Pulling up outside the address she had been given a smile played on Bernie's lips. The drive down from Holby to the Cornish coast had been fairly painless, her enjoying the lengthy straight stretch of road where she could happily cruise along, even if it meant on multiple occasions she'd needed to slow down to stop herself breaking the speed limit. When her and Serena had gone their separate ways from Cardington Hall they had treated it as if she was just off to work. Not allowing the fact they wouldn't be together for the next 72 hours to creep into the goodbye. The three nights she'd be away from Serena being balanced out with the four they were spending together at the end of the week meaning neither of them would feel the separation too much.
Glancing around she was surprised by the property in front of her. She'd thought she was going to be turning up to grotty hospital accommodation which would be her home for the next few weeks. However, she found herself outside a modern beach front house. Clicking the car locked behind her she removed the keys to the property from her back pocket and walked up to the oak front door.
"This has got Serena written all over it." She murmured to herself, placing her car keys on the telephone table in the hall, her already on her way to explore the house further. Immediately she found herself in a large open planned living space, large bi-fold doors opening out onto a terrace that overlooked the ocean. Taking her phone out she dialled Serena's direct dial number at the hospital.
"Good afternoon, Serena Campbell speaking." The glorious tones coming down the phone made Bernie smile, she'd told Serena on many occasions she would happily lay back and listen to her read the phone book, the voice of her fiancée bringing an eminent degree of calm to her.
"Good afternoon, Ms Campbell. Ms Wolfe here." She answered, an obvious note of jollity in her voice.
Pushing herself back from the desk, Serena leant back in her chair, planning to allow herself a few minutes away from the latest budget report to enjoy this conversation with Bernie. "Hello you. Did you get there okay?"
"I did." She once again looked around the room, her brow furrowing as she explored the switches on a control panel on the wall. Each one having a different effect on the lighting or windows in the room. "And I might not come back…" She paused for a beat. "Afterall someone has ensured I'm being put up in the swankiest of accommodation, so I might never want to leave."
Serena laughed down the phone, knowing her fiancée well enough to know she was pulling her leg. "Yes, well, I needed to make sure my very best consultant was comfortable on her secondment, and I'd also heart her wife to be has very high standards regarding where she is willing to stay."
"Oh, I see, so this was more for her benefit than mine?" Bernie spoke, her padding up the stairs to explore the bedroom and bathroom. Much like downstairs it was beautifully decorated, in calming whites and blues. She stood leaning against the door frame as she took in the huge bed that had views of the ocean. "Hmmm, I think she'll rather like the view from the bed."
"She'll be more concerned about the person in the bed than the view." Serena responded dryly. Bernie's tongue unconsciously bit her bottom lip, her mind flitting to images of Serena sprawled across the crisp white cotton sheets. "I know you're biting your lip, Berenice." A honk of laughter was her only response. "You like it though? Michael said it wasn't too far from the hospital either, so your commute will be short."
"It's really lovely Serena," Bernie perched herself on the bed, immediately flicking off her shoes and bringing her feet up underneath her on the bed. "I can't wait to see you here in," she glanced to the clock checking the time. "Eighty hours, give or take a few for delays."
"Me too, darling." Serena straightened herself out when a knock came at the door of her office. A shout of come in alerting Bernie to the fact their conversation was about to end. "Sorry, I'm going to have to go. I'll ring you later tonight though." Catching sight of Ric entering her office she settled slightly, not feeling self-conscious in expressing her love for Bernie in front of him. "I love you. Take care."
"Yeh. Speak to you later. I love you too." The click at the end of the line signalled Serena replacing the phone on the receiver. "Right Wolfe. Get to it." Heaving herself off the bed she made her way down to the car, bringing in her belongings and setting to unpacking them. She knew if she didn't do it now she would still not have achieved the task when Serena arrived. She could already hear the chastisement of Serena about her living out of a suitcase, so she wanted to avoid that at all costs.
Back in Holby Ric still occupied the seat opposite Serena's in offices. "I hear William Hobbins is visiting for the next 48 hours." Serena sighed and nodded, the longest serving members of the board being a lecherous creature with a far too higher opinion of himself according to Serena.
"And aren't I the lucky one getting to entertain him. The trust has gone as far as to put me up in the same hotel as him for the night, so I can wine and dine him. Aren't I the lucky one?" Pausing she thought for a moment. "You could come with me… strength in numbers and all that."
"Nice try. He's all yours." Ric pushed across the file he'd walked in with. "Anyway, the reason I'm here." He continued, the conversation diverting back to the clinical work he'd been doing recently and the breakthrough he thought he was ready to publish.
Serena's evening had started pleasant enough, but as it had drawn on and the alcohol had started to flow William had become more and more over familiar with her. Him seemingly unable to keep his hands to himself. Finding herself in the hotel bar with him she sipped on a small glass of Shiraz, deciding to keep a level head herself was the best was to deal with the man in front of her. "It's a real pleasure having you around again Serena… Holby has never been in better shape. I think I speak for the whole board in saying that, not just myself." His eyes raked down over Serena's face, coming to rest on her cleavage.
"I'm flattered, William… but it is not all down to me." She shifted uncomfortably under his gaze, trying to discreetly bring the two sides of her blouse together when she noticed where his eyes had fallen.
"Oh, don't be so modest." Feeling a hand sliding up her thigh, Serena's breath caught in her throat. "The place wasn't the same without you." Quickly pushing his hand away Serena flinched away.
"Well, um, thank you… for this evening. But I really must retire… long day tomorrow." With that she stood up, not giving a second glance to him. Reaching the lift, she tapped her foot nervously on the floor, her fingers swirling her room key around in her grasp. Chancing a glance behind her she saw nothing but an empty reception area, causing her to let out a breath she didn't know she was holding.
As the lift doors were about the close and carry her to her fifth-floor room, William slipped into the lift. A leering smile playing on his lips
"You can't flirt with me all evening and then leave me hanging." Pushing the stop button on the lift, William pulled her towards him, his lips smacking harshly against her own whilst he backed her into the wall.
Momentarily frozen in shock Serena stared wide eyed at him before her fight reaction kicked in. "No!" she exclaimed harshly, fighting herself free from his grasp, thrusting her hands forward to propel him backwards. "How dare you!" Anger took hold as she slammed her hand against the button to restart the lift. Strings of expletives leaving her mouth whilst digging her nails deeply into her palms to prevent her lashing out violently and taking the smug look off his face.
When the lift doors opened he stepped out, muttered that it was her loss before smirking at her and walking away. Pressing the button for the ground floor her whole body sunk back against the lift, her legs giving way beneath her, her fingers rising to her lips as she choked out a sob.