Page 73 of In Love After Office Hours

He had hurt her.

In his arrogance and stupidity, he had treated her with abominable cruelty, thinking that by doing so, he was saving her from worse hurt.

How the hell would he ever make it up to her?

How the hell could he make her believe that he had not meant anything he said?

How the hell could he earn her love back?

Willem’s eyes slowly closed.

The sound of her sobs echoed in his mind.

Please. Please wait. Please tell me.

He had let her beg, had walked away even when she had crumpled to the floor in pain.

Pain ravaged his chest, and it felt like his ribs were about to collapse at the burden of his pain.

I’m sorry, Serenity.

I’m sorry, my love.

I’m sorry.

Chapter Three

EIGHT MONTHS AFTERBook 2

Routines had again come to Serenity’s rescue. As a freshman enrolled in the newly-opened Athens campus of Christopoulos University, her days began to follow a pattern that she was quick to embrace. Her classes went from morning to noon, and after lunch, she proceeded to spend the afternoons at her part-time job. Weekends, she went home to stay with her friend Willow, who was now married to a Greek billionaire of her own, Stavros Manolis.

It was a very orderly life, and she liked it exactly that way.

It would have stayed that way, too, if only Anton wasn’t making her feel horrendous for constantly turning him down.

Anton was a sophomore in her book club, and he had befriended her on the first club meeting. He was of average height, and with equally average looks. Everything was average about him, and if Serenity was honest with herself, it was that very trait which had allowed her to relax her guard with the boy. He was ordinary, and in that sense, the very opposite of the Dutch billionaire she was slowly succeeding in forgetting. She had been pleased when he had offered her friendship and had not hesitated to offer hers back. In her innocence and sheer lack of experience with members of the opposite sex, Serenity had not realized until it was too late that a boy’s offer of friendship was frequently the first step to dating.

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