Chapter Two

Conall

I order us drinks at the bar, leading us to a table right in the eyeline of my half-brother. I want to watch him squirm. Serena is the last person I expected to see tonight, especially after she disappeared without a trace for an entire year, but she is back and seems better than ever. I know she is back for a reason. She is up to something; I can sense it. My gut tells me I am part of that plan. I will happily partake.

I allow her to sit first and join her, sitting as close as possible to her and slipping my arm around her over the back of the seat. I glance over at Henry and smirk. He looks like he wants to kill me. I don’t see the problem; he is the one who cheated on her with her best friend, who he now plans on marrying. But to be honest, I don’t care what he thinks. He can’t hate me more than he already does.

I return my attention to Serena. “Tell me, Serena, what brings you here tonight?”

“I thought it was time to make an appearance. I see nothing exciting has happened since what happened, if people are still whispering about it.” She replies with an eye roll.

“You know what they are like. Where have you been for the last year?”

“Here and there. Making money, working on myself and healing.” She shrugs.

“Back with a vengeance?”

Her lips curl into a smirk. “Oh, you don’t know the half of it. Henry took something from me, and I will never forgive him for it. I don’t mean the affair. I plan on showing him what he is missing, driving him crazy and finding a way to make him jealous.”

“Do you mean like you are doing right now? He looks like he could kill me.” I chuckle. “And what could be worse than an affair?”

“I don’t want to talk about it, but he knows, and she does too. And yes, there is a reason I searched for you. You are the only other person who hates him as much as I do. Help a girl out?” she asks, resting her hand on my thigh.

“Hmm, are you using my crush I had on you against me now?”

Not a crush, we aren’t teenagers, but I did like her. I was attracted to her. I wanted her, and she knew it because I told her while she was still married to my brother.

“Maybe, are you up for it? If not, it is fine. I am sure I can find someone else, but they won’t get under his skin the way you can.”

I reach in and caress her cheek, knowing Henry’s eyes are firmly on me. “It depends on what you expect from me and what is in it for me?”

“I need you to pretend like we are together. I need you to take me to any company and family events as your date. The rest, I can do myself. As for what is in for you, we will see how well you play the part, and only if you do a good job, then I will reward you,” she whispers seductively, biting on her lower lip.

I will happily give her what she needs. Henry has made my life hell since he found out about me. He blames me for everything bad that has happened, even though our father has always been a male hoe! He has cheated with more women than my mother, but he doesn’t care about that. All his anger is directed at me and my mother.

“I really am loving this new side of you, gorgeous. It is sexy and feisty.” I groan.

She used to be reserved and quiet. Her confidence was nowhere near the level it seems to be now. Yes, my brother ruined and humiliated her, but I truly believe she is going to make him regret it.

“Me too! I am done with allowing people to walk all over me and take what they want.”

“Good for you, Serena and rightly so after what he put you through.”

“Anyway, enough about the past.”

“Whatever you want. When does our little show start for everyone?”

Serena rests her lips at my ear. The warmth of her breath against my skin is enough to make me shudder. “How about right now. Shall we give them something else to talk about?” she purrs, kissing below my ear.

I moan and nod. Serena comes face-to-face with me again. I don’t want another minute. I grasp her face in my hand and claim her lips in mine. Oh, I have fantasised about this more than once. She whimpers into my lips, placing her hand on my cheek and kisses back. Our lips work in perfect sync. Her lips are so soft and warm. I put a little more pressure on her lips, and she doesn’t seem to mind. We are putting on a great show.

“What the fuck do you think you are doing?”

I would recognise that angry voice anywhere. Serena smirks into my lips before she parts from the kiss. We focus our attention on Henry.

“Kissing, what does it look like? Not like it is any of your business.” Serena snarls.

“It is my business. He is my half-brother. What do you think you are doing?”

Serena rolls her eyes and scoffs. “And? Felicity was my best friend, but it didn’t stop you from screwing her. Please go away. I am busy.”

“So you came back and decided to act like a whore?”

No! He doesn’t get to talk to her about that. I jump to my feet. “Don’t you dare call her that.”

“Stay out of this.” He warns, glaring at me.

I clench my fists, trying to calm myself before I jump over the table and punch him. I go to say something, but before I can, Serena springs to her and stands in front of him.

“You can call me what you want and think what you want, but the truth is, I don’t give a damn. Your opinion means nothing. I will do what and who I please, and you can’t do anything about it. Go away.” She demands, pushing at his chest.

His face is priceless. He is shocked at her behaviour.

“What happened to you? You never used to be like this.” He asks, shaking his head, disappointed in her. A right he does not have.

“You happened to me, Henry. No one will ever hurt me or push me around again. You should watch your back because I plan on getting you back for what you caused, for walking away from me as I lay in a hospital bed. For taking the one thing I wanted most in the world away from me, something I will never forgive you for. You have two seconds to walk away, or I swear I will tell everyone the truth.” She threatens.  

What did he cause? I know she ended up in the hospital because she fell when she ran away after seeing Henry and Felicity together. Everyone knew about that, but what no one knew was that he left her there alone, but I feel like there is more to it.

Henry looks scared of her threat. He rushes off without another word. Serena takes her seat next to me again.

“Are you okay?” I ask.

“Yes, can we go somewhere else for a drink, please?”

“Sure, let's go.”

I am not the biggest fan of these events. I will happily leave with her and see where the night takes us.