A/N: Here's the next installment! This one is full of James and Katie action, which I hope will satisfy your appetites!
Thanks again for the support, quick shoutout to my regular reviewers: Abbyli (when are you updating your story?) and StuckAt9.99 (you're so sweet, thanks for the motivation).
Disclaimer: Only the OC's and story are mine.
Katie woke up the next morning, feeling worn out and tired. She glanced at her alarm clock. "Shit." She quickly scrambled out of bed and hurriedly ran into her closet to find something decent to wear. She had wanted to wake up early to call Tony and Daniella to cancel the shoot, or at least tell them to find a new spokesperson for 'Electric Eel.' After last night's incident, she didn't want to work with James Diamond. She didn't want to see him or speak to him. However, it was now nine in the morning, and Tony and Daniella were probably setting up her office for the photo shoot, she would have to speak to them in person about this.
Once dressed, Katie went over to the guest room to peek in and see if Kendall got in last night. She had crashed the second she got home, Logan and Camille, nowhere in sight. Seeing the lumpy form on the bed, Katie shut the door and tiptoed away. She'd let Kendall sleep in. Katie, grabbed a banana, before heading out the door.
When Katie got to her office lobby, Mags quickly stood up to greet her. "Hey Mags," Katie noticed the loud clattering that was coming from inside her office. "Are Tony and Daniella in my office? Good, I really need to speak to them."
"No, I mean," Mags shouted, stopping Katie in her tracks. "They're in the supply closet, down the hall. They were looking for a large tarp."
"A tarp? They usually have everything with them." Katie wondered, suspiciously.
"Would you like me to go get them?" Mags asked, slowly.
"No, it's okay, I'll get them. I have to talk to them anyway." Katie said as she handed her purse to Mags to place behind the receptionist's desk.
Katie made her way down the hall, hearing rustling coming from inside the closet. She opened the door and was confused to find it completely dark.
"Hello−oh!" An arm had pulled Katie into the supply closet. She heard the distinct click of the door being locked.
"Who is this? What do you want from me?" Katie readied herself by placing her arms up. She hoped that her years boxing at the gym would help her against her attacker. She heard the person come closer and swiftly punched forward.
"Oomph. Seriously?" A pained voice called out, as the person tumbled to the ground.
"What the hell? James?" Katie reached up and tried to find the light switch. She pulled on the string to turn on the light. Sure enough, James Diamond was curled up on the floor, hugging his abdomen.
"Hey, Katie." He slowly got up. Katie looked up at the man before her. His eyes were bloodshot, his hair was a disaster and a five o'clock shadow was forming.
"Care to explain why you cornered me in a supply closet?" She said, crossing her arms.
"Katie, I'm so sorry." James pleaded, grabbing her shoulders. "I didn't mean anything that I said, last night. I was drunk, I was stupid and I was horny. Britney, she was just there, I mean, I didn't even take her home last night."
"So, you just left her there like she was trash?" Katie asked, defensively.
"What?" James was confused, only last night, Katie had said some awful things about the girl. Katie knew that she was being irrational, but looking at the man, made her blood boil. "No, Katie, shut up." Katie narrowed her eyes. "I'm sorry, I just need to explain myself. What I meant was, Britney is a very nice girl, but she's not important to me." He grabbed Katie's lips with his fingers when she opened them to speak. "No, I'm not finished." He focused his hazel eyes on her brown ones. Their faces, a mere couple inches apart. "She's not important, but you are. Katie, I felt like such an ass, last night. I couldn't believe that I let you walk away, so angry with me. I couldn't even sleep, thinking about what I said to you. Even, Kendall and Carlos gave me the cold shoulder. I know I don't deserve it, but Katie, can you forgive me?"
James released her lips, but kept their proximity. Katie could feel the heat radiating off him. She didn't know what it was about this man, but she could never stay mad at him; she was constantly drawn into him. "You're still self-centred." Katie said, looking at his chest.
James smiled, knowing that Katie's comment meant that she didn't hate him as much. "I know, I'll try to deflate my ego. It won't be easy, but I'll try."
Katie couldn't help the tug at the corner of her mouth. "Fine. I forgive you, but one more wrong move, mister, and that's it. I'm leaving. And, I'm sorry, too. I was acting like a drama queen, something I promise is not usually like me."
James laughed and pulled her into a hug, which she returned. "Thank you, Katie." The two stood there, embracing each other for longer than necessary. "Hey, Katie?" James said, above her head.
"Yeah?"
"I meant it, when I said that you are important to me." His grip on her tightened. "I could never live with myself if I lost you."
Katie pulled back, so that she was able to look up at him. "Me too." She whispered. The two looked at each other for another moment, before James leaned in, slightly. Katie, hastily took a step back, pushing James away. "We should get back. Tony and Daniella are waiting."
James ruffled his hair, confused at what just happened. "Right." He turned around and fiddled with the lock, before opening the door.
The two walked silently, side-by-side, down the hall. Mags spotted them, giving Katie an apologetic look. "Katie, I'm so sorry."
Katie held up her hand. "It's fine, Mags. We're good, now, thanks." Katie spared James a glance before heading into the office.
"Ah, there you are darling! And James, too. Wonderful. What do you think?" Tony asked, as he pointed around the room. The transformation was startling. The computer was taken off the desk and the blinds were drawn all the way in, the windows themselves were covered with black cardboard, so that no natural light could filter in. Facing the desk were multiple lights and reflectors.
"Oh, Button, good you're here." Daniella said, as she strolled out of Katie's washroom which was transformed into a temporary dressing room. She pulled out a couple of contracts from the folder she was holding and handed it to Katie. "Here, take a look at these darling and sign at the bottom. Oh, what am I saying, you clearly know what to do, I expect you have contacted James' agent about this matter? Once you're finished, the team in your washroom is ready for you and there's another team, in the room next door," referring to Katie's spare office, 'waiting for James."
"Thanks, Daniella. Just give me a minute to look over these. Why don't you take James over there, and get started?" Katie suggested.
"Perfect." Daniella grabbed James' arm and pulled him along with her.
Katie took a seat and started to read the contracts. Once she read everything, and was satisfied, she signed and dated her copy of the contract. She quickly faxed over a copy of James' contract to Chris, having obtained James' business information yesterday. She walked over to the next room, where James was getting his hair and make-up done. "Hey, these look good, so all you have to do is wait for Chris's approval and then sign and date."
James smiled at her through the mirror. "Awesome."
Katie gave a smile in return. "I should probably get back, got to get ready too."
"Oh yeah, of course." James nodded.
"See you in a bit." Katie waved, before leaving. When she was safely inside her own office, she smacked herself in the head. She just wanted to stop being so awkward around James. She shook her head and headed to the washroom. The styling team immediately got to work, primping Katie, until she was almost unrecognizable. Her hair soon fell in loose waves, framing her face. Her cheekbones stood out prominently, her lips were glossed a deep red and her eyes were piercing behind a veil of dark smoke. Her wardrobe consisted of a black, high-waisted, pencil skirt that reached her knees with a slit along the back. The skirt was paired with a cream coloured, scoop-neck, silky tank top.
Daniella came back into the room and handed her a clear bottle filled with a bluish, purple liquid. "Is this it?" Katie asked, taking the bottle and sniffing the content. She was happy to say that the smell was decent, something she wasn't sure that 'Cuda Cosmetics could pull off.
"It's the prototype bottle. But yes, that's it. Come on now, they're ready."
Katie followed Daniella into her office. She spotted James immediately. He was posing for some individual shots in a tailored black business suit. His hair was slicked back, his face was clean-shaven, and he was wearing prop glasses. Katie assumed that James had gotten the green light from his agent.
"Beautiful, just so beautiful." Tony gushed as he ran around, shooting James from different angles.
Daniella cleared her throat and the two men directed their gazes to Katie. Katie saw James' eyes widen with the sight of her. "Are you finished with James? I think we should do shots for Kate, now."
"Yes, yes of course. Ah, Kate, darling, you look brilliant, as usual. Come, come." Tony ushered her onto the backdrop. "James, you can take a seat on the couch while we shoot Kate."
"Now, Button, you are 'Elizabeth Benton,' a fierce business woman, who takes charge in her office. You are confident, sexy and you know it." Daniella told her. After working with Katie over a number of years, Daniella understood that Katie did her best work when she played a role and wasn't modelling as herself.
Katie smiled at Daniella's aid, and nodded. Katie quickly and easily placed her best 'all-and mighty' face on for the camera. She needed to lure the camera in with her sexual appeal, yet let it be known that she was boss. After fifteen minutes of contouring her body for the best angles, and a couple of dozen photos later, they were ready to move on to the dual ad.
James and Katie exchanged awkward smiles, when Tony pulled James onto the backdrop.
"James, sit down in the chair, and Kate, you are going to straddle him and lean in towards his neck. Grab on to his tie. I'll take those glasses." Daniella instructed, as she took the glasses off of James' face. "And for Pete's sake, stop looking so nervous and start looking intimate."
James looked around awkwardly as he sat in the seat, parallel to the desk, wondering where to place his hands. As if the role of the character possessed her, Katie smirked down at him, as she sat down on top of him. "I thought you said, you would be professional." She challenged, using her right hand to grab his tie and the other perched behind his head. She tossed her head, so that her hair would cascade on one side of her face, so that it wouldn't obscure the camera's view.
James' hazel eyes darkened with intensity. He pulled Katie forward, with one hand holding on her waist, and the other on her neck. He pulled Katie down so that her stained lips grazed his. "I said I would be, and so I am." It was as if everyone else in the room had disappeared and left only them. The two stared at each other for a moment before James grabbed on the back of Katie's thighs and roughly stood up. She held on to him as he manoeuvred them to the side of the desk. Katie, at this point, had loosened the tie and unbuttoned the top of James' shirts. He gently laid her down along it's length, careful not to stab her with decorative pens and crawled over her. He slowly ran his nose long her neck and collarbone, inhaling her scent. Katie could feel his harsh breath, causing goosebumps to raise on her skin. His hands travelled down her sides, leaving a trail of a burning sensation. She propped herself up slightly, and pulled his face towards hers. Their lips again, grazed each other's, their breaths mingled, neither one uttering a word.
"And that was perfect." Daniella's voice rang through, breaking the static in the room.
Katie quickly let go of James and he jumped off the desk. Both of them cleared their throats, looking anywhere but each other.
"Well, I must say, you two certainly have chemistry. 'Cuda Cosmetics is going to eat this up." Daniella smirked, noting the flushed faces of the two models.
Tony was near tears, "That had to be the most intense and beautiful shoot, we have ever done. It was magic, pure magic."
Katie ran a hand through her hair. "I'm just going to go change, now. Did you want to stick around and go over anything?" She asked Daniella and Tony.
"Oh no, Button, we're done for the day. We'll call you soon, to go over the proofs." Daniella smiled.
"Okay, I'll call you then," Katie promptly ran out of the room.
James stood there, smiling to himself, unconsciously running a couple fingers back and forth along his lower lip.
"James, sweetheart, you can go change too," Daniella said.
"Oh, right. Thanks," he replied, and headed over to his change room.
Daniella shook her head, as she thought of the two models.
After wiping off the excess make-up and changing into more comfortable clothes. Katie sat, with her head in her hands, while everyone hustled around her to clean up. She couldn't believe what had happened on set. There was no way to deny the sexual tension that radiated between Katie and James. The crew had finished cleaning up the room and left. Katie sighed, still looking into her hands, "He's just hot. He's like your brother. He's a womanizer. You were acting. He's a client. This isn't real." Katie mumbled to herself, trying to negate any possible, and highly irrational, feelings to surface.
"Um, Katie?"
Katie turned her head and looked at the open door, she blushed when she saw the man currently occupying her thoughts. "Hey, James," her eyes widened when she realized what he just walked in on. "Please tell me, you didn't hear me."
"Only the end, something about something not being real," James answered, truthfully.
"I was, I was just..." Katie trailed off, for the first time, at a loss for words.
James spoke, knowing she didn't really have anything to say. "About what happened, during the shoot. I think we kind of, you know, maybe we," he stopped. Like Katie, the words just couldn't come out. James let out a frustrated breath, as he looked up for inspiration.
Mentally, Katie calculated that there was just too much to lose, to let this, whatever this was, to start. She put on the brightest smile. "What did you think of my acting?"
James quickly looked at her again, "Acting?"
"Yeah, I mean, didn't you hear? Daniella said I was playing 'Elizabeth Something or other.' I take the best photographs whenever I'm being someone else."
James' face fell, slightly. "So, you were just acting?"
Katie let out a derived laugh, "Yeah, I mean, did you think−"
"Yes," James cut in, knowing what Katie was going to say. "I did think we both felt something. Even before the shoot, in the supply closet, we felt it then, too. I mean, I don't know when you stopped being family to me, but there's no way I can think of you as a little sister." He walked over to pull her out of the seat and held on to her shoulders.
Katie shook her head. "No, James. We can't do this," she flicked her fingers between the two. "I mean, we are business partners, now and the guys." Katie tried to explain. She looked up into his eyes and smiled, sadly. "You and I, James, we aren't relationship material. Right now, we have our careers to focus on, Kendall, Carlos and Logan might hate us, and you like your freedom. Do you really think that you can risk everything to be with me, because we had a couple of intense moments?"
James looked down at her, mulling over her words. "No," he let go of her, "I don't think I can." He took a step back. "Katie, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry," his face was in anguish, thinking of how he let her down.
Katie walked into his arms and hugged him, even though she did feel a pang of rejection. "It's okay," she said. "I would have said the same thing." Katie pulled away and smiled gently.
James gave a small smile in return, and placed his hands in his pockets, "Friend zone?"
"Friend zone."
A/N: What an emotional roller-coaster, and I know, I completely tease at the end, but we can't have James and Katie fall in love that quickly now can we? ;)
Like always, I would love to hear what you think about this, so please leave a review!
-D