Title:Love and Bitter Memories.Chapter 2 Author:Tapestry Email:Sahddow_Cat@hotmail.com Standard Disclaimer Apply 'Serena's POV' ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I walked into the office,cool...calm...collected.Walking into my room.. I sat down into my chair....pulling the blinds....sealing off the morning light which poured through my window. I always liked the dark.... A knock sounded on my door... "Come in." My ONLY friend...Mina walked in.A smile on her face. "Good Morning,Serena!!"came Mina's cheerful voice.So different...she and I...as different as night and day.... "Morning Mina...so...how did the test go??"I asked curiously. "Oh...wonderful!!!"exclaimed Mina happily. "Does,your...husband know yet??"I asked arching an eyebrow. Mina blushed slightly..."I'm telling him tonight.."whispered Mina. I smirked."Better tell him to sit down before you tell him.And unplug the telephone lines." Mina looked at me quizzically."Why?" I sighed."In case he faints or he fusses over you by asking for 6 months leave!!You know how much your Anthony worries over you...which is rare for a man..."I said coldly. Mina's smile disappeared...she knew what I meant.... She always knew... Mina sat down."Oh,Sere....forget about him....he broke your heart.Why can't you just forget it all and smile more,instead of being so cold?" I shut my eyes. She always knew...that's why I could never let her in,or talk to her so freely as she does to me....I envy her....Why could I not have lived the life,Mina had said about...?? Because of the past...that weighed me down...the burden which I kept to myself....I knew it would always pull me back.Ironic... I have the oppurtunity to tell someone...but I never do. Pain and disappointment is what MADE my world...without it...the world I knew...would crumble... Leaving me...alone...No...I could never tell anybody.Though Mina knows me the best....she would never know or undrstand the suffering... pain...heartbreak...disappointment...sadness....all these feelings... Mina would never know it.As I would never know...joy...happiness... warmth...love...or the feeling of being whole and complete. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Because...Mina....just because.."I said not looking up.. Mina looked at me....I could see it...her pity...and sadness...I could live with her sadness....but never pity...I didn't want to be pitied. Sympathy...I could live without....even love...happiness and all those other emotions.Or can I?? I shake my head to clear myself of those thoughts. Silence.... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ (Note: this is only to show Mina's thoughts for her friend.Rest is all about Serena's thoughts...) 'Mina's POV' Oh Serena....if only you'd let me in....ever since I've known you... You've always been in that icy shell of yours.Like you've locked yourself away in a tower and thrown away the key... I wish....you'd just...for once...in your painful life...be happy... or find...happiness....even for the briefest moments. Mina...what are you thinking??If Serena had the chance to be happy... she'd never do it...she'd rather stay that way then let herself be happy for ONLY a moment... As hard as she is...the shell...behind it...is only a brittle and fragile girl.... Serena is silent.... "Well...I guess you've got alot of work.I'll be off to study the Shields project??"I asked. Serena merely nodded. I let out a deep breath....Serena.... 'End of Mina's POV' ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 'Back to Serena's POV' I looked up as Mina left the office. I sigh...Mina...if only you knew....the horrible secrets I keep to myself. Secrets that even you....would never be able to take. I sit at my desk....remembering.... ~FLASHBACK~ "Darling...do you know where you are,honey??" A 6 year old girl shook her head."Where am I??I cannot remember anything." The young girl begins to cry. The young woman dressed in white bends down and calms the 6-year old down. "Shhh...it's going to be alright...."said the nurse,ruffling the girl's blonde curls slightly. "What's my name??Don't I have any parents??"wailed the girl. "Your name is Serena Lunaria...as for your parents...."hesitated the nurse. Serena looked up at the woman expectantly. "We'll talk about this another time...okay??" ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Few weeks later... "Lisa...what's going on??" The young nurse stares down at the young girl sadly. "Serena...you're leaving here..." "What??Where am I going??You'll be coming too,won't you??" "I'm sorry...Serena...I won't be following you...you're being sent to the.....or-orphanage...."said the nurse sadly. "But...I don't wanna go....please...I want to stay here with you..." "Oh,Serena....I'm so sorry...." With that....Serena was sent to the orphanage.... There were many other children.The oldest was a girl named Rachel. The other children didn't want to befriend her as she was new....So, Serena sat in a corner everytime. The care-taker was a woman named Miss Terrence.She liked the oldest girl, the best. "Hey...new girl!!Where you from??!!"asked Rachel menacingly. "I don't know..." "Really???"mocked Rachel pushing Serena to the ground. "Leave me alone..."said Serena getting up. "I didn't say you could get up...freak."bit out Rachel. Serena felt tears coming.Pushing them back...Serena walked away...ignoring the big bully... "Hey!!I didn't dismiss you!!!!" Serena didn't reply....walking away. Rachel was about to run to Serena's direction when a 10-year old boy pulled her back."Leave her alone Rachel.." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Serena sat under a tree..."I will NOT cry...I will NOT....I'll show them." "Are you Serena??"asked a voice. Looking up...she saw a small girl... She was small and frail looking."I'm Theresa."said the girl "You're lucky..."said Theresa. Serena was puzzled."Huh??" "You're lucky the trustee's grandson was there,while his grandfather was visiting."explained Theresa. "That boy just now??"asked Serena curiously. Theresa nodded."Yes...he sometimes visits with his grandfather.Rachel doesn't dare bully him.She tried once...the trustee's grandson made sure she regretted it." Serena cocked her head to one side thoughtfully. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Theresa became her bestfriend....until one day...the young fragile girl died. She was a victim of leukemia.Being weak and sick....Theresa could not be operated on.She had only been 7-years old.A year older than Serena. Serena had been shocked her only playmate had passed away. That was why the rest of the other children did not want to play with Theresa.Serena shook her head.How could the children have been so cold?? Could they have not made Theresa's last few days of life a happy and peaceful one??Instead of condemning her to being alone. The doctors said Theresa had died painlessly....she'd been sleeping when her life had slipped away from it's earthly vessel.... For that...Serena was thankful....at least her friend had not suffered. Activities at the orphanage continued.Rachel picking on children... especially Serena...Rachel metamorphosing into a sweet darling angel when Miss Terrence was around... The other children ignoring Serena...as they had fun and games. Serena sat under a tree everytime.Though she said she'd never felt lonesome. Theresa had been buried for 3 years....but she had remained fresh in Serena's memory... Other children said Serena was cold and mean. Serena never bothered with the other children.To her...they were only nuisances....heartless young people... ~END FLASHBACK~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The telephone ringing had startled me out of my bitter thoughts of the past...which always haunted my mind. "Yes,Molly??" "Miss Lunaria,a Mr Shields on line 1 for you." "Thank you...."I said switching to line 1. "Good morning Mr Shields." "Hello,Miss Lunaria.I hope I'm not bothering you.I noticed in my apointment schedule...you've made an appointment for after lunch..." I did NOT like where this was heading.... "I was wondering...would you like to have lunch with me??That way we can straightaway discuss about the design plans." I frowned. "I don't eat lunch."I said coldly. "Really.....well...I think it's time you did.I'll be at the company...at lets say...12.30??" "Mr Shields..." "Or would you prefer you drive yourself??"came his mocking voice.I hated it.It had the ability to turn my legs to jelly....if I allowed it to. "Mr Shields...you won't take no for an answer...will you??" "No.I won't..."came his voice. He was probably wearing a smirk on that arrogant face of his. "Alright then....12.30 it is..."I bit out. "Good...that would mean I'll be there in 45 minutes." I stared at my watch..it was 11.45am???I thought it was still only 9.00am. I gaped at my watch. "Miss Lunaria??" "Yes..yes..!!"I exclaimed into the phone. "Temper...temper...After all...I AM the client." He's right...I was losing my calm.Damn him...."I'm aware of that Mr Shields...that is the ONLY reason I comply to your....request."I said icily."If that's all...I shall have to get ready the plans,Mr Shields." "Oh...by all means.I'll see you later then."he said smoothly. "Good day."I bit out putting the phone down straight away. Damn,Darien Terra Shields....he was so infuriating and ....dangerous. God let this project finish fast. I don't want anything to do with Darien Terra Shields more than I have to....I can tell the man is out to break into my shell.... That's how he gets his kicks.... A challenge.... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A moment later.... Mina walked into my office,carrying the information on the Shields project that I'd asked her to find. "Thank you Mina..."I told her. "No problem."she smiled,exiting my office. I picked up a paper slip which had info on Darien Terra Shields. He was 27....parents deceased.His only living relatives was his grandfather,and his distant cousin,Lita Jupitra,who lived somewhere in England.She was related on his mother's side. "Nothing much....but I guess the tabloids would have more."I said to myself. I decided to study the plans and blueprints of the building....to kill time till 12.30...which I was dreading..... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 12.30pm... I waited on the sidewalk.The sidewalk was buzzing with life and the sun was shining brightly.I hated it..... Then...a black limo pulled up in front of me. "Good Afternoon Miss Lunaria." I did not say anything,merely getting into the limo holding the proper documents which were needed. "Where do you want to go for lunch??"asked Mr Shields. I frowned."You decide."I said coldly. "Okay...take us to the Venice."said Mr Shields. We sat silent in the limo.I stared outside the dark tinted glass panes. The streets bustling as people hurried around. All those people who had worries and fears....worries??Hah..they knew nothing... Especially those people in Shields's circle.... Women like Beryl Brooks...they all had their perfect lives.Perfectly synthetic...no worries,no fears...only arrogance. I hate those type of people... "A penny for your thoughts,Miss Lunaria??" I turned to face the man...His dark bangs fell into his mercury silvery blue eyes.His face was perfectly sculpted.Perfectly....handsome.And of course...arrogant and egoistic. "I would have thought you'd be able to offer more than that,Mr Shields." I said coldly. He looked taken back.But then,he chuckled lightly. "You are correct Miss Lunaria....I can offer more than a penny...a dollar then."he joked. I was stunned.I'd been insulting and yet the remark had slid off like water on a duck's back. My lips tightened. "No thank you." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Afternoon was a terrible hour...everbody going for lunch...traffic was terrible... I longed to get out of the stifling limo.I could feel Darien Terra Shields aura of control and power,suffocating me.I could feel a darkness radiating from it too...it was so strong,I imagined I could reach out and touch it...even though I was a good 15 inches away from him... So much like me..yet not like me....he was more in control....more calm. But then...he'd probably had more practice than me. At that moment...the limo came to a stop... Mr Shields helped me out of the limo.Which I was thankful to get out off. In the restaurant.... "Good Afternoon Mr Shields...."said the waiter."What drink would you like??"asked the waiter. "A cup of coffee please."replied Darien. "And for the you,Miss??" "A glass of plain water." After the waiter had gone to get our drinks.....I turned to Darien. "I gather you come here often?"I asked coldly. He nodded.A small smile playing his lips. "Now....about the designs..."I began. "Later,shall we???We haven't had lunch yet....are you not hungry??" I frowned at his smooth tone. This was NOT going well,in my point of view..... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ After placing our orders....we sat at the table,silently. I didn't like this....the silence.Though I lived in it.THIS silence with Darien Shields was eerie.... Stop scaring yourself Serena....what happened to your icy mask!!!??? "So,Serena,.."began Darien. "Lunaria."I corrected."Only my FRIENDS....have the privilege at calling me Serena."I bit out. He smirked slightly. "Alright then...Miss..LUNARIA..." He was mocking....and he knew I knew it. "Lets talk about those plans..."he finished. I stared at him,my face void of emotion."Fine."I said cooly,pulling out the documents that I had brought. The discussion on each of the room colours took most of the time. "So...you want this main level here...beige??"I asked looking up. He nodded."That way,people who walk into the building won't seem depressed as the workers who work in the main building." "Oh?"I asked arching an eyebrow. "My secretary tells me the receptionist says she's never seen so many unhappy faces the moment they come into the building.After all...after waking up...who would want to wake up and go to work and see grey??" The words triggered something inside of me...Grey....the girls at the school had said I was dull and drab... Miss Haruna,my school shrink said I had a dull and grey outlook of life. Everybody said I was dead and grey inside...and I was...I am... "I would..."I whispered suddenly. "Emm....I guess you would."replied Darien. "Huh??" "Shall we continue this dicussion back at my office??"he asked. "Sure...whatever." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Back at the Shields Enterprises... Beryl Brooks was waiting in the office of Darien Terra Shields.Beryl was seated crosslegged on the couch flipping through some papers and sipping some of Darien's exquisite champagne. "Where the hell is Darien??His dumb secretary assured me he'd be back after lunch hour." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ We rode up the elevator to the top floor of the Shields building. I followed Mr Shields towards his office. "Any messages,Miss Marscia??"asked Darien to his secretary. "Miss Brooks....is..in..your-um..office."stuttered Raye. I saw Darien's lips turn into a frown,his lips pursing.I knew the look.. a look of distaste...I did it sometimes... Hmmm...I guess Shields is sick of Brooks already.I'd have bet that bitchy woman would have lasted in his good graces for at least 2 months.... I knew all the Shields women lasted for less than a month.Magazines said he simply got...bored of them. "Miss Lunaria...would you mind waiting out here for a moment..?" asked Darien. My lips curled slightly."Of course,Mr Shields." At that moment,my handphone rang... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Serena??"came a voice. "Hello Mina.I see you got my message?" "Yes...Your other appointments have been canceled."came Mina's voice. "Thanks Mina.The discussion of the Shields project is going to take longer than I expected.We haven't even finished with even two levels of the new Shields building."I told Mina. I heard my ONLY friend giggle. But then,she coughed lightly,becoming serious again. "Serena...Ann Makaiju..that employee from Japan??She's taken leave,AGAIN." I frowned.Ann Makaiju had only been in employ for 6 months. "This makes it what??The 7th time??" "The 8th."corrected Mina."So,what do we do??Cut her pay??" "Fire her."I said coldly. Silence.... "Serena...She's new in Europe...you can't be seri-" "I AM serious.I cannot have incompetents working at Moonlight Designs, Mina.You of all people should know HOW I am by now....no symphathy.Just give her this months pay and send her off....As far as I'm concerned.She's officially terminated starting now."I told my friend coldly. "Okay Serena....fire her..."said Mina. "I'll see you later." "Kay." Switching off my phone...I stared at Shields's office door expectantly. 3....2...1... The door bursts open..an angry Beryl Brooks walks out.Muttering expletives too soft for me to hear... She stares at me angrily.Her eyes narrow. I return her stare but with an icy look instead of a burning hot one. "Thank you for waiting out Miss Lunaria...as I got rid of an *ahem* nuisance."said Mr Shields coming out of the office. I knew Beryl must have heard that... Cold and heartless...ruthless and hard was Darien Terra Shields.Hmmm... like I said...dangerous. I like it..... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! To be continued... E-mail me,on what you think.Stay tuned for Chapter 3 Visit my site:http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Teahouse/5879