Sailor Moon Fan Fiction ❯ Inc. ❯ Chapter 8
[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]
By: MarshAngel 
Anime/Manga: Sailor Moon Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Romance | Type: Alternate Universe | Uploaded On: 09.11.2001 | Pages: 6 | Words: 3.7K | Visits: 449 | Status: Completed
Anime/Manga: Sailor Moon Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Romance | Type: Alternate Universe | Uploaded On: 09.11.2001 | Pages: 6 | Words: 3.7K | Visits: 449 | Status: Completed
Title: Inc-Chapter 8
Author: MarshAngel
e-mail:watsonma@hotmail.com
webpage: http://www.crosswinds.net/~marshangel/angelmoon.htm
Serena walked into her office, ready to sink down into her chair and
breathe for a moment before getting started on the numerous things she
had to do today. A several people she had to speak with ran through her
head and she began making a list of all the things she would designate for
Molly to do and all the things she had yet to get around to herself.
As her mind ran its route, she wondered just where Molly was. She
hadn't been at her desk when Serena walked in. She supposed she had
gone to get coffee, but it was unusual for her to go off like that.
When she walked into her office she was surprised to find herself
faced with the prospect of not being allowed to sink comfortably in her
chair. Instead she was subjected to the presence of the right-hand man
himself, Alan Davidson. He was sitting comfortably in the chair across from
her desk looking as though it was a social visit. She couldn't imagine any
reason for him visiting her. They never shared much conversation outside
of formal meetings. She was very curious but she tried hard not to be rude.
"Good Morning?" she greeted tentatively. Letting the greeting hang in
the air sounding like a question that demanded he give a reason for his
visit.
"Hello Serena. I just thought I'd stop in and say hello."
Ok. She supposed she'd have to work to get a more logical
explanation than that. Brian Davies, that sniveling idiot used to
occasionally stop by to say hello in hopes of convincing her to go out with
him. Visiting just wasn't something Davidson did.
"That was very nice of you." She said. She wanted to say something
else in an attempt to make this sound like a conversation but she was
drawing a blank at the moment.
"Actually I had something more serious on my mind that I wanted to
talk to you about." He made a pyramid with his finger and it began to occur
to her just what it was about him that bothered her.
He was like an actor. He affected a guise of perfection that wasn't as
real as it appeared. He was very convincing but somehow for the first time
she was beginning to see that he wasn't all he appeared. The way he moved
his hands, talked, behaved seemed somehow practiced.
"Your father told me about your engagement."
"He did?" Serena wasn't surprised, although somewhat annoyed.
What was it about this man that made her father share everything with
him?
"I would congratulate you if I thought it was appropriate."
Serena raised her eyebrows at that but said nothing.
"Serena how can you go through with this? I understand your father
can be very convincing but don't you think this is something of an irrational
request for a man to ask his daughter?" He looked convincingly concerned
for her well-being.
"I understand my father's wishes. I don't have a problem with the
situation at all. I don't understand why this is of any concern to you."
"Serena your father confides in me a lot, but as we both know he
isn't one to ask other peoples' advice. He's put a lot of his life and hard
work into this company and for the past few years I have stood by his side
watching in awe as he made some very important decisions concerning the
welfare and success of this corporation."
Serena watched as he managed to look almost convincingly
passionate about what she was beginning to sense was a personal matter
for him rather than anything else.
"Serena, few people know this but lately your father hasn't made the
best of decisions. I'm afraid he's losing his touch with business. Lately he's
made a few decisions that have endangered the welfare of this company
greatly. A few months ago he put up a percentage of his personal stock for
sale in order to finance some of the plans he had for international
expansion. I doubt he told you that did he?"
"No he didn't", Serena replied, shocked at the news. Things had
suddenly taken a rather serious turn. Her father hadn't told her anything
about that.
"Well you see," Davidson continued, "that stock didn't sell as well as
he expected they would and so the plans, that you probably assumed were
greatly financed by company profits and bank investments, were put on
hold until he could come up with the capital to continue and the banks
want to withdraw their investment and leave Kyler Inc. high and dry, forcing
us to accept the loss on our own. Montgomery is perfectly willing to take
control of the company and restore it to power.
"Your father knows that Derencourt has the banks backing him and
he's using you to cover the mistakes he's made."
Serena was surprised and upset by all the information. How could
her father not have told her about this?
"Serena, a few more mistakes like that and this company could be in
a lot of trouble."
"It is fortunate that I'm getting married then isn't it? That will
certainly solve all our problems," Serena said dryly.
Somehow when her father had proposed the idea of marrying Darien
to her it had sounded so much nobler. She had been so willing to preserve
her family's business legacy by marrying Darien. Now as she listened to
Davidson explain her father's true reasons she felt used.
Her father had made a few business errors and was using her to
mend his errors. It wasn't so noble a sacrifice on her part at all. She had
stupidly believed for a moment that her father had considered her
important enough to carry on the family's legacy, important enough to
consult on a business matter, but all she had been was a pawn for him to
use to save face.
"I can't believe you're just telling me this because of your concern
for me."
"Serena, Montgomery's your uncle. Why don't you allow the company
to be turned over to him rather than condemn yourself to an unhappy
marriage to a man you barely know who has enough girlfriends to build his
own personal harem?
"Your father has lost his edge. He's no longer fit to run a large
corporation. Bow out of this marriage and let things run their course. Allow
Montgomery to take over, he's successful and a great businessman, and
he's already a part of your family. Don't let your father ruin your life it's not
worth it."
"Montgomery is not a part of the Kyler family!" Serena said harshly.
He just happens to be married to my Aunt. This company would be better
off run into the ground than in his hands."
"You're not thinking logically, you're upset understandably."
Serena said nothing. She was annoyed, angry, and confused. "Could
you please leave?" She asked quietly. "I'd like to be alone."
Alan nodded, rising from his chair. "I understand. You have a lot to
think about."
He walked out of the office leaving her to her thoughts.
She'd sat there for a long time staring before making an attempt to
do work. This changed everything and yet it changed nothing. She had
already known she was being used, but she hadn't minded so much when
she had thought things weren't so bad and that he'd actually wanted her to
be happy.
She now realized that he had made these mistakes on his own. It
hadn't been a market trend and a few minor mistakes that had caused the
company to fall into trouble; it was his own risky ventures. He was using
her to clean up his mistakes. After all these years when he had paid her no
attention to her, assumed that she was incapable of anything good, he had
come to her for help and used her own desperate need for a father to pull
her into doing his dirty work.
It was so agonizing. She had actually trusted him, believed that he
was actually concerned for her welfare and that of the company. She had
been a fool and she could see that now.
She had refused all calls and messages so she was surprised to find
Andrew standing before her quietly, staring at her downcast expression and
the single tear streaming down her cheek.
"What's the matter he asked solemnly?"
"Everything," she whispered. She was frustrated and angry at the
same time. "Oh God! I hate him!" She said vehemently, slamming her fist
into her desk. "I trusted him. I believed him, and he lied to me."
"Who? Darien?" Andrew questioned confused. She shook here head
as if trying to clear some bad thoughts from her mind. He walked around to
her side of the desk. In a few moments she actually got up and threw her
arms around him for support.
"I can't believe I actually fell for his bullshit about saving the Kyler
family and continuing its tradition. He actually came down here the other
day acting as though our relationship was suddenly perfect and I was his
little girl again and like a naïve child I fell for it."
Andrew suddenly understood. It was Richard Kyler who'd hurt her,
again. Serena used to pretend that it was ok a long time ago; that it was
cool not having parents who didn't care what she did and a Dad who never
lectured her about anything, but it had hurt her then and it hurt even more
now. She had thought she had in her grasp what she had wanted for so
long, only to discover that it was all just fantasy.
She sniffled against his shirt, holding on to him as if for dear life. He
took her by the shoulders and pushed her away from him, wiping away her
tears with his thumbs.
"You're stronger than this Serena! You're not a little girl anymore.
You don't have to give him the power to hurt you. You have given so much
of yourself already to prove to him that you're good enough but maybe it's
time you realized that he's the fool not to realize how perfect you are."
"You don't need his approval or his love. You have friends who love
you dearly. I love you." He finished huskily, instantly regretting the words
as he saw her eyes widen. His hands were still caressing her cheeks but he
pulled them away realizing what he had said.
It hadn't been so much what he'd said but it was the way he said it.
Serena had never really heard him say it so impassionedly before. She
knew instantly he meant every word. He loved her now as he always had.
How could she not have seen it before? How could she have been so
blind to what was so obvious to anyone with eyes? What she'd felt in the
restaurant when he looked at her, when she'd put on that dress to get his
opinion, the way his eyes had taken her in as if to swallow her whole.
He loved her and she'd just pushed him away as though he were
inconsequential. She had been so caught up in herself and her feelings that
she hadn't recognized what was there for her to see had she bothered to
look. She had hurt him in a way she had never wanted to and she couldn't
possibly feel worse than she did right now.
"I… I have to go." She stuttered. She had the sense of mind to grab
her purse before she ran out of the office, not caring that people were
watching. She was quite sure she had heard Andrew yell her name. She
wasn't quite sure where she was heading but the elevator doors were open
when she got there and she was relieved to find herself alone as the doors
closed.
"Shit!" Andrew spat feeling like an ass. Serena's secretary was
staring at him wide-eyed, as were a few other people on the floor who had
stopped working to witness the drama.
As if bye some strange twist of fate and irony Darien came up on the
other elevator just then. He headed towards Serena's office wondering just
why everyone seemed to have neglected their work to stare at him. His
curiosity grew as he arrived before Serena's office to see Andrew standing
there running his hands through his hair looking disheveled and distressed.
Darien glanced curiously around, wondering if he was imagining
things or had their audience drawn in closer to see what he didn't doubt
they expected to be a confrontation.
He raised a questioning eyebrow at Andrew, a gesture that Andrew
was becoming quite used to.
"Don't ask." Andrew muttered. "Not out here anyway," he added
glancing around at their audience.
They went into Serena's office and closed the door behind them.
"What happened?" Where is she?"
"Apparently she discovered her dad had lied to her about the
situation with this merger business and she's really upset about it. Then
being the ass that I am, I try to encourage her and end up blurting out that
I still love her. She heard that, took a good look at my face and ran out of
here like there was fire beneath her feet."
Darien let out a deep breath. All was silent for a minute.
"Where would she go?" Darien demanded.
Andrew thought for a moment. "I have no idea," he muttered. "I've
never seen her this upset."
"I should kill Kyler for this." Darien growled with murder in his voice.
"Better yet I'd like to kill whoever told her about this."
"You know what she found out?" Andrew asked confused.
"Yes, I knew. I guess I thought she knew, apparently she didn't."
"What exactly is it that she didn't know?"
"She didn't know her father made a few bad investments and sold off
enough of his personal stock to put the company in danger and then used
her to cover his ass by getting her to marry me, so he could regain the
banks trust and up his stock value."
"And she thought she was doing this just to carry on the family
tradition. I can see where one might get pissed off about something like
that. She's been trying to get her Dad's attention for years, and now that
she finally got it she discovers he only used her to get what he wanted."
"Well I think we'd better find her."
The two men walked calmly out of her office together causing stares
of confusion. Darien resisted the temptation to flash a grin. Obviously
people had expected a fight to break out or something.
"You wouldn't happen to have called Serena's place this morning did
you?"
"Yeah, I sometimes give her a wake up call. I didn't expect you."
Andrew replied gruffly.
Darien smiled then.
While Darien had had the urge to smack Andrew up the side of the
head for being so stupid, he couldn't. He felt badly about the whole
situation. Andrew was a very nice guy. Unfortunately Serena was his now
and he would never let her go.
They never found her. She wasn't home; she wasn't with any of her
friends. They even checked with her 'beloved' Aunt Vivienne. She was
nowhere to be found. Andrew was upset and Darien was hiding his
frustration behind a frown and a glass of scotch.
They'd given up for the night after calling the hospitals and the
police station as a result. Eventually Darien had returned to his sanctuary
at midnight to brood. He hadn't bothered to call her father. He wouldn't
know and if he cared, it was because the closer of the deal had
mysteriously disappeared.
Darien growled in frustration. Kyler could forget that deal. He'd
accepted for only one reason: Serena. Serena wasn't around anymore.
He'd gotten back to his place to find a regretful message on his
answering machine from Setsuna.
Serena was sorry but she had to go. She had to be alone for a while.
She didn't know when or if she'd be back and she wasn't sure where she
was going. She wanted him to know that he didn't have to marry her
anymore, he was free to go. She did say however, that she'd miss him and
she was sorry to screw up the deal for him. She'd actually stopped by and
left the ring with Setsuna.
It was difficult for his mind to process that she was gone. In such a
short time she'd become so much to him. He loved her. He had fallen in
love with her before he'd even met her. There was just something about
her; something irresistible and forgettable.
This was by no means the end he thought to himself, taking a sip of
the bitter amber liquid as he stared out over the city. He needed her
desperately and he'd go to the ends of the earth to find her if he had to.
Just then his phone rang. He glanced at his watch and realized he'd
been standing there for an hour just staring. It was no wonder the scotch
was warm and watery. The ice had long since melted. It was well after one
who would call now.
"Hello?"
"It's Michelle. I called you earlier until about twelve before I gave up.
I decided to make one last effort. I'd ask where you've been but I'm afraid I
might not want to know."
"I've been looking for my fiancée."
"I've been meaning to congratulate you on that. I wasn't even aware
you were acquainted with the Kylers." She paused for a moment when she
realized exactly what he'd said and how he'd said it.
"You lost your fiancée?"
"In a manner of speaking." He replied wearily. "Never mind that,
what's so important? It's very late."
"Well when Mom couldn't get in touch with you personally she asked
me to get in touch with you for her."
"Uncle Charles has died." There was a moment of silence after
Darien sighed and tossed down the remaining contents of the glass in his
hand. Charles was his father's older brother with whom Philip Derencourt
had never gotten along.
"Shit!"
"I know. I'm sorry."
"Isn't there someone else?"
"No."
"Damn it! I don't need this right now."
" I'm sorry but you are the 14th Earl de Morny. You are the only
direct male descendant, there's no avoiding it. His lawyers need you to go
to France for the reading of the will."
Darien sighed again. "I really do have better things to do."
"Like finding your fiancée?"
"Yes!"
"Well Alex thinks it's about time you got a title. You already behave
like royalty. Maybe the idea of becoming a Countess will lure your fiancée
back."
"Serena's not like that. She's not like anyone else. That's why I need
to find her."
"My god! You're actually in love! I never thought it possible."
"When do I have to be there?"
"Saturday morning. The will will be read after the funeral."
"Are you coming with me?" he asked.
"Do you want me to?"
"Sure."
After he hung up with his sister Darien dragged himself to the bed
and into the shower. Charles Derencourt, 13th Earl de Morny had not been
a particularly friendly guy. He hadn't gotten along with anyone, not his
parents and certainly not his mellow younger brother Phillip.
He had only one daughter before his wife had divorced him after
which he'd spent the rest of his life alone doing whatever it was that he did.
It had occurred to Darien a few years ago when his grandmother had died
that eventually the title would come to him unless his uncle found a woman
to marry him and have his son. He hadn't spent too much time thinking
about it however.
He couldn't wait till the press caught wind of his new inheritance. It
seemed no one had bothered to delve too deeply into his past to discover
his noble roots. He had just been an average kid from average middleclass
American parents. Now he was to take on a title and no doubt the estate
that went with it. As if he didn't already have enough to do.
Setsuna's mouth fell open at the sight before her. He looked
positively awful! Even more shocking he was late! Not that the boss could
really be late, but based on his previous record, he was late. His hair was a
mess, his tie was crooked and he had bags under his eyes.
"What happened?"
"What do you mean?" he growled.
"You look like you were run over by a tractor trailer."
"I guess I didn't sleep very well." He frowned. "I need you to cancel
everything for the next few days and arrange for a flight for two to Paris for
tomorrow. On second thought make that three I have no doubt Allex will
want to join us," he added rolling his eyes.
"I guess you'll want drugs to go with that flight?" Setsuna asked
mischievously.
"Of course!" he groaned. "I wouldn't get on the plane without them. I
want to be out when that plane gets off the ground and if it crashes I want
to die in my sleep!"
Setsuna smiled. Mr. Strong and Mighty actually got motion
sickness."
"Business or pleasure?" She asked, curious as to this sudden change
in scheduling.
"Unpleasant business; my uncle died and I just became the new Earl
de Morny. "
"I'm sorry to hear that, my lord."
He raised an annoyed eyebrow at her.
"Sorry, I couldn't help myself." She shrugged, smiling as he shuffled
lifelessly into his office.
Author: MarshAngel
e-mail:watsonma@hotmail.com
webpage: http://www.crosswinds.net/~marshangel/angelmoon.htm
Serena walked into her office, ready to sink down into her chair and
breathe for a moment before getting started on the numerous things she
had to do today. A several people she had to speak with ran through her
head and she began making a list of all the things she would designate for
Molly to do and all the things she had yet to get around to herself.
As her mind ran its route, she wondered just where Molly was. She
hadn't been at her desk when Serena walked in. She supposed she had
gone to get coffee, but it was unusual for her to go off like that.
When she walked into her office she was surprised to find herself
faced with the prospect of not being allowed to sink comfortably in her
chair. Instead she was subjected to the presence of the right-hand man
himself, Alan Davidson. He was sitting comfortably in the chair across from
her desk looking as though it was a social visit. She couldn't imagine any
reason for him visiting her. They never shared much conversation outside
of formal meetings. She was very curious but she tried hard not to be rude.
"Good Morning?" she greeted tentatively. Letting the greeting hang in
the air sounding like a question that demanded he give a reason for his
visit.
"Hello Serena. I just thought I'd stop in and say hello."
Ok. She supposed she'd have to work to get a more logical
explanation than that. Brian Davies, that sniveling idiot used to
occasionally stop by to say hello in hopes of convincing her to go out with
him. Visiting just wasn't something Davidson did.
"That was very nice of you." She said. She wanted to say something
else in an attempt to make this sound like a conversation but she was
drawing a blank at the moment.
"Actually I had something more serious on my mind that I wanted to
talk to you about." He made a pyramid with his finger and it began to occur
to her just what it was about him that bothered her.
He was like an actor. He affected a guise of perfection that wasn't as
real as it appeared. He was very convincing but somehow for the first time
she was beginning to see that he wasn't all he appeared. The way he moved
his hands, talked, behaved seemed somehow practiced.
"Your father told me about your engagement."
"He did?" Serena wasn't surprised, although somewhat annoyed.
What was it about this man that made her father share everything with
him?
"I would congratulate you if I thought it was appropriate."
Serena raised her eyebrows at that but said nothing.
"Serena how can you go through with this? I understand your father
can be very convincing but don't you think this is something of an irrational
request for a man to ask his daughter?" He looked convincingly concerned
for her well-being.
"I understand my father's wishes. I don't have a problem with the
situation at all. I don't understand why this is of any concern to you."
"Serena your father confides in me a lot, but as we both know he
isn't one to ask other peoples' advice. He's put a lot of his life and hard
work into this company and for the past few years I have stood by his side
watching in awe as he made some very important decisions concerning the
welfare and success of this corporation."
Serena watched as he managed to look almost convincingly
passionate about what she was beginning to sense was a personal matter
for him rather than anything else.
"Serena, few people know this but lately your father hasn't made the
best of decisions. I'm afraid he's losing his touch with business. Lately he's
made a few decisions that have endangered the welfare of this company
greatly. A few months ago he put up a percentage of his personal stock for
sale in order to finance some of the plans he had for international
expansion. I doubt he told you that did he?"
"No he didn't", Serena replied, shocked at the news. Things had
suddenly taken a rather serious turn. Her father hadn't told her anything
about that.
"Well you see," Davidson continued, "that stock didn't sell as well as
he expected they would and so the plans, that you probably assumed were
greatly financed by company profits and bank investments, were put on
hold until he could come up with the capital to continue and the banks
want to withdraw their investment and leave Kyler Inc. high and dry, forcing
us to accept the loss on our own. Montgomery is perfectly willing to take
control of the company and restore it to power.
"Your father knows that Derencourt has the banks backing him and
he's using you to cover the mistakes he's made."
Serena was surprised and upset by all the information. How could
her father not have told her about this?
"Serena, a few more mistakes like that and this company could be in
a lot of trouble."
"It is fortunate that I'm getting married then isn't it? That will
certainly solve all our problems," Serena said dryly.
Somehow when her father had proposed the idea of marrying Darien
to her it had sounded so much nobler. She had been so willing to preserve
her family's business legacy by marrying Darien. Now as she listened to
Davidson explain her father's true reasons she felt used.
Her father had made a few business errors and was using her to
mend his errors. It wasn't so noble a sacrifice on her part at all. She had
stupidly believed for a moment that her father had considered her
important enough to carry on the family's legacy, important enough to
consult on a business matter, but all she had been was a pawn for him to
use to save face.
"I can't believe you're just telling me this because of your concern
for me."
"Serena, Montgomery's your uncle. Why don't you allow the company
to be turned over to him rather than condemn yourself to an unhappy
marriage to a man you barely know who has enough girlfriends to build his
own personal harem?
"Your father has lost his edge. He's no longer fit to run a large
corporation. Bow out of this marriage and let things run their course. Allow
Montgomery to take over, he's successful and a great businessman, and
he's already a part of your family. Don't let your father ruin your life it's not
worth it."
"Montgomery is not a part of the Kyler family!" Serena said harshly.
He just happens to be married to my Aunt. This company would be better
off run into the ground than in his hands."
"You're not thinking logically, you're upset understandably."
Serena said nothing. She was annoyed, angry, and confused. "Could
you please leave?" She asked quietly. "I'd like to be alone."
Alan nodded, rising from his chair. "I understand. You have a lot to
think about."
He walked out of the office leaving her to her thoughts.
She'd sat there for a long time staring before making an attempt to
do work. This changed everything and yet it changed nothing. She had
already known she was being used, but she hadn't minded so much when
she had thought things weren't so bad and that he'd actually wanted her to
be happy.
She now realized that he had made these mistakes on his own. It
hadn't been a market trend and a few minor mistakes that had caused the
company to fall into trouble; it was his own risky ventures. He was using
her to clean up his mistakes. After all these years when he had paid her no
attention to her, assumed that she was incapable of anything good, he had
come to her for help and used her own desperate need for a father to pull
her into doing his dirty work.
It was so agonizing. She had actually trusted him, believed that he
was actually concerned for her welfare and that of the company. She had
been a fool and she could see that now.
She had refused all calls and messages so she was surprised to find
Andrew standing before her quietly, staring at her downcast expression and
the single tear streaming down her cheek.
"What's the matter he asked solemnly?"
"Everything," she whispered. She was frustrated and angry at the
same time. "Oh God! I hate him!" She said vehemently, slamming her fist
into her desk. "I trusted him. I believed him, and he lied to me."
"Who? Darien?" Andrew questioned confused. She shook here head
as if trying to clear some bad thoughts from her mind. He walked around to
her side of the desk. In a few moments she actually got up and threw her
arms around him for support.
"I can't believe I actually fell for his bullshit about saving the Kyler
family and continuing its tradition. He actually came down here the other
day acting as though our relationship was suddenly perfect and I was his
little girl again and like a naïve child I fell for it."
Andrew suddenly understood. It was Richard Kyler who'd hurt her,
again. Serena used to pretend that it was ok a long time ago; that it was
cool not having parents who didn't care what she did and a Dad who never
lectured her about anything, but it had hurt her then and it hurt even more
now. She had thought she had in her grasp what she had wanted for so
long, only to discover that it was all just fantasy.
She sniffled against his shirt, holding on to him as if for dear life. He
took her by the shoulders and pushed her away from him, wiping away her
tears with his thumbs.
"You're stronger than this Serena! You're not a little girl anymore.
You don't have to give him the power to hurt you. You have given so much
of yourself already to prove to him that you're good enough but maybe it's
time you realized that he's the fool not to realize how perfect you are."
"You don't need his approval or his love. You have friends who love
you dearly. I love you." He finished huskily, instantly regretting the words
as he saw her eyes widen. His hands were still caressing her cheeks but he
pulled them away realizing what he had said.
It hadn't been so much what he'd said but it was the way he said it.
Serena had never really heard him say it so impassionedly before. She
knew instantly he meant every word. He loved her now as he always had.
How could she not have seen it before? How could she have been so
blind to what was so obvious to anyone with eyes? What she'd felt in the
restaurant when he looked at her, when she'd put on that dress to get his
opinion, the way his eyes had taken her in as if to swallow her whole.
He loved her and she'd just pushed him away as though he were
inconsequential. She had been so caught up in herself and her feelings that
she hadn't recognized what was there for her to see had she bothered to
look. She had hurt him in a way she had never wanted to and she couldn't
possibly feel worse than she did right now.
"I… I have to go." She stuttered. She had the sense of mind to grab
her purse before she ran out of the office, not caring that people were
watching. She was quite sure she had heard Andrew yell her name. She
wasn't quite sure where she was heading but the elevator doors were open
when she got there and she was relieved to find herself alone as the doors
closed.
"Shit!" Andrew spat feeling like an ass. Serena's secretary was
staring at him wide-eyed, as were a few other people on the floor who had
stopped working to witness the drama.
As if bye some strange twist of fate and irony Darien came up on the
other elevator just then. He headed towards Serena's office wondering just
why everyone seemed to have neglected their work to stare at him. His
curiosity grew as he arrived before Serena's office to see Andrew standing
there running his hands through his hair looking disheveled and distressed.
Darien glanced curiously around, wondering if he was imagining
things or had their audience drawn in closer to see what he didn't doubt
they expected to be a confrontation.
He raised a questioning eyebrow at Andrew, a gesture that Andrew
was becoming quite used to.
"Don't ask." Andrew muttered. "Not out here anyway," he added
glancing around at their audience.
They went into Serena's office and closed the door behind them.
"What happened?" Where is she?"
"Apparently she discovered her dad had lied to her about the
situation with this merger business and she's really upset about it. Then
being the ass that I am, I try to encourage her and end up blurting out that
I still love her. She heard that, took a good look at my face and ran out of
here like there was fire beneath her feet."
Darien let out a deep breath. All was silent for a minute.
"Where would she go?" Darien demanded.
Andrew thought for a moment. "I have no idea," he muttered. "I've
never seen her this upset."
"I should kill Kyler for this." Darien growled with murder in his voice.
"Better yet I'd like to kill whoever told her about this."
"You know what she found out?" Andrew asked confused.
"Yes, I knew. I guess I thought she knew, apparently she didn't."
"What exactly is it that she didn't know?"
"She didn't know her father made a few bad investments and sold off
enough of his personal stock to put the company in danger and then used
her to cover his ass by getting her to marry me, so he could regain the
banks trust and up his stock value."
"And she thought she was doing this just to carry on the family
tradition. I can see where one might get pissed off about something like
that. She's been trying to get her Dad's attention for years, and now that
she finally got it she discovers he only used her to get what he wanted."
"Well I think we'd better find her."
The two men walked calmly out of her office together causing stares
of confusion. Darien resisted the temptation to flash a grin. Obviously
people had expected a fight to break out or something.
"You wouldn't happen to have called Serena's place this morning did
you?"
"Yeah, I sometimes give her a wake up call. I didn't expect you."
Andrew replied gruffly.
Darien smiled then.
While Darien had had the urge to smack Andrew up the side of the
head for being so stupid, he couldn't. He felt badly about the whole
situation. Andrew was a very nice guy. Unfortunately Serena was his now
and he would never let her go.
They never found her. She wasn't home; she wasn't with any of her
friends. They even checked with her 'beloved' Aunt Vivienne. She was
nowhere to be found. Andrew was upset and Darien was hiding his
frustration behind a frown and a glass of scotch.
They'd given up for the night after calling the hospitals and the
police station as a result. Eventually Darien had returned to his sanctuary
at midnight to brood. He hadn't bothered to call her father. He wouldn't
know and if he cared, it was because the closer of the deal had
mysteriously disappeared.
Darien growled in frustration. Kyler could forget that deal. He'd
accepted for only one reason: Serena. Serena wasn't around anymore.
He'd gotten back to his place to find a regretful message on his
answering machine from Setsuna.
Serena was sorry but she had to go. She had to be alone for a while.
She didn't know when or if she'd be back and she wasn't sure where she
was going. She wanted him to know that he didn't have to marry her
anymore, he was free to go. She did say however, that she'd miss him and
she was sorry to screw up the deal for him. She'd actually stopped by and
left the ring with Setsuna.
It was difficult for his mind to process that she was gone. In such a
short time she'd become so much to him. He loved her. He had fallen in
love with her before he'd even met her. There was just something about
her; something irresistible and forgettable.
This was by no means the end he thought to himself, taking a sip of
the bitter amber liquid as he stared out over the city. He needed her
desperately and he'd go to the ends of the earth to find her if he had to.
Just then his phone rang. He glanced at his watch and realized he'd
been standing there for an hour just staring. It was no wonder the scotch
was warm and watery. The ice had long since melted. It was well after one
who would call now.
"Hello?"
"It's Michelle. I called you earlier until about twelve before I gave up.
I decided to make one last effort. I'd ask where you've been but I'm afraid I
might not want to know."
"I've been looking for my fiancée."
"I've been meaning to congratulate you on that. I wasn't even aware
you were acquainted with the Kylers." She paused for a moment when she
realized exactly what he'd said and how he'd said it.
"You lost your fiancée?"
"In a manner of speaking." He replied wearily. "Never mind that,
what's so important? It's very late."
"Well when Mom couldn't get in touch with you personally she asked
me to get in touch with you for her."
"Uncle Charles has died." There was a moment of silence after
Darien sighed and tossed down the remaining contents of the glass in his
hand. Charles was his father's older brother with whom Philip Derencourt
had never gotten along.
"Shit!"
"I know. I'm sorry."
"Isn't there someone else?"
"No."
"Damn it! I don't need this right now."
" I'm sorry but you are the 14th Earl de Morny. You are the only
direct male descendant, there's no avoiding it. His lawyers need you to go
to France for the reading of the will."
Darien sighed again. "I really do have better things to do."
"Like finding your fiancée?"
"Yes!"
"Well Alex thinks it's about time you got a title. You already behave
like royalty. Maybe the idea of becoming a Countess will lure your fiancée
back."
"Serena's not like that. She's not like anyone else. That's why I need
to find her."
"My god! You're actually in love! I never thought it possible."
"When do I have to be there?"
"Saturday morning. The will will be read after the funeral."
"Are you coming with me?" he asked.
"Do you want me to?"
"Sure."
After he hung up with his sister Darien dragged himself to the bed
and into the shower. Charles Derencourt, 13th Earl de Morny had not been
a particularly friendly guy. He hadn't gotten along with anyone, not his
parents and certainly not his mellow younger brother Phillip.
He had only one daughter before his wife had divorced him after
which he'd spent the rest of his life alone doing whatever it was that he did.
It had occurred to Darien a few years ago when his grandmother had died
that eventually the title would come to him unless his uncle found a woman
to marry him and have his son. He hadn't spent too much time thinking
about it however.
He couldn't wait till the press caught wind of his new inheritance. It
seemed no one had bothered to delve too deeply into his past to discover
his noble roots. He had just been an average kid from average middleclass
American parents. Now he was to take on a title and no doubt the estate
that went with it. As if he didn't already have enough to do.
Setsuna's mouth fell open at the sight before her. He looked
positively awful! Even more shocking he was late! Not that the boss could
really be late, but based on his previous record, he was late. His hair was a
mess, his tie was crooked and he had bags under his eyes.
"What happened?"
"What do you mean?" he growled.
"You look like you were run over by a tractor trailer."
"I guess I didn't sleep very well." He frowned. "I need you to cancel
everything for the next few days and arrange for a flight for two to Paris for
tomorrow. On second thought make that three I have no doubt Allex will
want to join us," he added rolling his eyes.
"I guess you'll want drugs to go with that flight?" Setsuna asked
mischievously.
"Of course!" he groaned. "I wouldn't get on the plane without them. I
want to be out when that plane gets off the ground and if it crashes I want
to die in my sleep!"
Setsuna smiled. Mr. Strong and Mighty actually got motion
sickness."
"Business or pleasure?" She asked, curious as to this sudden change
in scheduling.
"Unpleasant business; my uncle died and I just became the new Earl
de Morny. "
"I'm sorry to hear that, my lord."
He raised an annoyed eyebrow at her.
"Sorry, I couldn't help myself." She shrugged, smiling as he shuffled
lifelessly into his office.