! BAD GIRLS ! BAD GIRLS !

( a sex and the city fic )

PLAZA HOTEL
new york, new york
7:30pm

i found myself in the elegant ballroom of the plaza hotel, surrounded by the lavish decor and the sophisticated crowd. it felt like a glamorous throwback to the golden age of hollywood.

i had chosen a simple yet elegant black cocktail dress for the occasion, complete with a modest sweetheart neckline. i accessorized with a pair of sparkling earrings and a pair of black stiletto heels.

the atmosphere at the event was a mix of glitz and glamour, with guests dressed in their best cocktail attire. the room was filled with muted chatter and soft piano music. it was the perfect setting for a high-society event.

i stood off to the side of the room with a glass of champagne in hand before i spotted the group of women i had become acquainted with and started making my way over to them.

miranda, charlotte, and samantha were huddled together, already two glasses of champagne in when i approached. they looked absolutely stunning in their evening wear.

as i walked over to them, miranda's eyes landed on me first. "well, if it isn't the woman with the highest standards." she teased.

i chuckled and rolled my eyes. "yes, yes. i'm picky, i know." i replied before glancing around the room. my eyes landed on a group of men talking by the bar.

"see anyone who catches your eye?" charlotte asked, also noticing my gaze. samantha and miranda followed my stare.

i did a small frown as i focused on the guys' fingers. "they're all married." i said as i looked back at the girls.

"and you can tell just from looking at them?" charlotte questioned.

"the rings, charlotte." samantha said as she took a sip from her champagne.

"oh..." charlotte said, slightly embarrassed that she missed the rings.

miranda leaned in closer to me, her dark eyes curious. "how did you even notice the rings from all the way over here?"

"i have an eye for detail." i replied, sipping my champagne. "i'm a high school teacher, remember? i notice these things."

samantha smirked. "so, even teachers check out guys?"

i chuckled and rolled my eyes again. "i was just looking. there's a difference."

charlotte suddenly clutched my hand. "look over there!" she said, pointing across the room.

i followed her gaze across the room and saw a group of handsome, successful-looking men standing by the main table. carrie was among them, talking and laughing with one man in particular.

"that's mr. big." charlotte said, referring to the tall man next to carrie.

i studied him closely. he was about six foot two, with dark hair, and a charming smile. there was no doubting that he was handsome.

~~

after a few more mingling moments within the room, the lights dimmed, indicating that it was time for the event to begin. a stage with a podium appeared, and the guests started to take their seats.

"that's mark sinclair. he's a billionaire, one of the finest of new york's bachelors." samantha said lowly to the group.

the emcee, a well-known new york billionaire philanthropist known as mark sinclair, took the stage and began the night's event.

"good evening, everyone!" he said, his voice carrying through the room. "welcome to tonight's charity gala. i'm mark sinclair, and on behalf of the host committee, i'd like to thank you all for joining us here tonight." the crowd clapped politely as he continued. "tonight, we are here to raise funds and awareness for the wonderful work of the charity organization, feeding children new york. i would also like to express my personal gratitude for our special guests here tonight. a few of them have been kind enough to donate generous amounts to this cause."

as mark sinclair glanced over the crowd, samantha couldn't help but blurt out, "i bet i could get him to donate in the sheets." her statement caused the girls and i to let out laughs.

the host's attention quickly shifted towards samantha, his eyebrows raising faintly at her words. "i'm sorry, was that our first official donation of the night?" the man said, staring at samantha with a charming smile.

the girls all widened their eyes at his words, and samantha had to hold herself from spitting out her drink. even i was surprised that mark had overheard and responded to her comment.

"i-i..." she stuttered, caught off guard. i wasn't used to seeing samantha, the confident, sassy one get flustered.

my eyes scanned the other donations that had been sent from the night before. fifty, twenty, one hundred thousand...i quickly held up my glass. "yes! she's donating thirty thousand." i announced, saving samantha.

mark's attention flicked to me, and his smile grew wider. "thirty thousand..." he repeated, looking directly at me. i swallowed hard as i suddenly felt the full weight of his stare.

samantha shot me a glare but quickly hid it with a smile once the rest of the room clapped, impressed with the donation. i nudged samantha to take the credit.

"that's very generous of you," he said, "may i ask the name of the generous donor?"

"it's from samantha jones." i said pointing to samantha.

mark's eyes scanned over samantha and his smile widened. "samantha jones, a beautiful name, fitting of the donator."

samantha's face reddened at the compliment as the room clapped again.

"well, on the behalf of the evening's host committee, we greatly appreciate your generous contribution." mark continued. "and i may have something to offer you in return." samantha perked up, clearly intrigued by his offer.

~~

the event progressed as various speakers took the stage, sharing heartfelt stories and reports of the positive impact the organization had made. afterwards, the event turned into more of a casual affair. the lights were lowered and the guests were able to socialize and take in the atmosphere.

i excused myself from the table and navigated my way through the room in search of the restroom. what i didn't know was that samantha was trailing behind me.

i heard the bathroom door close and turned to see samantha, "thirty thousand? how do you expect me to cough that up?" she said with her hands on her hips.

i chuckled and leaned against the sink. "consider it a gift from me to you." i said with a smirk before turning to face the mirror, tidying up my makeup.

"i gotta say, you're full of surprises, jamie." samatha said, watching me as i applied some more lipstick.

i met her gaze in the mirror. "how so?" i asked, raising an eyebrow.

"thirty grand? jamie...that's a lot." she said with a hint of admiration.

"it would be rude if i came to a charity event without any intention of donating, wouldn't it?" i said as i smiled at her.

"most people drop a couple thousand max." she chuckled.

i shrugged and leaned against the sink. "it's all tax deductible." i replied with a wink.

"you're a teacher." she pressed.

i simply shrugged once more. "family money."

samantha's eyes widened. "family money? you have family money?"

"yep." i said simply. "let's just say i could write a check double that amount tonight and it wouldn't even make a dent." i joked.

she let out a low whistle of respect. "wow, jamie...i had no idea you were loaded like that."

i nodded and got quiet. i reached in my purse and pulled out my checkbook, handing her a check. "i think someone out there is waiting for you to hand over thirty thousand."

"you're something else, jamie boyd." samantha said with a shake of the head.

i smiled at her, but said nothing. i knew how this went. people found out i was loaded, they changed.

she looked down at the check, her eyes widening at the zero's. "thanks again, jamie."

i smiled and shrugged. the sound of a knock startled the two of us and we both turned to face the bathroom door. "everything okay in there?" charlotte's voice echoed from the other side.

"yeah, we'll be out in a minute." samantha yelled out in response as she slipped the check into her purse.

i gave her one final smile and said, "go enjoy the night."

she smiled back and exited the restroom, leaving me alone to freshen up. i stared at my reflection, the weight of keeping my finances a secret always lingered in the back of my mind.

as i left the plaza hotel and stepped into the cool night air, i took a deep breath, feeling the weight of the event slowly slipping off of me.

it was a perfect night for a walk and my brownstone was only a few blocks away. i started on my way home, enjoying the night air and the quiet of the city.

as i walked, i took in the familiar sights and sounds of new york city at night. the lights of the city were like a sparkling beacon, lighting up the sidewalk in front of me. i walked past a couple of my favorite restaurants, all closed up for the night. the streets were virtually deserted except for the occasional taxi passing by.

my mind began to wander as i continued my walk. i thought about my life so far, my job, my friends, and the path i had chosen. as i turned the corner, i couldn't help but feel a sense of contentment mixed with a hint of unrest.

things were good, but were they enough? was i truly satisfied with where my life was at?

as i approached my brownstone, i was surprised to see a blonde girl sitting on the steps, looking deep in thought. there was something familiar about her, but it was too dark to make out her features clearly.

i walked to my steps with raised eyebrows only to see it was my brother's daughter. "jemma?" i said as i observed the girl.

her head shot up at the sound of my voice, her blue eyes widen slightly. she looked different than the last time i saw her. taller, a little more developed, but still as beautiful as ever.

"hi, aunt jamie." she said quietly.

i made my way over to her and sat down on the steps next to her. "what are you doing here, jem?" i asked, trying to keep the surprise out of my voice.

she shrugged and avoided my gaze. "i wanted to talk to you." she said quietly.

i raised an eyebrow. "about what?"

"just some stuff..." she said, her voice still quiet.

i could sense there was more she wanted to say, but she seemed hesitant. i waited patiently, giving her time to formulate her thoughts.

"well my mom and dad are getting divorced. and i felt so sad and didn't know where to go and who to talk to..." she rambled on, tears welling up in her eyes.

"oh, jem." i said, feeling my heart ache for her. i placed a comforting hand on her shoulder and pulled her closer to me. "i'm sorry, hun."

"and on top of that i feel sick! like i want to throw up." she cried out.

"sick?" i repeated, alarmed. i put a hand on her forehead to feel for a fever. "have you been eating or sleeping well?"

she shook her head slowly. "i've been feeling nauseous for days. and i have no appetite."

i frowned at her words, concerned. "have you seen a doctor?"

"no." she said with a sniffle.

i brushed her hair back and looked at her closely. she did look pale and tired. "how long have you been feeling like this?"

she sniffled again and wiped away a tear. "about a week. i thought it would eventually go away, but it just keeps getting worse."

i felt a sense of helplessness wash over me as i listened to her. "oh, jem..." i whispered, holding her closer. "how'd you get here? do your parents know you're here?"

she looked down at the ground. "no...my parents have been arguing all the time. i couldn't bear to be in the house."

i felt a pang of sadness in my chest. i had no idea her home life was falling apart. "let's find you a doctor, yeah?"

"i don't want to see a doctor." she mumbled.

i frowned and placed a hand on her chin, tilting her face up to look at me. "jem, you look ill. you need to see a doctor. they might be able to prescribe you something to help with the nausea."

her chin trembled as fresh tears welled up in her eyes. i could sense that she was scared and feeling isolated. i wrapped an arm around her tightly and pulled her into my side.

"it's going to be alright, hm? everything will work out okay." i reassured her as i caressed her silky hair.

TOTAL HEALTH & WELLNESS MEDICAL CENTER
new york, new york
9:30pm

after much coaxing, i managed to convince jemma to see a doctor. i drove us to the total health & wellness medical center, which luckily had a 24-hour clinic. it was late, but i wanted to get jemma checked out as soon as possible.

we checked in at the reception desk and waited patiently in the brightly lit waiting room. it wasn't too crowded, for which i was grateful. i continued to soothe jemma, holding her hand and whispering words of reassurance.

a short while later, a nurse called out jemma's name.

she stood up but still looked scared. i stood up with her and gave her an encouraging smile. "it's going to be okay, kid." i said warmly, guiding her towards the nurse.

the nurse led us down a hallway and into an exam room. they weighed jemma, took her blood pressure, and other standard check-up procedures.

"the doctor will be right in." the nurse said with a small smile before leaving the room, closing the door behind her.

i quickly pulled out my flip phone and began dialing my brother's number. the phone rang a few times before my brother, dakota, picked up.

"jamie?" he said, his voice thick with sleep.

"yeah, it's me." i replied, trying to keep my voice calm.

"what's up?" he said, sounding groggy.

"your daughter quite literally showed up at my doorstep." i informed him. "did you not know she left your house?" i asked, a bit worried.

"she's in new york? jesus, i had no clue." he groaned on the other end of the line. "yeah, she's staying with her mom...since the divorce has been getting finalized they moved in with diana's mom." he said referring to diana as his soon to be ex wife.

"she showed up at my place not feeling well." i explained.

"what do you mean not feeling well?" he asked, a hint of concern in his voice.

"she was sitting on my steps, and she said she's been experiencing nausea for the past week, and it's gotten worse. she even looks pale." i informed him, rubbing jemma's back as she sat quietly on the exam bed.

there was a moment of silence on the other end of the line before he spoke again. "where are you? i'm on my way now."

"the total health and wealth medical center, but by the time you come to new york we should be back in my place." i said as jemma fidgeted with the hem of her tee shirt. "that is if this doctor will ever come on." i muttered, i was tired.

just then i heard a voice from behind me, "dr. wright at your service..." a male voice said jokingly as he closed the door. "sorry for the wait." he said as he looked at me.

i turned around to see the doctor, who introduced himself as dr. wright, enter the room and take a look at jemma. he looked to be about my age if not slightly older, but his dirty blonde hair was messy and curly paired with a boyish smile.

"and what seems to be the issue tonight, young lady?" he asked as he approached us.

i hung up with my brother and put my attention on the handsome doctor in front of me.

"i feel sick. like, constantly nauseous all the time, and i don't have any appetite for food." jemma said quietly.

the doctor took a closer look at her, checking her eyes, skin, and listening to her heart. he asked her some more questions about her symptoms and how long she has been feeling this way. i couldn't help but keep sneaking glances at the doctor. he was undeniably attractive.

"and i take it you're mom?" dr. wright said randomly as he scanned her chart.

i chuckled slightly before i realized he was talking to me. i shook my head and said, "nope, i'm her aunt."

he looked up, his blue eyes meeting mine for a moment. there was something about his gaze that made me feel a little fluttery inside. i quickly collected myself and focused on jemma.

"ah, i see." he said with a nod. he looked at jemma for a moment before turning his attention back to the chart. "any other symptoms, or just the nausea and lack of appetite?" he asked as he scribbled something down.

jemma shook her head. "no, that's it. just feel like puking all the time."

dr. wright nodded. "okay, we'll run a few tests to see if we can get to the bottom of it." he looked at jemma before a nurse walked in. "ah, this is renee, she'll take you to the scans." dr. wright said as he helped jemma get down. "take good care of miss. jemma."

"of course, doctor." the nurse, renee, said with a smile as she led jemma out of the room.

as the door closed i was left alone with the doctor. i hadn't realized i was still holding my breath until i exhaled deeply.

dr. wright let out a soft chuckle as he observed my anxiousness. "she'll be okay." he said, his voice warm and reassuring.

i took another deep breath and nodded. "yeah, i know...i'm just worried."

"it's completely natural to be worried." he said as he sat down in his chair, turning it to face me. "it's quite admirable how you take care of her."

i felt my cheeks flush at his compliment. "it's the least i can do. her parents are going through a divorce, so i just want to make sure she's okay." i said quietly.

his smile faded slightly and his expression took on a more serious tone. "i'm sorry to hear that. must be tough on her."

i nodded and leaned back against the wall, my eyes fixed on him. there was something about his caring demeanor that was quite attractive.

"i'm sure it is, she's a tough girl though." i said with a smile as i thought about how much i saw of myself in her.

"ah, i don't doubt that." the doctor said with a small nod. he leaned back in his chair and studied me for a moment. his eyes flickered across my face, lingering on my eyes and lips for a moment longer than necessary, before returning to my gaze. it made me feel slightly flustered. "so what do you do for a living miss?"

"boyd. jamie boyd." i said with a nod. "i'm a teacher."

his eyes widened slightly and a small smile tugged at the corner of his lips. "a teacher, huh? you look awfully young to be a teacher." he commented, his tone playful.

"now you think i look young? just a moment ago you thought i was the mother to a seventeen year old." i said jokingly.

he chuckled at that. "ah, a quick wit. i like that." his gaze fell to my left hand, studying it for a moment. "no wedding ring...if you don't mind me asking, are you married?" he asked casually.

i couldn't help but feel my heart skip a beat at his question. it wasn't often that a man would ask such blunt questions.

"no, i'm single." i replied, my voice a bit more shaky than intended.

"that's surprising." he murmured under his breath, seemingly to himself.

"what's that supposed to mean?" i said in a defensive tone. my heart was still racing, but now i was a little bit flustered.

he raised his eyebrows at my reaction, a hint of amusement in his eyes. "i didn't mean it as an insult, sorry." he said with a smile. "i just meant, you're very pretty...it's hard to believe a guy hasn't snatched you up yet."

his comment caught me off guard. i felt my cheeks flush at his words, and i felt a small smile tug at my lips. "oh." i said simply. "well, not every guy is looking for a relationship."

he leaned forward in his chair, his smile widening. "and what about you, miss boyd? are you looking for a relationship?"

i was taken aback by the abruptness of his question. i could feel the heat rising to my cheeks as he looked at me intently, waiting for an answer. "i...i'm not sure." i admitted, shifting my weight slightly.

he raised an eyebrow at my answer. "not sure?" he repeated, curiosity piqued.

"not sure." i repeated.

he smiled slyly. "well, miss boyd...may i give you some advice?" he asked as he leaned forward in his chair.

i nodded slightly, suddenly feeling a bit breathless. "let's hear it."

he paused for a moment, his eyes never leaving my face as he spoke. "don't be afraid to take chances...don't let fear hold you back."

his words echoed in my mind as i watched him, the intensity in his gaze making my heart race. "if i didn't know better, i'd think you were telling me to take a chance on you." i said with raised eyebrows.

he chuckled. "maybe i am." he replied smoothly, his eyes still fixed on mine.

i felt a flutter in my stomach. the fact that he was blatantly flirting with me was both attractive and slightly unnerving.

"maybe i'll just take you up on that offer. if and only if you fix my jemma." i said.

he smirked at my response, clearly enjoying the challenge. "you have a deal." he said as he stood up from his chair. "i'll go check on her tests, and we'll go from there."

with that, he walked out of the room, leaving me standing there with a mixture of anticipation and nerves.

~~

after what felt like an eternity, dr. wright finally returned to the exam room. he closed the door behind him and leaned against it, his expression unreadable.

"so, how is she?" i asked anxiously, unable to read the situation based on his facial expression.

"well...i have some good news and bad news." he replied, a hint of worry creeping into his tone.

my heart skipped a beat at his words. "what is it?" i asked, my voice shaky.

he crossed his arms over his chest. "the good news is the tests don't show anything too concerning, she's fine, physically."

i let out a sigh of relief. "but...?" i prompted, sensing there was more to the story.

he paused, clearly choosing his words carefully. "the bad news is...there's a possibility it's not physical at all. the symptoms she's experiencing, the nausea, lack of appetite, are all associated with high levels of emotional stress."

i felt my stomach drop at his words. "emotional stress...?" i repeated, feeling a sense of dread wash over me. "are you saying...she's not physically ill, but it's all because of the situation with her parents?"

dr. wright nodded gravely. "yes. it's called psychosomatic symptoms, when your thoughts and emotions have a physical effect on your health. it's fairly common in teenagers."

i let out a deep, shaky breath. the idea that jemma's condition was being caused by her emotional state was painful to hear. "so what can we do?" i asked quietly.

he crossed his arms over his chest again. "well, there are a few things you can try. firstly, encouraging her to open up and talk about her feelings can be a huge help. also making sure she has a supportive environment and plenty of emotional outlets. exercise, yoga, art, music, anything that can help her express herself and release some stress. it might also be beneficial to have her see a therapist or counselor to help her cope with the trauma of her parents' divorce."

i nodded slowly, taking in his words. it was a lot to process, but i knew i had to do whatever i could to help jemma. "okay, i'll do all of that."

"good." he said firmly as he pushed himself away from the door. "i'm going to prescribe her some light anti-nausea medication for the time being, but i'd suggest making her an appointment with a therapist as soon as possible."

"done and done." i said, knowing i'd fill my brother in on everything.

he smiled, clearly pleased with my response. "good. then i think we're all set here." he said as he handed me the prescription.

but before he could turn to leave, i spoke up. "wait, one more thing..."

he raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised by my sudden request. "yes?" he asked, a hint of curiosity in his tone.

"i'd say you helped." i said with a small grin.

he chuckled, clearly amused by my words. "i guess i did, didn't i?" he replied, a hint of pride in his voice.

"that means...i think you owe me one." i said as i took a step towards him.

his smile widened. "owe you one, huh? oh that's right! dinner, on me?" he asked, his tone teasing.

i smirked. "that's the deal. and i'm holding you to it." i said firmly. "how about tomorrow night?"

he looked at me for a moment, sizing me up. "you've got yourself a date. how about eight? i can get us in at the little bistro downtown."

i felt a flutter in my stomach at his words. "perfect." i replied with a grin. "i'll see you tomorrow night, doctor wright."

he chuckled. "call me duncan. eight o'clock sharp, i'll pick you up."

i nodded as i wrote my address on a nearby notecard and handed it to him. "see you then, duncan."

he pocketed the card and gave me a smile. "looking forward to it, jamie. goodnight." with that, he headed out the door.

i led jemma out of the medical center, arm around her shoulders. as soon as we were outside, i turned to her and hugged her tightly. "you okay?" i asked softly, running my hand over her hair.

she nodded silently, her head pressed against my chest. i could feel her slender frame trembling slightly, a mix of exhaustion and stress getting to her. i kissed the top of her head and held her tighter.

"i love you, kiddo." i murmured into her hair. she wrapped her arms around my waist, holding on like she was clinging to a lifeline.

i could feel her take a shaky breath, and i knew she was fighting back tears. i held her for a moment longer before gently pulling back to look at her face. "everything's going to be okay, you know that right?"

she looked up at me with tear-filled eyes, but she nodded. "i know." she said quietly. "thanks for being here."

i gave her a soft smile and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "i'll always be here for you, no matter what, okay?"

she nodded again and wiped her eyes with the back of her sleeve. "yeah, okay." she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "i love you auntie."

"and i love you, honey." i said, my heart aching for her. i took a deep breath and kissed her forehead. "come on, let's get on home so you can get some rest."

~~

a/n

you all will love jemma i promise...and possibly hate jemma's mom!