Chapter 11: Coming to terms

Title: Heart's Pain

Author: LightningRose


Weeks had gone by since the little confession from Darien in her office. It would seem he was trying to give her some space, having Andrew contact her when she needed something. At this point though, their part of the business was done, and all she needed to do was contact contractors and get everything started. It wouldn't be long before the restaurant was complete. She should have been happy about that, knowing in just a few short weeks Darien would be out of her life again. In fact the thought saddened her.

"Serena? Did you hear me?" Diamond was getting frustrated, he had been speaking to her for the last ten minutes and she looked lost in her own world, not responding to anything he was saying.

"I'm sorry Diamond; I just have a lot on my mind. Work has been hectic." It was a lie, she had completed three other contracts and the only two that were keeping her busy were Diamond's and Darien's, both of which would be completed about the same time.

Serena put on a smile and finished her meal, she shouldn't be thinking about Darien when she was having dinner with Diamond. He was such a good man, handsome and sweet. She was really trying to make it work, to have some feelings for him other than just attraction. When they first met he lit a spark in her, she felt alive again but then Darien showed up and well that spark out lit the one Diamond gave her. She could lie to everyone all she wanted but she would always know the truth.

"So has Darien been around much? He sure does like to hang around when unneeded." She wasn't surprised by his question, just watching how he butchered his steak with his knife she could see how it bothered him. A woman should feel guilty or at least want to make the man feel better at this point right? She didn't want to hurt Diamond but she also didn't feel he had any grounds for feeling jealous.

"No Andrew has been taking care of everything; I think Darien had other business to deal with." Serena watched as Diamond looked at her, he wanted more response the other part of his question. The reason why he hangs around her so much, well that just wasn't any of his business.

"Maybe you should have someone else take over the project, it is almost complete now and I doubt he would even notice. Like you said, he's not even around anymore." Diamond shot her a smile, looking pleased with himself and went back to his meal, like she would just do as he said.

"I will not. I finish everything I start so I will not pass off a project I worked very hard on, to someone else. And for the record Diamond, I don't appreciate you telling me what to do. Darien isn't here right now but that doesn't mean he isn't coming back." She was justified in the first part, but the last part she probably should have kept to herself. Shocked at herself for what she said she watched as Diamond slammed down his fork and knife.

"So it finally comes out, the truth about your feelings for him. I knew you had a past with him but I had hoped you had moved on. I have waited a very long time to have my chance with you Serena; I will not let Darien come between you and me again!"

Diamond waved for the check, inside he was seething, all this time, all this planning to set up the perfect meeting with her. He did everything to make Serena his, and for what? So that cheating scumbag Darien could waltz back into her life like nothing happened and take her away?

"Wait, what are you talking about? Darien has never come in between us before. What do you mean you have waited a long time for a chance with me? Diamond, are you telling me you have known me for longer than when you walked into my office?" Serena couldn't believe what she was hearing; Diamond had been lying to her this whole time?

"Yes I have known who you are since you were in high school. Your father and mine ran in the same circles Serena. I saw you every time he brought you to a dinner function or any other social gathering with work friends. I have wanted you since then, and I have waited for a chance to make you finally see me. But you can't look away from Darien, you never could. It's always been him!"

They had made their way outside so as to not make a scene. It somewhat creeped her out that Diamond had been watching her for years, knowing her and never speaking to her but pretending to have first met her when he came to her office. They stood on the sidewalk awkwardly, Diamond angry and Serena unsure of how to handle the situation.

"Why did you lie to me?" That was the easiest question; she didn't want to touch on anything else right now. Emotions were just too high for any of that.

"I didn't lie, I just withheld the fact I had known who were from when we were younger. I have never lied to you Serena." Diamond could see her as she truly was now, a damaged woman who was fighting so many internal demons. For years he had put her on a pedestal, seeing her as an object to obtain. This gorgeous girl so full of life and love, someone he wanted to share all those things with.

Looking at her now and seeing how she was struggling with everything, he realized Darien damaged her more than she let on. And he played that to his advantage. He didn't want to be a bad guy, yes he wanted Serena but not if she couldn't look past everything she had been through and move on. He thought with Darien gone she would be able to achieve that, it only made things worse.

"I'm sorry Diamond, I truly am." She didn't have to say much, her eyes said it all. She knew what he said was true, they both knew this wouldn't work out if she couldn't get over Darien. She wanted to, she really wanted to leave Darien in the past, but you only come across a love like the one she had for him, once in a lifetime. No feelings she had for Diamond would ever come close.

"I wish things were different, I will miss you Serena. But I think I'll have my assistant deal with the rest of the expansion. She will keep in contact with you." Diamond gave her a kiss on the forehead, holding her tightly one last time to say goodbye before she watched him get into his car and drive off.

In that moment Serena hated herself even more. She couldn't blame this on Darien; she had to stop putting all the blame for everything she did on him. Yes he broke her heart when they were younger. But it was her own fault for stringing Diamond along, and still having feelings for Darien.

She was always going to love Darien, even if she never forgave him and tried to make things work with someone else, he would always be in her heart. And it wouldn't be fair to ask any man to share her heart with another. But she was scared, so scared to be that girl again. To forgive him and let her emotions take over, she had learned to rein them in and put on a good façade for so long. She didn't want to get hurt again.

"Why can't I stop loving you Darien?" That's what she asked herself as she crawled into bed that night.


Darien knew that giving her space would help her to come to terms with her feelings for him. He laid everything out on the table the last time they saw each other. He didn't want to push her though. Maybe it wasn't the best idea, especially after his talk with Diamond. Who knows what that man was doing with this advantage? Probably treating her like a queen in his absence and making her forget all about him.

He needed some time too, time to get away and think about the past. The reasons for why everything fell apart. Darien always loved Serena, she was special to him. And his best excuse was that they were just too young. Granted, it had only been a few years, but they had both done a lot of growing up in that time. You learn what means to the most to you, and what you miss that you used to take for granted.

He missed walking in the door after a long day of work to his beautiful, cheery girlfriend. He missed her smile, the way all her love shown in her eyes just for him. To hear her whisper "I love you" in his ear right before she fell asleep. He even missed her awful cooking, because even though she couldn't cook, she tried so hard to make him happy.

He threw all that away, in a moment of stupidity. How he could ever think he was in love with Raye he didn't know, maybe it was them trying to justify what they had done. He hated himself, and wished to God he could change it back to the way things had been. He wouldn't have made the same mistakes. He would have loved her and treated her the way she deserved.

Tomorrow he would go see her, he didn't care if she was with another man, and he was tired of not seeing her every day. He missed her too damn much and he wasn't going to give up. It would be hard but he would win her back, he did it in high school. He would do it again.


Serena Stanton was a strong woman, independent and looked up to by many women in her company. She was beautiful, successful and had the most gorgeous man walking into her office. Who wouldn't want to be Serena Stanton?

Serena didn't want to be herself right now, she didn't want to see Darien…ok she did but she didn't want to deal with him right now.

She was still coming to terms with her feelings, trying to accept them as who she was now and not convert back to the old her. She missed him, and knew she loved him but that didn't mean she would run into his arms like a squealing teenager.

"Serena we need to talk." Nope, she was not having this conversation already.

"Hello Darien, how are things?" Keep things polite, steady your heart racing. He was only in a pair of jeans and a tight blue shirt that hugged all his muscles and brought out the blue in his eyes. Ok stop looking at him now Serena.

"Things are fine, how are things with Diamond? I heard from some gossips down the hall you two broke up?" Darien looked positively pleased with the news, the moment he heard it he nearly ran to her office. Here he was coming to change her mind and she was already meeting him halfway.

"Yes we did, that is none of your business. What are you doing here?" Shuffling papers, moving her mail away from the center of desk, anything to keep her occupied. She hadn't seen him in weeks and it was unnerving and putting her on edge.

"I think it is my business, since everything that concerns you concerns me. You know why I'm here Serena. You remember what I told you the last time I was in your office. I meant every word, and I won't let you go again." Darien could see her trying to busy herself, her eyes would look anywhere but at him. She only ever did that when she was hiding something and he had a feeling he knew exactly what it was.

This was all just too much for her right now, she was trying so hard to look nonchalant and like he didn't faze her. She loved him but hated him at the same time, missed him yet wished he would leave. She wanted to hug and kiss him but also slap him.

"I can't do this right now Darien, I'm trying to work and you are distracting me." That only put a bigger smile on his face if possible. He looked like he won the biggest toy at the fair.

"That's fine, I'll just come by later tonight at your place and we can discuss it then!" Serena's head shot up, eyes wide. He wanted to come to her apartment tonight? Oh no that would be bad, but when she tried to say so, she noticed he had already left.

Groaning, Serena laid her head down on her desk. She was never going to get any work done now; this man was driving her crazy.