Chapter 6 THE PARTY

ARSENIO'S POV

Life is a paradox of contradicting similarities!!!

My parents had a party thrown in the Grand Hall the Saturday that approached. It was a welcome party to notify everyone of my presence back into the country. In the coming months, I was planning on establishing the businesses I had built during my exile period and it was only normal that the party should serve as an introduction.

The days before then, Serena had made sure to avoid every single detail of my existence.

She used her injury to escape seeing me at the dining table during breakfast and dinner and the attendants took her meals to her room.

Parents and Uncle Alejandro went up to her room to see her. Everyone except me because I could not trust myself to cool headed-ly accept a bash on my face again from her.

I wanted to pour out the rawness of my heart and feelings to her, the entirety of my thoughts but I could not. There were too many dangerous and important factors encasing me.

Uncle Alejandro did not understand the reason I was giving him cold shoulders and I felt bad for being putty but I couldn't help it.

I was having an alone moment with Serena and he had come to ruin it.. in a not too subtle way and in that state!!!

At least I was still aware of my surroundings and had heard his panther-like movements as he approached, even before he said anything.

Most people had gone home seeing as it was already late evening. Well, most persons except those that ranked themselves as my friends when I was still who I was five years ago.

They were thinking, probably trying to formulate a suitable strategy on how they could start up a conversation with me.

I was not in the mood to speak with anyone especially since Serena had locked herself in her room.

The understanding of her location quickly changed when I saw her... and she was not alone.

She was leaning into Gerald as they walked down the stairs. Her hands were stapled onto his arm as they walked and I knew that her ankle had healed almost completely.

I was watching them upstairs as I leaned into the railing, watching everyone that was either chatting, dancing or getting drunk.

They were walking outside, close to the pool.

Thanks to the glass walls, I was able to watch them sit on a white painted bench.

Some seconds into their sitting down, Serena placed her head on his shoulder and the Ex Claritas I was downing burned harsher at the back of my throat.

'Who the heck had invited Gerald?!'

As if the burn of my stare could be felt, Serena lifted her head from his shoulder. She said something I couldn't decipher to him, stood up and walked back inside. She took the other stairs and went to the other part of the building.

I took the last swig of my drink before setting it down roughly.

I had probably seven minutes before Serena returns and whatever I have to do, has to be done swiftly.

I aimed for the stairs immediately and just as I walked down, two of those who had claimed to be very good friends with me in the past were leisurely having a chit chat.

They saw the visible murderous intent on my face and they parted so I could pass.

I heard their steps echo after me when I was almost at the base of the stairs and I knew they were following me.

'All the best!'

"Do not allow Serena or anyone else in. Got it?" I said as I turned to face them. They nodded and stood before the entrance where Serena had just passed.

Gerald's eyes widened when he saw me and he immediately jerked up from his seat.

He rubbed his palms on his jean trouser as I approached with a smile.

'Clammy palms...he seems nervous!

A good sign!'

"I never knew we were so close for you to have come to my welcome party" I instigated.

Adam's apple bobbed before he opened his mouth.

"I... I did not actually come to the party. Serena needed me and I accepted to come" He responded.

He should have just sealed his lips because opening it had only aggravated me further.

The words 'Serena needed me' echoed in my head. It was like I was being told that I was available but Serena didn't need me. He was the 'needed one!'

"What could this need be, that a stranger was the one contacted to fulfil it?" I asked, the whole of me ready to receive the information that should leave his lips.

"Uhmm..." He said as his eyes glanced through the glass walls to see if Serena was coming.

"I do not think Serena would want me to tell you that Sir." He said and my smirk broadened.

"That happens to be the truth Gerald.

But you are going to tell me what I want. Do you know why?" I asked as I closed the distance between us.

As I stood close to him, I could notice every tiny little detail about his face. He was probably five - nine at best because his head still tilted to look up to me. 'As it should be!'

"No!" He said, an undercurrent to his voice.

I held him by the collar of his shirt and pushed him backward, aiming for the pool.

"Because I'm about to drown you" I said.

I did not let him get a hang of my words before I turned him around and held him by the back of his neck. He tried to wriggle but I hooked one of my arms across his flailing arms that were trying to reach me so he could turn.

I kicked the back of his both knees in quick succession and he went on his knees.

I knew where to kick and how to kick and I once had a professional wrestler on his knees with the knowledge of this technique - all thanks to Don Massimo, my father.

He grunted in pain and disapproval of the treatment but he had it coming with his inflexibility...

I squatted as I pushed his head closer to the pool.

His lips and nose grazed the water first.

"Stop this!" He said or more of pleaded.

"So, let's try that again shall we?

What does Serena need? Why did she reach out to you?"

"Get out of my way you lousy scoundrels!" I heard Serena yell.

'She's back and I still haven't fulfilled the purpose of my being here!'

I pressed his head into the pool and water rose half way. He shook his head violently and I only pressed harder.

"Are you ready to speak?" I asked again.

I heard a grunt and when I looked back, one of the men I had asked to stand guard was on the floor. His hands were pressing his crotch and I could tell just what had happened.

Serena shoved the other man aside before she began to charge towards me.

I lifted Gerald's head from the water, stood us up before I released him.

As Serena got to me, I already knew what was coming. She was going to slap me.

She lifted her hand to do the exact thing but Gerald stopped her from behind

"I'll just get going now, Ena" He said. 'Is that a goddamn nickname?!'

"I was once confused about my feelings towards you but right now I know exactly what it is.

I f**ing hate you!" Serena said with a fixed, heated look.

My jaw clenched but before I could say anything, she took Gerald's hand and led him out. Just before they crossed the entrance, Gerald looked back at me and I think I saw a glint of joy in his eyes.