Sailor Moon Fan Fiction ❯ Inc. ❯ Chapter 3

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

Title: Inc-Chapter 3
Author: MarshAngel
e-mail:watsonma@hotmail.com
webpage: http://www.crosswinds.net/~marshangel/angelmoon.htm


"Hi girls," Serena greeted her friends. She walked over to the front of
the restaurant from the front of the pizza parlor where she had parked her
car. Standing in front of the restaurant all dressed casually, were her
friends, Mina, Rei, Lita, and Ami.

She walked over to Ami, a petite girl with dark blue-black hair and
gave her a hug. It had been a while since she had last seen her. Ami, the
genius among them had been to a medical seminar in Germany and had
only come back two days ago. She was a doctor at the best hospital in San
Francisco and the youngest one on staff.

She thanked Lita for the dinner she had brought her. Lita always took
care of her. The tall brunette was in the middle of expanding her chain of
restaurants. She already had two within the San Francisco area and she
was opening two more in Los Angeles and another in Palm Springs.
Together they made an odd group of successful women. Rei and
Mina although born into wealthy families like Serena's, had taken
command of their own wealth in a rather subtle manner. Both had taken
their inheritance and invested it in a variety of successful ventures, leaving
their days almost completely free, although they were permanently
attached to their global access cell phones.

"Where is Andrew?" Serena asked Mina.

"He's not here yet. I think he's meeting Darien and then they'll be
coming here."

"Hey he's your fiancée," Rei began teasingly, "Shouldn't you know
where he is?"

Serena chose to ignore the question, as it didn't require an answer.
"So his name's Darien."

"Yeah, didn't Andrew tell you?" Mina asked.

"He refused to tell me. He knows I don't like suspense so he decided
to have a little fun. I'll get him back though."

"Since when did you and Andrew get this playful?" Lita asked.

"Yeah Serena," Rei questioned, "What's changed? You seem happier."

"I wouldn't say happier. I still have that Memorial Day picnic to worry
about. Things are better for me though, my father finally agreed with
something I said despite Davis' disagreement."

"That is quite an accomplishment. I don't know why you put up with
that job," Rei said. "If you're not being respected you really should quit and
join us investors," she said smilingly, gesturing to Mina and herself.

"I like my job thank you very much. I like working for my money
rather than the other way around. I feel like I'm accomplishing something."

"I know what you mean, Lita said to her. "I would never give up
working at the restaurant even though I could appoint a head chef to take
my place. I like handling the food and the business. It's what I do."

"Oh come on it's not like we don't have anything to do," Mina
defended, we simply like having a bit more time to enjoy the pleasures in
life."

Their conversation was cut short when Ami drew their attention to
the approaching black Mercedes.

"I hate that car," Serena said.

"Does Andrew know that?" Rei asked.

"Of course he does. He loves it though. I simply think he's too
handsome and too young to be driving around a car that looks like it
belongs to his dad."

The other girls smiled and watched the car park in front of the
restaurant.

"Whoa!" Lita said as she watched two men get out of the car. She was
taking in the view of the really tall dark and handsome guy that got out of
the passenger side of Andrew's car. He was wearing blue jeans and a white
shirt but the way he carried himself on him managed to look businesslike
and formal. He had on sunglasses over which fell a few locks of black hair.

"He doesn't look like any old boyfriend I've ever had."

"No he definitely does not. I've met male models that weren't that
gorgeous," Rei said in a low tone as she pushed her sunglasses down her
nose to get a better look.

Even Ami who was usually reserved gazed at the tall dark-haired
stranger approaching them. Mina simply smiled at the other girl's
reactions. Having met him before, her sense of awe at the approaching
perfect male specimen was somewhat reduced although not by much.
Mina glanced over to see Serena's reaction. Serena simply pushed a
blonde curl out of her eyes and frowned. Something about the man
unnerved her. Even at this distance she got a sense of danger coming from
him. It was the sort of danger that attracted rather than repelled.
Mina was amazed.

"Serena you can't possibly be that devoted to
Andrew that you don't see how absolutely gorgeous this guy is!" She said
very surprised.

"My reaction has nothing to do with Andrew. This guy she paused. "I
don't know, even from here I almost feel like I should be wary around him.
Didn't I see him at that Charity Ball a while back?"

"Probably," Amy replied. "He's dangerous alright," Ami said. "That's
Darien Derencourt, the infamous CEO of NGT. He's a corporate raider, and
one of the best and the most feared. Everyone's been making a big deal out
of him; in fact he's listed on the sexiest bachelors in America list.
Unfortunately for all those husband-seeking women, he's apparently
determined to remain single. He's always with a different woman."

"You seem to know a lot about him Ami, Lita teased." Ami blushed.

"I read the papers, besides just because I'm engaged doesn't mean I
can't look." Ami had been engaged to a computer engineer Greg Vermeer
for about a year and everyone was just waiting for the two to set a date.

"You know Serena, I heard he had a meeting with your father the
other day. They were seen at Gerard's having what appeared to be a
business dinner. Is there something wrong at Kyler Inc.?" Rei asked. "You
know Derencourt isn't exactly someone I would expect your father to be
friends with. The only time Derencourt has dealings with other CEOs is
when they're in trouble, and usually he's the cause."

Serena's eyes clouded over. He father hadn't mentioned any
meetings with Derencourt, not that he would have said anything to her of
all people. Could it possibly be that he was the one who had bought the
stock as the beginning of a hostile takeover? The very thought made her
blood run cold.

"I certainly hope not," Serena remarked absently.

The very idea of some playboy CEO destroying the company that had
been in her family for generations made her stomach feel like jelly. It made
her instantly build up a shield against this man. Darien Derencourt was not
a man to be trusted.

Her reverie was shattered by the appearance of Andrew and Darien.
Andrew introduced all the girls before getting to Serena. He looked at
her meeting her eyes as he made the decision whether or not to introduce
her as his fiancée. The look in Serena's eyes allowed him to make the
decision. Darien didn't miss the look between them and the moment of
hesitation as Andrew said, "…and this is Serena, my fiancée."

Serena shook his hand but the cool expression on her face never
changed. He stared at her and saw in her crystal clear blue eyes,
something that told him she was not going to trip over herself for him and
even more she did not appear to like him. He smiled his usual smile at her,
the same sly half smile that made women shiver; its effect was completely
lost on her however.

Her lack of a reaction towards him intrigued him, as did the blonde
curls that were now spilling over her shoulder, and a mouth that any other
woman, unless she had one just like it, should be jealous about. She was
significantly more attractive in person than she had been in that magazine.
Having a woman react to him negatively was not something he was used to.
He wondered if he could give her reason to change her mind. He just might
try; it would be a nice challenge.

They all proceeded into the restaurant. With her back turned to him
he got a perfect view of Serena's tiny waist and flaring hips that was
perfectly emphasized by her form fitting sweater and jeans. Andrew was a
very lucky man. Those were hips he'd like to feel the sway of in his own
large hands.

A few moments later after entering the restaurant, Ami's fiancé Greg,
and Ken, a good friend of Lita's joined the group. They all shared about
three large pizzas as they talked and laughed together in a friendly
manner. Darien and Serena seemed to have other things on their minds
however. Neither added much to the conversation. Darien simply watched
the way Serena and her friends interacted with each other and most
importantly the way Serena interacted with her fiancé. Far more important
than that; he watched her.

Her every move was somehow sensual. She didn't say much but what
she did say in her honeyed voice he paid attention to every rise, fall and
inflection. He found himself brooding over his reaction to her and
disappointed in her lack of reaction towards him.

Throughout the evening neither Serena nor Andrew had touched each
other much nor shared any intimate moments that were usual between
engaged couples. To Darien they seemed like two very good friends and
nothing more, a piece of information he stored away in the back of his
mind for future reference. He admitted to himself he could be wrong
however; after all he was no expert on relationships, having never had a
long-term relationship himself.

Serena found herself ignoring Darien and brooding over what Rei had
said earlier. Knowing the possible danger he posed had set a dark shadow
on her evening. She was making a significant effort to enjoy the rest of the
evening but her mind kept straying back to the possibility of losing Kyler
Inc. to the man sitting across from her.

He was very difficult to ignore. Raye and Mina couldn't be accused of
trying. They flirted playfully with him and he gave them small encouraging
smiles but said little. Despite her resolve to pay no attention to him, she
kept taking small glances at him and couldn't help admiring the breadth of
his chest and shoulders and his strong jaw line. She couldn't lie to herself
about one fact: the man was beautiful.


************************************************** ***

"You didn't like him did you?" Andrew asked as he drove himself and
Serena up to her family home for the yearly picnic.

"Who?" Serena asked confused as to whom he was referring.

"Derencourt. You didn't say much to him, the other night."

"As I recall he didn't say much to anyone."

"What can I say? He seems to be a loner. He's very reserved," Andrew
attempted to defend the honor of a man he liked, who wasn't there to
defend himself. He and Darien had bumped shoulders a while back at the
country club they visited on the occasion that either had the time. They had
played a game of racquetball that Darien had lost, but not easily. They had
developed a liking for each other and Andrew somehow had this feeling that
they'd be friends for a long while.

"Except in his choice of women," Serena added. "Did you see that
blonde floozy he took to the museum opening? I saw the picture of them
both in Fortune Magazine under an article praising his business skill and
his liking for beautiful women in large numbers.

" She's a super model."

"I wonder what number Clairol she uses. That platinum does not
occur naturally."

"You really don't like him do you?"

"I read a bit about him after we had dinner the other night. He's cold
and distant, and his business tactics should be investigated. No one should
be able to buy and sell companies so fast without regard for people's jobs."

"They've tried investigating him already; they of course found no
evidence of unethical business practices."

"Naturally," she said sarcastically.

Andrew smiled and continued. "Also any workers are often well
compensated when he buys a company and liquidates it. If he keeps it, few
workers lose jobs. It's mostly people in management positions that need to
worry. If anything, the workers as well as the consumers benefit from
company splits."

"Whatever."

"You seem to be taking this personally. Did he say something to you?"

"No. He didn't say anything. Rei said he had a private meeting with
my father and I've seen evidence at the company that makes me wonder if
he's thinking he can do to Kyler Inc. what he's done to the other companies
he's ruined."

Andrew frowned. "Your father didn't mention anything about it?"

"No, not that he would, at least not to me."

"Well I'm sure if something that important was happening, he would
tell you and all the members of the board."

"My father wouldn't tell me anything. But even if it's not a hostile
takeover, what business could he possibly have with Derencourt? It just
doesn't make any sense."

"I'm sure everything will work out just fine, Sere."

"Serena gave Andrew a sarcastic smirk as his black Mercedes pulled
up in front of the immense mansion. She was building herself up for a long
day. This picnic was not what she had in mind for an enjoyable weekend,
but she had her obligations and so they were here.

"If you leave me alone with that woman, I'll kill you."
Andrew grinned, amused at Serena's obvious displeasure at having
to attend this family function.

As if on cue her mother emerged from the front between the two
Roman-style pillars that decorated the front of the Kyler mansion. She was
dressed in an elegant but casual lavender pantsuit. Everything about her
was perfect, not even a strand of her pale shoulder-length blonde hair was
out of place as she glided down the front steps towards them.

"Speaking of 'that woman' here she comes now."

They both got out of the car. Andrew was looking perfect as usual,
sunglasses, wind-blown hair, the vision of a movie star. Serena had dressed
to please her mother. She was wearing a white sundress and had brushed
her shiny curls to perfection.

Helen approached the young couple with a large smile on her face.
She spread her arms and embraced Andrew. He leaned down an exchanged
a kiss on the cheek with the woman who thought she was going to be his
mother-in-law.

"You two look wonderful," Helen sung, kissing her daughter on the
cheek.

"It's nice to see you again Helen," Andrew said charmingly. Grinning
almost flirtatiously.

Had she had the opportunity, Serena would have kicked him
graciously in the shin. There was no point in warming up to her mother with
the news she'd eventually have to deliver.

Before they could think of further conversation, Helen launched into
wedding plans as they all walked toward the house. For some reason
Andrew seemed to find the whole thing rather amusing and was smiling
brilliantly as they followed her mother into the house. Serena rolled her
eyes and with her mother's back turned gave Andrew the pinch he
deserved.

"Ouch." He glared at Serena.

"Is something the matter, Andrew" Helen said turning to look over
her shoulder at him.

"No, nothing Helen, just a bite from an annoying insect."


Serena was just about at her breaking point. Her mother was
yammering away to her Aunts and three of her cousins as they sat drinking
coffee. She hadn't had any opportunity to be alone. Despite his promise,
Andrew had been forced to leave Serena in this room, dreary now with the
fading light of the setting sun, with her mother, two of her Aunts and three
of her cousins ranging in ages from Twenty-two to twenty-eight.

Now her Aunts and cousins were giving her input on what she should
have at her wedding. Lila thought she should have Lilacs, Serena resisted
the urge to snort at the redhead's annoying way of adding herself to a part
of every equation. Tammy preferred a wide array of different flowers and
there should definitely be doves. Serena didn't doubt that Tammy would
have secretly hoped that one of the doves pooped on her head and
scratched her eyes out.

Lila and Anissa were arguing, because Anissa thought there was
nothing wrong with having sunflowers at a wedding. Her mother and her
aunts were insisting she have traditional wedding cake and not the
chocolate and vanilla marble she had chosen. Serena reached her breaking
point when her mother started to tell her that the flower girls should toss
potpourri instead of rose petals.

"That's it," she muttered. "Mother you might as well know, I'm not
getting married! The room was hushed. "In fact after listening to you all, I
may never get married, ever."

"Whatever are you saying dear? I know you're scared but don't you
think you're being a bit irrational. We've been planning this wedding for
months. Darling we can always postpone until later in the year if you feel
this is all too soon."

"Mother you just don't get it. I'm not getting married. Andrew and I
called off the engagement."

Her aunts and cousins gasped. Her mother was silent for a moment.

"I'm so sorry honey. Did you two have a fight? Are you two trying to
work things out? I'm sure everything will be fine."

"No! Things won't be fine Mother. Andrew and I agreed to call off the
engagement because we're not in love. I don't know that we ever were."

"I love him, but not the way I should. He's my best friend, but that's
where it ends."

Serena's mother was silent.

"I'm sorry Mom, I knew you really wanted to see this happen, but it's
just not going to work."

Serena could see the tears in her mother's eyes. She had really
wanted this for her. She came up to Serena and kissed her on the cheek.
She touched Serena's cheek brushing the tears from Serena's face, cried
out of frustration, "I wasn't in love with your father either," she whispered.
Serena wasn't sure just how she felt as she watched her mother leave
the room. Her feelings were a mass of confusing emotions that after careful
sorting amounted to a large amount of guilt. She felt selfish; she probably
shouldn't, but she did. Vivienne and Tammy shared a look and hid a tiny
smirk. Serena felt even worse.



"I don't know what made me think that this would all feel better in
the end. I feel like the lowest form of life on this planet. The least I could
have done was waited until I was alone with her instead of blurting out my
personal business in front of those spiteful bitches who are no doubt
spreading some ill rumors around my family. Knowing my luck this will be
the heading of all the society papers and you know how she feels about her
image and that of the family. How could I possibly be this inconsiderate?"
She rambled on and on as Andrew drove silently.

"You know you're absolutely right. You are the scum of the earth! The
bane of human existence, the mistress of all that is evil."

"Andrew! You're not helping."

He smiled at her. "Well you were doing such a wonderful job of
needlessly berating yourself, I felt it only fair that I join in on the fun."

"Thank you."

"You're welcome."



Serena was eating herself into the misery that resulted from her
deep-seated guilt. She sat slumped on her couch still in her pajamas
surrounded by potato chips, chocolate, and cheese doodles. She couldn't
seem to help being miserable.

She had been arguing with herself all day. She had convinced herself
she could have done a better job of explaining to her mother that all her
wedding plans were for naught. She certainly shouldn't have done it before
her Aunt and cousins. She certainly hadn't realized just how much this
meant to her mother. She now realized it had been something of a dream
for her mother to see her happily married, a dream she had callously
ruined.

She wondered if her mother had recovered enough to inform her
father. Did he even care? There was really only one way to find out. He
deserved to hear it from her own mouth. She swallowed another potato
chip and picked up the phone.

Arthur Kyler answered his cell phone in his usual gruff manner. His
daughter's somewhat tentative voice came over. He frowned.
It wasn't that he didn't love the girl, she simply reminded him too
much of her mother. He suspected that she carried too many Foster traits
and that simply meant she was weak of mind and prone to excess
emotions. The whole Foster clan, while all beautiful and aristocratic in
appearance and bearing, carried those traits and he suspected the same in
Serena.

It was unfortunate she hadn't been more like him. He had seen her
do things that suggested that she might have some fighting spirit inside
her but in his presence she always seemed nervous and expectant, just like
her mother, as though she expected some kind of show of favoritism. He
had made it a point to show he would not participate in any form of
nepotism. He had deliberately placed her in a company position where she
couldn't embarrass herself if she failed at the business; she had survived.
He had been slightly impressed by her intelligent display in the last
board meeting but it hadn't been anything so special that anyone else, had
they looked, couldn't have deduced the same. Still, maybe there was hope
for her yet. Maybe when she got married she would stay home like her
mother and be what she had been raised by her mother to be, a good wife.
That would either be a waste of talent or a realization of her true purpose
and talents.

"Daddy, I just wanted to let you know that Andrew and I have broken
our engagement. We decided that it would be best for us both to separate
before we headed down the wrong path. I didn't think the feelings we
thought we had for each other were a sound basis on which to build a
marriage. They just weren't strong enough. Mom is very disappointed but I
just couldn't go through with it. It didn't feel right."

The more he thought about the situation however the more he began
to see that if the stage was set, this could quite turn out to be in his favor.
Now was a good time to find out more about his only child. It could only
benefit them all. He smiled.

He frowned. She was throwing a way a perfectly good man for a
reason based solely on the lack of a certain idealistic and impractical
emotion. Had he thought the argument worth it, he would have gladly
informed her that love was hardly the sole basis for marriage. In many
cases it was a convenient afterthought. Marriage was about compatibility,
producing heirs, and improving one's financial and or social status. Love
within a marriage, while convenient was hardly necessary. Andrew would
have been the perfect husband.

"Daddy, did you hear me?" Serena couldn't believe he was upset; a
crimson red bunny was more likely to fly through her living room on a
snowy day in July than her father showing any type of caring emotion
towards her. Even if this mattered to him, he would hardly show it. She
didn't expect any sympathy either.

"I'm sorry to hear that sweetheart. I hope you aren't too upset. Why
don't I take you out to dinner? I bet you aren't feeling particularly grand
about the situation. We can talk about it and you can tell me what
happened. Does that sound good?"

Serena had to sit down for fear of fainting. Where was that bunny? It
must be snowing outside. She couldn't believe her ears. She had to be
dreaming.

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