Chapter 2: Not So Perfect Marriage

Great minds discuss great ideas.

Average minds discuss events.

Small minds discuss people

I had apparently did dose off for real, because I was suddenly shaken awake. I groaned and cracked open my eyes, turning my head away from the window glass to look at my cousin who gave me a smile. "Had a nice rest?" she asked. I gave a soft yawn and shrugged my shoulders, craning my neck to get the kinks out of it. "A cab window is nothing compared to a bed, but it got the job done," I replied jokingly, rubbing my stiff neck.

"Mm, well we are here now my dear Vivien," Jordan said with a smile, pointing out the window. I blinked and popped my head out of the window, my eyes widening at the mansion. Daisy's home was more elaborate and elegant than I expected. It was a cheerful white and red Georgian Colonial mansion that overlooked the bay.

"Daisy lives here?" I asked incredously. I was a part of the rich clique but my house was not like this. I spent my home life in a rather large loft in Chicago, preferring a place smaller where I can overlook the streets of Chicago, I could hear and see the most private moments in people's lives, I rather be in a loft than the loneliness of a mansion in which would only be filled with servants and strangers who come looking for excitement.

"Yes, Tom only gets the best for Daisy!" Jordan said with a roll of her eyes, sarcasm obviously dripping from her voice, maybe even a hint of jealousy. But I was only just hearing things, I doubt Jordan would be jealous of Daisy. Jordan was a self-made woman and a golf star, I highly doubt it once again.

"Mm, I see," I muttered. "Would Daisy mind if I change out of this drab outfit? I find it highly uncomfortable to wear."

Jordan raised her brows. "Uncomfortable! My dear cousin, you look absolutely ravishing in that attire, that cream color looks nice against your skin," she said with a grin, pulling on the hem of my dress. I gave a snort in response.

As long as Jordan had known me, she knew I was never a fan of the oh-so innocent colors. I preferred darker colors unless it was hot, then I would keep wearing my lighter clothing.

I heard the cabbie clear his throat and Jordan and I snapped our heads to the graying pudgy man who seemed a bit annoyed with us just sitting in the car and rambling on about things he most likely did not care for.

"Oh! Excuse us sir, we got caught up in our talk!" Jordan said with a bit of exaggeration in her voice, carrying each word with heavy emphasis. Just making her overall tone sound sarcastic, it had put a smug smirk onto my red lips.

"Will you pay the man Vivien?" I heard Jordan ask. My eyes widened. Did she just ask me what she did ask me?

"What?!"

The sound of a door shutting reached my ears and I narrowed my eyes at my cousin's back as she seemed to quickly make her way to the Buchanan's door. That sneaky little harpie! I thought with a heavy scowl. I then turned my attention to the cabbie who appeared to be annoyed just as much as I.

"Hold your horses you old coot," I hissed out, digging into my purse and practically tossing the money into his face before getting out of the cab, grabbing my rather large suitcase and making my way up the pearly white stairs, stomping all the way up there until I was at the doorstep, feeling a bit warm, sweat beading onto my forehead from the summer heat.

"What took you so long Vivien?" Jordan asked teasingly and I only glared at her in irritation, resisting the urge to smack that smug look off of her face.

"Shut it."

Jordan smiled at me and rapped twice onto the white wooden doors. The door immediately opened to reveal a dark-skinned man in a butler's attire. He gave Jordan a once over, and then nodded to her. "Missus Baker," he said, giving her a slight bow. His eyes widened when he saw me behind my cousin, sweating and looking rather disgruntled.

"Oh? You brought another guest?"

Jordan nodded. "Yes yes I did, I will inform Daisy of her presence now move out of my way you filth," Jordan said, sticking up her nose and pushing past the man, who seemed a bit annoyed by her rudeness. I shook my head and then looked at him.

"Sorry for my cousin's rudeness, she can be bullheaded at times," I said with a forced smile, a bit annoyed that I had to apologize for Jordan's rudeness. But I knew she would have replied to me with a "they are the help!" so there was no use. But I saw the man smile at me and then he asked, "You look rather hot missus, how about I bring your bag in for ya?"

I shook my head, not wanting any help. "No thank you, I can carry it myself, besides I rather strip myself out of this thing. Where is your nearest bathroom?" I asked.

The male smiled. "Let me show you the way." And he then walked inside and I followed behind him, dragging my bag behind me. It was heavy, and I was growing tired of caring it but my stubbornness wouldn't allow me to ask for help.

We eventually made it to the bathroom and I let out a sigh of relief. If we didn't reach the bathroom soon, I would have passed out from exhaustion.

"Here we are missus, I'll wait for you outside until you is done," he said with a nod of his head, turning himself around. I smiled and quickly went into the bathroom. He was different from Jeremiah. He didn't make as many grammar mistakes in his vocabulary and seemed to be highly smart. A smart nigger, now that is something to think about!

I quickly put my hair into a messy bun to keep my neck from sweating, a few curled strands fell into my face, but it didn't look bad. I quickly stripped out of my heavy cream-colored dress and slipped on a cream colored little slip that stopped at my mid-thigh, and over it I put on a black sleeveless chiffon dress that had a beaded and jewel encrusted neckline, it had a drop waist, and didn't seem to do much to hide my slight curvy figure. At the moment I did wish I had a more boyish figure like my cousins. I then changed my shoes into black jewel encrusted heels, a threw a chiffon scarf around my neck, watching as it draped down my back. I smiled and fixed my makeup, making the eye shadow on my eyes darker, making my brown eyes appear darker.

I then quickly left from out of the bathroom, expecting to see the nice butler but he was not around. I furrowed my brows in confusion.

Where was he?

I sighed. He most likely had been called away to do some work. I then began to drag my bag around the house, searching for the room everyone would be in. Each room was either a guest room, or a room filled with portraits of Daisy and her husband. I let out a frustrated sigh at being lost.

This was also another reason why I detested mansions. You could wind up and get yourself lost in your own damn home!

I eventually came upon a room that was filled with trophies. I blinked and out of sheer curiousity, I decided to look upon them. They were each horse riding or polo trophies. I hummed to myself as I looked at each trophy, each one first place and saying Tom Buchanan.

So Daisy's husband was a polo man? Interesting….

I picked up a trophy and marveled at the gold plate and at this mysterious Tom who seemed to be able to give Daisy whatever she wanted.

"Impressive, isn't it?" I heard a male voice said. My eyes widened and I jumped in shock, almost dropping the trophy and fumbling with it before I caught it in my hands. I turned around to see a man leaning against the doorframe.

He was a sturdy and a slightly muscular man who seemed to be about the age of thirty. He had fair skin, his hair was black and slicked back, and his eyes were a pale blue, and above his upper lip was a rather neat looking mustache. He wore polo gear, the blue shirt hugging his muscular frame rather nicely and the khaki pants he wore showing his muscular legs. I felt my eyes wandering his body in interest. This man was tall, dark and seemed to ooze power.

"And you are?" I asked softly, narrowing my eyes at him.

The male smirked, his pale blue eyes seeming to roam my body in approval before he looked back at my face. "Tom Buchanan…" he said, his voice a gruff tenor. I raised my eyebrows. So this was Tom Buchanan, the man of Jordan's gossip.

"Ahh, I am Vivien Antoinette Webber. I am Jordan's second cousin once removed," I said with a false smile, holding out my hand to him, waiting for him to shake it. Tom looked at my dainty hands, my nails painted a dark red color. He seemed to be enthralled at my hand before taking it and giving it a lingering kiss that seemed to send shivers down my spine.

He kept his pale blue eyes on me, and they seemed to dance with delight at my reaction. I felt my cheeks burn and then I snatched my hand away from his lips, as if I was burned by his lips. He gave me a sly grin and I narrowed my eyes at him.

Oh he was a sly fellow. He knew the affect he had on me, and he seemed to take delight in the fact. I knew had to watch myself around this man, I didn't trust him.

"It is nice to meet you Miss Webber," he said, leaning up, his pale blue eyes burning into my skin.

"Mm, the pleasure isn't mine," I said with a glare, angered that he had this effect on me. This man may be attractive but he seemed like a sleaze. And not to mention he was Daisy's husband for that matter, and I was not the type of woman to cause a row in someone's marriage.

"You know I am a very wealthy man Miss Webber…" he started off, taking a step towards me.

I glared at him, holding my own, gripping the trophy in my hands, wanting to bash his head in for even thinking about flirting with me. "And does it look like I even care Mr. Buchanan?" I asked with a roll of my eyes.

Tom took another step towards me. "Oh but I think you should…"

"Do you think it is wise to try to flirt with a woman while you are married?" I asked in a soft yet harsh whisper. Tom raised his brow and opened his mouth to reply when a voice that I recognized said, "Mr. Buchanan?"

Tom turned around and I looked over his shoulder to see the kind butler from earlier. I then let out a sigh of relief and quickly put the trophy back before pushing past Tom and making my way towards the butler. "Hello again sir," I said, keeping my eyes on his blackened skin, not wanting to give my attention to that damn pig.

His eyes widened at seeing me and then he gave a look to Tom, then back at me, noticing my annoyed expression. "Oh! Excuse me for leaving you earlier I had to get Mr. Buchanan's horse ready…I can take you to the room where Miss Baker and Mrs. Buchanan are."

"Thank you, I rather be in your company than his," I said with a smirk, linking my arm with the butler who only looked shocked and a bit embarrassed. I turned to see Tom looking rather unhappy and then I turned up my nose in a rather snobbish way like Jordan. "Shall we?"

The butler nodded and began to quickly lead me away from Tom.

That man was a pig and Daisy decided to marry him? What is wrong with her? But I knew I had to keep myself away from him, I got a bad feeling from Mr. Buchanan…

The butler led me into a room where the curtains blew in a rather majestic way, creating an ethereal look in the white room. I noticed to figures draped against the couch. One was Jordan who appeared to have changed into a white dress, which once again complimented her boyish figure.

I then noticed another woman, who appeared to be in her early twenties. She had short blonde hair that was cut into a bob that complimented her babyish face; her eyes were large light honey brown color, giving her the appearance of a doe. Her lips were a soft pink color along with her rosy pink cheeks. The white dress she wore showed off her willowy frame and seemed to give her an even more innocent look. She appeared to be engaged in hushed whispers with Jordan, smiling from time to time, showing off her straightened white teeth.

I put down my suitcase and cleared my throat. Watching as the two whipped their heads around and Jordan smiled. "Daisy, remember Vivien?" she asked, her icy blue hues filled with anticipation as she looked between Daisy and I.

Daisy's smile fell but she eventually forced a smile on her face. "Ahh…Vivien, it is good to see you again!" she said with a false cheerfulness, getting up and spreading open her arms and enveloping me in a hug and kissing both of my cheeks before giving me a quick kiss on my lips that shocked me.

"It's nice to see you too…" I murmured, removing myself from her hold, noticing how much her smile fell afterwards. It was an awkward reunion especially since Daisy and I never really saw eye to eye in our white girlhoods.

She once again forced a smile and held my hand. "Come on now and sit with Jordan and I, we were just speaking about my cousin who will joining us shortly," she said, leading me to a lounge chair that was near both her and Jordan.

I took a seat and sprawled myself out onto the couch, watching as Daisy took her seat. "Your cousin is visiting?"

I cringed at the thought of another female like Daisy coming in to join us. But Daisy must have noticed my cringe because she threw me a smile and said, "It isn't a she but a he. He's a bonds man, making bonds and such. He just moved here from Chicago!"

Chicago huh? Interesting.

"But enough about him tell me Vivien what do you do for a living?" Daisy asked, leaning towards me, looking at me with those large eyes of hers. I gave her a sly grin and opened up my suitcase, pulling out a black binder that was in it and I handed it to her.

"I'm a model," I said with a proud smile.

Daisy opened the book and Jordan looked over her shoulder, obviously curious to see what I did for a living since I had not disclosed that information to her. Soon both of their eyes widened and Daisy let out slight squeal.

"Darling, you look absolutely ravishing in these Coco Chanel dresses!" she said, gushing. I knew her compliment was genuine, for I read the delight all over her face as she cooed and ahhed at the pictures. I saw Jordan give a slight smile turn, the smiling becoming wider and wider with each flip of a page.

"So this is how you came into that fortune of yours dear cousin?" Jordan asked.

I smirked, giving them both a false innocent look. "Why yes…but I did other things also besides modeling fashion lines…" They both threw me a look of confusement but continued to flip through the pages of the binder until Daisy's smile faltered and Jordan's eyes widened. I let out a slight giggle, knowing they had found those pictures.

"O-Oh…oh my!" Daisy said in shock, putting a hand over her lips. She then turned the binder my way, showing a picture of me stark naked, sitting on a stool, my chest poked out and my legs crossed in the utmost seductive way. I wore a jeweled cloche hat on top of my head, my makeup was dark and I wore satin black gloves, holding a long cigarette between my fingers, smoke coming from my lips.

"You do pornography!" Jordan said in shock, but I could hear the zest in her voice also. This must be so scandalous for a loose lip woman like her.

I shook my finger at Jordan. "Not pornography my dearest cousin, it's art. Nude art. And it makes me more money than you would even know," I said with a chuckle.

"This is so scandalous!" Daisy said.

"Oh shove off," I said, waving my hand off in dismissal of her comment. "Don't be such a prude Daisy. I make my money through legal means. It keeps the clothes on my back and also keeps a roof over my head so I'm not complaining."

Daisy tsked and shook her head, flipping the page and let out another gasp and I smirked when she showed me the picture she and Jordan just saw. There was a picture of me, bent over another female's knee, she was dressed as a school teacher, except her dress was hiked up, exposing her long legs and garters and heels. My ass was bare and in the air, my head was turned, looking directly at the camera, a look of false shame and humility on my face.

"This is even worse!" Daisy cried out, her cheeks turning red. Jordan's cheeks also reddened and she didn't say much, but she now looked more shocked than ever.

"M-Men actually pay to see you in these scandalous positions?" Daisy asked, looking at me.

I laughed a little at her naivety and nodded my head. "Yes of course they do. You would be shocked to know how many men would pay just to have a picture like this. I am paid well from my fashion pictures but I'm paid even more for my nude pictures. Clients, high paying ones would spend lots of money just to have me sprawled out in a picture, catering to their fantasy, from senators, to mayors, to lawyors, big time criminals and even big time Wall Street brokers!"

I contained my laughter as I saw their shocked faces. Silly rich girls, closed up by their money from the outside world. I may be rich, but I wasn't at first. So I knew the ways of the streets, and the kinks that some men wouldn't even dare to admit.

Jordan snatched the binder from Daisy and flipped another picture, letting out a loud gasp at another picture she saw. "Oh my Lord…"

I noticed she had turned to one of my most expensive and highly paid for shots. It was a picture of me straddling a woman's back who was on her hands and knees. Her eyes were blind folded, she was handcuffed and naked, her blonde hair falling into her face slightly. I was wearing a leather black underbust corset that pushed up my breast, black stockings and black jewel encrusted heels. I had chain around her neck, pulling on it, giving the whole setting a domination feeling.

Jordan slammed the binder closed and quickly gave it back to me. "T-This is such a shock…" she said, looking at me with wide eyes.

I gave her a shrug and put the binder away. I didn't care for their opinions or their thoughts on what I did to make money. This was called the Roaring Twenties but this was also the age where women became liberated especially sexually, and I reveled in it. I loved it, it gave me a sense of freedom, and I was going to be damned if I let anyone tell I can't be proud of my body and I shouldn't be doing the things I do.

Daisy was about to say something else when there was a sudden boom and we all turned our heads to see Tom shutting all of the windows that was blowing in that cool air, and the chiffon curtains soon fell down and I noticed that a man stood not too far from us. He had dark brown hair that was slicked back to the side and blue eyes, his face was ripe and young, he appeared to be in his late twenties. He wore a simple brown suit, and looked a bit out of place.

Daisy's look of shock disappeared as she looked at the male, her smile wide and large, and then she laughed, a charming little laugh and the male soon laughed too, giving Daisy a smile, giving her a warm look.

"I'm p-paralyzed with happiness," she said and then laughed even louder as if she said something witty which only made me roll my eyes slightly in annoyance.

NICK'S POV

I smiled as I stared at my cousin Daisy. She was just as beautiful as she was all those years ago. Her face was of loveliness and sadness all mixed in together and there was a certain naivety about her that I found completely mesmerizing. I noticed a female beside Daisy who was slender and boyish in nature that appeared to be in some sort of shock, her head tilted up as if she was balancing it on something. And the other female in the room had captured my entire attention.

While the other two females wore white, fitting into the color scheme of the room, this woman wore dark clothing, sticking out like a sore thumb against the all of the white in the room. She had a seductive feel about her, her eyes slanted and smoky looking, her lips full and a shiny sinful red. Her eyes danced over me and she looked at me up and down. I had a feeling like she was undressing me with her eyes, a predator and its prey and I was ensnared in her gaze.

I felt my cheeks warm and broke away from her gaze and looked back at my cousin who seemed a bit unhappy with the look the woman was giving me. Daisy then began to ask me questions, her eyes lighting up once again and the smile back onto her face.

I told her how I had stopped off in Chicago a day on my way East.

"A dozen people send their love to you Daisy."

"Do they miss me?" she cried out happily.

"The whole town is desolate. All the cars have the left rear wheel painted black as a mourning wreath, and there's a persistent wail all night along the north shore," I replied to her. I noticed the dark woman on the couch seemed to shake her head in disbelief at my statement, pulling out a cigarette. I lost my train of thought as I watched her put the cigarette between her lush lips. I could feel myself lick my lips and then I shook my head, breaking my concentration from the mysterious woman once more.

"How gorgeous! Let's go back, Tom. To-morrow!" Then she added irrelevantly: "You ought to see the baby."

"You have a child?" the raven-haired minx asked in shock. Daisy's smile left her lips as she looked at the dark-haired female, scowling a little. "Really now, is it such a shock that I have a child?" Daisy asked, frowning now, the beauty leaving her face as a spiteful woman took its place.

The raven haired woman shrugged and didn't say anything else more, taking another drag of her long cigarette before blowing out the stale nicotine smoke into the air.

The air had suddenly become tense and I shifted a bit nervously. And suddenly I felt a large hand on my shoulder and I turned to see Tom giving me a big grin. "What are you doing Nick?" "I'm a bond man," I replied, glad the tension was slowly easing.

"Who with?" he asked. And I told him. He shrugged his shoulders. "Never heard of them…"

I felt a twinge of annoyance and frowned. "You will," I answered curtly. "If you stay in the East."

"Oh I'll stay in the East don't you worry," Tom said, glancing at Daisy and then back at me. "I'd be a goddamn fool to live anywhere else." His gaze then traveled to the raven haired minx who seemed to be a bit annoyed by his stare. She gave a scoff and turned her head away, taking another drag of her cigarette.

Suddenly the boyish woman stood up and she shouted, "Absolutely!" Her voice sent a shock through me, sending a shudder through me. Her voice was just as mesmerizing as the raven-haired minx on the couch.

"I'm so stiff," she complained, stretching her body towards making, making my eyes travel up and down her frame. "I'm absolutely in training…"

The raven-haired minx snorted and then said, "You are!" She then gave Miss Baker a sly smile. "How you ever get anything done is beyond me." I felt myself smile at the girl's sarcasm. Miss Baker rolled her eyes and took a sip of the cocktail in her hand.

"My dearest cousin, I don't find your sarcasm appealing," Miss Baker said, glaring at the woman who only gave a shrug of her shoulders as if what Miss Baker said didn't mean a thing to her.

I enjoyed listening to Miss Baker's cousin just as much as I liked looking at her. I enjoyed looking at Miss Baker too, she was extremely beautiful. She threw her body with an exaggeration that I found extremely tantalizing while her cousin spoke with such a silver tongue, it sent a familiar feeling down to my groin.

"You live in West Egg?" Miss Baker asked. "I know somebody there."

"I don't know a single-"

"You must know Gatsby."

"Gatsby," demanded Daisy as she looked at Jordan. "What Gatsby?"

Out of Nick's POV (back to Vivien)

I smiled as I watched Daisy's cousin talk. He was an interesting fellow, he seemed intelligent and a total sweetheart. He seemed to be fun to play with but I wasn't into sweet boys. Good boys bore me so, and he screamed goody two shoes for my liking.

Suddenly dinner was announced and we all went outside to the patio, taking seats as candles were set onto the table that was flickering with the windy weather.

"Why candles?" Daisy asked in a snobbish way. I groaned inwardly, feeling my head pound. Her voice annoyed me; I was unsure what men would find her so mesmerizing aside from her looks. Daisy didn't seem all that of a good woman to me.

I was excited to see her child but she seemed to have no interest in bringing her daughter out. Like the child would delve the attention away from her.

"In two weeks it'll be the longest day in the year." She looked at us with a pout. "Do you always watch for the longest day of the year and then miss it? I always watch for the longest day in the year and then miss it."

"We ought to do something," Jordan said with a bored yawn and I followed after her with a yawn. Yes we were all dreadfully poor. Us rich folks, having nothing to do in time except gossip and lounge around all day. How ironic.

"All right," said Daisy. "What'll we plan?" She turned to me helplessly: "What do people plan?"

Before I could answer her eyes fastened with an awed expression on wee finger. "Look!" she complained. "I hurt it." We all looked-the knuckle was black and blue.

"You did it, Tom," she said accusingly. "I know you didn't mean to, but you did do it. That's what I get for marrying a brute of a man, a great, big, hulking physical specimen of a-"

"I hate that word hulking," objected Tom crossly, "even in kidding."

"Hulking," I said in a slight teasing tone, making Tom looking at me with raised eyebrows.

Suddenly in the midst of all of us talking and chattering the sound of a phone began to ring loudly, breaking the cheerful chatter between us all. It made all of us freeze and place. And soon a pale balding butler came and whispered into Tom's ear and then Tom looked at all of us who looked at him suspiciously.

He then muttered an apology. "I have to go take this."

He then got up and walked into the other room, shutting the doors. Daisy frowned, a sad look coming onto her face. Nick stared at me and I stared at Jordan for an answer. She was a gossip, and gossips knew everything that went on in other people's lives.

Jordan smirked and when Tom came back, everything went back to normal but then the phone rung once more. We all stared at one another awkwardly, and the phone rang and rang. It was obnoxiously loud and the looks Tom and Daisy gave one another showed something was up in this relationship.

Tom then rolled his eyes, getting up and going back into the room and closing the door behind him. Daisy frowned, and tars appeared to enter her eyes. And for once she didn't look beautiful but pitiful. A sad little girl. I almost felt bad for her….almost.

"Will you excuse me," Daisy said curtly, getting up and going into the same room that Tom was in and suddenly you could hear the sound of faint arguing.

Nick and I looked at Jordan expectantly, knowing full well she would tell us what was going on between the oh-so perfect and happy couple.

Jordan leaned our way and whispered to us, her icy blue eyes shining with mirth. "Do I have a story to tell you two…"

I inwardly rolled my eyes. Doesn't she always? I knew that being here, being around the Buchanan's, Nick and Jordan, was going to lead to some sort of events that I was unsure if I was going to like or not. But I know one thing; I wasn't going to be bored anymore.

END

STP: Bahhhh! Such a long chapter DX I'm proud of myself but damn. I worked on this all day since I came home from school, editing it and reading over it and reading Chapter 1 of Great Gatsby over again. And if you are all wondering the pairings are VivienxGatsbyxDaisyxslight Nick, NickxJordan, DaisyxTom and in the end it will be just VivienxGatsby

And I also love the fact Vivien did nude modeling. She's not ashamed of her body and not ashamed to be a bit dirty. That's what makes her so interesting. While Daisy is a prude, Vivien is wild and free-spirited, something Gatsby will find quite attractive about her later on ;D