| Subject: Chapter 284 - Part 2 (end of chapter 284) |
Author:
KatherineG.
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Date Posted: Monday, April 16, 07:18:07am
In reply to:
KatherineG.
's message, "Dreams in the Dark continued (273>)" on Monday, March 05, 07:03:06am
It was with this in mind that she was happy to see her new ally, Dorian, oozing his way into the makeup room, his usual smile in place; his gaze took in the page in her hand. "A letter from an admirer?" The smile grew more charming. "You know you have one in me, as well."
She was used to this sort of flattery from him by now; it didn't really matter to her whether he meant it. He wasn't strong enough to be interesting to break. He was only, would ever be, a convenient means of torturing Nikita.
Her head inclined only slightly, then, a half-smile on her lips. "Good to see you, too, Dorian." His smile broadened, but he clearly wasn't fool enough to think that she had accepted his many offers. "Now, what about our plans?"
The question brought out a small sigh in the dapper gunman; he sat himself on a nearby chair, ready to begin in earnest. "She's not very receptive." He went on at her raised eyebrow. "I have tried several times."
Oh, it was difficult not to smile. "Did you expect her to be?" Dorian's look showed his deep self-assurance, giving her the obvious answer, forcing her to explain. "Nikita is a bit of a naive fool, but she's not fickle. She found her breadwinner in Michael from the start." She bristled slightly, hating that she had been the one to set them up in the beginning--having had no idea where such a temporary decision would lead; it took a second to bring her mind back to the conversation. "If she's going to be wooed away, she has to be made undesirable to him first."
There was a small pout on her co-conspirator's face, this news not at all to his liking. "I rather prefer her desirable." The smile returned easily, his thoughts turning. "That way, she makes more of an impression for me."
Yes, she knew this, knew what he was after. Nikita was not only a link to Jones for Dorian, but she was also a way to legitimize himself. That he would probably use her sexually, until whatever minimum value she had there wore out, was beside the point--such predilections too common, Hollywood, and the world, made for them. There were certainly enough women in this town for him to satisfy himself with in such a way for the rest of his life.
This wasn't any kind of a stumbling block, then, Madeline explaining the situation to him once more. "Just because Michael won't want her doesn't mean she'll be untouchable." Her smile broadened. "We'll leave enough for you to feast on, as well."
This news brought a smile to his face, even if he really had very little interest in the girl. She was just so young and naive. He preferred a more seasoned woman, one who knew a few tricks--as well as how to behave. Someone like Madeline. The smile grew further. But having Nikita didn't mean he couldn't have the tutor, as well.
This was part of his plans, had been for sometime. While he wasn't fool enough to think that he could win the woman's passion--he seriously doubted that she had any--this wasn't a concern for him. It was her body and her capitulation he wanted. The rest was rather too boring to bother with.
His intentions were long set, then. Yes, he would take Nikita--and the world of connections and public acceptance that she offered with her. She probably had *some* use in bed; Michael had evidently found one or two, which might make her amusing for a little while. But his real goal here was in breaking Madeline, just enough to force her to submit. After that, she was meaningless to him. It was the battle of wills which was so very arousing.
She agreed, of course, if in a slightly less-lascivious way--the pair of them quite well-matched, if one were looking for matches made in Hell. Both wanted dominance, were in this game for the joy of destroying a strong person's spirit. Still, unlike Dorian, Madeline hadn't even decided what she would do with Michael, once he was fully hers. She was too involved in the battle to really think about life after victory.
The terrible pair's gazes met, each of them savoring a future, a victory, they could sense. The tutor went on, reiterating their plans. "So long as we destroy her pregnancy, Michael will lose interest." She wasn't fool enough to believe the claims he made in his letter. Perhaps he was too nearsighted to know what drew him to the girl, but she wasn't. "He's just looking for someone young and amenable enough to breed for him. Once she's no longer available for that . . ." She shrugged. What came after that was far too obvious to name.
The thought put another smile on Enquist's face--the man not half so keen to raise some other man's brat as Jones expected of him. A miscarriage--of one sort or another--had always been part of his deal with Madeline. It wasn't like Nikita's father would actually mind--the thought of having a grandchild fathered by Samuelle abhorrent enough for him to question little about methods. Of course, how this woman planned to keep the actor alive, once they had wrested Nikita from him, Dorian had little idea. Jones was determined to see him dead just for deflowering his daughter--an antiquated idea, as far as the gunman was concerned. What else were little girls there for but for some man's pleasure? There was scarce point in the entire lot of them beyond that.
He brought his thoughts back into line a moment later, wanting to focus--not liking being left in the dark. "But your efforts so far have been less than successful." They couldn't have "accidents" on the set *every* day without causing some very unwanted attention. "Where do you plan on taking things from here?"
This was the part of her plans she had yet to tell him about--and she was really quite proud of it. In some ways, her attacks on Nikita thus far had only been used as a distraction. Yes, it would have been nice, if they had worked, but she hadn't wholly anticipated immediate success. While she *had* hoped for more from her foray with Hedda and the misguided Shears, that certainly hadn't been the entirety of her intentions. No. There was much more which could be done to the actress than this.
She explained with a smile, enjoying the victory she already saw coming. "There's an event coming soon, one both Nikita and Michael will be attending." He looked uncertain, forcing her on. "A premiere. Afterwards, there'll be a banquet." Her smile widened. "It won't be hard to spike her food there."
Mm, it sounded good, but . . . He was frowning slightly, pointing out the obvious. "But you've been attempting to dose her for months. Why do you think a banquet will work, when a more-enclosed environment didn't?"
It was a good question, really--but the answer was clear. "On the lot, she has too many people looking out for her--and no one from the press watching. Once she's in public, with all those people around . . ." She was smiling again. "A pregnant woman does need to eat."
There was a small nod in response, as he saw the logic to this plan. After all, if she didn't eat, that was a story in itself. "So, we either rid her of the child there and then, or we set the public at her throat for not taking care of her baby." He was grinning broadly before giving a slight bow. "Very clever, Madeline."
She returned a small smile. "I do my best, Mr. Enquist." Besides, even if this try failed, there were other methods yet to be tested.
This was all they had to discuss just now, was really the end of their interview; he rose, turning to go, complimenting her as always. "Quite beautifully, too. Still, . . ." He paused near the door, turning back to her. "I wonder what that letter in your hand says about it."
It was a nicely played move, made her wish that she had put it away, before he had arrived. Still, she shrugged, placing it on the table near her, dismissing its importance. "It's merely a threat from Michael. Quite juvenile, really."
Hm . . . Interesting. His eyebrows rose. "Has he guessed all your plans?"
Madeline just shrugged, tired of the conversation. "Would it matter?" She went on in the pause, annoyed that he clearly thought it did. "He's hundreds of miles away, and he'll only be home for a few days. Even if he wants to protect her, there's nothing at all he can do."
She had an interesting smile on her face, a more genuine one than Dorian typically saw there; it intrigued him, told him much. "You want him for yourself?" He watched the smile vanish, prided himself on the point he had scored. A moment later, he turned to walk away. "We'll have to see what we can do to help you." After all, holding out such hope might make the tutor more amenable to his own plans for her. Michael would be dead, either way.
She didn't agree, was certain that she could persuade Mr. Jones to let the man go, once Nikita was well out of the picture. After all, the murder of a star of Michael's caliber was a faux pas, even by Hollywood standards. It would be like killing Clark Gable; her head shook at the ridiculousness of the notion. No matter what the need for revenge, the businessman couldn't be half so foolish as that.
She let the gunman walk away, murmuring only a "You, as well, Mr. Enquist. You, as well." But Dorian wasn't half so certain of her conclusions as she was. To his mind, Samuelle had signed his own death warrant the first moment he had taken Nikita to his bed. No amount of distance now would be able to save his skin.
Still, he let the woman think what she wanted to, savoring the game ahead. In truth, he had no interest at all in what happened to Nikita--despite his good shows for Jones--was focused solely on where this game with Madeline led. Either way, he was sure that he was already in quite well with his new business companion, would be accepted, even if the tutor's plans failed. Of course, since Michael would die, nonetheless, he would probably still be fettered to the actress. But she would give him good enough publicity to get him through the disappointment of her presence.
Madeline watched him go, understanding at least a few of his thoughts. They didn't concern her in the least. No matter how much she heard about Jones's intentions toward Michael, she just wouldn't believe it, knew her own plans too well. One day soon, Michael *would* be hers; she looked down to the actor's letter and laughed. That was the only thing which mattered to her now.
[End of Part 284]
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