A/N: My new year's resolution is to update more frequently!
Chapter 10: The Meeting
Serena waited nervously for her new client to arrive. Shield's Corporation had hundreds of employees, surely the chance that she'd have to meet Darien two days after she had insulted him…Serena cringed. Here's hoping it isn't him, she thought as she checked her battered Sailor V watch for the umpteenth time. Only several more minutes left. Settling back into the leather couch, she quickly checked over her appearance once more. Her hair was perfectly arranged in odangos, just like she liked them.
"How dare that jerk call them-"
"Meatball head?!" a familiar voice exclaimed. Serena groaned. Speak of the devil and he doth appear.
"I knew hoping that I wouldn't be meeting with you was asking for too much." She shot back.
"Mr Shields is here" Molly announced with confusion.
She wasn't quite sure whether introductions were still necessary. Darien took his seat opposite her and smiled charmingly. He was wearing a plain, navy blue business suit that brought out the colour of his eyes. It wasn't fair, Serena thought grumpily, that someone so awful could be so handsome. Plus he was her client and romantic liaisons with clients were a big no-no in her book.
"I didn't know someone like you could run a business" he teased.
"I hope you're not saying that I'm too stupid because I think considering you've spoken to me once, you're hardly qualified to make that statement!" Serena retorted acidly.
Even if she were game enough to start a relationship with a client, his awful personality was still a huge problem.
"Well you have meatball shaped hair, nails with bunny rabbits painted on them and a Sailor V watch. You look like a 15 year old." He pointed out.
It was lucky for him that Molly had returned with the tea or Serena may have strangled him for his stupid comments. She happened to like rabbits and Sailor V and that did not make her any less able to do her job!
With deft hands, Molly poured two cups of tea and brought them over to Darien and Serena.
"Thank you" Darien said politely.
Serena had long ago given up pouring the tea herself. Three out of five times it had ended with spilled tea, and more than once, on her client. Handing Serena a folder with 'Shield's Corp.' scrawled across it messily, Molly took her leave.
"Okay, so I sifted through the information Mr Furuhata sent me and the damage is mild." Serena said, diving straight in. Darien too became more professional as he listened to the blonde.
"I thought so. I want to nip this thing in the bud though."
Serena nodded, flicking through the file.
"That's an excellent strategy. Prevention is far easier than repairing."
She snapped the file shut and grabbed another piece of paper which she handed to Darien.
"I've devised a simple strategy centred around a large philanthropic ball your company will be hosting in 2 months' time."
Darien's eyes skimmed over the brief outline. He was clearly impressed and Serena was pleased by this. She may be a lot of things, but unprofessional was not one of them.
"In essence, I want the world to be convinced that not only are you a good CEO but that you're also a good man. Mr Seiya Shields has not portrayed that image to a great extent and this has only hurt the company. With family companies, people, especially shareholders, like to see that the family is capable and of good stock."
Serena paused and quickly flicked through a summary fact sheet. Over the weekend she had researched Shields' Corp extensively and knew exactly what she wanted to achieve with the company.
"Your father and mother were very well liked and you seem to have a strong rapport with the employees. With only a little bit of work I can promise you that I will turn your company image around."
Serena folded her perfectly manicured hands in her lap, the meeting had gone successfully and she was happy. Mostly because she liked doing a good job and partly because she wanted to show Darien that she was not someone he wanted to mess around with. After several moments as Darien examined the papers Serena had given him, he stood up and shook hands with Serena, who escorted him to the door.
"I'm impressed Serena. You're very good at this." He flattered her smoothly. Serena winked playfully, delighted by the praise.
"I know."
"Given your melodramatic reaction to my harmless teasing on Friday night, I thought you were a complete dud." He confessed. Serena's eyes narrowed in anger.
"It wasn't melodramatic!" she hissed, stomping one foot.
Darien raised a single eyebrow, as if to say 'point proven'. Not wanting to play into his trap, Serena took a deep breath and stepped back into work-mode.
"It was a pleasure meeting you Mr Shields. I will see you at the fundraiser I have scheduled on your behalf in a week's time I assume."
With a polite bow she all but pushed him out the door and slammed it on his smug face.
Even after all of Raye's scolding, Serena still secretly maintained that shutting the door on Darien had been worth it. Serena didn't put up with other people's bullshit and that was that. No matter how rich and important they are. Feeling antsy from her day, Serena made her way to her favourite bar. It was cute, served fancy and whimsical cocktails and used teacups and mismatched furniture. She loved it and her mood was already beginning to lift.
"Cotton Candy Martini" she said cheerfully to the bartender.
"Rough day?" the man next to her questioned as Serena threw back the lurid pink cocktail in two goes. Serena nodded emphatically.
"Just dealing with an asshole at work and I was maybe a little too rude to him."
The man laughed, it was a pleasant sound and Serena peered closely at him. He was fairly good looking but most of his charm came from the cheeky confidence he exuded.
"Another one of those horrific pink concoctions for the beautiful lady my good man!" He said to the bartender.
His dramatic hand flourishes and glittering eyes caused Serena to laugh. She pulled out a few crinkled notes from her wallet but he waved her money aside.
"It's on me," he winked as Serena's second Cotton Candy Martini was placed before her.
She looked down at the martini and then back up at the man. Fuck it. She was going to have fun tonight. She finished off the martini in two gulps again and began to feel the delicious buzz that came with knocking back two sugar-stuffed cocktails in a short space of time. Her new friend watched her bemusedly and extended a hand.
"By the way, my name is Seiya."
Serena frowned at the name, it sounded so familiar… brushing aside the feeling that she was missing something, Serena shook his hand with a giggle.
"I'm Serena. It is a pleasure to meet you Seiya."
Preview: her mouth would curl ever so slightly downwards as she sternly told him to leave her alone