Chapter 10
She had a cheery morning the next day and started singing in the shower. After getting dressed, she stepped out of her room and the door in front of hers opened. Lorcan yawned as he fixed his tie.
"Morning, Ser," said Lorcan.
"Morning Lorc," Serena smiled at him, "Did you sleep well?,".
"Not really, I was marathoning The Umbrella Academy and was on episode nine," Lorcan replied, "I hate Luther.. Oh my poor sweet Vanya..,".
"Oh yeah.. I've finished watching it last week, not going to spoil you then," said Serena as they walked down the stairs, heading to the dining room.
They just reached the bottom steps when the doorbell rang.
"I'll get it," said Serena as she walks towards the door.
She opened the entrance door and screamed in delight as Scott stood in front of her grinning. She literally threw herself on him, hugging him tight.
"I miss you too, sis," Scott laughed as he kissed the top of her head.
She gently pulled away from the hug and squealed again as Adrianna laughed behind him.
"Come stai, mio caro cugino?," asked Adrianna as they both embraced each other. (How are you, my dear cousin)
"Sto bene, grazie," Serena replied, beaming at the same time, "Scott didn't tell me that you're coming too,". (I'm doing fine, thank you).
Both Adrianna and Scott had stepped inside the threshold.
"Oh I'm not the only one who came here with Scott," said Adrianna as she glanced outside.
Serena turned and she frowned as Hendrick walked up the stone steps towards the entrance door. She walked up to the door as well and as Hendrick reached in front of the door frame grinning at her, she stopped in front of him, blocking him from getting inside.
"Hello, love," said Hendrick, his hand raised trying to caress her cheek.
But before he could touch her, Serena slammed the door right in front of his face, making both Scott and Adrianna gasp, and Hendrick groaning in pain. It took a whole five minutes for Thomas and Scott to persuade Serena to let Hendrick come inside the house. They were still puzzled why Serena had acted like that and Serena won't tell them. She gave Hendrick a silent treatment during breakfast and ignored every question from him until finally she stood up with the others to go to work. They waited on the porch for the SUV to arrive and Serena introduced Adrianna and Scott to Lorcan and Charlotte. As Hendrick reached up to her, the SUV's arrived thankfully and she followed Lorcan and Charlotte with Alex and Fabian behind her. She heard Scott chuckled and she gazed at the window, Hendrick frowned at her.
"So what's up with you and Hendrick?," asked Charlotte.
"I was going to ask the same question," said Alex, folding his newspaper.
"Nothing, just a friendly quarrel," Serena replied sarcastically.
"Well it doesn't look friendly when you block him in your contacts," Fabian said with a smirk.
Serena ignored him and looked into her phone. She smiles when she reads Lucas's text: Good morning, beautiful. I missed you again. It's like we're having a long distance relationship. Can't wait to see you this Sunday. Love you XXX. She didn't realize that Charlotte who was sitting next to her was reading the text from her shoulder.
"Love you??," she shouted gleefully, "Oh my God!! Are you two officially together?,".
"Who?," asked Alex and Fabian.
Serena's face had turned a deep shade of red.
"Lucas Whishaw?," Lorcan grinned.
"Who's Lucas Whishaw?," asked Alex.
"You have a boyfriend and you didn't tell me?," said Fabian indignantly, "I thought we're close cousins,".
"You guys still haven't answered my questions, who's Lucas Whishaw?," asked Alex again.
"Lucas Whishaw of Whishaw and Lloyd Builders," Charlotte replied dreamily, "You're finally together, I shipped,".
Serena still didn't say anything as she replied back Lucas's text: Can't wait to see you too. I'm on my way to the meeting though. Love you XXX.
"Awwhhh.. She reply Love You back..," Charlotte cooed at her.
"Charlotte, stop reading my messages," said Serena and she started pulling Charlotte's cheek, earning a yell from her.
"That reminds me, dad asks us to look at the itinerary for our New Zealand trip," said Fabian.
"Oooooo.. New Zealand..," said both Charlotte and Serena.
"I want to visit Hobbiton," said Lorcan, "But that's on the North Island,".
"Well we could plan it out though," said Serena, "Maybe we could stay for a few days in the North Island, then take a flight to South.. I mean, I always want to go to Hobbiton, and Rotorua, and Coromandel,".
"I can't wait to take a hike at Mount Cook," said Alex.
"Do you think your father allows you to bring Lucas?," asked Charlotte, winking at her.
"Just shut the fuck up, Charlotte," Serena replied.
They arrived at the Evans Constructions half an hour later and headed straight towards the meeting room. Most of the engineers and architects were already there waiting for them. Donna had already conducted a few of the staff to serve a light breakfast of pastries and tea for them. Serena and the others took a seat between Lorcan and Charlotte while Thomas and William sat at either end of the tables. Hendrick, Scott, and Charlotte wait for them at William's office.
The meeting went on smoothly and lasted for two hours. Serena, Lorcan, and Charlotte had all gone to William's office and started working from there, designing and Skyping their other staff, discussing their works in Manchester. Hendrick, Scott, and Adrianna were deep in conversations with William and Thomas which they wasted no time in telling both of the Evans what they have found out about the African Star.
"I don't get it though, why would your mother want it too?," asked Thomas, looking puzzled.
"Safety, dad.. Just in case if they threaten us," Scott replied.
"Well they've already did," said William, "Serena, Lorcan, and Charlotte were followed on Monday. Thank God Lorcan contacted his sister in the Scotland Yard, they got to arrest the men that followed them,".
"What? Who? Did the police know who they caught?," asked Adrianna.
They all looked at Serena, Lorcan, and Charlotte who were sitting at the other side of the office, discussing their work progress. They didn't notice they were being watched until Charlotte looked up and nudged both of them.
"What?," asked Serena, her eyes avoiding Hendrick.
"Did you ever find out who were following you guys a few days ago?," asked Scott.
"Yeah.. Sasha said they were Chinese gang from Beijing," Lorcan replied.
"Chinese?," said Adrianna rolling her eyes, "Great, the more gang the merrier,".
"Must be the Hong Long," said Hendrick, "They must have heard about the diamond too,".
"Wow.. It's like we're in the middle of international mafia wars here," said Charlotte.
"Well, wars are already starting since they all want the same thing," said Thomas.
"That's why we're here, dad," said Scott, "We're trying to trace down the diamond,".
Thomas nodded understandingly. They continued doing their work after that while Scott, Hendrick, and Adrianna decided to go out to start investigating. Lorcan and Charlotte decide to go and do takeaway at a nearby restaurant while Serena wants to get some coffee. She passed a cute coffee shop called The Reader and gave it a try. As she stepped in, the smell of cookies and coffee streamed down her nose making her stomach rumble. Books were arranged in rows at the shelves, sofas and cushions were set up like a normal living room.
She ordered ice Mocha and chose Quidditch Through The Ages to read before sitting at the window seat. Serena was half way reading the first page when she felt darkness looming over her. She glanced up and nearly screamed when Hendrick was staring at her through the glasses, pressing his forehead. She frowned at him and closed the book, drinking her Mocha and watching Hendrick come inside. He took a seat in front of her. Serena ignored him by looking in her phone.
"Hi..," said Hendrick sheepishly.
Serena didn't answer but merrily opened back her book and continued reading.
"Serena..," Hendrick called her quietly.
She still didn't answer. Hendrick sighed and snatched the book. Serena glared at him before starting putting her phone in her purse. Before she could stand up, Hendrick grabbed her hand and pulled her to sit back, while he stood up and rushed sitting next to her, trapping her against the window. Serena gazed angrily at him, and he chuckled.
"Seriously? You're angry at me, now?," Hendrick smirked at her.
He put his arm at the back of her seat, sitting closely to her.
"Move.. Or you will be moved," Serena glared at him.
"Is that from Captain America: Civil War, love?," asked Hendrick.
She didn't answer him but crossed her arms in front of her chest and looked at the window.
"Serena?," he called her again.
She still ignored him, then an idea came to her mind and she turned to look at him, smiling evilly. He looked at her puzzled. Using her full strength, she pushed him hard making him fall from his seat. There was laughter coming from other tables and Serena stepped over Hendrick smirking at him. Without saying a word, she left the café still smiling with Hendrick closely behind her.
"Serena.. Wait..," Hendrick called her from behind.
She keeps on walking until she reaches Evans Construction. Both of them stepped inside the elevator and once the elevator closed, Hendrick turned to her and pushed her against the wall making her gasped.
"What the fuck do you think you're doing, Metzger?," asked Serena gritting her teeth, her hands on his chest trying to push him off.
"You really test me out there, love," Hendrick growled as he lowered his face in her neck, "I was actually trying to apologize to you, but you ignored me completely, you even pushed me off,".
He gave a small chuckle.
"The leader of a German mafia was pushed by a girl in a café..," he chuckled again.
Serena's eyes linger at the number of the floor shown in the small screen above the buttons. Hendrick had started caressing her cheek and as his lips started closing on her, she started to panic. She watched as the numbers got closed, she had to take a chance on this. Mustering her courage, she quietly positioned her legs to aim, and using her energy, she kicked him right on his balls, making him yelp and fell on the floor of the elevator.
"Serena..," Hendrick groaned in pain.