Reviews please! This is my first story, so I could use all the reviews I can get!
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Serena had just woken up early again, it was five thirty in the morning and still, she couldn't go back to sleep. It seemed to happen whenever she went out with Malcolm, and she had been out with him three times this week, and all three nights she had were sleepless. She rolled over and got out of bed, deciding that another early day in was necessary. The reason she went in at those hours had become obvious to her, she was hoping that Darien would come in early as well. This week she had spent one of her mornings with him, and it was probably the highlight of her week. Things at Shields Inc were going incredibly, she was now switching days between Andrew and Darien on who would educate her on the numerous happenings within the company. Both men were different when it came to teaching her. Andrew was a calm and collected teacher who went over every detail with her, while Darien thought quietly to himself and had her describe the business tactics used to accomplish each acquisition. They were both becoming two of her favorite guys.
Malcolm and she had been on numerous dates the past two weeks, and she couldn't help but have herself feel closer to him. They laughed and got along perfectly, and were typically on the same page with everything. He was a great guy and she knew she was lucky to have him there for her. She still had trouble zoning her conscience out so she wouldn't replace him with images of Darien, but at times she let herself do it. She mostly replaced Malcolm with Darien when they were kissing, when her eyes closed she imagined the dark haired man she spent her nights dreaming about. It sent ripples down her spine, and she felt guilty that Malcolm thought he was doing this to her.
Serena got to the building an hour and a half after she had woken up. She decided to take the stairs, as much as she hated the thought, it was the only form of exercise she had been getting over the past months she had spent in this building. Her body was going to crash if she didn't start working out again. After a long and strenuous climb, Serena reached the top floor and walked in, breathing heavily, sliding her black pumps back on, and wiping sweat off her brow.
"I am never doing that again!" she said to herself.
"Yea, you're crazy to take the stairs, come on blondie, that's what elevators are for."
Every time she heard his voice, she still got chills and got nervous. Darien was walking out of his office, towards her with that goofy grin on his face, the one that made his eyes sparkle with mischief. She laughed at him, and walked towards her desk.
"It's the only exercise I seem to be able to fit into my busy work schedule." She said eyeing her boss.
"Oh, right, actually I've been meaning to talk to you about your schedule." He said, hiding his nervousness, by putting on his business voice. Serena looked up at him, her blue eyes shining with anticipation. 'Maybe he's going to ask me out, oh no Serena stop! He's a married man! You can't do this.'
"What's up?"
"Well, two weeks from now Andrew and I have to go to the annual Shields Inc business convention, and I was thinking that you should tag along. I mean there's nothing better than being around a bunch of guys wearing suits, is there?" he asked a glint in his eye. Serena just looked at the gorgeous man; he wanted her to accompany him on one of the most important business conferences she had ever heard about? This day couldn't get any better! Darien noticed her blue eyes dance to life as she realized what she was being invited to.
"Of course I'll go! When? Where?" she asked, frantic, and immensely excited.
"This year, we're going to the Bahamas."
She couldn't help it, but her mouth dropped. "That's where your big stuffy meetings are? The Bahamas?"
"Well a lot of our employees use this time as vacation, the company takes care of the majority of the cost, so we try to make it a place where a family could have fun."
"Wow, I can't wait!" She said almost jumping up and down, unable to believe the incredible chance she had just been given.
"Now, shall we get on to business today?" Darien said, sliding into his regular spot at Serena's desk. They never worked in Darien's office; he preferred not to, he said it was too formal. What he really meant was that his office was for the boring things he did on his own, and he didn't want to change the atmosphere that they had gotten along so well in previously. He also wasn't able to sit this close to her, and he loved the feeling of her being at his side. Serena sat down and watched Darien as he opened the files and asked her to give him her opinion. Darien liked to keep Serena on her toes, she had a great mind for business, and her ideas were becoming sharper. He also loved the way she talked, how when she got confused, she would bite on her bottom lip, which consequently caused him to feel a fire in his groin. He also loved when she got an idea, her face would immediately light up and she would talk so passionately, it made him want to return her passion, but in a different way. They finished up their session, and went on to do their regular work.
Serena was busy faxing all kinds of memos to various departments, and was really focused on her work, when she felt arms wrap around her waist, and a firm body behind her. She freaked and nearly dropped all the papers she was holding, as the man picked her up and planted a kiss on her neck. She laughed as the blonde man put her down, and she turned in his arms, smiling at him. She was happy to see Malcolm, she loved his company and he did make her happy. Things were getting so complicated for her, but, then again, Darien was married, so she had to make due with the man in front of her.
"Surprise!" Malcolm said with a smile, bending down and capturing her lips in a soft kiss. He pulled away and smiled at the beauty in front of him.
"What are you doing here? Don't you have to be at work?" she asked.
"A man can't take his girlfriend out to lunch? Mina's here too, she's grabbing Andrew." He said, kissing her again. She smiled at him, and couldn't help but be touched.
"I think you're too good for me." She said, and she meant that. He didn't deserve the lies she was throwing at him, everyday.
Darien was standing in his office, glaring at his college-friend kissing Serena. It filled him with a burning hate that he didn't know he could even feel. 'Why is he here? I can't stand to see the two of them together. God, I wish that was me holding her like that.' He paced the floors of his office, then went to his desk and pulled up a file, it didn't really matter what. He knew that Serena would come in sooner or later to tell him she was off to lunch, and he didn't want her to think he cared that her boyfriend was here to take her out. 'Damn you, Malcolm!' he thought as a soft tap came to the door. He pulled himself together, and motioned for Serena to come in, Malcolm was not far behind her.
"Hey, Darien! Long time no see, how are you?" asked Malcolm.
Darien looked at the man he used to spend the majority of his time with, and put on a fake smile, "I'm good, nice to see you." He turned his attention to Serena, who was biting her lip, in that way that made him want her.
"Hey, I'm taking my lunch break. Do you want anything?"
Darien noticed that she seemed really nervous, as if she were embarrassed at the fact that Malcolm was standing right behind her, his hand lightly around her waist. He noticed that she slyly twisted her small body out of his grasp and moved closer towards the desk.
"No, I'm fine." He lied through his teeth. She smiled at him, and walked out, her head down. As soon as the door shut, Darien dropped his head into his hands, he had to get his emotions in control. He had to try something, and before Serena and Malcolm became too serious. He laughed to himself, 'at least she's not the one legally tied down to somebody else.' Well, either way, she was all he could think about now. Another knock came to his door, and he looked up as Andrew walked in, and quietly shut the door behind him.
"You sure you don't want to come with us?" he could tell his friend was upset, but it wasn't the time for him to question him, not with everybody standing outside the door.
"Don't want to ruin the happy couples' lunch date." He said his voice dripping with sarcasm. He wouldn't be able to sit for an hour with the two couples being happy together, while he slowly died inside.
"Alright, well just so you know, we're going to your place after work tonight. I got something important to talk to you about."
"Ugh, fine. Actually why don't we all just take the day off? I mean it is Friday, and I've had a rough week." Andrew examined Darien's face; he was a master at disguising his emotions, so he let it go.
"Well then, I'll be over as soon as I'm out of lunch." Andrew closed the door behind him, and walked over to his blonde girlfriend, taking her into his arms and kissing her temple. Mina smiled and put her arm around his waist as they walked out. Andrew was happy with Mina, and things were going really well between them. She had so much life in her, and it baffled him where she stored all that energy. She turned to him and kissed him, lingering there for a while.
Malcolm and Serena had just gotten onto the elevator and were talking and laughing like they usually did. They seemed to be a perfect couple, laughing, touching and occasionally kissing. The four of them went out to a simple restaurant for lunch, and went on their separate ways afterwards. Serena and Malcolm stayed together for the whole day, just laughing and talking. They had simply spent the day together, just walking around laughing and loving life. They had reached Serena's apartment at about eleven that night, and they were lying on her couch watching a movie on demand. Serena yawned, and Malcolm pulled her closer to her. He liked having her close in his arms, but he felt as if she didn't trust him. He pulled her face towards him, and took her lips with his. She responded well to him, and pushed him against the couch. He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her body to his own. The pressure of her small body on his was beginning to drive him crazy. He continued to pull her body closer to his as they got deeper into the kiss, letting their tongues intertwine sending hot sparks through Malcolm's body. Serena was getting wary, she knew she had to end the kiss soon, she didn't want it to get too far, but it felt so good to be in somebody's arms.
Malcolm could sense Serena was getting uncomfortable, so he slowly loosened his hold on her waist, and pulled his mouth away from hers, as much as he hated to do it. He smiled at her, and she kissed him one last time as she got up. Andrew stood up and took her hand.
"I think it's time for me to go babe, will I see you tomorrow?" he asked, pulling her back to his body, kissing her lips again, savoring her taste. He pulled away and started kissing down her neck, as she giggled at him.
"I guess, if you really want to see me again." She laughed as he continued to trace her neckline. He laughed into her neck, and looked up at her again.
"Of course I do. Can I call you tomorrow? I promise not too early."
"Yea, that's fine." She said as they walked to her door, she opened the door and Malcolm stepped outside. Serena leaned against the door frame, smiling.
"Till tomorrow," he said as he winked at her and walked down the hallway. She smiled at his retreating back and closed her apartment door, locking it. She cleaned up her living room and went up to bed. She couldn't help but feel like she was starting to fall for the blonde man, but wait; didn't she have a thing for Darien? Well, he was her boss and for god's sake the man was gorgeous, who wouldn't have a thing for him? She was going to let him go, it wasn't healthy to kill a relationship like this.
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Darien was sitting in his study, thinking, just evaluating everything that was going on in his mind about that gorgeous blonde girl. He knew how much he wanted her, to hold her, to feel her body beneath his, to have those eyes burn with passion at him. He groaned and slammed his fist down onto his desk.
"Don't take it out on the desk, honey." said a cool, sexy voice from behind him. Darien turned, thinking to himself, 'she couldn't have come at a more frustrating time.' Lita was standing there in a skin tight dark green dress, her long legs were unsheathed as she walked towards him, with a sway that used to drive him crazy. She came up behind him and slid her hands down his chest, and put her lips to his ear.
"Happy to see your wife?" she whispered seductively, licking his earlobe. He took her hands and pulled them off him.
"What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be with your lover?" he said, his eyes cold. Lita giggled as she placed herself in his lap.
"Oh she's here with me, but I told you, I still like certain parts about you." She said, taking his hands and placing them around her waist.
"What, your girlfriend doesn't have the right stuff for you?" he said coldly, uncoiling his hands from her body. Lita sighed, and leaned in and started kissing his neck, and nibbling on his ear. He couldn't deny the fact that he needed to get laid, it had been months. Maybe that's what he needed to get Serena out of his mind, but as soon as her name popped into his head, he pushed Lita off of him.
"Lita, not right now. I have so much to think about. My conference is in two weeks, I need to get things straight." He said, not really thinking about the conference. Lita sighed, and got off his lap.
"Always about work, it was even like that when we were first together." Lita said, her green eyes sad.
"It's my job." He said, not looking at her.
Lita laughed sadly, she couldn't have really expected anything else from him. She knew him better than most people. Darien had always chosen work over her, it was the reason she couldn't be with him any longer.
She sighed, "Well, Darien, I guess I'll see you when you get back?" He could never really refuse her anything, so he nodded.
"Yea, I should be back and done within a month." She smiled, leaned over and kissed him, a long delicate kiss.
"You know, I miss us, I miss you." Lita said as she walked out of the room, Darien's blue eyes followed her figure out of the door. Things in his life were so complicated, in fact, they were too complicated.
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After another hour of mindless thoughts, a knock came to his study door. Darien groaned as another person interrupted him, he had been having a nice day dream about Serena and him on a beach. 'God, I really need to stop thinking about this girl.'
"Earth to Darien, what's going on, man?"
"Nothing." He lied, strictly out of habit. He knew very well that Andrew wouldn't believe him. He turned to the man he'd known since the age of 4.
"Come on, I can tell you're beating yourself up about this Serena vs. Lita ordeal." He said simply.
"What? I'm not beating myself up over anybody. There is no Serena vs. Lita." He said looking up at Andrew with a fierce gaze. Andrew simply laughed; he was the only person he knew that could ignore his hard gazes. Andrew sat across from his friend and looked at him, then sighed.
"Come on, you've got a thing for Serena. I mean a normal person wouldn't catch it, but I mean we've been best friends for 24 years. You have to make a move soon, D, or you'll lose her."
"I know, I know, but she doesn't have the same feelings for me. I mean, you see her when I'm around, she's distant and scared." He smiled to himself as he thought back to the way she would bite her lip nervously at him; the effect he had on her made him smile.
"Darien, you're blind. The girl is crazy about you, but if you don't act soon, she's going to stick with Malcolm." At the sound of his name, his blood began to boil. There was no way he would allow her to end up in his arms.
"She wouldn't go for me, I'm a married man!" he yelled. Andrew didn't even flinch at the sudden outburst. He had known it would be difficult to get Darien to think about Serena, or to act on his feelings.
"Listen, Darien, she's holding out on Malcolm, she's trying not to get too attached to him right now, so this is your best time to strike." Serena was horrible at hiding her emotions, the only man who couldn't decipher them, was Darien, who sat there, contemplating the words he had been hearing.
"Fine, I'll do something." He said, nonchalantly. He didn't know whether or not he truly meant it, I mean she deserved a man who was capable of giving her everything she wanted, and he was a grouchy, bad tempered man.
"Hey, I'm going to go meet Mina at her place, so I'm going to go."
"Oh, yea, how are you two? Did you already invite her to the Bahamas?"
Andrew laughed at his friend as he stood up, "Yea, I did." Darien groaned mentally, how unfortunate the week would be to see the two of them together, all intimate.
"But, she can't go. She's got a case she has to finish up before the end of the month, so you won't have to worry about seeing us together." He said sensing his friend's disposition. Darien hated his best friend so much at this point.
"God, I hate how you know everything! Isn't there something that you don't know?"
"Please, I know everything. You should be used to this by now, D." Andrew said as he laughed his way out of his study, as Darien threw a book at his retreating figure. He knew that he could count on Andrew to lighten up the mood for him. Darien got up from his study, and went to his room where he took a hot shower, then climbed into bed. Hopefully, he would be able to come up with a sure fire plan as he slept.