Chapter 34 The folder
THIRD PERSON’S POV.
Her shoes went first. She slipped off the designer heels and threw them over the balcony rail. They struck the concrete below with a loud thud and she winced, silently hoping they hadn’t shattered.
Next, she tucked her purse under her arm and began her climb.
She was extremely careful, every moment step was measured and after what felt like an eternity, her feet finally touched the ground, she heaved an unsteady sigh of relief.
Grabbing her shoes, she sprinted for the car. She didn’t want to delay anymore than she already had.
Her father had sent the house staff to their quarters but the security men still stood watch at the gate. When they tried to stop her from leaving, she threatened to run them over, which seemed to work because the gates immediately swung open and she drove straight through.
Using voice control, she called Damian to explain to him that she was on her way but he didn’t pick up. She left a voicemail.
“Hey Damian, It’s Serena. I experienced some delays in the house but I’m on my way to you now.”
She drove faster, well over the speed limit. The dashboard clock read twelve a.m already. At this point, she could only hope that Damian hadn’t gotten tired of waiting and left.
As at eleven thirty a.m Damian had grown anxious, Serena was never late to anything. If she hadn’t shown up by now, something was wrong.
“Or did she decide not to come anymore?” He asked himself out loud.
He tried calling her again, but the line kept repeating that the user was out of reach.
Thirty minutes later, he decided he would go find her.
He stepped off the boat and had already walked halfway to the car park before he realized he’d left his phone on the boat. Cursing under his breath, he turned back.
When he finally retrieved the phone, he saw her missed call and text. Relief washed over him.
It wasn’t just fear for her safety that had unsettled him, his future rested on Serena’s shoulders at the moment and her failure to show up tonight would have meant she’d failed him when he needed her most.
He was about to reply to her message when he heard footsteps approaching.
She was here.
Serena looked like a vision in white. Moonlight reflected off her making her sparkle, she looked like a goddess.
“Serena, Finally you came, I was about to start searching for you.”
She didn’t say anything, just climbed into the boat and sank into one of the chairs.
Up close, Damian noticed the specks of dust clinging to her shoes and the hem of her dress.
“Serena what happened? Are you okay?”
“I need a glass of champagne please.”
She cut in. “I’ve had the longest night.”
“Coming right up.” He moved towards the mini bar the servers had set up earlier, “are you okay?” He asked again.
“Physically I'm fine. But I went through hell to be able to be here.”
He nodded. “Then let’s not waste any more time.”
He handed her a glass of champagne which she gulped down in one go. Damian waited till she had gathered herself before he finally spoke.
“My company is under siege, the rape allegation has caused more damage than we thought possible.”
Serena felt a guilty pinch in her heart .
Damian continued, “But Oscar,” he paused,
“You remember Oscar right?”
She nodded.
“Okay good. So, Oscar and his team have compiled a ton of evidence that proves I am innocent.”
She squealed, “oh my God Damian, that’s amazing news.”
He didn’t seem happy, “it is, but I’m told that just disputing the allegations will not
be enough to revive my company and stop this hostile takeover.”
She smiled internally, she knew exactly what was coming next and she had her answer ready at the tip of her tongue.
“So what do you have to do now?” She asked.
“Well, I’ve been told that I..” he cleared his throat. “I have to get married.” He finally blurted.
“Oh, that’s good. I suggested the same thing to you, remember?”
“Yes I do remember you saying that.”
Next, he was supposed to give her the file he had with him and then he was supposed to ask for her hand in marriage but his throat dried and suddenly he couldn’t compose his thoughts anymore.
Serena felt the awkward silence and decided to continue the conversation, stirring it in the direction she wanted.
“So, do you have any prospects in mind?”
“For what?” He asked absentmindedly.
“For the marriage of course” she replied, rolling her eyes.
“Actually I do. Well, I have one prospect in mind.”
“Oh,” her voice caught, “who is it?” She stammered.
She didn’t stammer out of nerves, she stammered because Damian was looking directly into her eyes and now she was the one struggling for words.
“Serena, the last time I proposed to you you said you would marry me over your dead body,” he said quietly. “But I’m hoping that when you see what's in this file, you will change your mind.”
File?
What was he talking about, that wasn’t part of her plan.
He placed it in her hands. “I’ll give you a few minutes alone to go through it.”
She nodded. She could already see her father and sisters' names written boldly on the cover of the document.
She took in one breath, then another. Her thoughts roared in her ears. What was in this file? Why did Damian think it would make her agree to marry him? And why did it feel so close to blackmail?
So many different thoughts raced through her mind, she felt dizzy and the glasses of champagne she'd just drank were not helping matters.
After a short moment. She forced herself to steady her breathing and quiet her mind.
She took in one deep breath and opened the folder Damian had put in her hand.
Will she survive the truth written on those pages? Or will it consume her?