The Same Last Name

A/N nothing new. Get ready for a confrontation...just saying... Sorry, I meant for this chappie to be longer, but felt that it should end where it did, so that the explosions can happen in the next chappie!

Chapter 13

"...and thank you for visiting Spatastic. I hope your stay was a relaxing one!" Catherine told the departing guests. They smiled and waved, heading out the door.

Catherine deflated against the desk. Her mind kept rushing to the conversations between her and Vincent the night before. And the sex...she got all tingly just thinking about that. Her body had been humming last night, bending to his will.

And then, there were his confessions. Catherine was confused as hell about them. He hadn't wanted a divorce? He had actually hoped she would come back? And, whether he realized it or not, he had also admitted that he had, in some small way, loved her.

This revelation was the most troubling to Catherine. He said she meant more to him than just sex. Did that mean that he loved her now? No, he would have told her. Would he have told her? At this point, Catherine was so confused, she couldn't really think straight.

The door opening caught her attention. She looked up, a smile poised on her face. The smile quickly faded, however, when she saw it was Alex in the doorway. She approached the desk, her features set in stone.

"We need to talk. Get someone to cover for you," she ordered her.

"Excuse me! I don't answer to you. And, you can't order me around! If you want to talk, talk here!" Catherine told her. Alex stepped closer, her face hard.

"Fine. I know Vincent went to your room last night. And I know it wasn't the first time..." Alex stated.

"Vincent is an adult. He is fully capable of making his own decisions."

"Listen well, little girl...Vincent is mine! He has always been mine. Since birth, it's been understood that we would marry. And then, he met you!"

"Vincent told me you two broke up a couple years before we met."

Alex threw her head back and laughed. "Did he now? Well, sweetie, I have news for you. Vincent and I were still together when you met. Hell, we were together the whole time he was married to you. Where do you think he was everyday? Were you really so naïve to think that he was at work all day?"

"That isn't true..."Catherine said, but the seed of doubt had been planted in her mind.

"Oh, this is too much! You really are a naïve little creature, aren't you?"

"Vincent wouldn't lie to me..."Catherine breathed out.

"Wouldn't he? Didn't he lie your entire marriage? He never wanted to marry you. He was forced into it by his father. If he didn't marry you to preserve the family name, his father was going to disown him. Did he ever tell you that?" Alex sneered.

Catherine gasped. The seed was growing into a small tree, wrapping around all the truths she thought she had known. She knew he had been forced into the marriage. She hadn't known about the ultimatum though.

And by divorcing Vincent, she had given his father exactly what he wanted. God, she felt like a fool...

Alex watched her, reveling in Catherine's misery. For 5 long years, she had watched Vincent pine away for this little girl, hoping she would come back to him. It made Alex sick. He was hers!

Catherine felt ill. Had all this been a lie? Had Vincent been lying this whole time?

"Oh, and one more thing. I'm not completely heartless. I did feel bad about your baby dying. But, in reality, she should have been mine..." With those parting words, Alex waltzed out the door.

Catherine stood there, numb. Her doubts were now stronger. She was now miserable.

Catherine called Heather, telling her she didn't feel well, and could she please come cover for her? As soon as Heather arrived, Catherine excused herself, and raced toward her apartment. Her stomach churned.

Entering her apartment, she bee-lined for the bathroom. The meager contents of her stomach came rushing back up. Catherine gagged and heaved, her tears mingling with the mess in the toilet.

For several long minutes, Catherine lay curled in a ball on the cold, tile floor. Her body shook with the force of her tears.

Only one thought prevailed through all of this...

'I can't ever see Vincent again..'

For the rest of the day, Catherine laid in her bed. Vincent's scent still clung to the sheets and pillows. She buried her nose in the pillow, and wept out her misery.

He had lied to her. He was lying to her even now! Nothing he told her was the truth. It had all just been to get back in her bed. He had used her!

...and she had let him.

Exhausted, Catherine fell into a troubled sleep.

A/N I know...I know...but, it isn't over yet. Remember, Vincent still needs to have his say. Next chappie will be a big one!