On the Seashore
Chapter 5
Rated PG
Mellibea

Here's chapter 5, hope you like it!  

Disclaimers:  I don't own sailor moon or related characters.

On with the story…
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On the Seashore
Chapter 5

"What are you doing here?"  Asked Serena.
"I knew that you were coming to see Chad Deroulades this morning" he looked
at her coldly.  "I thought we should talk… in neutral territory."
"And he accepted" whispered Serena bitterly.
"Don't blame Chad" he replied.  "I have… some influence here."
"That's what he told me" the girl inhaled deeply.  "You are a
philanthropist, Mr. Xandreou.  But someone should've told you that charity
starts from one's own home."
"That's why I want to talk to you" he neared the desk and leaned on the
edge, with a relaxed attitude.  "Won't you sit down?"
"I'll stay where I am" she answered sharply.  "Are you going to tell me
that you don't oppose to Mina seeing Andrew?"
"No" he negated.  "And I'm sure you know that."
"Then there's nothing left to say" she walked by him towards the door, head
held high, but when she tried to open it, she found that it was impossible.
"Save your energy, thespinis" he suggested.  "It has a security system."
Therefore for the moment she was trapped.  She looked at him as she noticed
he had her in his hands, she said in a voice trembling with anger:
"Would you let me get out of here?"
"When you have listened to me."
"I'm not interested in what you have to say" she declared dryly.  "Until
you change your attitude towards Mina, there's nothing to talk about."
"We'll see" his dark eyes studied her with an enigmatic expression.  "Where
is your sister?"
"At the hotel" Serena consulted her watch again.  "And she's probably
wondering where I am."
"I'm sure she's found something else to do" he smiled with disdain.
"What do you mean by that?"
"Like you know, I saw her dancing last night.  It seems that she has some
kind of affinity with my compatriots.  It was a good scene."
"Then your brother must be a very good teacher" she replied, not letting
herself get trapped.  "He showed her the steps himself" 'one point for
you', she told herself when she saw him press his lips together.  Then she
quickly continued:  "If you don't mind me asking, why was he working in
that restaurant?  For a millionaire, it seems a very strange way to earn
money."
"Do you think a man should receive his inheritance without working a bit
for it first… not gaining any sense of responsibility?" his voice hardened.
 "That he should harvest his goods not knowing how to grow them?"  He shook
his head.  "No, Andrew will work, like I did, in all of our businesses'
branches and in all levels, from inferior jobs to administration" he
paused.  "A good administration comes from a good knowledge of the business."
"Of which you posses enough of, of course" it irritated her to know that
what he said made sense; that he was set on not letting Andrew become one
more of many useless rich boys.  "That means that Athens was another face
of the job in an inferior level."
"Yes, but don't pity him.  There are worst jobs, I assure you" he added
indifferently.
She knew that, although she couldn't imagine Darien Xandreou, despite what
he told her, serving tables and throwing out the garbage.  Someone probably
smoothed it out for him and made sure that he didn't get his hands dirty
during his rise to the administration.  She suddenly remembered those hands
when they touched her.  They were as strong and powerful as steel, but in
his long fingers existed some kind of strange tenderness.
"And your sister Raye… will she work as a waitress as well?"  She asked him.
"No.  Is different for a woman."
'Not where I'm from', she thought and then said out loud:  "I suppose you
have also planned for her a nice convenient marriage" she shook her head.
"Don't you get tired of dominating people… of controlling their lives?"
"I take care of my family, thespinis" he answered tensely.  "I'm
responsible for her and anyone else that depends on me.  I can't allow
myself to get tired or to ignore those responsibilities."
"And Raye is happy with… following your orders" It was hard for Serena to
believe that.  She remembered the young woman's scolding expression, and
her stubborn gestures.
"She knows her place" he replied, categorically.  "And Andrew knows it too.
 So don't get your hopes up, and don't let your sister do that either.  She
doesn't hold a place in Andrew's life"
"And if Raye found herself in the same situation as Mina, Mr. Xandreou…
What would you do then?" Asked Serena.
"I would find the man and kill him myself" he whispered.
His words were whispered, but the menace that had irradiated from them was
almost tangible.  She suddenly felt like she couldn't breathe; she needed
some fresh air, so she walked out to the garden.  It was very hot out so
the roses' perfume was very intense, bees buzzed in between the flowers and
birds could be heard all around.  She walked to the fountain and submerged
her hands in the fresh water, trying to calm her accelerated pulse.
At first, she had thought that the old building could've been a monastery,
but she could feel that there was something even more ancient and primitive
than religion in that place.  Under the hot sun, in front of the
whitewashed walls, she remembered that Greece was a country where a long
time ago heathen Gods had governed with their own savage blood codes and
vengeance.  She had come there like a modern and vindictive fury and,
somehow, now she was the prey and not the hunter.
In a shadowed corner she spotted the colorful branches and bright leafs of
a laurel.  'Apollo's tree', she thought.  It was sacred to that God because
it was suppose to shelter the spirit of a young woman he had loved… Dapne,
a river nymph, which ran from him and turned into a tree so he wouldn't
capture her.  Had she hated him, or was she simply afraid of his power?  Be
it as it may, she could understand her desperation.  Because her own Apollo
had followed her and was now observing her, his hands on his hips.  He had
taken off his jacket and his rolled up sleeves revealed his tanned
forearms.  He had also loosened his tie, as if the restriction unnerved
him, as if civilized clothes were only a superficial mask that he could
free himself of easily.
His gaze was almost pensive, fixed on Serena's golden hair, her trembling
lips, and her breasts under the fine material of her dress.  She felt naked
under his gaze.  A man in this way had never affected her, and she had
never felt so incapable of controlling her own reactions.  As a matter of
fact, she was starting to tremble under the intensity of his gaze.
The silence between them was filled with tension; it was dangerous.  Serena
stepped back, but her dress' hem caught on a rosebush.
"Oh, no" she tried to loosen herself from it and let a little yelp escape
when she noticed Darien nearing her.  "I can do it" she managed to say
breathlessly.
"Stay put, don't be a fool" he warned her brusquely.  "I don't need to be
charged for another one of your torn garments" carefully, he loosened the
hem from the thorns.  "And I don't want to see any more scars in your skin
either" he added in a low voice.
"Thank you" Serena swallowed hard and smoothed out her skirt.
"Parakalo" in his voice was a note of muffled amusement.  He leaned down
and cut off a rose from the bush.  "So soft, right?  And so beautiful" he
seemed to be making fun of her; then he caressed her cheek with the rose
petals.  "And its exquisite aroma" the rose grazed her parted lips and
Serena moaned.  "But be careful.  Just like a woman, its beauty hides sharp
thorns."
He was too close.  Serena could almost feel his body heat, as if he were
embracing her in his arms instead of just… caressing her with that damned
flower.  Now he slid it down her neck, up to the low cut of her dress and
down the curves of her breasts… the girl shook and felt her nipples
hardening, tensing against the revealing material of her dress.
'Oh, God.  What am I doing?  What's happening to me?' she asked herself.
She knew he was playing with her, but she didn't understand what his game
was.  She was suppose to be cold and practical, responsible with her life
and she couldn't let him alter her equilibrium.  Because just like Darien,
she was the head of the family and she had to confront him, dare him in
similar situations.  She stepped back to keep away from his reach.
"Did you plan this meeting only to talk about horticulture?"
"Was that what we were doing?  It wasn't my intention… although its been
rather pleasant" he paused and his gaze let her know that he had noticed
her body's involuntary reaction.  He still had the rose in his hand and was
twirling it around slowly between his fingers.  Then he added:  "I want to
make you a business preposition."
"Oh" Serena tensed.  "What kind of preposition?"
"A financial contract.  I've thought about it and understood that I was too
quick in ignoring your point of view.  But you have to understand that you
apparition in my house took me by surprise."
"Did you think that Mina would let Andrew banish from her life?"  She asked
him, incredulously.  "That she wouldn't try to find him?"
"It wouldn't be the first time she discovered that an adventure during
vacation can have… repercussions" he shrugged.  "She could've thought that
she had lost… and accepted it as an experience she would learn from."
"But it wasn't like that" she exclaimed, desperately.  "I would like Mina
to be here so she could convince you."
"That wouldn't prove anything" he paused.  "There's something that worries
me… would she be as anxious to find my brother if he was a mere waiter, if
he hadn't told her he was a Xandreou?"
"She didn't believe him" she assured him, tiredly.
"And now?" 
"Nothing's changed" the girl stammered.  "I haven't told her anything about
you, or Andrew or the villa… absolutely nothing."
"Why not?"
"To prevent her from being pained by the fact that you don't consider her
worthy to be part of your family."
"Isn't there a man that can speak for you?"  He asked her tensely.  "Your
father… or brothers?"
"No, we're alone."
"Then I have to do business with you" he paused once again.  "Under some
conditions, I'm willing to deposit a sum of money on your sister's name
and, if she manages it well, she'll be able to support her child."
"What are those conditions?" Serena asked, tensely.
"They're very simple" he assured her.  "She'll receive the money by an
agreement redacted by our respective lawyers, only if she promises to get
out of Karthos immediately and not try to get in touch with Andrew in the
future."
Serena couldn't believe what she was hearing.  Darien Xandreou was set on
erasing Mina from Andrew's life, as if she were something lacking of
importance.
"And if Andrew tries to get in touch with her… when he gets better?"  She
wanted to know.
"He won't."
'A few words to dictate the death sentence of a true love', thought Serena,
trembling.
"As simple as that" she answered quietly.
"This is the way it has to be" he assured her.  "Or there won't be an
agreement.  I want all of this to be over with before the damage is even
greater.  And you should be thankful that I have offered you this deal" he
added coldly.  "I saw your sister last night at the Dionysius.  If she
behaved the same way in Athens, then maybe Andrew isn't the only candidate
to the baby's paternity."
"How can you say that?"  Exploded Serena, furiously. 
"Because it's true" he replied.  "She's no saint.  She came to Greece
looking for an adventure, just like the rest.  And you, Serena, aren't any
different" he threw the rose to the floor, as if it were burning him.
"Let's talk about the truth… the truth our bodies have told us.  If I
wanted you I could have you and we both know it."
His words fell in an anguished and deep silence.  The girl could feel her
own pulse beating in her temples.  She raised her hand and gave him a
resounding slap.  Surprised, he moved his head back and yelled a profanity
in Greek, raising his hand to his now red cheek.  She saw a twinkle of
anger and incredulity in his eyes before she ran out of the garden and into
the office.
'Although that room isn't any refuge', she told herself as her heartbeat
quickened when she noticed he was coming after her.  And she couldn't turn
into a laurel to escape his persecution.  Suddenly, like a miracle, the
door opened… and she saw Chad Deroulades accompanied by Raye Xandreou, who
watched the scene unfolding in front of them open- mouthed.
"Kalimera" Serena murmured out of breath and kept on running out of the room.
Her legs still shook when she found herself back at the hotel.  Luckily,
she had found a taxi as she ran out of the clinic and she had plummeted
down on the seat, fighting the impulse of looking over her shoulder to see
if Darien Xandreou was still following her.
She asked herself, although it was silly, what would've happened if the
river nymph had stood her ground and had given a slap to Apollo.  Maybe the
God would've given up on seducing her and she would've been happy, swimming
in the river.  Or maybe not.  It was not wise to defy the Gods.  Nor was it
wise to defy Darien Xandreou, although he did deserve that slap.  It seemed
that he was used to women bowing down to him, defeated by his strong
charisma, and he had supposed that she was going to be just as submissive.
Well fine, his red cheek would make him understand that he was wrong about
her and that he was also mistaken if he thought he was going to buy off
Mina.  'There isn't enough money in the world for that, Darien Xandreou',
she thought furiously while she paid the taxi driver.
Maria was at the reception desk when Serena neared to ask for her room key.
 The woman gave her a venomous look before disappearing behind a curtain
and after a moment out came Kostas.  He wasn't smiling and he had a
cautious and restrained look about him.  
"Kyria Dryden" he whispered as he held her key in his hand.  "I'm sorry to
tell you that there's a problem, a mistake on your room reservation.  We
need your room for some other people… a previous reservation, you
understand.  I have to ask you to move out by tomorrow."
Serena felt like she had just been slapped.
"But you can't do that.  We have a reservation for fifteen days, paid in
advance" she protested.
"We'll give you your money back" he extended his hand in a sign of apology.
 "I'm sorry for the inconvenience."
"Inconvenience, you say" her voice shook.  She knew Maria was watching her
triumphantly from behind the curtain.  "If you have made a mistake the
least you can do is find us another room."
"I'm afraid that would be a bit hard for me, thespinis" Kostas seemed more
and more uncomfortable.  "I don't want any problems.  I think it would be
for the best if you left Karthos.  Take the ferry… go to Zakynthos.  A
friend of mine has a hotel in Alikes… is very beautiful and peaceful."
"Oh, I understand" Serena was growing more furious as he spoke.  "You not
only want us to leave the hotel, but the island as well.  Tell me Kostas,
Mr. Xandreou didn't have anything to do with this by any chance?  Did he?"
"Thespinis, this isn't easy for me, but it's impossible for you to stay in
my hotel.  I'll give you back your money.  You'll leave, right?"
"Don't worry, I wouldn't dream of staying here" assured Serena with dignity
and took the key.
She was in the verge of tears as she walked up the stairs.  She hadn't
escape Darien Xandreou after all; she hadn't even gotten a moral victory.
That had just been an illusion.  Even from far away, he had the power to
hurt her.  He only had to make a call from the clinic, a bitter act of
vengeance for the slap she gave him, so Kostas would follow his master's
orders like a good slave.
'I should've kept my cool'; she scolded herself as she walked out to the
balcony.  She should've let him believe she was willing to reach an
agreement with him and that way gain more time, but now she had ruined
everything.  They were going to have to return to England and find the best
lawyer they could pay for.  That meant that Mina's and Andrew's love would
be spoilt by a dirty dispute for a pension for her son.  And Andrew with
his mind completely blank, in his confused world, wouldn't even find out.
Now she had to look for Mina, give her the bad news and tell her about what
had happened.  She was about to go back into the room when she noticed a
familiar figure around the restaurant's zone, looking around her, hand on
hip and head arrogantly raised.  'Raye Xandreou', she thought.  Darien had
probably sent her to make sure the two sisters left.  After getting dress,
she went out.
She bumped into Raye as she was going down the stairs.  Raye gave her a
malicious smile.
"Well" she commented.  "You have arisen the storm and survived.  I admire
you for that."
"Oh" Serena stopped, bewildered.  "You know about what happened?"
"Not everything and I didn't dare ask, I don't have your courage.  My
brother isn't use to having people disobey him."
"Then he'll have to get use to it" exploded Serena with fury.  "Because I'm
going to fight against him every step of the way… even if he deports me out
of Karthos.  So you can go and tell him that."
"I don't think so" replied Raye shrugging.  "But, What do you mean by
'deport you'?  Are you thinking of leaving Karthos?"
"Not willingly" Serena bit her lip.  "Your brother tried to buy us off and
when I… refused, he called the hotel and told them to throws out.  So by
tomorrow we won't have a place to stay."
Raye frowned and declared in a categorical tone:
"No, Darien wouldn't do something like that, he would hate himself for it.
That's what a man of mean mentality would do and, although he has many
defects, that's not one of them."
"But Kostas didn't deny it when I asked him if you're brother had anything
to do with it" argued Serena.  "And, if truth be told, he was furious."
"Yes" nodded Raye, satisfied.  "I had never seen him so furious.  Andrew
usually blows up in anger, but Darien… he's always as cold as ice.  It'll
do him good to have someone disobey his orders… and even more if that
someone is a woman.  Come on, we should talk."
"I wouldn't want to cause you any problems with your… family" whispered
Serena a bit doubtful.
"There won't be a problem" smiled Raye.  "And you need me, Serena Dryden,
if you want your sister to see Andrew… and help him gain back his memory."
Bewildered, Serena didn't hesitate much and found herself seated at a
table, drinking peach juice.
"You mean you're willing to help me?" She asked in a low voice.  "Why are
you doing this?"
"Andrew is my brother and I love him" Raye shrunk back in her chair and
then added with emphasis.  "I want him to be happy, but in his own way, not
in Darien's.  And maybe someday you'll help me, right?"
"Maybe, if I can" convened Serena, feeling a bit tired.  It was obvious the
enchanting Raye was plotting something, but she didn't have any idea as to
what that was.
"So Darien offered you money?"
"Yes" Serena blushed at the remembrance.
"Don't blame him too much" begged Raye.  "I think life has taught him that
everything and everyone has its price.  But, you refused it?"
"Not with words" she answered warily.  "You're brother won't want to see me
again."
"No?"  Raye smiled and looked past Serena.  "You can prove that by yourself."
Serena turned her head around in time to see Darien Xandreou walking
straight to their table.  And he seemed furious.
The storm she had provoked was about to explode.

On to chapter 6…
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How's that for now?  Hope you like it so far.  Please tell me if you do, I
love getting emails!  Write to mellibea@yahoo.com! Thanks!