Here's the second installment(or first installment, considering this is the first official chapter) of my story! I hear that not everyone loves my name for Darien… I was trying for something different, but I guess it's just too different… I'll take any ideas!
Thanks again! And I hope you enjoy Chapter 1!
Serena returned to her apartment, completely drained of all emotions. How could she? How could Luna, the one person she trusted the most in all the world, deny her her very reason for existence? What had she been thinking giving the company over to that family? She sighed as she flopped on her large bed in her Dolce suit, flinging off her shoes and throwing her bag on the floor.
What was she going to do?
Could she leave? No, she lamented as she felt the softness of the bed that she now lay on, Luna had given her everything she had and she would continue work as hard, if not harder, than ever before - if not for Luna, then for herself. She looked around the large studio apartment, her own bedroom on the second floor with windows allowing her the view of the rest of the luxurious apartment. With one last sigh, she pushed herself off of her pristine bed and went back to work as usual.
However, after making her way back downstairs, she heard a loud knock on her door, pushing it open to reveal her best friend with a shocked look on her face. "Your door… You left it unlocked?" Serena simply nodded in reply and noticed her blonde friend looked as beautiful as usual - long champagne-colored locks left loose and shining as she wore a revealing top and skirt. She sighed, knowing her own beauty was more than lack-luster compared to the usually smiling, bubbly girl standing at her threshold. Where as Mina's blonde hair sparkled in the light, her own curls was more of a dull golden color and her eyes lacked the vibrance of a charmed life.
Serena stopped in front of the foyer, placing her hand on her hip and her friends expression, "Well, are you going to come in or just stand there looking like a fish all night?" Mina shook her head to rid herself of her amazement.
"Something must be terribly wrong, which makes my reason for this visit even more appealing!" Mina bounced through Serena's hallway to her kitchen, quickly raiding her fridge, "You know, you really should keep more food in here… You're not going to attract many men-"
"I'm not interested in attracting many men, Mina, let alone the kind you're attracted to…"
"I'm going to pretend you didn't say that and chalk it up to your current sadness." She dragged her head out of the cold air to find Serena moving to her desk. "Nuh uh! No you don't, missy! Tonight is Friday and you have been working all week! We're going out!"
Serena rolled her eyes at her friend's most recent attempt to get her out of her apartment. "Mina, you should know my answer before you even came in…"
"Aww, come on, Serena! You're allowed to have some fun every once in a while…"
"No, Mina… I can't. Our company just got taken over by another group. I can't afford to stop working, now…" She rubbed her temples in annoyance.
"Oh, Serena… I'm sorry… Why don't we just stay here and watch a movie or something?" Mina suggested, moving closer to her friend, whom she knew was more than disappointed.
"Mina…" She stopped herself from saying something rude, knowing she was only trying to help, "Mina, I would… I'd just like to be alone tonight, OK? I'm really tired and I just don't feel like entertaining right now…"
"OK, Serena… But, if you wanna do something or you need to talk, don't hesitate to call me, alright? I'll probably just go over to Mally's tonight…"
Serena laughed, knowing that she wouldn't be able to get her friend's help while she was at Malachite's apartment if she needed it. "Sure, Mina. Have fun. Don't let my mood ruin your weekend. And tell Malachite I said 'Hello,' it's been a while since I've seen him."
"Sure, Serena. I'll call you tomorrow, OK?"
"Yeah. Bye, Mins." Serena went back to her work, knowing Mina was still standing behind her. Finally, she heard the door close, leaving her alone once again.
A week later, Serena found herself entering a ballroom for one of the grandest occurrences she had ever attended. A party in honor of the takeover, a party that should be given for her. Wearing a black, floor-length gown, she attempted to show that she was not upset by being denied what was rightfully hers, but not happy about it, either. She wore her hair in a simple chignon and checked it over once more before entering the room. The building was fabulously decorated with tall ceilings and tables spread out around the room, though few chairs were occupied as many remained on the floor, speaking in groups and laughing and drinking.
After a few hours, Serena found that this "grand ball" was just an excuse, as always, for old men to get drunk and flaunt their money and trophy wives. She looked around at the large groups of people and found one of her biggest clients, Mr. Holston, in the crowd, throwing his head back in laughter at a joke he had just told a group of women about her age. She sighed at her misfortunes.
She walked up to Mr. Holston, immediately beginning her ranting at his lack of reply to her latest attempt at a contract between their two companies. The old man lifted a silver eyebrow at the young girl's persistence. She placed a hand on her shoulder and looked down at her confused glance, "Miss Thomason… It's Saturday night. You're a young girl, you should be having fun! This is a party, not a business meeting! Go, have a drink and meet some people! We'll worry about the contract Monday." And with that, the man turned back and commented to the ladies on the girl's insistence on continuing business at such an inopportune time.
After speaking with Mr. Holston and realizing that she would definitely not be getting anything done tonight, she decided that it would be best to just go home and get some sleep. She turned away from the man and walked to the door. Seeing her leave, Mr. Holston shook his head in sympathy.
As she headed outside of the building, she heard the Vice President of Marketing introduce her new boss and enemy, and she only found herself moving faster from the man that had crushed her dreams.
Another week went by normally for Serena, working twelve and thirteen-hour days, although she made a furious attempt to avoid Protezione. However, she was too wrapped up in the Holston case to notice the difference. After closing herself in her office for the entire day and completely exhausted, she stretched and moved to go into Luna's office.
She moved through the hallways, not noticing, or caring to notice, that the lights were off and there wasn't a soul left in the building. Upon entering the office, she threw herself onto the couch, expecting to feel the soft featheriness that she was so used to at this time of night. Instead, she heard the crunch of leather. "Luna, you can't imagine the week I've had… First of all, I've been on my period all week and I swear, Mr. Holston is the most arrogant, stubborn man I have ever had the displeasure of doing business with… If we didn't need to have our name in Atlanta, I swear I would just slap him… Can you believe that I have completed six different contracts, only to have him refuse each and every one!" She continued her rambles, until finally, she heard a deep, husky, very British, and very not-Luna voice impede her.
"I apologize, madam, but I am not Luna…"
Serena turned slowly, cringing when she saw the most beautiful man she had ever been able to lay her eyes upon. She cursed and fumbled, falling off the couch and right on to her bum. "Ow…"
"Are you…alright?" a worried voice sounded down to her and she shot up, finding herself face to face with a face full of chiseled features, charcoal black hair, falling into the darkest blue eyes looking at her with concern and… interest?
"I… I just don't know…" she admitted, unable to look away from him, before she regained her senses and looked to the floor. "Oh God, I am so sorry… I can't even imagine… I was just so tired and I came down here to talk to Luna, but you are most certainly, not Luna… And I just… Oh God, please don't fire me…"
The Adonis laughed at he put-out expression and simply smiled down at her. "I'm not going to fire you, Miss Thomason. You are Miss Thomason, I presume? I haven't had the pleasure of meeting you thus far."
Serena looked back at him in shock and simply nodded. "Mr. Protezione, I am so sorry… I've just been working on this case all week and Mr. Holston is so stubborn, but of course I've already told you that… And I've been here since early this morning and I didn't get much sleep last night and I think I've sent Holston about three different contracts today alone…"
"Miss Thomason, when was the last time you've eaten?"
Serena started, looking back to him with a questioning glance, "I'm sorry, Mr. Protezione, I don't understand…"
"It's Darien, please… And, it's past midnight. You must be starved." He moved back to his desk, picking up the phone and asking with a very tempting smile, "Is Chinese OK?"
"Mr. Protezione, I think that I should get back to work… I'd really like to come up with something to present to Holston Monday morning…"
"But of course! Ill help you work on the contract while we eat. And please, call me Darien."
With his last statement, Serena became very defensive in her work, "I
don't need your help Mr. Protezione…"
"Darien. Of course you don't need my help, but why turn down a free meal, right? You don't mind if I take out the water chestnuts, do you? I really hate those things…"
"Mr. Protezione -"
"It's Darien, please."
Serena frowned darkly, "Mr. Protezione, I really will be fine on my own…"
"Oh just close the bloody door and show me the file. The food should be here in twenty minutes or so." He sat down at his desk after pulling up a chair next to him.
Serena sighed one last time and walked to his desk, throwing the file down.
A few hours and one pint of house lo mein later, Pointing to the newest form of the Holston contract with a chopstick, Serena pointed out the management clause, one which Mr. Holston had demanded they change. "I feel much better about this one… He doesn't want to change any of his executive board after the takeover, but we need to have some sort of control…"
"I'm very pleased with the work we've done thus far. You really are everything Luna said about you…" Darien smirked over to her as the sat on the couch, both of their shoes having been removed much earlier.
"You know Luna?" she asked questioningly.
He nodded, going back to his food, "Very well, actually. She's been a friend of the family for years now. She always spoke very highly of her protégé," he winked at her.
"That's not how it's seemed recently…" she spoke under her breath.
"I'm sorry?"
"Oh, nothing, never mind… I think we're pretty close to having this done now…" she quickly changed the subject.
"Yes, well, I'm glad, because I want you to finish with this before we leave for London."
Serena nearly gagged with a noodle hanging out of her mouth, "Excuse me?"
"Oh, I apologize… I must have forgotten to mention it. But, now that I seem to have things under control, I'm going to have you come back to London with me," he stated simply, concentrating on reading over the contract for the final time.
"I… I don't think I understand…"
"Well, I certainly cannot remain here. I have dozens of other companies to deal with, most of which are headed up in London. I'm going to have you come with me to keep me updated on the standings of your own company while I deal with all of the others under my control. I'll give you a flat and a raise, of course. And I'll expect you to remain on-call with me throughout the year."
Was he serious? Of course he was, she reasoned with herself. This was a man who knew exactly what he wanted and got whatever it was that he wanted. What was it that she would be leaving behind? Nothing… Other than Mina, of course. But, she had to do this. She had no choice.
"When do I leave?"