Sunset At Paradise Cove
Chapter 33
Author's Note: Hi everyone and thanks for reading and following along with the story so far, I do hope you have been enjoying it and please send a note or a review with your thoughts as I do enjoy hearing from all of my readers and would love to hear some feedback. Also, with next week being Christmas I will probably be late with getting the next chapter out but will try to get it asap. Thanks for reading and following along and to all who celebrate Merry Christmas, Thanks Mars Light
Standard Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon never did, never will thank you!
Serena sat out on the lanai with Darien and his father as she laid out the plans explaining her father's green economic system that he had implemented in his own businesses some time ago.
She watched as Darien's father's eyes seemed to light up with interest as she explained her father's plans and the many different aspects on how it could cut the cost of production and materials in half, it was a sound business plan, but what intrigued her most about the proposition was the overall impact it would have on the environment.
She sat back pleased hearing his father taking a genuine interest in her thoughts unlike her own parents as she took another sip from her mineral water while telling him "and you see sir by using more recycled materials it will bring your monthly materials costs lower and bring your overall revenue up"
Philip let out a loud laugh seeing that his boy had truly done it for himself and found not only a beautiful girl, who had brains, but in turn knew business strategies as well as he turned and patted his boy on the back telling him proudly "you really did it this time my boy. You got yourself some fine girl here"
Darien rolled his eyes back in his head from his father's comment and sat back in his seat showing no interest in the discussion with his arms crossed ready to fall asleep as he listened to her drabble on to his father for the past hour about the business dealings as he nodded his head stating sarcastically "yeah she's something alright"
Serena's smile grew wider to see that she seemed to be gaining his father's approval by sharing plans for their business as she nodded her head telling him back "well these are only a few ideas, there are so many other ways that can help, my father has been looking into a way to produce solar power from the sun to cut the cost of electricity. I myself have been put in charge of many projects to do so and can help the right person set up and develop such strategies"
Philip began scratching his chin in thought as a gleam entered his eyes and he looked to the bright girl in front of him asking "and you find this idea of yours with materials and labor to be cost effective"
Serena sat back in her chair pleased to be able to talk about a subject that she did know well and believed in strongly as she nodded her head telling him back "I do sir the initial lay out is a bit of an expense, but in the end the overall investment I find would be a wise decision especially based here where the sun is almost always shining and it will give your company a better rating by giving less pollution in the air"
Philip nodded his head intrigued by what he was hearing and gave this plan of hers serious consideration as he spoke while making up a plan of his own questioning "indeed and as you have said this would be a prestigious project for the right individual"
Serena nodded her head knowing first hand of the number of hours that could be spent obtaining the right contracts and materials to do the job and making sure all is done to the proper specifications as she looked to him stating firmly "well yes it would, it would involve putting in a great deal of personal hours and over-seeing the many changes to come and coordinating everything accordingly, but it also can be very rewarding work for the right individual"
Darien started to yawn at hearing this conversation of theirs continuing on longer as he shook his head, not expecting that when he agreed to bring her to meet his father that he would end up stuck in the middle of a business meeting as he looked out on the horizon thinking of all the other things, he would rather be doing at this moment then sitting here right now as he began to stand up, hearing all he needed too stating "if you'll excuse me"
Philip looked over to his boy expecting that he would find a way to hide from any real responsibility while knowing up until now Darien had shown no real interest or intentions in learning the family business, but that was all about to change as he took hold of his arm before he could venture off once more stating firmly "and here he is the next CEO of the company, along with his beautiful wife beside him, with your wonderful plans, together you will lead us to a brighter tomorrow"
Serena smiled at the aspect of working together with him as she looked over to her husband happy to hear that they would be able to work side by side on this project and hopefully bring them closer together, but did not see the same expression of joy from him as Darien quickly perked up from his otherwise quiet behavior while shaking his head shouting out "what?"
Philip looked to him seeing the same stubborn, and overly spoiled boy he had raised as he looked to the girl across from him hoping this was the golden ticket he had been waiting for and told him happily "with your brilliant wife's ideas here we can grow the company twice as much and expand our market data as well, while becoming more economical doing so, it is good business strategy"
Serena nodded her head in agreement hoping to spark some interest telling him "he's right the data has proven it so" as Darien looked towards the girl, he thought he knew, who obviously had not left her family business behind entirely and now was trying to change his perfect world and make it her own as he shook his head telling his father stubbornly "yeah that's fine and all for someone else, but not for me"
Philip stood up from his seat angrily to see once again his son showed no interest in the business, he spent years building as he shouted towards him "perhaps I have been too easy on you these paths few years, you are being given this opportunity, but all you wish to do is hang out down at the beach all day with your slacker friends, you have no compass, well things are about to change you have a wife now and a child on the way it is about time you start learning your direction"
Darien stood firmly not ready to make any solid changes in his plans as he looked to his father saying back just as loudly "that is your life father not my own, it is not what I want"
Philip looked to his son with a disapproving shake of his head while stating firmly "Darien this is our family's company that your grandfather began and built with his own two hands and it is about time that you learn the value of a hard day's work, perhaps I have been too easy on you. As my son you will learn the ropes and I expect you to report to my office first thing on Monday morning"
Serena sat back listening to father and son arguing over there future as she quietly spoke up stating "perhaps he does have a point Darien"
Darien turned to look daggers at his wife hearing her taking his fathers side in this so-called business plan of theirs as he shook his head seeing he should have known better, then to get involved with a trust fund girl and began shouting back at her "no he does not, all he is trying to do is what he always does control my life, which you should know a thing about yourself seeing as even from here, your daddy is still pulling all your strings, isn't he Serena?"
Serena sat there amazed hearing him use her parent's manipulative ways against her while not expecting to hear him take such a strong stand against all of this, half expecting that he would actually want to be involved with helping his father in a worthy cause for the environment as she shook her head telling him back "well maybe your father has a point if you would just listen, you have a responsibility now to me and this baby and"
Darien looked back at her hearing her repeating all that he had just heard from his father as though it were on an endless cycle on repeat while questioning loudly "and what now you expect me to sit behind a desk with a mound of paperwork in front of me, while wearing a suit and tie every day, sorry not happening"
Serena shook her head hearing his argument, knowing that he was afraid of losing part of himself as she replied back "that is not what I am saying at all, you don't have to wear a suit everyday"
Darien shook his head seeing that she wasn't getting it at all, it was more than just a suit, it was becoming trapped in that world again that he desperately fought to leave behind telling her forcefully "no I just have to give up what I am and everything that is fulfilling in my life and I enjoy doing, isn't that right" Serena let out a deep breath as she shook her head telling him with a small grin "they can still be a fun hobby"
Darien took a step back hearing her speak of his livelihood, the thing that is part of him and travels through his blood as just a hobby as he shook his head telling her coldly "surfing to me is not just a hobby, it is the only thing that matters most to me"
Serena stood there feeling the wind knocked right out of her by his words as she shook her head asking back hesitantly "the only thing?"
Darien looked to her knowing what she was asking and knew once he said the words from his mouth that it was true intentions as he nodded his head telling her "yes, you can't come here and expect me to change my entire life just because of" she looked to him as she wiped the tears from her eyes finishing the words for him saying "your child"
She looked up and saw him nod his head in confirmation as she placed her hand down on her stomach feeling anger welling up within from all the mixed signal's she was getting from him as she replied back firmly "this is your child, the child you said that we would raise together, the child that you made me all those promises about or have you forgotten"
Darien turned his head away from her knowing he did say all those things and looked over to his father standing there firmly with his arms crossed as a vision of what his future self could look like by following down this path with her, which was something far worse than he ever expected as he looked back to Serena and shook his head stating "it was a big mistake; you are not who I thought you were" as he turned around to leave.
Serena stood there feeling her breath get caught in her throat seeing him walking away from her, from all of this as she ran forward and grabbed him by the arm questioning "what are you saying?"
Darien turned back to look at her, remembering why he stayed clear of girls like her in the first place stating back forcefully "I like who I am, I enjoy that I am not being held down and can do as I please. I like having everything in my place the way it is. I don't want to have to report where I am going every time, I step out the door and I most certainly do not want to be stuck in an office all day because you think that I am not good enough"
Serena looked to him hearing that in his own words that he felt the way her own parents made her feel on a day-to-day basis and with a shake of her head she replied back "I never said that"
Darien rolled his eyes back hearing her take on an innocence about her when there was none as he nodded his head telling her sharply "sure you did every time you opened your mouth to change me, well this is me who I am. I am not changing for you or him" as he looked down to her stomach stating harshly "or that"
Serena felt a cold shiver run through her hearing the way he spoke of their child as she shook her head seeing that she was dealing with the reckless surfer boy again telling him "that which you speak of is your child"
Philip watched on seeing the explosive seen between his son and his wife that was about to blow up before his eyes as he shook his head stating calmly "why don't we all just sit and discuss things further"
Darien looked back to his father knowing exactly what he wanted to discuss further, how to continue trying to control his life as he shook his head telling him back harshly "I have said all that I need too, you have plenty on your payroll find someone else to do your work for you"
Serena stood there as she shook her head listening to his cold comments wondering what happened to the man she met yesterday, the man she agreed to raise this child with asking desperately "why are you doing this?"
Darien turned to look at her piercing his eyes through her skin, seeing that she would never fit into the world he had created for himself replying back "text me when the kid is born, otherwise I think we have come to the end of this road between us" as he took the keyring off his finger and dropped it down by her feet
Serena let out a loud gulp and looked down seeing the small round circle on the ground as she looked up to see her husband for all of a few hours walking away from them as she shook her head crying out "where are you going?"
Darien turned around with his eyes an ice coldness as he let out a loud scoff telling her back "somewhere I don't have others trying to change who I am" then turned and continued walking away from her.
Serena stood there as she began breathing heavily not sure what just happened how everything just went completely wrong as she felt a tender hand touch her shoulder and turned to see Philip standing behind her saying calmly "just give him some time to cool down"
Serena wiped the tears from her eyes hoping he was right and Darien just needed sometime to calm down as she nodded her head replying "alright" when they heard the sound of the slam of the front door closing and Gerald came walking over stating calmly "sir your son just left with a few choice words which I will not repeat in present company, but he did leave a message for you miss"
Serena felt a cold shiver as she looked to the studious butler questioning "what is it?" but was not really sure she wanted to know as the butler cleared his throat and looked to her saying "he was very clear in stating that you should be heading back to where you belong"
Serena closed her eyes feeling the tears she was holding at bay as she nodded her head slightly saying "thank you" when she felt the loss of the tender hand placed by her shoulder and turned to see Darien's father looking her way, but instead of the kind man looking to her instead, she had the president of a large corporation with his face stern telling her back "I think it is time that you and I have a different conversation"
Serena looked to the man in front of her who was basically a stranger to her now, unsure where this left her alone having his grandchild as she felt a slight pressure and nodded her head saying "alright"
Philip walked back over to the small table and chairs as he took a seat down in the furthest chair away telling her abruptly "my boy can be a bit careless at times and does things before he realizes the consequences"
Serena closed her eyes tight knowing she was the product of these consequences which he spoke as she nodded her head replying back "yes" Philip looked to her expecting this would not be much of a problem as he shook his head stating firmly "you are a bright girl and are knowledgeable about the ways of business which is why I am sure you will understand"
Serena stood there shaking her head not liking what she was hearing questioning "understand what?" Philip looked to her while keeping his face cross saying firmly "this arrangement of yours, has now been voided"
Serena stood there blinking her eyes as she shook her head not believing this was actually happening telling him back "no you just said that he was just blowing off some steam, he will calm down and we can discuss this"
Philip, looked to her sorrowfully of what could have been stating "my boy is not ready for the responsibility of a child I think you have seen that for yourself, it would be best if you leave and find your own way, I will be sure that you and this child are well taken care of, but there is no further reason to be in contact with my son"
Serena stood there not comprehending what she was hearing, that this man expected to just buy her off as she looked to him replying back "your son is my husband" Philip looked to her with a shake of his head expecting he would have to clean up another mess his boy had caused telling her "are you aware that he came to see me yesterday morning"
Serena looked to him with a slight shake of her head, now knowing Darien came here before meeting her and was not sure if she would like what she was about to hear telling him "no" Philip nodded his head while showing no emotion telling her "he came to me saying he had a problem he needed to get rid of, that problem was you my dear"
Serena stood there feeling her heart breaking to pieces now knowing the real reason why Darien wanted to bring her here now as she looked to the cold man sitting in front of her asking "why?" Philip looked to her with a shake of his head saying back "you know why?"
She placed her hand down onto her stomach where their child, no her child, the child he wanted no part of grew as she nodded her head in understanding saying back "yes I do"
Philip looked to her pleased seeing that she was going along much easier than some of the others had replying back "very well, I am glad we understand each other, now how much will it take?"
Serena looked to the man in front of her who was trying to buy her off and with a shake of her head questioned back "how much?" Philip nodded his head as he took his phone out of his pocket and typed in a figure and slid it across the table for her stating "yes how much will it take to make you forget about this whole ordeal"
Serena shook her head not taking the time to even look at the figure stating firmly "I don't want your money; I don't want anything to do with any one of you" as she placed her hand down on her belly telling him "I hope he will be happy with the choice he has made" and then turned to leave.
She tried to hold her tears in to not let these people see her cry and quickly ran out to the front of the house, as she looked out to the front drive, but was not surprised to find his car gone and her packed bag sitting on the ground in front of the house as she wiped away the tears from her eyes unsure what she would do now as she spoke aloud "I guess it is just us again" when she heard a female's voice speak up from behind saying gently "let me give you a ride"
She turned around surprised to see the woman with whom she judged unfairly when she first walked in the house, now being one of the few who was being kind as she shook her head telling her back "I don't even know where to go"
Claudette looked to her seeing this girl was yet another cast off by Darien and with a slight nod of her head telling her softly "I can arrange it for you to stay at the Wilshire for a night or two, but after that you will have to find your own way"
Serena looked to her with a simple nod of her head hoping that was all she needed was a day of two to let him cool down, then find Darien, speak to him and get this whole mess cleared up between them and hopefully go back to the way it was earlier telling her softly "thank you"
Claudette gently tapped her on the shoulder knowing this was the least she could do replying "wait right here while I go get my purse and keys" Serena nodded her head as she saw the proper woman walk back into the grand house and looked around where she currently stood that did not seem like paradise any longer.
After a few minutes of waiting, she sat quietly in the car as they drove back into town which Claudette had the grace to not mention anything of what happened back at the estate as she parked the car in front of the hotel and Serena looked up to the posh hotel not expecting that she would be back here so soon again as she heard Claudette speak up saying "well this is it"
Serena turned to look back at her trying to keep her emotions in check as she replied back causally "yes thank you for the ride" Claudette looked to the young girl who obviously was stuck in a bad situation as she asked casually "will you be alright?"
Serena looked to her, but at the moment did not have the answer to the question herself as she nodded her head telling her "yes thank you" Claudette nodded her head as she reached into the backseat and grabbed her bag telling her "here if you go in the hotel and ask for Martin, I am sure he can help you out with a room for a few nights just tell him that I sent you"
Serena nodded her head as she tried to keep the tears from falling from her eyes not expecting this would be where she would end up again alone as she nodded her head telling her "I will" and then grabbed her bag and exited the car as she walked up towards the hotel
She took a deep breath in seeing the entrance doors to the hotel once again in front of her then turned around for a second to see the only friend she seemed to have around here, only to see the silver Mercedes she drove had already sped back off down the road.
She let out a small chuckle surprised that she would think otherwise and that she would find any kind of support or compassion around here, then opened the door and walked into the hotel and up to the same clerk who stood by the counter earlier this morning when she was checking out asking "pardon, but is there a Martin here that I may speak with"
The gentleman looked to her plainly with a shake of his head replying back "I am afraid Martin is off today, but is there anything that I can help you with miss"
Serena took a deep breath knowing with her luck, she should expect nothing less and shook her head telling him "no thank you" then turned to walk back out of the hotel.
She put her bag over her shoulder and looked around trying to figure out what her next steps would be and began slowly walking down the sidewalk seeing that it was getting more crowded now with people heading towards the beach, a small smirk crossed her face thinking about the man that she had spent the day with yesterday, the real man not the fake one that he had shown everyone else as she shook her head not wanting to believe what he said was true and that it could all end this way.
She followed the narrow path down which led right to the beach and as she expected it was full of beach blankets and people lounging out to get a tan as she looked around, but did not see any sight of her surfer boy. She took a deep breath in and listened to the sound of the waves rolling in and carefully walked up closer to the water as she placed her bag down onto the sand and slipped off her sandals taking the few steps needed until she felt the water covering her bare feet.
She closed her eyes and tried to picture in her mind standing here yesterday with his arms wrapped tightly around her as together they listened to the sound of the ocean waves crashing in. She wiped the tears from her eyes knowing what they felt what she felt had not been made up that it was real when she heard a voice from behind coldly asking "what are you doing here?"
She felt her heart jump as she slowly turned around expecting to see her husband and hoped that maybe they could talk just the two of them and find a way to make this all work out, but saw that he was not alone that he stood there with Eva hanging off his arm as she tried to hide the doubt which was swirling up inside her mind saying timidly "I thought we should talk"
Darien looked back at her with the same cold look he had on earlier saying "there is nothing to talk about" Serena looked back at him with a shake of her head crying out "sure there is, please Darien can we just discuss this"
Eva let out a small laugh expecting what was between them would not last as she grabbed tighter onto his arm and looked to Serena with disdain telling him "really you would think she would get the picture" then looked back to Serena telling her coldly "you're not wanted, you don't belong here"
Serena did her best to ignore Eva's smug comment as she looked to Darien begging "please can we just go somewhere we can talk privately" Darien looked to her with a shake of his, having no intentions of bringing up certain subjects telling her back "what's the point, this was a big mistake. Eva's right you don't belong here"
Serena looked to him not believing what she was hearing feeling like she was standing next to a completely different man, then the man she had agreed to marry while shaking her head asking "but what about all you said about our future together and wanting to be a good parent"
Darien looked to her standing there before him with tears beginning to show in her eyes and with a shake of his head, he replied back telling her "what about it indeed?"
Serena stood there feeling with every cold word he said was another slice to her heart as she looked to him not sure what happened to the man, she met yesterday who opened up to her in ways she didn't expect asking uncertain "why are you acting this way"
Darien turned to look at her with a cold look in his eyes, she had not witnessed before telling her "because you are trying to change me into you, a suit wearing, briefcase carrying, stuck up snob and I won't have it" as he turned to walk away from her and Eva gave her a small wave of her hand telling her mockingly "bah bye"
Serena stood there watching them walk away together as she let out a loud gulp, not wanting to believe what she was seeing with her own eyes and shook her head trying to explain telling him "you can still do all those things that you love to do, the surfing and playing in your band, but now you will have a grown-up job also"
Darien turned around to look at her quickly with his expression cold and firm as he told her with a finality to his voice "good bye Serena"
She looked to him not letting him cut her out of his life this easy while shaking her head asking "are you just going to surf your whole life away and play guitar at a luau restaurant, can you really pretend this child does not exist, like it or not your father was right and you have a responsibility to us now"
She was taken back by his response when he quickly crossed the sand over to her and grabbed onto her chin forcing her head to look up and face him while saying with a warning "I have made my own decisions I am not my father and I don't want his life or follow with his choices"
Serena looked to him with tears running down her eyes replying back desperately "I never said you were" while Darien looked to her with a shake of his head and let out a small chuckle telling her "no you just want me to follow the same path he does, change me into you and I won't have it"
Serena looked to him not sure where this hatred towards her was coming from why they couldn't find a way to talk through this as she shook her head asking "what? that is not what this about" Darien looked to her expecting this had been her plan all along to change him into a her, all dressed up in her designer clothes while saying back "sure it is look at me and then tell me that you want me just as I am, face it I am not good enough for you park avenue princess"
Serena looked to him with a shake of her head to hear him say such cruel things to her now, after she opened up and told him things about her past yesterday and for a short time thought he did understand as she cried out "I was wrong about you"
Darien nodded his head as he replied back smugly telling her "then we do have something in common because I was wrong too, what you thought you know is wrong we do come from two completely different worlds and now it's time for you to go back where you belong, like I should have done with you in the first place"
Serena stood there shaking her head not believing what she was hearing, that he was just letting her go after a misunderstanding as she shook her head telling him "you can't mean that, Darien we have a child to think of what about Myles or Anna, you promised you would be there for us"
Eva turned to look his way to see what his comment would be of his own child and was a little take back herself from his comment as he shook his head telling Serena "it was a mistake that should have never been and it doesn't matter now"
Serena felt the final rip at her heart as it was torn in two to hear him call their child a mistake as she nodded her head unable to hold the tears in any longer replying back "I see, so this is it, you're really going to toss us aside and pick up the phone once a year on their birthday, that's what you told me you didn't want"
Eva let go of his arm and took a slight step back seeing the man that they all looked up to like a hero denouncing his own child as she heard his cold comment saying back "I've made my choice and now it is time that we go our separate ways" as he looked towards Eva's way questioning "are you coming?"
Eva let out a low gulp feeling something she thought impossible that she would actually feel pity for Serena, but just as quick as it had come, she let it pass as she saw his expectant look her way and hoped this was her chance as she walked up and took hold of Darien's arm tightly while telling him pleased "of course" as they walked down the beach together.
Serena stood there feeling a cold shiver run through her as she wrapped her arms tightly around herself as she watched Darien the man she had fallen in love with, that she had just married walking off with another woman on his arm as she fell down to her knees and cried out "Darien"
Eva turned her head slightly to see the crushed girl they were leaving on the beach as she took hold of Darien's arm a little tighter saying with a grin "it is a good thing you came to your senses about her"
Darien turned to look at Eva seeing that he was able to get his point across well enough and removed her hand from his arm replying back coldly "whatever it was a mistake and I don't want to hear any more about it"
Eva smiled enjoying all the attention she was getting from him as she continued walking down the beach at his side while trying to show off a little bare skin telling him "it is better this way anyhow you and I have much more in common then she does"
Darien let out a deep breath having no interest right now in pursuing any one of the opposite persuasions as he tried to ignore her comment telling her back "yeah whatever let's just go surfing okay"
Eva smiled as she reached up to touch his cheek hoping to get her point across telling him seductively "whatever you want handsome" as he grabbed tightly onto her hand pulling it away from his face while telling her harshly "and keep your hands to yourself" then released her arm as he continued to walk ahead alone.
Serena slowly stood back up to her feet as she looked around seeing no sight of him, but everyone else had turned their attention her way after the horrible scene that they had just witnessed, as she covered her mouth to keep from screaming out the pain, she felt from the large hole left in her heart and quickly grabbed up her bag from the sand and made her way back over to the hotel.
She went inside the hotel and up to the courtesy desk as the gentleman from earlier looked to her asking "is there something, I can help you with miss" she tried to wipe away the remaining tears from her eyes and keep her voice steady from breaking while asking courteously "yes please may I use your phone"
The gentleman at the desk looked to her seeing that she was the same girl who was here a few minutes earlier, but this time looked very upset and crumpled as he asked cautiously "are you alright miss?"
Serena looked to the man in front of her knowing she was anything, but alright, but did not want to start explaining her problems to a complete stranger who could not help her anyway as nodded her head telling him softly "yes, I just need to use your phone please?"
The man looked to her with a slight nod of his head seeing she was obviously not going to go into detail as he slid the phone across the counter telling her "here you are"
Serena looked down at the phone knowing she had no other choice as she held up the receiver in her hand and then hesitated as she looked down to the numbers before dialing as the man looked to her oddly questioning "is there someone I can dial for you?"
Serena shook her head no as she let out a deep gulp knowing she could wait no longer and then dialed the number she knew by heart, waited a few rings before someone finally picked up saying "hello" she let out a long sigh as she heard the woman on the other line asking "who is this?" and then finally commented back sadly "mother I want to come home"
