Page 42 of Serena
“I can’t this weekend. I have a kid’s party to go to. The weekend after?”
“Sounds perfect. Would you like company for this weekend's festivities?”
“No, one day at a time, right?”
“One day at a time, for you, remember I’m miles ahead. One more thing. Augustus will be your driver moving forward.”
What the fuck. “Absolutely not.”
“Either that or you move in with me.”
“No to both. You’ve lost your mind.” I get off the desk and put myself together. “By the way, this isn’t me running. This is me walking away from a ridiculous conversation.”
“So, you called my brother?” Caleb asks from across the room. We’re at one of his bars, catching up on the last couple of weeks.
“Yes, he has people in that city, and I had a problem that I needed help with.”
Caleb and his brother, Damon, have a complex relationship. At the end of the day, we’re all family, but that doesn’t mean we get along or agree with one another. Unlike Caleb, who has more control over his emotions, Damon is a loose cannon.
“Who was the guy?” Caleb asks.
“He was some local, known for causing trouble with women. He won’t be missed.” I had Miles look into the guy; it’s true he won’t be missed. If anything, his being gone may give others peace. He was a piece of shit who got his kicks hurting people. There are a couple of outstanding warrants for his arrest, but they’ll never find him, at least not all of him.
I look at the tracker to check on Serena and see that she’s still at the kid’s birthday party. Claudia, her assistant, invited the entire office, so maybe I should show up. It’s not too late. Fuck space.
Thirty minutes later, I find myself in a park, surrounded by a bouncy house and tables with discarded paper plates with half-eaten cake and pizza. The remainder of what looks like an Iron Man piñata is on the ground, empty. Sugared-up little kids run around. It’s pure chaos. I see her sitting on a bench talking to Claudia and some other people from the office. She’s wearing jeans and a Loki T-shirt. She definitely likes the villains. Shit, I could have told her that.
“Hello.” The group looks at me, surprised by my arrival.
“Mr. Kayde, he-hello,” Claudia says.
“Serena, how lovely to see you.” I can see her turn red from all the eyes that move in her direction. That happened yesterday when my father showed up for an impromptu visit. I know he saw the way I looked at her. I don’t care; the more people who know, the better.
“I was in the neighborhood and thought I’d stop by. Here you go; this is for the birthday boy.” I hand her an envelope. On my way here, I stopped by the store and picked up a birthday card with a puppy on it. Kids love puppies. Don’t they? Shit, even I love puppies.
“Would you like some cake?”
“That would be lovely, Claudia, thanks.”
“Mr. Kayde, what are you doing here?” Serena asks. I narrow my eyes at the sound of my name.
Rolling her eyes. “I mean, Ian.”
There, better.“Like I said, I was in the neighborhood. By the way, nice shirt.”
Looking around, I catch the theme of the party. I’m the odd one out in my dark jeans and gray shirt.
“Thanks. I didn’t take you as a kid’s-party type of guy.”
“Oh, what kind of guy did you take me for?” I tease. I sense all eyes on us, but I couldn’t care less. She, on the other hand, does care.
“Well.” She shrugs. “It’s more of a bootcamp scenario.” She turns and looks at the miniature wrecking balls running around.
“I do like giving orders.” I wink.
I immerse myself in the conversations around me, sticking around for the opening of gifts. When it comes to my gift, it’s cash.
“Ian, you gave a five-year-old five hundred dollars?” Serena chastises me.
