Page 11 of Destined
That had been his original plan too. But that had been before he’d met the delectable Serena. Since he’d met her, he’d found his desire to return home dwindling rapidly; the timing couldn’t have been worse.
His pacing threatened to wear a path in the carpet, and quite frankly, he was sick of his own company. Making a decision, he strode across the living room, calling for Ari.
When he got no answer, he went in search of the man. Finally, he found him in his own office at the back of the apartment.
Coming to his feet, Ari asked, “Did you need anything, sir?”
“Please bring the car round front, Ari. Tonight, I feel a need for a change of scenery.”
“Yes, sir.”
The trip was made in silence, as Sebastian’s mind continued to churn with uncomfortable thoughts.
Serena made him feel things he never had before. Not even Gabrielle had engendered such deep feelings, and he’d been stupid enough to think she wasthe one. Ms Callum made him yearn for things he wasn’t sure he understood.
Maybe a couple of drinks and the company of others would give him respite from his thoughts. It would certainly provide a distraction.
As always, the queue to get into Inferno was long. The club was his pride and joy. A solo venture into the business world that reflected Sebastian and his ability to be successful out from under the Marino corporation’s shadow. He’d always believed that Marino International was his father’s legacy, and while he was now heir apparent, it would never be truly his. Inferno was a completely different matter. From conception to execution, he’d been involved in every step of bringing his vision to vibrant life.
Unlike the night Sebastian had gotten his first glimpse of Serena at the bar, tonight the music brought him relief. Giving the bouncer a smile in greeting, he entered the club, stopping to take in the sights and absorb the atmosphere.
The club heaved with life and energy, beckoning to him, drawing him in.
Sebastian made his way to the bar, nodding and smiling in greeting when he saw a familiar face. He waited his turn, looking around him as he did. When he reached the front of the bar, he ordered a shot of Patron before returning his attention to the dance floor. It had been an age since he’d let loose, and it suddenly appealed to him immensely.
Throwing back the shot, he headed upstairs to the VIP section. He’d have a better view of the floor from there.
Standing at the railing, he saw a woman with dark hair dancing in a group. She was short and curvy, long hair piled on top of her head. She looked familiar. Excitement stirred in Sebastian’s veins. He was sure it was Serena.
He watched the woman like a hawk for what seemed an eternity. Suddenly, he felt like joining her on the dance floor. Taking one last look, he prayed she’d be exactly where he last saw her before making his way down the stairs to find her.
He breathed a sigh of relief when he spotted her pretty much in the same spot he’d seen her in from upstairs. He fitted his big body in behind her smaller frame and rested his hands on her hips. For just a moment, it seemed she would turn around, and he braced for the impact of those endless green depths in her eyes. But, at the last minute, it seemed, she changed her mind.
Her friend leaned forward and said something to her. With all the noise, he couldn’t hear what she said, but he recognised the appraising look she gave him.
They bumped and grinded like that through a number of song changes, Sebastian losing himself in the rhythm and just the sheer bliss of being with Serena. It calmed his mind and allowed him respite from his thoughts.
After a long while, the friend spoke into Serena’s ear again. This time she nodded, stopped, and turned to him.
Sebastian went rigid with shock. That wasn’t his Serena.
The woman he’d just had his hands all over was a complete stranger. A beautiful stranger, but a stranger, nonetheless. Most definitely not his Serena.
Pulling his hands away and holding them up, he backed away from her slowly.
“My apologies, miss. I meant no harm. I thought you were someone else.”
“Sorry, I’m not who you thought I was, but I can be anyone you want me to be.” She batted her false eyelashes at him and gave him a sultry smile.
He looked into the woman’s upturned face. Briefly, he considered taking her home and allowing her to entertain him for a while. Get out of his head for a time. Grabbing her, he pulled her smaller frame up tight against his. The feel of her in his arms felt wrong.
Smashing his lips to hers in the hopes of silencing the voice in his head telling him this wasn’t Serena, Sebastian kissed her roughly. She moaned into his mouth. The sound was wrong. The feel of her lips on his was wrong.
Sebastian pulled away. Took a step back. Then another. His eyes moved over the face and body of the woman standing before him. And it all just feltwrong. Turning on his heel, he made a beeline for his office. He could call Ari to collect him from there, without having to fend off his new friend.
“Wait, where are you going?” he heard the woman call after him. It spurred him to go faster. He felt like an idiot.
In the sanctuary of his office, Sebastian took his phone out of his pocket and dialled Ari’s number. Running a tired, frustrated hand over his face while he waited for the call to connect, he cursed himself for being all kinds of foolish. God, how much of an idiot could you be over a woman? Mooning over a woman sucked.
