Her Perfect Revenge (9 page)

Christina raised her glass even higher in the air and gave William a wide confident smile. "Thank you, William."

Bill was feeling a bit uncomfortable himself. Yes, he was ecstatic that things were going so well with his old man and yes, it looked like he was back in the money but—well—he just had this feeling of impending disaster to come.

He looked up to see Christina studying him. She smiled and saluted him with her raised glass. He returned the gesture. Yes, things were going very well and this beautiful woman had helped him pull it off. He couldn't have picked a better partner-in-crime if he'd advertised for the job. She was gorgeous, witty, clever—and smart. Very, very, smart. Smart enough to handle his bastard-of-a-father and that was saying a lot.

William continued his speech. "Christina my dear, here's to you and my son. May you both be very happy together and produce many grandchildren." He toasted them both with his glass before taking a sip of his champagne.

Christina received the toast graciously and took a sip of her drink.

Meanwhile, Bill was, suddenly, eying his drink as if it was a snake. And no venom could have been as deadly as that champagne was to him right now. In fact, he'd be safer drinking the venom. His hand holding the glass started to shake slightly. God, he wanted to drink it; he wanted to very badly. But he couldn't; not after—everything.

Eying his father and Christina, Bill brought the glass up near his lips and pretended to sip as he turned away from them. He turned back and was relieved to realize that neither of them had witnessed the 'fake' sip. He quickly put the tempting glass of bubbly down on the table.

William turned then and eyeballed his son, "Well?"

"Well what?" Bill inquired.

"Go and kiss your bride-to-be and seal the bargain."

"What?"

"Give her a kiss, you moron."

"I… I…"

"Go on."

Bill nervously stole a quick glimpse of Christina. Yes—she was mad—steaming mad from the look on her face. Should he dare?

"You do know how to kiss, don't you?" his father bullied.

"Of course, I do," Bill angrily retorted.

Wickedly, William turned to Christina. "I hope he doesn't need step-by-step instructions on your wedding night too," he chuckled.

Bill's gaze was still focused on Christina and he gave her a sheepish 'I-have-no-choice' kind of smile.

Christina was not amused. This was not part of the bargain but how were they going to squirm out of it without getting Williams' suspicions aroused? A kiss between an engaged couple was no big deal but there was no way she was going to let that imbecile give her that kind of kiss. What was she to do? And oh no, was he actually starting to walk around the table—coming towards her?

Bill was scared as he stiffly inched around the massive, mahogany table slowly. What was she going to do if he tried to kiss her? Would she call this whole thing off and tell his father the truth? He turned to William, who was standing there with expectation on his face.

"You know it's not a true engagement until the happy couple seal it with a kiss of love," his father innocently proclaimed.

Damn him, Bill thought, as he faced his evil father. He then looked at Christina who was silently warning him with her eyes to not try anything—or else. What was he to do? If he didn't kiss her, his father would know something wasn't right and throw him out. And if he did kiss her, Christina would break their deal and his father would throw him out.

He was trapped and his whole life was about to blow up in his face in the next five seconds.

Bill nervously approached Christina like a condemned man shuffling to the gallows. He smiled uneasily as he started to lean into her—getting closer and closer to her lips. He was so close he could smell her heavenly perfume—he was now only a fraction of an inch away now from those lush, pillow soft lips of hers—he could almost taste them—

And that's when it happened—Christina sneezed.

Stunned, he looked at her, not quite realizing he was being thrown a lifeline. She sneezed again and this time Bill backed away.

"Sorry, darling but you're wearing that cologne again. Did you forget that I'm allergic to it?" Christina artlessly remarked.

"What?"

"Your cologne. I'm allergic to it. Remember?" Christina fumed to herself. God, maybe his father was right—maybe he was a moron.

"Right, my cologne. You know passionflower, I did forget. Sorry." Bill quickly pressed a speedy kiss on her cheek and moved like lightening back to his side of the table.

"Well, that wasn't much of a bloody kiss," William cracked.

Bill looked at his father and shrugged his shoulders as if to say 'oh well.' William rolled his eyes upwards and sat back down. On the outside he looked disappointed but on the inside he was in seventh heaven. That had been the funniest display he'd seen all year. He'd wondered how they were going to get out of kissing each other and now he knew. And it had been all the girl's idea, of course—not his useless son's. She was the clever one in that unholy union.

Oh, what a fabulous time he was having. To watch his son sweat with nerves as he approached her angry visage—what fun! William never wanted this magical, enchanting evening to end.

Christina, on the other hand, couldn't wait to get out of there. There had been no way in blazes she was going to allow that swine to kiss her on the lips again and she'd come up with the fake sneezing fit at the last millisecond.

William was speaking to her again and Christina focused on him. "Sorry, William?"

"I was saying about your engagement ring. I can see my son has 'forgotten' about that too."

"I didn't forget. We wanted to tell you first," Bill smiled at his dad.

William ignored him. "Tomorrow Christina, you will…"

At that moment, Bentley stoically walked in. "Excuse me, sir. A telephone call from Mr. Downey for you." He gave a slight bow.

"Ah yes; I was expecting that call." William apologetically smiled at Christina. "Excuse me, my dear. I shan't be a moment." William rose from the table and walked out of the room. Bentley followed and closed the door behind him.

Christina's phony smile evaporated as she angrily turned to Bill. "Mr. Havenwood, I thought we'd agreed to no-kissing-on-the-lips," she enunciated through her gritted teeth.

"What did you want me to do? This old man was expecting a display of affection and if we'd been a normal engaged couple, it would have been no big deal."

"But we're not 'normal', are we?"

Bill paused for a second as he studied Christina. Should he dare? Why not? "I think we might have to reconsider the 'no-kissing' thing."

"Excuse me?"

"Look, Miss Matteo, if we're going to fool this old geezer, we might have to give each other a kiss on the lips… once in awhile… maybe a couple of times, if the situation calls for it… like an emergency… like it was tonight." Bill watched Christina intently as he cringed inwardly waiting for the bomb to detonate.

But it didn't as Christina returned the stare. Even she had to admit the fool did have a point. But that didn't mean she wasn't going to go down without a fight.

Bill was wary and he continued. "I mean you can't go on sneezing forever, can you?" He gave a nervous laugh.

"It won't be forever. It'll only be for one month, remember?"

"Right… one month." Bill paused. Might as well bring out the big guns. He continued, "For which you're getting paid fifty-six grand."

The mention of the sordid, dirty money seemed to hang in the air between them like polluted smoke.

Bill continued, "Look, if this plan is going to work I need a few 'things' from you to make it believable to my father and 'kissing and hugging' like two people in love is one of them."

If she wasn't willing to do that, then this entire deal might as well blow up in his face right now. Maybe it hadn't been the smartest thing he'd ever done—to bring these points up now when his father could come back at any second but it had been a hard, nerve-racking evening on him too and Bill was getting tired. He almost wanted it to be over—one way or another.

Christina studied him. His father had been wrong. Billy Havenwood did have balls—to bring this subject up now when his father could come back at any minute and she could tell him everything? William Sr. didn't see it but his son was just like him. He was ruthless, manipulative and cold, as Christina knew first hand from that awful day years ago—and she would never forget that, no matter how much charm he oozed now.

"Let's get one thing straight, Mr. Havenwood. I will not prostitute myself."

"But you are taking my money."

Christina's eyes bored into his. "I owe you fifty-six thousand dollars. It would take a lifetime for someone like me to pay that back. So this is about survival, not greed. Do I make my position clear?"

"Crystal." Bill gave a little smile. He had to admire her. She did have spunk—loads of it—and she was also very beautiful, all fired up like this—so alive—so magnetic. Now if he could only get her to kiss him.

Christina, on the other hand, was so steaming mad, that she wanted to launch her plate of food at him and wipe that smarmy smirk off of that handsome face. But the bozo did have a point. There might be moments when they would have to 'play' the happy couple-in-love for his father's sake—and that meant kissing him, however revolting that was to think about. If her revenge plan was to move forward, she'd have to do this. So, she'd just close her eyes and think of England.

"Don't forget; I want to see a legal contract tomorrow with all the details, financial and otherwise, spelled out," she postulated.

"Does that mean you're agreeing to comply with my 'terms'?

"Only when absolutely necessary; so don't make a habit of it, capice?"

"Loud and clear, madam." Bill smiled to himself. Well, well, well—he had actually gotten his way with her—of sorts. It was a start anyway.

God, Christina hated that smile on him. Gloat all you want, Mr. Havenwood. You may have won this battle but you are definitely not going to win the war.

She sarcastically smirked back at him. "But no kissing tonight, darling. I have a headache from your cologne, remember?"

Bill burst out laughing. She was becoming more and more intriguing to him as the minutes of life ticked by.

The door opened and William came back into the room and addressed Christina as he sat down. "I do apologize, Christina for having to take that call."

"What did Downey want?" Bill casually asked, as he sipped his water.

"Maybe if you'd show up for work more and sit in on meetings, you wouldn't have to ask."

Bill sarcastically commented to Christina. "Stephen Downey is my father's VP and right-hand man. He shows up for work everyday."

William glared at his son. "We're discussing strategy on how to fight those goddamn ecological terrorists that have been hounding me for months."

"You mean The Guardians of Mother Earth?"

"Yes, that's the damn bunch." William was clearly exasperated.

Christina watched the two carefully before piping in, "I've heard of them. Quite a persistent group."

"I'm sure they're no match for the great William Havenwood," Bill chimed in.

"I'm sure they're not!" William added forcefully. "Now enough about those ruffians. We need to discuss you, my dear. Tomorrow, you'll have your bags packed and ready by noon when my chauffeur will pick you up."

"What bags?" Christina was confused.

"You know… your things."

"I'm sorry, William, what are you talking about?" She turned to Bill who was equally confused.

"You're moving in here, of course," William stated as he refilled his wine glass.

"What?" Shocked, both Christina and Bill had spoken the word together.

"Yes. You're a member of this family now and you'll live here until your wedding and then after your wedding, of course."

"No, I don't think so, William."

"No? No?" He turned to Bill. "What does she mean 'no'?"

"Christina and I may be getting married, dad but we're not moving in together… before the wedding," Bill stiltedly explained.

"But of course you are. Isn't that what all young people do nowadays?"

"Not Christina. She's very… traditional." Bill's eyes landed on her face and implored her to help him. God, things were going badly again.

"Yes, William. I don't believe in… living in sin. It's either marriage or 'nothing' for me." She emphasized the word 'nothing' as her eyes trained back onto Bill's panicky face.

"My dear, I will not have a future Havenwood living in a dump. Summers, my chauffeur told me how you were living when he came to pick you up tonight."

Bill jumped in, "I'm going to move Christina into a better apartment until the wedding."

"Nonsense. Christina will live here starting tomorrow." William was firm.

"But William, I… I can't. We can't live together… without vows," Christina stammered.

William sighed with resignation and grabbed her hand, squeezing it protectively like a father would to his daughter. "Your ethics are admirable, my dear especially in this day and age."

At that moment, one of the under butlers walked in pushing a trolley cart with coffee cups and dessert plates with pieces of chocolate mousse cake piled high with whipped cream. He began to serve.

William pushed back his chair and stood up. "Unfortunately, I've got some calls to make but you two enjoy your dessert," he pointed to Christina. "And you I will see tomorrow when you move in here."

"But… but…?" Christina was speechless.

"Dad, I thought it was settled. Christina and I are not going to live together before the wedding?"

William turned to his worried son. "And you won't be. She'll have the bedroom next to yours. It's a huge house, after all." He turned to a stupefied Christina. "You're one of us now, my dear and this is where you belong." William gallantly lifted her hand to his lips and kissed it. "Till tomorrow then." He gracefully walked out. The under butler followed him and the 'engaged' couple was left alone.

Feeling as if she'd just been battered, bruised and bullied, Christina lifted her gaze to Bill. He gave her a little apologetic smile and lifted his hands in the air as if surrendering.