Chapter 13 New life, same enemies
THIRD PERSON’S POV.
Looking up at him with a slow, dangerous, smile, she took another sip of water, every movement deliberate.
Damian watched her like he always did.
“Oh baby, I’ve been looking everywhere for you.” Jonathan’s voice cut through like a dull blade, patronizing and overeager. He dragged a stool between them and sat, forcing himself into the space she and Damian occupied.
Jonathan had a mission: make Serena fall in love with him. It had started the day he saw her name on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list. He’d spent months studying her, stalking her without ever calling it that, tracking her routines, her friends, her moods. He decided she would be a very easy prey.
When he “accidentally” bumped into her on the golf course six months ago, he’d switched on the charm and set his plan in motion.
And now, he believed he had her exactly where he wanted her.
Grieving and vulnerable, these were the perfect conditions to close the distance and edge his way farther into her heart.
Or so he thought.
He reached for her hands, tentative. “I’m so sorry. I tried to find you as soon as I saw the news.”
Serena let their skin touch for a moment, just long enough to feel nothing. No spark. No warmth. No pull.
Then she gently peeled his fingers away.
“My grandfather died hours ago,” she said, her voice low, steady. “Why are you just finding me now?”
Serena knew the reason he took so long to get to her was because he had first gone to comfort Clara but she didn’t feel jealous she just felt angry.
The question blindsided him. Panic flickered across his features before he smoothed it over.
“Uh…I told you. I wasn’t sure where you were, and you didn’t pick your calls.” He glanced around, shoulders stiff. “And it’s not like I could just show up at your house.”
“You are right,I shouldn’t have come at you like that.” Her voice seemed to soften but there was still a sharp edge to it and Jonathan felt it.
He swallowed.
Serena didn’t look at Jonathan again, she let the silence stretch,cool, calm, calculated. The bar seemed to recognize the brewing tension and quiet itself.
Damian was the first to move, he shifted in his seat, his eyes narrowing at Jonathan, he didn’t bother to hide the scrutiny. Or the irritation.
Jonathan felt that too. He immediately straightened, adjusting himself on the stool like a man trying to gain grounds he had lost.
“So…” Jonathan forced an awkward laugh. “I guess today has been really… overwhelming. I mean, losing someone that important…”
Serena’s eyes flicked to him, “Don’t.” she said.
Jonathan swallowed. “Don’t what?”
“Don’t turn my grief into an opening for one of your uninformed little speeches.”
Damian’s brow lifted at that.
Jonathan blinked, stunned “ baby,I wasn’t…I”
“Yes you were”. She didn’t raise her voice, she didn’t need to. “You’ve been here all of 5 minutes and not once have you asked me how I am doing.”
Finally, she looked at him, “are you here to comfort me or you are just here to make an appearance.”
Jonathan’s jaw tightened, shoulders stiffening, like she had slapped him. Because this was new. Serena suddenly finding her inner voice was not something he had planned to encounter this evening.
Her eyes fixed on him, sharp and unblinking.She didn’t want to do too much to seem suspicious but she also wanted to make sure Jonathan knew he couldn’t get away with messing with her this time.
He had always been pleasant. Convenient but never real, everything she had felt for him was what she wanted to feel. Now she knew better.
Jonathan cleared his throat,“I’m sorry you feel that way, I just didn’t want you to get emotional in front of strangers.”
He glanced at Damian.
“So do you want to get out of here? Fresh air would do you a lot of good.” He was already rising from his seat when she answered.
“No,” she said softly, “I don’t feel like walking around the city”. Under her breath,she added with you.
Jonathan was livid, but he knew he couldn’t react, not here.He had to restrain himself if he was going to achieve his goal.
“Serena, it’s getting late.You can’t be in a bar full of strangers.” He gestured toward Damian. “Especially not when you are so drunk.”
Damian finally spoke, his voice deeper than before. “I’m not a stranger to her.”
There was a hint of a smirk edging on his face.
He was choosing to play along with whatever game she was playing.Every one of her actions that night seemed rather strange but if he was being honest, he was kind of enjoying it.
“Jonathan,” Serena said. “Damian was friends with my grandfather, he knows what my grandfather would like. So I need him to help me plan for his funeral.” She was speaking to Jonathan but her eyes were on Damian.
Damian’s eyes found hers.
She was lying they had not discussed the funeral. He had no idea what Charles would want.
But he backed her up.
“Yes Jonathan,” He said,dragging the name mockingly, “I’ll take her home myself once we’re done. After all, it’s not like you can go to her house right?”
Damian’s expression didn’t change, but something triumphant flickered in his eyes.
“Alright then.” Jonathan finally nodded.
He bent and pressed a wet kiss on her cheek, “I’ll call you later.”
Jonathan pushed through the doors, defeated, his posture heavy and slack.
But the second he stepped outside, the defeat slipped off him like an abandoned coat. His eyes hardened. His jaw locked.
Inside, Serena felt lighter, believing this was the beginning of her victories.