Page 8 of Veiled Vows

She cuts me off with a scoff. "You got that right!"

I clench my teeth, looking away to control myself before trying again. "I just want us to be cordial at least, Serena. There isn’t getting out of this, so we can’t stay like this forever."

She bites her lip, refusing to speak. I know she sees a point in what I am saying. I guide her to the table where I have dinner set.

Her eyes widen slightly when I tell her I was the one who cooked. For a moment, her guard drops, and I see a flicker of the woman that I am used to.

"Sit," I say, pulling out a chair for her.

She sits down with a huff. I set her plate with the steak and the vegetables I have steamed, then take my seat opposite her. The tension in the room is obvious as I try to start a casual conversation.

"How's the new job?" I ask, forcing a lightness into my tone.

"It's fine," she replies curtly, cutting into her steak.

I try again. "Is Harper mentoring you well?"

"Yes, she's very capable," Serena answers.

"Have you met any interesting colleagues?" I press, hoping to thaw the ice between us. I am also probing, I am not ashamed to admit that. There better be no motherfucker lurking around her.

"Not really," she says, focusing on her food.

Despite her being like a block of ice in front of me, it feels like a vice around my heart relaxes, one that I hadn't known was there. I rub at my chest, trying to ease the unfamiliar sensation.

We continue eating in near silence, my attempts at conversation met with cold responses. When she puts the last bite of steak in her mouth, she wipes around her lips and speaks.

"Thank you," she says, her tone flat. Before I can respond, she continues, "But next time, don’t overcook the steak."

She stands up, the sway in her hips more pronounced, her heels clicking against the wooden floor as she walks to the guest bedroom. I watch her go, my left eye twitching.

I throw the napkin onto my plate, the taste of poison in my mouth. She was never like this with me before.

The Serena I knew would have been swayed by all of this. She would have swooned at me for taking time out of my busy day to cook for her. She would have smiled, her eyes lighting up with love.

But this Serena is different. Hardened. Detached. She isn't the same woman I knew before, and I never once imagined that I would be bothered by her indifference towards me. But I am, and that within itself is a problem.

Chapter 5

Serena

My colleagues and I are discussing the case at hand in the conference room. We're working on a corporate merger, and everyone is on edge. I sit quietly, absorbing the details, waiting for the right moment to speak.

“Serena, any thoughts?” Evelyn’s voice cuts through the noise, bringing the room to silence.

I look up, meeting her gaze.” I suggest that we concentrate on the legalities of the merger to prevent any antitrust problems," I say, my voice remaining firm. "If we handle possible regulatory issues at an early stage, we can avoid future delays and complexities."

Heads nod around the table, and I continue. “We should also make sure the contractual terms are clear and fair for both parties. This will help in creating a smoother transition.”

She smiles, a glint of approval in her eyes. “Excellent points, Serena. Let’s move forward with those suggestions.”

The meeting is dismissed, and I gather my things, heading back to my office. The moment I sit down, my phone rings. I glance at the screen and see that it’s my mother. I've been dodging her phone calls for about a month, ever since I discovered the contract, but I can't keep avoiding her forever.

I answer the phone with a frustrated sigh. “Hello, Mother.”

“Why didn’t you tell us you started working? We had to find out what our own daughter was up to from her father-in-law... in what world?!” she explodes. “Why didn’t you answer my calls?”

“Mother, I am an adult. I can do as I please without having to inform or ask for permission from you or anyone else,” I snap, feeling my patience wear thin.

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