AGGG, sorry I know this is late. Since I did promise you guys I would update every day. But my husband has a friend staying over for a few days so I didn't get a chance. But since you guys have been such good readers, I will post two chapters tonight for you. Okay? I'm I forgiven?
The Customer is Always Right
CH.6
Sweet, sweet chaos...
They had caught their breath long ago but they still lied together clutching each other as if their lives depended on it. They had kicked all the sheets to the bottom of the bed; the only thing covering their bodies were each others. He slid out of her embrace and made his way to the bathroom. As soon as he rose though, she grabbed the covers and clutched them to her body. He chuckled and ran over to rip them from her hands, causing a small squeak from her lips.
"What are you doing? I've seen you naked hundreds of times now!"
"I know that, I was just...cold!"
"Come on, lets take a shower."
He lifted her screaming giggling form marriage style to the shower. He set her down to turn on the water then turned to her to see her still trying to hide herself from him. He gently moved her arms down to her sides and lifted her chin to him.
"Why do you hide from me? After all this time, you are still trying to hide."
"I don't know. I'm just..afraid."
"What are you afraid of?!"
"I'm..I'm...I'm afraid you'll see something you don't like okay?!"
He chuckled and lifted her chin to him again, "You are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen."
He wasn't sure if she believed him but she blushed anyways and let him wash her...which led to him making love to her in the shower.
Things were getting back to normal the next day. Darien finally let her go back to work after convincing him she just had sniffles an a cough that was much better. She failed to mention her nausea since she was sure he wouldn't let her out of the apartment if he knew. The fact that his apartment was so much closer to work was really nice cause she got sleep an extra hour. Course, Darien didn't really let her sleep. She didn't understand how he could get up, workout, eat, and then go to work especially after the sex-a-thon they had. 'I guess I never will, as out of shape as I am.' It was a hot July day and the humidity hung in the air like an oppressive elephant on her shoulders. She was sure it would rain soon but there wasn't a single cloud in the sky yet. Work was unaffected by the heat, thankfully, as it was doing horrible things to her nauseated stomach. After a glass of iced sweet tea and a blast of cool air she felt much better. She had to fill in Mina and Lita on her days as a "sickie" at Darien's place. They swooned at his caretaker skills. They both started to get excited for her.
"Serena! He is going to ask you to marry him!" Lita squealed.
"Yeah girl, you got him wrapped around your finger!" Mina added.
"Come on guys! You know why he is so good at treating a lady? Because he does it all the time! You know that he has probably done all the same things to all his other "lady friends"."
"Maybe, but as many girls as he has dated, there is no way he could have cleared a drawer for all of them. Plus half of New York's high society would have a key to his place. He would have to change the locks all the time."
Her face skewed into a confused frown. Where they right? Is that why it the sex had changed? It was still amazing and intense, but there was something different about it. He looked her in her eyes more and he seemed to savior each moment more. Was that his way of making love? Was he making love to her now?!
"Speak of the devil!"
Mina's voice drew her out of her thoughts to see Darien stride in with a grin on his face.
"Afternoon ladies. How are things?"
The girls began to spill little tid-bits about their lives and she just watched him. He seemed to honestly care about what they had to tell them. Why would he put on a show for them? Was it for her benefit or theirs? A cool hand pressed to her forehead, snapping her from her thoughts once again.
"Hey are you feeling okay? You're a little warm." Darien said as her eyes found his on her.
Lita gave up her little secret, "Yeah she was feeling nauseous earlier."
"Oh really. She forgot to mention that to me this morning."
She swiped his hand away, "I'm fine, I'm fine. I just got too hot this morning that's all. Now take your coffee and stop harassing me."
"You didn't seem to mind it this morning."
He did that on purpose. She could feel the flush that radiated over her face as the girls made their approving, yet inappropriate, comments. She threw ice at them to get them to cool off. Before leaving he leaned in to her.
"I have a late meeting tonight, but I will meet you at my place tonight."
"I really need some things from my place."
"I'll send a car to take you there and then to my place okay? I really need to talk to you tonight. Will you wait for me there?"
"Um, sure. Is everything alright?"
"Maybe", he said with a small smile and then walked away, hands in his pockets, "Goodbye Ladies!"
Darien wasn't sure what Richard was talking about at first but it hit him last night like a ton of bricks. He was in love with Serena. He had never felt this way about anyone and it scared the crap out of him. His stomach kept twisting into knots full of butterflies every time he thought about Serena and the feelings she gave him. She was so different from the other women he had been with. She was kind and loving but was also reserved and independent. All of your friends would do anything for her and so would her fans who barely knew her. Every woman he had dated in the past was vapid and full of themselves. They were so boring but Serena was full of life. He didn't know what to do but he knew he needed to tell her. He sat at his desk, thinking how he should go about it. He could get roses or was that to cliche? It wouldn't be cliché for him, he had NEVER done this before. Roses seemed to work for all those other guys, if it didn't it wouldn't be a cliché! He took a deep breath to steady his nerves and pulled open his laptop to look for flower shops.
Serena didn't need that much from her place but they were things she really needed. She grabbed a bag and put her lotion, perfume, deodorant, another work shirt, some hair ties, a more sensible pair of shoes and zipped them up. She was unpacking her items at Darien's when the door bell rang. She knew Richard and Lisa were busy somewhere, so she ran to answer it for them. When she opened the door, a tall, posh, and gorgeous woman stood with her hands full of luggage. She had beautiful red hair that was pulled into a tight low bun and she wore a tight dress that looked super expensive. Serena only guessed this because her luggage was all leather and all matching. The woman was literally a walking 100 grand easy. She looked at Serena, sizing her up with a look of disgust that quickly turned to a smile when her eyes made their way to Serena's.
"Oh thank you dear. You're new aren't you?", she asked as she pushed by Serena.
"Excuse me?"
"I mean you're new to Darien's staff?"
"I'm not..."
"Oh I'm sorry, you've already been here a while. I've been out of town this month. I'm Michelle...Darien's fiance? Surely he told you I was returning today? Well, anyways could you be a dear and take my bags to our room?"
The woman walked away and gracefully flopped on the couch while she stood there in shock. She didn't touch this Michelle's bags but she did go back to THEIR room, to pack hers.
She managed to fit everything into her bag and her purse and silently waked out the door. Then she just walked. She didn't know where to go. She couldn't go home, she knew the place would smell of him. She couldn't go to The Nectar because she wouldn't make it around all those people. It was getting dark while she still wandered around the streets of New York. She felt sick but she didn't cry. She was still in stock. Eventually she found herself outside Mina's door. She used her key to get in then dropped her things, rushed to the bathroom, and threw up.
On the drive home, Darien gently fingered the small velvet box absentmindedly as he smiled to the world passing out his window. It had been such an easy and obvious choice. He never wanted to be with anyone else, Serena was the one. He could feel his nervousness quaking through his body as his pulse picked up. They have never talked about marriage. Maybe she never wanted to get married. He didn't care, he just wanted to spend the rest of his life with her however she would let him. He put his keys in the door only to have it swung open by not Serena but Michelle. The color drained from his face at the sight of her. He pushed by her, desperate to see his little blonde but she was no where in sight. He turned to Michelle who smirked her tell tale sign. His anger came to it's boiling point as he looked at the cocky look on her face.
"If your looking for the blonde, I already took care of her. Darien, you should be more careful, picking ones so young. You should have seen the look on her face when I told her I was your fiance. I think that poor girl was in love with you!"
"Oh God, Michelle, please tell me you didn't!"
"What, I was helping you out. She had stalker written all over her! You're welcome by the way."
"Bullshit Michelle you did for your own selfish, spiteful self!"
He checked her drawers to see they were empty save for the few things he had bought her. He screamed in agony.
"WHERE DID SHE GO MICHELLE."
"God, calm down, I don't know!"
"YOU BETTER BE GONE WHEN I GET BACK!"
He slammed the door behind him and ran to his car. He should have written down the damn date of her return, or just told Serena about her in the first place, or called Michelle and told her they were done for good. About a million other options of what he should have done flooded his mind as he fumbled with his car keys.
Mina found her curled up on her bed, staring out the window.
"Serena? What are you doing here?"
She had a date with her. Serena cringed with regret, she shouldn't have come here.
"Oh my god. Serena? What's wrong?"
"I'm sorry, you are on date. I'll leave."
"The hell you are. Stay here a sec."
She went and softly talked to her date. He seemed nice and understanding. He too a quick glance at Serena then kissed Mina's cheek and left.
"Serena? What happened? Aren't you suppose to be at Darien's tonight? I though he had something to tell you? Was it this bad?"
"Worse. He didn't get a chance to tell me, it walked through the front door in the form of his goddess of a fiance."
"WHAT? That can't be? Come on Serena, he loves you, we could all see it. And you love him."
"...Your right. I do love him..."
It hit her, reality, like a bullet to the heart. She loved him. She loved him deeply, it had filled her up and made her feel complete. But he belonged to someone else, someone she could never even come close to comparing too. The shock wore off as reality set in and she broke down. Sobs racked her body shaking her tiny frame. She curled up into a ball to try and control the pain she felt as her heart broke into pieces. Mina didn't say a word, she just laid down beside her and tried to steady her friend's shaky body.
He looked for her everywhere. She wasn't at her apartment or work. He checked their bench in central park and her favorite bar. Even her favorite ice cream shop. He couldn't find her. He began just walking the streets in hopes that some how even in this big city, fate would be kind and let him find her. But fate was not happy with him tonight. He returned home and check there to make sure she hadn't returned and to make sure Michelle was gone. He was alone. He shut the door to his bedroom only to slide down to the floor against it. He was exhausted but he couldn't sleep, not without her. He rested his head in his hands and shed tears of frustration. It was the first time he had cried since his mother's funeral.
"Are you sure you are up for work?"
"Yeah. I don't think I can stand hanging around with too much time to think on my hands."
"Serena, are you sure you don't want to talk to him about this? I mean, maybe he was going to leave her for you?"
"If that were the case, why didn't he tell me sooner? Besides, if he can do that to a woman who looked like her he could definitely do it to me. A man like that doesn't love and I shouldn't waste mine on him."
Mina frowned at her cruel and bitter remark, but didn't say a word to contradict her any further. The two left for work together, silent.
Amy showed up for her usual order, which Serena made sure to add Darien's usual in hopes it would keep him away. Amy didn't question the addition but she did flash a massive rock on her finger to her.
"Oh my god. Amy, did you get engaged?!"
She burst into happy tears. Apparently her boyfriend, Zack, was being distant cause he couldn't lie to her. When she threatened to leave him if he didn't come clean about his affair, he surprised her with a proposal.
"I feel really bad for not trusting him. Plus I ruined his plans. He was going to ask me in front of my parents at their wedding anniversary next week. He had the whole thing planned out with them. We are still going to pretend, but I still had to tell you guys!"
Serena smiled for her friend as she excitedly told her story. But she was finding it really hard to just be happy in general. 'I guess that's normal for heartbreak though.'
"I have to go but, you're all invited to the wedding! I'll see you guys later!"
Andrew showed up an hour later, took one look at her, and asked.
"Whoa, what's up with you?"
"It's a long story."
She was just about explain when a black car pulled up in front the the cafe. Serena knew exactly who was in it too. He didn't even let the driver open the door for him. Serena quickly looked at Andrew.
"Cover for me!"
"What?!"
"Andrew, Mina, I'm not here. You don't know where I am okay!"
She slipped into the kitchen just as Darien entered.
"Serena? What are you doing?" Lita asked.
"Shhhhhh...please Lita."
She pressed her back against the one way, kitchen door and listened to the scene outside.
"Mina, where is she?"
"I'm sorry Darien, I don't know."
"Come on Mina. You have to know. She is your best friend."
She glared at him and sneered, "I don't know Darien, maybe she still has the flu. Why don't you know where she is?"
"Look I know she is here. My coffee amazingly came with Amy this morning. She is trying to keep me away from here because she is here isn't she?"
He didn't sound angry, he sounded tired and sad. She fought the urge to run out to him and comfort him. It had to be a front to get her to come out. He wanted to seduce her into continuing as his mistress or something. She knew if she faced him now, she would give in and do whatever he wanted. After a few uncomfortable moments of silence where Mina was trying to come up with a good story, Andrew saved them both.
"I sent it! Yeah sorry man. Serena called in sick and I figured you wouldn't be coming in so I sent it with Amy."
Andrew was a decent liar. He was going to kill her for making him cover like this to Darien. 'God I hope this doesn't affect the expansion. I know Darien wouldn't do that, he wouldn't let his personal life effect his business. Plus, the papers had been signed.' She could hear him sigh, defeated.
"Okay, well could you at least tell her I'm looking for her?"
"Don't worry, I will." Mina promised.
Even Mina sounded like she felt bad for him. Nausea pushed up and into her throat and soon she was ruining for the sink. Lita watched horrified as she grabbed her hair out of the way. Lita was a good friend. Good friends always hold your hair back for you. She was washing out her mouth with some water when Andrew entered the kitchen.
"Okay, now you really need to tell me what's going on."
Mina agreed to let her stay with her and she some how managed to convince Andrew to let her work in the kitchen with Lita for a while. She told him she just needed some time and if Darien was going to be looking for her then she had no choice but to hide in the back and stay away from her apartment. It was kinda nice hanging in the back with Lita, she was actually learning a little bit of cooking. Darien came by everyday looking for her and every time he left she had to run to the sink to throw up. Lita had gotten really good at catching her hair. After a week had passed and the same thing happened every day, Mina was worried.
"Okay, tomorrow, we are going to the doctor. This is not normal "broken heart" behavior."
"I've just been under a lot of stress, it has prolonged my flu that's all"
"Serena, you keep throwing up. Not just here, at home too. Your super moody and depressed and I'm sorry but you've gained a little weight. Even if it is just stress it can't be good for you. We are going and that is that!"
Mina held her hand as they waited for the doctor to return with her test result. She was starting to get a little scared. They had told her doctor her symptoms including her recent flu. However, the doctor looked at them like she already knew what it was, and the look wasn't good.
"What if I'm dying? What if it's cancer? It's always cancer."
"Shh Serena, your freaking me out. It's not cancer!"
"Mina, I want you to have every thing. All my stuff goes to you. You can sell and buy yourself a nice apartment or something."
"Serena, I'm not going to use your "death money" to buy an apartment. Now will you shut up before I have a nervous break down?!"
The doctor finally returned with a grim look on her face, which is never a good sign. She felt like she was going to faint.
"Oh god. It's cancer isn't it doc? My friend is dying?!" Mina cried and pulled Serena in tight as they cried.
"No, no it's not cancer, calm down ladies. It's nothing bad really. I just don't know how you are going to feel about it. Miss. Sparrow …..your pregnant."
She...huh? No that's not right. She was n the pill. She was on the FUCKING pill. The pill was suppose to keep that from happening, that's it's job. It is its ONLY fucking job, it can't mess that up. Besides, Darien wore condoms...didn't he? She was catatonic as all this went through her mind.
"Serena? Earth to Serena? Um...Doctor, maybe you should do something?"
"She'll come around, just give her a few minutes."
Serena eyes flicked back and forth as she calculated the number of times her and Darien had had sex since they met almost a month ago. She crunched the numbers as the two women watched her for signs of life. She gave up, she had no clue how many times and it didn't matter any more. The deed had been done. She was pregnant.
"FUCK!"