Summary: Serena's and Darien's professional careers cross paths. The more they work together, the closer they become. Will they give in to their desires or remain stubborn and distant? Modern day, no senshi, UM love story.
Disclaimer: Naoko Takeuchi owns Sailor Moon. I claim no ownership of it! Only of this story, which is all mine! This is my first attempt at fanfiction! Enjoy!
Author's Note: Anyone else loving the new Sailor Moon Crystal anime?! I'm so happy about it! I'm so glad it's focused on the manga! I love all things Sailor Moon, so it could be terrible and I would still appreciate it!
Ps – Those of you who watch USA Network's show, Suits, you may see some references to it in this chapter. I love that show!
As always, thank you to all the fans of this story who are following, have reviewed, sent messages, and made a favorite! I really appreciate it all and look forward to many, many more chapters for this story!
Enjoy! =)
Loveology
Chapter 5: The Office
KNOCK KNOCK
A tall and lean muscular-build man with beachy brown hair and amber eyes stood in the door frame, a smile gracing his short beard-stubble face.
"Pardon my interruption. Mr. Shields?" He asked in a modulated voice.
Looking up from the newspaper, Dastian eyed the man curiously. "Yes? Young man, please, come in."
As the man approached him, Dastian offered the man the seat across from him, pointing to it. The man obliged, unbuttoning the lowest button on his ridiculously expensive Kiton solid navy two-piece suit jacket.
"Thank you. My name is Ryland Pierce." He extended his hand. "You may know my father, Reese Pierce."
Taking his hand for a hand-shake, he answered. "Ah, yes, Mr. Pierce. Of Pierce Investment Group, I assume?" Dastian folded his paper to give the man his undivided attention.
"Correct. He retired recently and handed over the family business to me."
"Congratulations. I hadn't heard of his retirement." He gestured to his current surroundings being the cause of why he hadn't.
"Thank you. It was earlier this week. Hardly anyone knows." Ryland informed in a dismissive tone, brushing it off as insignificant information.
"Well then. So, what do I owe the pleasure?"
"Yes, my reason for visiting is that I was hoping to find out an opportune time in which I could schedule a meeting with you on a possible buy-out of a company."
"Oh? Which company would that be?"
"Faust Industries." He watched Dastian's expression falter slightly over the name, so he continued. "I know you and my father have had a mutual agreement on its future standings, however as the new CEO, I believe there could be more potential in a corporate takeover. "
"You're jumping right in, I see. "
"Indeed."
"I should be discharged within the next week, I hope. My son and daughter are standing in my place in the mean time. You should make an appointment with them. I believe there may be an opening this afternoon around 2pm. I will have the secretary call you to confirm."
"Thank you, Mr. Shields." Ryland placed his business card on the table, sliding it closer to Dastian. "This is the number they can reach me at." He stood and re-buttoned the lowest button on his suit jacket. "I wish you a speedy recovery." With that being said, he walked out.
Dastian nodded and pulled out his cell phone. Before he could dial the office, he watched as Ryland and Serena exchanged pleasantries.
xx
Serena was heading towards Dastian's room to check on his progress when she noticed a man emerging from it. She was going to simply smile and greet the man with a "hello," when she suddenly recognized him. Serena was stunned. It had been about five years since she last saw him. 'What was it about the past meeting the present lately?'
She watched the hungry way his eyes ate up her curvaceous figure. First with a heated sweep from her neck to her toes then with a slower, lingering returned exploration. Serena was wearing a modest baby blue satin dress shirt and a grey Chanel pencil high-waist skirt with matching grey pumps.
"Serena! What a pleasant surprise!" Ryland's face lit up with amazement and then yearning. He opened his arms, inviting her into his embrace.
Hesitating as she recalled their last encounter, she asked, "Ryland? What are you doing here?" Not wanting to be rude, but looking around before doing so, she entered into his arms.
He wrapped his arms around her, tightening his hold, bringing her closer to him. Her fragrance wafted under his nose. Instinctively, he inhaled her once familiar scent, smiling brightly.
"Business." He massaged the back of her neck. "Possibly pleasure." She backed away, looking at him with a flabbergasted look. His face displayed a wide grin.
She shook her head at him with a smirk. "What business do you have with Mr. Shields?"
"Just company business stuff." He disregarded the question, tapping her nose. "Wanna get lunch later?" Ryland grabbed a strand of her loose hair, twirling it with his fingers like he used to do.
"I see you haven't changed a bit." She grabbed the strand he was playing with. "Still cocky as ever and straight to the point."
He frowned, missing the silky-smooth feel of her hair. "I just know what I want and do whatever it takes to get it."
"Exactly." She turned around. "I won't have time for lunch today with you. I'm busy." Serena started to walk towards Dastian's room again, but stopped when he called her name.
"I'll bring you lunch then." She turned around to protest, but he had already turned and was walking away. "See you later, sugar puss."
"Rich vindictive prick..." She mumbled, turning back to walk into Dastian's room.
xx
The elevator door chimed before the doors opened, allowing Darien to walk out onto the Italian-marble tiled floor. To his left, the wooden paneled wall that held the large silver letters that read, 'Shields Financial Enterprises, Inc.' To his right, the large mahogany desk where three cute receptionists sat. Behind them, a large aquarium filled with colorful fish and exotic corals and plants.
"Good morning, Mr. Shields!" The receptionists dreamily expressed in unison, swooning.
Returning with a handsome, teasing smile and a wink, "Good morning, ladies."
His leather Armani loafers clicked off the floor in powerful strides. He checked his watch. It was only eight o'clock in the morning. He had two hours before the meeting. Up ahead, he noticed his secretary – when he was there – approaching him.
She was tall with an hour-glass figure, natural red-head with hazel eyes and a Cindy Crawford beauty mark. And she was sassy.
Her eyes traveled his god-like physique. Even married women with children looked to him as damn good eye candy.
"Darien, good to see you again! How was your week?" She welcomed him in a light embrace, handing him a cup of coffee and flipping her appointment book open to today's date.
He grinned. "Likewise, Heather. Same old, same old. How are the boys doin'?" He took a sip of the hot coffee and lifted it up to her as a 'thank you' gesture.
"Having children is like living in a frat house – nobody sleeps, everything's broken, and there's a lot of throwing up." They both laughed.
He listened as she went over the schedule for the day, waving and nodding as he passed the familiar faces of the employees in the building.
"Where are the quarterly revenue scorecards?" He asked, not slowing his long strides to his office.
"On your desk." She answered, keeping up with his pace. He nodded.
"What about the list of international investors?" Darien noticed Rei approaching them. He gave her a smile and slowed his pace to meet her.
"Also on your desk." He nodded and smiled to Heather.
"Wonderful. You're the best. Is there anything else?" He asked as he slipped a hand in his pants pocket and sipped on the coffee.
"That's every-" She didn't finish her sentence for the reason that she noticed a woman walking straight into Darien's office. Directing her attention to the woman, she lectured, "Um, excuse me. You don't have an appointment."
"I don't need an appointment." The audacious woman retorted with an outlandish sneer, continuing straight into Darien's office.
Heather rolled her eyes. "The way that woman dresses always reminds me of a bad photograph — overdeveloped and overexposed."
Darien and Rei witnessed the exchange with amused grins.
"Do you want me to get rid of her?" Rei offered with a wide grin.
Darien chuckled. "I'll handle it."
xx
Darien scrutinized the woman sitting on is desk, awaiting his entrance in a seductive manner. She was a buxom beauty socialite with caramel brown hair and deep brown eyes. Her figure heavily accentuated in the provocatively form-fitting dress, bursting forth from the sweetheart neckline.
Her eyes roamed his body, taking in his attire. He donned a black three-piece Armani suit; his jacket unbuttoned and opened, revealing a slight distinct bulge in his pants. She knew it due to his size and not arousal, though she could fantasize.
"Carina, Heather is right. You need an appointment to see me." He walked passed her to behind his desk to sit, rummaging through the files that were now scattered because of her.
The woman pouted. "Since when? You've never denied me your attention before."
He didn't respond to her accusation, knowing she was right. Darien started to wonder why he was denying her now. He thought better of it.
"What do you want, Carina?" He asked as he continued to look for the files needed for the meeting.
She turned her body so she was leaning over his desk towards him. "You, of course." Carina reached for his tie, pulling him in for a single-lip kiss.
He allowed the kiss, but didn't advance it. Darien couldn't deny his attraction to her. She was a woman he welcomed to bed on many occasions after dinners, parties, and other events.
"You know the office is not the place for intimate affairs." He reminded her when she reluctantly pulled away.
"I do, but I couldn't help it. I haven't seen you in like a month! Is it because of Freya? Is she binding all your time? Or is it Erminia? That woman loves to-"
"Enough, Carina." He bellowed, cutting her off. He massaged his temples where he could feel a headache coming on.
"Darien?" Carina feigned hurt but Darien knew she had the canniest of abilities to falsely persuade others for her own personal gain. 'What did I ever see in this woman?' He mentally stumped himself.
He returned his focus to his desk and the task at hand. "Unless you have a business matter to discuss, I'm going to have to ask you to leave. I have a meeting I need to prepare for."
"Well, daddy wishes to discuss a business proposition." She proudly proposed.
"Then have him make an appointment through Heather."
"But that's why I am here; to make an appointment with you." Carina's annoyance with him was noticed in her voice. She softened a bit. "How about tonight, over dinner?" It was a plea. Something Darien was not familiar with experiencing from her.
"No, not tonight. Plan it for next week sometime and make it lunch." He firmly stipulated.
She sighed but nodded. "What time will you be picking me up tomorrow?" She implied with assumption.
"What?" A look of confusion spread over his features.
"The award ceremony. Remember?"
Oh, he remembered. In fact, he was impatiently restless in his wait for it. Not necessarily for the event itself, but for the company that would be joining him. He would have the luxury of having the most beautiful blonde goddess on his arm, parading her around for all to see, self-proclaiming her as his own.
"How did you know about that?" The confused look returned after the brief giddiness over tomorrow's events.
"It's circled on your calendar." She pointed to the markings with her long manicured finger. "You always ask me to attend those kind of events with you." She leaned closer to him again, but he pushed himself back in his chair, not allowing her another chance.
He cursed under his breath. Damn her for coming in his office.
He sighed. "Look, Carina, I already have a date for the event." He stated.
She snarled, eyes narrowed. "Who?" She demanded.
"None of your concern." He stood up, trying to usher her out of his office.
"Darien! Who is she?!" Losing her demeanor, raising her voice.
"Like I said, it's none of your concern." He shut the door when he was able to get her outside of it.
She screamed an obscenity and stormed off, clicking her heels on the marble.
His heard his cell phone start to ring. "I'll be damned if that's Carina..." He checked the caller ID. It read, 'Dad.'
With a sigh of relief, he answered. "Yeah, dad, what's up? Everything okay?"
He heard his father laugh and then affirm that everything was indeed fine concerning his health. He went on to explain his encounter with Ryland and how he was requesting a meeting.
"Better make it 3pm. I'm going to request lunch with Mr. Faust to see his point of view before I meet with Mr. Pierce. Lunch might run a little late." Darien thought to the man's appetite, usually having a little of everything on the menu.
"Excellent idea. Very well – set it up with Heather and have her call him at this number." He then relayed the number. Darien wrote it down, writing, 'Ryland Pierce' above the number.
"Oh, and Darien?"
"Yes?"
"Better be cautious around this guy. He doesn't have the same ideas and interests that his father shares."
"Will do."
"And one more thing."
"Yes?"
"He seems to have a history with Dr. Lunarea. Please don't let it cloud your judgment of the situation."
Dastian ended the call and soon followed was the sound of the end call beep. Darien didn't seem to notice it with his inattentive concentration.
There was a long pause as Darien considered what his father just divulged. 'What kind of history? Who was he to her?' His mind went green with jealous rage.
"Dad?" Darien listened and then checked his phone and saw the blank screen. He clicked the side button to see his home screen displayed. There stood an image of the man-made lake he had put in his backyard. It was his sanctuary. Where he would go in such a time as this to play out the thoughts that would torment his days and nights. He threw his phone on the desk after realizing his father hung up.
He looked down at the paper that contained the name and number of the man he suddenly loathed. He scratched the man's name out with a pen in a vehemently hostile way. He was tempted to call the man himself but he knew that wouldn't end well. He could be blowing this way out of proportion. He needed more information on the man before malice festered his spirit.
He picked up his office phone and dialed a number. He waited as it rang. "Yes, Darien?"
"Heather, I need to see you."
"Yes, sir."
Click.
xx
Darien watched as the athletic-built man with sand pebble blonde-hair and jade green eyes flipped through all the files spread out over his coffee table. A pencil held in his mouth showed his concentration and the fact that he hadn't observed Darien's presence yet.
Rei was present in the room as well, going over some other files, but she stood at the man's desk.
"What are you two working on?" Darien inquired as he stood in the door way, leaning, with his arms folded.
"Trying to narrow down the next five companies for our next deal." The man explained, not looking up from the files.
"The first five companies we wanted to go after had the disposable assets that the executives usually desire; however, Zoisite thought it better that we look for companies that have under performing assets that can be turned around and built into something." Rei explained, flipping through the folder she currently held.
Darien nodded with raised eyebrows. "Impressive, Zoi. I never would have considered that. Let's hope the board members feel the same way."
Darien walked over to where Rei stood. "Hey, Zoi. I couldn't help but notice you bought another 100 shares of Faust Industries." His sister's violet eyes and Zoisite's jade ones looked up at him, halting their movements.
"Yeah, about that... I was going to tell you..." Zoisite started to look uneasy, jabbing the pencil in his palm.
"I assume with company money, no less?" Darien kept his face void of emotion, watching him squirm a bit more.
"...Yes...?" He gulped. Now Zoisite looked worried and looked to Rei for help.
"You raised our risks, but you also raised our reward. I'm impressed with your tactics. You have the potential to be an investment banker. Maybe we could expand your duties, give you a pay raise..."
Darien now smirked at Zoisite, amused by his sudden relief, followed by amazement.
"Are you serious?" Astonishment plastered Zoisite's face.
"Of course I am. Go get 'em." Darien affirmed, bumping Rei in the side to wake her of her surprised state.
"Thank you, Darien, Rei! I won't disappoint." A wide grin formed.
"I have no doubt. Now, deleverage our company. I want you to find a new investor in a week."
Zoisite was slightly taken back. "...Of course. In a week."
"Now, can you spare an hour or two? I'd like to have you attend the meeting with us."
xx
Darien walked with Rei back to her office as they waited for Zoisite to join them for the meeting. Rei needed to get a few files and do a few last minute preparations.
"So, how do you know Dr. Lunarea?" Rei asked casually as she walked into her office. It was a large enclosed glass room with a sumptuous seating area in one corner and her long L-shaped mahogany desk with swivel guest chairs in the other.
He was caught off guard by her question. "What?"
"You heard me." She shot him a stern look.
"From the hospital?" He wasn't sure where she was going with this.
"You two seem quite cozy together." She arched an eyebrow, challenging him otherwise.
"What are you getting at, Rei?" He questioned with interest. He wasn't going to deny it, nor admit it.
"I am just a little concerned." She came around to him, brushing imaginary lint off his pristine suit jacket. "You don't date hospital employees – in fact, you don't even get to know them. Yet, you seem smitten with her. I don't want you breaking your oath..."
"How sweet." He declared with a pouting smile, grabbing her upper arms. "Thanks for caring, sis; but I'm a big boy and I think I can handle a little crush." He released her with a deep laugh.
"Yours or hers?" She incited, hoping he would take the bait.
"Ready to go?" Interrupted Zoisite. They both turned, Rei narrowed her eyes and Darien gave him an appreciative smile.
"Yes, let's!" Darien clapped his hands, thankful for the save from Rei's unwavering relent of his so-called love life, and strolled out of the room.
"Don't think this is over, mister!" Rei hollered after him.
xx
The essentially large conference room gradually filled with ten executives and the members of the office. Each took a seat around the long oval table, keeping near the middle. Pitchers of iced water, glass cups, notepads, and pens scattered the table.
Darien lead the meeting. "Ladies and gentlemen, I call this meeting to order. I take it everyone signed in and received an agenda of today's meeting outline?" He received nods around the room.
"Motion to approve the minutes?" Again, all nods.
"Let's move to important business matters."
xx
Darien was pleased with the outcome of the meeting. They gained 600 million from investors and profitable interests, aligned more potential investors for the future, and was now able to use some of the investment money for their goal to expand into Asia. Their father would undeniably be proud.
xx
The delicious aroma from the two brown bags he carried filled the hall he was walking in. They contained a plethora of Serena's favorite foods from Outback Steakhouse. The man holding them walked to the nursing station asking for Dr. Lunarea. The nurse he asked pointed to Mr. Shield's room across the hall. The man thanked the woman and headed towards the door. The curtains were drawn closed, but the door was left open. Before he was about to knock, he heard the conversation taking place between the occupants.
"...award ceremony with my son?" It was Mr. Shields asking.
"Yes, he asked me yesterday. I usually don't attend tho..." Serena responded, but he didn't hear the rest as he started to comprehend what he just eavesdropped on.
xx
A black Lexus pulled up to the curb in front of the tall glass building that was Shields Financial. Darien was waiting about two minutes before it appeared. The back tinted window rolled down, revealing a plump man with a receding hair line. He gave a warm smile as he greeted Darien.
"The young Mr. Shields! Please, come on in. Are you hungry? I'm starving!" He said with a belly-laugh that he held as it shook.
"Thank you, Mr. Faust." Darien returned with a smile as he crawled inside.
"You didn't ask me to lunch to choke down the Brussels sprouts." Mr. Faust said, turning serious.
"No, I didn't, but you are going to have to choke down something else." Darien cautioned. "Someone else wants to acquire your company before we can make an offer. Pierce is seeking out the cash to take the whole thing over himself."
Mr. Faust furrowed his eyebrows, shaking his head. "Pierce? No way. Reese would never betray me."
"No, not Reese. Ryland. He would and he has. He is trying to flip your head of the union and without his vote, we don't have shit." Darien shifted further into his seat, leaning his head back on the cool leather.
"Clive would never sell me out. He knows what he is doing." He rubbed his chin, looking out the window.
"So do I. Ryland's trying to take out your line of credit. He is going to see your funding stops."
"And how on Earth is he going to do that?" He jerked back and demanded.
"By asking every Pierce Investment Group client that you currently do business with to move their accounts to Chase."
"Son of a bitch. He really wants to cripple my company that badly?" He pounded the interior of the car door.
"He thinks your company is already dead and that you just don't know it yet."
"I won't let him have my company!" Raged Mr. Faust.
"So let us buy your company. If you don't vote to block it by morning, you're going to lose 2 billion in deposits."
"This company is my dream." He felt defeated.
"I know. But now its time to wake up. Let us buy your company. Keep the vote in our favor."
"You're asking me to give up."
"Not give up. I won't let that happen. You can still see to its handling and direction." Darien guaranteed. "This is going to happen whether its me or someone else and someone else may not give you the opportunity. Protect your people."
He hesitated for a long time. "Okay. You have my vote."
xx
"Are you kidding me?" Rei burst into Darien's office.
Darien was just closing his laptop when she stormed in. He folded his hands on top of his closed laptop and waited for her to proceed.
"You're not handling this meeting with Mr. Pierce." She crossed her arms and stomped her foot.
His smirk faded as he stood up. "Yes, I am."
"I know you don't want to, but you need to sit on the sidelines for this one."
"Damn right I don't and I won't. Find a comfortable spot on the bench because like it or not, I'm first string." He stood in front of her, challenging her.
"You're not going in this with a clear head. She will be hindering you."
"Rei, I can handle it."
"You both have a brain and a dick and if you get in that room together, the brains aren't going to be leading that conversation." He turned away and walked out.
xx
Rei followed Darien into the same conference room they occupied earlier for the first meeting. Neither of them had said a word since their discussion in his office.
Soon the man known as Ryland walked in. He introduced himself with such suave it made Darien feel the bile rise in his throat. They eyed each other, in a battle of the eyes, sizing one another up. Neither faltered in their stare down. Rei watched the silent fight of the eyes over the woman. She cleared her throat to get them to focus. When that didn't work she slammed her notebook planner on the table, causing both of them to blink and ending their battle with a tie.
"Gentlemen, if we can begin." Rei shot Darien a look of disappointment. Ryland could only grin at him.
Ryland opened a folder and pushed it towards Darien. Darien then pushed it to Rei, not daring to take his eyes off of him. Ryland smirked while Rei just rolled her eyes.
"Here is a 20 million dollar offer. No risks. Pure profit. It's a win – win."
Rei looked through the proposal and the files in the folder. "Sounds good."
"I just have one question." Darien spoke. Ryland's eyebrow arched, still displaying his smug grin. "What exactly are you going to do with this company?"
Ryland was a little surprised with that question. "With all due respect, I don't see how that is any of your concern."
"With all due respect, you're the one coming to me with an offer, so if I say it's my concern, it is." Darien retorted.
"You're asking about a competitor's business plan." Rei pointed out.
"And if he doesn't want to be competitors, he will answer my question." Darien eloquently added.
"Okay, I'm going to do what anyone would do. I'm going to sell it for parts." Ryland resolved.
Without hesitation, Darien declared, "No deal." Then he slid the folder back to Ryland.
Ryland faltered a bit. "Okay, you win. Let's make it 30 million." He offered with his smug smirk.
"You can make it 1 billion and the offer would still be no. I made a promise to Faust. I would fight to keep his company alive and I don't think he's going to believe that cutting a deal to see his workers out is keeping that promise." Darien maintained his decision.
"I thought I heard you were a smart business man."
"I am. Which is why I know what's going on here."
Ryland's interests were piqued. "What exactly is that?"
"No one ever tells you 'no.' You're used to getting what you want. But that's going to stop, right here, right now." Darien contended.
Ryland was amused and thought how he had underestimated the young Mr. Shields. "You're right. I do always get what I want. I don't see how this time is going to be any different."
"I'll tell you how it's going to be different. This time, you're talking about something I care about, so if you think I'm going to step aside-"
"I don't care if you step aside or not. When I see something I want, I take it and then I do whatever the hell I want with it. And what I want to do with this company is strip it down, flip it over-"
"Okay, that's enough-" Rei interrupted, knowing exactly what each man was hinting at.
"No, no, let him talk. I wanna hear this; keep going, Pierce." Darien insisted.
"No, I don't need to because you know how this ends." Ryland taunted.
"Yeah, I do. With me and Faust on one side and you crying to your daddy on the other." Darien concluded.
"We're done."
"You're right." Darien flung Ryland's folder in the air. "We are. " Then stood up and walked out.
xx
Andrew found Darien with his suit jacket discarded over his leather swivel chair and his sleeves rolled up, throwing paper balls into the wastepaper basket.
He poked his head in. "Hey, doc, got a minute?"
"Hey, Drew. Yeah, come on in."
"I brought the papers for the loan."
"Don't worry about it. I already took care of it for you."
"Really? Thanks, man."
"No problem. Wanna play H-O-R-S-E?"
After a few rounds of playing, Andrew announced his need to depart. "Duty calls."
"Alright, 'Drew. Still coming over tomorrow? What about Rita?"
"Yeah, we will be there. Can't wait! It's still okay if we crash there, right?"
"Of course. I have plenty of rooms to accommodate everyone."
"Great, see you then." He nodded to Darien and turned to see Rei walking in as he was leaving. "Hi, Rei! Bye, Rei!"
Rei looked after him as she said, "Bye."
"Hey, Rei, what can I do for you?" Darien walked to his desk to sit and lean back in his chair.
"I just came in to give you this," she dropped a file on his desk, "and this," dropped another file, "and... all … of … these." She finished as she dropped the rest of the files she had in her hand, one by one on his desk.
"Those are the last seven Pierce-s you contracted with and you didn't seem to mind what happened with any of those companies."
Darien stared at the files littering his desk. "Rei, this is not up for discussion."
"Seven. You're not signing over just so you can spite him."
"That's ridiculous." He countered.
"Is it? So this has nothing to do with her?" She crossed.
"He is not my concern. Faust Industries is. I meant what I said. I made a promise to Faust."
"I believe you. But I also know you have an ulterior motive."
xx
As he sauntered through the cardiovascular wing looking for his blonde goddess, he couldn't help but think he was too late, maybe he missed her and she had already left. He casually walked to his father's room to pop in and check in on him. When he walked in, he found her examining his father with her stethoscope.
The moment he walked in, their eyes met, each giving one another genuinely warm smiles. He felt his stiff body melting under her gaze. Her breath caught as she took in his appearance. He looked deliciously aristocrat in his suit, sans jacket and tie, with the top two buttons of his shirt unhinged.
"Serena, can I talk to you for a minute... when you're done?"
"I just finished." She affirmed with a smile. Turning to Dastian, she ordered, "Mr. Shields, if anything changes, please call me directly. Don't wait on the nurses or the attendings to do so."
"Yes, doctor. And please call me Dastian."
She smiled. "Good night, Dastian." She walked towards the door where Darien was standing.
"Dad, I'll be right back." Darien promised. Dastian nodded with a wink and Darien couldn't help but chuckle.
When they were outside of Dastian's room, he pulled her off to the side in a shallow alcove, hoping no one would notice them or hear them.
Darien leaned his back against the wall, shoving his hands in his pockets. Exhaustion evident in his posture. His eyes were dark, smoldering. He was the epitome of seduction, of lust, of desire.
"I didn't think I would see you today." She admitted quietly.
"I didn't think so either. I wanted to stop by and check in on my dad, but thought I would see if you were still here." She looked up and bashfully smiled at him then.
She put her hand on the breast pocket of his vest. Darien's heart rate increased and he knew her professional fingers would notice.
"I love this suit on you..." She whispered as she continued circling her fingers over his heart.
He grinned and closed his eyes, memorizing her soft touch. He restrained from reaching out for her and pulling her close.
"Can I ask you something?" Darien requested hoarsely.
"Yes?" She asked curiously.
Without opening his eyes, he asked, "How do you know Ryland Pierce?"
He noticed her fingers ceased their movements and he felt her hand retreat. When he opened his eyes, he watched her head drop, reaching for both sides of her stethoscope to tug on.
'Fuck,' he thought. Her silence was troubling him all the more.
"Can we discuss this in my office?" She asked as she noticed a few nurses started to gather outside a patient's room.
He nodded and she lead him to her office down the hall. He could smell her fragrance again. Her swaying ponytail tempting him to run his fingers through its silk tresses.
She opened the door and stepped aside so he could follow her in. He took a seat on her desk, spreading his legs out, his hands holding the edge he sat on. He was facing her, watching her back sigh as she closed the door shut. He patiently waited for her answer.
She assumed Darien had heard of him from Mr. Shields. She couldn't be surprised. She didn't know what was going on between her and Darien, but she did know something was apparent and that his family would do what they believed to be necessary – even giving such information as her encounter with Ryland.
When she turned, she didn't move any closer to him and she avoided looking at him.
"We-I...unknowingly had...an...affair with him." She spit the last of it out.
Darien's eyes widened at her confession. His sharp exhale startled her, causing her to look at him. His eyes asking her for an explanation.
"They were separated. I didn't even know he was married. He lied to me. For six months we were together and he never...ever mentioned her to me...or anyone."
Darien nodded. He watched the anger in her eyes as she revealed their relationship and his, and by association, her infidelity.
"I only found out about his marriage to her on accident. He left the divorce papers in his glove box. I went to retrieve his missing sunglasses one morning and found them. I felt betrayed and embarrassed. I wanted nothing to do with him."
Darien reached for her hands to pull her closer to him. He caressed her hands with his thumbs as he held hers in his, idly playing with the pearl ring on her right ring finger. 'She likes pearls.' He mentally noted.
"It's okay." He soothed. "I was just wondering. I'm sorry I brought it up."
She shook her head. "No, I'm glad you did. I don't want to keep anything from you."
He felt the warm heat of her words tingle throughout his body. Pulling her hands to his lips, he tenderly kissed each one.
Serena's eyes teared up at the heartfelt gesture. He stood up, releasing her hands and cupping her face. She closed her eyes and leaned into his touch. When she opened her eyes, a tear escaped, but was quickly wiped away with his caressing thumb.
"Don't think about him. He isn't worth your thoughts."
She nodded.
"Are you still coming over tomorrow? Will you still be accompanying me to the banquet?" He pleaded.
She grabbed his cupped hands into hers. "I'm looking forward to spending the weekend with you, Darien."
He gave his heartwarming smile to her, causing her to blush a deep shade of crimson.
With a kiss on her cheek, he said his goodbye. "I'll see you tomorrow. Good night, Serena." His hands ever so slowly slid from her grasp, turning her in the process to watch him leave.
"Good night, Darien."
She brought her hand to her heart in attempt to slow the pounding, but it was no use. She was falling for him, hard and fast.