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Serenity
PROLOGUE
At thirteen
NEW ORLEANS
“Beloved Roger and Leticia Blanchet,forever in our hearts.”
I read and reread the inscription on the tombstone of my parents' grave in the cemetery. Eight years ago, they passed away.
I come to visit them every time I'm back in Louisiana, but not for the reason JeAnne, my nanny, thinks—that I'm missing them.Rather, it’s to force myself not to forget them, since to me, they are complete strangers.
Forever in our hearts.
Inmyheart?
Yes. That's how it should be.
It is the duty of children to mourn the death of their parents.
Even if, from time to time, I feel angry at them for leaving me alone in the world.
Beloved Roger and Leticia . . .
Beloved Serenity? By whom? By JeAnne, whom I only see twice a year? By Mr. Van Lith, who receives a paycheck to take care of me? The boarding school teachers who barely know my name?
No, I am not beloved Serenity, always in everyone's hearts.
I am lonely Serenity, whom no one remembers.
Ares
CHAPTER ONE
NEW YORK - SIN NIGHTCLUB
“Don't come here again.You weren't hired for that.”
I see the face of the woman, my employee, turn red as she clearly thinks about how to answer.
“I . . .”
“Let us both save our time. I don't go out with SINdancers. You're beautiful, but I'm not interested. I never mix business and pleasure, and if you come to my office again, you can kiss your job goodbye”.
I can see that she's embarrassed, but I don't care. My mood, which normally fluctuates between boredom and anger, is shit right now.
I was leaving to solve an unexpected problem when, for the third time in a week, one of the new dancers invaded my office with the excuse of cleaning it.
This is not an isolated incident, involving a single employee, and I know it won't be the last. Eventually, one of them tries to jump in my bed, insinuate themselves. I've had to fire severalwho thought that because they worked for me, they would have some chance of seducing me, but I never mix sex with business.
I watch her retreat and leave with her head down, but I don't feel sorry for her. She knew the fucking rules when she was hired.
And right now, I have a much bigger problem to deal with.
Rey Cardona de la Vega.
The damn reclusive Spaniard with whom my brothers and I have been trying to close a deal for months, has made our lives a living hell with his stubbornness.