C.E.O x C.E.O

Ch. 23 - There Are Like Five Parties In This Story Already

The ceremony is tonight. So naturally, James woke up early in the morning to (mentally) prepare himself. He doesn't normally bother to do so for parties where he isn't the main focus, but whenever he is the main focus, he tells himself he needs to be perfect. As perfect as he's capable of being, at least.

As he paces around the room, practicing his impromptu speech, the keywords of said speech circling his head, there is a knock on the door, a familiar pattern. He knows it's Katherine, so he opens the door for her although it wasn't locked.

"My," James starts, surprised to see her in a crimson nightgown with golden flower patterns all over it, giving it a royal red carpet touch. A bit extra for a mere ceremony but he finds it admirable that Katharine's giving it her all. "Did I get the time wrong? I'm pretty sure the ceremony is in another twelve hours."

Katherine chuckles, a hand over her lips as she walks into the room. "I just wanted to try it out at first, but now I just don't want to take it off!"

"It suits you," James says, closing the door.

"And is this the one you'll be wearing?"

James turns to see Katherine fiddling with the sleeves of his chosen suit on the mannequin - a crimson coat and tie that matches hers almost perfectly, the black interior mixed with white sequins on the hems giving it almost a vampire-like look.

James face softens. The suit was one of Dmitri's gifts. A pang of guilt presents itself in his chest, for he's realized just how much Dmitri has given to him, only for him to receive nothing in return. He'll remember to make it up to him eventually. Maybe he'll buy him a new car. He seems to like cars. Or take him out for a drink. Or get him something made of gold. Gold suits him well.

He could give him anything but his love, as much as he wants to say yes.

"Yes," James then replies, hoping the disappointment isn't evident in his voice. "I want to wear that."

"Nice..." Katherine says, before changing the topic. "Say, has Mr. Cozbi come to see you yet?"

James jumps, completely forgotten. Cozbi had met up with him last night and confessed in sobs and tears and dismay that he was the one who attacked James when the lights went out. James couldn't bring himself to not forgive the old man. For one, it wouldn't make good press, and the ceremony has to go on no matter. But most importantly, because the man wouldn't stop offering ways to redeem himself. Turning himself in, a hundred whips, jumping off a... James doesn't want that for anyone.

And he's not dumb enough to not piece together already that Cozbi had been forced by someone. There are no grudges held against the old man, not when he didn't do it on his own fruition. James knows the old man is a good person at heart. If anything, he feels sorry Cozbi had to be roped into this.

"Yes, we talked," James kept it vague, in case she doesn't know about Cozbi being the reluctant assailant. He isn't in the mood to explain anything. He doesn't exactly know what's happening either.

He had been so occupied with Dmitri.

"Okay, then," She moves away from the suit on the mannequin, then stalks to sit on the bed, promptly crossing her legs just as a light smile makes it up to her face. "So, what's up with you and Reen?"

James flinches. She could always read his mind.

"Mr. Reen wasn't around for much last night, as I've been told," She continues. "Strange for a man who offered to take over the job so quickly, though I assume it's because he had... other more important things to do."

James won't deny that his heart's been all so disturbed lately, by the very thing her words entail, because of one man alone. This doesn't help his case at all - the ceremony and everything is what he should be thinking of instead. It's getting in the way.