Page 54 of Serena
“Okay, she is second, but be careful with her. She loves to threaten people with the fact that her family is part of the media.”
“Thanks for the heads up.”
“Ms. Livingston.” She swiftly turns in my direction, then to Yuri, who is standing next to me.
“Yuri Lobo, I didn’t know you worked here.” Did this bitch just look past me? Yes, yes, she did.
“I don’t. I was having lunch with my friend when you decided to interrupt by making a scene. Kinda desperate, don’t youthink, Mila?” Well fuck, where did that come from? Yuri rarely acts on her disdain for others.
“Desperate. Never.” Mila brings her attention back to me, but I see the ire on her face.
“Well, Ms. Livingston, Mr. Kayde isn’t here. You are disrupting the workspace and need to leave. I’m sure his assistant will inform him that you stopped by.”
“And who the fuck are you? His secretary?"
This bitch. “No, I’m Serena Nerva. What you need to know is that I will call security if you don’t leave.”
“She’s the Vice President of Finance,” my friend proclaims proudly. I grin, and it only seems to piss off Mila even more.
“Well, I don’t care who the hell you are. You don’t talk to me like that.” Mila raises her voice at me. Fuck this, and fuck her. I turn to Selma.
“Call security.” Then I approach Mila and whisper, “I don’t care who you are. If you’re Ian’s fiancée or not, but you don’t get to come in here and yell at everyone. If he doesn’t want to see you, there is nothing Selma or I can do about it. If you know your ‘fiancé’—I make air quotes—“then you know none of us can change his mind. So, I recommend you leave with dignity before security walks you out.” Her eyes look like they’re going to pop out of her head. She’s clenching her jaw tight. Her nostrils are flaring. She’s pissed, but so am I. Just calling her his fiancée makes my stomach sour.
I continue, “Please remember my name. It’s Serena Nerva, and I’m the person who asked you to leave. I am the Vice President of Finance, although there is nothing wrong with being a secretary. Let’s not minimize my role. This isn’t high school.” She turns and sees all eyes on us. Security is approaching. Jacob walks behind them. “So, what will it be, Ms. Livingston?” She stares at me for a couple of seconds, and without a word, she turns and walks away.
“I came to see what all the commotion was about,” Jacob says, standing next to me. “Thought you might need help.”
“No, I’m perfectly capable of handling the situation.”
“He must be in the doghouse again.”
I’m going to regret asking this. “What do you mean?”
“Well, if your fiancée comes to your work to have it out, then you must have done something pretty big to piss her off. He seems to be quite the ladies’ man.” He looks at my friend and introduces himself.
Now all eyes are only on me. “Let’s all get back to our day, please.” I turn and walk toward my office, with Yuri behind me. I need to get away from Jacob.
“Holy shit, Serena, that was amazing and hot.” I am trying to calm myself. I look at Yuri and cross my arms.
“She’s a bully. What’s your excuse? That outburst? You never act like that.”
“It’s just that she’s always going after things she knows she can’t have.” She doesn’t elaborate, so I don’t press her. “So, I guess that answers the question about Ian and you. Also, Jacob is a creep. I can still feel his pervy eyes on me. Ew.” I agree.
I change the conversation to her wedding because I don’t need any more attention on me. The whole office will be buzzing with gossip, and I’m sure that Selma has notified Ian about Mila’s visit. I see Yuri stiffen when I ask about the wedding, so I switch to the studio's anniversary celebration in a couple of months, and she tells me all about her ideas.
After spending longer than anticipated on my lunch date, I get back to work. When an email pops up. It’s my birthday invitation, and I see who’s been copied on the email. Ian Kayde. There goes me personally inviting him. I know Yuri thought I’d chicken out, so she beat me to the punch. I need to release some of this tension. I check the time; I can still make it to the late kickboxing class.
“So,are you and Annie coming to my birthday dinner?” I ask while catching my breath. My arms are aching from sparring with Nina. Sweat is running down my forehead and back. My legs are shaking from the combination of front kicks and side kicks she’s making me do.
“Yes, Annie and I will be there. So, think of this session as your pre-birthday gift.” I roll my eyes. “Your ass is going to look great in whatever you wear. You’re welcome, by the way.” She laughs. The joke’s on her. My ass already looks great.
I raise my hands in surrender. When I asked her to help me release some tension, I don’t remember asking her to kill me in the process.
“Do you need a date?” Her question catches me off guard.
“Um, no. I have my own birthday party covered, thanks.” Well, I think I do.
“It’s just a reminder that I can still call James.” Shit, for his sake, I’m not going down that road.
