Alright, you reviewed so a a show of good faith, I have released this hostage of a chapter. This one is a bit longer and I think it will meet a few expectations. I hope it's not too terribly predictable. I will keep posting a new chapter everyday for those of you who are sending me such lovely votes of confidence. So LoveInTheBattleField, smfan4ever72, mandii-xo, devilsangel11287, SerentiyMoonGodness, Moonprincess998, and Guest this is for you. As for the rest of you who are following/favorite this story, thank you! You should thank these reviewers too since I putting this out for their kind words! Alright enough yapping! I don't own anything Sailor Moon but these words are all mine!
You may or may not notice, but I don't own the songs in here either. I would just write my own but I really wanted you to be able to know what it sounded like, so I used Adele' "Right as Rain" and The Civil Wars' "To Whom it May Concern". That way you can listen to them and really feel like you can hear Serena singing them herself. I use to hate it when others didn't write their own songs for ff but now I get it, they wanted you to hear it. If you would rather it be an original let me know, I will gladly write something for you.
The Customer is Always Right
CH. 3
Fate reveals it's hand...
Serena spent the rest of the weekend thinking about her dark knight. It was just a kiss. What's the big deal? Maybe it's just a side affect of my dry spell? But I've gone through dry spells before and it has never made me a crazed, horny, child before? His eyes seemed to have burned into her brain. Every time she closed her eyes she would see them. She finally gave up on sleep and sat down at her piano and wrote. Monday came all too for her but at least it would help get her mind off of him. Apparently, Mina had a bit more to drink than she did that night, cause she was still so clearly hung over it was comical. She hung over the counter pathetically and cursed Serena.
"How am I still hung over?! Were you hung over at all?"
"No, but I didn't drink as much as you did!"
"Hey, where did you go last night? Amy and I looked for you for an hour?!"
Serena looked down at her bruised wrist and a tear sprung into her eyes. Mina grabbed her shoulder in concern.
"Serena? Oh my god, what happened to your wrist?! Are you okay?"
"Deemond found me that night. He was drunk and he dragged me off to a private room. He almost...he almost..."
Mina pulled her into a fierce hug.
"I am so sorry Serena! I should have been there. I shouldn't have made you go! We should call the cops!"
"No, no it's okay it's not your fault and I'm fine...this man, this beautiful man came and saved me."
Mina pulled away at the word of a man.
"A man huh? Is that why you were gone so long."
Serena nodded her head and blushed. Lita rushed out of the kitchen.
"Serena met a guy?! Aw, I miss everything!"
"That's okay Lita, Amy and I missed it too apparently."
"Okay tell us everything. Whats his name? What does he look like? Are you going to see him again?"
"I...I don't know his name. But he has dark hair and deep blue eyes. I don't know if I will see him again, we didn't even exchange names let alone numbers. I guess we were just meant to have that one...MAGICAL moment in time."
Serena sighed in remembrance, while the other two sighed in disappointment at their friend's continued dry spell. All three were broken out of there thoughts when a banging on the glass woke them up.
"Oops! Guess it's time to open up!"
Amy entered a little later, also hung-over-less, much to Mina's chagrin. Serena began to prepare her order.
"Hey Serena? Do you remember what you did Friday with my order?"
"You mean save your butt?" She said with a smile.
"Yes, that and let me say thank you again for that. But did you do something different to the americano?"
Serena looked at her friend for a second till it dawned on her.
"Oh crap, I forgot the extra shots!"
"Yeah, my boss noticed. Like I said, he's nice but serious. He said if it's messed up again you would lose his business. I really appreciate what you did for me so that's why I'm telling you. I know how important his business is to..."
"Oh yeah? It's important alright." Serena was pissed. She had done this guy a favor and that's how he thanks her. Well the favor was for Amy but still!
"His americano is black right?"
"Yeah why?"
"Oh I just want to make absolutely sure I get it right this time."
She then proceeded, out of Amy's eye sight, to add about twenty pumps of sugar syrup and wrote a personal message on the cup.
Darien had read over the section of a brief for the past 15 minutes and it still made no sense to him. He couldn't even concentrate on his paper. The blonde from last night had been running ramped through his mind since the moment she left him. Why didn't he ask for her name or something he could use to find her! Amy had left his coffee on his desk for him but he was yet to touch it. Maybe I just need more coffee. I'm just over tired that's all. He took a sip and then spit it out across his office. He looked closer at the cup only to find the words, "Thanks for your important business ASSHOLE!".
"AMY!"
She entered quickly looking worried as she saw the coffee all over his desk. 'Oh crap.'
"Where is that coffee shop located?"
Amy pleaded with him to let her handle it but there was no point. He was pissed and the only thing that would calm him would be to teach this Serena Sparrow a lesson. A part of him was thankful for for her psychotic behavior. He needed this, it would get his mind off of the blonde damsel.
She didn't know what the part time staff had done this weekend, but her equipment was extremely dirty. The espresso machine had dried, caked on milk and grinds all over it. If Andrew saw it he would freak, what with investors due to show up at any time. She got a rag and putty knife at the first lull of the day and went to work.
"Don't worry Beatrice, I'll get you back to shining glory in no time."
Mina just stood by the counter, eating gummy bears and watching her scrub.
"I still think it's weird you named the espresso machine."
"Well look at her, she so big and beautiful. How could I not name her?"
Mina just raised her eyebrow.
"Well she will be pretty when I get done with her."
She had just gotten really started scrubbing when a man behind her cleared his throat in an agitated manner.
The place looked a lot nicer than he expected. It had deep, push arm chairs and loveseats along the walls with small tables beside them. A small stage in one corner across from the big tinted widows that let in just enough light but didn't let others see in from the outside. There were small round tables scattered about with chairs surrounding them. The wall next to the stage was covered with a large book shelf filled with books. Each table had a small but fresh boutique of flowers on them and the whole place was made up of deep colors like blues, greens, and purples. It was comfortable. But he had come on a mission and he had found the espresso machine so that was a start. The girl at the register just stared at him, proving to be little help. He assumed the girl scrubbing the damn machine was Serena Sparrow. He cleared his throat to get her attention but she didn't turn.
"Are you Serena Sparrow?"
"That's me!"
Still engrossed in her little duty, she answered bent over and not breaking her attention from a chunk of white that was determinately stuck to her machine.
"You made my coffee for me this morning."
She still hadn't turned around and she either missed his tone or ignored it.
"Oh well your welcome!"
He was starting to seethe. He gathered himself as much as possible.
"I don't think we've met. I'm Amy's boss."
That did it. She froze but only for a second and continued what she was doing. He couldn't believe the nerve of this woman!
"Did you enjoy your coffee this morning?"
She was mocking him.
"You know damn well I didn't. Are you trying to loose my business?"
"I always try to chase off any customers who are complete ASSHOLES!"
Darien looked to the other girl behind the counter, but she had defiantly crossed her arms as if to agree with this woman. This woman, who although had an attractive figure and beautiful long blonde hair was exacerbating. She wore tight denim capris and a ridiculously large tie dye shirt that hung off one of her lovely little shoulders.
"Do you have any clue as to who I am?!"
"Look I don't care who ASSHOLES are..."
There they were. Face to face. Those bright blue eyes that had been haunting him for days were now staring him right in the face. It seemed like everything stopped.
"You..."
She was so shocked, she couldn't believe it was him. Time seemed to stop as his deep blue eyes stared at her. She couldn't move, couldn't think. Everyone must have been staring at them, what with the show they put on just a few minutes ago. Her brain began to work again but in slow motion.
"You..."
She knew she sounded stupid. Andrew showed up out of no where and pulled her back into the kitchen.
"What are you doing?!" he yelled.
"What?" she was still in shock, looking at him through the kitchen window as he stared right back at her.
"I know we have our unspoken 'no assholes' rule but we do not call potential investors assholes!"
"What are you talking about?"
"You don't know do you? Aww dammit Serena I forgot you were gone when their company moved into town. That man you were just..yelling at, is Darien Shields."
"Darien SHIELDS?"
"Yes as in Shields Corporation, as in possible investor, as in our future. I don't care what you or how you do it, but I really need you to fix this."
Andrew left the kitchen and Serena tried to figure out her next move.
"Serena? What's going on?"
"Oh Lita. That guy out front...is Darien Shields, Amy's boss."
"As in the asshole that you put enough sugar into his coffee to put him into a diabetic comma?"
"Yep. He is also Andrew's big investor."
"Oh no!"
"It gets worse. You know that guy I told you about from the club? That's him..."
"Well, I can say this. Your life is never boring Serena."
"What do I do?"
"What do you mean? Kill two birds with one stone and go out there and give him a big kiss!"
"I don't date customers."
"That's just what you tell De-bag. You like this guy don't you?"
"I thought I did, before I found out he is some rich jack ass going around terrorizing innocent baristas!"
"Serena, you are far from innocent."
She took a peek out the window at him.
"He looks good to me. And he is still waiting for you so hurry up and get out there."
Lita unceremoniously shoved her out the door. He stared at her with a small grin on his face. She didn't know if she wanted to smack or kiss the smug look off his face. She took a deep breath. Time to pay the piper.
She walked back to him with a calm, blank look on her face. She was so adorable.
"I am very sorry sir. Let me make what ever you want, on me."
"I don't want any coffee."
"Okay, what do you want then."
It was just too easy.
"I want you to go out with me."
"I don't date customers."
"You didn't seem to mind the other night."
"I didn't know who you were! YOU didn't tell me."
"I didn't really get a chance between saving you, your tongue down my throat, and you running away."
She moved to clear some tables, trying to get away from him, but like hell if he was going to let her slip away from him again! He sat at a table that was right in front of her station. She ignored him and continued to scrub the gunk off the espresso machine. Finally, she turned and walked over to his table.
"Please don't take...this out on my boss. He is a really good man who works hard and really deserves this."
"Oh I know that. I haven't changed my mind about investing."
Her face lit up, "You haven't?!"
"No. And I haven't changed my mind about you either."
He gently took her hands in his and looked at the bruises on her wrist. He gently kissed them and she let out a small gasp.
"He was lucky I didn't kill him."
"Thank you, for saving me."
"Go out with me. Tonight."
"No...No I can't. Not tonight. I have plans."
"Change them. I want to see you tonight."
"..."
"I don't care what we do I just want to see you."
"You don't care huh? ...(sigh) alright. Just meet me here seven-o-clock. Don't be late!"
"Wouldn't dream of it."
He put a soft kiss on both her hands and left.
What had she just done? Arg she couldn't say no to those damn eyes! She was so preoccupied with her nervous thoughts towards tonight, she didn't even notice that both Lita and Mina were staring at her. She almost ran into them.
"What?"
"What the hell was that?" Mina had somehow missed that he was Darien Shields and her mystery man.
"Serena found her dark knight!" Lita smirked.
"What?! That was him?! Oh Serena you weren't kidding, he is beyond gorgeous!"
"And his name is Darien Shields!"
"...WHAT!"
"Shhhhh...Mina! People are staring."
"Serena, I don't think you understand. He is one the the richest men in the world."
"Oh, man really? Maybe this isn't such a good idea."
"No Serena. Neither me or Lita will let you break this date!"
"Well it's not really a date. I invited him to come back here."
"Oh Serena that's not very romantic."
"What else could I do Lita? He wanted to meet tonight and it's my night."
"Oh yeah! That's right! Well that's even better!"
"How is that better Mina?"
"Cause what man wouldn't fall in love with your beautiful voice!"
Serena clocked out at six and went into the bathroom to change. She put on halter maxi dress with a v-neck line and a cord that she tied around her neck. It was made of a pink, blue, purple, and orange madras print. It was one her favorite dresses cause it was bright and it made her boobs look awesome! She slipped on some purple flip flops and took out the braid in her hair to put in up in a messy bun. 'I guess this is as good as it's going to get.' Mina left to go home and change. Lita was going to come with her husband, Nick, Serena's drummer. Amy was suppose to come tonight too. 'I can't decide if that's a good or bad thing.' Realizing that no matter how long she stared at her reflection, it was never going to change, she quickly left to see Deemond walking straight to her.
Without breaking his stride, he walked up and back handed her across the face. It felt like her eyes were going to pop out of their sockets and her ear felt like her ear drum had been busted. He hit her with such force she fell to the floor. The part timers that came in at night were stunned, they didn't know what to do as this crazed man yelled at her. A few of her fans had stumbled onto the scene but she didn't want them involved. When if looked like they were going to jump him she waved them off with her hand. He was towering over her yelling something, but her ear was still buzzing from the slap. She could see through her tear blurred vision that he still had a bad bruise on his chin. It made her smile to remember Darien giving him the punch. I guess smiling wasn't a good choice cause he grabbed her shoulders and began shaking her. It was not good for her head ache she was getting but it did help her ear pop and she could finally hear what he was saying.
"You think it's funny? You think ruining me is funny you stupid slut!?"
He raised his hand to slap her again, but another hand caught it mid air. Serena didn't see the face, but by the looks on Deemond's face it wasn't good.
"Look, I just wanted to get her to explain that it was all a misunderstanding."
The hand removed itself from Deemond's wrist. 'No! Don't let him go, it wasn't a misunderstanding. Don't listen to him!'
The hand grabbed Deemond by his collar and lifted him up and towards the door. Andrew had emerged from his office at this point and had rushed to her side. Everything was a little hazy from the pain and the adrenalin rush, it was hard for her to figure out exactly what was going on.
"Oh my god! Serena, what happened? Did you fall?"
"A piece of trash, that I did not properly handle last night, slapped her."
Serena looked up at the voice to see Darien.
"He did WHAT?! I'm calling the cops."
"I've handled him. He shouldn't be a problem again. Plus...if you call them now...I might be arrested for assault."
He lowered himself to her and tenderly inspected her cheek.
"Can you stand?"
She nodded and both Andrew and Darien helped her to her feet. Her head throbbed and her face stung.
"Oh god Serena. I'm going to get you some ice okay?"
Andrew left and Darien helped her to her seat. There was quite a crowd for the opening act. Darien wondered who was playing tonight to have gather such a crowd. Serena's eye was starting to puff up. He should have killed Deemond when he had the chance. He placed a hand gently on either side of her face and lifted her chin towards the light, getting a good look at her wound. It looked bad. Face was starting to swell like a balloon.
"How bad is it?"
He looked into her eyes. Tears still lingered and glistened in her eyes. They looked like cerulean pools. Like the water in the Mexican Gulf. He was staring at her. He didn't know for how long but she didn't say anything or move uncomfortably. He wasn't sure whether to tell her the truth or lie.
"It's not bad." He lied. Right now he figured it was best.
"Your lying. I can tell."
"How can you tell?"
"If I tell you then you will know your tell."
"You still look beautiful. Am I lying now?"
"..."
Andrew returned with ice before anything else could be said. He was partly glad for it. Something about this woman made him act like a fool.
"Serena, I think we should cancel the show. You should go home."
"NO! No, we can't cancel. Look at all the people that are already here Andrew. They are expecting a show."
"Isn't your shift over? Why do you have to stay for the show?"
"Because Darien, she is the show. All these people are here for her."
Serena placed the ice on her face and hissed as it touched her burning flesh. She had a little issue seeing, she could tell that her eye was really swelling. She needed the swelling to go down and fast! Mina arrived and freaked out when she saw it. In the middle of explaining what happened, Lita showed up and she had to start over. Then Amy showed up. All the while Darien sat across the table from her amused at her frustration.
"Darien, why don't you fill your employee in on the whole story, while I take Serena to the bathroom to freshen up." Mina pulled her up from her chair and took her to the bathroom.
"Wow Serena. He must really like you."
"Guys like him don't go for girls like me."
"And what kind of girl is that?"
"Disorganized, sloppy, poor, unattractive, and just a general no body."
"Serena, you are none of those things. Okay maybe you're a little disorganized and you're not rich but you are a beautiful, amazing, somebody! Now keep still so I can work!"
Amy stared at him, confused and surprised. He didn't fill her in when he came back to the office earlier. She had looked worried when he returned smiling. It dawned on him that she probably thought he had gotten the place closed down or something. Or at least had Serena fired. He chuckled at the memory of Serena, calling him an asshole and then the look on her face when she saw it was him. He should probably focus on filling in Amy, she was looking at him like he was mad.
"She called you a what?!" Amy turned pale.
"Yeah, it's okay now though. Don't worry Amy, your coffee shop is safe."
"I didn't know she had done that to your coffee, I'm so sorry sir."
"It's fine. Don't worry about it." he smirked.
Mina is a cosmetic magician. You couldn't even tell she had been hit. She actually looked better than before she was smacked. She needed a drink, but it would have to wait. She never drank before a performance although she was really starting to regret that rule. This was definitely the most nerve wracking performance she has had in a long time. There were a lot of new faces in the crowd tonight. Maybe word was getting around about her? The only new face she was really nervous about was Darien's. How disappointed he must be to find out she is just a poor barista with a musical habit. Before she was really ready, it was time too face the music, literally. She already set up her guitar and piano and Nick was setting up his drums. All they were waiting on was Andrew, he played guitar with them. He was actually really good, which had surprised Serena. When she had originally set this all up Andrew agreed to let her play if he could play with her. To her delight he was fantastic guitar player, she had wondered where he had kept all that talent hidden all these years. He apparently took lessons for classical guitar which means he can really move those fingers. Lita offered up her husband's services as a drummer and then everything just fell into place. The three of them fit well together, Serena just hands them the music she writes and by time to play they've got it.
As usual, Andrew was dragging his feet. Her fans were use to it. He would always wait to the last second to put down whatever spread sheet he was looking at and join them. One would think by now that he would have learned his lesson, but he must be a masochist. The faces she recognized were already laughing, knowing what was next. Serena stood in front of the mike and began Andrew's usual intro. She told stories from their childhood.
"Okay folks, so you wanna hear the story about our first camping trip?"
The crowd began to shout and clap. Darien didn't get it. He looked at Mina and Lita who were already laughing their asses off. Amy looked just as confused as him. Mina leaned over to their confused faces.
"She does this every time. Andrew always takes his time getting out here!"
Darien watched as Serena did her best to hold herself together enough to tell her story.
"Okay so it was Mina, Andrew, and me on our first camping trip and we had decided to go on a hike. Well half way up Andrew disappears to go us the bathroom. Mina and I didn't think much of it till later that night we were all in the tent together trying to sleep when Andrew wouldn't stop wiggling around. When Mina and I had had enough we turned on our flashlights to see Andrew scratching his ass furiously. He had wiped earlier that day with poison oak leaves...oh hello Andrew, we were just talking about you!"
Andrew appeared on the stage, a little too late to save his dignity and blushing furiously. He leaned into his mike and denied the whole story, but when his back was turned Serena got Mina to silently collaborate her story. Darien hadn't laughed that hard in a long time. Once Serena and Andrew had settled, the concert was ready to began. Serena sat at the piano, mike turned so she could play and sing at the same time.
"Any request?"
A few people started to shout out names to songs that he did not recognize. When she heard one she liked, she thanked the man, by name, and her fingers began to move elegantly across the keys. Darien didn't recognize the name of the song the man had shouted out but once she began to play he recognized the tune. It was an up beat tune, one his maids played sometimes when they were cleaning on the weekends. He liked the tune so he never said anything to them. Then Serena began to sing;
Who wants to be right as rain
It's better when something is wrong
You get excitement in your bones
And everything you do's a game
When night comes and you're on your own
You can say "I chose to be alone"
Who wants to be right as rain
It's harder when you're on top
'Cause when hard work don't pay off and I'm tired
There ain't no room in my bed
As far as I'm concerned
So wipe that dirty smile off
We won't be making up
I've cried my heart out
And now I've had enough of love
He hadn't expected her to be this good. I mean, sure he expected her to have some talent, all these people couldn't be here just cause she was pretty, half of them were couples. Just her playing talents alone were impressive. She made it look so easy and her fingers looked like they barely touched the keys. And her voice! It was so clear and pure like church bells. It made his heart race. He managed to take his eyes off the angel in front at him to look around at the crowd. He wanted to see if it was just him, that he was just exaggerating her talents. The faces around the room were just as enamored by her as he was. Even `Amy, had a shocked look on her face as her friend poured her soul into every note and word.
People continued to shout out request. Some just shouted out names of artists like Adele and Ellie Goulding and Civil Wars and some others, and Serena picked the song by them. Andrew and the drummer picked some songs too and even sang with Serena on a lot of the songs. The three seemed to work really well together. Some songs he did recognize from the maid's radio when she worked, but then about half of them he didn't. She switched back and forth from piano to guitar. When they were in between songs, he worked his way over to Mina.
"I'm I really old and out of it? I only recognize about half of these songs."
"That's cause half of them Serena wrote. That's what she does."
Just then the drummer and Andrew got up from the stage and took a break, but Serena stayed and picked up a lonely guitar. She sat at the front of the stage an set the mike up right in front of her.
"Oh see, this is when she plays her new song. She does this every time." Mina said then quickly became still and silent.
"Okay everybody, tell me what you think of this one!"
Before she even started, everyone began to applaud to encourage her. She looked right at him, then blushed as she began her song.
It had finally come to that time of night. The time when she reveals her new song. The only problem was that it was a song he wrote about her dark knight right after they had met. Before she "poisoned" his coffee, before she knew his name, before he knew who she was...this was going to be embarrassing. But it was the only new song she had and she couldn't break tradition. Just don't look at him. Why did you look at him?! Ug, this is embarrassing! Just play, just play and get it over with. As her fingers slid over the guitar, she lost herself in the music. Music always calmed her.
Why are you so far from me?
In my arms is where you are to be
How long will you make me wait?
I don't know how much more I can take
I missed you but I haven't met you
Oh but I want to
How I do
Slowly counting down the days
Till I finally know your name
The way your hand feels round my waist
The way you laugh, the way your kisses taste
I missed you but I haven't met you
Oh but I want to
How I do
How I do
I've missed you but I haven't met you
Oh how I miss you but I haven't met you
Oh but I want to
Oh how I want to
Dear whoever you might be
I'm still waiting patiently
The song seemed to settle across the crowd. They were silent as they took in all that she gave them. Darien didn't even realize he was holding his breath. He had to force himself to breath normally. The crowd still hadn't moved but it didn't seem to bother Serena, she just watched him, watching his reaction. She kept her eyes on him till the crowd burst into applause. It was almost deafening after the silence. Darien looked over to see Amy had a few tears down her face, so did Mina. But they were all clapping. He felt eyes on him again and found hers watching him again. He gave her a standing ovation.
The whole performance lasted two hours and after that Serena went around talking to her fans. It was just Darien, Mina, Lita, Nick the drummer, Amy, and Andrew and his wife Rita at a table talking about the show and having a good time. Amy kept looking at him in shock any time he laughed or joined in the conversation. I guess she had never seen him have a good time, she has only seen him with the people his father was always introducing him to and inviting to his parties, they were dry and boring. He himself was having trouble remembering the last time he had a good time like this. But he really liked this group. These people were alive.
"Serena! Oh, you were amazing as usual!"
Lita was squeezing the poor girl to death, but quickly released her and went back to squeezing her husband.
"Yeah, that new song was really great. It had Amy and me in tears. I can't help but wonder what your inspiration was for that song?" Mina said with a devilish grin.
Darien looked to see Serena was blushing again and avoiding eye contact. He couldn't help but smirk at the knowledge that he had inspired her song. The group continued to drink and laugh even after the place closed. Everyone started to break up and head out around eleven, leaving Serena and Darien alone on the street together.