A week passed and he had not heard from either Trista, or Serena. That worried him a little, but he was able to shrug it off. During the week he had rented a small apartment downtown and removed himself and his belongings from the house he and his wife bought six years before. His circle of friends, i.e. business partners had all been updated on the changes in his life. And currently, he was carefreely having lunch with his brother Andrew. Soon, they were joined by Greg and Diamond, all partners in business.

Diamond gave him a strong pat on the back. "How are you holding up, Darien-boy?" he said sarcastically.

"So, you really want a divorce?" Greg asked sitting down, scanning the menu. "Isn't it a bit sudden? You were such a happy couple!"

"Happy my ass! The past year has been hell," Darien half replied. "I'm tired of it all; especially of her. Our marriage didn't turn out the way I'd envisioned it…"

"Yeah, but not everything goes as you envision it, Darien," Greg noted. "Marriage isn't a case which you can win or lose if it doesn't go your way. You have to work at it…"

"I'm sure we'll be able to turn it into a case very soon!" Diamond smiled heartily, shamelessly showing his bloodthirsty, lawyerly fangs. He received a glare from the other three men.

Finally sitting down, Diamond rambled on, ignoring the icy expressions. "Really, there is a good reason as to why I never go for the mysterious type like Trista. And you can't say I didn't warn you about her, buddy. They are so damned misleading. They trick you into believing that they're more that they are; that they're the right woman, when in reality they're just as plain and boring as the rest of them. One really ought to accuse them of fraud! At least with the non-mysterious, simple chicks a man knows what he's bargaining for when he get involved. So I'm totally on your side this one… always believed women like her needed a jail sentence."

"This coming from the most notorious playboy to walk on the face of this earth," Andrew inserted in a light tone.

"My dear friend, at least I'm notorious! Any woman not in for the ride can opt out due to my reputation. Trista-women are exciting like me, but deathly private about their agenda."

"You paint Trista as a monster, but she wasn't the adulterer," Greg reminded them.

"Well, her fault for leading him to believe that she was a wonderful goddess, then after trapping him, disappointing him like that. I daresay Darien held out well; eight months deprived of his needs, I tell you!"

Darien leaned back and smiled, hiding his embarrassment, as he received curious glances from his brother and Greg.

"And she completely broke him. A man with any sense of self would not go down without a fight, and here he is giving up all his belongings!"

"Serves me right for not having written a pre-nup," Darien explained. "It will teach me not to commit the same mistake again."

As he said this he casually looked up to lazily observe the sidewalk traffic by restaurant. His eyes quickly landed on a flowing sheet of gold that hurriedly passed by them. Quickly with no warning whatsoever, he jumped from his seat and followed her. She had not yet noticed him when she entered a department store close by their restaurant, and minutes later Darien caught a hold of her arm in a female clothes' boutique. She reflexively turned around, surprised to see him.

"You!" was her exclamation.

"Me!" he copied. "I've been trying to reach you for a week now, but I only get your answer machine. Is there anything wrong?"

Serena relaxed and letting her astonished look fade. Then, rather smugly, she cocked her head slightly to the left and smiled. She crossed her arms, and raised an eyebrow.

"As a matter of fact, there is," she said at last while Darien ogled at her helplessly. Having said this, she decided it was time to move on to the next dress, and as she turned she added, "You."

Darien was shocked, but his reflexes were quick and he caught her wrist just in time. "What do you mean me?" he pressed.

"Release me," she ordered calmly. "I would like it if you stopped trying to get in contact with me, please," she then said bluntly.

Darien was confused; "But how? We spent such a wonderful night!"

"Exactly, only one night! The only night, or do you usually tend to stalk your one night stands?"

"One night stand!" Darien exclaimed in disbelief. "We've known each other for around six weeks! I thought we were heading towards a relationship with all that courting…"

"Relationship?" she exclaimed indignantly, almost disgusted. Then she added before she made a hasty exit off the store, "I don't even like you!"

Darien watched her golden curls sway with her movement. He blinked and blinked again. This was one of those times when he really thought women were hopeless to understand. It didn't make sense; if she didn't even like him why would she spend weeks flirting, leading him on, and finally sleeping with him. He felt a pat on his shoulder, and turned to face Amara, his friend, business partner, divorce lawyer.

"Ouch!" she said grinning. "Did you just get dumped? Poor you!"

Darien glanced at her and shrugged aiming for a "such is life" pose.

"You know, she looked familiar," Amara said thoughtfully, "Was she, perhaps, one of you clients?"

"No, I remember all my clients," Darien answered.

"Or family, maybe?" Amara tried again.

"You know it's just me, Andrew and his family…"

"How odd, then! Anyway, tell me, have you heard anything from Trista yet?" she began while they made their way back to the restaurant.

"No."

"I think you should expect the worst, buddy! Either she thinks you're just that damned unimportant, or she doesn't want a divorce. You're going to need a lawyer in this one, and you're lucky since I have time to spare on your sorry ass."

"That's very kind of you," he answered sarcastically, "But I told you I'm fine. I'm a lawyer myself remember?"

"You're going to need me, so, I had better ignore what you just said," she laughed, "Besides; you don't have the special knowledge that comes from years of experience in the field."