Thanks guys!!! I'm glad you guys are likin it so far. More to come next week hopefully!!!
(Un)Tying the Knot - Updated 10/29
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 Love Wrapped Around My Finger |
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Posts: 5925 (06/11/2008 11:11 PM) Best FanFic Writer '09
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IwantJRTinMyBed |
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Posts: 4932 (06/12/2008 12:17 AM) |
what's your sn on aim?
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Love Wrapped Around My Finger |
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Posts: 5927 (06/12/2008 12:55 AM) Best FanFic Writer '09
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Its eep yay
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futuresex ified |
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Posts: 84 (06/12/2008 12:56 AM) |
Great update! And that Amelia is something else.
Can't wait for the next one! |
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Lizz Fatone |
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Posts: 629 (06/22/2008 10:38 AM) |
Great update! I like this story
But...what does Amelia and Charlotte look like?? post some pictures, pleaseee!  
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Love Wrapped Around My Finger |
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Posts: 5961 (06/22/2008 2:32 PM) Best FanFic Writer '09
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I don't really do pictures of my characters. I think it screws up whatever image you guys as readers have going for yourselves. From my descriptions you
should know Amelia is blond and tall with blue eyes. Descriptions of Charlotte will come as the story progresses I promise.
And an update is coming tomorrow!!! Thanks for reading everyone 
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IwantJRTinMyBed |
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Posts: 4950 (06/22/2008 2:41 PM) |
Charlotte should be the complete opposite because yeah she just should be.
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Love Wrapped Around My Finger |
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Posts: 5962 (06/22/2008 11:41 PM) Best FanFic Writer '09
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- CHAPTER FOUR -
"And then if it is at all possible can you get lunch reservations at Daniel for tomorrow?"
Amelia throws this over her shoulder to Charlotte as she steps in the elevator of the Pierre Hotel, Charlotte nodding and struggling to hold onto all of Amelia's bags as she follows her inside.
"Ugh what a horrendous day," Amelia groans with a sigh, slouching back against the railing as the elevator begins it's ascent.
"Who are we meeting here?" Charlotte asks offhandedly, turning her head to her shoulder, fighting back a yawn.
Amelia blinks at her. "No one. I live here."
Charlotte looks at her, a bewildered expression covering her face. Amelia lives here? She's surprised but still finds it completely fitting. Upon entry to the lobby Charlotte had felt instantly resized, the great round lobby with its blue sky ceiling and crushed velvet-covered chairs cozy and inviting although the patrons were not. The elevator continues to climb and Charlotte glances at the floor panel finding the penthouse button lit. Of course.
The doors finally open to a white marble floored lobby of sorts, the heavy oak doors in front of them large and somewhat foreboding. Amelia strides forward, pushing the door open and letting herself in. Charlotte follows, mouth slightly agape instantly awed by the sight that greets her.
The foyer is nothing more than a mass of black steps climbing high to a small landing where the stairs split and disappear into the ceiling. Rooms seem to hide behind the grand staircase, hallways slinking back into the recesses of the building, holding little pieces of Amelia's life.
Charlotte finds it strange being in Amelia's home. Amelia sleeps here, eats here, bathes here. All the normal things people do when they're at home. In that moment, Charlotte finds herself guilty of something Amelia does everyday to her. She has forgotten that Amelia is an actual living, breathing human being. Charlotte had gotten herself so caught up in the business that is Amelia Domineck and had almost forgotten that she is first and foremost a woman just like herself.
"Good she's still here," Amelia mutters to herself, checking her watch. She looks up at Charlotte. "I need to talk to the maid about the mess she made of my Valentino gown."
Okay maybe not just like herself.
"And Justin's home," Amelia says with a sigh, rolling her eyes and its then that Charlotte hears the soft tinkling of piano keys, the sound seeming to come from heaven. "And playing that god forsaken piano. I swear I'd get rid of it if it hadn't been a gift from Sting."
Amelia huffs, plucking her gloves from her long fingers, dropping them and her coat onto a small French arm chair next to the door. Charlotte shifts from one foot to the other, wiggling her fingers around the shopping bag handles, trying to alleviate some of the pressure while waiting for instructions.
"I'm going to find that maid," Amelia says walking briskly around the staircase, her stilettos tapping smartly on the wooden floor. "Charlotte, go upstairs and tell Justin to stop with the racket please. I have a headache."
"Um…okay," Charlotte says uneasily as Amelia disappears into the recesses of the house.
Charlotte sets the bags on the floor, sighing in relief as she curls and uncurls her arm, her muscles screaming in protest. She takes a cautious step onto the staircase, biting her lip and eyeing the hallway Amelia just disappeared through. Was this a trick? Ever since lunch earlier that week Charlotte had been especially careful around Justin, weary that maybe Amelia was testing her as well. It was entirely possible. Justin did flirt with her, but no more than he did with anyone else. But Charlotte was relatively sure none of that mattered to Amelia, considering her boss was just interested in testing her fiancé. It didn't really matter who the bait was.
She shook her head, trying to clear it as she climbed the stairs and if she hadn't been out of breath already from the steep climb, the grandeur of the room would have stolen it from her lungs upon sight. Charlotte gazes around feeling almost as if she should genuflect, the twenty foot high rounded ceiling reminiscent of a cathedral, the blond oak floors gleaming like rays of light. French doors stretch from floor to ceiling overlooking the sunset on Central Park, sconce lighting and a magnificent chandelier illuminating the room.
The room is the size of a grand ballroom and Charlotte lets her mouth hang open as she takes in the quiet opulence of the space. It has the feel of a quiet French château on steroids. Her eyes travel around the room, roving over small settees and overstuffed chairs, heavy mahogany coffee tables and delicate floor lamps. She's startled when her gaze falls on the piano, so caught up in her astonishment she had almost forgotten anyone else was there.
Justin is seated at the grand piano, his black suit jacket discarded on one of the nearby chairs, the sleeves of his sea blue dress shirt rolled up to his elbows. He sways gently to the music he's making, his eyes closed, letting the rolling notes of the piano move his body. She thinks she recognizes the song, but she can't quite place it, stepping forward as she tries to decipher the tune.
His eyes open and she freezes where she stands, a deer caught in the headlights. He grins widely at her, his fingers still dancing across the keys.
"Hey Charlotte!" he beams jovially and she smiles at him uncertainly. He's always so happy to see her, or so it seems. Such a charmer
"Hi," she replies shyly and he tugs his head back, beckoning her closer as his song changes to something slow and pulsing and Charlotte would know that melody anywhere.
"You like this song," he asks smiling knowingly and that's when Charlotte realizes she's grinning like a fool as she rushes towards him.
"Yeah, its one of my favorites!" Charlotte exclaims, bobbing her head to the beat that is so engrained in her.
It reminds her of crisp autumn days, coming home from school to find her father asleep in the armchair, soot smudged across his nose and the record player spinning. It reminds her of summer nights, sitting on the front porch of their Pennsylvania farm house, listening to the crickets sing and the radio crackle out this melody. It reminds her of her brothers playing football in the yard. It reminds her of her parents dancing in the living room. It reminds her of home. A dull ache settles in her chest at the remembrance, a pang of longing for her childhood home, for the lost years of her youth.
"Remember when the days were long / And rolled beneath a deep blue sky / Didn't have a care in the world / With mommy and daddy standing by…"
Charlotte's breath catches in her throat as his voice rings out into the large room, his shoulders shimmying just slightly as his long fingers glide across the keys. He grins at her as he sings and he's just genuinely happy to have someone listen. He hasn't performed in a long time and he finds, as he always does when it happens, he's missed it, a tension in his chest lifting and he's never more free than he is right now at this piano with just this one person listening to him sing.
"…Offer up your best defense / But this is the eeeeeeeeeeeend / This is the eeeeeeeeeeeeeeend of the innocence."
He stops there, just after the end of the first chorus, fearing he'll never stop if he goes on, the piano dying away as his hands pull back. He opens his eyes to find Charlotte staring at him in awe, her green eyes dancing happily and he can't remember the last time someone has looked at him that way. He's performed in front of thousands, millions if you count television audiences, but none of that compares to right now and the look on Charlotte's face.
He smiles at her and she blinks, shaking her head as if to clear it and tucks her hair behind her ear nervously, an awkward silence stretching out between them.
"Hey, have you ever heard this one?" Justin asks, swallowing hard and shaking his head, cutting the awkwardness with a slow, deep melody.
Charlotte screws up her face and listens hard. "No…I don't think so," she resigns after a moment and he grins.
"Hush hush, sweet Charlotte / Charlotte, don't you cry / Hush hush, sweet Charlotte / He'll love you till he dies"
Charlotte gasps at him, blushing furiously and he laughs, his voice stopping but his fingers still coax the melody out of the instrument, grinning up at her.
"I didn't even know there was a song with my name in it," Charlotte confesses, her cheeks burning and Justin grins, nodding.
"Hush Hush Sweet Charlotte by Patti Page..." he says sighing, "who's other numbers also include…" he trails and the tune turns jaunty and playful, "How much is that dooooooggy in the window," He barks playfully and Charlotte has to cover her mouth to suppress her giggles, "the one with the waaaaaaggly taaaaaaaaail"
"Justin what on earth are you doing?"
Its Amelia's voice, annoyed yet slightly amused and the music stops, Justin's hands jumping back from the keys and he smiles at his fiancé. She crosses her arms over her chest, raising an eyebrow at him and Charlotte watches his neck redden slightly. He stands from his place at the piano and pads over to her opening his arms to engulf her in an embrace. Amelia allows him to kiss her cheek, her fingertips running down his forearms.
"Charlotte you can go now," she says, frowning as she unrolls one of Justin's sleeves. "I'll see you Monday."
"Okay, see you Monday," Charlotte replies, heaving a small sigh of relief that her day is finally over and moving towards the staircase.
"Nice talking to you, Charlotte," Justin adds and Charlotte looks back, finding him grinning at her and she gives him a small smile in return before disappearing down the stairs
"What do you say we stay in tonight?" Amelia asks, buttoning Justin's cuff and he gives her a bewildered look.
"It's Friday night," he says, allowing her to unroll his other sleeve and button the cuff for him. "You feelin' okay babe? You weren't abducted by aliens were you?" His eyes grow large, his voice alarmed, "You're not a pod person are you?"
"Oh stop," Amelia scoffs, reaching to straighten his tie
"Quick, what's my nickname?!" Justin exclaims grabbing onto her biceps in mock panic.
"Oh Jesus Christ," Amelia mutters, rolling her eyes.
"Wrong!" Justin exclaims then screws up his face, pondering. "That'd be a pretty ambitious nickname."
"Oh shut up."
Justin grins cheekily. "You sure you're okay?" he asks, his face softening, reaching up to hook his finger under her chin. "You always wanna go out on Friday nights."
"And you never wanna go out on Friday nights," Amelia snaps and Justin tenses, waiting for her to either blow up or move on "Ugh I'm just exhausted," Amelia sighs, her eyes closing and Justin nods, pulling her against his chest, swaying her gently.
"We can stay in," he says softly, his fingers smoothing against her hair. "Movie night?"
"That would be great," Amelia sighs and he pulls back grinning
"Casablanca?" Justin asks bouncing excitedly. That's just what he needs, not the fans, or the lights, or the music. Just a night with Bogey and his girl.
"Uh I was thinking The English Patient," Amelia replies and Justin's heart drops a little but he nods, smiling at her.
"You go change. I'll get the movie set up," he says, pecking her forehead and she pats his chest turning towards their bedroom. "Hey I'll even let you wear one of my old t-shirts," he hollers by way of suggestion and she doesn't even turn around, just gives him a short wave of acknowledgement.
Justin sighs, trudging down the steps and snaking back around the staircase toward the entertainment room. Flicking on the lights, he grabs the remote trying to remember all the buttons it takes to turn the damn thing on. Best of the best, that's what Amelia always has to have. God forbid it be convenient. He presses a few buttons, furrowing his brow and his head snaps up when he hears a click and the large flat-screen glows blue.
"Okay now for the DVD player," he mutters to himself, pressing another button and the lights dim. He growls in frustration.
"Having trouble?"
Its Amelia's voice from the doorway and he turns to find her in cream silk pajamas, a tiny polo player embroidered on the breast pocket. He frowns.
"I said you could wear one of my shirts," he says, hoping she'll get his hint but she merely blinks at him.
"Why on earth would I do that?" she asks taking the remote from his hands. "I have pajamas." Justin sighs. "Go change. I'll set up the movie." She smirks at him.
He gives her a rueful grin before pinching her ass, receiving a yelp in return and darting out of the room before she can smack him. He returns minutes later in a thin t-shirt and pajama pants, finding Amelia curled up on one of the large couches, the previews playing. Justin bites his lip, sneaking up and then bounding over the back of the couch, Amelia screeching loudly in surprise as he plops down next to her. He dissolves into laughter and Amelia scoffs smacking his shoulder.
"You scared me to death!" she exclaims as he settles next to her, leaning against her slightly.
"As was my plan," he replies, his arms going around her waist as he nuzzles at her neck and she squirms, reaching for the remote.
"You're an ass," she responds, pressing play and he grins cheekily at her, nibbling at her ear.
"You love it," he says sighing, slouching down and resting his cheek against her bicep as the movie starts.
"I thought you were going to get rid of those pants," Amelia says and Justin looks down at himself, brushing his hands on the balled up cotton on his thigh.
"I like these pants," he replies.
"You have that nice silk set my mother got you for Christmas and you run around in that threadbare cotton," Amelia sighs and Justin nuzzles her arm.
"I like these," he says again, one large hand smoothing across her stomach and Amelia looks at him, a smirk pulling at her lips.
"Oh and you don't like the ones my mother got you?"
Justin tenses, looking up at her and finding her eyebrow lifted, a questioning look on her face. He swallows hard.
"Um…I do! I do like them I just…like these better," he replies, cringing slightly, waiting for her reaction.
She turns back to the television. "I like the silk ones."
"Yes, dear," he replies, settling against her again, struggling to get comfortable, his head resting against Amelia's arm. "Hey babe?" he questions, his hand running down her thigh.
"Yes?" she replies, watching his hand out of the corner of her eye.
"Scratch my head," he says, sliding all the way down so that his head lays in her lap, his feet dangling off the end of the couch.
Amelia sighs, irritated as her hand falls to his head, long nails scraping against his scalp soothingly. He sighs, eyes closing as he turns his face into her stomach.
"Your hair is getting long," Amelia says off handedly. "You should have Felicity make you an appointment."
"I can shave it myself, babe," he replies, his hand coming up and letting his fingers brush the underside of her forearm as her hand moves over the short bristles of his hair
"Yes but then you get hair all over the bathroom," Amelia chides, her fingers tugging on the short strands.
"I was thinking of letting it grow a little bit anyway," he says, kissing her lower stomach softly and allowing his eyes to close as her nails scrape over the sweet spot on his crown.
Amelia's hand stops. "Why? I like it short."
Justin doesn't open his eyes, hoping her fingers will start again. "Just something different," he says, shrugging as he presses his lips to her stomach again.
"Do you wanna have sex?" Amelia asks suddenly and Justin's eyes fly open, looking up at her slightly bewildered.
"Huh?"
"You're all over me," Amelia replies, a slight edge in her voice but her face is a mask. "I assume you wanna have sex?"
This is a dangerous question. Justin watches her for a moment but can't discern her features. He hates when she does this to him. Poses a question that has a fifty-fifty shot of pissing her off. If he says yes then he's an insensitive ass who only wants to get laid. If he says no, and that's the wrong answer, then he has to sit through a forty minute conversation on why he doesn't want to have sex. He takes a deep breath.
"I was just cuddling you, babe," he says softly, hoping the smooth caress of his voice will calm her if need be. "You don't wanna cuddle?" He gives her a charming smile and waits for her reaction, his stomach tight.
She stares down at him for three long seconds before cracking a smile and shaking her head. "Okay sometimes I really think you're the woman in this relationship."
Justin sighs in relief, chuckling slightly as he rolls so he's facing the television, his cheek resting on Amelia's warm thighs. Crisis averted. His stomach uncoils slightly and he fights the disappointed sound in his throat when her hand slides from his head to rest on his shoulder, feeling her settle in to watch the movie. His cheek rubs against the cool silk of her pajamas, wishing it was the smooth skin of her bare legs but he's happy to just be here with her. Just him and her watching a movie. He loves her. He really does. Despite all she puts him through. He loves her.
Edited By: Love Wrapped Around My Finger
06/24/2008 12:52 AM.
Edited 1 times.
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IwantJRTinMyBed |
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Posts: 4952 (06/23/2008 5:47 AM) |
I don't appreciate the way she treats poor Justin, he can't play music. That's like telling him not to breath.
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futuresex ified |
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Posts: 116 (06/23/2008 7:34 AM) |
I feel so sad for Justin to have to deal with all Amelia's crap.
Great update though, I'm really getting into this story. |
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laura0985 |
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Posts: 10604 (06/23/2008 10:39 AM) |
 Ihateher.
Yeah, imma need Justin to step up here and i fully allow him in this case, to smack a bitch. |
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YellowHampster |
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Posts: 1972 (06/23/2008 10:50 AM) |
Hell, I'll cuddle with Justin. Why would you ask him if he wanted to have sex? slide down the couch, pull him on top of you and go to town.
she is sooooo uptight and just... not right for him. HOW can she not let him play music. He is music!! What the hell did she fall in love with, cuz a Justin without music isn't a Justin at alllllllllll. Which brings me to another question. Is she even in love with him at all? |
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laura0985 |
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Posts: 10607 (06/23/2008 11:18 AM) |
IKR? It seems shes in love with the idea of him....but who he really is shes contantly trying to change.
The music thing annoyed me though its like "Bitch, step ASIDE" 
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Love Wrapped Around My Finger |
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Posts: 5966 (06/23/2008 1:45 PM) Best FanFic Writer '09
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BAHAHAHA I love hearing your guys thoughts on Amelia!!! Thanks for taking the time to read!!!
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ItalianHB |
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Posts: 2758 (06/23/2008 6:18 PM) |
oh man what a bitch... why the heck is he even with her??? They dont make a match at all.... ugh i dont see them together for long ... not at all...
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timberlakeluver |
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Posts: 2594 (06/23/2008 8:52 PM) |
I don't even understand. What does he see in her? Team Charlotte all the wayyyyyyy!
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midwestLOVEaffair |
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Posts: 428 (06/25/2008 11:30 PM) |
I just wanted to tell you how much I am enjoying this story. It's one of my favorites. I adore the way you write Justin. He's so freaking cute. Great
job!!
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Love Wrapped Around My Finger |
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Posts: 5992 (06/26/2008 9:28 PM) Best FanFic Writer '09
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Aw thank you guys so much. I'm glad you're enjoying it!
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Love Wrapped Around My Finger |
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Posts: 6031 (07/08/2008 3:42 PM) Best FanFic Writer '09
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- CHAPTER FIVE -
Four of diamonds on five of clubs. Five of clubs on six of hearts. New card is the three of diamonds. Charlotte sighs as she clicks on the new card and drags it up onto the diamond foundation and goes through the tableau of cards on her screen, picking out the five of diamonds and then the six before she has to go to her stock pile to draw three more cards. She sighs, glancing down at the clock at the corner of the screen and seeing that she still has twenty more minutes until Kaitie gets back from lunch and Amelia returns from her meeting with Patti.
It's relatively quiet for a Monday, no big meetings or phone conferences, no important paperwork to be ferried from here to there. Charlotte attributes it to the upcoming Christmas season, projects slowing to a halt until the start of the New Year. But even the upcoming holiday hasn't quelled Amelia's insane wedding schedule. Patti has been in the office nearly every day, talking about flowers, themes, table cards and flower girl dresses and Charlotte was in Justin's office nearly every day with fabric for him to feel and ink colors for him to choose from, even though Amelia always did what she wanted whether it was Justin's preference or not. But it was a way for Charlotte to get out of the office and sometimes the break would be just what she needed to keep her sanity. Justin would always greet her with a grin and a wave, doing that little half stand thing some guys do when women enter the room.
She's grown quite fond of Justin, enjoying his corny jokes and rolling her eyes at his little jabs. He's like the old uncle at every family reunion that tells dirty jokes and teases you mercilessly. You tolerate it all evening and by the end you kind of start to enjoy it.
Charlotte stifles a yawn, checking the clock again and then glancing out the window onto the glittering street below. Fifth Avenue shines in red, green, and gold and tiny people all bundled up are hurrying to get where they're going as a wicked chill blows its way through Central Park. The sky is a dark gray color and there's call for snow by the end of the day. Charlotte checks the clock again. Maybe Amelia will let her go early. She still has some Christmas shopping to do and anything is better than sitting in the office waiting for the phone to ring or waiting for Amelia to find something to complain about.
She nearly jumps out of her skin as the door to the office opens and Amelia breezes in, her cheeks pink from cold, her blond hair flowing down over her shoulders in soft curls. She is a vision in charcoal gray, her alabaster skin glowing in the soft light. Charlotte immediately closes her game of Solitaire and stands, waiting to be told what to do.
"Good afternoon, Amelia," she says after a moment, watching Amelia unwrap herself from the woolen cocoon of her cape.
"Oh it's hardly good," Amelia snaps and Charlotte braces herself for what's coming. "Would you just look at these?"
Amelia drops a plain white box on the desk and Charlotte gives her a cautious look before pulling the top of the box off. Sitting in a bed of tissue paper is a small card, wrapped in brilliant white gossamer like some beautiful gift Charlotte could only dream was for her. A small square placard turned on its corner and emblazoned with beautifully scripted lettering, a small "A" and "J" with a large "T" in the middle, sits in the center of the swathed invitation, adhered to the wrapping, holding the gossamer in place. Charlotte looks up at Amelia who nods, urging her to continue. Charlotte gently tears away the tag, her fingertips brushing the soft gossamer before peeling it away. Underneath the light fabric is a small card, brilliant white and smooth like no paper Charlotte has ever felt, gate folded so that it opens from the center. On the left gate is an embossed letter "A" in beautiful script and across the opening line in the paper is a matching letter "J." Charlotte holds her breath as she opens the card, the heavy paper resistant against her as she pulls so it unfolds gracefully, the two sides expanding into a double gate. Inside in elegant black script is the following:
Amelia daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Preston Domineck
as they exchange vows of marriage on Saturday, the twenty-fifth of June two thousand and eleven
Charlotte looks up at Amelia who is staring at her expectantly and she doesn't know what to do. In her hands is one of the single most beautiful things she has ever seen. She couldn't possibly fathom what's wrong with it.
"I think they're beautiful," Charlotte says after a moment, feeling she might as well take her chances as opposed to trying to guess what was wrong with them.
Amelia rolls her eyes and snatches the card from Charlotte's hands, irritated. "The typography is all wrong!" she exclaims, huffing as she charges back into her office. She's still talking, her voice muffled by the wall separating them and Charlotte has to listen hard to catch what she's saying, "I specifically said Citadel Script medium and this is clearly Citadel Script bold. That ninth grader they had working in sales had no clue what he was doing. Ugh I knew I should have gone with the printers I wanted instead of humoring…GET JUSTIN ON THE PHONE!"
Charlotte jumps at the sudden rise in hostility, scrambling to reach for the phone and sighing as she listens to it ring, hearing Amelia in the background all the while. "This is just horrible. I could have freehanded these better myself!"
Charlotte cringes. Felicity better answer the phone pretty damn quick because Amelia's tone is going from annoyed to irate, babbling on about the space between the letters and the paper isn't even really all that great and it cost a bloody fortune…
"Yeeeeeeeello."
Charlotte's attention is jerked back to the phone in her hand as a jovial male voice greets her. She's slightly shocked by the informal greeting and it takes her a beat before speaking.
"Er…"
"Oh…shit…um…" she hears the voice mutter, then what sounds like the clearing of a throat and then a cool, lazy, "Justin Timberlake's office."
"Um…Justin?" Charlotte asks, leaning over and peering into Amelia's office, finding her leaning over the invitation spread out over her desk, examining it with a magnifying glass, still muttering to herself.
"Charlotte! Hey girl, how are you?" he asks and she can hear the grin in his voice, causing a smile to pull at her own lips.
"Well I'm-"
"Did he just answer the phone?" Amelia asks, suddenly stopping her examination of the invitation and looking at Charlotte through narrowed eyes. Charlotte cringes turning back in her chair.
"Amelia in a bad mood?" Justin asks with a sigh and Charlotte rubs her forehead.
"When isn't she?" Charlotte mutters and then gasps, her hand flying to her mouth and the line is quiet for a moment.
Why did she say that? What the hell was she thinking? You don't talk about your boss that way and you sure as hell don't do it on the phone with your boss's fiancé. Charlotte is panicking, trying to think of anything that could possibly account for her statement. She was talking to someone else maybe? About something completely different? But it's then that Justin's loud laughter echoes through the phone, gasping for breath, coughing with the intensity of it.
"Oh god, tell me she heard you say that?"
"Ugh never mind," Charlotte hears Amelia mutter from the other room and then her voice is in her ear right along with Justin's. "What are you doing answering the phone? Where's Felicity?"
"Well I-"
"Oh never mind, get over here. These invitations are horrendous." A click sounds and Charlotte knows Amelia has hung up. She hears Justin sigh.
"See you in a few," Charlotte offers meekly and Justin laughs but it fades quickly.
"Yeeeeeah."
It takes Justin forty-five minutes to get to Amelia's office. Forty-five agonizing minutes in which Charlotte spends going through the week's schedule while trying to ignore her boss's Jimmy Choo's tapping irritatedly against the floor. Kaitie breezes back in from lunch and she and Amelia spend a good fifteen minutes examining the invitations and picking them apart while Charlotte pretends to organize the filing cabinet in the front office. She still thinks the invitations are gorgeous and knows if that's her opinion than it isn't welcome in there.
Charlotte is bent down under the desk when Justin finally arrives, hurrying through the door and bouncing on his toes in an effort to keep warm.
"Hey Charlotte, where's the fire?"
Charlotte raises up quickly, cracking the back of her head against the desk and yelping in surprise, an obscenity flying from her lips. She winces, rubbing the tender spot as her eyes fall on Justin who looks slightly shocked by her outburst but chuckles none the less, stepping towards her in concern.
"You okay?"
"Yeah," she replies weakly, rubbing the acorn sized knot raising on her crown and she can still hear Amelia going at it in the other room.
"Do you SEE the way this loop on the M touches the A....if it wasn't bold this wouldn't be happening…"
Charlotte shakes her head. "What'd you say?"
"Just asked where the fire was," he grins, rubbing his hands together quickly. "So I can stand next to it…it's cold as-."
"THERE you are," Amelia exclaims striding out of her office, invitation in hand, Kaitie following to stand in the doorway. "What took you so long?"
"Hey darlin'" Justin drawls, walking over to her and pecking her cheek softly, running a hand up and down her back.
"I called you forty-five minutes ago," Amelia says and Justin sighs, stepping back from her.
"I'm sorry babe, traffic was ridiculous and it took me forever to get a cab-"
"Cab?" Amelia asks, her face screwing up in confusion. "Why on earth did you take a cab?"
Justin's eyes widen slightly and he shifts from foot to foot. He hadn't wanted to tell her that. "Um…"
"Is there any particular reason you took a cab as opposed to the town car service for your building?" Amelia asks, raising an eyebrow and Charlotte glances at Kaite who widens her eyes and cringes, slinking around Amelia and over to the filing cabinets.
Justin can feel himself tensing under Amelia's severe gaze. "Um...I like cabs..."
"You like cabs?" Amelia asks, chuckling slightly and shaking her head. She trains her eyes on him. "Did Felicity get the fax I sent earlier?"
Charlotte cringes, turning to the computer and swirling the mouse around on the screen. She doesn't want to hear this. She's heard Amelia bait Justin on so many occasions that it's actually almost painful to listen to at this point. Justin can try and evade her for a while but Amelia always finds a way to get whatever it is he's hiding out of him.
"Um…I dunno," Justin responds and Amelia sighs shaking her head.
"I told her it was time sensitive."
"Um…well…I'm sure it's on my desk then. I'll look when I get back."
"Is it really that busy over there?" Amelia asks turning to go into her office and Justin glances at Charlotte and Kaitie before steeling himself and following his fiancé.
"Well you know how it is," he replies.
"I was just asking because you were answering the phone," Amelia replies and Justin watches his shoes scuff the carpet. "Felicity was at lunch?"
Justin hums noncommittally. "Well you know…we've got that issue with Kalaya's album. I've got that meeting with the accounting head tomorrow."
"How do you think it'll go?" Amelia asks disinterestedly, flipping through some papers and Justin sighs, leaning against the back of one of the couches.
"I dunno. We're already over budget," Justin rubs the back of his neck. "But she's just now really starting to find her sound and she's coming into some good stuff it's just-"
"Are you sure Felicity got that fax?" Amelia interrupts, and Justin looks at her slightly bewildered. "I should call and ask…" She reaches for the phone
"She's not there," Justin says and then cringes. She gets him every time.
"Oh…where is she?" Amelia asks, folding her hands on her desk and looking up at him innocently.
"Um…lunch?"
"But you said she was at lunch before…that's why you answered the phone."
"She's running errands," Justin says and Amelia narrows her eyes, pulling herself from her chair and rounding the desk slowly.
"Really?" she asks, crossing her arms over her chest. "What kind of errands?"
"Um…"
"Justin…" Amelia says, warning in her voice and he sighs, giving up.
"She's in Cabo."
Amelia's eyes narrow. "So you lied to me."
"Baby," Justin says, opening his arms to her and grinning in what he hopes is a charming way.
"Don't you 'baby' me!" Amelia snaps, holding a hand out and warding him off. "And what is Felicity doing in Cabo again?"
"Oh come on, there's nothing really going on. Let the kid have some fun," Justin says and Amelia sighs, snatching the phone from its cradle.
"I'm calling her father."
"Amelia," Justin whines, rolling his head on his neck as he draws out the vowels in her name. "Come on don't do that."
"No, this is ridiculous. You gave her that job as a favor to Cassius because he's a friend of the family and she just runs off whenever she wants," she exclaims, flailing her arms and nearly sending the phone crashing off her desk.
"Amelia, come on stop okay. It's really fine," Justin says, his voice taking on a soothing quality. Amelia eyes him hard.
"Honestly I don't know why you put up with it," Amelia sighs, dropping the phone back into the cradle and crossing her arms over her chest.
Justin sighs, swaggering forward and slipping his arms around her waist. Amelia doesn't reciprocate, not willing to give in just yet. "Come on babe. I like Felicity."
"Oh I'm sure you do," Amelia replies and Justin drops his arms from her waist.
"What's that supposed to mean?" he asks, a slight edge in his voice and Amelia shrugs unaffectedly, sliding past him.
"Nothing. It doesn't mean a thing," Amelia sighs, walking around the room and fluffing the leaves on her Sansevieria plant.
Justin eyes her moodily, his brow knit. There're a lot of things he'll take from Amelia. He can deal with the tantrums and the perfectionist tendencies. She's high maintenance, she's always been that way. More so now than in the past but some of the very qualities that made him love her, her fierce drive, her perfectionism, are the same qualities he himself possesses. So he can deal with all of that. But accusations of infidelity are not something he'll tolerate.
"Amelia, don't-"
"Charlotte?" she hollers, poking at the soil in the pot and Justin shuts his mouth, sighing as Charlotte peeks her head into the room. From the look on her face it's obvious this office is the last place she wants to be right now. "When was the last time we watered the plants?"
"Um-"
"They could use some water," Amelia says, sneering at the dirt on her fingers and rubbing it away. "So what are you going to do for an assistant while Felicity is chasing cabana boys in Cabo?"
"I'll manage," Justin grumbles, eyeing Charlotte as she comes in with a bottle of water, going from plant to plant, tipping water into the pots.
"What? Don't be ridiculous," Amelia says, settling behind her desk again and Justin glares at her.
"What, you think I can't manage my own office?" Justin asks, crossing his arms over his chest.
Amelia leans over her desk and laughs. "You staple things to your ties Justin." She laughs again and Charlotte ducks her head in embarrassment for him.
"I can run my own office," Justin says firmly, his ears pinkening, his eyes flitting to Charlotte nervously. It's one thing to be berated by your fiancé. It's another to have it done in front of an audience.
Amelia sighs. "Justin, what's on your schedule for this afternoon?"
"What? I don't fucking know," he says, his face screwing up in annoyance, crossing his arms over his chest.
"Exactly! You don't know. You need an assistant," Amelia says, opening her day planner. She looks up adding, "And don't curse."
"Amel-" he starts, getting more and more perturbed by the second.
Amelia snaps. "You CAN'T go running around all week without an assistant!"
Charlotte stops biting her lip and she doesn't turn around, not even daring to move. The door is all the way across the room and there's no means of escape that wouldn't draw their attention to her. She really doesn't want to be here. She doesn't want to hear Amelia cut Justin down inch by inch. She wants to go back out front and file or make business calls and not be in this room with them as they argue. Although she can't help the little part inside her that cheers him on when he finally yells at her.
"I'm a grown ass man I'm pretty sure I can run my own fucking office!" Justin yells, more out of embarrassment than anger. He doesn't want his life broadcast to everyone. Not even Amelia's assistants.
Amelia merely blinks at him, standing from behind her desk, her eyes ablaze and Justin swallows hard. She walks around her desk, taking long punctuated steps towards him, her face a mask. Justin bites his lip, watching her carefully, barely even breathing.
"Don't." Amelia reaches up, straightening his tie. "Curse." She pats his chest, giving him a tense smile that's more of a warning than anything else before turning her back on him. "Why did you take a cab earlier, Justin?"
Justin lets his head fall back, sighing in exhaustion. "Because I felt like it."
Amelia turns to him raising an eyebrow. "Really? Are you sure it wasn't because you didn't know how to call for a town car?"
"No," Justin snaps petulantly.
"Oh really?" she asks, settling behind the desk. "What number do you call to order a car out front?"
Justin shifts "Um...well…" he bristles, clearing his throat. "I don't have it memorized."
Amelia smirks, writing something down in her day planner. "You dial one and the front desk does it for you." She sighs. "Just...just take Charlotte for the week."
Charlotte is finally slinking her way out of the office when she hears her name and stops dead in her tracks. There's no way she just heard that correctly. She turns slowly, finding Justin looking at her blankly and Amelia shuffling papers on her desk. She chuckles to herself, slightly confused.
"Um…what?" she asks, looking from Justin to Amelia and back again.
Amelia looks up from her paper work and smiles slowly, looking Charlotte up and down. "Yes... yes take Charlotte."
Charlotte's eyes widen, cutting to Justin again, hoping he'll insist otherwise, hoping he'll stand his ground just once. But all he does is smile weakly at her before bowing his head in concession. Of course, why did she ever think he would do otherwise? She glances from Justin to Amelia, watching her sign her name with a flourish and she can't help but wonder if this is all some setup, if this is part of the elaborate mind game that Amelia is constantly playing with Justin and Charlotte is just caught in the crossfire.
"Well now that that is settled," Amelia sighs, reaching for the invitation that's laying across her desk. "get over here and look at these invitations, they are absolutely atrocious!" |
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MeganMonster |
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Posts: 1787 (07/08/2008 5:56 PM) |
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