Title: Housing Love
Author: K. Ly
Rating: PG
Chapter: Two
Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon. If only life was that perfect.
Author's Updates: Hi guys! Thanks for all the positive reviews! Here's the second chapter! Happy Reading!
Chapter Two
***
"Mr. Shields?"
No answer.
"Mr. Shields?"
No answer.
"MR. SHIELDS?!"
"YES?! Um, sorry Molly," Darien answered the intercom with a gruff voice.
"Mr. Andrew Norton is here to see you," Molly replied.
Darien groaned. "Send him in, Molly."
Before Darien knew it, a tall, blond man was standing in front of him dressed in an impeccable suit.
"And good morning to you," Andrew chuckled as he set himself down in one of the chairs placed in front of Darien's desk.
"Please, Andrew. Have a seat," Darien replied sardonically.
"So you've been living HERE for the last week," Andrew mentioned as he looked around the office. Clothes strewn around the room, books everywhere, takeout boxes cluttering the coffee table. "Darien, this can't be your office. It's more like your apartment when we were in college."
"What do you want Andrew?"
"I came by to give you this," Andrew said while taking an envelope out of his jacket pocket.
Darien swiftly opened the envelope with a letter opener. "You are cordially invited to the Kaufman's annual Winter Gala," Darien read aloud. "This thing again?"
Andrew laughed aloud.
"I hate these things," Darien sighed as he tossed the invitation on his mahogany desk. "Serena would always drag me to it. Complained that we never saw Raye and Chad enough."
"Darien you're already the most powerful man in this city, who's the owner of the largest electronics and entertainment company in the states, not to mention the world. You've beaten out Sony and Philips, but I enjoy the fact that Serena could always make you powerless. By the way, does Serena know you're living here?"
"No, and if you utter a word to her, I'll buy your magazine company and tear it apart."
"Threats aren't very nice, Darien. After all it's my magazine that's publishing an article on your 62.8 billion dollars a year company this spring."
Darien looked at Andrew with narrow eyes. Andrew just smirked. After all these years, Andrew could still make Darien feel like a total ass.
"So planning on going to the Gala?"
"No, thank god I don't have Serena to drag me to it this year," Darien replied looking down at the papers set in front of him.
"I would consider going to the party." Andrew looked at Darien with an amused expression.
"Why?"
"Well, you've been talking about that deal with Wiltshire & Wiltshire Communications, right?"
"Right? We've been talking about a merger for how many years now?"
"I heard from my colleagues that Wiltshire Jr. is going to be at the party. He's really good friends of Raye and Chad."
"I don't know Andrew. You know how I hate these kind of functions."
"Even though it can boost your sales and inventory. Not to mention all that stuff that I don't even understand."
"You were never good at business terms."
"That's done then. You can accompany Mina and me to the party," Andrew stood up.
"Yeah, yeah. Don't let the door hit you on the way out," Darien grinned.
As Andrew headed out of the door, he looked back at Darien who was looking through various files. "Oh, and Darien?"
Darien looked up at his best friend. "Yeah?"
"Clean up this mess."
***
"Mrs. Norton. You have a call on line 7."
"Thank you, Melanie." Mina picked up the sleek black phone and held it up to her ear. It was already afternoon and Mina was sitting at her desk working on new plans for a new building at the architect firm. "Hello?"
"You were absolutely right," replied a voice. "Darien still loves Serena."
"AH-ha! I was right!"
"Yes you were right, but that doesn't mean Serena still loves Darien."
"Andrew. I've known Serena since high school. Of course she still loves Darien!"
"Mina-" Andrew said with a warning tone.
"I told you Andrew. Love like that doesn't come around so often."
Andrew paused. "I know, sweetheart. But what can we do about it?"
"Andrew, I'm not going to sit here, and let my best friend lose the only man she's ever loved."
"Unless you can think of some brilliant plan to get them together, we can't interfere with them anymore. It would be too much work. It took me forever just to get Darien to go to the Winter Gala with us. Think how hard it's going to be when I try to convince Darien to get back together with Serena."
"Andrew-"
"Hey Mina. You ready for lunch?" spoke a voice. It was Serena. She opened the door and leaned on the frame. Mina immediately covered the mouthpiece with her hand.
"Hey, Sere. Yeah just one second. Oh and by the way, are you going to the Kaufman's Winter Gala?"
Serena looked at Mina with a confused expression. "Um, I wasn't planning on it. Seeing as I have no date."
"Come with me and Andrew. It will be loads of fun."
"Oh Mina, I'm not sure."
"Please?" Mina's eyes grew wide with a sense of plea.
"Fine. I'll go. I haven't seen Raye in a while anyway," Serena said. 'Darien probably won't be there so what do I have to lose?' She thought to herself.
"Yea! I'll meet you out in the lobby."
Serena stepped out of Mina's office as Mina returned to the phone call.
"Andrew. I have to go. Can I call you later?"
"Do I ever give you any other answer then 'Yes' when you ask that question?"
***
It was Saturday night, the night of the Winter Gala. As planned, Darien was meeting Andrew at Andrew's home. Dressed in an immaculate black tuxedo, he wandered around the foyer looking at the various pictures that were hung on the wall. One in particular that caught his eye was a picture taken at Andrew and Mina's wedding nearly four years ago. When Serena and Darien weren't married, but engaged. Inside the picture frame was a picture of Darien and Serena singing to the newlyweds. He remembered how Serena dragged him up there on the stage to perform Stevie Wonder's, "I Just Called to Say I love You."
"Darien!" Mina cried out as she descended down the stairs.
"Hello, Mina. You look beautiful." Mina donned an apricot evening dress and a matching shawl. The dress was spaghetti strap and her hair was done with curls at the very end.
"Back off, Darien."
Darien laughed as Andrew entered the foyer. Andrew was dressed yet in another flawless suit, this time in a handsome tuxedo.
"We better get going or we're going to be late," Andrew said as he helped Mina with her overcoat and then put on his.
Andrew began to escort Mina from their front door to their limo. Darien entered the limo first. Before Mina entered the limo, she turned to Andrew. "By the way I promised Serena we would give her a ride." As if it were nothing to Andrew she turned around and started to enter the car.
"Mina!" Andrew pulled her back out.
"Yes, Dearest?"
"You do know that Darien is in that same limo?" Andrew stared at his wife.
"Well, yeah. But you don't mind. Is that all? Okay, let's go." Mina turned around again.
"Mina!"
"What?"
"I don't mind, but I think his ex-wife would."
"Andrew. We're all mature adults. It's going to be fine."
"You were planning this from the beginning weren't you?" Andrew looked at his wife incredulously.
"You're quick. I knew I married you for some reason."
"Mina, why do you like to meddle?"
"Andrew, you said it yourself. Darien still loves Serena. And I know Serena still loves Darien. They are going to need all the help they can get." Mina pecked him on the cheek. "Come on. We're already late." With that final note Mina entered the limo.
"That woman is going to become the end of me." Andrew entered the limo and shut the door. "Driver, 5441 Lincoln Lane."
Darien snapped his head towards Andrew. "Why are we going there?"
"Serena needed a ride, so I offered her one," Mina simply replied.
"Let me out."
"If you plan on jumping out of a car at 45 mph and dying at 31, can you please do it some other time?" Andrew remarked. Darien slouched in the leather interior and looked out the window with an irritated expression.
"We're here, Mr. Norton," the driver replied from the front after a long moment of silence. Darien straightened up and braced for the worse.
'You just know she's gonna arrive in a drop dead gorgeous dress and you know you can't help but want her back,' his conscience whispered. Darien knew the only way to resist Serena was to be cruel and cold-hearted towards her. 'Which is the exact way I feel about her,' he thought.
'Liar.'
The door opened and in came Serena dressed in a white overcoat. "Hey Serena!" Mina smiled.
Serena brushed off all of the snow and looked up. "Hey Mina, Andrew, Dar-" Serena stopped. "Darien what are you doing here?"
"Serena." Darien replied. "Andrew invited me to join them for the Gala. And you?"
"Mina invited me."
"How about that." Darien turned his head and continued to look out the window.
Serena blinked at the tone of Darien's voice. 'Looks like he's gotten over whatever we even had. Well, then I'm not going to just sulk and act like he's broken my heart," she thought staring at her leather gloved hands.
"I'm surprised you found time to come to the Winter Gala," Serena snapped as she looked up.
"What's that suppose to mean?"
"You know what I mean, Darien. I guess without a wife, your schedule has gotten pretty cleared up. I really don't know how though since I haven't seen you in the past year and a half!" Serena seethed. She gripped her purse with a strangling clasp.
"Look, Serena. We've both done things that we regret so don't make me do anything that I will regret!" Darien shouted.
"Hey! Hey! Calm down guys!" Andrew intervened. "What brought on all this anger? I thought the divorce was mutual."
"It was," Darien muttered.
"Look, can you two please act like civilized adults please?" Mina asked. It was a silent ride from that point. As they arrived at the Kaufman's Manor and made a complete stop, the valet held the limousine door open. Serena made a fast getaway. Andrew helped Mina out and was followed by Darien.
'This is going to be a long night,' Darien thought to himself before making his way into the party.
Serena walked in the luxurious, not to mention, humongous house that belonged to the Kaufman's. Serena took off her coat revealing a white evening dress. It was strapless and had a fitted beaded bodice. The skirt flowed straight down hiding her white open-toed high heels. She handed her coat to one of the attendants near the door. Her hair was free of the 'meatballs' and put up in a French twist held with pearl pins. As she made her way through the foyer and into the large grand ballroom she looked around. Anyone who was worth anyone was invited to the grand event. Business tycoons, celebrities, high-class families that were worth a lot of money.
"Serena!"
Serena turned around and saw one of her best-friends come toward her. "Raye!" With a drink in one hand, Raye gave Serena a heartfelt hug. After giving Raye a hug, Serena asked, "Where's Chad?" About five years ago, Raye married Chad Kaufman, the only heir to the Kaufman Oil Company. Of course, Raye had no idea she was falling in love with a multibillion-dollar heir. Chad kept it secret from everyone except his closest friends. The same night Raye said 'Yes' to Chad's proposal was the same night Chad revealed his fortune. Naturally, Raye was hurt as well as furious that Chad kept it from her, but after weeks of begging to listen to his side of the story, Raye forgave him and accepted his proposal.
"He's around here somewhere. I can't really keep track of him with this many people around," Raye remarked. She was wearing a deep burgundy evening gown that was off the shoulder and had a glitter pattern up the left side of the dress to the right. Her hair was pulled up and done with loose waves. Random hair curls framed her face to give it a soft look.
Serena's eyebrows furrowed as she looked across the room.
"Sere? What's wrong?" Raye asked noticing Serena's expression.
Darien, who was not oblivious of all the women surrounding him, was flirting shamelessly with him. Obvious they found out he was divorced and single. And rich. 'Good god!' Serena thought. 'It's been a week and he's acting like if he was never married!' Serena thought. 'I'm not going to feel sorry for myself. There are plenty of good-looking guys here. It's time to play fire with fire.'
"Sere?"
"Huh? Oh, sorry Raye," Serena apologized.
Raye looked where Serena was staring. She saw Darien flirting with at least five women. Many of them she recognized as daddy's little girls who get whatever they want. They couldn't be anymore older than 24 or 25.
"I'll be right back, Sere. I just have to check on a few things," Raye excused herself and was swallowed by the crowd as she went off in search of something. Or Someone. Serena, in the meantime, ordered herself a glass of champagne and sat at one of the small dinner tables. As the waiter was handing her a glass, Raye returned.
"Serena, I want you to meet Diamond Wiltshire."
Serena looked up from her chair. He was certainly handsome. Wearing a black tuxedo, as most of the men at the party were, he looked gorgeous. 'Especially with that silver white hair,' thought Serena. Serena stood up and held out her hand.
"This is one of my oldest friends, Serena Jameson."
"It's nice to meet you, Mr. Wiltshire."
"Diamond, please," Diamond smiled. He bent down and took Serena's perfectly manicured hand to kiss it. "Pleasure's all mine, Ms. Jameson."
"Serena."
"Serena," Diamond repeated. Raye quietly back away from the couple and turned around to mingle with the other guests.
"Would you like to dance?" Diamond asked.
Serena hesitated then let out a breath. "I would be happy to," she smiled back.
As they were making their way down to the dance floor, a pair of eyes was following their every move. "How about that," Andrew quietly said to himself. 'I bet Darien would like to hear what his ex-wife is up to,' he thought. Andrew walked over to Darien who was talking to a brunette who he had taken an interest to. "Darien."
"Later, Andrew. I'm busy."
"I found Diamond Wiltshire."
Andrew had caught Darien's attention. "Excuse me," Darien pardoned himself. "Where is he?"
"Right there," Andrew pointed out to Darien.
"I can't see him," Darien replied. All he saw was various couples dancing and Serena, so he assumed that he was behind her mingling with other business associates.
"He's in the black tuxedo."
"All of them are in black tuxedos, Andrew," Darien exasperated. "Is he behind Serena?"
"He's the one dancing WITH Serena," Andrew responded.
Darien blinked. And blinked again. His ex-wife was dancing with the man who could make his business go over the top.
"Do you live here Diamond?" Serena asked as they were dancing.
"Um, no. I live in New York. I'm here on business," Diamond smiled.
"As most people are," Serena replied. "What kind of business do you have?"
"My father and I own a rather large and growing business. What about you?"
"I'm an architect," Serena decided that's all he needed to know. For now.
"Modest are we? Do you plan to tell me where?"
"Not tonight." Serena smiled. The song ended and they stopped dancing. Diamond then escorted her to her table. A man came up to them and in an urgent tone, "Mr. Wiltshire, there are many people who would like to talk to you."
"Please excuse me, Serena," Diamond said as he kissed the top of her hand. Serena was absolutely smitten. Mina then came up to Serena who was taking a sip of her drink.
"Serena, who was that?"
"Diamond Wiltshire."
Across the room, "Darien, I would like you to meet Diamond Wiltshire," introduced Andrew.
"Diamond."
"Darien, very nice to meet you. I've heard so much about your business."
"Well good things I hope."
"Yes. Very good things." Diamond looked across at the room towards where Serena was sitting talking to a blond haired woman. He desired another dance from her. "Darien, how about a meeting? Say Tuesday morning?"
"Tuesday."
Diamond excused himself from the two gentlemen and started to make his way out. Darien looked at Andrew and gave smirk. He patted Andrew on the shoulder and turned to make way towards the balcony to light up a cigarette. Just as he was letting the smoke out, he heard footsteps behind him.
"You really should stop smoking," remarked a familiar voice. And Darien knew just whose it was.
***
Author's Commentary: I must have edited and revised this chapter a million times. I finally just decided to delete some parts and re-write entirely new situations. Some original parts still exist in the final chapter. Since in this chapter I mentioned them, I don't own Sony, Philips, or the song "I Just Called To Say I Love You". Stevie does. Don't sue. I got no money.
By the by, this chapter has been written since the end of December, but thanks to an…urging from a reviewer (Pamela), I finally loaded this chapter. But the bad news is I'm gonna probably re-edit it since I decided to just load it up without taking a second glance at the story.
~.::K. Ly::.~