And the Game Begins (Mrs. Shepherd)

[Justin Scotts]

Natasha's dramatic exit the other day at lunch had left things rather open. She might have said "game on," but she never technically agreed to his terms, and, to top if all off, she had been avoiding him at the hotel. He couldn't seem to find her anywhere, even though she had practically appeared everywhere he went before he made his shocking proposal.

So Justin was forced to take drastic action. He was not about to let her slip through his fingers so easily; not when he had a plan. She might have thought he was bluffing when he threatened to take the matter to his mother... but she had no idea how determined he could be when he wanted something. He'd even stoop to playing nice with the mother, if that was what it took.

So he sent an owl to the lovely Mrs. Vivian Shepherd, inviting her for high tea at Madam Puddifoot's tea shop. It might not have been his favorite place in the world, but it had the stiff, proper atmosphere he needed for this particular meeting.

Justin arrived a few minutes early, ordering a small pot of Earl Grey and a plate of biscuits, then sat in a corner to wait for Vivian to arrive.

[Mrs. Sheppard]

Vivian didn't know what to expect from the brief flirtation she witnessed between her daughter and the ever eligible Justin Scotts. For a moment she panicked that her headstrong daughter would do something stupid and mess the whole thing up, not knowing that it was Natasha's reluctance that earned the audience she was about to have with Justin herself.

Recieving the owl from Justin set her mind and heart at ease, then immediately racing, she wanted a good match for her daugther, regardless of what Natasha thought, Vivian really did care about the girl and she knew that life without a man in this society could quickly turn sour. The only concern she had about a man like Justin was that he wouldn't like to be controlled and a man with a mind of his own that couldn't be manipulated...well that was trouble.

She arrived precisely on time as her daughter usually did, quickly she spotted him and allowed the host to lead her to him.

"Justin, how wonderful to see you again."

Briefly a glimpse at his handsome face and her heart flipped over as it did when she was a younger girl, yes Natasha could do much worse.

[Justin Scotts]

Justin stood to greet her, ever the perfect model of good manners and good breeding. He took her hand and raised it to his lips for a kiss. "My dear Mrs. Sheppard. It's a pleasure to see you again. You're looking stunning as ever."

He pulled out a chair for her and waited for her to sit so he could push it back in. Natasha, he thought wryly, would probably abhor such old-fashioned niceties, but her mother would notice and appreciate them. And even though he knew he didn't have to work hard to impress her, he wanted to do so anyway.

"Can I get you anything?"

[Mrs. Sheppard]

"You do know how to flatter a woman Justin, thank you." She bestowed on him a smile but it couldn't hide the predatory glint in her eyes. She was thouroughly readable and she didn't take measures to hide her true feelings though she could have if she wanted to. She wanted Justin for her daughter. Merging her line with the Scotts would prove to be most beneficial, and strangely enough she thought her daughter would be happy with such a man.

Whether Natasha thought so or not, she needed someone. This world was scary enough being alone, having a strong arm to help you was necessary.

"No I'm perfectly fine thank you. Why don't you tell me why you asked me to meet you here today."

[Justin Scotts]

Justin took a sip from his tea and smiled at her over the brim of his teacup. Surely she had her suspicions about what this little meeting could be about. She'd seen him with Natasha, and he was sure her hopes were already raised. Justin, however, wasn't entirely sure what his goal was with his little game. Did he truly want to marry her? He had never really had any desire to marry, although he knew he must. If he remained single much longer, Thatcher was sure to start setting him up. The last thing the family needed was another Uncle Zachary.

And if he had to marry, Justin could do a lot worse than Natasha. She was beautiful and fiery and not at all content to just sit back and become your average society wife. That was what he dreaded most of all--a simpering, fluttering society wife with little else to do but plan parties and spend his money on shoes. Natasha would never be that.

Setting his teacup back down on its saucer, Justin focused on Mrs. Sheppard once again, his smile widening.

"Straight to business, then, is it?" he said. "Well, I won't keep you in suspense any longer. I would like your permission to court your daughter."

[Mrs. Sheppard]

She bestowed a calculated grin on him for calling her out on skipping the pleasantries. When he told her the reason for this meeting she did well to conceal the glee. Still Vivian wasn't entirely fooled she gave no inclination either way whether the news made her happy or not.

She sipped her own tea pausing to think over her words. She was almost sizing him up with her eyes in much similar way to Natasha.

"Tell me honestly Justin, what precisely are your intentions toward my daughter?" she asked crisply. At first it might have sounded like any other ambitious mama asking if there were diamonds in the future but Vivian like her daughter was more than met the eye.

"Let me be clear, most men that come to me for permission to date my daughter or more... usually have no chance with her. You on the other hand have all the tools you would need at your disposal to have my daughter completely wrapped around your fingers. And while I do appreciate the archaic notion of asking a parental figure's permission we both know that there is more behind your invitation today." she wasn't asking a question this time, instead she was breaking down the situation in the clearest terms so she could see why Justin was there, finally she understood.

My God...She turned you down...Stupid Girl

"You're looking for an ally." her lips curved, "You have one."

[Justin Scotts]

Justin could practically see the wheels turning in her mind. Oh, she was clever, all right. She was very much like her daughter in many ways. Calculating as she was, she truly did have her daughter's best interests at heart, and she wasn't going to just give her daughter away to just any suitor with a charming smile and empty promises. Justin respected that. But he wasn't just any suitor... and he wasn't entirely sure his promises would be empty. First he had to make Natasha fall in love with him... and then he'd see what would happen from there. But if he was going to have to marry, he'd rather make his choice than someone his father would choose. And there was no doubt that Thatcher would approve of Natasha.

"My intentions..." he said with a smile. "Well, I'd rather not get ahead of ourselves, but I assure you I wouldn't be here asking if I wasn't serious."

He could also see when the lightbulb went on for her, and she came to a full understanding of the situation. She would know her daughter better than anyone, and she would know exactly how Natasha would respond to such a proposal. It should have humiliated him, to think of being rejected by a woman, but instead it enticed him. It only made her more determined to win her heart.

A smile curved Justin's lips, showing off his even, white teeth. "You're a very smart woman," he said. "I'm glad to have you on my side."

[Mrs. Sheppard]

Vivian raised an eyebrow, it wasn't all smooth sailing, "There is of course a small matter of my own I'd like for you to take care of..."

Yes the bargaining stage. He wanted something from her and she wanted something from him.

"My daughter is halfway convinced she's in love with that good for nothing step-son of mine. His reputation is atrocious to say nothing of the scandal this would cause. I believe that your designs on my daughter should distract her from him well enough."

She said throwing him a bone in introducing him to his competition.

"Natasha wants her father's company. It's all she's ever wanted since she was a child." It wasn't enough that the man had left her his fortune.

"But this is a man's world and the board of directors won't hear of it. Natasha's a seventeen year old girl and though she's smarter than the lot of them put together in the eyes of society it would simply be unheard of...unless..." this time her eyes darted toward Justin.

"...she were engaged." she said spilling it out for him, " My daugther stands to lose everything and she is far too stubborn to accept things for the way they are. Charm her, I'll take care of her stubbornness as much as I can, and when the time is right I want you to propose." She paused to let that sink in.

"Once it's established that Natasha is spoken for and has the Scotts name to back it up the board of directors can have no real contention against her, and once the matter is settled you'll be free to dissolve the engagement however you and my daughter see fit." again she paused, "I would hope that you would be delicate for my daughter's sake however."

[Justin Scotts]

Justin listened to her as she spoke, only the faintest of smiles showing any kind of reaction to all that she said. Of particular interest to him was learning the identity of his rival. He'd known almost from the beginning that Natasha's heart was wrapped up in another man. But learning that it was her own step-brother was unexpected. But he was also quite certain that he could turn her head away from any thoughts of a relationship that she had to know was inappropriate. He could easily make her forget about Devin Sheppard.

The rest of Vivian's proposal was not any less interesting. He'd also sensed Natasha's ambitious nature, and he was not surprised to learn of the depth of her ambition. It was another one of the aspects of her personality that intrigued him.

"I will propose to her," he began at last, "only when I am convinced she will say yes for no other reason than that she wants me, not what such an engagement can bring her."

His tone was final and brooked no arguments, despite the small smile that still sat on his lips. "My intentions, my dear Vivian, is to make your daughter fall in love with me. This is not to say that I have no desire to marry her... but I will not make that commitment unless I know she is as intoxicated with me as I am with her."

It was one thing to court her, to romance her. But marriage was another thing, and for Justin, it would not have been good for his reputation if either one of them cried off from their engagement for any reason.

"I'm happy to help her gain control of the company in any way possible. It doesn't bother me that she is ambitious... in fact, I quite admire that quality in her. But I won't offer up my good name under false pretenses."

[Mrs. Sheppard]

Vivian was only slightly stunned "Do you mean to tell me that you have fallen in love with my daughter?" That was a dangerous revelation. Love made people do stupid things.

She hadn't thought things had progressed that far yet and indeed she was surprised.

[Justin Scotts]

Justin almost laughed. Justin Scotts in love? It was a preposterous idea. Love was a fanciful, foolish notion; it was for women and little girls and poets. It was not for him.

"In love? Hardly," he replied coolly. "I'm far too practical for love. Your daughter intrigues me, and I won't deny that I find her... very attractive. I desire to get to know her better. I'm even willing to help her gain control of her father's company... but I will not do it if she continues to feel as indifferent to me as she claims she does now. I'll romance her, I'll sweep her off her feet. And when I am sure she's ready, I'll propose. But if it doesn't work, if she remains infatuated with this other man... Well, there is only so much rejection a man of my station can tolerate."

[Mrs. Sheppard]

Vivian nodded her eyes remained slightly skeptical but she shrugged it off, they'd cross that ben, ridge if they came to it.

"It would appear Justin...that if you cannot cure her of her infatuation, then I would have overestimated you...I highly doubt that is the case." she smiled pleasantly.

"Now then there is a spectacular ballet my daughter is anxious to attend...."

Vivian gave Justin their box number and informed him that the show was sold out, the only way for Natasha to see the ballet would be to spend the evening with him in their box.

[Justin Scotts]

"I'm glad for the vote of confidence," Justin replied with a wink. If he couldn't successfully turn Natasha's eyes away from her childish crush on Devin, he'd be most disappointed in himself. In fact, it might make him question everything he believed about himself. But he wasn't worried. Devin Sheppard was a boy... Justin was a man. And it wouldn't take long for Natasha to realize that.

He had another memory flash unbidden before his eyes--two people kissing amidst the chaos of the Hogsmeade attack. Her lips on his while he hid safely behind a mask. He had no doubt that she'd felt exactly what he had felt that day. She hadn't been thinking of Devin Sheppard then, he was certain.

He forced himself to focus again, allowing that pleasant image to fade before his eyes as he listened to Vivian explain her plan. It was brilliant, too. A forced evening together at the ballet... it would infuriate Natasha... but it would also give them plenty of time alone in the dark.

"I'll be there," he replied, smiling.