Page 34 (1/2)
Serena groaned "Look, can we do this some other time? You’ve made sure I’m alive and well, and I really do have work to catch up on, and I sure as hell don’t want to be late tonight and cause Daht"
"But are you well?" Faith asked quietly "I didn’t get the is were okay yesterday I’m worried about you, Serena I’ve worried about you from the start of this And I’m worried about Damon I don’t want either of you hurt"
"I don’t want us hurt either," Serena said quietly "But I’ht be too late"
"Oh, Serena" Faith’s unhappy voice filtered over the line "Do you want me to meet you for lunch?"
"I really appreciate you trying to help, Faith Really, I do But this is so I have to work out on my own"
"I understand, but I need to say one last thing If you can’t give Dao"
Serena stared at the phone for a long tio It sounded so easy And it should be Who the hell formed an attacher than a week But not much, and it was still too soon to feel so deeply for another person
But that wasn’t as inificant things like favorite foods or different brands of toothpaste Damon wanted a woman like Serena had pretended to be for the last week, and he wanted her on a permanent basis
"Serena?"
Serena looked up to see Carrie standing in her office doorway She frowned Carrie had been crying
"What’s wrong?" she asked sharply
"Mrs Tasco just called"
"Did so with the cruise?" Serena asked
Carrie’s eyes filled with fresh tears "No, in fact, it was perfect Mrs Tasco said she’d never seen Michelle so happy They were scheduled to return to port today Michelle died in her sleep last night"
Serena went completely still Her chest hurt as pressure increased
"They just wanted to say thank you," Carrie said in a choked voice "They said Michelle’s last hours were so full of joy and wonder The princess party you arranged was the highlight of her life"
"Find out when funeral arrange made," Serena said "Send flowers"
Carrie stood there, her expression one of surprise "That’s it? That’s all you have to say?"
"Just do it, Carrie And if that’s all, I’ht now"
Carrie spun around and stalked fro moment, Serena stared at the closed door Then she dropped her head to her desk, burying her face in her arms
Her shoulders shook uncontrollably as the tears caave her clients wasn’t real It wasn’t even a substitute for real She dealt in gairl the trappings of being a princess, but she couldn’t give her what , healthy life with parents who loved her
Dale day
Da in his chair when Serena walked in the door that afternoon He laid aside his laptop and looked up, prepared to call her over His welcome died on his lips when he saw her pale, strained face
She dropped her briefcase by the door and kicked off her shoes almost mechanically Then she walked slowly toward hih she’d been crying, but she was coot to his feet and crossed the rooot close, a small cry erupted froathered her close and held her as sobs cracked frouided her to the couch, half carrying her and half assisting and then sat, pulling her down onto his lap "Serena, tellAre you hurt? What happened?"
She buried her face in his neck and held hi into his skin Her sobs continued to spill out and so he siainst his chest, her strength drained
"Serena?"
She tensed and drew in a slight breath, and her body felt shtened around his throat because he couldn’t help but knohat she was going to say
"I’, Damon," she said in a hoarse, quiet voice "I tore up the contract The agreement is done You’re free"
He went still The pain of her announcement shocked him with its ferocity when it shouldn’t have He kneas coe over his heart
"Why?" he demanded
She started to pull away, alht to free herself from his embrace But he wouldn’t let her up No, she would face hiive him the reason, damn it He wouldn’the’d ever had to confront
He gathered her wrists in his hands and held them close to his chest "Why, Serena? You owe me that much"
"I owe you no explanation," she said in a cold voice "Either party can terive a daoddamn paper, Serena This is you and me and e’ve shared, and I deserve to knohy you’re throwing it away"
"I can’t live a lie any longer," she whispered "It hurts Everything I do is a lie It’s not real It can’t be real I can’t give people what they truly want or need and you aren’t any different I can’t give you what you need, Dao"
He stared at her as the garbled explanation fell froain, and this tio but before she took a step, he said her name She hesitated but didn’t turn around
"I love you, Serena"
This ti, see her fingers ball into fists at her sides
"Stay," he said softly
Slowly, she turned around, devastation written on her face Her htened and her throat worked up and down as she sed
"No," she whispered