Serena Mclane's P. O. V After that intriguing talk with Greg, I myself take time to clear my thoughts but come up short on why I acted like that. Damien remains cold and distance towards me in an all new way. I still do head over to his office everyday and see him around the house but that's it. No talking, no sort of interaction both at home and in the workplace. I make food for him everyday but it mostly remains uneaten or half touched. I don't know whether it's because he's working himself too hard or because it's his way of acting out on me. I sincerely hope it's not even one of them. Him straining himself will worry me. And him not eating because of me well, the least I can say is that I'll feel hurt. Just the thought makes me feel like an idiot. Why should I care? But right now, I'm nervous for an entirely different reason. Nearly a week has past without any of one us talking to each other or even glancing at each other. And now, in nearly an hour the both of us have to head to my parents house and act as a 'happy couple'. A very difficult feat. We have to follow up a pretence with another. I suppose all this lying and scheming will come to bite us in the ass sooner rather than later. Lounging around in the house with nothing to do, I end up making some more plans with one of my closest friends. If this dinner turns out to be a bust then at least I'll have someone to rant too. Other then Greg, my fiancé's best friend. That certainly can't lead to anything good. Staring out the window, I ponder over a myriad of situations and outcomes. Do I just leave on my own and hope Damien shows up? Won't that raise questions by my father though? And if not, how are we even going to act in front of them? I groan at the intensity of my confusion and muddled thoughts. Well if he won't go at least I will. I'll say he was too busy and stuck in a meeting or something along those lines. Though it'll screw me over if he does come. Oh well, it's a chance I have to take. Heading to my room, I strip out of my normal home attire and slip on another dress, this one a nice pastel colour that's tight at the bust and falls down in pleated waives from my midriff to halfway down my thigh. The thing about this dress is that it shows quite a bit of my back as it is sort of backless. I bite my lip as I put on some strap-y heels, gazing at myself in the mirror I can't help but to feel as if it's too much while too less at the same time. My mother had picked this dress out for me–one of many–for such dinners and while I'm not overly keen about them I do like them at the same time. Knowing my parents, they've probably invited a load of people over–who I don't even know– so that I have to meet them. I have a very precise feeling that this isn't some sort of family dinner, more like a 'My daughter has gotten engaged and we have to flaunt it in your face because why the hell not' sort of dinner. Halfway through putting on some earrings– nearly always a difficult feat for me– I hear the front door open and footsteps making their way through the house. I still as they make their way upwards and towards my room but I manage to relax myself and look as natural poised as possible. A knocking on the door ensues and as I give myself a once over, I smile. I didn't look too bad. Actually I think I look pretty good and I'll be damned if I let anyone bring my down today. Even your father?, my annoying conscious nags at me. Well I'll try to not let anyone bring me down. "Come in." I hurriedly call out as I realise I've been spacing out for a while. The door opens and in walks Max to my dismay. My stomach goes all funny and I try to not let the disappointment get through to me. "Max? What are you doing here?" I ask in surprise, plastering a smile onto my face. Max doesn't answer as he stares at me continuously–making me feel slightly uncomfortable–before blinking. "Mr. Stryker said to take you to his office. He will meet you there as he had some urgent business of sorts so you will be picking him up from there. Yup." Max says nodding his head at his own words as he turns away from me. "Why couldn't he have just called?" I ask wryly, my annoyance rearing back up again. Max turns once more to look at me as he shrugs his shoulders, "The car had to come pick you up anyways." He answers. I nod, pursing my lips in thought. "Shall we go then." I ask politely. It's not as if Max has anything to do with it. Why should I be a bitch to him? Max smiles and we both head out to the car. Surprisingly behind his nervous and clumsy exterior, Max is actually a very funny charming guy. All the way to Damien's office, he tells me stories of how working for Damien is incredibly nerve wracking. "So what happened?" I ask in amusement as he takes his arm out for me to hold onto as I get out of the car, as gracefully as I can. "Well I didn't realise Damien was looking for me and apparently someone told him where they last thought they'd seen me." He trails off, going slightly pink in the face. "And..." I egg him on. "Long story short Damien caught me making out with the receptionist in the photocopying room. I burst out into laughter as I wiggle my eyebrows at him, "I never realised we had such a player on our hands." I joke causing him to let out a laugh as well. Max holds the door open for me–our arms still interlinked– causing him to slightly fumble around which makes me let out an unladylike snort. "Something amusing?" Comes a cold chilling voice from in front of me causing both– Max and I– to turn our heads to stare at him. "Damien." I murmur as I look at him. Eyes taking in his attire. Instead of wearing his normal attire of dark coloured suits; He's wearing a bespoke light grey blazer jacket with a light blue shirt underneath–the first few buttons undone– making his stormy eyes sparkle even more. His usual black tight slacks are swapped for chinos but with his usual dress shoes. The outfit would look all over the place for most people but he not only manages to pull it off, he looks incredibly good at it while doing so. Damien's eyes flicker to me and I have to suppress a shiver from seeing his eyes pierce into mine. Just the few days and it's lack of contact is enough to drive anyone insane. Damien strides over to me, his eyes zeroing in on my hand wrapped around Max's. Max immediately lets go, and with one last grin my way, wanders off. That little wretch of a man. Damien and I stand there, staring at one another but I don't bother waiting for him and turn around. "We're going to be late." I mumble as I make my way back out the door and towards the car. I barely manage to take a few steps before Damien stops me by grabbing onto my arm gently. "You're wearing that?" He mutters, eyeing my dress with distaste. I clench my teeth together as irritation flares within me. Of course he has something to input. "Yes I am. Why?" I ask sarcastically. Apparently sarcasm doesn't fit into his vocabulary as he answers me. "It's more revealing than necessary." He grounds out. My face goes blank at his words. "You can see my back. How is that revealing?" I retort. "It just is. I know what men are like." He says firmly. "So what? Do you think people are going to look at my back and think, 'Damn that's one sexy back I'd like to get with' or something along those lines." I can tell my tone of voice and answer is getting on his nerves as he glares at me. "Why do you even care anyway?" I say in a huff as I eye a woman trying to listen into our conversation. Damien strides towards me and harshly looks into my eyes. "Because you are my fiancée and I said so." I take a step back as I scoff at his words, "You do not tell me what to do our how to dress. Just like I don't tell you what to do." I answer as I look at him dead in the eye. Damien clenches his jaw before grabbing a hold of my waist and tugging me towards the car. "You're turning out more stubborn than I thought you would be." He answers gruffly as he opens my door for me to the car. I wait for him to slide in as I make myself comfortable. "And that's a bad thing I take?" Damien looks at me from under his lashes and gives me an alluring smirk making my breath hitch in my threat. "On the contrary. Its a very good thing." Damien opens his mouth to say more but then closes it, smirk growing wider before he turns to the driver telling him where to go. While I sit there in curiosity, dying to know what he was about to say.