Serena wasn't sure if she had heard him correctly. She looked into his Sapphire eyes as they stared right back at her. She would have thought she had imagined things if it wasn't for Darien looking down at her expectantly. She felt unsure of herself as she looked at him warily. She felt self-conscious as she realized, an entire room full of people were looking at her, holding their breath and waiting for her to say yes.

"Come on say yes aleady!" She heard someone say from the crowd.

Serena turned her head in the direction the sound came from. Suddenly she felt Darien's head descend next to hers and his warm breath fanned her ears and neck.

"Come on love, I am waiting for your answer." She heard him say to her sensually.

She turned and looked at him. Darien could clearly see the wariness in her eyes.

"I can't." She whispered.

Her answer didn't please Darien, she could see that, but to her amazement his expression did not falter, but his eyes glinted down dangerously.

"You don't have any option, my love." He replied smoothly. His face was smiling, but his voice was laced with a dangerous warning, Serena could only stare back at him silently.

"You deny me, Serena and I will ruin everything and everybody you love. I promise." Serena stared at him stricken, she couldn't move. She had never heard Darien speak like that, infact she had never considered Darien capable of speaking like that. She could not believe he would say something like that to her. His voice had been sugar sweet, his lips had smiled lovingly, but his eyes had flashed and he had delivered a threat that had sent a chill down her spine. Was Darien truly capable of doing that, would he do that if she hurt his ego? Serena did not want to find out. She could deal with Darien herself, but she could not get her family involved in this! She loved him. She would have said yes to him anyway, but this changed things. He was threatening her family made her feel angry with him. She made up her mind. She was going to now show Darien, that he had messed with the wrong sister.

"Serena, my love, my offer expires soon." He warned.

She looked at him and he saw her eyes harden, he had never seen such a determined look in her eyes before. Her hands moved from resting on his chest, to hold on to the collar of his shirt firmly. Darien looked surprised. Her face had become an unreadable mask and he was almost sure she was going to say no. Maybe he had ruined things by threatening her family, he thought. Now she was never going to say yes to him in her life!

"Yes." She said loudly and the entire room burst into cheers and whistles.

Darien was taken aback by her answer and his eyes widened. Taking advantage of his surprise, Serena pulled him down by his collar and captured his lips in a passionate kiss. Darien's eyes widened and then closed as the pleasure took over. He felt her kissing him with a dominance he did not know she had, she controlled the kiss and bit his bottom lip boldly. Darien moaned and let his mind go numb with her advances. Serena pressed her soft body to his and slowly rubbed her hips to his hardened member. Darien growled in pleasure. He did not know what had come over Serena, but he was definitely loving it.

As suddenly as the kiss began it ended. Serena pulled herself away from Darien, smiling like the Cheshire cat. Darien was dazed as he slowly opened his eyes and focused on Serena, she was smiling at him mysteriously. He grinned at her goofily.

"Touche." He told her huskily.

"You want to make me pay for lying, baby? Well two can play at that game." She told him softly.

Serena was surprised when Darien chuckled and shook his head.

"What's a fiancée, without her ring?" He finished by pulling out a small black box and opening it. Serena could only gasp. Inside sat a 5 carat, cushion cut, pink diamond ring!

Serena gasped, her eyes went wide with surprise and Darien smiled indulgently at her.

"For someone who is trying to make me pay for my lies, Darien, you are paying too much!" She said only for his ears.

"I leave no stone unturned, Rena."

Darien raised his other hand, palm up, gesturing for Serena's hand. Slowly she raised her own hand and placed it in his awaiting one, he slipped the ring on her delicate finger. The crowd gasped at the sight of the rock on her finger. Serena looked at Darien amd couldnt help but smile, she cpuld never remaon angry woth him for long. Still holding on to her hand, Darien lifted her knuckles to his lips and kissed them, sending shivers of desire down her arm and along her spine.

Serena looked at him shyly, a beautiful blush appeared on her cheeks and she almost forgot this was Darien making her pay for fooling him.

"Come." He told her and started leading her down the stairs.

As Serena followed him down she could not help but look at all the disappointed women giving her death glares from the crowd, she smiled smugly. Her eyes fell to her family and she saw them beaming at her with happiness and even Mina was looking at her and bouncing up and down in excitement She smiled at them and lifted up her left hand to show them her ring. If only they knew, she thought to herself.

From the distance from which he had been watching the couple, he could see how involved they were with each other. He seethed inside. He watched as the dark haired man, held his Serena in his arms. He felt pure unadulterated, hatred for Darien Shields. He had stolen the only thing in the world he had ever wanted! How dare he! Darien could have gotten any girl in the world, but he was getting engaged to his woman! He watched as Darien dipped his head down and whispered in Serena's ear, he watched as she looked at him. He heard her say yes to Darien! He watched when she pulled him boldly into a kiss and kissed him with such passion!

He did not believe his eyes! He watched them kiss as he was too stricken to look away! He watched when they pulled away from each other, love shining clear and bright in their eyes, they smiled at one another, the rest of the people in the room forgotten. This was wrong, Serena was his and he would make sure that one day Serena would look at him that same way!

Today he would leave behind a memento of his undying love for Serena that she would remember for the rest of her life, he promised her in his mind

He looked on as Darien slipped a diamond ring on her finger and kissed her hand, he then held her hand possessively and led her down. It wasn't Darien's fault that he loved Serena, she was a stunning woman. But she was the wrong woman for him to love and for that Darien would pay. He would pay for touching his "blondie."

Darien led Serena to the dance floor and as if on cue a romantic song began to play for them to dance on. Serena rolled her eyes when Darien pulled her into his arms and they began to dance on 'Every night in my dreams' by Celione Dion.

Darien chuckled at her antics. "Why roll your eyes, your dancing with the most awesome man in the world right now."

Serena just looked at him with a straight face. "Not funny."

"What! You accepted it yourself when we had gone for our little picnic, remember?

Serena gave him a shrug. "Nope."

"Oh come on, don't you remember? It was right before we furiously made out in the middle of nowhere?" He teased her.

Serena blushed profusely and glared at him.

Darien chuckled merrily, his eyes dancing with mirth, his bangs fell in his eyes, seemingly dancing along with his eyes.

"You know wha…..ouch." Darien couldn't finish his statement when suddenly he felt Serena stomp his foot again.

"Oh I am so sorry." She feigned innocence.

"No, you're not!" He said scowling at her.

"True." She said sweetly. "How well you know me, Dare."

"Yeah, I do right. I've got a complete Master's degree in studying wild animal behavior." He retorted smugly.

"You want an action replay of a rhino stomping out a fire on your feet, Darien!" Serena warned.

"So you agree then that you are a wild beast." He said wisely.

"I'll take that for a yes." And before Darien had registered her words, he howled as her heel made contact with his foot once again.

Darien stood there bouncing slightly on one leg, as Serena watched him with a satisfied smile on her face.

"Serves you right for being such a smartass!" She said, her arms folded on her chest.

"Mr. Shields, are you ok?" A voice interrupted the couple from each other.

Serena and Darien looked at the newcomer and Serena smiled in recognition.

"Oh My God! Is that you?" She asked.

"Hi Sere, it has been a longtime."

Serena moved forward and hugged the man standing in front of her and Darien watched the man hug her back. He felt immensely jealous watching Serena interact with the man, she had totally forgotten that he was standing next to her! He scowled.

"How have you been! Where did you vanish after school!" Serena asked him, finally breaking the hug.

"I have been doing great. I had moved to America for further studies, got back a few months back." he finished.

The two spoke, totally forgetting Darien was still standing there watching them, intently. He finally couldn't take it anymore and cleared his throat to catch their attention. They both turned around, suddenly realizing he was still there. Scowling.

"Oh Darien." Serena told him excitedly. "This is my old friend from highschool!"

Darien looked at the man as she introduced them, he moved forward to shake the man's hand.

"Darien Shields." Darien introduced himself, firmly shaking the man's hand, sizing him up.

"Hi, I am Seiya Kou."