“Uhh, guys, I’ve got to go now.” Serena cut in before Jan could say more. “I have to get ready for work.”
“Doesn’t that sound weird?” A chuckle followed Tammy’s question. “I’ve never heard you say anything like that.”
“Come off it, Tammy,” Jan said, sounding annoyed. Then she said in a voice that was quiet and almost apologetic, “We understand, Serena. We’ll let you go now. Call you later, okay?”
“Okay.” She hoped they didn’t hear the sob in her voice.
Serena hung up the phone and for the next few moments she just lay there, staring at the wall as the thought sank in. They were going to Europe without her. While they were touring famous museums, meeting charming Frenchmen and handsome Italians, she would be slaving away at a boring office job.
She shook her head, dispelling the awful thought, then slid out of bed and headed for the bathroom feeling abandoned and alone. Her friends had betrayed her and were heading off to have fun without her, with boring Kelly Snow to boot. Her father had shipped her out of the house, cut off her allowance and put her in this apartment in the city. Okay, it was a nice apartment but it wasn’t home and she missed her dogs and her horse. Her father had turned out to be a cruel, cruel man. What was worse her grandmother who had always defended her now seemed to be on his side. She just could not understand why her friends, her family, the whole world had turned against her. It was not fair.
Then as she stared at her frowning face in the bathroom mirror her mind tiptoed back to Roman Steele. Gorgeous, heart-stopping Roman Steele. She had to admit, he was one of the most attractive men she had ever seen, with his deep dark eyes and glossy black hair that curled sexily at his nape. Olive-skinned with a strong, square jaw, he could give any of the Italian hunks a run for their money. The man oozed sex appeal.
But he was also a serious man. She’d seen that very clearly on day one. He was not one to mess around with. But still, she couldn’t just bow her head and play meek, mild-mannered assistant like he probably wanted. No way. That was definitely not her style.
She glanced at the clock on the wall. A quarter to seven already? Had she been daydreaming so long? She began to strip. If she wanted to get to the office on time she’d have to be on the highway in the next forty-five minutes. Today she was not in the mood to be chewed out by Roman Steele.
Or was she? Serena lifted her face to the mirror again and this time a look of mischief was reflected there. Did she want to be a good girl or did she want to get fired? To be good or not to be good, that was the question. And she had the answer.
Today she would make Roman Steele so angry that he would be happy to see the back of her. Salary be damned. Today was the day she was going to get fired.
CHAPTER FIVE
After a two hour stop at Holt Renfrew where she lounged in the cosmetics department and got a free makeover Serena pulled into the parking lot of Steele Enterprises at exactly eleven-fourteen a.m.. As she shoved the shopping bags aside and reached for her purse her heartbeat accelerated and her palms grew damp. This was it, the showdown she’d been waiting for.
She signed in at the front desk then rode the elevator to the sixth floor where she headed straight for the cubicle to which she’d been assigned. Dropping her bag and cell phone onto the desk she slid into her chair and breathed a sigh of relief. So far so good. She knew a bombshell was about to fall but not just yet. When it did, she wanted to be ready.
Serena unzipped her handbag and reached for her lipstick and compact. She needed to fortify herself for the battle ahead. There was nothing like looking your best to boost your confidence. She flipped the compact open and was peering into the tiny mirror, tracing her lips with ruby red, when she felt eyes on her. She turned quickly and found herself staring into the flashing dark eyes of Theresa Lederman.
Snapping the compact shut Serena lifted her face to the woman and gave her a look laced with challenge. For a moment neither of them spoke. Theresa was obviously trying to intimidate her but it wasn’t going to happen. What? Did she think her icy stare could browbeat a Van Buren? She’d have a long wait.
Finally, the woman spoke. “Mr. Steele asked for you over two hours ago.”
Serena cocked an eyebrow. “Oh?” She did not offer an apology.
“He had a meeting with the advertising agency this morning. He wanted you to participate.” When Serena just stared back at her Theresa pursed her lips, obviously put out by her lack of response at the announcement. “He asked me to take you to see him as soon as you got in.”
“No problem,” Serena said, her tone light as she rose to face Theresa. Little did the woman know that inside she was shaking. “Let’s go.”
Theresa looked surprised at her boldness but she held her tongue, turned on her heel and headed toward the elevator. Serena followed some distance behind, not wanting to seem like a wayward child being escorted to the principal’s office. She felt the weight of curious eyes from the nearby cubicles but she held her head high, refusing to look to the right or the left. She desired no distraction. She needed her wits about her to face the imminent wrath of Roman Steele.
The two women rode the elevator in silence. At the tenth floor Theresa strode down the hallway, knocked on the heavy oak door and, just like the day before, opened it and stepped aside. On her face was a look of something close to…sympathy?
Serena blinked. That did not make sense. The woman had no reason to feel sorry for her. But then the door was pulled shut behind her and there was no more time to think about it, no more time to prepare. She’d been thrown into the den with the lion.
Serena’s eyes snapped over to Roman’s desk and there he sat, face rigid, dark eyes flashing with an anger she could feel clear across the room. She stood stock-still, heart pounding in trepidation. Her fingers curled into fists as she fought to steady her nerves. Come on, Serena, what’s the worst he can do to you? He certainly can’t kill you. Still, she did not budge, opting to stay close to the door…just in case.