Here is the next chapter. Enjoy!
Note: I do not own Skip Beat!.
Catherine's day started early the next morning. By the time she picked Kyoko up from The Darumaya, she had already picked up Ren and Yashiro's outfits, talked with the transportation section of LME about the Limo, and spoken with Jelly Woods about Kyoko and her makeup for the evening. The president had asked his magician to come help the women prepare. Catherine's excitement was contagious and it took no time for Kyoko to get keyed up about the event. They spent the morning running the usual LoveMe jobs and chatting about what the evening could bring.
At lunch time, Catherine declared that they needed to go shopping. After getting changed the two happy girls bundled into Catherine's car for a spree. Kyoko was excited, she had not gone shopping with anyone but Kanae and daydreamed about the fun the girls would have trying on dresses for the party. She blindly followed her manager as she led the way from the car to the shops. Catherine opened a door and ushered her charger inside a store. Kyoko blushed when she came out of her daydream to see that she had been lead into a Victoria's Secret. She froze at the sight of the rack of baby doll nightgowns place directly in front of her. Catherine looked to see what made Kyoko stop. She walked over and caressed the lavish mixture of lavender silk and organza that made up the intimate item.
"It's nice." She picked it up and, to Kyoko's horror, held it up so she could see how it would look on the young actress. "I think it would look good on you." Kyoko blushed harder and took the item away from her manager.
"What are you doing?" Kyoko hiss at her as she shoved the article back on the rack as if she would could erase her manager's actions. Catherine was giggling at the young woman's embarrassment. Kyoko tried to pull the larger woman out of the store. Catherine tugged back and led the reddened woman farther into the store.
"We are her to get ready for the event tonight." Catherine walked past more racks of skimpy sleepwear. She walked through the partition that led to the more intimate items in the store. "We need to get the appropriate items to wear with our dresses, unless you feel like going without proper undergarments?" Kyoko blushed at the manager's suggestion and shook her head franticly. Catherine looked around till she found what she wanted. She found a black satin strapless bra that would work nicely for Kyoko's dress. She handed it to the young woman and told her to try it on. Out of nowhere, a clerk came over to show Kyoko to the dressing room. Catherine proceeded to pick out matching pair of satin underwear that she was sure would be comfortable.
Once fitted, the shy girl came back and nodded her head. Catherine took this to mean that the bra fit. She handed the panties to the young woman to hold. She then picked out a black garter belt and silk stockings to match. Kyoko held the items as if they were going to bite her. Why did she need such fancy undergarments? Catherine smiled at her reaction. After picking out similar items for herself, the older woman called the clerk back over and asked about backless bras. Kyoko took the few minutes that Catherine was busy to look around the store at the intimate apparel. Kyoko starting to feel less embarrassed about the shopping trip. Catherine saw the younger girl looking around and laughed. She went to the young woman and took her items and added them to the collection on counter where the clerk was ringing them up. Kyoko started to protest when Catherine handed the clerk her credit card, but was cut off when her manager raised her hand. Once the shopping was done, Catherine led her out of the store with two bags.
"I think it is now time for lunch." Catherine led the way to a trendy shop and found a seat on the patio.
"Um, shouldn't we go inside?" Kyoko looked around. She had seen some of the paparazzi that had been plaguing her. Catherine looked at the people taking pictures.
"It's too nice of a day to go inside. Anyway, this entire evening is to show that you are unaffected by the poor press you've been receiving. So we are going to have a nice lunch out on the town. Just like normal people do." Catherine smiled at her. "Don't worry. If there are any problems, I will take care of them." Kyoko understood and decided to enjoy the lunch out. She had not eaten outside of home or LME for a while. They enjoyed a nice lunch with only a few pleasant interruptions. True to her word, Catherine handled each fan that recognized Kyoko or wanted an autograph. After lunch they walked back to the car. It was the most pleasant outing that Kyoko had in a long time. "See, now aren't you glad that we went?"
"Yes, that was a lot of fun." Kyoko settled herself in the car as Catherine packed the bags into the trunk.
"Today is about to get even better." Catherine smiled as she settled in for the drive back.
It did not take long to get back to LME where things were waiting for them. It was now around 2 o'clock, and they needed to start getting ready if they were going to get to the function on time. The president had provided rooms for the ladies to use to prepare for the benefit. The girl's dresses had been cleaned and were set out for their owner's arrival. The president had gone through the trouble of providing manikins to make the dress presentation more dramatic. Kyoko gasped as her eyes fell on the elegant gowns waiting for them. She walked to the dark blue dress and touched the soft material. The then turned to the deep purple one. Her face lit up as she took in the delicate cut. Catherine laughed lightly and walked to the two dresses.
"That one is yours." Catherine pointed to the purple dress and placed one of the bags from their shopping by the base. She placed the other bag next to the other dress. "Let me know if you need any help with those." Kyoko blushed at the woman's words. After stripping off her coat, Catherine led the way to the bathroom so they could get cleaned up before changing into the dresses. Kyoko marveled at the size of the president's bathroom before following her manager into the room to get clean. It was like walking into an indoor hot spring. The sitting pool looked as if it was made of natural rock and had a partition down the middle dividing the room in half. The wall looked like a fence, but did not reach the ceiling of the room. With just a little work, it would have been possible for Kyoko to see over the top railing. Kyoko had not seen this room in all the time she had been working in LoveMe, and she had seen most of the building. After washing, the two women sat in the hot water and relaxed. It was the addition of familiar male voices that interrupted their bath. Both girls looked at each other in horror.
"When did the president add this room?" Ren's voice echoed across the water.
"I don't know. This used to be his ballroom." Yashiro replied as he walked to the washing area. Kyoko screeched and dropped down in the water and tried to hide. She could not see the boys, but they were in the same room with her naked. Both of the men froze as they looked around for the source of the girlish scream. They both stared at the partition dividing the room.
"Hello?" Ren called out to the unseen side of the room. Kyoko blushed and dunked deeper into the water. Catherine steadied herself and called back.
"Good afternoon, Tesuruga-san, Yashiro-san." Catherine called to the guys as she located her towel behind her.
"Saunders-san?" Ren asked as he recognized the voice calling back to him.
"Yes, and Kyoko-chan is with me also." Catherine relaxed now that she knew why the fence was in the middle of the room. Both the men and women shared the same pool, but were divided by the barrier. Yashiro switched into fan girl mode as this fact. The president put them all in the same room naked. Ren's mind froze at the idea of his love just on the other side of the wall, vulnerable. He shook his head and pushed back the desire to peek over the wall. Yashiro was not helping when he snickered and draped his towel over his head in true peeping tom fashion. Ren glared at him. Catherine looked at the hiding girl and smiled evilly.
"Kyoko just suggested that you come and join us." Catherine called to the men on the other side of the room. Both men frozen, wide eyed, at the sound of Catherine's suggestion. They looked at each other in disbelief. She grinned at the girl as the color drained from her face before she blushed to even darker shade of red again. She launched herself at the teasing woman and pushed her under the water.
"NO I DID NOT! DON'T COME OVER HERE!" Kyoko yelled back in horror. Catherine came up for air laughing as Kyoko tried to drown her again. The men relaxed and let out the breath that they had been holding. Catherine caught a hold on the frantic girl and finished giggling at her charge.
"Ok, Ok." Catherine released the still girl as she huffed down into the water with her arms crossed.
"That was not very nice." Kyoko grumped at her, forgetting the men for a moment. They were still frozen listening to the woman goofing around.
"I am sorry, Kyoko." Catherine sighed. It had been too much of a good opportunity to pass up. "I think it is time we go and get ready. That way our gentlemen can take their baths in peace." Kyoko blushed again when she was reminded of the people on the other side of the wall. "See you guy later." Catherine called as she got out and wrapped herself in her towel. Kyoko quickly followed, bidding the men a hasty farewell. The boys were too stunned to reply. Ren was going to string up the president the next time he saw them. For the rest of their bath, Yashiro teased Ren about the close encounter with his love.