(Thanks to those of you who are reviewing! It's always helpful to know how my work is being received. I hope you enjoy this next part :) )
Chapter 20
"It was absolutely lovely to meet you, properly!" Serena emphasized as she took Amelia's hand in her own and held it tight.
"Well we're all heading out for 'the last supper' if you'd both like to join us?" Serena looked up at Hanssen and he shrugged his shoulders, leaving the decision up to her.
"I suppose we don't have to rush back..." Hanssen shook his head and smiled at her.
"Indeed we don't, Ms. Campbell." he replied breezily, returning his concentration to a Medical document handed to him by Douglas, wanting his opinion. She looked at Amelia and smiled warmly, finding herself liking this straight-talking, intelligent woman.
"Meet down here in an hour?" she asked, raising her eyebrows and winking at Serena who scoffed and swatted the woman away as she laughed and took Douglas by the hand. "We've got an hour, handsome." she cooed at him as he smiled excitedly at her and tapped the paper in Hanssen's hand.
"Keep that for now. Come on you, I've been thinking about you all afternoon." he growled at her as they headed towards the lifts, arm in arm. Serena watched them go, a smile on her lips at their obvious love for one another. She turned her head to see Hanssen's attention was still firmly on the document in front of him. She sighed, rolling her eyes and cleared her throat as she headed towards the stairwell, feeling him following her. Reaching her floor, he exited the stairwell with her and followed her to her room, eyes still firmly fixed on the document. Once they'd entered the room, he took a seat on the end of the bed, continuing to read as she put down her bag and stood looking at him thoughtfully.
She went into the bathroom and flicked on the shower as she returned and noticed Hanssen hadn't moved. She began to unbutton her shirt, pulling it from her shoulders and placing it on the desk beside her. She unzipped her trousers and pulled them off then walked past him to her bag, retrieving a second dress she'd packed. She took it out, thanking her lucky stars she'd had the foresight to pack two, just in case. Walking back past him, she hung the dress up on the back of the bathroom door, then headed back to her bag, brushing past him again. Retrieving her shower-gel, she moved past him, slower, feeling his eyes on her as she entered the bathroom, placing the bottle on the side of the sink. Entering the bedroom again, she stood in front of the mirror, massaging her shoulder as she fiddled with her bra-strap, aware of his eyes watching her closely, falling onto her chest in the mirror. Reaching for the dress, she held it up in front of her, scrutinising her appearance. The dress was a deep purple colour, with dark, slightly sparkling outer netting. She hung it back up on the door and decided to fetch her shoes, knowing Hanssen's eyes were fixed firmly on her. She moved to walk past him again when he took hold of her wrist and pulled her down onto his lap.
"Enough." he said simply as he brought her lips to his and ran his hand through her hair. She smiled into the kiss and stood up, holding her hand out. He looked up with wide eyes as he took hold of her hand and followed her to the bathroom, closing the door behind them.
"How far is this place?" Serena asked Amelia as they walked along the street, side by side.
"Not too far...it's across the City Centre." she explained, waving her hand in the general direction. "So, you and Mr. Hanssen." she stated as Serena looked around her in fear, making sure nobody was listening in. Amelia chuckled at the action as she raised an eyebrow, expecting a reply from Serena.
"What about it?" she asked quietly, keeping her eyes on the CEO who was currently several strides ahead of them, discussing Douglas's document with him.
"Well what is that? Is it serious?" Serena sighed and shrugged her shoulders.
"I don't really know, to be completely honest. Neither of us are big on feelings and declarations of love!" she scoffed as Amelia turned towards her sharply.
"Have you used the dreaded 'L' word yet?" Serena looked up at her sheepishly and nodded. "Right, carry on." she demanded, nodding her head, understandingly.
"Well there's nothing much else to say really. We do have strong feelings for one another, and we find each other very attractive..." she paused and Amelia linked her arm with Serena's.
"I feel a 'but' coming on..." she nudged, Serena shaking her head.
"I just don't know what's going to happen!" she concluded, raising her shoulders.
"Well, what do you want to happen?"
"I think I like things as they are, but I can feel they're about to get a whole lot more complicated." Amelia nodded in understanding as Serena continued. "I have a teenage daughter. She gets on with Henrik, the few times they have met, but I don't feel I'm being fair to her." she admitted.
"In what way?"
"Well, it's always been just me and her. Any dalliances I've had with men have been away from her, but with Henrik...he's going to cross that line." Amelia gripped her arm lightly, stroking it with her thumb.
"Do you want him to cross that line?" Serena thought for a moment, looking up at the statuesque, enigmatic, loving, infuriating man in front of her and chuckled softly.
"I think I do." she said quietly, Amelia breaking into a grin and hugging her from the side as they continued walking. Hanssen looked back over his shoulder after hearing Serena laughing and raised his eyebrows at the two women embracing each other. He caught Serena's eye and gave her a puzzled look as she winked at him and he turned back around, clearing his throat awkwardly.
"He is rather awkward with displays of affection isn't he?" Amelia whispered, Serena turning and smiling wickedly at her.
"Only public displays..." she said as Amelia's eyes widened and she looked back up at Hanssen, nodding impressed.
As they reached the restaurant, which turned out to be a rather posh English establishment, Hanssen hung back until Serena and Amelia reached the door. As he looked down at Serena, Amelia smiled and headed inside, leaving the two of them alone.
"What?" she asked him as he gazed down at her, amusement on his face.
"What were you two discussing at the back, resembling a couple of ill-behaved school-girls?" he asked lightly as she smiled, folding her arms.
"We were comparing notes of course." She watched as Hanssen's face turned to one of horror and she laughed, reaching forward for his hand. "Joking." He groaned in relief as she leant up and kissed his lips softly. He wrapped his arms around her, feeling the warmth of her body travelling through to his. He could honestly say, he wouldn't mind staying like this forever. No cares, or worries, or troubles...simply the two of them, holding each other. Smiling down at her, he pushed open the door and she headed inside, him following her. She searched the room and saw Amelia wave at them from across the room. Heading over to them, she removed her coat and noticed the looks she received from the table of Consultants.
"Ms. Campbell, once again looking gorgeous." admired Douglas, Amelia handed her a glass of wine as she took her seat to her left. She smiled her thanks and shifted forward for Hanssen to squeeze past and delicately land in the seat next to her.
"I wasn't sure on your poison, so I got you the same as Serena...I hope that's okay?" Amelia asked as Hanssen smiled politely.
"Thank you Ms. Nelson." He raised the glass to his lips and took a sip, Serena busying herself with placing her coat on the back of her seat and hooking her bag over the chair-arm. They ordered their food and conversation was in full flow when Amelia suddenly froze and reached for Serena's arm, staring at the doorway. Serena looked at her and shifted her gaze to the door, feeling her breath catch in her throat as they saw Cunningham heading towards them.
"He better not be wanting to join us." Amelia spat as Serena looked at her in surprise.
"Why do you say that?" she asked her as the woman rolled her eyes and glared up as Cunningham reached their table.
"Good evening!" he said loudly, clearly slurring. Serena looked at Hanssen uneasily as he straightened up in his seat. "Room for a little one!?" he laughed as the occupants of the table sat still, looking to each other for guidance. Douglas stood up and reached a hand out to Cunningham.
"Hey, I think maybe you should head home..." he rested his hand on Cunningham's arm before he flinched and yanked his arm away.
"Get off me! What's the matter with you all?" he asked harshly as they kept their eyes low. Hanssen stood up, going to help Douglas remove him when he turned and leered at Serena. "Serenaaaa..." he sneered as Hanssen grabbed his arm before he pulled it from his grasp. "There she is...giving it to him good are you!?" he spat at her as she stood up angrily, Amelia grabbing her wrist.
"I think it's time you left, before you say something you'll regret." Douglas told him, but he brushed him away.
"Tell me, what does he have that I don't? Or is it a 'screw yourself to the top' technique!?" he shouted angrily as Hanssen drew back his fist and punched him in the face. Serena gasped as Cunningham hit the floor and Hanssen drew back his hand, holding it to his chest.
"Right, come on!" Douglas and Mr. Wylde picked him up and dragged him from the restaurant, depositing him outside. Serena stood staring at Hanssen, disbelief in her eyes as he turned and stepped towards her. She stepped back and bent to reach her bag and coat from the back of the chair before making her apologies and pushing past him to the door. She could feel her cheeks burning bright as she exited the restaurant and stood on the pavement taking deep breaths. The door opened behind her and Hanssen rushed out taking her by the shoulder and standing in front of her. She pushed him off and began to walk down the street, back towards the hotel, pulling her coat tight around her. She heard his footsteps approaching her as her eyes filled up with tears...tears of anger, frustration and betrayal. He grabbed her shoulder again and she spun around to face him.
"How could you do that!?" she asked him, her voice raised and her eyes ablaze.
"I'm sorry, I couldn't just stand there and let him talk to you like that!" he protested, staring angrily into her eyes.
"You didn't have to hit him!" she shouted as he dropped his hand, shaking his head.
"What was I supposed to do?"
"You were supposed to be the bigger person and simply leave it! Now he has that against us...against you!" she said through gritted teeth as she turned away from him.
"Hey!" He pulled her back around to face him and frowned. "Is that what this is about? You're worrying what he'll do to me?"
"Of course!" she said exasperatedly. "It's my fault...all of this! If he tells the Board, you'll be the one in the wrong, not me, and it's not fair!" He held her in front of him and exhaled.
"Whatever he decides to do, let him, I really couldn't care less."
"But you could lose your job!" she pleaded as he shook his head.
"I don't care. A job is a job. I love you and right now that's all that matters to me." he said slowly, his eyes boring into hers.
"Oh Henrik, don't be so stupid." she scolded as he pulled her into an embrace, holding her tight.
"I'm not being stupid. Plus, we have a table full of people in there who I'll bet are willing to deny any assault took place." She looked up at him and laughed. "I couldn't let him make you look as if you were attempting to sleep your way into my job. I draw the line at that." he told her gently as he raised a hand to her cheek, stroking it softly. She pulled back and smiled devilishly.
"You just defended my honour." she said matter of factly.
"Well, I wouldn't put it quite like that..." he argued as she laughed and shook her head.
"You defended my honour...as a true partner would do." He looked down at her and seemed to mull something over before coming to a decision.
"I guess I did...partner." he smiled down at her as she raised her eyebrows in surprise. Leaning down, he brushed his lips against hers and nodded to the restaurant. "Coming back inside? I think we could both benefit from some food inside us." She smiled, kissing him softly and motioning for him to lead the way.