Darien suggested that they first grab some dinner in a nearby cafe and she agreed. A while after their dinner had been served, the proprietress herself approached their table.
"This is the first time that only the two of you are here together. Usually, you are joined by a group of Mr. Shields's business friends. Should I ask the staff to get ready, in case a big group would join you?"
Madame Corie was looking at Serena and she looked instead at Darien. She really didn't know what his plans were.
"Not tonight, Madame Corie. It will be just me and my future bride. You might as well be the first person to congratulate me and Serena. She's agreed to marry me."
"Oh! How wonderful. I knew it! I knew it that first time you showed up in my restaurant. I told my sister, that is, my assistant supervisor here, that you two will end up together.' Aren't I just right!"
Serena was blushing again. It was a good thing that the lighting was dim ang Madam Corie's eyesight does not seem to be very good, but Serena was very sure Darien noticed her cheeks and would have said some sardonic remark if Madame Corie had left. It must be opportune that she and Jed had never dined in this place the two years they were together.
"Have you seen your best friend, Serena? She came in with her husband," Madame Corie told her.
"Molly?" Serena repeated and looked around. She spotted her friend, the the only redhead on the dance floor, with her brown-haired husband. Perhaps it would help her if she'd enlist the help of Molly and her husband Marvin? After all, never in a thousand years would her best friend believe that she fell out of love with Jed and head over heels with her boss.
Before Serena could reply,Madame Corie had left them after congratulating them again and the old woman was now walking towards Molly and her husband. It was not that Molly needed to work, Marvin could support the two of them as a university professor, but her best friend admitted that she got so lonely without anything to do in the house and having a baby was not yet a priority.
Serena began to feel uneasy when her friend turned to look at her. She was sure that Molly was frowning.
"Are you thinking of telling your friends of our arrangement?" Darien asked.
"Not all of my friends, but I think Molly knowing about our agreement will not cause her to worry much about me. Besides, she'd never believe that I totally fell for your good looks alone."
"Good looks." A corner of his mouth lifted in amusement. "That seems to be my only redeeming grace as far as you and your best friend are concerned."
Before she could reply that it was not so, that they also considered him a very astute businessman and fair employer, Molly and husband were there and seemed to have the impression that they'd been invited to join the 'couple.'
"Serena…" Molly was still frowning as she and her husband occupied the seats in front of her and Darien. "What is that Madame Corie saying? Is she high? How can you be marrying His Highness—"
Marvin's, "Molly, darling" coincided with Serena's, "Molly, I'm afraid it's true, and I'll appreciate it if you'll help me persuade the girls that I only said those things about Darien because I wanted to keep him for myself."
Molly sighed. "Mina might believe it, sweet bimbo that she is. But the others may not be that easy to convince. It would be better to let them draw their own conclusions or ask when it's already a fait accompli. There is going to be a marriage, isn't there?" She looked at Darien.
"Molly, it's their business," Marvin said in a warning tone.
"Trust me, Marvin, where Serena's concerned, it's also my business."
"Yes, there's to be a wedding but it's to be held in Greece."
"What exactly happened?" Molly turned to face Serena.
Darien called the waiter to order a fresh set of drinks.