Sailor Moon Fan Fiction ❯ Inc. ❯ Chapter 6

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

Title: Inc-Chapter 6
Author: MarshAngel
e-mail:watsonma@hotmail.com
webpage: http://www.crosswinds.net/~marshangel/angelmoon.htm

Serena was sitting on the patio of Raye's gorgeous house. She had
thought she'd feel less anxious if she spent some time with her friends. So
here she was sitting on a lounge chair beside Raye's swimming pool and
she wasn't feeling much better.

"What did he say?"

"I know, tell me, what did he say?"
Serena sighed and then took in a deep breath of fresh air. All her
friends were grilling her. Even Andrew waited expectantly to hear the news
of how the dinner with Darien had gone.

"He said he'd think about it," Serena said lifelessly. "I'm just happy
he didn't laugh in my face."

"I still can't believe you're doing this Serena. If you ask me it's not
worth it," Lita stated. "I'm not saying Darien is a bad guy or anything like
that it's just that, well looks aren't everything you know. How can you
expect to be happy with a man you barely know? I'd love to know what your
father said to convince you to do this!"

"I'd love to know myself," Serena grumbled. "I think I was drunk."

"It won't be that bad Serena," Andrew assured. "I'm shocked you
agreed to this but if, Darien agrees to it, I'm sure you could be happy

together. "

"What!" Andrew yelled when everyone turned to look at him as
though he'd grown an extra head.

"Have you gone back in time or something? This is the twentieth
century a father doesn't just sell his daughter for the sake of a business
deal!" Raye screeched indignantly. "Not to mention that in a few weeks
from now you two would have been married and Serena would be much
better off as the best friend you married than with the perfect stranger
she's entrusting herself to.

"Guys please!" Serena yelled over the chatting group. "My dad isn't
making me do anything I didn't agree to ok. I'm just a bit nervous, waiting
for Darien to make his decision and you guys really aren't helping.
The tension in the air created a sense of impending doom that made
the pit of her stomach feel like jelly in an earthquake. She understood that
her friends were concerned for her and she was grateful but they weren't
helping her feel better. She wasn't sure if it had sunk in as yet that if
Darien agreed that she would spend the rest of her life with him and she
didn't know when his birthday was, who his parents were, how he took his
coffee and so much more. She was too busy analyzing herself, trying to
figure out why deep down she wanted to marry him. She couldn't explain it.
The moment she had seen him appear before her in the restaurant and felt
his eyes travel over her she had wanted to be with him. There was no logic
to it and quite frankly it frightened her.



"What are you going to do?"

"What do you think I should do?"

"You like hearing advice you never take and I hate giving advice
that's never followed. Do as you will."

"You'll understand if I hesitate to kiss your feet in gratitude for all
your help."

Setsuna smiled slightly at Darien's dry wit. Sarcasm suited him well.

"I don't suppose I could be the best man could I?"

"How did you know I would?"

"I know you well. Besides you've had a copy of a magazine open to a
picture of her from the Orchid Ball for the past three days. " He said
nothing, but a slight mysterious smile changed the thoughtful expression
on his face. "She's beautiful, but I suspect you already noticed."

"I did." His half smile grew somewhat wider. "Of course she has other
qualities as well.

"I would certainly hope so, for your sake and hers. She won't bore
you then?"

"Never that."

"You'll probably have to give up the bachelor pad."

"Never liked the place much anyway." Setsuna raised an eyebrow at
that statement as she watched him gulp down the bitter glass of scotch he
held in his hand. It wasn't exactly the thing one drank to celebrate an
engagement but in all the time she'd known him he'd been anything but
conventional.

Darien's bachelor pad was a luxurious penthouse suite at the top of
the very building in which they now stood. The idea of him not liking it was
not only absolutely ridiculous but a complete lie. It was certainly a
testament to t the kind of hold Serena Kyler had over him. Most men in
their right mind would have given their right arm for the chance to own
Darien's place. It sat atop one of San Francisco's tallest buildings and had
gorgeous views of the city. He had personally seen to every beautifully
expensive piece of furniture that went into it, every painting that hung on
the walls, the colors of which he had also chosen. Few people had seen it
but if they had they would have instantly noted how perfectly it suited him.
His personality seemed to have permeated even the glass walls and black
marble floors.

It was difficult to imagine him choosing to live elsewhere.
Setsuna didn't quite understand what was happening here. He had
gone to that meeting with the intention of refusing Kyler's offer and yet now
that his daughter was thrown into the deal he was willing? It seemed that
everyday she came into this offices the magazine was open to her picture
and he sat there brooding. She had never seen him quite like this. He had
been distracted for the past few days.

She was beginning to see that somehow, within those few moments
they'd met, maybe even as he'd looked at her picture in the magazine, he
had fallen in love with her. She wondered if he was even aware of it. He had
known many women and she'd seen them all. They had all been so proud
to be on his arm that when they accomplished their goal he was actually
quite minor when it all came down to showing the world that they had
accomplished their goal.

She hoped Serena could appreciate having a man like Darien in love
with her.


It was certainly an interesting place to be having conversation. The
two men sat side by side on one of the many wooden benches in the steam
room. Just minutes before they had been engaged in an exhausting game
of racquetball. During the game Darien had informed Andrew of his
wedding plans. Andrew had missed the ball headed his way when Darien
told him that he'd made the decision to marry Serena, but he hadn't
seemed too surprised. He had after all known of the situation before hand.

"What the hell am I supposed to do with a wife?" Darien asked him
as soon as they'd both slumped wearily unto the benches.

"Preferably the usual," Andrew replied grinning, "Unless of course
you don't know how." Andrew received a challenging look from Darien.
"Doesn't it disturb you that I'm marrying your former fiancée?"
Darien questioned, wondering how Andrew could accept this situation so
well. There was a pause before Andrew answered.

"It does, but I'm intelligent enough to know when to step aside. I
could probably convince her not to go through with it but she'd regret it for
the rest of her life. She has this way of hanging on to guilt she doesn't
really deserve. If she doesn't do this for her family she will make her life
miserable wondering how different things could have been if she'd gone
through with it."

"That's certainly an uplifting thought," Darien stated cynically. "I'm
marrying her as a part of a business deal and she's marrying me out of
guilt. I can see this is the beginning of a loving and wonderful marriage."

"She's wonderful, believe me I know. " Andrews face took on a
serious look. His eyes narrowed and he looked as though he were about to
say something but changed his mind. He did not even notice Darien's
curious eyes watching him.

"You still love her." It wasn't a question. It was plainly visible on
Andrew's face. "What happened between you two?"

"She didn't love me. I didn't want her to stay with me out of guilt so I
lied. I told her I felt the same way; that it was best for us to split up. I
loved her too much to let her think she'd hurt me, that would have hurt her
too much." Despite the obvious pain in his eyes, Andrew's face remained
stoic.

"I'm sorry." Darien whispered.

"She isn't marrying for love; I'd at least hoped she'd find that, even if
not with me. Love her, it's not hard; do that at least."

"I'll try," Darien replied, meaning every word. From what he'd seen,
Andrew was right and it wouldn't be too difficult.


It was a full week before he arrived at her door. Naturally she was
soaking wet when her doorbell began ringing. She had been trying to put
her wet hair up in a knot but ran out of time when the bell rang for the
fourth time. She'd been forced to toss on a simple robe and run to the door
praying it wasn't men in suits selling religion.

What she opened her door to find was a man in a suit but he didn't
have pamphlets. He had roses, red and white ones that smelled
magnificent. She was stunned and speechless. She simply stared in shock
at him.

Darien sniffed the air around the pretty, damp woman before him.
Peaches, she smelled of peaches. He smiled at the complete disarray in
which she stood before him. She was smaller today; he hadn't realized she
was so short, he could see right over her head into her apartment, now that
she was barefooted and without the benefit of the height usually given by
her heels. She was clothed only in a bathrobe and her wet hair hung like a
rope over her shoulder. From what he could see over her head her
apartment was much like her, warm and inviting.

He hardly noticed that she had taken the flowers out of his hand.
"Hello, Serena," he greeted in his deep voice. He looked down at her,
focusing the intensity of his gaze on her. She didn't say anything; she just
stared. He returned her stare with his own intense gaze, amused by her
reaction. He watched her curiously as she gradually overcame whatever
spell she was under.

"They're beautiful but hardly necessary," she whispered hurriedly,
sniffing the unbelievably wonderful scent drifting off the soft petals and
wondering just what had been so interesting over her head. It was
disconcerting to have to stare so far up at a man. She was used to wearing
her heels and he made her feel very small. His large body filled her
doorway entirely. She suddenly remembered the manners her mother had
spent so mush time drilling into her. She had already screwed up the order
of things

"Come in." Serena stuttered. "Thank you. You really didn't have to,
you know."

"I could hardly come empty handed," Darien replied to her first
comment. "It didn't seem the thing to do when a man informs a woman
that he will marry her." He walked through the door forcing her to step
aside to accommodate his large body. "I was beginning to wonder if you'd
ever let me in."

Serena froze and her face suddenly went pale in shock.

"You're going to marry me?" She asked dumbfounded, unwilling to
believe the words she had been preparing herself all week not to hear.
Discovering that she wanted him to marry her had naturally made her
believe that with her luck he would definitely decide against it. She had
wondered what she would do if he said yes but she hadn't really prepared
herself for the possibility.

He was amused by the way she had simply stared at him shocked.
Her big blue eyes simply stared at him wide eyed and dumbfounded. He
found himself smiling but stopped when he realized that she might have
been hoping he'd say no. It would certainly free her from having to fulfill
her familial obligations. That didn't sit well with him. He wanted her to
want him and it disturbed him to find himself in such a vulnerable position.

"I hope I haven't disappointed you," he said formally. "I assumed
this was what you wanted."

"I'm sorry," Serena, replied managing to compose herself slightly. "I
do, it's just that I'm surprised that you agreed. You hardly seem the type to
willingly tie yourself down to one woman."

"What type am I exactly he asked," deliberately baiting her?

"I…" she couldn't really answer without embarrassing herself and
insulting him. "The much wanted kind I suppose," Serena replied
diplomatically and with far more truth than she had expected to allow to
get past her lips. She was embarrassed by the revelation and she had the
impression her face was glowing a rather indelicate shade of pink.
Darien raised an eyebrow and she was suddenly faced with the full
effect of his grin. It was unnerving. No man should have such a perfect
smile set in an already perfect face. It was simply too much.

"Do you want me?" Darien asked teasingly. He was amused at the
way her eyes widened in shock and her face went from that delightful shade
of pink to beet red. She didn't give him an answer, not that he'd expected
one. Even he knew that the question was impertinent, but becoming her
fiancé did give him certain liberties didn't it?

Serena failed pathetically at trying to maintain a calm demeanor
after his surprising question. She then did the only thing she could think to
do to get out of his line of sight. She offered him a drink.
As if to prolong her torture he refused. She offered him a seat; he
accepted but still didn't sit, instead he made an offer of his own.

"I didn't mean to interrupt your bath. Do you want to get dressed? I'll
wait right here if you like."

It was only then that she remembered that all she wore was a
bathrobe that was open all the way down the middle of her chest. She
hurriedly grabbed the collar and pulled it close. It seemed whatever she did
amused him. He stared down at her in his usually intense fashion that
made her feel like a deer frozen in headlights. All she could do was return
his stare, yet looking in his eyes was extremely unsettling.

"There's need to cover up for me you know. We're getting married;
I'll see them eventually."

Annoyance won out over any other emotion she might have felt at the
moment. "Does everything you have to say have some sort of sexual
connotation to it?"

"No. I believe I offered you the opportunity to get dressed and I did
say I'd wait here while you did so. If I was interested in making sexual
advances," and he was, but she didn't need to know, "I would have offered
to dress you myself, or undress you as it suits me."

"You are absolutely infuriating! I hardly know you but you show up at
my door with flowers, inform me you're going to marry me, behave as
though I should be gratified that you should sink so low as to do so, and
then start making sexually suggestive comments, and I'm supposed to be
ok with this?"

"It would be nice if you were." He was smiling again. "Also I don't
believe I insinuated that you should be grateful that I'm willing to marry
you. Nor do I consider it sinking. "

Serena couldn't believe this was the same man she had sat down to
dinner with twice. The first time he'd seemed the quiet, brooding,
unemotional type. The second he'd been all that, if a bit more charming.
This, however, was something completely different. He was teasing.
Everything he said and did seemed sexually charged. He seemed set on
getting extreme emotional reactions from her, and he was succeeding.

She couldn't be sure if the electric intensity between them was
something he'd done purposefully or something she alone experienced due
to her mysterious attraction to him. She certainly didn't harbor any
illusions that he might share that attraction. She'd seen the women he
dated and could discern few similarities between them and her. Right now
however the attraction she knew she was feeling served only to fuel her
anger. It was embarrassing to find herself attracted to a man who seemed
determined to be a complete ass.

She decided against saying anything that would make her feel like an
ass too. She simply turned on her heel and left the room. This was not the
way she had envisioned starting off a marriage. If she'd stayed engaged to
Andrew she would not be having this problem right now.

A marriage! To that man? How ridiculous! "This is my life?" She
thought. " How pathetic!"

Darien wasn't sure what he was doing. He had found some strange
sort of amusement in upsetting her. He was in a strange mood.
When he'd finally decided to inform her of his decision he'd done
some very strange things. First he'd taken more time getting ready than
usual. He had worn a black Hugo Boss suit, Setsuna had personally chosen
for him. It was a bit fashion forward rather than traditional but she'd
insisted he looked wonderful. He'd thought the flowers a bit much but she
had handed them to him and insisted he give them to Serena. What she
hadn't insisted on was the constant smiling his face was not used to but
that seemed to appear the moment she had opened the door and stood
before him in her bathrobe.

He hadn't realized she was so small. She looked far younger than she
should have standing before him barefooted and wet looking like some sort
of water sprite. Enchanting really.

He could hardly believe the things he had said to her just now. He'd
behaved like a teenager.

Still steaming about Darien's odd behavior Serena was standing
before her closet attempting to decide what to wear. She was on the verge
of choosing a pretty summer dress when she decided against it. Why
should she get all dressed up for him so he could look her over and decide
to make some sexually charged comment that was probably more mockery
than anything else. She wouldn't give him the satisfaction. She pulled on a
T-shirt and a pair of jeans.

Still bare-footed she padded back to the living room. He was
examining her CD collection.

"See something you like?"

"No." he replied emotionlessly. Just no, as though her CDs had
offended him in some way. Serena frowned.

"Have you informed my father as yet?"

"No." Once more, a one-word answer. The man was aggravating. He
hadn't even looked up since she came into the room.

"Why not? You could have you know. You didn't have to wait to tell
me first."

"I'm not marrying your father, Serena, I'm marrying you. The merger
documents won't be signed until the ink on our marriage license is dry
anyway."

"The way you say that I could almost believe you want to." Serena
said softly.

"What makes you think I don't?" Serena visibly recoiled as though his
words had stung.

"I don't know you and you most certainly don't know me so please
don't pretend as though this could be a normal relationship or a normal
marriage. I gave up the opportunity for that when I agreed to marry you.
The only reason you're here is to make sure your business deal goes
through and I am just fulfilling my familial obligations so please don't mock
me!" Having vented some of her feelings she was left trembling with the
emotional backlash. She ran the brush she'd brought from her room
through her wet hair rather harshly and succeeded in pulling on a tangle
and hurting herself. She tossed the brush aside in frustration.
She felt ridiculous. Somehow his pretending to make this seem like it
could be a normal relationship annoyed her greatly. If he had any other
choice he certainly wouldn't have chosen her of all the women he knew and
it hurt to have him mock her pretending as though they could both be fully
satisfied by this arrangement.

Darien merely raised an eyebrow but said nothing. Serena watched
curiously as he walked over to the coffee table and picked up the discarded
brush.

"What are you doing?" He said nothing but continued to approach
her. In less than a moment he was towering over her again.

"Turn around," he ordered.

"What do you think you're doing?"

"Just turn around." For some reason she felt compelled to obey and
she did. He picked up a length of wet curls and began brushing it, starting
from the ends, as she should have.

"I know the people who work for me consider me to be an ogre but
contrary to popular belief I'm perfectly capable of seeing things in a more
positive light. I find it hard to believe that you'd want to spend the rest of
your life with me in a marriage in name only. We don't have to, you know.
In the eyes of the law we will be man and wife and I'm sure you don't want
to spend the rest of your life in an empty marriage.

"Are you actually suggesting that we make this a real marriage?"
Serena questioned awed that he'd actually want to be with her in that
manner." He couldn't possibly be serious. He wouldn't dare make another
mockery of the situation.

"Why not?"

"I just… I didn't think you'd …"

"First and foremost, Serena, I am male." Serena blushed brightly. So
that was his reason. She should have known. She hadn't expected him to be
the type to settle however and that hurt even more.

"Naturally you think I'm talking about sex. You're absolutely right;
you are very male, typically so. Marriage isn't built on sex however, so if
you think that that's all there is to it you are sadly mistaken. I have no
intention of feeling like a whore."

"Sleeping with your husband would make you a whore? The world
must be filled with them. What exactly did you expect? This is a business
deal Serena and you are a businesswoman, and assuming you are as
intelligent as I previously assumed, I'm sure the whole concept doesn't
elude you. " His tone was harsh and his features cold.

"I'm perfectly capable of understanding what the situation is and I
have no doubt that nowhere in the contract does it require me to sleep with
you!"

"You expect me to believe that you intend to spend the rest of your
life celibate? I won't have my wife running around with other men, so if
that's what you were thinking, you may very well put that thought out of
your mind." He was towering over her, looking decidedly intimidating.

"I find it difficult to believe you'd give up all 'your women' just so you
could marry me!"

"What I find difficult to believe is that you can be so pigheaded about
this when you are the one who suggested this arrangement in the first
place. I think it's a little late in your life to be playing the virginal maid. I
can't conceive that you'd actually prefer to spend the rest of your life
celibate than to share a bed with me!"

"Obviously your ego has gotten a bit of control. You apparently have
a hard time believing any woman would actually be able to resist you. I
hate to burst your bubble but you aren't completely irresistible!" Serena
wasn't even sure she believed that. She hoped it didn't show on her face.
He was unnaturally calm as he stared down at her, eyebrows raised.

"Did you have to do that?" He asked almost painfully. "I was actually
beginning to think I was perfect, and I was quite content in that assumption
until you came along."

"Are you serious!" Serena asked incredulously, unwilling to believe
how easily he switched back into this teasing mode.

"Of course not! I know I'm perfect and even you couldn't change
that." He grinned at her.

"Do you have some kind of emotional problem? I was trying to have a
serious conversation and here you are teasing me!"

"Well I could tell you what I really think but I have a feeling that
would just upset you further."

"Try me."

"I'm not sure why you feel the need to push me away as soon as I
suggest turning this into a real marriage, especially since, even now you're
looking at me as if I'm the first and only man you've ever seen." Her face
turned an embarrassed and annoyed shade of red.

"You are such an arrogant bastard!" To her surprise he looked quite
pleased with himself.

"I've been called worse. Now since you're dressed, would you like to
have dinner with me?"

"No not particularly."

"Glad you see it my way, let's go." He stepped aside expecting her to
head towards the door.

Serena sighed. She supposed she might as well give in. There was no
point in resisting, soon she'd be married to him and she'd have to be seen
in public with him anyway.

"I suppose I should change."

"Don't bother, I'll change when we get back to my place."

"Your place?"

"Yes, my place."

"I see. And why exactly do we need to go to your place?"

"So I can change to match you."

"Fine!"

"Good. You'll need shoes, unless you want me to carry you."

"No thank you. I'll get my shoes." She didn't just get her shoes. She
put on the simple summer dress she'd eyed before. She didn't need to be
outshone by a man in public although she doubted the casual but pretty
lavender dress would really accomplish the monumental task she had
assigned it.

He smiled when she returned to the living room.

"I take it the 'obey your husband' part of our marriage will be a
debate with you."

"You are smarter than you look." She smart-mouthed as they walked
out the door.


The drive over had been relatively quiet. Darien was somewhat
seething inside. Her refusal to share his bed annoyed him.
He had never for a moment considered that she might not want him
as he wanted her. She was the one who had put forth this marriage.
Granted, he knew she'd done it at her father's behest but she hadn't
seemed at all opposed to the idea when she'd defended her father's idea at
dinner.

He certainly never expected such forceful opposition, but apparently
she saw herself as the sacrificial lamb of her family and a not too happy
little lamb at that. He had been told repeatedly he was an attractive man,
what could she possibly want that he couldn't give her?

Serena was surprised to find them pulling up to the same building in
which she knew Darien worked. She had been equally surprised to find that
Darien was a decent driver. The level of arrogance to which he subscribed
usually implied he was the type to drive sports cars around cars at a

minimum of twice the speed limit.

"I thought you said you were going home?"

"I am."

"You live here?"

"Yes."

Serena wouldn't be surprised to find he lived out of his office. Any
man who would get married as a part of a business deal would be paranoid
enough to live in his office for fear of missing any important business calls.
She wondered if his secretary lived there too.

"I don't suppose you have your secretary live here too, answering
calls twenty-four seven?"

"I think Setsuna's fiancée would take offense to that. I should have
offered though, it would certainly have made business so much more
efficient." Serena rolled her eyes. His sense of humor needed work.

"If it makes you feel better, I don't live in my office. I live in the pent
house. "

"That's good to know. Don't tell my father you live here. He'll start
making plans for one of his own; anything to stay as close to the center of
business you know."

"I bet your mother would be upset about that."

"I doubt it." Darien watched her face for a change but saw none.
Whatever she referred to apparently was the normal state of things for her
family and she didn't bother to elaborate.

"Setsuna calls my place "The Bachelor Pad."

"Should I buy air freshener then?" Serena teased.

"You will eat those words."



The long elevator ride up to the thirty-eighth floor was a quiet one.
They was little either could find to say to each other.

"I hope you're not afraid of heights."

"I work on the thirty-first floor."

"Good, I have very large windows and not many walls." She raised an
eyebrow but said nothing. The elevator came to a stop and Darien used his
keys to let the door open unto the floor he had all to himself.
Although Serena had expected a large apartment she hadn't
expected what she saw when the doors opened. Before her lay one of the
most luxurious apartments she'd ever seen. He wasn't kidding when he
said he had few walls. She stepped out unto the black marble, her sandals
echoing. It seemed the entire first section of the floor was separated by
nothing but large painted Japanese screens. The furniture was low and
dark and light seemed to come from all directions. The only distinct rooms
seemed to be a kitchen and bathrooms. Up ahead beyond a series of steps
she assumed there were bedrooms. Here and there were some of the most
beautiful works of art she'd ever seen, including a marble sculpture of a
nude woman, Japanese paintings on the screens that separated the section
of the room as well as other paintings on the walls and beautiful vases
whose worth she didn't doubt was vast. It was like a museum and it
smelled just fine.

There was nothing feminine about it though. The apartment was
distinctly male.

"Are you sure you live here?" she asked, when she'd recovered from
her awe.

"Last time I checked," he replied, happy to see he'd impressed her
at last.

"It suits you. You must have paid your interior decorator a fortune,
not to mention the dealer of these art pieces.

"Actually, I didn't hire a designer and I collected these pieces myself,
with the exception of the screens. Setsuna acquired those for me in Japan
in addition to all the other Japanese paintings and that jade Buddha. "

"Setsuna is Japanese then?"

"Yes, she's the daughter of one of my mother's friends. She's my
personal secretary, my right hand I guess."

"It's beautiful. I assumed you'd be more of a minimalist, like my
father."

"Making assumptions are dangerous. I assumed you'd be quiet,
sweet, and manageable."

"How did you get so far in the business world making stupid
assumptions like that?"

Darien had to smile at that. He admitted to himself that quiet and
manageable would definitely not have been this interesting or this
attractive. Her hair had dried and curled all around her face and down her
back. She was smiling at her own quip and he was suddenly frozen for a
second unable to say anything.

"Darien?" Her questioning look forced him to snap out of his star
struck daze.

"Didn't you say you wanted to change or are you waiting for me to
help you?"

He smiled again, one of those devastating ones that made her
stomach do that terrible flip-flop it had been doing every time she looked at
him.

He chucked her chin and barely above a whisper said, "careful, I
might take you up on that." He turned and walked out of the room, heading
up the small steps that led to his bedroom.

Her breath caught in her throat as she watched him leave. She let
out the breath with some difficulty setting her whole body trembling. She
hadn't realized how fast her heart was beating. Why was he affecting her
like this? One moment aggravatingly teasing, the other amazingly
appealing.

She was examining a few pictures she noticed sitting on a mantle. In
one, a Japanese woman in a kimono stood side by side with a much taller
blonde man whose arm rested on the petite woman's shoulder. They were
his parents she deduced. In another a beautiful girl with dark brown hair
sat poised and elegant, a violin resting in the crook of her neck beneath her
chin. She recognized her although the picture was an older one. She was
the famous violinist Michelle Derencourt, Darien's sister. She also knew her
as Alex's girlfriend. She had never really made the connection between
Michelle and Darien. Until these past few weeks he'd just been a name, one
she hadn't paid too much attention to.

She didn't even hear him when he walked up behind her.

"She doesn't like me you know." Serena whirled around to find
herself facing Darien, who looked as amazing as usual in a close fitting
black t-shirt and black pants.

"What?" Serena questioned attempting to hide the embarrassment of
the way her eyes roved over his amazing body.

"My sister; we've always been in a sort of competition with each
other. My mother said it was because we were too much alike. We don't
talk much anymore. She thinks I hate lesbians, because I don't get along
with her girlfriend. I just don't like her girlfriend," he said frankly. He
smiled.

"I like her girlfriend."

"Oh yes, she's an exec at Kyler isn't she? It's ironic that I get blamed
for the animosity between us. Alex doesn't exactly like me much either.
"I don't suppose she would," Serena commented. "She doesn't like
men, especially one's like you; arrogant and self-important. Ironically she's
like you too."

"I'll try not to be insulted by that."

" Where are we going?" She asked.

"Unless you want to head elsewhere I was thinking of heading out to
the pier."

"That's fine with me. Oceania?"

"Yes; great view, good food."


They were halfway through their meal and the sun was setting over
the bay casting a magnificent golden glow over the table they shared
outside the restaurant. It had been a wonderful meal but there was a
certain tension between them. They were avoiding any discussion of their
future together. Serena was staring at the beautiful picture the birds made
flying across sky with the golden setting sun as a backdrop. It was far
easier than looking at her dinner partner.

Until now their conversation had been comfortably impersonal.
They'd talked about everything else from business to politics but had
danced around the very reason why they were having dinner together. At
least they had. They had been enjoying a comfortable silence when Darien
spoke.

"Tomorrow is Sunday. The papers will carry an announcement of our
engagement. Monday morning everyone who bothered to read will want to
know what happened including a few members of the press."

"What!" Serena screeched. "You told the press already? When did
you do this? Never mind, why did you put out an announcement before you
even told me or my father?"

"It wasn't necessary, the decision was up to me after all whether or
not I'd agree. I merely handled the matter in the most efficient manner
possible."

"By putting an announcement in the society pages? Do you even
realize I never announced the break of my engagement to Andrew? How's it
going to look when I suddenly dump my fiancée for another?"

"I wouldn't worry too much about that," Darien replied
unsympathetically. "I'm sure you'll come up with something to say."
Serena was forced to clamp her mouth shut before she said something that
would reduce their conversation to angry words. It was her problem to deal
with anyway; this marriage was for the benefit of her family. She had
agreed to do this and so it was her job to deal with whatever happened as a
result.

"I have something I think you'll need." Serena watched curiously as
he reached into his pocket and set a small black box on the table. She was
stunned. She knew immediately what the small black box yelled. She didn't
reach for it.

An engagement ring; the symbol of their union. Somehow the idea of
wearing something that represented such a lie did not appeal to her really,
but still she felt a sort of anticipation, similar to the time Andrew had
proposed except she was far more scared of this than she had been of that.
It seemed for a moment the finality of the situation came rushing towards
her. She would wear his ring, she would stand before God and man and
make this man her husband and she would spend the rest of her life with
him. Here heart raced as she stared at the box frozen.

Seeing her unwillingness to reach for the box, Darien flipped it open.
Serena's already wide eyes opened far wider when she saw the contents of
the box. A large radiant cut diamond with an intense pink undertone
winked at her flanked on either side by large deep blue sapphires in a
platinum setting. She didn't doubt that each and every one of the jewels
was flawless. It was exquisite and ran just short of ostentatious. She was
awed.

"It's beautiful," she whispered.

Darien smiled and reached for her hand. He removed the ring from
its black velvet-resting place and slid it onto her finger. "A perfect fit, and
to think I guessed."


He had great taste Serena thought, still staring down at her hand;
great taste in art, in jewelry and god only knew what else.

"I thought it would be in bad taste to ask you to marry me so you'll
understand if I don't get down on my knees."

Serena smiled and for the first time that evening she met his eyes.
They were beautiful eyes; much like the sapphires in the ring he'd just
given her. They merely held each other's gaze for a moment smiling
intently at each other until Serena blushed and returned her gaze to her
dinner, self consciously aware that he was still looking at her.