Chapter Two

Serena

I return to the bar for another drink, proud of myself. I never really stood up to either of them after everything went down last year. I was hurting too much, grieving the thing I never had the chance to have because of them—the one thing I will never forgive any of them for. I down my drink because I can’t think of these things, not tonight. I have other things to focus on.

I turn around on the stool and scan the room. I am looking for a certain person. He should be here unless Henry got his way, and he was kept away. My eyes finally fall on him, and I smirk. I run my eyes over him. He looks good in his dark grey suit with his dark hair slicked back. He has the same confident, cocky aura about him that he has always had. Conall Arison, Henry’s half-brother. A product of his father’s infidelity. The one person Henry hates the most in this world. He hates him with every ounce of his being, even more because he has the same surname rather than his mothers. Conall is younger by two years. The family didn’t know about him until five years ago.

I finish my drink and saunter over to him, confidently. He is in a conversation with a business associate of the family. I tap on his shoulder. He seems a little annoyed, but when he looks over his shoulder and sees me standing there, his annoyance disappears and a smirk curls on his lips.

“Hello, stranger. It has been a while. Where have you been hiding?”

“Did you miss me?”

He excused himself from the people he was talking with, who are now glaring at me. Why am I being treated like the bad one? Henry is the one who cheated on me.

Conall runs his eyes over me from head to toe, and a groan falls from his lips. “Of course. Damn, sweetness, divorce looks good on you. Where have you been?”

I bite my lower lip and place my hand on his strong chest. “You are looking good too, but you always have. How about you buy me a drink and I will tell you all about it?”

He nods and places his hand on the small of my back, keeping me close. We pass by Henry and Felicity on the way to the bar. I smile sweetly at them. Henry looks pissed.

Conall buys us our drinks and leads us to a table away from everyone, but in the eyeline of Henry to make him squirm. He rests his hand on the small of my back. I shudder under his touch. The fact that his hand is on me makes anyone we walk by shake their head in disgust. We smirk as we go, pissing them off even more.

He allows me to sit down first and slips in next to me, sitting as close as possible, which I don’t mind. He slips his arm around me, over the back of the booth. I glance over at Henry, and he looks like he wants to kill Conall. I don’t see the problem. Henry is the one who cheated on me with my best friend, who he plans on marrying, so why does it bother him? Conall doesn’t seem fazed by it.

Conall puts all his attention on me. “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.” I reply 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.” I shrug.

“Back with a vengeance?”

“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.” he chuckles. “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?” I ask, resting my hand on his thigh.

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

“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.”

Conall reaches in and caresses my cheek with the pad of his thumb. My skin heats under his touch. Henry is watching his every move. “It depends on what you expect from me and what is in it for me?”

I will answer his question honestly because I need him to know what is expected of him if he agrees to the arrangement.

“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,” I whisper seductively, nibbling on my lower lip.

He is breaking right in front of me.

“I am sure I can manage it. We can have a lot of fun with it.” He answers without hesitation.

I knew I could count on him.

“Mmm, I knew you wouldn’t disappoint me, handsome.” I rasp, massaging his thigh.

A deep growl rumbles in his throat. “I really am loving this new side of you, gorgeous. It is sexy and feisty. I was used to you being reserved and quiet. Your confidence is sexy as hell. I don’t doubt that you are going to make my brother regret everything he did to you.

“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, sweetness. I am yours to use in any way you please.” he says.

If we continue to dwell too much on the past, then too many questions will be asked, and I am not here to answer them. I am not here to think about the past. I am here for my revenge, and I plan on focusing on only that.