Well, you guys wanted a longer chapter...here it is! Enjoy!

Usual disclaimer apply

CHAPTER SIX

"WAKE UP SERENA!" Darien yelled at Serena's wooden door in the hotel and pounded fiercely.

"Mmmm..." was the only reply.

He'd been calling her for the past five minutes and still no movement could be heard.

"Damnit! I'll have to break the darn door soon!" He hollered once more.

"ALRIGHT! FINE!" Serena screeched back. She stood up briskly and strode to the damn door. That man had to get a life. Who woke up at 6 in the morning?

"Finally!" Darien cried at the sight of her.

"Yeah, whatever. Now GO AWAY!" And she slammed the door. Or at least tried to anyway. Darien's foot slid before the door would make a resounding bang.

"My GOD!" Serena shrieked.

Darien inwardly winced. The hotel was going to have a fit at their raucous cacophony.

"Calm down, Sere."

"Calm down? Calm down?" Serena continued in a deathly whisper. "You expect me to CALM DOWN?! At goddamn six in the morning?"

"Well, it's actually 5 past 6 –"

"Argh!" With that, she buried herself under the quilts.

"We really need to work out a schedule in the morning." Darien mused.

"Yeah, like maybe coming in here two hours later!"

"Stop moaning, you take twice as much time getting ready."

"I'm a woman, what did you expect?" She grumbled.

"Exactly, that's why I should wake you up this early." He reasoned evenly.

"Alright, alright. I'll get up. You win."

"Thank you. I'll wake you up at seven tomorrow."

"That'll be just wonderful." Serena's biting tone was sarcastic as she strode to the bathroom.

"I'm just your everyday nice guy." Darien flashed a grin.

"Just get out. I'll meet you at 8 for breakfast." Serena tossed back.

"Fine by me."

"It's 8:05."

"Shut up." She had not woken up in a good mood. Besides waking up at the ungodly hour at six, her hair was a tangled mess and she just realized most of her clothes were in her lost suitcase. So, she had to do with her navy business suit, making her look like an old frump.

After a quick bite at the hotel, they traveled by train to the city. Already life was beginning to stir, and car honks, loud voices clouded the city. Serena was getting a headache. Unaware of her problems, Darien whistled cheerfully.

"Will you shut the hell up?" Serena snapped.

"Someone woke up at the wrong side of the bed today." Darien noted.

"More like at the wrong time!"

"If I didn't wake you that early, you'd have been late for your first day of work."

"Oh, and we wouldn't want that, do we?" retorted Serena sarcastically.

"Wouldn't want to ruin your perfect record, eh?"

"Uh huh, not nice to have a blemish on my profile."

"Whatever – whoa!" Serena looked up. And up. This was one heck of a tall building.

"I'm gonna work here?" She whispered incredulously.

Darien simply opened the door for her and smiled. Together, they strode in the classy building. Serena took a deep breath. It was time.

After the introductions of grinning and shaking hands, Serena collapsed onto her chair.

"I never knew it was so tiring just to smile."

"Yeah well, all in a day's work." Darien told her and began pulling files from his suitcase.

"And the day's not even half-finished!" She sighed again. But for now, she finally had a moment of peace.

"Well, what do you think?" Darien gestured around his office.

"Very chic." She nodded approvingly at the smooth wooden table and high-quality computers. There was air-conditioning and the carpet was lush, a deep red. The walls were a cream, off-white color.

"I wouldn't mind working here for the next few years." She told him, swiveling on his chair.

"Yeah." Darien replied. "Well, let's get to work. Type up these will you?" He handed her a thick pile of folders.

"Yes sir!" She saluted, giving him a mocking grin.

"Ohhh, my arms are aching badly!" She moaned with fatigue, stepping out in the sunshine for lunch.

"You need to work out more."

"Can I help it if you're a slave-driver?"

"You'll live honey."

"I'm not so sure about that." She muttered darkly, entering the quaint café.

"Serena, Darien! " A blonde haired man called to them.

"Oh! That's James!" Serena recalled.

Earlier in the day, they been introduced to James Eaton, another businessman. He was a typical Aussie boy, with blond hair and tanned face. His greenish gray eyes sparkled as he saw Serena come over his way. His muscular arms waved a greeting as they came closer.

"G'day." He called out.

"Hey!" Serena waved back.

Darien groaned silently, he hadn't liked James from the start. They knew each other briefly from before, but both had disliked the other. Now, it seemed he was hitting on Serena, Darien thought irritably.

After ordering, Serena and James chatted animatedly on each other's lives.

"My family's pretty big. I have two big sisters, two little brothers, and three dogs all living under the same roof." James informed Serena, completely disregarding Darien.

"Oh, you're so lucky! I always wanted more siblings, especially sisters. I have a little brother who's so annoying sometimes."

"Yeah, little brothers are always up to no good. Once, when my date came over my house, she was completely terrorized by my little brothers. They 'accidentally' spilled milk over her dress, made her sit on a whooping cushion and before she could storm out of the house and call out to me 'IT'S OVER', they squirted her with the Super Blaster 3000."

"All over?" asked Serena.

"All over." He confirmed.

"Ouch. I guess it's a good thing I've only got one." Serena said.

"You bet, another time..." James continued on his series of funny events and by the time he had finished, both were laughing hysterically as if they had known each other for the rest of their lives. Darien, however, brooded over his coffee, and refused to join in with the conversation.

"Well, I guess we better get back to work." Darien told Serena. He looked only mildly pissed.

"I guess. Bye James." She stood up reluctantly and sent him a radiant smile.

"Wait," James grabbed on her arm. "Have dinner with me tonight, Serena. I'll like to know you better." He sent her a charming grin and Serena's knees felt just a little weak.

"Sure, I'll love to!" She said brightly and waved a goodbye.

Darien strode briskly out the door without a second glance.

"Darien, wait up!" Serena called out, trying to catch up to him. "What's the matter?"

"Nothing. Nothing's the matter." He growled out.

"Yeah, then why do you look as if you've swallowed tar?" She commented.

"It's nothing," snapped Darien.

"All right, if you say so." She shrugged. "It's not about me dating James is it?"

"Dating?" Darien retorted angrily. "You haven't even gone out on one lousy date yet!"

Serena was silent for a while, hurt at this drastic change in him. Then, she realized. "You're jealous!" As hard as she tried, a grin began to spread on her face.

"What?!" Darien cried. "Why would I be jealous of him? He's a no-good cheat!"

"Tsk, tsk." She wagged a finger at him. "Jealousy is not a pretty face on you!"

"Alright, alright. I'm just concerned that's all."

"Yeah right. Why do men always deny things like that?" She wondered aloud.

"Look." Here, he stopped his angry pace and turned to her. "I'm just worried about this guy. I've seen him around before, and he always has some girl clinging on his arm. I just don't want you to get hurt that's all." His tone was gentler now.

"Dar, I'm a big girl now, you don't need to protect me from the big bad wolves.

I can take care of myself." She wrapped her arms around him. Comforting him.

"I know, I know. But –"

"But nothing." She broke in firmly. "It's going to be fine."

He sighed and glanced around the city, and back to her. "You're right. I'm sorry."

"Apology accepted."

With that, the pair walked back to the office in peace.

AN: Sorry this chapter is a bit boring. But there's more to come! Reviews
help it come faster!