I made it my duty to love him. But my love was lacking the substantial forever that was precious to all those upon the edges of the earth. I tried to show the beauty of love, and the beauty of life, hoping that he would live. And live he did. Spinning of one's head, lost within the glory Whispering ever so sweetly words forgotten in a moment Confusion takes a toll But we're too caught up in nothing to notice it Dreaming of the sweet surrender Lost within the empty kiss, we fall into the vast abyss Content at the fact that we don't know any better ------------------------------------------------------------ Kiss From a Dream By Eternal Angel stargazing12@hotmail.com Chapter 2 – Office Ambrosia and Annoying Telephones ------------------------------------------------------------ She stared at the floppy bunny that stared at her back. She wished he could tell her what to do, this floppy bunny of hers but… it sat there silently, sagging on the bed. She contemplated Darien's words about Lucian being in love with his fiancée… And possibly… still being? Could it be that he had gotten with her as a rebound? Darien spoke about Lucian's jealousy streak but… she stared at the roses she had brought home from work with a frown. Why was it that he wasn't at all jealous at someone else giving her flowers? Not even a twinge … all he had on his expression when he entered the office was utter amusement. She flopped onto her bed with a slight bounce and glared at the roses. Damn that dark haired womanizer for all the agitating emotions that bubbled up inside of her. Who was he to say anything about Lucian? So what if he was in love with another woman – it wasn't as if this relationship was serious. Still, a sharp nagging emotion laid deep inside of her as she cursed the dark playboy once again, pondering whom the girl Lucian was in love with. If she was beautiful, smart, witty … Strange enough, no pouts of pain stroke through with her, just annoyance at the fact that he was using her to get over this girl that he had certainly dotted on. But the truth was, she couldn't help but find herself angrier at the fact that it was Darien who told her about this mysterious woman than the whole fact that she was a rebound. In fact, she didn't really care much for it. She cringed in self-disgust. She was no better than Lucian as she wondered why she was with Lucian. It was obvious that she didn't love him due to the fact that she didn't feel any pain at his betrayal. It was probably her need for someone that made her assume that she was in love with him. Right now all she could feel is a brief relief that she now had a base excuse to leave this relationship. But would leaving this relationship cost her this job as his Personal Assistant? It would make everything a little bit more awkward – and she didn't know how she'd like that. She sighed. What was she to do? He hummed a tune whiling his thoughts lingered about his golden angel, wondering how she was taking those little secrets about Thurston. By the way she reacted, she didn't really seem all that too upset over it. Only a slight bit disorientated. He stopped his sleek black porche in front of the complex apartment buildings. The brunette aside of him then pouted, her eyes fluttering … a lot. He wondered if she had some unnatural disorder that affected her eyes as they continued to flutter scarily. "Your apartment," he said, as she inched closer to him, causing him to smell the "skunk" perfume. He cringed at the smell as his stomach turned. "Do you want to go up and have some coffee… and then something even sweeter?" "Uhh … no thank you," he declined moving her hand that she had incontinently placed on his thigh back to her space. She frowned – he ignore it. "Why don't you go back up to your apartment…" "Will you call?" She asked, her eyes doing the fluttering thing once more as he coughed. 'You know what they say, honesty is the best policy,' he told himself. "Ehh. No. But it was nice getting to know you Marie." She glared at him for that comment, her eyes becoming wild, "It's Annie you overbearing bastard!" With that she grabbed her bag and stomped away. Shrugging he continued to think about his captivating golden angel. After a sleepless night, she had to admit that had to do what was right instead of playing in this façade with Lucian. So what if she might lose her job, it doesn't matter – what mattered was that she did what she believed in! She sat on her desk, waiting for Lucian to hurry up in the office so she could hurry up and tell him. Her mind already was making up dozens of little excuses for her to chicken out. Her favorite must be "It's a possibility that this world exactly like the one in the Matrix, one façade wouldn't matter in another." Alas, she willed for the door to open soon and for Lucian to appear so she could tell him her decision. But after willing for two hours, she decided to give her eyes a moment of relaxation. Where was that man?? She let out a huff. He was usually a very punctual person – but now … Her frowned depended as she decided to phone his cell. Oddly enough, he didn't pick up. Not even after the phone rang fifty-six times. How very peculiar… She hung up the phone deep in thought. Where in the world could that man be? Nowhere findable, that's for sure for he was missing for the past four days. That was enough days for her to override any possible possibilities of why she shouldn't break up with him. The sighed, her thoughts interrupted by the ringing of the telephone. 'That better be him with a good excuse,' she thought darkly. The past couple of days of worrying was also hellish do to the fact that she had to make excuses for where Lucian had gone … she made up so many excuses that she could have written a book with them! "Hello?" "Serena," the husky voice replied as she frowned. Not Lucian. Not at all. No, they were those same husky ones that caused her heart to beat with no habitations. The same voice that haunted just as much as those beautiful blue eyes and those wonderful… "Callahan? What do you want?" He ignored the question and flatly asked, "Have you seen the newspaper yet?" "What? The newspaper?" "Yeah, turn to page six." She reluctantly obliged as she picked up the unread newspaper from her desk and flipped to page six. Big bolded letters in the center of the page seemed to jump out to her in surprise. 'Whirlwind Marriage: Tycoon Lucian Thurston and Supermodel Lita McCarthy.' Shock spun around her as she gapped at the article, scanning through it as it talked about their abrupt marriage three days ago in Vegas. She found herself splitting with anger. How dare him?! How could he just get married before she got the change to dump him??? Now everyone was going to look at her with a piteous look! If he had given her a chance to break up with him BEFORE this had happened, it wouldn't have been as humiliating as it was right this moment! She fumed. "Damn that man," she muttered under her breath and sighed. "What am I going to do now?" She had almost forgotten she was on the phone until the voice of sheer masculinity vibrated into her ear, "One thing is that you should quit your job." "What?" "Your job, you aren't planning to stay working for the man who left you are you?" He had asked, as she shook her head, knowing he couldn't see her. She hadn't planned to stay in his employment anyways. "I guess its job hunting for me." She hated job hunting. "Not unless you want a job as MY PA…" Callahan stated, "Just stop by at my office today at four and we'll talk about it." "But … I…" "See you at four," with that he hung up the phone before she could protest any much further. She sighed – what a strange man, she couldn't help but think. A job as Shield Corp … she heard they had wonderful benefits and a higher high paying wages… It bugged her how he just assumed she would be there – But what bugged her even more so was the fact that he seemed to know who she was! Lucian never introduced them formally and how did he know she was a PA? 'Either way I'm not going to go to that meeting with him,' she thought firmly. She was her own person and made her own decisions. She wasn't going to go to that meeting just because he told her too! Not at all! She was twenty minutes early. She told herself that "she wasn't letting her morals go down the drain" but she was only going because of the benefits that this job could give her. Yes, that's the reason why she was here, waiting for Darien to see her. Not because he insisted – but because of the benefits. Always because of the benefits… She sighed, brushing flustering with her clothing nervously. She had written her letter of resignation and left it on Lucian's desk already and now was praying that Molly could take care of everything. One of the double doors opened as the dark figure appeared, as he smiled at her, a 'come hither' smile, "I hope you weren't waiting for so long." His voice was deep and utterly devastating. She fought the urge to get into a girly teenage fit and swoon. But she was twenty-six, way past the age of swooning over men. But that didn't stop her heart from bouncing excited in her rib cage at the mere sight at him. 'Remember slinky brunette,' she told herself, trying to find some flaw in him right now, as he stood leaning against the door, the come hither smile making her come hither. She gulped. She was pathetic. But a well cultured pathetic, noneoftheless. She followed him into the big beautiful room, as it over looked the bustling streets of New York City. The sunlight caved into the room as she could see beautiful paintings hanging on the wall with interest as she fell captivated at the raw emotions that were illustrated in them. "The paintings are beautiful," she complimented, adoringly, loving the acoustic fairytale like paintings on the wall. "They shine with love, but with an aching parting …" "Yes, they're something," he said, he smiled at how much she was able to pick up on the paintings. "They're drawn by an artist by Peggy Jones." "I thought you said you weren't into art." She asked, as he let out a chuckle, taking a seat behind the desk as he motioned her to the seat in front of his desk. She sat down, still looking about. "So I lied." "Do you do that a lot?" She said, as she whipped her head about and looked at him, her eyes vibrating with colors although they were only a bright bouncy shade of blue. "Do what?" "Lie. Do you lie a lot?" He stared at her, in surprise. "Why would you ask that? I don't think I lie a lot – but … hmm… I don't know, maybe I do, but maybe I don't." She looked down, her bag in her hand as she wondered why she asked such a question like that. It wasn't as if it was any her business – she was only here for a job … Nothing else mattered… but… She cleared her throat and looked up at him with her business face, "So, about that job." "Yes, that job." He said, as he took the coffee mug from his desk and took a sip of the bitter intoxication. "I'd pay you double what you're getting right now at Thurston's company and all the benefits." She gapped at him, calculating mentally how much that would be … "But … that's too much!" He waved his hand as if it was nothing. "So, what do you say? Accept my offer?" "Yes…" "Good, you start tomorrow at 9:00." She couldn't ignore the emitting attraction that seemed to penetrate greatly between them with the progressing weeks. The beauty of it all seemed to captivate and arrest her at the same time, making her lose all breath and statue. Pride made her fight this attraction all the way knowing that it had no future. She was and would be just 'another one of his victims'. But still, no matter what she said it did not stop her from grinding her teeth every time she picked up the phone and heard some beautiful feminine voice reply back to her. She growled at herself at her foolishness. Why was she getting so uptight about this? It wasn't like they were dating or even together… He was her boss and she was his PA… Them being together was one of those unlikely possibilities that might be better if it stayed unlikely... The phone rang as she glared at it darkly. She was coming to abhor this part of her job very much. Another ring, another glare, another sigh. Wearily, she picked up the phone, "Shields Corporation." "Serena?" The familiar voice jolted her in surprise causing her to gap wide mouth at the voice, "Lucian? *Lucian*?!" She frowned, "What in the world are you doing calling me?" "I wanted to apologize for leaving you like so ... I mean, I felt bad and all for pulling you along ... but Lita ... and ... so ... I ... however..." He struggled with his words and she couldn't help but find it amusing - his stammering. Never had she heard Lucian become lost in words. It was somewhat… well, somewhat amusing. "I mean, I didn't think you would give up your job and work *there*." He said in a swooping motion. Right on cue dark haired blue eyed sulky voice Callahan enter the room. She cursed herself for noticing him like so and turned all her attention back to this agitating telephone call. "What do you mean by *there*?" "I mean, you're MY PA - not Callahan's!" She frowned at this. Was it not him that dumped her for another girl in the first place? Who was he to say what she could and could not do! It was… it was… so … MALE! "Lucian-" She started calmly, seething. Callahan then took note of Lucian's name, her frustrated demure, and the telephone. He then lean over towards her causing her to freeze due to his riveting closeness. She gulped. "Damnit Serena, as hurt as you were you didn't have to go to Callahan!" He exclaimed with a loud exclamation. With nervousness and now an outright frustration, she took a deep breath and tried to fight these two demons as they tried to overpower one another. Frustration took over as she looked at Callahan, almost pleading. He smiled and took the phone from her hand in an easy motion. "Thurston?" He said to the phone in his strong demanding voice, she stared at him as he continued on, "Stop terrorizing *my* PA. She might have been yours to start with, but hey, she's mine now." He hung up the phone then, a serious deep look etched within his beautiful face. She stood still, overpowered by his haunting eyes, "Remember that." She blinked, not truly understanding as he leaned so close to her that his face was right next to hers. "You're mine." And with that his lips of sweet ambrosia invaded her own causing her to swim within her hearts desires. She drowned in the passion waves of passion that made her cross all limits making her long for more... But as quickly as his lips came had his lips left her, as she stood there, feeling her legs become wobbly and her mind spin in a endless cycle. "Always mine." He then walked to his office leaving her a befuddled mess. She now officially blushed every time she saw him. She didn't mean to do it, but the memory of the short but sizzling kiss was still fresh upon her mind whenever she saw him. It was a curse, sitting there and finding your face becoming flushed up at a single thought of the passion he probably never even felt. She buried her face into her hands. Oh goodness, she was completely enthralled. Completely, utterly enthralled with him. She and the rest of the population. She felt herself moan at the pure madness of everything. She shouldn't be forced to live with this type of ongoing heart defying emotion that swirled about her. She began to contemplate the meaning of his possessive words, wondering whether or not she should take it in a personal or business like manner. The possibility of him saying it and meaning what she had wanted it to mean was probably not really the possibility! He must have said meant that he was his PA – and not … She sighed, her head shaking. 'Confusion just loves me,' she thought with a scold as the door opened and … *BLUSH* Yes, she Serena Roberts was pathetic. But a good pathetic! Always a good pathetic! Or so she hoped. Hoping was good; yes siree hoping was very good! "Do you have that letter typed up for me?" He asked her as she took a deep breath and tried to focus all her energy on making her voice not quaver. "Yes, it's on your desk." "Good." She let out a sigh when he closed his office door behind him. …a good pathetic… always a good pathetic… It took all his will power to not grab her from behind her desk and ravish her. She was captivating and held the ability to tempt a saint – and he certainly was no saint. He couldn't help but want to burst out into a loud chuckle whenever he would walk into a room and watch her face turn into a bright color of red. It was very interesting – never had he had such a reaction from a female before. His females were usually temptress that only blushed when her make up is a tad smudged. Vanity for them always came first. He brushed the bangs away from his eyes as he poured himself a stiff drink, wondering why he was playing all these games instead of going straight for the seduction. Maybe it was because she reminded him of his dream… A dream he hoped to forget. He had lost all faith in truly finding the pieces of the puzzle after searching for the last two pieces but never finding it. The five pieces had been found with quite ease but … He took another sip. It was just a silly dream. She was just a figment of his imagination… But he had no imagination. He mused within the possibilities. The sweet shimmering of a dream, the floating mist that sank down around him, he shuddered at the pureness of the world around him. The etching of a beauty of an all so perfect world seemed to beckon him, as he looked around for him. The past twenty years it was the same dream. For the past twenty years it was the same wish. The figure emerged from the shadows, a blob which he wish he could clearly see, but all he could really do is hear the sound of her beautiful voice calling out to him. "Darien…" He could feel everything around him freeze as he fell into a succession of emotions. He took a step closer to her, only to find her still the same equal distance away – too far away to reach. "The crystals Darien… when you collect all seven of them … you'll find me … and together we can live happily ever after…" Such wistfulness filled her voice as he stared at her. "I searched and search – but I can never find …" "But still…" she said sadly, as she the shimmer that was around her begin to fade away, "I'll be waiting for you… always…" And then he emerged from his dreams, a swirling mess with always the same thought on his mind. Who was she?