Hilde’s Fashion

by Oyuki

Chapter 13

“So, basically what I’m saying, Hilde, is that you would be president of the company for about three years, at which time Duo would take over. But you would take over as vice president for the company,” said Richard Maxwell, Duo’s father.

Hilde could be vindictive and not take the position offered, and then Mr. Maxwell would be stuck with his stupid ass, immature son for a president. Or she could be vindictive and take the position just to get on Duo’s nerves, since he hadn’t wanted her to take it and that’s how everything had started. It wasn’t a hard choice. Duo’s father didn’t know anything that had happened, just as well because she truly admired the older man.

After a moment of silence she finally agreed. He brought out the contract and explained it to her. Hilde wasn’t listening, though, she didn’t care. She was going to be Duo’s boss.

She signed.

“And Hilde, let me just say that you look beautiful. Your change of... everything came just in time for your position as president.” Mr. Maxwell stood up and held out his hand to her.

‘I’m a horrible person,’ she thought. Then she thought of Duo, ‘Not worse than Duo.’ She shook Richard’s hand.

“Welcome, Ms. President of Maxwell Fashion.”

“Thank you.” Guiltily, she walked out of the office that would be hers come next week.

She took a deep breath and thought, ‘Get ready for hell, Maxwell.’ An evil little smile spread on her red colored lips.

*~*~*~*

Duo was sitting behind his desk, in his chair. His elbows rested on the desk, his chin in one hands. He was deep in thought. He couldn’t think of anything but Hilde. His mind wouldn’t forget how sad, how defeated she’d looked when she slapped him in the parking lot. His mind went over and over the events of the day. He looked at the clock on the surface of the desk, 1:07 p.m. The seconds seem to drag by slowly. He groaned, his day was far from over.

After having given up hope that Hilde would open her door to him, Duo had gone back to his office. Heero had been there waiting for him asking him all kinds of questions.

“Talk to Relena, they’re friends. Maybe she could talk to her for you,” Heero had said.

‘Yeah, maybe I should go talk to her. She could give me some advice... if she doesn’t hate me too.’

At the same time he got up from his leather chair, Hilde came in the room. His heart soared. She’d come back! And she looked hot. He hadn’t really looked at her until now. Her slightly wavy hair was totally straightened, as if she’d taken an iron to it. It was jet black, with a blue tint. Her thick glasses had been replaced with thin silver ones. Gray eye shadow graced her lids, and her thick eyelashes looked longer somehow. He noted the red color on her lips, luscious lips.

He looked at her clothes now. A black business suit. The skirt was short, but modest, the jacket emphasized the curves under it, the white silk blouse visible at the V of the jacket.

They looked at each other for a long time. Her gaze was cold. His was full of admiration and regret.

“Oh, so you see something you like now. Unlike the first time I walked in here?”

He sighed and shook his head. This was going to be harder than he thought. “I just wanted to tell you that you look beautiful,” he said quietly.

“Thank you,” she said smiling, but her smile didn’t reach her eyes.

He walked closer to her, but she didn’t back away. She stayed where she was and met his eyes. “Hilde, don’t hurt my father’s company for the sake of your revenge. He has nothing to do with this,” he said sincerely.

“Don’t worry, Duo, I have not intention of causing harm to this company, it would hurt your father. That’s something YOU would do, and I am nothing like you. I don’t even have a revenge planned out, my only revenge will be knowing that I took what you wanted the most. I took from you what you so desperately fought for,” she said, her eyes going cold. Her mouth was set in a thin line. Her countenance betraying nothing.

“Is this how it is going to be for the rest of our lives, Hilde?” he asked. His cobalt eyes soulful, they searched her own eyes for a sign... any sign of feeling.

“I guess so, Duo. I’m not going to let myself be hurt... by anyone. Besides, now I have a brand new job, I have more responsibilities, people to order around; lots of things to keep me busy. I’ll probably have to time for any relationships,” she said with a cold smile.

He leaned closer to her so his forehead was touching hers. “And I’ll be there every step of the way, helping you. With anything, and hoping that you’ll make time for me,” he whispered, his lips almost touching hers. His hands came up to cup her face.

Hilde closed her eyes, savoring the sensations his hot breath stirred. She moved her head closer to his, their lips not quite touching. Her arms came up to circle his neck of their own volition. Duo closed his eyes, ready to let his lips connect with her soft ones.

The door burst open.

Hilde jumped away from Duo and she blushed. Her breathing was erratic at what they’d been caught doing. She didn’t look at the door or at Duo. She kept her eyes averted from him and the new person in the room. “Sorry,” said a soft, feminine, sing-song voice. There was no hint of apology in the word.

Hilde frowned immediately, she knew that voice. It had haunted her dreams for a long time.

“Cathy,” whispered Duo beside her. He sighed mentally. Things couldn’t get worse. He’d been so close to kissing Hilde, and this bitch had to come and ruin his moment! ‘Damn it!’

“Duo!” she almost yelled. “Haven’t heard from you in the longest time!” Catherine was dressed in skin-tight, black leather pants. she was wearing a pair of five inch heeled boots. Her cut off, red halter top was probably two sizes too small because her breasts were almost popping out. Ample cleavage showing. She walked to Duo, brushing by Hilde as if she wasn’t even there. With those boots she was easily as tall as Duo. That made Hilde fume. Her three inch heels barely made her reach Duo’s earlobe.

“Oh, I missed you so much, love!” the woman squealed. “What’s wrong?” she said, wrapping, more like coiling, herself around the stoic Duo. “I have an invitation, love! I was thinking that we could go to a club--”

“I’m going to get my things out of my office,” said Hilde. “I’ll be moving into my new one at this very moment.” She walked away stiffly. That was the last thing she’d wanted to see. Duo with Catherine.

Duo wanted to run after her, but Catherine had more than wound herself around him. He knew that he wouldn’t be able to get away from her.

“Anyway, so I was thinking...” her voice faded away from him.

He knew it was going to be a long time before she shut up. He walked behind his desk and sat down. She took it as an invitation and sat on his lap.

Ten minutes later, Duo was so tired of hearing her voice that he didn’t have time to react when Hilde came out of her office with a box containing her things. She glanced at them briefly before walking out of the larger office.

“The only thing Cathy is good at was fucking things up,’ he thought.

*~*~*~*

A pissed off Hilde walked to her new office, the one the current president of the company was vacating at that very moment. She’d forgotten to tell Relena about her new position in the company. ‘I’ll take a few minutes to tell her the good news. I bet she’ll be glad about it.

Hilde walked into her friends little office. Relena’s head was bent low, she was focusing on some paper she was reading. Hilde smiled, she didn’t say anything, instead she dropped her box full of stuff on the floor. The clatter made Relena visibly jump. Her head snapped up and when she saw Hilde she smiled.

Relena rolled her eyes and said, “I should have known it was you. What brings you here,” she paused looking at all the things that had come out of the box, “with all this stuff?” she said. Her eyes widened and she asked worriedly, “You didn’t quit did you?”

“No, but I’ve been promoted. It seemed that everyone but you and I knew about it.”

“Promoted to what?” asked Relena, obviously puzzled.

“To president of Maxwell Fashion,” she said simply.

“Oh my gosh!” squealed Relena. She stood from her seat and ran to her friend. “How in the world did you manage that?” she asked and hugged her best friend. Things couldn’t get any better for her friend.

“I have no idea. Mr. Maxwell just called me in his office, I thought he was going to fire me because he found out about me and... anyway so I’m sitting there and he just hits me with the offer!”

“And you said yes!” Relena said excitedly.

“Yup!” she said and hugged her friend back.

Relena was so excited for her friend that she didn’t want to say what she was thinking. She was loath to say it, but she had to. “Hilde, you’re not going to--” she didn’t finish.

Hilde interrupted her by saying, “No, I didn’t do it to hurt Duo, even though he knew about it and that’s why he did what he did. I’m doing it because I want to...,” she hesitated, “and partly because I know that’s what Duo wants so much.” Her eyes lowered. Her hands found her friend’s, who’d stopped hugging her a while ago.

“When is Mr. Maxwell going to make the announcement?” Relena asked, grinning and successfully changing the subject.

“Later today,” said Hilde happily. Despite everything that had gone on with Duo, Hilde was truly happy. All aspects of her life, except her love life, were looking up. Things were finally turning up for her, for the lonely child she’d been for such a long time.

*~*~*~*

The announcement was made over an intercom. It was broadcasted throughout the whole building, so even the janitors knew who would be signing their checks from then on.

Duo sat in his chair staring out the large window behind his desk. He had been doing that for the last two hours. And that was exactly the way Heero found him.

“Duo,” he said, “it’s late. Everybody went home. You and I are the only ones left in the building, except for the night crew. Let’s go, I’ll drive you home.”

Duo swiveled his chair around to face his friend. The bright lights in the office giving him a pale color. He looked at his friend, he looked tired, dejected. He chuckled a little. “We’re a couple of lovelorn bachelors, Heero.”

Heero sighed and plopped down on one of the chairs facing his friend. “Speak for yourself, man. I don’t love any chick...” he said, but Duo knew that he was only trying to convince himself.

“Whatever man, let’s get outta here.” Duo got up from his chair and grabbed his suit jacket. The two young men walked to the underground parking lot. Heero dropped Duo home, his care left in the parking lot.

When Heero stepped through his door he dropped his jacket on the floor, his tie, his shirt, his belt, and his pants. He plunked himself down on his bed and whispered, “I’m yours, Relena.” He promptly fell asleep.

Chapter 14

“A party?” asked Hilde. Richard Maxwell had just proposed they hold a party in honor of her becoming president of Maxwell Fashion and his son becoming vice president.

“Yes, but it wouldn’t be one of those boring parties. You know, the ones that require everyone to wear a tuxedo and the ladies to wear cocktail dresses. No, this party would be to honor you, and you’re young! We could have it in a club or something.”

Ideas started to form in Duo’s head. ‘Yes, a party, but not a stuffy affair. A party...’

Richard Maxwell turned to his son. “What do you think, Duo? Great idea, huh?”

“I totally agree with you, Dad. A party that is designed for young people. honoring the new young management of Maxwell Fashion. I think it’s a great idea, Hilde. We should do it,” he said excitedly. A party that he didn’t have to dress up for. It was cool.

“I agree too. Then it would give the heads of other companies a good look at who will be leading the company for the years to come. It’ll be different,” she said smiling.

“So, it’s settled then? We’ll have a party at a respectable club, one of the many, I’m sure, my son frequents. How does next week sound? On Saturday night?” he asked hopefully.

“We’ll have to see if we can get the club reserved for that day. But other than that it sounds great,” said Duo. “Hilde and I will arrange everything.”

Hilde looked at him with skepticism. She took a mental sighed and agreed. They would be working more closely than before for the next few years, so she might as well get used to it. They would start working as a team with this party. “Okay,” she said. “We’ll plan it. It’ll be in our honor, but we can also announce that you’ll be retiring, Mr. Maxwell. Other companies have only read it in the newspapers, and we can use this party to announce it formally.”

“Great! Come on, Hilde, let’s get started,” said Duo bouncing up from his chair. He grabbed her hand and pulled her out of the room.

*~*~*~*

(the night of the party)

Hilde fidgeted with her hair, her shirt and paced up and down the hall.

“What are you doing? Go and get ready or you’re gonna be late to your own party!” shouted Relena when she came out of her room. She was dressed in a denim mini skirt and a black halter top. She was wearing strappy black heels. Her hair was halfway up. She was wearing much more make up than she usually wore. They were going to a night club after all. It was okay to be a little bit flashy.

“I don’t know! I don’t know what to wear! I don’t know what I’m doing, I’m a little bit nervous!” she cried.

“Chill! Take a deep breath and let’s go in your room. Pick out something to wear and knock ‘em all dead tonight.” Relena looked at her watch and said, “Quatre will be here any minute now, we gotta hurry,” she said and ushered Hilde into her bedroom. They ended up picking black leather pants for Hilde and a black tube top. The black outfit accentuated the paleness of her skin, but not making her look sickly pale.

They both jumped when they heard the door bell ring. “Damn!” said Relena and went to answer it. Quatre was on the other side of the door, and next to him was another young man. Relena took a moment to asses the man. He was tall, tanned and his hair was midnight black. His eyes a magnificent dark blue. ‘Mmm, tall, dark hair and light eyes. Just the way I like ‘em,’ she thought.

“Hi, Relena!” said Quatre as he came in. He kissed her cheek then introduced his handsome friend to her. “This is Carlos, I hope you don’t mind that I brought him, but I thought it would be a great idea if he was your date.”

Relena smiled at the young man. “Oh, it’s okay, Quatre. I’m sure Carlos and I will become great friends tonight,” she said and introduced her self. “You guys want anything to drink? Hilde isn’t ready yet and I’m helping her get ready.” She let them to the kitchen and said, “Quatre, feel right at home. Get something to drink or whatever while Hilde gets ready. I’m gonna go help her, okay?”

“Yeah.”

Once Relena was inside Hilde’s room she gave a squeal of delight. “Oh you should see this guy, Hilde!” She let out a gush of air. “He’s so hot!”

“Who are you talking about? Isn’t Quatre here yet?” Hilde asked her friend who was almost doing back flips in the bedroom.

Relena gave a shaky sigh and looked at her friend with a deadly serious expression before saying, “Oh yes, he’s here. And he brought his friend, for me,” she said quietly.

“So I get Quatre as my date?” she asked smiling.

Relena merely nodded. Too entranced on Carlos.

Hilde laughed. “Are you okay?”

Sigh. “I’m fine. I’m more than fine, I got one hot looking man waiting out there for me!”

“Calm down! I don’t want you to spontaneously combust in my room before my party!” she said laughing.

“Sorry, but you know. It’s been a while. Okay, let’s get you ready for that party!”

Five minutes later they came out of the room. Qutre’s eyes bugged out when he saw Hilde. He hadn’t see her new look so he was very surprised. She was dressed all in black. Her black hair complementing her clothes perfectly. It was styled in little ringlets that fell to her shoulders. Effectively making it a lot shorter than it really was. Relena and Hilde had chosen black eye shadow to go with her clothes.

“I like it,” Quatre said quietly. Regaining his senses. “Pretty gothic,” he said a little louder.

“You don’t think I should change into the red tube do you?” she asked a little unnerved by his appreciating gaze. She wasn’t used to men looking at her so intensely.

“You look great,” said Carlos’ in a slightly accented, sensuous voice. He turned to Relena and smiled, “You look gorgeous, Relena.”

She smiled and took his arm. “Let’s get goin’!” she exclaimed.

All four of them exited the condo. The limo driver opened the door for them, both girls entered first. When all for of them were seated, the limo driver drove off to Club Satire.

I don’t own the song! Enrique *dreamy look* Iglesias does!

Chapter 15

In the darkness of the limo, with the light of the passing streetlights Quatre saw a glinting of silver. “I’d never seen that before, when did you get it done?” he asked pointing at Hilde’s navel ring.

Hilde smiled, “Oh, this? I got this done a while ago... you just couldn’t see it.”

He cleared his throat and realized he’d been staring at it while she was talking. “It’s nice...” he hesitated before saying, “it’s sexy.”

Hilde had to laugh at that. She didn’t see Quatre as a potential boyfriend. Far from it, but it was nice to see that he found her attractive. She needed as much help as she could get. She didn’t want to use Quatre, but it would show Duo that other men did find her attractive. “You’re sweet, Quatre,” she said.

“But you don’t see me as more than a friend...” he said with a small smile of his own.

“I’m--”

“No, don’t apologize. I can’t see myself with you, like that. No offense, but I consider you a good friend also. Besides, I know all about Duo.”

Hilde closed her eyes and shook her head. “Duo--”

“And if you let me, I will make tonight very pleasant for you, and a nightmare for him. Just for the fun of it.” Quatre smiled even though he was sure she couldn’t see his broad smile.

She heard it in his voice. “If you’re sure,” she said in mock uncertainty. She glanced at the other couple in the limo, totally engrossed with each other.

Quatre saw her look at Relena and Carlos. “Good, I knew they’d like each other. She needs a man,” he whispered in her ear. She just giggled. The driver announced that they were in their appointed destination.

The young men helped the two girls out of the limo and entered the darkened Club Satire. The club was huge and there were three levels to it. The entrance was on the second, up a set of stairs was the third, which was mostly tables and a small dance floor. The second had a larger dance floor than the firs, it took about a third of the space and the rest was tables. The live band was on the third level of the club down a large ramp, that level was the largest of the three and contained the largest dance floor. All three levels faced the stage. The music blared from the huge speakers. The smell of alcohol and smoke was strong, but not at all unpleasant. The two couples headed to the third level of the club. They sat in the last row of tables nearest the stage. A banister separated that particular part, which was reserved for special guests. They sat at a round table in a sofa that was shaped in a semi circle placed against the banister so they would be facing the stage.

Duo and his ‘date’ sat in the last table in the same row as Hilde. He was on the opposite side of the ramp, so Hilde didn’t see him when she came in. Catherine Bloom was practically sitting on his lap. He hadn’t planned on bringing her as his date, he was going to go solo, hoping Hilde would too, but she had all but stuck herself to him with invisible glue since that day in the office. He frowned upon seeing Quatre place his hand on Hilde’s bare lower back. ‘Now I know why Heero hates Blondie,’ he thought murderously.

He looked at her longingly. Her hair looked great, despite the lack of light in the club it seemed to shine with its natural blue highlights. She looked hot in that outfit and smiled to himself. They matched. He was wearing black leather pants, though not tight like hers, an opened button down, long-sleeved, black shirt, and a black wife beater underneath. He fought the urge to scramble away from Catherine, who was dressed in plastic looking baby blue pants and a bra-looking shirt made of the same material. She was too damn clingy! ‘Shit, this girl is getting on my nerves.

Heero came down the ramp with his date, Sally. He looked around for Duo, but instead spotted Relena. ‘Who the hell is that with her?’ he thought moodily. He looked at Sally, her eyes didn’t stay in one place for too long. Sighing he searched again for his friend. Heero was dressed in a dark blue turtleneck sweater with a light blue stripe along the chest and sleeves. He wore dark blue jeans that hung low on his hips. His hair as messy as ever. He looked at what Sally was wearing a red, shiny, backless dress. The back was made up of criss-crossing thin strips of the same material. Her large breasts looked a little to big to be in the too small dress, as if a little tug in the back would rip it. Her slightly wavy hair hung around her shoulders.

Relena was too engrossed in Carlos to notice Heero walk by. It wasn’t that she didn’t look for him, it was just that she had missed his big entrance with the bimbo.

“Wanna dance?” asked Carlos, shouting in Relena’s ear due to the level of the music and the conversations going on around them.

“Yeah!” she shouted back. She took his hand and lead him to the large, dark dance floor.

*~*~*~*

The four couples had been at the party for at least an hour, Hilde and Relena hadn’t forgotten Heero and Duo, but they hadn’t seem them since they arrived.

Hilde was dancing with Quatre to a lively song. Duo watched her from his table, refusing to dance with Catherine who had already had a little too much to drink; she wasn’t drunk yet, just buzzed. She was in the process of almost slobbering on his neck, her version of a sensuous kiss. He took his eyes off Hilde long enough to push her, slightly, back into her own seat. When he focused his eyes on Hilde and her dancing partner his eyes went dark. Quatre had his hands low on the back of Hilde’s hips, what Duo considered her ass. The song had changed to a slow, sexy one. Her arms were around his shoulders and Duo could see him place his mouth on her shoulder. He growled in anger. He looked over at where Heero was dancing with Sally, he wasn’t concentrating on her though. His friend’s eyes were on Relena who was involved in a tonsil hockey match with her unfamiliar partner.

Anger radiated from Heero. It was time he took matters into his own hands. He steered Sally closer to the unsuspecting couple. He made the bump them a little so they could catch a breath. The couple reluctantly let go of each other and stared at Heero and his partner. Relena scowled. Shaking her head in anger she turned to Carlos.

Too late!

Sally’s and Carlos’ eyes had met.

‘Hook, line, and sinker,’ thought Heero with a smirk.

“Let’s sit down!” shouted Carlos to the angered Relena.

“Fine!”

He led her to their table. They ordered another round of drinks for themselves and their friends. Hilde giggled and signaled to Quatre that she wanted to sit down for a while.

They joined Relena and Carlos at the table, at which point Carlos excused himself to go to the bathroom.

Heero, who had also joined his friend at their table, laughed evilly. ‘If Sally isn’t good at nursing, then she was definitely good at this...’ Heero thought.

“What are you laughing at?” asked Duo.

“Ha ha ha! I just sabotaged Relena’s little date!”

Duo looked at the table to see Relena sitting alone beside Hilde and Quatre.

He looked back at his friend with a look of admiration. “How the hell did you manage that?”

“Easy, prance around with Nurse Sally practically coming out of her dress and it’ll turn any guys attention. You should do the same, though I suggest not with little miss passed out here,” he said pointing at Catherine.

She wasn’t really passed out, just buzzed... a lot. Duo fought off her paws again. Then he smiled. “I got a better idea,” he said. He stood up and walked away to dissappear into the throng of dancing bodies.

*~*~*~*

Hilde had spotted Duo a while ago. She had just been trying to ignore him. She had seem him with Catherine, her hands all over him. ‘The jerk,’ she thought. Despite all of that, she was having a good time. Quatre was a good dancer, despite all the drinks he’d consumed. He had helped her take her mind off Duo, all the while making him jealous by touching her a certain way, by kissing her lightly.

She had to admit, it felt kind of good having that power. She HAD noticed all the looks Duo was sending her way. His eyes smoldering with jealousy. ‘Taste of your own medicine, you jerk!’ she thought.

Suddenly the music died down and all the lights went off momentarily, and all the noise died down. The spotlight focused on the stage. A young man dressed all in black was standing in front of the microphone.

“Isn’t that Duo?” asked Relena looking at her friend.

“What is he doing?” she asked, more of herself than of her friend.

They focused their attention on Duo again. “In honor of Maxwell Fashion newest president!” he said loudly. Suddenly the spotlight shifted to where Hilde sat.

She felt all the blood rush to her face. Good thing they couldn’t see it. All she could do was smile stupidly.

“This is for you, Hilde. I love you, baby!” said Duo into the microphone, and closing his eyes he began to sing:

“If I had one single wish

I’d go back to the moment I kissed

You goodbye

No matter how hard I try

I can’t live

Without you in my life

Maybe you’ll say you still want me

Maybe you’ll say that you don’t

Maybe we said it was over

But baby I can’t let you go”

Hilde’s heart rate sped up. She couldn’t believe what was happening. Duo was singing her a song! He looked directly at her, he closed his eyes again in concentration.

“I walk around trying to understand

Where we went wrong

And I can’t pretend

It wasn’t me

And it wasn’t you

But I’m convinced

We gave up too soon

Maybe you’ll say you still want me

Maybe you’ll say that you don’t

Maybe we said it was over

But baby I can’t let you go”

Hilde covered her face with her hands. A silly, happy smile plastered on her lips. He had such a beautiful voice. She could hear the emotion in it. In every expression, in every lyric he sang. Her eyes began to water.

“Nothing left to lose

After losing you

There’s nothing I can’t take

When I run to you

When I come for you

Don’t tell me I’m too late”

Duo took the microphone from its stand and walked off the stage. The spotlight following, he reached her table, and took her hand, kissing the back of it.

“Maybe you’ll say you still want me

Maybe you’ll say that you don’t

Maybe we said it was over

But baby I can’t let you go”

He walked back to the stage still holding her hand. They were both on the stage now. He hugged her to his body. Whispering, “I love you, please forgive me,” before going back to the song.

“Maybe you’ll say you still want me

Maybe you’ll say that you don’t

Maybe we said it was over

But baby I can’t let you go”

As the band played the last notes, with the spotlight still focused on them, Duo grabbed Hilde and kissed her for all he was worth.

The roar of applause managed to pull them apart. There were cat calls and whatnot. They hugged again.

In one of the tables Heero smiled at his friend. “Not something I would have done, but good nonetheless,” he said to no one in particular. He stood up from his chair and walked to Relena’s table.

Relena looked around for Carlos, he’d been gone for a long time. She looked to the other side only to discover Heero sitting next to her. He didn’t say anything, he merely pointed towards a corner of the dance floor.

Her eyes widened at the sight of Carlos practically having sex with Sally. She scowled.

tbc...? mmm... maybe, with enough reviews...

AN: How was that? Hope you guys liked it. Just one more chapter and I’ll be done, maybe. This little scene has been plaguing me for a couple of days. Sorry to have made Sally such a whore, but I needed someone who was pretty. I love her, but it’s an AU!