The Most And No Less
Chapter 2-Paying Debts
As Serenity leaned against the wall of the elevator, unhappy of the way Duke looked at her when she stepped into his office dressed in the uniform. "He had no right to look at me that way." She thought to herself, flipping through the booklet on being a clerk as if she cared about what it said. "Now, I need to go to the red and black cash register in the South Wing. That shouldn't be too hard to find." She thought, having already been in there once or twice.
She walked slowly to the South Wing, looking for the red and black cash register. "Finally..." She whispered to herself, relieved that she finally found it. She knew that she was eventually, but it was hard to see with all the colors and all the people. It was amazing how Duke's store brought in so many people, unlike Yugi's Grandpa's shop that brought around five people a day. Not only that, but the day went great! There were no rude customers. The work was not hard. And it paid well. What more could you want in a job?
"Guess what, Joey?" Serenity shouted as she came home from work, hugging her brother floppily.
"What is it, sis? Have a good day?" He asked, already knowing the answer.
"I had a GREAT day! The job pays well; I mean $240.00 with everything taken out. And the people there are all just like our friends, friendly and having a love for games. It also doesn't hurt that Duke is such a great person. I could not have asked for a greater boss or a friend!" Serenity blabbed, exited about telling Joey how great something was in her life.
"That's great, sis. Just watch out for that Duke. He's more then he seems. I wouldn't want him to hurtcha or anything." Joey advised, worriedly.
"Aw, Joey. Duke isn't bad." Serenity assumed. "Or is he." She mumbled to herself, clips of her dream running through her head.
~*~A Week Later At BC Store~*~
Serenity wandered up the steps, since the elevator was broken. She wore her coat and brought her purse since it was time to leave. In her hand was her paycheck, but only a mere $140.00, not her expected $240.00. This was the reason she was going to see Duke. The secretaries said that they had no idea why one-hundred dollars was taken off her pay check, and to see Duke Devlin. She couldn't see why that money would be subtracted. She had been a great clerk, always treating the customers with the kindness and respect as she treated everyone with. So, she assumed it had to be a mistake.
"Uh, Duke? It's Serenity." She paused, after knocking on his door.
"Come in." He replied calmly. Serenity stepped in. "Yes?" He asked calmly, with no smile or change of expression.
"Um, it's about my paycheck." She explained, handing the certificate to him. She felt awkward about asking about it. Unsure if it was rude or not. He scanned the piece of paper.
"Yes?" He replied, acting as if nothing was wrong with it.
"Um, well, I, err, noticed that my paycheck is a little bit lower then it should be. Missing about one hundred dollars, I believe." Serenity paused, sweating. She didn't want to sound like a money-loving creep, but she needed to the money. And it was hard not to get startled by having the $100.00 subtracted.
"I see. Well, I'll have to look it over again when I get the time to, Serenity. Sorry for the inconvenience." Duke apologized not-so- apologetically. Before, in his office, Duke talked to Serenity like a friend, not an employee. And him talking to her as if she was anyone else struck Serenity's curiosity.
"Does he still, have that, 'thing' for me? Not that I care, but he's been treating me differently. Maybe he thinks I feel the same way about Tristan as Tristan feels for me. Now, that's a scary thought." Serenity thought to herself, then continued, "maybe that's what he thinks. That I have a 'thing' for Tristan. That has to be it. That has to be the reason for us not talking in the car on the way here. And the reason for him not talking to me as a friend."
"Serenity, do you need anything else? Because you could go back to the register." Duke hinted in an "I want you to leave but not sound rude" way.
"Oh, just so you know, nothing is going on between me and Tristan. He is just a friend. Like a brother, even. But nothing more." She stated, hoping that was the thing that was bothering him.
"Oh, that's good to know." Duke replied, rubbing the back of his head. Serenity smiled and was about to leave. "Oh, and Serenity."
"Yes?" Serenity replied, anxious to hear what he would say.
"I'm sorry but I cannot drive you home from work today. I have tons of work to do and a trip to America to plan. A long with that I won't be able to drive you here and home for 3 weeks." He stated. Serenity just smiled and quickly exited, gladly going home.
~*~Serenity And Joey's House~*~
Serenity arrived home exhausted. She sat down on the couch as Joey began questioning her.
"Why are ya late?"
"Did that good-for-nothin Devlin do somethin' to ya?"
"Did ya get the whole pay-thing straightened out?"
"Serenity, are you even listenin to me?"
"SERENITY!" Joey shouted. Serenity finally looked up. "Sis, Ya not actin like yaself. What's wrong?" He asked, sitting next to her.
"Duke couldn't drive me home because he is busy. He was also too busy to give me a final answer on my paycheck. And no, he would never do anything to me, Joey. He is my friend."
"Well, ya know that if he EVER does anything to ya, sis, ya just let me know!" Joey ordered with a wave, heading with the newspaper to where he called the, "John.".
"Oh, Joey." Serenity sighed, rolling her eyes.
~*~ After Work, The Next Day~*~
"Serenity Wheeler, please see Mr. Devlin in his office. That will be all." The speaker screeched. All of the other employees gasped, but she assumed it was about her paycheck, so she proudly went up the steps to his office. She looked out the window. Rain was pouring, puddles were created by the side of the sidewalks, and business men with umbrellas had a miserable look on their faces.
"Uh, Mr. Devlin, you wanted to see me?" Serenity knocked, not liking talking so informally with him.
"Come in Serenity. And it's just Duke. You know that." He said, trailing off. He put away some papers, feeling a bit nervous. "How am I going to ask her out. I mean I did so good not jumping for joy when she said she didn't like Tristan. But. What if she turns me down. She is so beautiful. Am I good enough for her? Such a lovely personality fitting such nice curves. I hope she doesn't notice me stare." Duke mumbled to himself until Serenity walked in. She looked gorgeous. Hair pulled back into a messy bun, make-up applied perfectly, half-smiling, in the short-skirted and tight topped uniform. "How can I resist.?" Duke questioned himself after staring at Serenity for quite awhile.
"Oh, uh, did you need me for something?" Serenity asked innocently, folding her hands together and pushing her heals inward.
"It's about your paycheck." He stated with a smirk, walking towards her.
"Y-Yes?" She stuttered, not liking the gleam in his eye and the smirk on his lips.
"You were right. $100.00 was missing. But it was taken out because you still owe me some.debts." He replied, smirking evilly, pulling a strand of her hair that escaped from her bun behind her ear. Slides from her dream were being played in her mind, and she grew nervous. She gave a weak smile and then took a step back.
"What do you mean.debts?" Serenity asked, brushing his hand away and beginning to feel more uncomfortable.
"Oh, don't worry. You can pay them back, right now." He replied, picking her up from her arms and dropping her on the 2-person couch, kissing her malevolently on the lips.
"Duke! What do you think your doing!" Serenity shouted, attempting to shove him off.
"What we should've been doing a long time ago." He whispered into her ear. She shivered feeling his breath in her ear and then she rammed her knee into his gut, smacked him with her high heal shoe, and ran out. Luckily, she was out of work when he called her in so she could go home immediately.
~*~ The Walk Home ~*~
"This is.Unbelievable! I cannot believe he would take advantage of me like that!" Serenity mumbled, heals splashing against the puddles on the sidewalk. She speed walked through the crowd, never saying, "Excuse me." whenever she would bump into a business man also taking the route. "Joey was right. I never should've-OUCH!" Serenity screamed, falling on the ground and ripping her skirt. It appeared that the heal on her shoe broke on a crack in the sidewalk. "This has to be the worse day of my life." Serenity thought, eyes full of tears about to spout.
To go home, Serenity always went through a park. It was beautiful and it was a shorter way to get to her and her brother's apartment. Glad that the rain finally stopped and she and the many muddy puddles were the only ones in the park, she took a seat on a damp bench. "This is unfair!" She pouted throwing her shoe on the ground. And with her luck for the day, a huge black limo with three different doors on each side was taking the scenic route for the day, tires running over the puddle, splashing the muddy water all over poor Serenity. Soaked and pissed, Serenity picked up her shoe and threw it at the limo, breaking the back window into a million pieces. "Oh, shit!" She mumbled, attempting to run the opposite way with only one high heal shoe on.
Serenity stopped to take a breather until she heard the limo screech, turn around, and pull up right beside her. At this point, her heart was beating faster then a hummingbird's. She had a hectic day and this was all she needed: To get yelled at by some millionaire and have to pay for the limo's window when she was quitting because her former friend and boss is a horny moron. The window rolled down, and all that was seen was a shadow of a face.
"Get in the car." The shadow ordered in a deep and irritated voice. Knowing she should never get in a car with a stranger, Serenity immediately protested but was pulled in after she started explaining how her day went. "There is no excuse for throwing your shoe at my window!" The voice yelled, staring at the wet and pissed stranger he ordered in his car.
"Kaiba?" She asked, tilting her head to the side in confusion. Great, she just got "attacked" by Duke, broke her shoe, got splashed by Kaiba, and then when she breaks his window he practically
"Well, if it isn't the mutt's sister. I would like to see the look on the chihuahua's face when he finds his drenched sister with me." He stated with an evil smirk.
"Please, Kaiba, I'm really not in the mood to deal with you and my brother. Just take me home." Serenity replied, holding her cheek against the window as rain streamed once again. She began feeling rain drops that came through from the shattered back window.
"And what makes you think I should take you home, Wheeler? What about my limo window? Thanks to you and your fit of aggravation, I could be bleeding with ice shards stuck in me and my laptop. What makes you think I will let you just get away with this?" Kaiba growled evilly, somewhat slinking towards her.
"But you aren't. And I don't have the money right now to pay you for your stupid window!" Serenity shouted, pulling the handle on the door, "And I don't plan on paying it, either." She then jumped out and headed for home while Kaiba grinned evilly and calmly said,
"Oh, you will pay it. You won't like it, but you will pay it."
PurpleSugar: Oh, I hope that wasn't cheesy and predictable. I had 3 snow days in a row so I finally finished it. Thanks for the reviews. I tried to change the formatting and I hope it's better now. ^_^
Chapter 2-Paying Debts
As Serenity leaned against the wall of the elevator, unhappy of the way Duke looked at her when she stepped into his office dressed in the uniform. "He had no right to look at me that way." She thought to herself, flipping through the booklet on being a clerk as if she cared about what it said. "Now, I need to go to the red and black cash register in the South Wing. That shouldn't be too hard to find." She thought, having already been in there once or twice.
She walked slowly to the South Wing, looking for the red and black cash register. "Finally..." She whispered to herself, relieved that she finally found it. She knew that she was eventually, but it was hard to see with all the colors and all the people. It was amazing how Duke's store brought in so many people, unlike Yugi's Grandpa's shop that brought around five people a day. Not only that, but the day went great! There were no rude customers. The work was not hard. And it paid well. What more could you want in a job?
"Guess what, Joey?" Serenity shouted as she came home from work, hugging her brother floppily.
"What is it, sis? Have a good day?" He asked, already knowing the answer.
"I had a GREAT day! The job pays well; I mean $240.00 with everything taken out. And the people there are all just like our friends, friendly and having a love for games. It also doesn't hurt that Duke is such a great person. I could not have asked for a greater boss or a friend!" Serenity blabbed, exited about telling Joey how great something was in her life.
"That's great, sis. Just watch out for that Duke. He's more then he seems. I wouldn't want him to hurtcha or anything." Joey advised, worriedly.
"Aw, Joey. Duke isn't bad." Serenity assumed. "Or is he." She mumbled to herself, clips of her dream running through her head.
~*~A Week Later At BC Store~*~
Serenity wandered up the steps, since the elevator was broken. She wore her coat and brought her purse since it was time to leave. In her hand was her paycheck, but only a mere $140.00, not her expected $240.00. This was the reason she was going to see Duke. The secretaries said that they had no idea why one-hundred dollars was taken off her pay check, and to see Duke Devlin. She couldn't see why that money would be subtracted. She had been a great clerk, always treating the customers with the kindness and respect as she treated everyone with. So, she assumed it had to be a mistake.
"Uh, Duke? It's Serenity." She paused, after knocking on his door.
"Come in." He replied calmly. Serenity stepped in. "Yes?" He asked calmly, with no smile or change of expression.
"Um, it's about my paycheck." She explained, handing the certificate to him. She felt awkward about asking about it. Unsure if it was rude or not. He scanned the piece of paper.
"Yes?" He replied, acting as if nothing was wrong with it.
"Um, well, I, err, noticed that my paycheck is a little bit lower then it should be. Missing about one hundred dollars, I believe." Serenity paused, sweating. She didn't want to sound like a money-loving creep, but she needed to the money. And it was hard not to get startled by having the $100.00 subtracted.
"I see. Well, I'll have to look it over again when I get the time to, Serenity. Sorry for the inconvenience." Duke apologized not-so- apologetically. Before, in his office, Duke talked to Serenity like a friend, not an employee. And him talking to her as if she was anyone else struck Serenity's curiosity.
"Does he still, have that, 'thing' for me? Not that I care, but he's been treating me differently. Maybe he thinks I feel the same way about Tristan as Tristan feels for me. Now, that's a scary thought." Serenity thought to herself, then continued, "maybe that's what he thinks. That I have a 'thing' for Tristan. That has to be it. That has to be the reason for us not talking in the car on the way here. And the reason for him not talking to me as a friend."
"Serenity, do you need anything else? Because you could go back to the register." Duke hinted in an "I want you to leave but not sound rude" way.
"Oh, just so you know, nothing is going on between me and Tristan. He is just a friend. Like a brother, even. But nothing more." She stated, hoping that was the thing that was bothering him.
"Oh, that's good to know." Duke replied, rubbing the back of his head. Serenity smiled and was about to leave. "Oh, and Serenity."
"Yes?" Serenity replied, anxious to hear what he would say.
"I'm sorry but I cannot drive you home from work today. I have tons of work to do and a trip to America to plan. A long with that I won't be able to drive you here and home for 3 weeks." He stated. Serenity just smiled and quickly exited, gladly going home.
~*~Serenity And Joey's House~*~
Serenity arrived home exhausted. She sat down on the couch as Joey began questioning her.
"Why are ya late?"
"Did that good-for-nothin Devlin do somethin' to ya?"
"Did ya get the whole pay-thing straightened out?"
"Serenity, are you even listenin to me?"
"SERENITY!" Joey shouted. Serenity finally looked up. "Sis, Ya not actin like yaself. What's wrong?" He asked, sitting next to her.
"Duke couldn't drive me home because he is busy. He was also too busy to give me a final answer on my paycheck. And no, he would never do anything to me, Joey. He is my friend."
"Well, ya know that if he EVER does anything to ya, sis, ya just let me know!" Joey ordered with a wave, heading with the newspaper to where he called the, "John.".
"Oh, Joey." Serenity sighed, rolling her eyes.
~*~ After Work, The Next Day~*~
"Serenity Wheeler, please see Mr. Devlin in his office. That will be all." The speaker screeched. All of the other employees gasped, but she assumed it was about her paycheck, so she proudly went up the steps to his office. She looked out the window. Rain was pouring, puddles were created by the side of the sidewalks, and business men with umbrellas had a miserable look on their faces.
"Uh, Mr. Devlin, you wanted to see me?" Serenity knocked, not liking talking so informally with him.
"Come in Serenity. And it's just Duke. You know that." He said, trailing off. He put away some papers, feeling a bit nervous. "How am I going to ask her out. I mean I did so good not jumping for joy when she said she didn't like Tristan. But. What if she turns me down. She is so beautiful. Am I good enough for her? Such a lovely personality fitting such nice curves. I hope she doesn't notice me stare." Duke mumbled to himself until Serenity walked in. She looked gorgeous. Hair pulled back into a messy bun, make-up applied perfectly, half-smiling, in the short-skirted and tight topped uniform. "How can I resist.?" Duke questioned himself after staring at Serenity for quite awhile.
"Oh, uh, did you need me for something?" Serenity asked innocently, folding her hands together and pushing her heals inward.
"It's about your paycheck." He stated with a smirk, walking towards her.
"Y-Yes?" She stuttered, not liking the gleam in his eye and the smirk on his lips.
"You were right. $100.00 was missing. But it was taken out because you still owe me some.debts." He replied, smirking evilly, pulling a strand of her hair that escaped from her bun behind her ear. Slides from her dream were being played in her mind, and she grew nervous. She gave a weak smile and then took a step back.
"What do you mean.debts?" Serenity asked, brushing his hand away and beginning to feel more uncomfortable.
"Oh, don't worry. You can pay them back, right now." He replied, picking her up from her arms and dropping her on the 2-person couch, kissing her malevolently on the lips.
"Duke! What do you think your doing!" Serenity shouted, attempting to shove him off.
"What we should've been doing a long time ago." He whispered into her ear. She shivered feeling his breath in her ear and then she rammed her knee into his gut, smacked him with her high heal shoe, and ran out. Luckily, she was out of work when he called her in so she could go home immediately.
~*~ The Walk Home ~*~
"This is.Unbelievable! I cannot believe he would take advantage of me like that!" Serenity mumbled, heals splashing against the puddles on the sidewalk. She speed walked through the crowd, never saying, "Excuse me." whenever she would bump into a business man also taking the route. "Joey was right. I never should've-OUCH!" Serenity screamed, falling on the ground and ripping her skirt. It appeared that the heal on her shoe broke on a crack in the sidewalk. "This has to be the worse day of my life." Serenity thought, eyes full of tears about to spout.
To go home, Serenity always went through a park. It was beautiful and it was a shorter way to get to her and her brother's apartment. Glad that the rain finally stopped and she and the many muddy puddles were the only ones in the park, she took a seat on a damp bench. "This is unfair!" She pouted throwing her shoe on the ground. And with her luck for the day, a huge black limo with three different doors on each side was taking the scenic route for the day, tires running over the puddle, splashing the muddy water all over poor Serenity. Soaked and pissed, Serenity picked up her shoe and threw it at the limo, breaking the back window into a million pieces. "Oh, shit!" She mumbled, attempting to run the opposite way with only one high heal shoe on.
Serenity stopped to take a breather until she heard the limo screech, turn around, and pull up right beside her. At this point, her heart was beating faster then a hummingbird's. She had a hectic day and this was all she needed: To get yelled at by some millionaire and have to pay for the limo's window when she was quitting because her former friend and boss is a horny moron. The window rolled down, and all that was seen was a shadow of a face.
"Get in the car." The shadow ordered in a deep and irritated voice. Knowing she should never get in a car with a stranger, Serenity immediately protested but was pulled in after she started explaining how her day went. "There is no excuse for throwing your shoe at my window!" The voice yelled, staring at the wet and pissed stranger he ordered in his car.
"Kaiba?" She asked, tilting her head to the side in confusion. Great, she just got "attacked" by Duke, broke her shoe, got splashed by Kaiba, and then when she breaks his window he practically
"Well, if it isn't the mutt's sister. I would like to see the look on the chihuahua's face when he finds his drenched sister with me." He stated with an evil smirk.
"Please, Kaiba, I'm really not in the mood to deal with you and my brother. Just take me home." Serenity replied, holding her cheek against the window as rain streamed once again. She began feeling rain drops that came through from the shattered back window.
"And what makes you think I should take you home, Wheeler? What about my limo window? Thanks to you and your fit of aggravation, I could be bleeding with ice shards stuck in me and my laptop. What makes you think I will let you just get away with this?" Kaiba growled evilly, somewhat slinking towards her.
"But you aren't. And I don't have the money right now to pay you for your stupid window!" Serenity shouted, pulling the handle on the door, "And I don't plan on paying it, either." She then jumped out and headed for home while Kaiba grinned evilly and calmly said,
"Oh, you will pay it. You won't like it, but you will pay it."
PurpleSugar: Oh, I hope that wasn't cheesy and predictable. I had 3 snow days in a row so I finally finished it. Thanks for the reviews. I tried to change the formatting and I hope it's better now. ^_^