Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Bitter ❯ Chapter 2

Bitter by Kuno-baby

Chapter 2

Dorothy groaned upon seeing Quatre R. Winner in her study. As if last nights disaster hadn't been enough, the reason for her stupidity was standing right in front of her.

"What, I repeat are you doing here?" Dorothy asked again. The damn butler quietly closed the door behind her. Leaving her alone with him.

"Just came by to see how you were doing. Cute cat. What's it's name?" Quatre said, smiling. He stepped close and reached out to scratch Chloe at the top of her head.

She purred loudly, the traitor. Dorothy moved back from him and set Chloe down on the imported persian rug.

"Her names Chloe..the cat." Dorothy mumbled, embarrassed. She smoothed out her knee length yellow dress.

"Chloe the cat? Cute." Quatre grinned.

Not shy of strangers, Chloe walked over to Quatre and started sniffing at his tennis shoes. Then had the nerve to rub herself against his leg in greeting. Dorothy hated herself for being slightly jealous of her stupid cat.

"So I was wondering if you were free today. We could go out together and make a day of it." Quatre casually asked, as he crouched down to pet the kittens soft fur. He had a huge love of animals and seeing Dorothy with the kitten was an adorable picture he wouldn't soon forget.

"I have much to do today, Quatre. I don't have the time." she said, trying to look calm while inside she was going berserk. She sat down in a small chair knowing the only other place for him to sit was the couch way across the room from hers.

"Okay, how about tonight then?" Quatre asked, standing up.

"No."

Quatre blinked. "Um, that was blunt. Why not? Everyone's in town because of Relena's birthday. Why shouldn't friends get together?"

"I saw everyone last night. That will suffice." Dorothy snapped. She crossed her arms and gave him her chilliest look.

He sighed. This wasn't going like he'd planned. Who was he kidding? He didn't have a plan. After seeing her last night...after his little groping session with himself, she was all he'd thought about. But Dorothy was a tough case. It was like she secretly enjoyed giving him a hard time. Maybe she did.

"Well, everyone's meeting again for dinner at the Marissa Hotel tonight at eight. Just close friends. Your names on the list if you change your mind." Quatre said.

Dorothy remained silent as he stood in front of her chair. Moving in close, he leaned both hands on the arm rest, essentially blocking her exit.

"Dorothy, I've been thi-" Quatre began.

The study door flew open and Quatre and Dorothy visibly jerked in surprise. An older woman, most likely in her mid forties, strolled into the room. She was a very youthful, elegant looking woman, though the frown she sent them made her look imposing.

"Well, I can see you're busy Dorothy. What is he? A construction worker you picked off the streets for a roll in the hay?" the stranger sneered. She coldly took in the scene of the man caging in her daughter.

Dorothy inwardly cringed under her mother hateful stare. Her day had gone from bad to worse in a matter of seconds. And it felt even worse to be humiliated in front of company...in front of Quatre.

Letting go of the arms rest, Quatre stepped back as Dorothy angrily jumped out of her seat. Even without empathic abilities, he would have sensed the outright hostility between the women.

"Hello, mom." Dorothy smirked. Her mother hated to be called that so she made every effort to use it, especially in mixed company.

*Mom?!* Quatre's eyes widened in shock. This was definitely not a close mother/daughter relationship. Thinking to the mean comment she'd made seeing them together, he didn't think she was even upset about seeing her child with him. She had just wanted to be malicious.

He could see a resemblance. They both had the same platinum blond hair and pale blue eyes. Although her mother's hair was cut short to frame her face. But something about her mother's eyes left him cold. So good at reading people, he got bad vibes from her. If this was what Dorothy had to be around growing up, no wonder she was so difficult to figure out.

"Dorothy, tell your little boy toy to get out. I need to discuss an important matter with you." her mother said. She sashayed over to the couch and sat back expecting to be obeyed.

Smirking, Dorothy grabbed Quatre's hand and dragged him over to where her mother sat. "Mom, I'd like you to meet Quatre Rebera Winner. You remember the name. The heir to Winner Enterprises."

Dorothy's mother gasped loudly. "That's impossible. He looks like some...some-"

"Construction worker? I can assure you I am Mr. Winner." Quatre said.

Seeing Dorothy's smirk, he knew she'd one upped her snooty mother and felt the need to support her in her endeavor.

"Quatre R. Winner. A pleasure to meet you. And you are Dorothy's mother?" Quatre said, holding his hand out to be shaken.

Seeing the pure delight in her daughters face, she knew this was indeed the Winner heir. And that she'd made a terrible first impression. Standing up, she put on her most pleasant smile, and worked to charm the billionaire.

"Hello, I'm Fredricka Catalonia. Charmed." Fredricka said, shaking the young mans hand. Looking him over, she hid her distaste for his common clothing. Someone that rich could afford to go slumming now and again, she guessed. And if he was interested in her worthless daughter, then even better for her.

The minute their hands touched, that feeling of unease in Quatre returned. She was one cold character. Dressed beautifully in a pale silk purple dress with a matching full length jacket, she looked like a million bucks. That outfit alone probably cost as much.

"It is a wonderful to meet you. I'd love to chat more, but I really do need to talk to my daughter. I hope you don't think me rude?" Fredricka smiled sweetly.

"No, I should be going anyway. It was a pleasure to meet you." Quatre lied easily.

Dorothy dreaded the thought of talking to her mother, but knew there was no way out of it. At least she'd gotten her licks in early to their constant battle.

"Dorothy, I hope you change your mind and come tonight." Quatre said as Dorothy walked him to the door.

"I'll consider it." she said. She felt instantly saddened by his departure. And upset she was even feeling it over him.

"My butler Mr. Oran will show you out. Good day." Dorothy said, gently closing the door in his face.

Not immediately leaving, Quatre stood outside of the door in contemplation. He was about to leave when he heard the slap. It rang out loudly through the door. Quatre quickly put his ear to the door and listened.

"How dare you embarrass me in front of the Winner heir? Are you trying to drag our good family name through the filth?" Fredricka snapped.

"Slap me again, mom and I won't be responsible for my actions."

"Are you sleeping with him? If you have any sense, you are. He's a very powerful, wealthy young man. You sure as hell can't do any better than him. Trap him now."

"Quatre is an old acquittance, nothing more. And I wouldn't trap any man in this hellish family." Dorothy snapped. She went over and picked up her now sleeping kitten. Use to the yelling, Chloe didn't even twitch.

Quatre cringed as he eavesdropped on the conversation. He wanted to race in and protect Dorothy's honor from her cold mother, but he knew he had no right to interfere.

"Then you are a fool. You have no looks to speak off and your personality is nonexistent. You'd be lucky any man would have you. This is all your damn grandfather's fault. I should have never allowed him a role in raising you. It's his fault you've turned out so worthless." Fredricka said.

"A role in raising me? What a piece of crap! You never raised me at all. You were too busy going to country clubs and shopping sprees. I was always away at boarding schools. A pack of wolves would have been a better parent. Grandfather was a wonderful man. He was ten times the man you are!" Dorothy yelled, stroking Chloe's fur for comfort.

"You ungrateful witch. You've been a disappointment to me since the day you were born. I've given you everything money can buy." Fredricka growled.

"You want to whore me out to Quatre. What kind of mother thinks that way."

"It's the least you can do to attract the attention of the Winner heir."

"Get out mom. Now !" Dorothy screamed, pointing one finger to the door.

Quatre jumped from the door and hurriedly left the house. Walking to his car, he drove away from Dorothy's property with a new understanding of Dorothy and her attitude.

"Allah, what a horrible mother. Poor Dorothy." he said to himself. Just knowing what she had to deal with made his protective instincts rise. No matter what, he wouldn't turn his back on her again.

*********

"Put that down, Duo. Not everyone's arrived." Hilde sighed. Her roommate/boyfriend Duo, kept reaching for the breadsticks on the dinning room table.

"It's okay, Hilde. Better let him eat. A grouchy Duo is no fun to be around with." Relena chuckled.

Duo gratefully smiled at her before immediately reaching to cram the bread stick in his mouth. Hilde rolled her eyes as she shared a giggle with Relena. Yesterday being Relena's birthday, everyone had gathered to not just celebrate that event, but that she was still alive and healthy. It had been six months since a failed assassination attempt had left her mortally wounded. Even with the security precautions, she'd still be shot in the chest and had laid in a coma for four days. She almost didn't make it. But she had and after months of therapy, was almost back to normal.

"Maxwell, for goodness sake, don't cram your mouth. The food will get here soon." Wufei said, exasperated, while Sally chuckled at his side.

Heero grunted at the silly display and turned to stare at Relena. She winked at him. Seeing her wounded and possibly dying had ended all his running away. The fear of losing her had been too much to bare. The minute she'd opened her eyes from her coma, he'd proposed marriage and she'd accepted. They'd had a quickie marriage in the hospital to everyone's disappointment except theirs. They were just happy to finally be together.

Noin and Milliardo, also newly married were already expecting a baby. You do the math.

Everyone was already there except Dorothy and Quatre. Quatre was a sure bet to show but Dorothy...

"So do you think Dorothy will show?" Duo said around a mouth full of breadstick. Hilde pulled his long, braid for talking with food in his mouth.

Trowa shrugged. "Quatre, I know will. You never know with Dorothy."

"She'll be here." Une said at the corner of the large table. Everyone dressed casually for the dinner seeing they were all friends now. Pomp and circumstance wasn't needed here. Jeans and tee shirts were the proper garments for this party. The dinning hall they rented for the night was spacious but intimate.

"They better hurry up, I'm starving!!!" Duo whined pathetically. He flopped his head on the table and pouted, making everyone laugh and smile, even Heero.

************

Dorothy walked back and forth near the hotels entrance deciding whether to enter or not. She had no problem seeing the others, but to see Quatre again so soon made her tense. Her fight with her witch of a mother hadn't helped matters. She was thinking about him even more than she was last night. Damnit!

"You know you can go in any time. They're waiting for you." a voice replied behind her.

Already knowing the culprit, Dorothy stopped and turned. He was still dressed in the same clothing from earlier. He smiled at her as he came up beside her.

"I'm still considering it. Shouldn't you be going in?" she asked, lifting those interesting brows.

"I'm still considering it, too. Why don't we consider it together." joked Quatre. He quickly ran his eyes over her figure. She was wearing a classy blue sun dress that left little to the imagination. Not wanting to be caught gaping at her long legs, Quatre turned his head up to the moon. He smiled when she mimicked him.

They stood there for who knows how long gazing at the moon together. It was strangely romantic. Dorothy watched him at the corner of her eye and jolted when she saw him doing the same.

"I don't think I'm really into a big gathering tonight. Maybe a quiet dinner for two would be better?" he said, looking for her reaction.

"Aren't you afraid of disappointing everyone?" she asked.

He moved in close to her so that they were just barely touching. Possessed by unshakable lust, Quatre wrapped his arms around her tiny waist. She stiffened against him and gave him a weary look.

"I'd be honored if you would have dinner with me Dorothy. And I'll keep asking until you say yes." he grinned cheekily.

She rolled her eyes but nodded her head. Still boyishly cute. Damn him! She didn't know why she was allowing him to be so familiar with her...ah, hell who was she fooling. She'd wanted to jump him from the start and it was confusing the hell out of her. "I could go for a bite. Just don't get any ideas, Winner."

He chuckled and led her away from the Marissa hotel to a nice restaurant he'd checked out earlier.

***************

Fredricka cursed to herself as she sipped her glass of white wine. She laid in her bed listening to music before her gentlemen caller arrived for the evening.

That damn girl! How stupid could she be? The Winner boy was obviously attracted to Dorothy, although she didn't know why. She'd never been the great beauty she'd hoped she would have been at birth. Even then Dorothy was ruining her plans. Instead of being a worthy male heir, she'd been born a girl. And grew to be an odd looking one at that. Fredricka blamed her father's genes for that. The only consolation was the immense wealth she'd been left after her husbands death.

They could be even richer if the brat would cooperate. Quatre R. Winner was single and prime grade A beef from what she'd seen. Although his taste in clothing left something to be desired. If her stupid child wouldn't try to trap him, she'd have to do it herself. Dorothy was going to end up Dorothy Winner even if it killed her. Even with all the animosity they shared, she knew the childs weakness. No matter how she denied it, she knew Dorothy desired her love and approval. Maybe, a little motherly behavior was in order. And then she would make sure she was living on easy street.