Chapter 10: Karmic Reward (Annette)
Summary: Annette's POV as Kathryn gets her final revenge.
Author's Notes: Sorry this took so long but my internet connection got knocked out and I couldn't send this. The next chapter of my fic Everything Comes Full Circle should be up soon. Also I'm in the process of updating my web site.
My life was going perfectly. I mean every thing was just were I wanted it to be and nothing could stand in my way. I was on my way to attending Princeton, I was engaged to a wonderful man, and Kathryn Merteuil was out of my life for good.
Two months after graduation I sat in one of New York's finest restaurants with my father and my soon to be in-laws. Neither my father or I could really afford the place but Brad's parents had insisted. They invited us to meet them and Brad here as a sort of a private engagement party. As I sat beside my father and listen to them all discuss wedding plans my mind wandered back to the events of the past few months.
I have to say one of the highlights was ruining Kathryn. Yes shortly after the year book was published Kathryn's reputation was shot to hell along with all her power. She never returned to Manchester after that even though the yearbook was pulled. I told my father that someone must have tampered with it before it went to press. My friends, who had gotten screwed over by Kathryn at some point in there life happily agreed that they had nothing to do with it. I really wasn't sure if daddy bought that excuse or not but he wasn't about to get his own daughter in trouble right before graduation. Tiffani Mertueil on the other hand made a big fuss and took back a large donation she had made to the school. She used it instead to launch an investigation into who was responsible for smearing her daughter. Let her investigate she would never learn the truth.
What happened to Kathryn you might wonder? Well since school was so close to getting out she was able to graduate even though she missed two weeks of classes. She however never showed up at graduation even though she was to be valedictorian. When she opted out Helen Davis took her place.
Although her reputation was now in ruins Kathryn did still have some loyal friends including Blain Tuttle. I knew Blain was also good friends with Sebastian which confused me. How could he still care about Kathryn after all the awful things she did to Sebastian? Still when I ran into him a couple weeks after graduation he was still devoted to Kathryn. "Well if it isn't everyone's favorite star reporter" he said with a calm smile.
At the time I had been at my summer job, waiting tables at a trendy coffee house in the village. I turned around and was greeted my Blain sitting alone at a table "Hello Blain."
He continued smiling "tell me Annette, do you believe in karmic rewards?"
That was the second time in recent memory that I heard that phrase. The first being when Kathryn when on her tangent about how I was as responsible as her for Sebastian's death. "What do you mean?"
"Well what you did to Kathryn, don't you think there will be repercussions?"
I could hear the threat in his voice but I ignored it "I don't know what your talking about. Kathryn's the one who's responsible for getting Sebastian killed and now she's paying for it. I did nothing wrong."
"Ok" he said as he got up from his seat "however a word of warning. What goes around comes around and Kathryn is not the person you want making sure that happens."
"Whatever" I sighed as I tried to shrug it off. I knew this was just another way for Kathryn to threaten me and I wasn't about to be bullied by her or her friends.
So I forgot all about the warning and went on with my life. Later that summer I got excepted to Princeton and Brad purposed to me. Then I got the best news of all when I heard that Kathryn had left New York for parts unknown. Good riddens I thought happily. If I never see that girl again it will be too soon.
My thoughts were suddenly interrupted when I saw Brad storming into the restaurant. He wasn't wearing that usual happy expression that was always on his face. Instead he had a deep scowl and was practically shaking with anger. "Hi honey, what's wrong?"
He looked at me with an expression of absolute disgust "we need to talk in private."
I really didn't like keeping things for my dad and the lie about the yearbook was the only time I had been dishonest with him. I didn't want to make it a pattern so I said "whatever you have to say, you can say it to everyone."
Brad shook his head "fine. The engagement is over."
Everyone at the table looked up startled. "What?" His parents asked concerned.
"Brad what's going on?" I asked wishing he would stop glaring at me like that.
For the first time I noticed he was holding something in his hand. On closer examination I noticed that it looked very much like Sebastian's journal. "On my way out Edward Valmont dropped this off to me. He told me he found it in a security box of Sebastian's and he thought you should see it. He also thought the papers might find it interesting."
I was confused by all of this to say the least "wait a minute? Sebastian's journal? I already have it, he gave it to me before he died."
"Then what is this?" He all but threw the brown leather bound journal at me. "Because according to this Kathryn wasn't the one in the wrong, you were."
I give him a puzzling glance as I begin to flip through the journal. Certain pages were exactly like the other journal including many pages I didn't copy. That should of been my first clue because I knew they were pages Kathryn never saw. However there were parts that were very different from the journal I read. All negative sentiments about Kathryn were taken out. Instead there was a five pages dedicated to Kathryn and Sebastian's love for her.
Then I came to what was likely making Brad so angry. Following the pages on Kathryn were three pages on me. Oh the bet was included as was the fact that Sebastian won. There were paragraphs after paragraphs detailing Sebastian's and my night together along with the note that he didn't really believe I was a virgin in the first place.
As I read this my hands began to shake as I looked up at Brad who was glaring at me. I had yet to sleep with Brad telling him I was a virgin and wanted to wait until I married. I think part of what drew him to me was the fact that I was so pure which is why I never told him about Sebastian. Looking up at him now I knew that was a mistake. "Well go ahead explain."
"I...Brad this isn't Sebastian's journal. There's no possible way, I have it. Someone obviously set this up."
"Who Annette? Sebastian? Because that's the only possible way. I mean look at the handwriting it's perfect."
Before I could respond my father stood up quickly "now look here. I don't know where you got this from but it's a bunch of lies. My daughter never had anything to do with Sebastian Valmont. Tell him sweetheart."
I looked back and forth between Brad and my father completely speechless. "It's-it's complicated. But Brad this is not Sebastian's journal."
"Oh yes it is" said a loud curt voice behind me. Turning around me I saw Tiffani Merteiul headed my way followed by Edward Valmont and a serious man in a suit.
"Mrs. Valmont what are you doing here?" My father asked with a worried expression.
"I'm here to make sure this little witch pays for destroying my daughters good name. My husband found Sebastian's real journal and it tells what really happened."
"No it doesn't, it's a fake. Sebastian gave me the real journal." Before thinking I said "what was printed was the truth."
Tiffani's dark eyes went wide "so you admit to printing those lies about my daughter."
Everyone was staring at me and I knew I was stuck. "Yes I wanted everyone to know the true Kathryn."
"No you were jealous that Sebastian was in love with Kathryn so you made this up to hurt her. You mine as well admit it."
I glared at this women with contempt. It was obvious were Kathryn got her charming personality from. "Sebastian did not love her he loved me."
"So you admit you slept with that guy?" Brad asked giving me the same look Tiffani was.
"Brad I can-"
"No I don't want to here it. I'm out of here." He then stormed out the way he came and I watched helpless.
"Well that's unfortunate but hardly the end of your problems" the man besides Tiffani then handed me a folded piece of paper.
I opened it and realized it was a legal document. "What this?"
"I'm suing you and the school for slander. When I'm done I'll own Manchester Prep."
"This is preposterous" my father said as he took the document out of my hand. "You can't just come in here and threaten us."
"Of course we can" said Mr. Valmont confidently. "Your daughter picked the wrong family to mess with."
As the three of them began to argue my head began to spin. How did I get here? Only a few minutes ago my life was perfect now it was like some bad dream. There was no possible way that could be Sebastian's journal, Kathryn must of done something. As I was trying to figure a way out of all of this a young waiter came up to me "are you Annette Hardgrove?"
"Yes"
"There's a phone call for you at the bar." I took one more glance at the bickering threesome who didn't seem to notice when I followed the waiter to the bar.
It didn't even occur to me who it could be as I picked up the receiver "hello."
"Annette. Read anything good lately?" That voice, immediately I knew who it was.
"Kathryn, what did you do?"
She laughed "it's called revenge moron. You should of seen your face when your doctor friend gave you the journal. Absolutely fucking priceless."
I began looking around the crowded restaurant looking for her. She said she had seen me so she had to be within the vicinity. "Where are you?"
"So what did my mother threaten you this exactly?"
"Only destroying me and my father's reputation and career. How did you do it huh? Did you hire someone to copy Sebastian's hand writing."
Kathryn laughed again "not exactly."
"God you really are sick you know that? Sebastian would hate you for this."
"Oh I doubt it. Actually I can't take all the credit for this. It wasn't even my idea."
"Then who's was it?"
There was a long pause and I considered just hanging up on her when an eerily familiar voice came on "hello Annette."
No way I thought, it couldn't possibly be. "Wh-who is this?"
"Turn around Annette" the voice instructed me.
Very slowly I turned around and across the room by one of the back doors he walked in. At the sight of him I nearly fainted. It was him or someone who looked and sounded damn close to him. It was Sebastian dressed in a black suit and those dark sunglasses he always wore. As my mouth dropped open he smiled and gave me a little wave. "It can't be" I whispered into the phone unable to move.
"Yeah it's me. You look a little surprised Annette."
"Y-your dead. It's not possible."
He laughed "but it is. I'm sorry about the display by my parents and all but really you should never have published the journal."
I just gawked at him unable to say anything. Suddenly Kathryn came in behind him in a dark dress and glasses. She leaned in and whispered something in his ear. Sebastian nodded and Kathryn looked right at me and smiled before leaving. "Well I have a flight to catch Annette. It was nice talking to you again. Oh and if I were you I won't mention this to anyone."
He then hung up and walked out. It was then I finally got some strength in my legs and I ran out after them. As I go to the back door Kathryn was sliding into a long black limo and Sebastian was helping her. "Sebastian!" I called out.
Before getting in he turned around gave me one last smile and wave and then got in. I stood in shock as the limo drove off. It couldn't be, could it? I suddenly remembered Blain's threat to me that day at the coffee house. I guess this was my karmic reward. Kathryn got hers and now I got mine. I could feel a tear slide down my face as I slowly turned around and headed back in to my fate.
Last Chapter Coming Soon