Bliss

Disclaimer: this is an A/U adaptation and is based loosely on Goong; I do not own the plot or the manhwa. I also do not own the sailor moon characters or any real locations, quotes, real fashion brands, real food or buildings that might appear in this story.

Summary: Due to a promise made between the late multi-billionaire business king of Seattle and an ordinary, strong-willed girl's grandfather, Serenity Jack finds herself betrothed to a seemingly cold-hearted business man. Both unwilling parties agree to the marriage, each with his and her own different motivations for the agreement to marry. Can love bloom under the strain of love rivals and business ambitions?

This fan fiction is set in an A.U. and will not hold many similarities with the standard sailor moon anime/ manga. Personalities will remain similar but I reserve the right to be creative with my story, there are no monsters and no sailor senshi (soldiers). Also, Serena's height will be different. Please be open while you read and enjoy the story. Also keep in mind that even though the year and time may be current, the happenings in the story are different from our reality.

-June 19th 2009-

Darien Column struggled to make sense of the information he was being given. "Do you realize what this means?" he asked his father angrily.

"I do, son, but that was the agreement, you must marry this Serenity Jack or your will forfeit your inheritance as well as your position as head of Column Industries," his father said.

Darien hit his fist into his office desk and glowered at his father. "I will not marry a woman I have never met. I refuse to be forced into marriage, especially one to a stranger," he gritted out briskly.

His father, Aiden Column, simply shrugged his shoulders in response, "I can't do anything about it," he said indifferently, "Your grandfather was very particular about promises and keeping them. There are strict guidelines son, which if not followed to a T will ensure that our wealth goes immediately to your cousin and aunt."

"Impossible!" Darien couldn't believe what he was hearing. He straightened up from the desk and slowly began to think, there had to be a way out. "We have the best lawyers in the country father; someone must be capable of breaking a will made by a dying eighty nine year old man."

"And yet all the lawyers are unable to do so."

"I will not agree to it." He said decidedly.

"Then shall we be paupers?" the words were meant as a question but they escaped with more bite than Aiden had intended. This situation was one he had no desire to be in; he wanted his son to understand the significance of their problem. "Unless you can find a replacement, you must marry this Serenity girl. The will states that if you are married before the eighteenth of the next month, it will become void. We will retain our wealth, but you must be wed by that date."

"Done."

Aiden chuckled, "You have a girl?"

Darien mimicked his father's chuckle. "I do," he answered, "and she will agree to the marriage."

The older Column leaned back into his office chair, "And what makes you so sure, that she will agree?"

Darien grinned, "I know the girl I am choosing, and she loves me. She will marry me."

Aiden found himself rolling his eyes at his son's naivety; he still believed love was enough. Well, a world like the one we live in will do quick work of your belief he thought bitterly. "See that she does son and be sure this girl can fit into our family, that she can become a proper Column bride." When his son nodded his agreement Aiden stood to leave, "Do not disappoint me," he said lastly before he moved out the room and shut the office door behind him. There is no room for failure.

-June 25th 2009-

Despite the hot, Thursday morning dozens of council members worked hurriedly to place together the festival scene. A number of students blew on balloons while some worked to set up games while others efficiently set and decked out tables with colorful decorations. They worked diligently and cheerfully, grins high on every face. Their energy was born from the knowledge that today would be the biggest festival their school, Braythorne High had ever had. In the centre of it all was school council president, Mara Daye. She remained composed throughout the numerous questions from the students regarding the many preparations the long awaited day had brought. Calmly she delegated the tasks out to the other council members before she moved to complete her own responsibilities.

With a streamer in hand, she reached to hang it on the nail that would hold it, but she found her four foot eleven frame was lacking. She looked around the grounds of the soccer field to see if any help was available but every person was busy with some kind of task. Already on a ladder, she rested her hands on her waist contemplating what to do. Almost deciding to wait and ask someone else to do it she smiled when the face and five foot five frame of her long time friend came into view. Relieved, she called out. "Ren, please come give me a hand with theses streamers? I can't reach." When her friend did not reply, Mara called out once more, "Please hurry Serena!"

Serena "Ren" Jack ran up to her friend grudgingly. She had just received a poor grade on a math test when most of the class had received exceptional marks. To top it off there was the stupid festival. She did not have the slightest interest in the festival nor the man they were putting it up for. Nonetheless, she bent down and allowed Mara a lift on her shoulders. "Better?"

Moving off of Serena's shoulders and then the ladder, Mara adjusted her thin glasses and grinned, "Much better, thank you."

"I don't understand the fuss," said an irritated Serena, "I mean, so what if he donated a couple thousands to the school, doesn't he get it back in taxes?"

Mara shook her head and moved to gather more streamers. "No, three hundred thousand is far more than 'a couple' and the festival is to thank him for his generosity. He may receive some tax respite, but he will never get the full amount back."

Serena spread her arms wide, lying down on the fields grass, she frowned. The talk of taxes was bringing the math test back to mind, she had promised her mother a good mark. What would she say when she saw her grade? Serena licked her lips, which she did whenever she was anxious. "Whatever," she said dismissively. Deciding to ignore the test for as long as possible, she played idly with the streamers and finally she let out the thought that had been playing around in her mind for the past week. "Doesn't it seem odd to you Mara? That a business man that lives in a big city like Seattle would come to our little Braythorne and donate money to one of the most inconsequential schools in the country?"

Mara sighed, "Why can't you just accept his actions as his goodness?"

Serena smiled in response. "No one is ever that good," she answered. "It's like Gramps says, 'don't let yo' self be fooled so easy girly, there's more than meets the eye'."

At the mention of her friend's grandfather, a fond smile found its way to Mara's fair face. She had come to respect the elderly farmer because of his wisdom and kindness and the way he treated her not as his granddaughter's friend but as a family member. "Your grandfather is a wonderful man, but I'm afraid I must counter his words with a quote from U.S poet and lecturer Ralph Waldo Emerson: 'Trust men and they will be true to you; treat them greatly and they will show themselves great.' What I mean to say is you should give him a chance."

"It amazes me," Serena said thoughtfully, "that you have mastered all the subjects yet you still make time to memorize quotes and read." Serena looked to her friend and smiled playfully before saying, "Mara, I think you are endangering your intelligence by being my friend"

Mara stuck out her tongue and laughed. "Whatever Serena!" she said jokingly, "I believe someday my habits will rub off on you."

"Sure," Serena mumbled back, her mouth as always, was full. Nervousness had taken over her and seeking comfort, she had reached into her lunch bag and found some ramen noodles that her mother had packed for her and now she busied herself with eating them.

Mara rolled her eyes before she turned from her friend and began to take in the grounds where the festival would be held that afternoon. She let her hands fall to her hips as she surveyed the decorations that she and the student council had been meticulously working on since news of the Column's visit had arrived. It was almost finished, but something was missing. The poster! "Hey Serena…"

Serena flinched. "Yes Mara… what do you want?"

"I need to stay here because the principle is supposed to check on the decorations and preparations that I've made." Serena nodded already aware of the situation. "But I forgot the thank-you poster the council made in my locker." Mara continued hesitantly, "… would you mind grabbing it for me?"

Serena sighed and placed the ramen bowl to the side. "I could do it if you absolutely needed it."

Mara smiled. She felt bad for having to ask the favor from her friend, but the Column's were due to arrive in five hours. She still had much to do before the principle arrived, and she had to finish the preparations as well as her council duties before her classes started later that day. Mara knew that when she had a chance she would repay her friend for the favor. "I need it," she answered, biting her lip guiltily.

Serena groaned, "All right!" she said standing up, "but you better watch my ramen."

"Promise," Mara said seriously.

Serena frowned playfully, "sometimes I wonder about you, so irresponsible!" she threw her friend a cheeky grin before moving into a brisk walk and then a jog towards the direction of the aged lockers. Mara stood shaking her head with her hands still placed tightly on her hips. She giggled as she thought to herself how interesting life was with Serena in it.

Serena skipped down the dingy, humid hallways of her school, Mara's poster tucked safely beneath her arm. Sipping on a cup of orange juice, she turned into the corner that led to the grounds where the festival would be but stopped abruptly when she felt a hard body bump into her. The cup had slipped out of her hand and poured on her and the person before her. She immediately began to apologize, "I'm so sorry…" she started, but stopped when she looked at the body, the man she had spilt the juice on. He looked pissed. I've done it this time! She thought to herself worriedly. Not only had she run into and splattered juice all over an angry man, she had stumbled onto an intimidating man that looked very capable of hurting her without exerting much effort. "Look sir," she tried again, "I really didn't mean to be in your way, I spilt the juice accidentally."

The man's brows furrowed and his firm looking jaw took on an angry set, "But you did," he answered irately. "Do you have any idea how expensive this shirt is? Do you know how impossible it will be for me to get another one in such short notice?"

Serena pulled her eyes from his face. "It was an accident," she said apologetically. She really did feel bad for ruining his shirt, but she also didn't know if she was the only one to blame. He was equally as responsible as she was, but she thought it wise just to apologize and then move out of his way; she didn't want trouble. She offered him another apology and started to leave. "If you'll excuse me," she started, "I have to deliver something to a friend."

"Oh and what would that be?" he said the question rather than asked it. She tried to move around him but he still refused to budge.

Finally Serena answered him, "It's a poster for the festival we're having this afternoon."

Before she knew what was happening the man had reached over and snatched the poster from underneath her arm. He held it up, "You mean this poster right?"

"You jerk!" Serena spat at him, "Give me back my poster. I already apologized to you."

"Well," he said coolly, his dark blue eyes never leaving her lighter ones, "I don't think that's good enough. Give me something in return for it, maybe a new shirt" he demanded, "or I will rip it to shreds."

Serena laughed nonchalantly and threw her hands up. "Try me!" she cried, calling his bluff. What she never expected was that he would carry it out. Frozen where she stood, she watched helplessly as he bit into the poster and ripped it mercilessly.

Mara's poster was gone; it had been destroyed by this stupid bastard. "You violent man," she yelled at him, "You ripped a poster because of a shirt! I can't imagine the woman who'll date, let alone marry you. I pity her because she'd have to be pretty desperate to willingly put up with you, not to mention all of your crap!"

He smirked, "Who said anything about marriage?"

Serena felt flustered, that last part really hadn't been in context. "Well" she said regaining her composure, "You certainly look old enough to be married, and yet you're here bullying a school girl. It doesn't show you have character and definitely no respect for women. What you did now proves just how selfish and horrible of a person you are!"

The man threw the remains of the poster to the ground and shrugged. "Don't worry about it," he said coolly, his eyes shooting her a chilling glare, "I'll be fine as long a bitch like you doesn't marry me!"

"You know what?" Serena asked inching towards him, "You're disgusting."

He laughed humorlessly, "Oh princess, so are you." He looked to his watch as though he were bored with the girl. When he spoke to her again his tone was uninterested, "Next time make sure you watch where you're going." And without a second glance to her or the massacred poster, he walked past her.

When he had left Serena bent to the floorboards and looked hopelessly down at the ripped pieces of poster paper that lay on the ground. In her mind raced two thoughts, one was that she wished she would never again see that man and the second; how would she explain this to Mara?

-Until next time…

Life is Bliss…

Hey this is Analynn! What do you think of the story so far? I have the best beta in the world and I want to thank her for all that she has done for this story! I cannot even begin to tell you all how grateful I am to SilverRay. She hasn't just been my beta but a great mentor! I also want to recognize MoonlightMaiden14 because she did beta the story too, thank you guys so much! Anyway, I am a huge fan of reviews. Check in and let me know what you think! (I accept ideas for future chapters; leave them in your reviews or PM them to me).

Hugs and jasmine kisses,

Analynn