I am having way too much fun with this section so I thought I would share more as soon as I got it together. I hope you like it. I am doing these a little faster than normal, so if you see anything that needs fixing, please let me know. Thanks.
Note: I don't own Skip Beat!
Catherine and Kyoko got over the little embarrassment in the bathroom quickly. After another apology from Catherine, Kyoko was better. She did not want to stay mad at her friend when they were both looking forwards to the party tonight. Catherine had no problems with her undergarments and had just started pulling her dress on when Kyoko called to her. She turned to see the younger woman standing in the lingerie and stockings.
"Umm… how do I keep these up?" She was holding up the top of the silk stockings. Catherine pushed down her mirth as she pulled the garter belt from Kyoko's bag. She wrapped the garment around the young woman's waist and showed her how to fasten the straps to hold the stockings in place. After helping her adjust the straps to fit, Kyoko turned around to inspect their work.
"What do you think?" Catherine asked as she pulled on her dress.
"Interesting." Kyoko blushed as she noticed Catherine studying her in the mirror. Pushed by the growing awareness of her lack of covering, Kyoko hurried over to her dress and slipped into it. Catherine zips up the back for her before holding out the short jacket for Kyoko to put on. Catherine drops the missing shoes on the ground next to Kyoko so that she can step into them. Once on, she admired her reflection in the full length mirror. The dress fit perfectly and set off her slender figure. The young woman spun in front of the mirror taking in the full effect. Her eyes lit up as she felt like a princess waiting for her prince. A light blush rushed over the young woman's cheeks as an image of her escort for the night flooded her brain. Her mind had forced Japan's sexiest man into a doublet on a white rearing charger. 'How could she do that to her most respected senpai! He would be furious to see how she thought of him! And why wasn't he wearing a shirt under that partially open doublet?' Kyoko reprimanded herself as she crumpled to the floor. Catherine was shocked when Kyoko dropped to the ground and hid her beet red face in the crook of her elbow while she pounded her other fist into the carpet. Sure that her charge was having some kind of a fit; Catherine rushed over to her and pulled her over to her back.
"Kyoko-chan!" Catherine's startled voice broke into the distressed girl's mental chiding. "Are you alright?" Kyoko had stopped her flailing and relaxed on the floor. She could see the concern that Catherine felt for her wellbeing and felt guilty for causing her manager distress. She pulled herself into a sitting position before dropping into a full dogeze bow to apologize for her antics. Recognizing this position Catherine lifted the smaller girl to her feet. "It you're not hurt, get up before you rumple your dress." This prompted Kyoko to straighten up, but it was another few minutes before Catherine could convince her to end the string of apologies. "Now what was that about?" Her manager's question brought the image that had caused the problem flooding back into her mind and the two spent ten more minutes repeating what had just happened.
Having calmed down from the second attack, Catherine decided not to inquire about the fit again and went back to trying to get her dress to stay where it was supposed to. Surprisingly, the material of Kyoko's dress has survived its encounter with Kyoko's delusions unscathed. Trying to clear her mind, Kyoko watched her manager as she messed with the tie on her dress. She marveled at how sexy the older woman was in the dark material.
"These are wonderful dresses. Thank you." Kyoko bowed to her manager.
"Oh please don't thank me. Yashiro-san picked them both out." Catherine gave out a sigh and turned to show Kyoko her back. "Could you please help?" She indicated the loose material at her neck.
"Sure." Kyoko stepped up and pulled the stubborn material into place as Catherine held her hair out of the way. Catherine thanked her and looked in the mirror to check that everything was in place. Their attention was pulled away from the mirror as Jelly Woods knocked on the dressing room door.
"Good evening Mr. Woods." Catherine greeted the small woman. She huffed at the formality.
"Please call me Jelly." She looked at both of the ladies she was here to prepare. "You both look wonderful. If you are ready, we can get started." Kyoko turned to head out.
"Just wait one more moment." Catherine's words halted their exit. The manager pulled a velvet box from the last bag and handed it to the waiting actress. "Here, a finishing touch." Kyoko opened the box to reveal a gold and dark amethyst jewelry set. Jelly made appreciative noises as she looked over Kyoko's shoulder at the set. Kyoko almost cried as she touched the delicate chain. "It's yours, so enjoy it." Catherine pulled another box from the same bag and waved the stilled actress out of the room. "We need to finish getting ready."
"Yes, we don't have a lot of time till you have to leave." Jelly pulled Kyoko behind her into her makeup room. Catherine helped Kyoko put on the jewelry as Jelly tended to her hair and makeup. She styled the girls short hair in a windswept look that accented her natural beauty. The makeup was light, but set off her amber eyes. Catherine had already attached her flower shaped necklace and earrings before Jelly finished with Kyoko. They switched places and Jelly set to work on Catherine's hair, choosing an elegant twist held in place by a single brass pin the Catherine supplied. Jelly left enough strands loose to soften the hairline and help hide the scar on the woman's temple. Her makeup was heaver then Kyoko's, yet was still elegant. Jelly took care to cover the yellowing bruise on Catherine's arm. Now that the two ladies were ready, Jelly led the way to the president's office. They stopped in in the dressing room long enough to gather the things that they would need for the evening in the clutch purses that the president had found to match the dresses. The rest of the clothing had already been packed away into bags. Once they reached the hall outside the office door, Jelly had them wait as she went in.
The office door swung open as Jelly walked in and the three men stood awaiting the arrival of the girls. Jelly walked over and kissed Lory on the cheek before sitting herself on the desk.
"Well." Lory asked as he returned the affection to his makeup artist.
"Take a look." Jelly gestured towards the corridor. All attention focused on the open door as Catherine took her cue to send Kyoko in first. Ren's heart stopped as he watched the beautiful girl walk into the room. The gold anklet flashed as she moved across the carpet. He stood up and went to the beauty making his heart race.
Kyoko's mind went blank as the handsome actor closed on her. Her grudges ran screaming as they tried to escape the heat from the wanton look on his face. The smile he gave her when they met made her knees go weak and a few more locks on her box shattered to dust. A light blush crept up Kyoko skin as she lost herself in his deep brown eyes.
"You look magnificent this evening." Ren took her right hand with his and maneuvered his arm around her back so that his left hand came to rest on her hip, pulling her into the line of his body. It seemed a very intimate and protective way to hold the girl, but he didn't care at the moment. He just wanted to bring her as close to him as he dared. If she would have let him, he would have rolled her up in his arms and never let her go. He was so caught up in the object of his desire, that he completely missed the woman walking in behind Kyoko. Yashiro's fan girl mode kicked in as he watched his charge escort his date to the sofa. It was only after the squealing started that he saw the second woman that walk into the room. She had stopped just inside the door and watched the romantic gestures of the tall man. She waited till the couple has settled on the seat before making her way to the chairs. Yashiro was torn between watching the exchange between the reluctant lovers and the bombshell walking in. She came to stand behind the end of the couch that the flustered manager had been occupying.
"You look wonderful, too." Lory complemented the woman that Ren had forgotten. She smiled at the president and Yashiro blushed at his error. She was his date for the night, so it should have been him that paid her the complement. Ren came back to his senses and registered the older woman standing near the seating.
"Please forgive my rudeness." Ren attempted to correct his error. He was so wrapped up in Kyoko that he never noticed her approach. Catherine waved off his apology with an understanding look.
"You both look very nice tonight." Catherine paid her complement to the two men and they thanked her. The men's error had made the room a little uncomfortable. Catherine was not upset about their lack of attention, but they were embarrassed about it. Lorry could read the air and broke the uncomfortable silence that had descended on the room.
"Your limo should be waiting outside for you." Lory spoke to the group. "Please be good to each other tonight. And have a good time." They all agreed and stood to leave. "Catherine, you do have the invitation and tickets?" He reminded her. It would not be good for them to arrive without a way to get into the benefit. Catherine smiled at him and held up the purse containing the needed paperwork. Ren stood and helped Kyoko up. He placed the slightly blushing woman on his arm and led the way out. His heart sang at her gentle touch. Catherine turned to follow the pair out when she realized Yashiro was standing next to her.
"May I?" He offered his hand to her. She took his hand and smiled at the man. He curled her hand around his arm and followed the couple leading the way. Lory smiled as his projects left. He pushed a button on his desk and a bank of security monitors unfolded from the wall behind him. He watched with a sigh as the couples walked through the building. Jelly just shook her head and leaned against his chair.
"You think they will take the hint?" She asked the scheming man.
"We can only hope." He smiled sadly at the stubbornness of his targets.