Author's Notes: You know how excited I am for this story? Well I'm so excited for this story that when I went to work on one of the other stories that I need to update, I sat and stared at it for a few minutes before closing out of the document and opening this one. It also helped that I got all of these reviews for it! You guys are absolutely the best! So big hugs and thanks to:

Newcomer – Thanks for being the first review! I'm hoping this story goes well too. Thanks for your review!

Guest

raye85 – Thanks for your review! You shall see what he means by his dark side soon.

PoisonIvy89 – Thanks for your review! You know I've been playing with doing Sailor Moon inspired Beauty and the Beast fanfic for a while, but I never got around to it. I hope you like it!

LoveInTheBattleField

Guest

nickybluejess

alitre

For reviewing the first chapter. You guys have no idea how much it means to me. I was literally the happiest person last week when I kept getting e-mails in my inbox with new reviews. I hope you guys like this chapter!

Disclaimer: I don't own Sailor Moon. I don't own the song "Trespassing" by Adam Lambert. This story is rated M for a reason, although it's mostly for dark themes and violence in this chapter. Now on with chapter one!


House on a Hill

By: afallenblackrose

Chapter One:

To Capture a Queen

"Make their faces crack, crack
There's no turning back
Let's go
Well, I was walking for sometime
When I came across this sign
Saying who are you and where are you from?
We don't like when visitors come
No trespassing that's what it said
At least that's what I could read
No trespassers! Yeah my ass
Wait 'til ya get a load of me"
~Trespassing ~Adam Lambert


Three years had passed since the witch had come into his home and cursed him. Three long years in which he had tried to find a woman to love him, but after the third, he had given up and thrown himself into his work. He was achieving his dream of creating Chiba Corporation into the biggest business ever. The curse, while at first had been a burden, was an asset when it came to the boardroom. Instead of people talking down to him because he was young, people had come to fear him. And hey, it wasn't his fault that some of the CEO's of companies he had acquired had gone missing and left their companies to him…

He grinned a feral smile into the mirror and watched with fascination as his eyes turned pitch black. Sometimes they did that now, and if anyone had been watching him for the last three years, they would know that when his eyes turned this dark he was plotting something, or he was about to unleash his inner beast. This time though he was planning something. He had his eye on one last company, the one that would take his over the top – Tsukino Incorporated. He didn't see there being too much of a problem acquiring it. The CEO - Kenneth Tsukino - had fallen into some dark times himself over the last few years, the only difference was, was that he was taking his company with him. All Endymion had to do was offer just the right amount of money, and Tsukino Inc. would be his.

And yes, his fellow friends didn't understand why he was putting so much time into his work, when as of August this year it would all be over. On August third, it would be his twenty-sixth birthday – the rose the witch had gave him would lose its last petal and the curse would complete. He would die. But he had to do it. If he didn't, his mind would dwell on things he couldn't change.


Kenneth Tsukino was exiting the elevator in the parking garage when a black limousine pulled up in front of him. The window rolled down, but he couldn't see who was inside, it was just too dark.

"Mr. Tsukino," a cool voice said from the shadows. "Why don't you hop in? I believe I have something quite intriguing for us to discuss." The door popped open, but he didn't go inside. Even though he had been troubled of late, he knew better than to hop into a limo with a mysterious person. "Really, Kenneth," the voice said amused this time. "I don't have all day."

"Who are you?" He asked.

"Ah, I'm Endymion Chiba, now will you please come inside? The next time I ask, it won't be so nicely." Kenneth was shocked, and slid into the limo, the door closing behind him. What could Endymion Chiba possibly want with him?

"So, Mr. Chiba," he said. "What do I owe this impromptu meeting?"

"I'll cut right to the chase, Kenneth. I want Tsukino Inc. and I will pay you handsomely for it."

"I'm sorry, but my company isn't for sale."

"Not even for five hundred million?"

Kenneth's face paled. Did he just say five hundred million? How was it possible he could offer him so much? Were the rumors really true? Was Endymion Chiba really that wealthy? "N-no," he stuttered. "Not even for that."

The raven-haired man sat forward his dark eyes staring at him as his index finger and thumb rubbed his chin. He was in deep thought. "You know, I'm surprised, Kenneth. From what I've read about you in the papers lately, I thought you would have jumped at the offer. Five hundred million, that's enough to fund not only your recreational drug habit, but your female escort habit as well. Not to mention, you wouldn't have to answer as CEO for a company…" Endymion trailed off as he watched the other man's face pale more. Ah. He hadn't thought anyone knew about his recreational activities outside of work. It was amazing what one could find if they hired the right people.

"H-how did you know about that?"

Endymion smirked as he handed over an envelope. "I investigate every CEO whose company I'm interested in, just in case they prove less than…accommodating during negotiations."

Kenneth opened the envelope that he had been handed and his eyes widened. Sure enough, inside were pictures of him in the company of different women… He looked up and said with a steady voice. "What exactly are you telling me here, Mr. Chiba?"

"I'm telling you that if you don't take the five hundred million, which really is a generous offer, those pictures in your hand will not only find their way into the hands of your board of directors, but to the media as well. So what do you say, Kenneth? Do we have a deal?" He smiled, sensing that he was close to victory. There was no way that Mr. Tsukino could say no.

Kenneth sighed and closed the envelope. "I'm afraid, Mr. Chiba that there is no deal," he said and watched as the raven-haired man's eyebrows rose in surprise before creasing in anger. "Yes, I know, think about what I'm doing, and that's the thing, I am. Your investigation into my activity was smart, but you're lacking some important information."

"And what would that be?" Endymion asked through gritted teeth. He had hired his best investigator on this case. There was no way that he was going to screw this up. So what had his investigator missed?

"You're making this deal to the wrong person," Kenneth replied. "For you see, Mr. Chiba, I was ousted as CEO two months ago for these activities that you are trying to hold over me as leverage."

"And who is this new CEO?"

"My daughter, Serenity."


Serenity Tsukino was having a horrible morning. Her alarm hadn't gone off that morning, and by the time she realized that she was sleeping in way past her alarm, she was already over twenty minutes late. Meaning that her outfit that morning had been hastily grabbed from the closet and put on while she had brushed her hair into an extremely high, and tight, pony tail. There was no time for makeup if she wanted to have her usual morning cup of coffee, so she had forgone it – besides she looked better au natural than most women did anyway. Besides the caffeine was going to be needed if what her glance at the schedule last night had been any indication.

The CEO of Reynolds Limited was her first meeting, and she cursed herself for being late. This CEO – Diamond Reynolds - was already looking for a reason that would show to her board of directors why she was a horrible CEO, and really she couldn't blame the guy, but he was being an absolute ass. It wasn't like she had asked for this position.

In fact, two months ago, she had been working her way through the final semester of her senior year of college. She was going to graduate in April with a degree in English. She was not cut out for the business world, she had known that for years. She had seen what it had done to her father, and she wanted nothing to do with it. That's why she had been shocked when the head of her father's board of directors called her one night and told her that something was wrong and that she needed to come home. It turned out her father had been squandering his company, instead of focusing on work, he had a drug problem and the board wanted him out. But the company had to stay within the family. The board knew that Serena wanted nothing to do with the company, but they were desperate. So, she had done the unthinkable and said yes.

Now, two months later, she was regretting her decision. Especially when she realized that because of the transition of power, a lot of other companies were gunning for hers. Trying to merge together, and cast her out. The CEO she was seeing today, Diamond, was no exception.

Although in one way he was different. Before becoming CEO of his company, Diamond and her had grown up together, her father had taken him under his wing and dotted on him because he was the son he never had. There was even talk, that at a later age, he would have loved to see Diamond and Serenity marry. Serenity had scoffed at the idea ever since, but Diamond hadn't. His attempts to woo her had dissipated when she was away for school, but once he realized that she had returned, as the CEO of her father's company no less, they had escalated.

Serenity blew through the office and stopped at her secretary's desk. "Any calls? Messages? Cancellations?" She asked the woman behind the desk, trying to keep the hope out of her voice on the last option. But the woman – a blonde who could easily be mistaken for her sister – Mina heard it anyway.

"Unfortunately, no," she replied. "He's still coming, in fact he called up. He's on his way."

"Great," Serenity moaned and made her way into her office. She went through her messages and drank her cup of coffee as she waited for the worst person ever to show up. As she went through them though, she started to notice a pattern. She had five messages from a man named Endymion Chiba. The name sounded familiar to her, but she just didn't know why. The reason was on her brain and she was just about to grasp it when…

"Mr. Reynolds is here, Serenity," Mina said on the intercom.

She sighed, "Send him in." The door to her office opened and she watched as the man who was intent on making her life a living hell walked in. Diamond Reynolds was tall, around six four, with blonde hair that almost looked white, and the strangest thing of all, he had violet eyes. If she hadn't known this guy's personality, she would have thought – Damn, he looks nice in a suit – but she knew. He was so egotistical that any attraction that she felt disappeared.

"Serenity," he said as he took a seat in front of her desk.

"Diamond," she replied. "So care to tell me why you have scheduled yet another meeting with me in less that two weeks?"

"The same reason as before. I still believe it will be in Tsukino Inc's interest to merge with Reynolds Limited. We could do so much for each other."

"And like I've told you before, I don't see how. The only thing I see is another male CEO trying to swindle me out of my family's company because I'm female." She sat back in her chair, knowing that the expression on her face was one of anger. He looked back at her with a smug expression on his face.

"Oh, Serenity," he said in a condescending tone that pissed her off even more. "We're not trying to swindle you out of your father's company. We just believe that we can do a better job. Besides, Serenity, weren't you getting a degree in something frivolous anyway?"

"Frivolous?" She repeated and couldn't take it anymore. She stood up from her desk and stalked to the door, opening it with enough force that it slammed back and bounced off the wall. "You know what's frivolous, is this conversation. So if you wouldn't mind I have some serious work to do."

"Now, Serenity," Diamond said standing up. "Don't be like this. It's just a natural fact that women just can't handle the business world, like men can. I mean, honestly, you were going into something other than business for a reason, weren't you?"

"Yes, there were many reasons," she said stalking out of her office and to Mina's desk. She reached beneath the desk and flung at him several ring boxes, a box of chocolates, and a box, whose contents made her angrier than the others, at him. He hadn't been expecting it and fumbled with each throw. "One of which was I was trying to get the hell away from you. If you come here again, Diamond, I will personally have security throw you on your ass."

"You're making a mistake, Serenity," he said, his voice a low growl. "You shouldn't be in this position. You should be at home reading those books you love so much, keeping a household and taking care of kids."

"Oh no, he didn't," she was vaguely aware of Mina saying from beside her. The blood in her veins was pumping loudly and she was seeing red. She was notoriously known for having a short temper, and Diamond knew that. So what had that imbecile done? He was trying to get a rise out of her. But what he hadn't planned on was that he was going to not only get a rise out of her, he was going to get a black eye too. And considering how pissed off she was, she was also contemplating making it impossible for him to have children.

"And let me guess, if you had your way, Mr. Reynolds," she seethed. "It would be your house and your children I would be taking care of. Right?"

"Well, Serenity, you know how I've felt about you since we were kids…" he trailed off as Mina shook her head.

"Wrong answer," she whispered but Serenity didn't hear her. The anger had finally boiled over.

She took a threatening step forward and threw back her fist before she threw it forward, right into his nose. She heard a satisfying crunch of cartilage before she lowered her fist. Diamond was hunched over, blood dripping from his nose in rivers staining the shirt he wore underneath his suit jacket.

"You bitch!" He exclaimed. "You broke my nose!"

She scoffed. "Your lucky that's all I broke, now get the hell out of my building before I make it so that you never burden this world with any offspring. Actually, I should do that anyway. Save civilization from living that nightmare." She took a threatening step forward, but he took the hint and made his way toward the elevator.

"You're going to regret this!" He shouted over his shoulder.

"I doubt it," she whispered and turned to walk back into her office. She called to Mina, "If another male CEO who wants to merge his company with mine comes in for a meeting, don't let him in. I've had about my fair share of masochistic assholes for the day." She closed the door to her office and all but threw herself into her chair. God, she thought that she was getting better with her anger management, but damn. Diamond just knew which buttons to push…


Endymion Chiba admitted to himself that he had only been surprised once in his life before Kenneth Tsukino told him that his daughter was now CEO of the company he needed to complete his monopoly. He wasn't a person who got surprised often. He liked knowing how things were going to go, he even skipped ahead to the endings of books just so he knew how things were going to end before he even began to read. That's why, when Kenneth had told him that his daughter was now the CEO of Tsukino Inc., he had been surprised and instantly intrigued. He had called multiple times following his meeting, but the woman had yet to return his phone calls and that only fueled his curiosity.

That's why he had gone down to her offices, to not only sneak a peak at this mysterious woman, but also to figure out what this woman was about. He walked out of the elevator and found the CEO's office with ease. The blonde at the desk outside looked at him,

"May I help you?" She asked.

"Is Ms. Tsukino in?"

"I'm afraid that she's in a meeting," she said. "But if you have a seat, she'll see you when she's done, Mr.?"

"Chiba. Endymion Chiba."

The eyes on the secretary's face widened in recognition of the name, and he smirked as he took a seat wondering how long her meeting was going to take. But he didn't have to wonder long as the door to the CEO's office opened with a bang and an angry voice sifted out, "You know what's frivolous, is this conversation. So if you wouldn't mind I have some serious work to do." Endymion looked up in interest, the voice sounding melodic; almost as if it was his siren's song.

A man appeared in the doorway saying something about how the woman shouldn't be acting like this and something sexist about women in the business world, which made Endymion scoff in indignation. Whoever this guy was, he was obviously an idiot and as he took a closer look knew whom it was. Diamond Reynolds, the CEO of Reynolds Limited. Well, that sure explained a lot.

The mysterious CEO appeared stalking out of her office and his breath instantly left him. He should have known when he heard her voice that she would be an absolute goddess. A petite woman with long golden blonde hair pulled back into a high ponytail, wearing a deep blue skintight dress with a gray cardigan and three inch black stilettos looked ready to kill. She stalked over to her secretary's desk and started throwing things at Diamond that he failed to catch. The tone of her voice was stern as she said to him, "One of which was I was trying to get the hell away from you. If you come here again, Diamond I will personally have security throw you on your ass."

"You're making a mistake, Serenity," he said, his voice a low growl. "You shouldn't be in this position. You should be at home reading those books you love so much, keeping a household and taking care of kids." Endymion drew in a sharp breath and shook his head as the secretary whispered, "Oh no, he didn't." How stupid was this guy anyway? Endymion was about to jump in between the two of them, and give this Diamond guy a piece of his mind when Serenity, who seemed to be brimming with anger, said very quietly,

"And let me guess, if you had your way, Mr. Reynolds," she seethed. "It would be your house and your children I would be taking care of. Right?"

"Well, Serenity, you know how I've felt about you since we were kids…" he trailed off as Mina shook her head. Endymion didn't blame her. This guy obviously hadn't realized the trap that the blonde had put him in.

"Wrong answer," the secretary said as Serenity stalked over to him and punched him in the face, breaking his nose.

That's my girl, Endymion couldn't help but think as the guy held his nose and then made his way to the elevators. He froze as the words played in his mind. My girl? He wondered and shook his head. The blonde turned to walk back into her office telling her secretary, "If another male CEO who wants to merge his company with mine comes in for a meeting, don't let him in. I've had about my fair share of assholes for the day." Before the door to her office slammed closed behind her.

Mina looked at him and said, "Um...I don't think she can meet with you, at the moment."

He stood up and smiled at the secretary. "It's fine. I got what I needed anyway." He walked away already dialing a number on his cell phone. He had definitely gotten what he came for, in fact, as he was waiting for the elevator he had come up with a plan to get not only the business but something else as well.


When he returned home, Kunzite was waiting for him. "Did you get what I asked for?" He asked.

"Yes, he's in the study." He followed him towards the room. "I'm taking it the meeting did not go well?"

"The meeting didn't go at all, but I did learn some interesting information about this Serenity Tsukino."

"And?"

"And I believe I have a plan to get us out of this, Kunzite," Endymion said with a smile before he walked into the study. And he had. The thing that he had realized while watching Serenity with Diamond was that she was the woman he wanted. She could even possibly be the woman that would break this curse. The only thing that he didn't know was whether or not she would be up for loving his darker side. The man who was sitting at his desk looked up at his entrance.

"Twice in one week, Mr. Chiba?" Kenneth said. "What could I possibly do for you this time?"

"Well, Kenneth, I have a plan to get your company, and you're going to help…" he said with a smirk as he sat down and explained what he wanted from the man.

"You're overestimating her love for me, Mr. Chiba."

"No, not her love for you, but her need to avoid bad press," he said and pushed the phone over to Kenneth so he could dial.


Serenity came home from work in a worse mood than when she had left that morning. She was still angry at Diamond for his comments that morning, and it had only gotten worse. She was called into a conference call later that afternoon with the members of the board, and they weren't too enthused with her actions. According to them, Diamond hadn't done anything to provoke her. Stupid Diamond, she thought in her head as she placed her keys on the kitchen table. Water droplets dripped onto the table, and she sighed. That was the other thing, she hadn't noticed when she left that morning, but it had been pouring all day.

"Hey, Sere," her roommate Lita greeted her from the kitchen as she slumped into a seat. "Uh…bad day?"

"The worst," she replied and flicked her wet ponytail over her shoulder. "Started with a late start, got worse because I had to meet with Diamond today, and ended with me getting caught in a rain storm. Remind me why I decided to have the driveway repaved today?"

"Because it was cracked in hundred different places and we didn't want to get sued," Lita said as she added some spices to the dish in front of her. "You know dinner isn't going to be ready for another few hours. Why don't you go get dry and comfortable?"

"Sounds good," she stood up and wondered up the stairs to her bedroom. She grabbed a change of clothes and a towel from the closet and began to towel dry her hair. She was in the middle of stripping off her dress when her cell phone began to chime for the bed. She picked it up, but the number on the screen was blocked.

"Hello?" She answered as she shimmied into a pair of medium washed skinny jeans.

"Ms Tsukino?" A cool silky voice said on the other end. She froze with the zipper to her jeans halfway done. That kind of voice just oozed with possibilities none of which had to deal with business… she shook her head.

"Yes, this is she."

"Hello, Ms. Tsukino this is Endymion Chiba calling. I hope this isn't a bad time?"

Endymion Chiba… the name sounded familiar to her and she realized she knew why. It was the name of the guy who had left her five messages yesterday and that she hadn't responded to. "Oh, right. Mr. Chiba, I'm sorry that I haven't had the time to return your calls."

He chuckled, "That's perfectly all right, but I'm afraid that this isn't about that. I actually have someone here who would like to say hello."

"Hi, Sere," her father's voice came on the line.

"Dad?" She asked in confusion. "What are you-?"

"It's a long story, Sere," he replied.

"Not really," Mr. Chiba interrupted. "I found your father in my home when I came back from work this evening."

Oh, shit, she thought. "I see. Dad, what happened?"

"I'll explain it to you later, dear. But for the moment, I find myself in need of a ride. Would you mind coming to get me?"

She sighed as she pulled on a pair of boots. "All right. Where are you?"


After taking down directions to Endymion Chiba's house, putting on a shirt, and telling Lita to keep dinner warm while she was getting her father, Serenity had been driving for over an hour when she finally pulled into the driveway. As she put the car in park, she looked up in awe at the sprawling mansion. She had been wondering while she was driving why someone would want to live so far away from the city, but as she continued to stare at the mansion, she could see why. There was no way a place like this would fit in the city. Rain continued to pound onto her windshield and she sighed as she pulled on her hood. Counting to three, she opened her car door, slipped out, slammed the door closed and made a run for the front door. As she approached the door opened and she zipped inside.

"Ms. Tsukino?" A male voice said as she bent over to catch her breath. She peered up from underneath her bangs and nodded her head to the platinum blonde man that was standing next to her. "We've been expecting you. Endymion and your father are waiting for you in the study." Serenity straightened and lowered her hood, following the man towards the study. He knocked gently on the door and the voice from the phone answered,

"Come in." The man opened the door for her and ushered her inside before he closed the door behind her. It took her a minute to gain her bearings and when she did, she had to remind herself not to allow her emotions to show. For sitting at the desk was Mr. Endymion Chiba or tall, dark, and handsome she couldn't help but think as she took in his appearance. Raven-black hair that begged to be tousled, deep azure blue eyes that in the light from the fireplace almost looked black, a mouth that promised it could do wicked things, and underneath the dark suit he was wearing she could tell that he was well sculpted. She maintained her poker face – one that would make even the most professional of poker players cry in admiration – as her gaze switched to the elder gentleman that was sitting across from him.

"Dad," she greeted with a stern voice. Her father stood with a sheepish grin and opened his arms for her. She approached him and hugged him briefly before stepping out of his arms. "Care to explain to me what exactly is going on here?"

"My car broke down and I couldn't get a signal so I started walking and came across Mr. Chiba's home. I rang the doorbell, but no one answered, so I tried the door to find it unlocked, so I came inside to escape the rain and to wait."

"And that's when I found him," the same silky voice from the phone said from behind her. She turned to look at him again and he came across from his seat with his hand outstretched to shake hers. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Ms. Tsukino."

She shook his offered hand, ignoring the jolt that went up her arm at his touch. "Call me Serenity, please, Mr. Chiba, and thank you for looking after him. I'm sorry if he caused you any trouble."

"Oh, it was no trouble at all, just quite a shock," he said with a smirk.

"I'm sure," she muttered and turned back to her father. "Are you ready to go? I believe we've taken up enough of Mr. Chiba's time."

"Hold on, Sere," her father said.

"Yes, listen to your father, Serenity. You've driven a long time to get here, have a seat and maybe I can talk to you about why I called you earlier." She bit her lip in annoyance. She just wanted to get her father out of here, drop him off at home and then go home and have a nice big glass of wine. Besides there was something about this Endymion Chiba that was making her nervous and if she stayed here who knows what she would end up agreeing to?

"C'mon, Sere, it's the least you can do," her father whispered in her ear.

"Fine," she sighed and took the proffered seat. Endymion went back to sit behind his desk and tried not to have his eyes linger too long on the woman in front of him. If he thought the dress that she had worn that morning was amazing, the black v-neck shirt she was wearing underneath her leather jacket with skinny jeans and high-heeled boots was just downright dangerous. "Now, why did you call me five times yesterday, Mr. Chiba?"

"Call me Endymion, please, and I'll cut right to it. I want your company."

She blinked for a second, before she began to stand. "C'mon, Dad, we're leaving."

"Now, Sere…" her father trailed off.

"Yes, Serenity, stay a moment more. You have yet to hear what I have to offer you for it," Endymion said in amusement.

"And why should I have to stay when I already know what you're going to try to offer me? In the last two months, Endymion, I have had to deal with twenty other CEOs who wanted my company. It's ridiculous, and I'm done. My company is not for sale." She was halfway out of the room when his cool voice stopped her in her tracks.

"If you don't listen to what I have to say, I will call the police and inform them that your father broke into my home. I'm sure the media would love to hear about the former CEO of Tsukino Inc. breaking into my home."

For the second time in less than twenty-four hours, she saw red. Her anger was boiling over in her veins and she knew that she wouldn't be as lucky as she had been with Diamond. This guy would probably hit her back if she even tried to punch him in the face. But there were other ways to get to him, she thought as her mind worked overtime.

She chuckled darkly, "How dumb do you think I am?"

"Excuse me?" He asked floored.

She turned around to face him and his breath was taken away when he saw the anger that was burning in her eyes. "You don't think I know who you are, Endymion Chiba? You're the CEO of Chiba Corporation; you've been buying up companies for the last three years. Some of the companies you've bought the CEOs have mysteriously disappeared and bequeathed you their companies in the instance that they can't do it themselves. This is just another ploy for you to get my company. I may be an English major but I've known my way around a boardroom for years. Go ahead and call the cops, Mr. Chiba, my dad's the former CEO of this company. The media doesn't care." She turned to stomp out, leaving a stunned man in her wake.

Make that three times I've been surprised, he thought to himself.

"Sere, wait," her father walked into her path to stop her from leaving.

"Get out of my way," she snarled. "It's your fault that I'm even in this position. I somehow wouldn't put it past you if you had come up with this scheme."

"You're right," Kenneth said freezing her again.

Four, Endymion thought with amusement.

"What do you mean I'm right?"

"This whole thing was a scheme to get you here, but not for your company."

"Then for what?" She seethed.

"Endymion told me about what happened between you and Diamond today, Serenity. He is concerned, as am I, that Diamond will make do on his threat."

"Please, Diamond has no backbone, let alone a criminal mind."

Endymion, seeing where Kenneth was going with this, chipped in, "And yet, five of his board of directors have gone missing in the last month." She turned to look at him with skepticism in her eyes. "It's true. These members were known for disagreeing with Diamond and while they've been missing, they have been replaced with people who have agreed with all of Diamond's decisions."

"Okay, so what?"

"I'm concerned for your safety, Serenity," Kenneth said solemnly which caused her to raise an eyebrow in surprise. He only used her full name when something was wrong. "In fact, I would feel safer if you'd stayed here with Mr. Chiba until Diamond was arrested."

"Dad, I've been taking care of myself for most of my life, I can handle this," she said with a shake of her head and made to leave again.

"You've only been able to take care of yourself because of my money. If you walk out that door, I'll freeze all of your accounts."

Five, Endymion thought with a new appreciation for Kenneth Tsukino.

"You wouldn't dare," Serenity seethed.

"I would," he admitted. "I'm not going to have your safety be in jeopardy because of your stubbornness." She opened her mouth to say something, but closed it again as she scrutinized her father's face. He wasn't bluffing. He would really freeze her inheritance, her checking and savings accounts.

"Fine," she turned to Endymion who was watching all of this with amusement.

"Good," he said with a smirk. "Now, you realize until Diamond is caught that you have to stay here. There will be no going to work."

"Oh hell," she shook her head in frustration.

"It's the only way I can make sure you're protected."

"Fine," she seethed. "But I have a few conditions."

"Very well," Endymion said and motioned for her to continue.

"One you drop this whole issue about my dad breaking into your house thing. We all know that that is a blatant lie."

"Agreed. Considered it dropped."

"Two, while I'm staying here if you at all mention buying my company again, I'm out that door faster than you can say chapter eleven bankruptcy."

"We'll table that one for now," he said with a smile. "Anything else?"

"Yes, one more. Third, I get to leave - "

"What?" He interrupted her.

"Let me finish. I get to leave, right now, so I can get some of my stuff and so I can let my roommate know that I'm okay."

"Sounds reasonable," he said with a nod of his head. She shook her head and left the room leaving Kenneth and Endymion to talk.

"You impressed me," Endymion said with a look of appreciation to the elder gentleman.

"Well, I saw how well your plan was working," he sighed. "She's never going to forgive me for this."

"No," he agreed. "But I do have a question. How did you know about what happened with Diamond at the office today?"

Kenneth smirked. "I still have my sources in the office. Besides Diamond called me, to let me know that he would have Serenity as his wife, no matter what. I'm afraid, Endymion, I wasn't lying when I said that she would need protecting."

A fury he couldn't understand went through him. "Don't worry," he said. "I'll keep her safe." Just not from myself.


"Who does that girl think she is?" Diamond roared in his brother's empty bar later on that night. He had been angry since he had left Serenity's office. His nose was killing him. The bitch had in fact broken his nose, and as he slung back another drink he couldn't help but think that he should have known better. Even when they were growing up as kids, Serenity had always had a short temper. But he never thought he would see the day that she would turn that temper on him. Something had happened while she away at school.

"You know, she has a point," his brother said from beside him.

"No, she doesn't," he growled into his beer. "Something changed her while she was at school, because before she left, she was intent on being a wife and mother. Now, somehow she has it in her head that she can be an independent woman."

"Diamond," his brother groaned. "You've always known that Serenity wanted more than to be a wife and mother. She wanted to see the world. She didn't want to be hampered by her father's company."

"Shut up, Sapphire. I'll get her yet. Mark my words. Serenity will be my wife."


Serenity drove back to her home like the hounds of hell were on her heals, and in some respect they were. She'd noticed as she drove down the roads that lead her back into the city that there was a car following her. Stupid, Endymion, she thought to herself as a heavy rock song pounded through her car's stereo. She was pissed off at her father. She was pissed off at Endymion. But mostly she was pissed off at her father. How dare he finally start to care about her? Now, that she was almost twenty-two, he had decided to care. He hadn't cared when she had graduated from high school. He hadn't cared when she had gone off to college. And he certainly hadn't cared when she had to come home to clean up his mess instead of achieving her dreams.

She screeched to a halt outside her house and with a force she put her car in park and turned off the engine. She counted to three again, and left the warm confines of her car before making a dash for the house. It was still pouring outside and by the time she walked into the front hallway, it looked like she had taken another shower.

"Lita!" She called as she slammed the door behind her. Her brunette friend came into the hallway and knew with one look that something was up.

"How's your dad?" She asked.

"A lying pompous ass," was the reply as she made her way to the stairs. "C'mon I need your help."

"With what?"

"Packing."


After explaining what had happened when she left the house, Lita was helping her pack up some stuff. The truth was they both didn't know how long she was going to be gone. How long could it take to arrest a man? Serenity sighed and tossed another pair of shoes into her suitcase.

"I don't know why you're acting like it's the end of the world," Lita said as she folded a shirt. "Endymion Chiba isn't exactly an ugly man. I mean, c'mon, Sere, you've got to admit he's pretty good looking."

"He is," she admitted. "But I don't know I feel like there's something wrong with him. He looked too pleased that I was going to be staying there."

"Sorry, babe, I really can't blame the guy. Have you not seen yourself? You're a total babe!"

"Yeah, but c'mon. He's Endymion Chiba, you're telling me that he's drowning in hot women up to his ears?"

Lita laughed and zipped up the last suitcase. "Probably. But you never know, he might want to settle down."

Serenity scoffed. "Yeah, right." She grabbed her laptop and charger, and put them in her purse. She looked around the room and knew that was everything she could think of. She sighed. "I'd better get going." Lita helped her with her bags down the stairs. At the door, Serenity pulled her friend in for a big hug. They had known each other for years, ever since the brunette had transferred to her high school halfway through sophomore year. They hadn't lost touch when Serenity went away for college and when she had to come back to take over for her father, they had agreed to move in together.

"You take care of yourself," Lita said. "And have some fun with that Endymion. You've been so busy with your father's company, I think you've forgotten how to let go."

"I make no promises," she replied with an eye roll and then opened the door. Two men were standing on her porch, much to her shock. She recognized one of them from earlier, but the blonde didn't look familiar.

"Ms. Tsukino," the platinum blonde greeted "Are these your bags?" He nodded to the luggage behind her. She nodded her head and the other blonde came inside and took them for her. She walked onto the porch and the platinum blonde haired man offered her his arm as he opened an umbrella. They walked down her lawn to an awaiting limo where a familiar face was waiting for her. He smiled at her as he opened the door to the limo.

"I figured that since you won't be going anywhere, that you won't be needing your car," he explained to her at the questioning look in her eye. She nodded her head but continued to stare at him. There was something in his eyes that she couldn't quite name. It almost looked like he was celebrating some sort of victory. He looked like he had captured a queen and there was nothing she could do to stop him – not with her father threatening to freeze her accounts if she didn't stay with him. She couldn't run. She had a feeling that Endymion wouldn't let her. Even if she made it out, she somehow knew that he would always find her. A chilling thought entered her mind – even if Diamond was captured, Endymion looked like he wasn't going to ever let her go, she thought with dismay as she slid inside the limo. He followed her, the door closing with a thud of finality.

What had she gotten herself into?


Author's Notes: So originally when I was planning this story out, Serenity wasn't the CEO of her father's company. She was still in college when she got the call that her father had been kidnapped…but I just didn't like how similar that was to Beauty and the Beast. Hence the change. Anyway, what did you guys think? Now that Endymion has Serenity, what's going to happen? Will she meet the 'beast'? Please review and I'll update soon!