AN: It's been a long time everyone! How are you all? Well, yesterday was my birthday, and I wanted to give you guys all a gift, but unfortunately, I couldn't finish this chapter in time, so I posted it today. I really hope you guys enjoy it.
Please do not skip this beginning part, read through the whole chapter! And then review, please.
It had been a very important assignment. It was an assignment that called for little skill or intelligence, but was important nonetheless. The careful planning had already been squared away, the tiny details already seen to by others aiding in the operation, all he had to do was drive the truck. That was it. Plain and simple.
But the task somehow spiraled out of control, and the assignment was left uncompleted.
The boss wasn't going to forgive him. Oh no, he most surely won't. Cameron knew he would be severely deprecated and punished, and his stomach churned in anticipation. The hour ahead of him was going to be very unpleasant.
Cameron didn't dare try to postpone the confrontation. He knew that word of his failure already reached the base. Hiding couldn't help him even if he decided to do it. They'd find him, and drag him back to headquarters, as they've done to the men before him. He was too smart to make their same mistakes.
Audibly he gulped as the elevator doors opened. Wiping away the perspiration that beaded his forehead, he stepped out onto the top floor of SJ Corp. From across the empty room a blonde looked up at him over her computer in a lone office. She beckoned to him with a wave of her hand, as she registered his face, and he walked forward.
"What have you gotten yourself into, Cameron?" She shook her head with dismay.
Clasping her outstretched hand in a firm grasp, Cameron replied sheepishly, "A shit load of trouble and you know it, Nancy."
A sly smile stretched her red lips. "Everyone knows it. You messed up, Cameron. Big time."
With an irritated sigh, Cameron nervously rubbed the back of his neck. "Is the boss in a good mood?"
In reply, the young blonde only laughed. "He's in as foul a mood as ever. You should have seen him when he found out you failed, Cameron. St. James looked ready to draw blood. Your blood, in fact," she told him with a matter-of-fact nod. She didn't even try to conceal her amusement.
"I'll keep that in mind," he bit out dryly. "Is he in his office today?"
Nancy's eyes widened, "You're planning to see him now?" She swiveled around in her computer chair to give him her full attention.
Somewhat taken aback by her look of surprise, Cameron answered, "Yeah, I thought he was expecting me."
Leaning forward, Nancy crossed her nylon clad legs and pulled at her knee-high black skirt. "Oh yeah, he's expecting you. It's just I didn't think you'd be man enough to face him after your disaster."
Cameron's jaw clenched. "Tell him I'm here," he hissed, and then he turned and headed out the door of her office.
"Hey Cameron," Nancy's teasing voice called to him.
Turning around, Cameron gave her a hard stare. With her head poking out of the door of her office, Nancy looked like a bubbly teenager, and with her silly grin she could very well be mistaken for one. At twenty-three, the young college graduate had snatched the position of the CEO's secretary. And Cameron did not doubt that her good-looks helped a lot in getting her the job. Nancy Baker was not the most qualified for the post, and most certainly not the most experienced in the field. St. James was notorious for his women, so it didn't really come as a surprise to Cameron at all. Right now, however, he seriously wanted to throttle the woman for her impertinence.
"What?" Cameron barked chillingly.
"Don't bite off my head," Nancy retorted and she frowned, "I was merely gonna warn you."
"About what?"
A slow sly smile touched her face, sending shivers down his spine, "He's explosive today. I'm telling you, you're the flame that's gonna set him off. I'd be cautious if I were you."
"Come in," a voice snarled from behind the door. The voice was weather-worn, tattered from the harsh, demanding, and stressful years that it had journeyed through. It was rough and wild, a result of his high-pressure job, the same way the sharp waters have carved away at the earth; morphing solid rock into deep rugged valleys, his prestigious position had worn him thin.
The owner of that voice was not so different in appearance. Sitting behind a large wooden desk, a fierce looking man furrowed thick white brows at the intruder. Around the corner of his eyes, sun-baked tan skin crinkled into cavernous lines he had lost count of long ago, as his inquiring gaze turned malicious. His lips were pressed tight into a thin line, and his stare was unwavering.
"Sit." The same chilling voice barked.
Cameron was quick to comply.
"I want you to explain in as little words as possible how the hell you were able to mess up the assignment, boy. I don't have time for you. I've got an appointment in fifteen minutes." Lacing his fingers together on the desk, the elder man's eyes pinched in as he glared at his employee.
With his eyes glued onto the nameplate, read Ronald P St. James in all gold caps, Cameron timidly began recounting the incident.
"It wasn't my fault, sir—"
"Oh and I suppose you're going to blame it on the girl now? She was walking too fast for you, huh?" His boss taunted, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
"No, sir, she wasn't walking too fast. Someone pushed her out of the way, Mr. St. James," Cameron tried to explain, his voice shook uncontrollably.
"Someone pushed her out of the way!" St. James roared, flying to his feet. "I believe you were told to be cautious. How in the hell did someone detect you were going to hit her?"
Flinching at the fire that spewed from his superior's mouth, Cameron answered, "I don't know."
His dumbfounded reply was infuriating to St. James. Clenching his hands into tight fists, St. James contemplated slamming them as hard as he could into the boy's face. It wouldn't do him any good, he admitted to himself. The damage was already done; the girl was not dead, but at least the boy was smart enough not to get caught. Hell, it'd make him feel a lot better though.
And he did just that.
Cameron fell backward in his chair at the force of the fist that slammed into his jaw. He lay on the floor for a second not moving, not breathing. He didn't see that coming at all. After regaining his breath, and taking in what had just happened. Cameron scrambled back onto his feet and rearranged the chair. He rubbed his aching jaw. But damned that hurt, he thought, for an old guy St. James sure did pack a punch.
"How old are you boy?"
"Twenty-five," Cameron replied, somewhat taken aback.
St. James smiled. "Really? You're twenty-five? That old?"
"I'll be turning twenty-six next month, sir," Cameron thought to add, for it seemed that the boss was getting all worked up about his age.
"Oh that's wonderful," St. James exclaimed dryly, "I've got a twenty-six year old man working for me, who can not do the simple task of driving a truck! You're not an inexperienced intern, according to your file, you've been working for me for six years, damn it, and you couldn't do a simple task?"
"It wasn't just driving a truck sir," Cameron muttered under his breath; his head was bowed.
"What was that?" St. James growled like an angry lion about to feast on his prey.
"It was murder, sir." Cameron said louder this time. He cautioned a fleeting glance at his boss, who was now seething with rage.
"It was an easy murder too! Drive the truck, that's all I asked. And you couldn't do it!"
"I made a mistake, sir."
"Do I know it." St. James replied arrogantly. "I should have sent the fresh young eighteen year old intern. Aren't teenagers more prone to drive recklessly, they say?"
Cameron flushed, embarrassed with himself. "I underestimated Chiba. But maybe if I had had someone gun him down—"
St. James attention was caught by that. "Chiba? Did you say Chiba?"
Cameron nodded. "Mamoru Chiba was the one who pushed your niece out of the way sir."
His boss' face turned suddenly white.
"Get out!" St. James shouted with such ferocity that, Cameron, scared out of his wits, nearly jumped out of his skin as he ran for the door.
"Sir, I don't understand!"
"I said get out! And do not make contact with anyone in SJ Corp, or I swear I'll have your head!"
"Does this mean I'm fired, sir?"
"We'll give you a call when it's safe, but you can consider it a suspension."
"I'm still not quite sure I know what you're talking about, Mr. St. James. I mean, why am I being suspended? I can try again if you'll let me. Give me one more chance, sir, and I swear I'll get Tsukino for you."
"Damn it boy, did you not hear what I said? I want you out of here until further notice."
"But why, sir?" Cameron was desperate.
"Don't you know the Chiba's, you silly boy? They're among the richest in the world. Not only that but they own one of the worlds best international investigative agencies. They'll be knocking at your door in no time, and so you are to have no contact with me or anyone else in SJ Corp, do you hear me?" St. James ordered.
"We did a clean job though," Cameron began to protest.
"You did a clean half-job, but we don't know about the rest of the people in the operation, whoever was hired in Japan to help you doesn't know about SJ Corps. But they do know you, and if they're caught, you better count on them ratting you out."
Cameron went dead silent. A dark foreboding chill consumed him. He didn't think about any of that. His heart slammed painfully repeatedly into his chest.
"How many were there?"
Looking up, Cameron's brows drew together in confusion. "What?"
"How many men did you have helping you?" St. James demanded with urgency.
"One helped to break into the trucking company and steal the truck; and three more were located at the party to keep an eye on her and to report to me when she left. We had thought she was taking a vehicle, but due to some unexpected events she fled on foot, but that made things considerably easier—or it would have been if she hadn't been pushed out of the way. That's only four men, sir."
"You better pray to God, they haven't messed up, Cameron. For now I want all of their names. We'll silence them."
Cameron gave him the names.
"Now get out! I don't want to see your face or hear of you until you're summoned."
With great relief, Cameron fled from his office and was happy to comply. He did not stop once except for the elevators until he was out of the building and headed to his car.
Picking up his Armani blazer hung on the arm of his chair; St. James slipped his hands through the arms and adjusted it around his shoulders. Grabbing a folder from his desk, he prepared to leave for his meeting. Before he left however, he picked up the receiver of his phone, and dialed a number.
"Johnson? It's me, St. James. Get rid of Cameron. He's become a dangerous player in the operation. Do it quick and for god sakes do not, I repeat, do not mess up."
And with those final warning words he left for his ten o'clock appointment.
It was her last day in the hospital. And Serena prayed to the heavens for that. She spent two full weeks in the intensive care unit. When her health gradually improved Serena was moved into her own private room. For the first month of Serena's stay in the hospital, everything was a blur. Literally. Images were a mix of bright and dull colors, large and small shapes. Sounds were reduced to a low buzzing in her ears. Her fingers didn't feel right, her legs didn't feel right. Dry wet saliva clogged her throat, the taste filled her mouth. Her mind didn't seem to be picking up the messages the rest of her body was sending up the grapevine.
Toward the start of the second month however, odd shapes were toned down into familiar shadows, and blobs of colors separated. The first voices she was able to hear again were her mother's and father's. They were the first faces she saw too. But she couldn't remember much. Words were lost to her, exchanged conversations meaningless. The people came and went. Days came and went. And she quickly recovered.
Standing at the side of her hospital bed, Serena let her gaze drop appreciatively over all of the beautiful flowers that flooded the room. There were small arrangements and big arrangements. Single roses and bouquets of roses covered table tops. Sunflowers followed the sun from the windows and gorgeous rainbows of orchids and lilies and daisies crowded every corner of the tiny lifeless room. She watched the sunlight filter through the window striking upon all the colors and felt as though she were in her own lovely reprieve, a fantasy away from reality.
There were cards too of course. Get well cards from all of her fans and well-wishers. Serena had awoken one day to this and had thought she had died and gone to heaven. It was either that or she had been placed into the wrong hospital room, which she greatly doubted, because her dirty bloody dress from the night of the accident was in a clear plastic bag at the side of her bed.
This was all too weird for Serena. Overnight she had become a celebrity, her parents had explained to her. Reporters were crowding the lobby downstairs waiting to talk to her, to take a picture of her. Her mother had told her this as she unfolded the front of a newspaper to show her a picture of her being held in Darien's arms at the side of a street. And smugly, her mother had quipped, "They all want to know who the beautiful lady is who somehow has won the heart of one of the world's top bachelor."
In reply Serena had denied any "winning" of Darien's heart and without reading the article, crumpled it and threw it into the trash bin, which was sitting out in the hall because with all her flowers, the room simply wasn't big enough to accommodate anything else.
Sadly, her mother was right however. It seemed that most of Japan was only concerned about her relationship with "Mamoru Chiba". For some reason, unknown to Serena, they had gotten it into their heads that she and Chiba were in love and were engaged. And that was all too funny.
There was no such thing as love between her and Darien, and so they couldn't possibly be on the verge of marriage. In fact, Serena thought, a bit miffed, he hadn't even shown his face once while she had been in the hospital. She had seen everyone from her doctors to the lowliest reporters who had managed to sneak up to her room past the security, but she had yet to see one sign of the all-mighty heir of Chiba Industries.
Mina and the girls visited her at least once a day. Malcolm and the guys visited her at least every other day. Her parents were at her side almost every hour of every day. But damn it, where the hell was Darien? Where was he? She wondered, and why wasn't he here? What could he possibly be doing that was so much more important than visiting her at least once, once—that was all she was asking—in the hospital?
She swore to herself she would give him hell when she saw him; that is if she saw him—seeing that he couldn't even manage to show his face to her. Or send flowers! Yes, Serena nodded to herself. She looked at all of the stunning flowers. The way she heard it from the gang, Darien had felt terribly responsible for her accident. She reasoned however, that if so many people, whom she did not know and probably would never come to know could send her flowers and wonderful get-well-soon cards, why couldn't he? Why couldn't Darien have at least sent her some roses to show how guilty he felt—that he cared?
Serena hated this feeling he caused in her. He made her feel vulnerable and weak and terribly, terribly stupid. She felt so stupid waiting so anxiously to see if the next person who'd walk through the door was Darien, she felt so stupid rushing to every single flower arrangement with a card attached to it to see if it'd be signed from Darien, only to find that a Yogi Morimoto had sent them. And frankly she was ready to give up on him.
In a bout of frustration yesterday, she had decided to stop waiting for him to come see her. She wasn't a foolish little girl. Why she had subjected herself to such disappointment and such false hope for so long was beyond her. She had come to face the facts that Darien was not going to be coming. Therefore, she needn't wait on bated breath every time someone came knocking on the door any longer. It wasn't going to be Darien, but why should that matter to her? Why should she get all worked up over his no-show? It doesn't matter; she chanted to herself, he doesn't matter.
Serena sighed heavily, giving the room a final once over. She spotted the dozens of boxes of chocolates stacked on the nightstand and went to sort them out. Some boxes were empty due to the fact that some of her guests had helped themselves to her delicious snacks. Taking only the unopened boxes, she stuffed them into her duffle bag on the bed and rummaged through it for a final check up. Her parents should be here anytime now to pick her up.
As though on cue someone knocked on her door.
"Come in," Serena didn't hesitate to answer. With her back still towards the door, Serena counted the last of her seven pairs of socks and began to zip up her duffle bag.
"Hey dad, if it isn't too much of a hassle for you, do you mind taking my stuff to the car first? I'll need to talk with the staff here at the hospital to help distribute my flowers to the other sick guests here. I have a feeling they'll need them more than I will."
"Sure thing sweetheart, but I hope you'll at least keep my roses."
Serena's back went rigidly straight.
Darien was touched by the sweet and thoughtful gesture of Serena wanting to give away her flowers to the sick patients. That was an utterly kind thing to do, and his heart, strangely, swelled with pride as he watched her. It never struck him before how she was always such a gentle and caring woman. All of that combined with her refined air of grace and elegance made her so damned attractive to him. He fought back the urge to walk up behind her and slide his hands around her waist and draw her against him.
And his eyes glowed with amusement as he watched her slowly turn around towards him, with a small fire kindling in her eyes. Her face was flushed, and though her mouth was slightly hanging ajar the uncommon candor radiating from her face made him smile. His first real smile in ages.
"I'm sorry, do I know you?"
And then his smile was gone.
With an exasperated sigh Darien walked further into the room and nodded, "Yes."
"Are you sure? Because you see, I'm positive I've never seen you in my life." Serena pretended with bored civility.
"Well I can assure you, you have." Darien replied patiently, willing to take anything she threw at him.
Folding her arms across her chest, Serena regarded him with a sassy and rude stare. "Is that so?" She challenged.
Infuriatingly to Serena, Darien took a step closer, forcing her to tilt her head all the way back to stare him in the eyes, and then nodded. He didn't bother to say a word.
"What is it that you want?" She demanded haughtily, not breaking their gaze.
"I want to see you," he answered huskily, pleading with his eyes, begging her in his voice, "I need to talk to you."
"I'm not sure there's anything we need to talk about, and besides, I don't know you," she reminded him, still trying to hold onto her aloof persona but failing. Her anger was flaring.
"We have to talk about us, Serena," Darien said emphatically. His soul-searing eyes searched hers, startling her, making her break their connection.
"There is no 'us' Darien," Serena growled like an angry lioness. "What is wrong with the world and you, thinking that there is something between you and me? There's nothing between us and so there's nothing to discuss!"
Darien took her outburst as a good sign. "So I guess that means that you must know who I am then? My face starting to look familiar now?" He teased, his eyes sparkling.
Flustered, Serena shook her head furiously. "No—I mean—yes, um, no!"
"I'm sorry, Serena."
So totally unexpected was his apology, Serena gaped at him. "What?" She uttered breathlessly.
"I said I'm sorry," Darien's voice wreaked with sincerity, and Serena couldn't continue with her icy barrier.
"Why are you apologizing to me?" She asked, her brows furrowed deeply, so extremely confused with his turn-about gentleness.
"I'm apologizing for everything I've subjected you to these last few months. It's my fault for your accident, if I'd have been more careful, I could have protected your head; it's also my fault for the publicity, though I can't say that I invited their attention; and it's my fault for not having once visited you while you're in the hospital, which I assume is why you're so damned furious with me right now."
Touched that he actually did care about her, Serena smiled; a tender warm smile. She was overwhelmed by the strange feelings he was evoking inside her. It was a natural reaction when she placed a soothing hand on his firm jaw. "Darien, the reporters are beyond your control, I don't hold you accountable for that. Secondly, yes, I was mad at you for not visiting me while I was in the hospital, but I guess since you're here now, and I'm still in the hospital, I'll forgive you. Anyways, I can't believe you could even be blaming yourself for my injury, although my memory of that night still hasn't come back to me, from what I hear, if it weren't for you, I'd be dead."
"What?"
"Don't try to be coy, you are a hero. I guess I was just mad because you didn't even give me the chance to thank you when I had gotten better. I really wanted to see you and express my gratitude." She said humbly, bowing her head a little in answer to his shocked expression. Serena withdrew her hand, feeling suddenly silly for being so intimate.
"I wasn't asking about that—did you just say that you lost your memory of the night of the accident?" He asked again. He stared intently at her as he grabbed her shoulders.
"Yeah," Serena looked up strangely at him, "I can remember for some reason the whole day leading up to Mina's party, but I can't remember anything during the evening. Why?" She asked curiously.
Darien didn't know how or why Serena could have possibly forgotten that it was actually his fault that she had fled from Mina's party like a wounded white dove but he was grateful to the heavens up above. That meant that she didn't know about their supposed engagement or the embarrassment he subjected her to in the media. He knew it wasn't right for him to feel relieved; but for her to agree to his plan he would need her to trust him completely. And honestly, the memory of his brash behavior that night those months ago, would never inspire trust from her.
He decided it was time to let his plan start rolling. He would tell her the truth afterwards, when she had agreed to his plan. The whole nation thought they were going to get married; it's time she found out too. And he wasn't taking no for an answer.
Thinking to break it gently to her, Darien reached out and grasped both of her hands. "Serena, that night…you and I…"
Feeling guilty, Darien hesitated for a moment. The look in her trusting gaze was shattering to him. "You see, Serena, you and I are now engaged." It didn't come out exactly like that however. He didn't get to finish.
A knock on the door interrupted Darien. He sighed with frustration and broke away from Serena.
"Hold on, Darien. Tell me later." She said to him with a sweet smile.
In grim silence, Darien made his way through the flowers to the window. The timing couldn't have been worst, he thought bitterly. He had everything figured out—he had spent the two months while she was in the hospital doing nothing else. How would he get her to agree to a marriage in name only? At first he wasn't willing to go through with it. He could care less what the media wrote about him. But then it hit him that Serena would be shattered by the scandal, and he vowed to himself he wouldn't let that happen.
But even so he was still hesitant about proposing a marriage in appearance only to Serena. She was a woman made for loving; that much Darien knew. She was kind and unbelievably sweet, she was thoughtful and smart. Hell, she also had a face and body that would drive any man crazy. What Serena needed was someone to cherish and love her, to hold her when she was down and to support her throughout life. He could never do that for her; he could never be that man. And he felt like a total bastard to ask her to marry him.
"Come in," Serena called.
Two men dressed in black uniforms stepped into the room.
Surprised, Serena watched the two police men warily. "Hello officers, what can I do for you?" She remembered her manners and bowed her head at them. The unexpected visit from her unexpected guests made her voice tremble when she spoke.
Though Serena was definitely not at ease with the police officers, Darien didn't miss a step. His head swiveled round sharply as his gaze lowered and focused on the two men. He stayed that way for a while, not moving, not breathing; just sizing up the police men with his cool calculating stare. It was unnerving. And for Serena, caught in the middle, she didn't know who looked the more intimidating. Darien, with his glacial glare, or the two uniformed men, who both came armed with their guns safely tucked away on their holsters.
She decided Darien looked the fiercest, and she almost laughed at that.
There was a sparkle in Serena's eyes and Darien wondered for a second what could be the cause of it. He finally turned fully to greet the officers; still acting aloof, and still never taking his gaze off of the laughter flickering on Serena's face. He didn't find the predicament funny at all. But he sure as hell was going to find out after this confrontation was over.
"Good afternoon, officers. Is there anything we can help you with?"
Taking Darien's extended hand into theirs, the police men seemed to relax. They were taking his polite gesture to be a peace offer, and they quickly forgot that they had been freezing in his stare just a couple of moments ago.
"Hello Mr. Chiba, Ms. Tsukino. I am Detective Lee from the Tokyo Police Department, and this his my partner Officer Hiroshi. Do you mind if I ask you a few questions Ms. Tsukino?" The detective asked with the utmost courtesy.
Looking to Darien for help, Serena panicked just a little. She was thankful Darien was there. He looked so strong and so unperturbed with two men from the Tokyo Police force. She smiled when he nodded at her. She didn't miss the look in his eyes as he answered her. He was telling her—no—he was demanding that she remain strong. And Serena decided she would.
"No, sir, I don't mind at all." Serena replied with new found strength.
"Alone?" The detective cast a fleeting, fearful, glance up at Darien, and then back again to Serena.
"I don't leave unless Serena wants me to." Darien stood his ground. He looked to Serena to see if she wanted him to leave, but she didn't look his way. Instead, she kept her gaze focused on the police officers as she replied.
"Mr. Chiba will remain with me."
Darien almost smiled at her tone of voice. She was being downright bossy. He knew what she was trying to do; she was giving him an order of her own. And Darien found that highly laughable.
The detective didn't look too pleased that Darien would remain in the room. All of Japan knew he was emotionally attached to the girl, and so he'd most likely take on the position of protector, and when he did, the whole interview would be bungled up. But then again, he thought with hope, they could interview Chiba and Tsukino booth at once. Kill two birds with one stone. He liked that idea.
"In that case," Detective Lee asked, a bit too cheerfully for Darien's like, "do you mind if we ask you a few questions too, Mr. Chiba?"
Harsh inscrutable eyes turned to the lawman. A second passed, but in the space of a second an eternity elapsed, as the electrically charge tension pulsing in the room became more explosive.
Darien nodded curtly.
"All right then," Detective Lee smiled, "Shall we begin, then?"
"Ms. Tsukino, do you know anyone who'd want you dead?"
"What kind of a question is that?" Darien's tone was sharp.
The detective sighed, he knew this would happen. Chiba most certainly was not going to be cooperative, and because he cared for Tsukino, he wouldn't want to have her upset.
"You do know that we have an attempted murder case on our hands, right?" Officer Hiroshi questioned. He had pulled out a pencil and notepad to take notes.
"I did not even know there was a 'case'," Darien bit out dryly.
Detective Lee's eyebrows rose in surprise. "It's the talk of the town."
"Actually, the talk of the town is Darien and my relationship," Serena corrected; she spoke with disdain.
To prove her point, Serena flipped over the cover of a magazine that was lying on the side of her bed. On the front was a picture of Darien and her at Mina's party, and in enormous font was printed "A Cinderella Story".
"And I really hate that line," Serena added bitterly.
Darien finally smiled at that. Most women would love to have a Cinderella story; to have the man of their dreams marry them and to live happily ever after as a queen. But he should have known, not Serena. No, she hated that comparison. He really did love her refreshingly honest outbursts.
"So society is messed up, where's the breaking news in that? I think we all know we can not trust the media to relay anything important to the world." Detective Lee defended passionately.
"I believe you had just said that—" Serena began but was cut off.
"That's all beside the point though. We're here to ask you a few questions, Ms. Tsukino, and the sooner we do it the sooner we'll be on our way."
Serena could not believe the arrogance of this man, it was he who had first digress, and now he had the audacity to speak to her in that condescending tone? She decided she did not like police officers. Well, at least not Detective Lee and his snooty little partner.
"Let us begin again, Ms. Tsukino," Detective Lee said with an exaggerated sigh. "Who wants you dead?"
Darien didn't like that question. He did not like it one bit. Serena was such a kind and warm person; she probably wasn't taking well to the idea at all. How could anyone want her dead?
Serena wasn't fazed at all. She could think of a lot of people who'd want her dead, and honestly, she didn't believe any one of them was capable of doing it. She shrugged carelessly, "Do you really want to know?" She asked blandly, and Darien was surprised by how well she was taking it.
"We're asking so we can help you Ms. Tsukino. Any information would be nice." The lawmen looked at her as though she were crazy.
Sighing Serena continued nonchalantly, "Well," she began, as though trying to remember something that she had long ago forgotten, "I'd say on the top of the list would be Aiko Reizei, she's the real wicked bitch of the west if you get my drift, second would be my ex-boss (he didn't like me much, and after I nearly burned down his restaurant, I think he'd like to kill me), and then there's that gang that I insulted a while back ago, (several of them thought they could mess with me, but I kicked their asses; they'd really be capable of attempted murder), and then there's the whole student body at school who would like nothing better than to have me gone—do you really want all of their names?—and then there was that one time when I ran over the tail of my neighbor's cat with my bike, (yeah, she really wanted to draw my blood for that, I don't know her name though, she's a bit of a recluse), also, my university professor doesn't seem to like me much either, but I don't really think that he's very capable of murder, if you know what I mean."
Serena said all of this without even stopping to take a breath. Unfortunately, the police officers were not enjoying her enthusiasm as much as Darien, who was grinning ear to ear.
Darien was completely taken aback by the long list Serena had produced. Admittedly he had thought the girl was nothing but an angel but now he wondered what in the hell had she done to make all of those people hate her. But then again, Darien thought wryly, how could they not? Serena was a beautiful young woman, but she was not your ordinary one. From growing up on the streets, Serena learned to be tough. She also obtained a sarcastic streak that was at times infuriating, and her unapproachable persona didn't make her a very likeable person. She was a strange person; Serena could attract many people to her with her vivacity, but if she chose to, could ward them all off with her high-and-mighty act.
Which was funny, Darien noted, because Serena was always so against the upper-class for their snobbishness.
"Okay, hold it right there, Ms. Tsukino," Detective Lee frowned, "Do you know anyone who'd really want you dead?"
Not too happy with his sarcastic attitude, Serena replied with hauteur, "Does are all possible leads, and if you were a competent police officer, you would do well to check them all. Next question."
The detective's lips twitched, a hint of his irritation. "You're aware that whoever was driving that truck was trying to run you over, right? Your life is in jeopardy."
"She said next question. And if you're trying to scare Ms. Tsukino, sir, I will be speaking to the police chief," Darien said silently; but the warning was there, he wasn't going to put up with any terror tactics the lawmen were going to do.
"All right," Detective Lee relented warily, holding up his hands in a conciliatory gesture. "Ms. Tsukino, did you happen to glimpse who was driving the truck that night?"
Serena shook her head. "No, I didn't see him."
"I want you to think back, I know this could be difficult for you, but if you try hard enough, maybe you can describe him for us," Detective Lee sounded very hopeful.
Shaking her head again, Serena replied exasperatedly, "No, you don't understand. I lost my memory of that night."
"What?" The detective didn't sound too happy about that.
"I said," Serena paused to give Darien a disgruntled look, because he was chuckling in the back—she really did not find the officer's reaction funny—and then turned back around, "that I can't remember anything that took place that evening."
"How can you not remember?" Detective Lee demanded to know.
"If you did not know," Darien replied coolly, "she suffered a blow to the head."
Frustrated that the interview was not going his way, the detective growled. "Damn it."
"Yeah, I'd have to agree with you on that," Serena nodded.
"Fine then, let's move on to Mr. Chiba," Detective Lee said to his partner, who flipped to a new page on his notepad and began scribbling something across the top.
"Mr. Chiba, how about you? Did you happen to see the driver of the truck?"
"No," the finality of his voice didn't encourage the detective to press into the subject.
"Okay, how about enemies; do you know anyone who'd want to hurt you?"
"Is that really relevant?" Serena cut in suspiciously.
"They think that whoever was trying to kill you, could possibly be trying to send a message to me. Everyone knows about our relationship, Serena, they could possibly want to hurt me by killing you too." Darien answered her, and his tone considerably softened.
"Oh," Serena said lamely, taken aback by the extreme measures people can take to simply hurt someone.
"Well, Mr. Chiba? Any names?" The detective demanded irritably.
"Let me see," Darien became cold and harsh again, "I'm the heir to over a billion dollars. I've lived a privileged life and no doubt will be doing so for a very, very long time. Not only that, but Japan has portrayed me as a reckless playboy who surrounds himself only in luxury. How much resentment do you think I inspire?"
"A hell of a lot," Detective Lee answered with little amusement.
"Exactly," Darien smiled now, "And you want me to give you a few names who I think would want to hurt me? That's not possible. Now, is there anything else you want to know?"
"There really isn't a point in continuing. I see where this interview is going, and it's going down the drain. We'll leave, but I'll give you my card just in case there's anything you two would like to tell me to speed up the investigation."
Darien took his business card and slipped it into his pocket. He waited until the detective left, and then turned to Officer Hiroshi who was putting his notepad and pencil neatly away into his pocket.
"Can I speak with you alone, sir?" Darien asked, but it sounded much more like a command.
Surprised by the confrontation, Officer Hiroshi, studied the younger man for a moment, and then nodded silently.
Darien then turned to Serena, who was looking up at him questioningly. He smiled to reassure her that everything was all right. "We're just going to step outside for a moment, I'll be back."
Not knowing what to say, or what was right to say at the moment, Serena only nodded, but her frown didn't ease up.
As soon as Darien closed the door behind him he became the cold and ruthless businessman that Tokyo magazines have called him.
"I want to know what the police have on this investigation," Darien demanded.
"I'm afraid that's confidential," Officer Hiroshi replied nervously.
"Actually I think it's my right, along with Ms. Tsukino's to know what the situation is so that the right precautions can be made," Darien said levelly.
The policeman looked at Darien long and hard. Then he sighed in defeat. "Okay, fine."
"I'm listening." Darien crossed his arm over his chest and regarded the policeman in composed silence.
"I don't think I have to recap the incident, do I? You know what happened."
Darien didn't agree or disagree; he just watched the lawman fidget fretfully.
"So, uh, we get a call at the station that there has been a hit-and-run, well almost anyway. Detective and I head out there, and by then you and Ms. Tsukino have already been picked up by the ambulance. We didn't see anything of course, but the people there, man, the people there were demanding blood. The truck driver's blood, in fact. According to them, a truck had appeared out of nowhere and was speeding deliberately toward Ms. Tsukino. They said if it weren't for you, surely Ms. Tsukino would have died. You two seem to have quite a fan club, you know. They were all so loyal to you both."
Officer Hiroshi paused to take a breath, and then continued, "So we search for the truck. We got a couple of descriptions form the crowd, and we begin looking. The search wasn't hard. There was no chase; we simply found it parked on the side of a mountain path. The mystery is, the driver was gone, and there was no evidence at all left behind about who could possibly have been behind that wheel. We let Crime Scene take over the area there, and then the detective and I went to the trucking company where the truck had been stolen. Again, no one knows how the truck had been stolen. There were no signs of a break in, which lead us to believe it was probably an inside job. Someone had a key to get into the facility, and someone knew the code to unlock the gate enclosing the trucks."
"Next morning, we talked to Crime Scene; they said that the truck had been hotwired. The thing is why would someone, who had just stolen a big rig, want to drive into the busiest part of the city where he'd be in plane sight to be caught? The answer to that is easy. And according to everyone else at the scene, the driver of the truck apparently wanted to run Ms. Tsukino over. Someone wants her dead, Mr. Chiba. And whoever is behind this is good. We don't have any clue as to who it is. And that's why the detective and I came today; to see if we could get some possible leads."
Darien was silent throughout the whole account. He wasn't surprised with what the police had summed up. It wasn't much at all. Darien knew all of that already, and more.
Right after Serena had woken up after her coma, he notified the investigative agency that Chiba Industries owned and immediately had them start on the case. He was disappointed the police couldn't supply him with any new information.
"My advice to you, Mr. Chiba," Officer Hiroshi cautioned before he began walking away, "Keep the ones you love close."
Serena nearly jumped when Darien came back into the room. "You scared me," she told him with a disgruntled frown.
"You're easy to scare," Darien replied.
"So?" Serena asked, quirking up one eyebrow, "Why did you want to talk to Officer Hiroshi?"
Darien flashed her his famous smile, "You sure are a nosy little one."
She gave him her don't-mess-with-me glare. "So what if I am?" She challenged.
"I don't like nosy people," Darien told her.
He looked downright smug, and Serena was beginning to be annoyed.
"Well I don't like you either," Serena retaliated.
"Sure you like me," Darien replied arrogantly.
"What makes you say that?" Serena demanded, not liking his conceded statement at all. "In fact, I don't think I even like you right now."
Darien decided he sure did like riling her. He could see the fires burning in her eyes and he felt strangely happy with her reaction. Taking a step closer to her, Darien continued to smile.
"Are you sure about that?"
Serena backed away from Darien as he advanced towards her. "Positive," she replied dryly.
Still Darien took a step towards her, "I think you're lying," he whispered softly. But he said it in such a sensual tone that she felt as if he had caressed her. She shivered deliciously in response.
"Don't you dare take a step close to me; the room is small enough as it is. I don't like to feel claustrophobic," She warned.
"Well you better starting liking it," Darien retorted as he continued his advance.
He was backing her into a corner and Serena wasn't feeling at all in control of her emotions at that moment. She decided he looked too sexy for his own good. Damn his sex appeal. It was making her jittery; her heart was pounding all too fast, and if he continued to look at her in that intimate way she was sure she'd break out in cold sweat.
Serena scowled at him. "To think I thought you were considerate!" She said in outrage. "Damn it Darien, I know what you're doing! You're making me digress. Ha, well I've caught on to you. You better tell me what you wanted to talk to the—" At that moment she took another step back and her foot landed on top a pot of flowers. It gave way under her foot, and Serena, cursing gravity, went flying backwards.
Darien swept her up into his embrace before she hit the floor. In a state of shock Serena stood rigidly straight in Darien's arms for a long moment. All she could hear was the beating of her heart. All she could feel was the electrifying sensation that pulsed through her from Darien's hard body pressed up against her. She cursed herself, knowing where her thoughts were leading.
And then she felt it. Darien's shoulders were shaking with mirth. Serena blushed with embarrassment, thankful that he couldn't see her face since it was pressed up against his chest. He was laughing at her! That truth made her flush even more.
"You're such a klutz," He whispered into her hair, squeezing her tighter to him.
"Haven't you ever been told that girls don't find it very flattering being told they're klutzes?" Serena managed to say without a hint of her mortification showing. "And can you stop squeezing me; it's hard enough for me to breath with my head up against your chest."
Darien didn't answer her. Instead, he ran his hand through her long silky hair, letting its softness slide through his fingers.
Serena didn't know if he was aware of what he was doing, but she definitely was. Why was he acting like this? She wondered. It made her feel terribly vulnerable and oddly, she liked it. She liked this intimacy between them.
"You can let go of me now," Serena sighed.
"I don't think you want me to," Darien smiled down at her.
"Like hell I don't," Serena rolled her eyes and pushed against him.
Deciding that he had stalled long enough, Darien knew it was time to tell her. He wasn't scared; not one bit. He knew she would choose the right thing to do; it was in his best interest and hers. But still he hesitated.
"Serena, there's something I've got to tell you." Pushing her an arms length away so that he could look into her eyes, Darien took a deep breath and braced himself for her violent reaction.
"Yes?" Serena asked, but her eyes show more than one question.
"You and I are engaged."
There, he said it.
"What?" Serena blinked, the confusion spreading across her face.
"You and I are engaged to marry," Darien replied calmly, not letting her see the worry on his face. He didn't know how she was taking to the news.
"No," Serena shook her head, "No we're not. Darien, I know what you're doing. Just because the newspapers and magazines have all printed stories about you and I marrying, doesn't mean you have to marry me. I'm okay, really."
"Unfortunately, I'm speaking the truth, Serena. You and I—"
"Oh my, god! You mean those stories are true then? You announced our engagement at Mina's party?" She exclaimed accusatorily. "And I can't even remember!"
"Serena, calm down," Darien cupped her face with his hands. Soothingly, he smoothed his thumbs across her soft cheeks. "Try to understand—"
"Understand!" She shouted angrily, "You want me to try and understand? Damn it Darien, for all I know, you didn't even propose to—"
Her words were muffled as Darien caught her open mouth with his lips. Stunned into immobility, Serena could only let him work his magic over her. And then before she knew it, he had her responding. Her arms slowly slid up his chest, feeling their way around his shoulders. And she heard him groan achingly in response; her barriers all melting away.
But just as soon as she pressed closer to him, he pushed her away.
Darien felt arrogantly pleased by the look upon Serena's face. She looked bemused, and thoroughly kissed. Her cheeks were flushed, her eyes were half-closed with what seemed to be desire, and her chest heaved up and down as she tried to catcher her breath. He decided he liked seeing her this way.
He realized too that she had affected him in just the same way. That was why he had pushed her away. There was something about her that lit him on fire, and once he was ablaze, there was no putting him out.
"Will you marry me, Serena?"
End Notes: Well what do you think? I know it wasn't as long as my last chapters, but I hope you guys enjoyed it. I really had fun writing this chapter. Please review, and tell me what you think.