Title: Planning a Revenge Chapter 3 Author: Ashley E-mail: Nuriko56@hotmail.com Standard Disclaimer Apply Serena knew, when she looked into Darien Chiba's icy blue gaze and sawit narrow to laser-like intentness the moment before he smiled, that theshort jade-green silk cocktail dress, with its wafer-thin straps and simple crossover style bodice, had been worth every penny. And the matchingshoes, with their high, high heels and neat little ankle straps, were justright too, emphasising her long legs and slim shape perfectly. The price had been astronomical, but it had been the way the outfit showed off her figure that had made her hesitate in purchasing it atfirst. Since Allan Ginga's attack, she had been chary about wearing anythingtoo revealing, hiding in big baggy tops and jeans the first year, beforeslowly graduating to more tailored feminine clothes as time had gone on--butalways with a view to modesty and propriety. But you didn't go somewhere like Harvey's muffled up to the ears. Even she knew that. And so… "You look very lovely, Serena." She wondered if the sexy huskiness as his deep voice lingered over her name was a well-tried and proved strategy? Whatever, it was veryaffective. But she was immune to his charm. She was. "Thank you." She smiled brightly. He looked absolutely wonderful, but she wasn't going to tell him so. The light cream dinner jacket sat onthe big male shoulders in way that proclaimed the wearer was used to suchformal wear, and there was an easy grace about him that suggested restrained animalpower. He as a sensual man… The thought shocked her into stepping out of thehall and into the street beyond as she said, "Shall we go?" in as neutral avoice as she could manage. She had been ready and waiting in the hall for his knock for over fifteen minutes, determined he wasn't going to set foot inside thehouse. She didn't want him in the place, and most certainly not in her flat,although she couldn't quite have explained why. She had tried to tell herself it was because she needed to keep all this on her terms, but it wasn't that,not really. She just didn't want him getting…close. "Do I make you nervous, Serena?" He had ushered her into the cab with gentle decorum, making politesmall talk for some moments, so now, as he twisted to face her, the blue eyeshard on her flushed face, he didn't miss the start she gave at his softlyvoiced question. "Nervous? Of course not!" She forced a light laugh, and then coughed as it strangled in her throat. "Good…" He didn't sound as though he believed her, and his next words added weight to this impression when he said, still in the same quiet,soft one, "You don't want to believe everything you hear, you know. One ofthe disadvantages of a high profile is that rumours abound on all fronts,whether personal or workwise. If I had done or said all the things accreditedto me I'd have burnt myself out long ago." "And you're not burnt out," she stated with provocative primness,almost as though she disapproved. He wanted to laugh, but managed to restrain the impulse, knowing it would not be appreciated. She intrigued him, this serious dark-blueeyes, silky blonde haired beauty; she intrigued him very much. There wassomething about her he couldn't fathom, and it made a pleasant change from mostof the women he knew, who were veritable open books. "no, I'm not burnt out, Serena," he agreed with straight-facedcontrol, and then, as she nodded solemnly before dropping her eyes andmoistening her lips with a small pink tongue, he felt his breath quicken and astirring in his loins. It was that, the almost tangible innocence about her, he told himself with self-deprecating mockery, that got him. She was full of littlegestures like that, but he'd bet his life she wasn't aware of the effect theyhad on the average male. But she must be. You didn't get to her age, lookinglike she did, without knowing a thing or two. She was just more subtle thanmost; that was all. But he liked it. He had to admit he liked it. Harvey's was nowhere as big as Serena had expected it to be, but inevery other respect it came up to expectation. The small tables clusteredaround the dance floor were shadowed and intimate, the food was superb, and thefrothy pink cocktails followed by a bottle of champagne that gave a newmeaning to the phrase "nectar of the gods" were out of this world. It was clearly a place to see and be seen, and judging by the numberof people who tried to catch Darien Chiba's eyes, Serena assumed he hadmore than a little influence. And didn't he just love it? Serena thought toherself, as the head waiter glided over to their table for the umpteenth time tocheck if everything was all right. The ostentation, the peacock-like display allof those present--he took it all in through those narrowed blue yeswithout betraying a single thought or emotion. An ice man. She gave a mentalnod to the thought. Definitely a control freak… And then the tasteful little floor show ended, just as Serena finished the most delicious liqueur coffee of her life, and Darien rose slowly,his eyes slumberous as he said, "Dance with me, Serena?" Dance with him? She stared up at him, her eyes wide. Of course she should have expected this, prepared herself for it, but foolishly shehad been so taken up with the spectacle of it all that she hadn't thought aboutdancing with him. He looked very big and very dark, the pale cream of his dinner jacket emphasising the threatening enigmatic maleness, and she suddenly feltshe had caught a tiger by the tail. She must be mad--stark mad--to think shecould influence Darien Chiba by the tiniest amount. He was a man who usedwomen for his own purposes, it was written all over him, and she was way, way outof her league here. "Serena?" He held out his hand, and she could do nothing else but rise and take it, her stomach quivering as his warm flesh made contact withhers. Once on the dance floor a new realisation of his bigness swept overher as he took her into his arms, and she had to steel herself not topanic. This was the first time in years--since Allan Ginga's attack, in fact--thatshe had consciously allowed a man to hold her in this way. The thought didnothing to help the little shivers flickering down her spine as she subtle butdelicious smell of him encompassed her. And then her chin rose a notch and her mouth tightened resolutely. She could do this, she could, and if she could handle being in DarienChiba's arms, she could handle being in anyone's. There was nothing likestarting at the top and working down… "Relax." His voice was deep and quiet above her head as he nestled the soft, silky curls with his chin and pulled her a little closer. "Idon't know what stories you've heard about the big, bad wolf, but I'm not going toeat you. You're quite safe." "I know." Her voice wasn't as steady as she would have liked to be, and then, as he chuckled low in his throat and said, "Now that's not a very nicething to say. I must be slipping," she took a long, hard, silent breath andprayed for control. This was just social intercourse, flirting, part of a date. That was all. She knew it, in her head, but was so out of practice in this realmthat every little word or gesture he made was intimidating. And then she felt him move slightly, and he pulled away enough to lift her chin with one hand as he stared down into her huge blue eyes."You're enchanting, do you know that?" he murmured softly. "A lady ofcontrasts." "Contrasts?" She dared not relax into the sensual intimate mood he was creating--this had to move along slowly, very slowly. No doubt he wasused to women falling into bed with him at the drop of a hat, and in thesophisticated worldly circles in which he moved affairs were conducted with aswiftness that could take your breath away, she thought silently. But this time, thistime he wasn't going to have it all his own way. "I don't think so." "But, yes." The husky voice did nothing to her nerve-endings that was undescribable. "I've seen the smart, efficient career woman, totallysure of herself and her ability to deliver the goods, the sophisticated beautywho has dazzled and bewitched every man in the place, and then there's theother Serena, the gentle, innocent, shy little girl…" It hurt. The "innocent" hurt--which was ridiculous really, when shehad thought she'd got over Allan Ginga stealing what should have been hersto give long ago. "Gentle, innocent, shy little girl''?" She smiled as she said it, and he would never know how much self-discipline it took. "In London?" But he had seen the brown darken to ebony, and the impact of his words in the dark depths. "Why not?" he countered easily. "They tell me theage of miracles is not yet passed." And then he drew her close again, and she had to concentrate all her efforts on staying upright as the feel and smell of him caused her legsto turn to jelly. She tried to tell herself it was nerves that was sendingtiny electric shocks all over her body, but she knew, even before he benthis head and took her lips in the lightest of kisses, that it wasn't that. She was attracted to him. The shock of self-awareness along with the feel of his warm, firm lips on hers stunned her for a moment, and hehad raised his head again, continuing to move easily around the small dancefloor, weaving in and out of the other couples who had joined them, before she regained her senses. Oh, no, she didn't want to be attract to Darien Chiba--he was the last man in the world she wanted to feel anything for, albeit a purelyphysical desire of the flesh. Her mind continued to scream a warning all the time she was in hisarms, and she was heartily glad when the music finished and he led her backto their table, one hand in the small of her back. "So…" He smiled at her once they were seated. "Tell me a bit about yourself," he said softly. Oh, help. The beautiful wild silk dress, the incredibly expensive tousled sexy hairdo and carefully applied make-up didn't seem muchprotection against that laser-sharp gaze when it hit head-on. "Me?" she squeaked weakly. "There's not anything to tell." "I don't believe you." It wasn't so much what he said as the way he said it that caused the alarm bells to go off, and her eyes widened for a moment before sheforced a smile and said, "Well, if you don't mind a boring thirty second…?" "Try me," he said evenly, his eyes tight on her face. "Born twenty-two years ago, parents died when I was a child, livedwith my aunt and uncle and cousins before going to university and thengetting my present job." She smiled brightly. "That's it." The hell that was it. The more he knew about her the less he knew, Darien thought darkly. And the way she had trembled in his arms on thatdance floor… "You were wrong. It wasn't boring, and it only lasted ten seconds," he said easily. "So, where did you live as a child? Here in London?" "No." she didn't want to say, but there was no way she could avoid it without making him suspicious. "Scotland, actually." "With your father's kin?" he pressed gently. "His sister--my aunt Ikuko." "Right." He nodded slowly. "Beautiful place to spend your childhood. I had some business interests in that neck of the woods a while back, asit happens, although I didn't get up there much." No, you just sent that slimeball of a brother-in-law of yours, Serena thought grimly as she smiled and said, "Really?" "Yes, near Inverness. A little company we bought and then sold on." Oh, yes, she knew all about him selling it on--it hadn't been justRaye who had lost her job in the merger, but half the workforce. Not thatRaye had cared about her job at that point; she had been too devastated by thatChad Mitchell's betrayal and the loss of her baby. Her cousin hadn't had aclue that the young, dynamic handsome troubleshooter was married, and he hadplayed her like a master violinist util she was putty in his hands. "Sold on?" Serena looked straight at him and tried for an artlessly ingenuous tone as she said, "Don't people lose their jobs when thathappens?" "Not always." The blue eyes sharpened somewhat, so perhaps the open, simple approach hadn't worked. "And we try to minimise redundancieswherever we can." His tone was slightly irritable--he clearly didn't like the way the conversation was going, Serena thought with some satisfaction. As aseduction technique it wasn't a winner… "I see." She kept her voice guileless. "That must be a comfort to people." "Yes." It was abrupt. The piercing gaze was trying to dissect her mind. He clearly wasn't at all sure where she was coming from and whether to take her words atface value. Serena thought delightedly, relishing the moment. She decidednot to push her luck any further, contenting herself with, "I'm not sure it'svery heavy responsibility for you," before she said, "And you? What aboutyou?" "I'm sure I couldn't tell you anything more than you know already," he said coolly, with a lift of dark, sardonic eyebrows. "One thing I havecome to realise is that you do your homework very thoroughly." Touche, Mr. Chiba. "Thank you." She smiled sweetly. "I try to be as conscientious as time and resources permit." Something had shifted in the last few minutes, and he wasn't sure what it was. He stared at her, hi eyes searching and his mouth straight. Butone thing was for sure; what you saw was not what you got with Miss Serena Tsukino. And now, added to the intrigue he felt about this woman, he recognised excitement too, and it had been a long, long time since that particular emotion had stirred his mind and body… They left Harvey's at gone one in the morning, and Serena didn't wantto acknowledge that she had enjoyed herself immensely, but she had. Sincetheir conversation about Scotland nothing faintly personal had beendiscussed, Darien putting himself out to be an entertaining, amusing and verywitty dinner companion, with a darkly wicked line in humour that exactlymatched her own. And more disturbing still, if she had reflected on it, was the factthat for most of the evening she had completely forgotten her purpose inaccepting a date with Darien Chiba. Raye and Chad and all that side of things hadbeen a million miles from her thoughts. But it all resurfaced as they stepped out to the flamboyantly unreal world of the nightclub into the warm, traffic-scented London night, andDarien took her arm as he said, his voice soft and husky, "Fancy a nightcap atmy place?" "I don't think so." The taxi was waiting, and as he opened her door and she slid into the leather-cad interior, he added, "I do mean just a nightcap, Serena, incase you were wondering." Oh, yes, and pig might fly. "I'm sure you do," she lied carefully, forcing herself not to not any reaction as he joined her on the backseat, high thigh against hers and his arm loosely round the back of the seat,half resting against her shoulders. "But I've got to get up for work in the morning." "Home it is, then." Perversely she felt quite peeved at his easy acceptance of her refusal, her eyes on his dark profile as he leantforward in the seat to give the taxi driver her address. She was close enough tosee the dark, budding growth of his beard underneath the firm, tanned skin ofhis face, the way his chiselled cheekbones empahsised the strength of hismouth and his very male square chin. It was a sexy mouth… as he relaxed back in the sat again she jerked her mind back from such dangerous thoughts, but could do nothing to stop the hot colourflooding up under her skin. She didn't want to be attracted to Darien Chiba, infact he was the very last man in the world she wanted to feel anything for, buthe seemed to have provoked a whole host of confusing emotions she hadn'tbeen aware of until this moment. He frightened her. She wrestled with the thought for a moment or two, unwilling to give it credence but then submitted to the truth. Yes, hedid. He frightened her. But not in the normal sort of way. It was more as ifshe was frightened of herself when she was with him… Oh, don't be so plain stupid, she told herself angrily as the taxidrew away from the curb and Darien turned to her, very much the smooth,assured man about town as he made some casual remark about the evening. He's justyour average common or gardens rat, that's all. Don't give him powers hedoesn't possess. Nevertheless, she was vitally aware of the big male body next to heras the taxi sped across town, the latent power in the muscled frame andthe alien smell and feel of him intrusive, and such was her relief when the taxidrew up outside the big old terraced house in which her flat was housed, thatshe was out of the car before he had had time to come round and open her door. She saw one dark eyebrow quirk, heard him say something she couldn't quite catch to the taxidriver, and then he had walked round to join heron the pavement. "Thank you for a lovely evening," she said, a little too quickly. "I'll be in touch about Miss Molly Osaka's survey and--" "Serena, I always see my dates home," he said evenly. "I am home." She stared up into the dark, expressionless face in surprise. "It's nearly half past one in the morning; I would prefer to see youto your door," he said coolly. "There's no need, really." She smiled brightly, but it was water offthe duck's back, and the handsome, cold face didn't alter expression by somuch as the blink of an eyelid. Oh, wonderful, absolutely one hundred per cent wonderful, Serena thought testily. He was clearly going to make anissue of this, and what was with the late hour, and the taxi purring away gentlyin the background, she really didn't feel like a head-on confrontation. She stared at him for a moment more before conceding defeat. At least he'd got the message that she wasn't in the running for a quick tumblebetween the sheets anyway, she reassured herself silently. She couldn't havemade that any clearer. But, Raye or no Raye, she wouldn't have another date withhim--if he asked her to, that was. This whole thing had been a crazy idea andshe wished, oh, she so wished she'd never started it. Once the sale of the house had gone through she would make an appointment to see him and tell him exactly what she thought of him.She would have love to do it now, but it wasn't fair on Rita and Andrew to blowsuch a huge contract and be totally unprofessional into the bargain. "Serena?" She realised she was still staring at him somewhat vacantly andflushed slightly, her voice defensive when she said, "I…I'd better open thedoor," and turned towards the house. She could feel him right behind her as she fumbled with the key, and, ridiculous though she knew it was, it panicked her; the memory of howit had been with Allan Ginga--her innate helplessness beneath his malestrength, his brutality, his overwhelming sexual desire--suddenly flaring into life. Once inside the dark hall, she switched on the light quickly, and then hid her hands behind her back as she realised they were trembling."My…my flat is at the top of the house. I'll be perfectly all right now…" "I'm sure you will, but I prefer to make sure," he said reasonably. She nodded, masking her nervousness under a light laugh as she said, "Don't tell me--you're the sort of man who sees old grannies across theroad and gives up his seat for a lady?" "A dying breed," he agreed with a smile. Dammit, she was like a cat ona hot tin roof. What the hell had she heard about him to make her likethis? He followed her up the two flights of stairs slowly, and by the time they reached the top floor of the house he admitted to himself he wasangry. She made him feel like some sorts of sexual pervert, he thought grimly,and he didn't like it one bit. Her hands had been shaking when she'd tried toopen that damn door; he'd seen them. Did she really think he was sodesperate for a woman that he would take one against her will? Was that it? His thoughts made his voice curt as Serena paused outside the frontdoor of the flat. "Right, have a look inside and make sure everything is allright and I'll be off." She scuttled inside like a frightened rabbit, reappearing a fewmoments later to say, "Everything's fine," her eyes huge and dark in the dimfrom the one solitary lightbulb on the narrow landing, and her golden hairglowing softly. He had intended, after the last few minutes, to leave without touching her again, so now, as he suddenly stepped forward and took her in hisarms, he was surprised as she was. Before she could really grasp what was happening, his dark head hadbent to hers and his mouth had taken hers in a delicate, tantalising kissthat was warm and unhurried and very, very pleasurable. For one moment she couldsense his restrained power, the breadth and height of his big body, the smellof his skin and the dark force of his maleness, and she was aware she wasenjoying being in his arms, wanting more--and then he stepped away from her, hisvoice cool as he said, "Goodnight, Serena. Sleep well." Sleep well? She watched, stunned, as he turned, without another wordor a backward glance, and disappeared down the stairs. He had gone? Just like that? She continued standing at the open door until the sound of the taxi driving away in the street outside joltedher out of her daze, and then she turned quickly, entering the flat and closingthe door with an irritable gesture that almost made her door bang. How could she have let him kiss her like that? How could she have enjoyed it, more to the point? She knew what he was like, for goodness'sake. Besides all the trauma about Raye, her research had shown that he had a different woman for every day of the week, and that none of them lastedabove a few months or so. He was a philanderer, a typicalmillionaire-playboy-type, although in his case he worked hard and played hard, rather than justthe latter. She shut her eyes tightly, leaning against the closed door andtouching her lips with a tentative hand as they continued to tingle with thememory of the sensually soft kiss. She hadn't been frightened or repulsed by his embrace. The relief she would have felt at such self-awareness over anyother man was completely missing. In fact--and now her eyes snapped open andshe groaned softly--she would have liked the kiss to continue, would haveliked to snuggle closer into that male-scented body and have him really kissher. No, no, she wouldn't. She bounced her head sharply in agreement to the declaration, her mouth thinning and her body straightening. DarienChiba was the enemy, however he had tried to appear tonight. And, apart from thatone last meeting she had promised herself, she was going to have nothingmore to do with him. There was a lot more to Miss Serena Tsukino than met the eye. DarienChiba's face was thoughtful as he slid back into the taxi after giving theaddress of his apartment in Kensington to the driver. He had sensed that earlierin the evening at Harvey's, and now the sensation that she was hidingsomething came back even more strongly, vying with the urge of sexual desire thatstill had him as hard as a rock. How long had it been since a woman had affected him like this one? Years…over a decade in fact. His mind touched on Melissa, but thememory of her had long since ceased to hold any power to hurt. He had been wildfor a time after she had let him down so badly, indulging in one one-nightstand after another, until the shock of his father's death had sobered him upa little. The steadying process had been completed when his mother haddied and Amy had become so ill--and he had found out the dark secret his motherhad thought she had taken to her grave… He made a physical movement with his body to dismiss the blackness reflections on that time always induced, his handsome face hardeningbefore it settled into the chilling mask of cold imperturbability with which henormally faced the world. He didn't know if it was wise to see Serena Tsukino again, but hewould. He shut his eyes, leaning back against the seat for all the world as ifhe was dozing, although sleep was the last thing on his mind. He had had ataste of her now, and he wanted more, much more. She wasn't the type he normally went for, this willo'-the-wisp Golden- haired beauty, who was such an engaging mixture of brash career womanand shy, elusive innocent, but that didn't matter. Of course, the image she projected was a carefully nurtured one, no doubt--on all counts. He sighed cynically. And about as real as SantaClaus in this dog-eat-dog world. But it was alluring, beguiling--as it was meantto be. Yes, he was going to enjoy finding out who and what the real Serena Tsukino was… Stay tune for…chapter 4. Many thanks to those who'd e-mailed me. Keep the mails coming!