, proof it to her. Fight for her. That's the only way to win her back. She may have moved on for now, but I'm pretty sure her feelings for you haven't vanished to the fullest."
Nate gazed over to his friend. He really had a point there. It was on him now to fight for their happiness. Jenny had tried so hard and so long to become his girlfriend. Now it was his time to fight for her.
"You're right, I can't give up now. So they are engaged, so what? They aren't married yet. We still have a chance, and I'll take it. She still reacts to my compliments. She wouldn't, if I would mean nothing to her any more. I'll win her back!"
Jenny and Jasper recently came back into her loft. Dan was sitting on the kitchen counter, eating a slice of pizza.
"Hey, you guys are home early. Didn't expect you so soon. Did dad punch you, cause you came over without telling us?", he joked towards Jasper.
"No", he laughed out, "I didn't get to see him. Jenny wanted to go home, and she is right. It's better when I get to know all of you in a more private place."
Dan only nodded. He was caught off-guard too when Jasper all the sudden stood in the door tonight. He knew about Jenny's engagement, although he thought it was way to early for her to get married. But he hadn't met Jasper 'til tonight. And they barely had time to talk.
"You want some pizza? There are still some slices", he offered to the young couple.
"Nah, I'm good. They had a little buffet at the opening", Jenny replied dryly.
Jasper also denied. "Actually I'm quite tired. Looks like the jet-lag is kicking in. I think I'll go to bed. Dan, it was nice to meet you. Hope we can get to know each other within the next days."
"Sure, I won't let a stranger marry my sister", he stated shortly. "How about breakfast tomorrow morning? Our dad makes the best waffles ever."
"Sounds like a good plan. I'm in", Jasper retorted in agreement. He kissed Jenny on the forehead. "You're coming too or do you have to work?"
"I have to check my schedule. Don't know if I have any appointments.", she explained.
"Well, I hope you can come too. I don't feel like getting grilled by your dad and brother at the same time", he laughed.
"Ah, don't worry, man", Dan interjected. "We only make you suffer shortly. We always try to kill her guys fast."
Dan smiled over at them, while Jasper wasn't sure if it really was only a joke. Jenny only poked out her tongue to Dan.
"Very funny, Dan", she replied. "You do remember that this is currently your only place to stay at, right? You'd better be careful and behave", she mocked him.
Jasper couldn't follow their conversation any longer. He didn't know what they were talking about. But he was also too tired to think about it. He ended up yawning.
"You should go to bed, sweetheart. I still have to work on a sketch a bit. I'm down here, if you need anything."
Jenny gave him a short kiss, and he went up the spiral stairs to the upper area where the bedrooms were located.
Dan looked after him, 'til he was out of sight. Then he gazed over to his sister, who had walked over to her sketching table. He still couldn't believe that she was engaged.
"So, what happened tonight? Anything interesting?", he asked curious.
"Well, that depends on your definition of interesting. Lily tried to outplay dad. First by setting up a charity event for tonight, and then by offering her rainbow painting for auction. Funnily dad ended up buying it. You should have seen her face. I nearly cracked up over it", she summed up the recent events of that night.
"Oddly was that Chuck wanted that painting too. They really fought over it. It was really strange. Ivy sold the painting straight after to Chuck. I wonder what he wants with it", she mused. She had been thinking about it since they left the gallery. But mainly she thought about it to distract her thoughts from Nate.
His fast disappearance showed her that he clearly wasn't amused about Jasper's arrival. Her fiancé hadn't been a theme yet. She wanted to drop the bomb on a later occasion. Now it was too late. Why am I even concerned about his feelings? Or what he is thinking? He made his point more than once, and I did move on. I have a new life without him, and I have Jasper who loves me the way I am. That's all that matters.
"Does it even matter what Chuck wants? I'm more surprised about Lily's behaviour. It doesn't seem like her to intrigue against dad. Even though they are separated now, I always thought she still holds a porch for him. Guess I was wrong."
Dan got up from his chair and walked over to Jenny. He gave her a short kiss on the forehead.
"Don't work too long, sis. You also need sleep. And thanks once more for letting me crush here. You know it means a lot to me."
With that he left her alone and also disappeared to the upper rooms.
Looks like some competition came up for Nate. What will he do? Will he be able to win Jenny back? After all she said Yes to a proposal. Has she really moved on with her life? Ready to leave him behind for good?
Well, I hope you guys enjoyed reading this chapter. Thanks for the reviews so far - you're just too sweet! Let me know what you think and have a wonderful weekend! I will distract my head a little while watching Catching Fire and get back to writing later on