Page 48 of Serena (Shattered Queens #1)

This last week has been all hands on deck.

The accounting department is down a person, and the branding will be revealed in a couple of days.

Last week, Jacob emailed his letter of resignation.

He didn’t bother to show up in person. Maggie in Human Resources received an anonymous email with documents showing Jacob was stealing from the company.

It’s been going on for a couple of years.

Everyone failed to notice because he created a vendor and pocketed the funds.

He was in charge of those accounts and billing.

I have my suspicions about what happened, but I don’t care enough to ask, and I know Ian had something to do with it.

Today, I’m able to leave the office at a decent time and make it to my kickboxing class.

I’ve been trying to keep up with the classes because they help relieve stress and clear my head.

Jacob may have admitted to following me, but I still have an uneasy feeling.

I still have the urge to look over my shoulder.

Having worked up an appetite, I go to the café close to my apartment. I order my food when I hear, “Hello, Serena.” I turn to find Derek sitting down.

“Derek, what are you doing here?”

“I had to come back to get the rest of my things. I couldn’t move my whole life in two weeks, so my buddy stored some of my things at his place.

I took a couple of days from the new job, and here I am.

I thought about reaching out, but I figured it was best to leave things as they are. How are you doing?”

“I’m doing well. Work is great but busy.” There is an awkwardness between us.

“Want to sit down while you wait for your order?” he asks. I nod and take a seat across from him.

“So, tell me about your job?” I figure that's a safe middle ground.

“Well, it’s pretty fantastic, the pay is great, and so are the people I work with. I also started seeing someone; it’s going slow, but I really like her.”

“I’m happy for you.” I genuinely am. Derek is a good guy, thinking back, maybe too good.

Sure, we both agreed to be each other's casual hookup, but part of me knew that he wanted more.

And the more was something I couldn't, no, wouldn't be able to give him.

“I know things between us were complicated, but I am truly happy for you,” I tell him.

“You know, I hoped that eventually you would see me as something else, someone you may want to try a relationship with, someone you would call when you were having a bad day, but you never let me in. Physically, you did, but emotionally, there were always thousands of miles between us. Now, you seem different. I can’t quite put my finger on it. ”

“I’m sorry, Derek.”

“Thanks for saying that, but that’s the past. I do hope you find your happiness. So, about the job. Being Director of Sales at Barron Communications is tough, but I’ve got a handle on it.”

“Wait, what?” I interrupt, “Barron Communications?”

“Yes, it’s…”

“Isn’t it owned by Kayde Corporations?” I finish.

“Yeah. How do you know?”

“I work in their financial department, but when I was getting ready for my job interview months ago, I researched all of Kayde Corporation’s subsidiaries, which included those previously owned by Abigail Kayde’s family.”

“Derek, you told me the promotion was offered to you?”

“Yes,” he confirms.

My first thoughts go to Ian. Did he have something to do with this? But I met Ian after Derek moved. I’m lost in my thoughts when the waiter brings my food to the table. Why? Derek and I were never serious. If anything, this conversation solidifies that.

“Serena?” Derek's voice brings me back.

“Sorry, I was thinking about something I forgot to do at work.”

“No problem.” He continues to tell me about his new apartment, the coworker he’s seeing, and I can’t help but smile. I’m happy that he’s happy.

I still can’t shake my gut feeling that Ian had something to do with this.

After what seems like hours, Derek and I go our separate ways.

It’s safe to say, I am fucking pissed. A relationship with Derek was never an option.

Just thinking about Ian manipulating my life makes my temper flare.

Things with Ian are going great, but they never would have come to this if Derek were still living here.

I would probably still be fucking him regularly.

I’m not Yuri; I don’t come from a wealthy family or a prestigious name. I’m just me, broken and flawed. There is nothing special about me. Fuck, I hate when my insecurities surface. I don’t admit them out loud because that would make me too vulnerable.

Thinking back to the first time I met Ian, nothing stands out. I need answers, but there aren’t many ways to get those from him, unless I use his weakness against him. I need to make a quick stop at my apartment.

I use the keycard that Ian gave me weeks ago as a birthday gift.

I don’t really use it because he’s always with me.

He wants me to always have access to him day or night, which is ridiculous since he spends almost every night at my place.

I let him know I’d be stopping by after work, but that was hours ago.

I’m surprised he hasn’t sent out the cavalry.

He had late meetings scheduled to take place at his home office.

I make my way down the hall to it, and I can hear him.

His voice emanates control and power and is dominating the meeting.

He’s throwing commands at whoever is on the screen.

I open the door enough for him to see me.

He nods, giving me the okay to come in. I place my purse on the coffee table that sits between a small couch and chairs.

Ian’s sitting behind his desk, wearing his white shirt and dark-gray business suit, his hair perfectly styled even after a full day at the office.

His green eyes focus on me when I walk into the room.

I catch my breath. Even though there’s a screen in front of him, it’s me he’s focused on.

I went home and changed, switching out my workout outfit for this cute dress. It’s a floral, spaghetti strap, above-the-knee dress with buttons down the front. I know he notices the change in my wardrobe. His eyes are scanning up and down my body.

I give him a wicked smile, lifting my eyebrow and walking toward him.

I stop next to the desk, making sure I’m out of the camera’s view.

He clicked a button on his laptop. He turns his chair and reaches out for me, grabbing my waist and pulling me to him.

Every time he touches me, my skin feels like it’s on fire.

“I missed touching you; I missed your smell.” He puts his head on my stomach, and I run my fingers through his hair. “Did you have a good day, Mi Reina?”

“Yes,” I reply, putting my arms around his neck. He brings his lips to mine, the kiss immediately turning hot, and a moan escapes me. He pulls back and grins. “Let me finish up this meeting, and we can pick right back up. I can’t wait to devour you.”

It’s now or never. I smile, pepper kisses starting at his lips, moving to his jaw, and up to his ear.

While my hands roam around his chest, feeling his muscles.

Although this is a distraction, I can’t help but slide my hand down to touch his hard erection.

So big and hard. Then I nip his ear, eliciting a groan from him.

I feel that groan all the way to my core, and my pussy reacts.

Okay, Serena, stick to the plan. As I continue to nip at his ear, I pull out the surprise from my dress pockets.

A pair of metallic handcuffs. I swiftly place one side on his right wrist and the other on the wooden chair, then step away from him.

“What the fuck?” I look down at him and smile.

“You should finish your meeting,” I tell him, and I lean down for a kiss and squeeze his hard dick with my hand. Then I make my way to the front of his desk. He thinks he knows what I’m planning because all I can see is the edge of his lips turn into a sexy-as-fuck smirk.

His gaze is hot. I can feel him undressing me with his eyes.

I slowly and torturously start unbuttoning my dress…

one button, pause…second button. His left uncuffed hand is on the desk, and I can already see it twitching.

So I continue. My eyes lock on his. My pink lace bra is on display.

I raise my hand, and with my fingertip, I gently caress my neck, collar, and breasts.

His nostrils flare. I grab the straps of my dress one at a time and pull them down, then push my dress all the way off, letting it drop to the floor.

I stand there, in my lacy bra and no underwear.

I move my hand down my stomach agonizingly slowly and touch myself between my legs, biting my lower lip.

Cupping my pussy. My wet pussy. He tries to get up from his desk but remembers that one of his hands is cuffed to the chair and that he’s still in the meeting.

I walk to the couch that’s facing him, sit, and raise my legs onto it.

My pussy is bare and on full display, facing him.

While one hand caresses my pussy, the other is caressing my breasts.

I then move my fingers and pinch my nipple hard.

I bite my lip to hold my moans in. I then move to the other breast and pinch the nipple while sliding a finger into my soaking pussy.

He can see and hear how wet I am. I’ve never been in this position: fucking myself on display.

I add another finger, and I hear him moan.

My two fingers slide in and out of my pussy.

Then I stop, sit up, and go to my purse.

When I was coming up with ideas on how to get answers from him, I went through a few options; one—I could just ask him, but he isn’t one to divulge information in regard to another man and me; two—threaten him into telling me, but let’s be honest, that wouldn’t get me very far; three—which is the option I chose, seduce him into getting an answer.

The handcuffs and what I’m doing next are an added bonus, since I need to keep control of the situation.

When I went home to change, I also grabbed my toy.

Which is resting in my purse at the moment.

This is the only one I have left, and the only reason I have it is because it was hidden in my closet.

Not on purpose but because I’d forgotten about it.

It was an impulse online shopping spree at three a.m. a couple of months back when I couldn’t sleep.

The idea of being pleased by anything other than him will drive him crazy. Good.

I pull out my pink vibrator and smile at him. His eyes immediately narrow at the toy, then at me. He closes his computer without bothering to tell anyone that he’s leaving the meeting. Then he just sits there watching what I’ll do.

I lean back on the couch with my legs spread out.

Not breaking eye contact as a challenge to him.

I turn on the toy, and it hums to life. I caress my breast and let the vibration sit on my nipple.

My hard, aching nipple that needs attention—his attention.

Then I slide it down my stomach and caress the outside of my pussy. I’m drenched.

I look at him, the vibration teasing my aching pussy.

“Don’t,” he orders.

“Did you have anything to do with Derek’s promotion?” I ask, straight to the point.

The look in his eyes is the only confirmation I need.

Then I put the tip of the vibrator inside, pushing it into me, one inch at a time, until I’m full.

In and out, I create a harsh rhythm, without breaking contact with those dark-green eyes.

Those eyes that are burning me in place, and then I come.

After catching my breath, I grab my dress, quickly change, and I strut out of the office, not looking back, heading toward the elevator.

I send him a text.

Serena

Check your suit jacket pocket.

I smile.

I’m in the elevator, texting my friends, letting them know I’m heading over to meet them for drinks, when all of a sudden, the elevator stops.

What the hell? Then it starts going up again, one floor at a time, moving back to the penthouse floor.

Oh shit. The elevator opens, and I see those piercing green eyes staring at me. “Welcome back, baby.”