Blooming

by Fletcher, Peyton

  Sean had her in 5 inch heels and a black silk dress that came up to her throat but left her shoulders bare, the full flowing skirt was slit up the middle of her legs - almost so far that Todd knew why she’d gone for the full wax. The dress had a short train and Todd willed her not to trip as she turned, but he needn’t have worried, she spun with a flourish to reveal a sexy cut away back as the train flipped with ease. A brief glimpse of the sides of her breasts had his pulse thrumming. Christ she looked like a hot tiny dominatrix.

  Todd glanced across to see Max with his tongue out and then over at Brader to see the man adjusting himself inside his too tight dress pants. “Asshole,” he muttered, feeling a serious primal possessive instinct kick in. She was his and they better both know it.

  Jen disappeared in a flash and he relaxed again, there was a gap before she’d be back on stage. Todd grabbed a passing waiter and ordered a stiff drink.

  A few minutes passed as models came and went to rounds of thunderous clapping. People were even on their feet to support the girls, the atmosphere was thrilling, and then Seb said, “Where is she?”

  “What?” Lily shouted over the music.

  “I was here at rehearsal; Jen should have been back on by now.”

  “Shit,” Todd was on his feet as was Max, “back off buddy,” he said staring him down.

  “Seb, how do I get backstage, wait forget it.” He leapt onto the catwalk and grabbed the nearest model as she turned, and frogmarched her back up the catwalk. He let go as soon as he was behind the stage.

  ”Jen,” he shouted.

  He cast models left and right as he tried to spot her amid the madness of half naked girls changing. Sean stepped into his path, “Todd what the hell are you doing - are you nuts?”

  “Where’s Jen? Seb said she should have been back on by now.”

  Sean scowled, “her second dress went missing - they were all hung up ready to go with each girl’s name on them too, but thank god I tucked the finale dress away safely because it’s worth a bomb. I’m going to kill whoever took that mini-dress when I get my hands on them.”

  He flapped about straightening and fussing the next model in line to go. “Jen will be around somewhere. After the dress fiasco she’s got a minute or two before I need her again.”

  “Sean I need you to get a security guard back here, we need to find Jen now.”

  ****

  Jen had stepped out into the cool of the air conditioned hallway to clear her head. She felt guilty but relieved that her second dress had gone astray. The all important finale dress was still safe but it was going to take some fake balls on Jen’s part to strut down the runway in it. Luckily the spotlights out there were so bright, it was impossible to make out faces in the crowd, it made it a bit easier to look confident for 90 seconds.

  As she looked down at the sublime stilettos on her feet, a set of long slim legs came to stand in front of her and as she slowly looked up she just knew who it was going to be.

  “Hello,” the ice cool blonde smiled at her, “quite a show you’re putting on out there.”

  Jen couldn’t think of a single word to say to this woman, didn’t want to deal with her at all. She’d already given up Todd so she shouldn’t have to be having to deal with this shit.

  “My name is Carly Frost, I’m Todd’s girlfriend I’m sure he’s mentioned me.”

  Jen felt her head nod - she would’ve loved to set this woman straight but aside from the fact the words were jamming in her mouth, caution was necessary. She could see this woman was riding the edge because she had the same wild look she’d seen on her own face at times. It was a weird sensation for Jen - to be afraid of something external for a change. She’d never been under any illusions. She knew that the constant fear she carried around like a lead weight was all in her head, and not necessarily to do with life on a daily basis, but here and now this was a real danger, and it loomed large over her.

  “Todd has tried to tell me it’s over between us; it never will be you know? He’s not thinking about how much history we have together. The things we’ve done – well I’m sure you know how good he is in so many areas.” Carly’s eyes drifted at some delicious private memory.

  Jen’s brain began to whir into sluggish action; she wasn’t sure whether she was more angry or afraid, didn’t know if either emotion was going to be helpful anyway.

  “He told me about you when we met in Chicago, I’ve got to say the reality of you is quite startling. I expected more of an obstacle, but you...” she looked Jen up and down with distaste, “even in a great dress I can’t understand where he’s looking.”

  Jen straightened her spine, glad of the extra shoe height, as she fought to make her voice sound steady. “He told me about you too Carly, he told me the same things. That it was over between you and had been for some time, that he went to Chicago to give you the courtesy of telling you in person. He’s not hidden anything from me.”

  Take that and chew on it, she thought to herself.

  “Did you steal one of the dresses Carly?”

  A brittle laugh came from the girl’s chest, “I did you a favour honey – take it from a professional, you just don’t have the body for it.”

  It was probably true, so the barb didn’t sting, not even a pinprick. She felt funny; after all she’d been through, all the mixed up feelings surging through her, Jen took a deep breath in, gulped - chuckled, tried to rein it in but then a burst of pure and honest laughter erupted from her and she didn’t know who was more surprised Carly or her.

  “Aaaah sorry I didn’t mean to laugh it’s not funny at all really but if you knew me better you’d understand.” She snorted loudly and it made her laugh again, “Carly whatever you tell me, however you say it, you’re wasting your breath. There’s not a single insult you can hurl at me that will be worse than I’ve said to myself. I’ve survived worse than you – I survived myself! Plus I had much smarter bullies after me in junior high.”

  Her laugh threatened to turn a little hysterical so she changed tack and snatched onto some composure. “You really need to leave Carly - I don’t believe you’re welcome here. You can and should have a talk with Todd at another time, but tonight isn’t the place for this.”

  With frightening speed Carly leaned forward and ripped the front of Jen’s delicate dress, low enough to reveal the upper slopes of her breasts, then a look of utter satisfaction crossed her face as she looked at Jen’s décolletage. “He told me you were disfigured,” she crowed in delight.

  Brutally shocked, but with her new hard won strength of purpose and a dignity she didn’t for a minute feel, Jen calmly gathered up the remains of Sean’s beautiful dress. Stupidly the main thought running through her head was that he would be so cross she’d wrecked another one. Jen looked up at the taller woman with the wild eyes and said in a cool out of body voice, “I am disfigured but its one small thing on my outsides, my soul is intact. I don’t believe you can say the same. Maybe that’s what Todd sees in me Carly - because in every word and action he’s demonstrated that he wants more than just a pretty face, and do you know what? Even though I don’t want children I could never have done what I think you did. I could never have aborted Todd’s child, never.”

  “Who told you that?”

  “The same person who told you I had a scar, I didn’t hear you deny it - shouldn’t that have been your first response?” Carly was visibly trying to calculate the appropriate retort.

  “Carly - Todd’s never quite believed it was a miscarriage, so what’s the truth really? I think you might feel better if you bring it out into the open. You see it’s obvious to me that the Todd I know would never want to be with you, despite your beauty, if this was your whole personality. He’s so much deeper than that. So I have to assume the person I’m seeing now isn’t the only side to you, whatever happened Carly, what went wrong?”

  As she said the words, Carly’s face changed into an insanely dazzling smile as she recognized the person approaching behind Je
n.

  In a soft flurry of motion, Jen was drawn backwards into Todd’s reassuringly protective embrace. His large hands reached around encompassing hers, protecting her modesty, as his voice dripped with barely concealed anger. “Carly this man is with hotel security, he’s going to escort you away for your own safety.”

  Jen piped up, “Wait Todd I want her to answer the question.”

  “It doesn’t matter anymore baby, not to me. You’re wrong you know? I was shallow when Carly and I were dating; I was a good match for her. So much has changed since then.”

  A burly guy stepped around Jen and went to Carly’s side taking her gently by the arm.

  “What do you mean Todd, please don’t do this, you don’t mean it.”

  “Carly I don’t understand the law but I think what you’ve done to Jen tonight could be considered assault. I really don’t believe you’re well, so I’m asking you please go with Frank quietly and your parents will meet you - they’re on the way, you need to accept some help Carly.”

  Frank made to guide her away but Carly stretched away from him and reached out to slash her nails at Jen’s face. Jen flinched as Todd caught Carly’s wrist and squeezed just hard enough to make her quit. “You really don’t want to do that Carly, Frank take her out of here now please.”

  Jen leant back against Todd but kept upright long enough to watch Carly escorted out of her sight, and then she collapsed completely, shaking from the tension release.

  “I’m sorry baby, I’m so sorry; I was trying to keep her away from you.”

  “I think she would have told me the truth if you’d just given me another minute.”

  “I just wanted her away from you Jen, as quick as possible. That’s all that mattered to me.”

  “How can you say that, doesn’t it drive you mad not knowing?”

  Todd nodded; he was both sickened and sad. But even as Jen turned to him and felt relief that the immediate confrontation was over, she felt angry with him, why had he told that awful monster about her private matters, why had he confided in her? Telling Sean and Seb was one thing but why tell the bitch queen from hell? She stepped away from him unsteadily. “I have to get back inside.”

  Todd tried to stop her, “You don’t have to finish the show Jen - not after this.”

  “Yes I do, I made a commitment to Sean and this event’s important.”

  He went to touch her face and she pushed him off. “Don’t touch me Todd please, I just can’t physically take it right now. Please, it’s just all been a bit too much.”

  Jen left him there - his broad shoulders drooping under the strain. Returning to the backstage area; a relieved Sean attempted to interrogate her but he quickly realised she wasn’t capable of more than a monosyllabic answer.

  Chapter 19

  “Get her a drink, and get the dress, she’s only got five minutes,” he barked at his aide for the night.

  When the assistant returned at the double, Sean screeched, “Not bloody chardonnay that won’t work, bring two shots of tequila.” She felt hands dressing her, the fact she was stood almost nude sipping tequila, none of it was touching her. Sean tapped her face gently to bring her back to the present.

  “Hold it together for a few more minutes girl that’s all we need; you look stunning, now go.”

  Todd stood just inside the entrance to the ballroom; he didn’t want to return to his seat just yet. He wanted to watch her privately, from here, as if she were modelling just for him.

  Jen finally stepped into the spotlight for the last time; she was wearing an almost indecently low cut strapless sheath in the palest dove grey. Around her neck was a heavily encrusted crystal drop necklace which beautifully camouflaged her sternum. The corset top of the dress moulded to her small bust and gave her a delicious cleavage, ruching across her tummy led to a rosette of fabric on her hip and a long diagonal shaped split led from there to her opposite ankle so both legs were clearly showcased and a shimmer of fabric pooled at the left heel of her 6 inch silver stiletto, the entire dress was beaded with silver grey crystals and all in all she looked good enough to have beamed in from another planet.

  Todd smiled sadly and proudly as she began to move and he noticed the chiffon evening wrap draping from her elbow and covering her cast. Funny that he’d not thought about her broken arm all evening, Sean must have utilised a similar idea with the first dress because he couldn’t remember seeing the cast then either, but then again he’d only been looking right at her and had been all night. He now realised he’d been watching Jen’s face, trying to read her mind ever since the moment they met.

  Todd watched her come towards him, wondering if she could see him. A reasonably composed smile was pasted on her face, which would be enough to convince the crowd she was working it and enjoying herself, but he just knew he was losing her and didn’t know how the hell to stop it.

  As Jen turned and headed back up the catwalk Sean came out to join her and they led the whole cast of models down the catwalk to rapturous applause and foot stamping, the show despite all the backstage drama had been a roaring success.

  ****

  “Todd, why are you just sat watching her dance with him, why don’t you go cut in.”

  Lily had been grilling Todd for the last five minutes while they all watched Jen dance with Max.

  Dance was a bit of a loose word for what they were doing thought Todd, Jen was only just about upright and Max was doing his best to swish her round the floor. She looked like a beautiful but sad marionette. She’d been silent all through the lavish dinner and simply pushed food around her plate and when Max had asked her to dance she neither said yes or no just went with him as if she didn’t have a choice.

  “She doesn’t want me near her just yet Lily.”

  “Oh Todd that is such bullshit, you’ve never been a quitter in your life and she needs you like she needs air in her lungs and a kick up her ass.”

  Sean was basking in the success of the evening, he’d had a hand in every decision about the decor, the lights, the music as well as every bit of the fashion show and he was crowing with delight as he came back to the table.

  “Guys the karaoke is starting in five minutes and I’ve signed you all up, but you have to pay $50 each for the privilege of singing,” a collective groan went up around the table - not at the money aspect but the singing. Todd barely registered what had been said, he was transfixed watching Jen.

  To his surprise it was Seb who hoisted him up out of the seat with an effort, saying, “Go to her, and put us all out of our misery.”

  Jen watched him approach - her eyes heavy lidded never leaving his; she was drinking him in like she thought she would never see him again, reeling him in closer against her will.

  Todd tapped Max on the shoulder and he graciously stepped aside, knowing he’d lost before he ever had a chance. Todd gently put Jen’s arm in place around his waist and took hold of her hand, he whispered in her ear, “Come back to me honey, tell me what you’re thinking.”

  She was silent for at least a couple of minutes, and then she said through tight lips, “You told her everything about me, why did you do that when you knew it was deeply private? I sort of understood when you told Sean and Seb, but not her, you should have known another woman would use something like that against me given the chance.”

  Her voice strengthened, became harsh and angry, “This is my life you’re messing with. My body, my privacy Todd, I should have never forced myself to trust you. I can’t handle the fact you’ve had a past and other women and god knows what that will jump up at some point and bite me in the ass, that’s why I’ve never looked for a relationship. I don’t want this, I really don’t want any of it, and I don’t want you.”

  She started to struggle against him and his grip tightened on her in desperation.

  “I don’t believe you Jen,” his mouth clamped down over hers and he kissed her breathless despite her struggles against him. His hand held her fast behind her neck as he forced her to ta
ke his tongue inside her mouth.

  Camera bulbs flashed around them and he pulled back, reluctant to give the photographers any more exclusives.

  “I’m sorry - I just didn’t understand what was going on in Carly’s head. When I told her about you - every word I said, I was trying to explain what made you different, made you permanent, how strong I thought you were despite everything. I didn’t realise she was on the brink of sanity; I thought there was still a salvageable friendship there despite everything. I’ve never finished any relationship on bad terms before. I thought I was doing the right thing for god’s sake.”

  He took her face in his steady grip and forced her eyes up trying to drill understanding into her but he could see she was determined not to accept it.

  Jen shook her head, as far as it was possible within his clasp, “I don’t understand how you could have remained friends with her, and I don’t want to think about it anymore. I want to sit down. It’s been a long day Todd – please, I just want to see the rest of it through and go home.”

  Reluctantly he let her go, and followed her back to the table, she was still wearing the beautiful finale dress and as he watched her walk in front of him, the low back displaying the beautiful column of her spine, he felt like he was witnessing his heart rip open.

  ****

  As the karaoke kicked off, first up was Sean as the star of the night who crooned his way through “Unchained Melody” and dedicated it to Seb with a tear in his eye. He was more than a little tipsy. A couple of local newshounds went next and the crowd were soon booing and cheering in turns. Todd watched across the table as Jen bent to Max’s ear and he could almost lip read that she was asking him to take her home.

  He was up on his feet as it came to him in a flash, a treasured memory and a flash of inspiration. He dragged Lily up, and Ben, yanking them towards the stage for moral support. When he looked back Jen hadn’t noticed yet, and Max was helping her out of her seat. Good the boys were hot on his heels to see what he was up to, he was gonna need all the help he could get.