Chapter 45 We have to be strong
Horace smirked, this was exactly how he had hoped her reaction would be.
After Serena confronted him about Charles’ funeral arrangements, he had begun watching her closely, questioning every person she spoke to, every move she made.
On the morning of the burial, he had noticed Trisha rushing out of the house. On a normal day that wouldn’t have been suspicious but it was raining cats and dogs that day. Yet, Trisha dashed into the rain, clutching documents in hands.
Horace immediately instructed one of his drivers to follow her.
Later that afternoon, the driver reported that Trisha had gone to an old warehouse for a meeting. He had taken photographs of the building and of the people present and sent them directly to Horace.
Hours later when he saw the interview of the girl accusing Damian of rape he hadn’t put much thought into it but then today on the news, when they had plastered Trisha and Rose’s faces all over the television to announce their accident, a memory struck him.
Rose had an uncanny resemblance to the woman in the meeting with Trisha the other night. He retrieved his phone and reviewed the images the driver had sent again.
Not only was Rose in the picture standing next to Trisha, but the girl who was accusing Damian of rape was also in the photo along with three other men.
Horace, being the strategist he was, quickly put the pieces together.
“Although,” he said aloud, stepping away from Serena, “what I still couldn’t understand was why. Why would Trisha do something like that?”
Jonathan and Clara exchanged confused looks.
“Fine,” Serena finally said. “We won’t report him to the police,”
Horace smiled, “wonder…”
“But understand something clearly,” Serena continued, her voice turning colder, “this conversation did not end in your favor. It only postponed your defeat.”
She didn’t bother to wonder how Horace found out about Trisha’s involvement in the rape allegations. She just knew she had to make sure Damian never heard a word of it.
Jonathan heaved a sigh of relief, sinking his head into the chair.
“So are you moving out?” Clara found her voice again. “I saw them moving luggage.”
“Yes Clara, unlike yours, my husband is not a homeless leech so I do have to move in with him.” She eyed Jonathan. “That’s how most marriages work.”
“When are you leaving?” Clara cut in harshly.
“Not until after the reading,” Serena responded with a forced smile. Picking up her bag from the table.
She had made another impromptu decision. Now that Horace knew their secret, she had to hang around to make sure he kept his side of the deal and not reveal it to anyone.
Damian would have to understand.
“Hmm, you wanted a family meeting,” Horace said. “Is that all?”
Serena paused at the door and glanced back.
“Yes,” she said. “I came to inform you that things are about to start going very differently in this family, and whether you accept it now or later…you will adjust.”
She opened the door.
“And Father,” she added without turning around, “next time think twice before you send one of your henchmen to threaten someone I love again. Because I will not be as forgiving again.”
“What do you mean we can’t have him arrested?” Trisha shouted. “Do you realize that we almost lost our lives?”
Serena had gone straight to the hospital after her meeting with the family. She knew had to break the news to Trisha. She expected anger but not this level of fury.
“Trish, I understand why you are angry and I’m so sorry. But this is the way it has to be.”
“Rose is still in the ICU, and she might still not make it yet you want me to allow Jonathan walking free?”
Serena gently took her hand. “Remember you are the one who said this was something that had to be done? We can’t risk them revealing our secret to Damian now.”
Trisha sniffed, “I hate him so much” she whispered.
Serena carefully wrapped her hand around Trisha’s bandaged body. “We are going to get our revenge on all of them. But for now…” her voice drifted.
Trisha nodded, “We have to be strong.”
“Exactly.”
Serena kissed her cheek and then stood up.
“Babe I’m sorry but I have to leave. I need to go see Damian before he leaves the office.”
“Hmm, I see you are fitting right into the wife role.” Trisha teased weakly.
“Oh please. I’m going to tell him that we won’t be moving in till after the will reading.”
“Wait. Whose we?” Trisha asked, raising an eyebrow.
“Didn’t I tell you?” Serena asked, slowly moving away from Trisha’s grasp. “You are moving in mmm nd mme” Serena mumbled.
“Huh?” Trisha turned to her. “What are you saying?”
“Fine.” Serena breathed, “You are moving in with Damian and me until you heal up.”
“That’s not happening,” Trisha stated.
“Trisha, it’s not a question. You are staying with us until you are healed.”
“How can I come stay with you and your newlywed husband? Don't you hear how that sounds?” Trisha sighed in frustration.
“Who cares how it sounds? I can’t leave you in your house like this alone.”
“Serena,”
“Trisha Jessica Dwayne, my decision is final.”
She bent and kissed Trisha’s cheeks. “Now, I'm leaving to go see my husband. So goodbye and adieu.”
And with that, she was out the door.
Trisha smiled despite herself. Shaking her head as she watched her best friend walk out.
Serena had driven at full speed to get to the office on time.
When she finally drove past the building gates she tossed the keys to the valet and hurried through the spinning doors.
“I’m here to see Damian Crowne,” she told the receptionist.
The woman looked her over and hissed, “Office hours are closed.”
“You close at half past five, this is five,” Serena said, pointing at the wall clock.
“I said, office hours are closed. Are you deaf?” The receptionist said, facing down.
Serena scoffed, ready to argue but someone walked through the doors yelling,
“Clear the lobby, Mr Crowne is coming down.”
From his suit and the headpiece connected to his ear, you could tell he was a bodyguard.
Everybody cleared from the front, two guards walked in to secure the perimeter, and then seconds later, Damian walked in.
Even dressed casually in a crisp white shirt and dark trousers, he stood out effortlessly. A loose strand of hair fell across his forehead, giving him an almost disarming softness.
Someone rushed to his side, “Mr Damian hi, I’m your new secretary, Stephanie.” She stretched her hand toward him.
Serena saw that she was the same lady she had just been speaking to. The receptionist.
Oh, she was to be Damian’s secretary. Serena thought, no wonder she had such a nasty attitude.
Serena observed that Damian didn’t shake the girl's hand. Instead, his eyes found hers in the crowd.
He ignored the outstretched hand in front of him and Instead, his eyes found Serena.
Instantly, he crossed the lobby directly toward her.
“You are here.” He stated.
“Yes. I needed to see you.”
“Why didn’t you come upstairs?” Damian asked.
“Your secretary didn’t allow me in. She said office hours were over.”
Damian turned. “Which one of you dared to stop my wife from entering the building?”
No one answered.
“I won’t ask again.”
Serena pointed at the girl, “She did.”
Damian walked up to her, what did you say your name was again?”
“Ste….Stephanie “ she stammered.
“Stephanie, you are fired.”
Without another word, he returned to Serena, took her hand, and led her toward the elevator.
“I didn’t mean to come this late,” Serena said softly, taking a seat in Damian’s office “I had to see Trisha first.”
“That’s fine, " he said, handing her a glass of scotch.”
“Damian, I won’t be able to move in with you till after the reading.”
“Why? Is there a problem?”
“It’s just,” she searched for the words. “I can’t trust my family not to do something now that they know you and I are married. I have to stay and watch them closely.”
“That’s fine,” he said.
She heaved a sigh of relief, grateful he didn’t put up an argument.
“I’ve been thinking.”
He continued, "We are married and I still haven’t properly met your family.We should have dinner within the week.”
Serena’s head snapped toward him.
“Why the hell would I do that? I just told you I didn't trust them.”
““The optics would be good.”
“Damian, I don’t want my family anywhere near our relationship until we see the will.”
“If you insist.” He gave up.
Now the air felt awkward, and Serena in her need to please him added.
“You and I can have dinner though.”
Damian’s jaw dropped.
He hadn’t expected that.
Serena herself hadn’t expected it either. The words left her mouth before she even fully understood what they meant.
“Okay then,” Damian agreed. You and I will have dinner. Alone.”
Serena swallowed, a quiet warmth spreading through her chest in excitement.