Shady Business by Silver MoonAngel -------------------------------------------------------------------- STANDARD DISCLAIMER APPLIES --------------------------------------------------------------------AN: This is short sweet chapter to set up the next part of my story. The next chapters are going to be much, much longer, but will be worth the wait. -------------------------------------------------------------------- Serena awoke in Darien's bedroom, the morning sun, and Darien, looming over her. Darien smiled down at her. Damn, but she was beautiful. "G'morning sleepyhead." Serena smiled up at him. She could never tire of waking up beneath him. "Good morning," Serena replied, stifling a yawn. Her hair was a knotted mess, but she didn't care; she was lying beneath the one she loved. Darien stared at her bright blue eyes that were still heavy with sleep; their brightness and depth never ceased to amaze him. If only he could convince her to stay with him... "Are you hungry?" Serena smiled up at him and stretched, "Are you kidding? I'm famished." Darien got up, allowing Serena to do so, and started getting dressed. He looked over at Serena, who was biting her lip and had pulled the covers up to her chin. Darien walked over and planted a kiss on her lips. "I'll take you through the passageway in a moment." Serena breathed a sigh of relief. She didn't want to wear her clothes after what had happened last night. Some little part of her didn't want to say anything about the shredded state of them. Darien handed her a robe. He curiously watched as she placed her hair in front of her as she lifted the robe, put it on, and swung the mass so it was laying across her back. He gently laid his hands across her shoulders and steered her toward the door of the passageway. Grabbing her hand, he directed her toward the second door and opened it, gently pushing her inside. "I need to go to my room for something. Meet me in my study?" Serena nodded her head and watched him slowly close the door behind him. She hurriedly grabbed a random pair of jeans and a sweatshirt and threw them on, hoping to beat him to his study. Reaching the door a few minutes later, she paused to open it, hearing voices within. "Beryl, what a surprise..." "Come here, honey..." Serena opened the door and peeked inside. There, in the middle of the study, was Darien passionately kissing a cherry-haired woman. Tears silently coursed down Serena's cheeks as she fled up the stairs and to her room. Immediately, she placed a call into the airport, requesting a one-way ticket to Michigan. Then, she called the chauffeur, asking him to take her to the airport. Finally, she packed her bags and went down to the waiting car, muttering curses against Darien, and never looking back. * * * "Bourne, where's Serena?" Bourne turned his head away from his master. His master had to have been as much a cold-hearted bastard as his father to send off Serena like that and then ask where she was. "Miss Blade has vacated the premises." "She's what?!" Darien bellowed next to Bourne's ear. "Why would she do that?" "Maybe because you've turned into your father!" Bourne yelled back at him, not caring if Darien got angry. "Last time I checked I had a heart, unlike that unfeeling bastard." Darien breathed quietly into the deserted entryway. "I'll ask again. Bourne, where is Serena?" "She went home." Bourne said, stiffening his back. "On her way out, she cursed you and said, 'It'll be a cold day in hell when I see that two-timing bastard ever again.'" Darien thought about what had happened today. He and Serena had woken up. He went into his study. One of his clients, Beryl Harpís, was waiting for him. Beryl had kissed him... Darien ran a hand through his hair. Well, shit. He messed up good and plenty this time around. "Did she say where she was going?" Bourne simply looked at him and said, "She went far enough away to require a plane." "Thank you." Darien walked in a daze to his study and crumpled to the floor. He just had to be an idiot and ruin the one thing he had worked the hardest on. Wallowing in misery, Darien broke down and cried, realizing that his next task wasn't going to be easy. * * * Serena gazed dejectedly out the window of the airplane, silently watching the clouds go by as tears streamed down her face. Why did he have to be such a bastard and toss her aside like a used tissue? Blotting her eyes, Serena motioned at the stewardess with her cell phone. "Is it okay if I make a quick call?" Seeing her nod, Serena flipped open her phone and dialed an all-to-familiar number. "Car? This is Rene. Get a room ready, I'm coming home."