21: Do We Count As Getting Back Together?
1260 Words
Before leaving the office, Serena remembered she had promised Veronica to treat her to a meal as a thank-you for helping her sell the house before heading to Westport Bay. She picked up the phone to call her.
"Veronica, I’d like to schedule for tomorrow night."
Veronica’s voice, always direct, came through: "Are we spending the night? If we are, the rate doubles."
Serena chuckled, "Are you turning into a pimp now? I promised to take you out for a seafood dinner, remember? If you forgot, then forget this call."
"‘Deep Sea 51,’ I need a private room. I don’t like eating with other people." Veronica had already chosen the most expensive seafood restaurant without hesitation.
Serena winced, clutching her wallet, "Alright, fine."
Veronica, thinking about all the delicious seafood, couldn’t wait any longer: "Actually, we could do tonight. I haven’t sorted out my dinner yet."
"Tonight’s not good. I’m moving."
"Moving? You’re changing houses?"
"No, I’m staying at Lancaster Estate for a few days."
"You’re staying at Lancaster Estate?" Veronica was shocked. "Did you and Adrian get back together? Staying at Lancaster Estate? Not just anyone can get in there."
Get back together?
Serena wondered if ‘relationship’ was even the right word to describe what was going on between her and Adrian. She casually replied, "Sort of."
Veronica, sharp as ever, immediately pieced things together. She had helped Serena get the details about Timothy’s schedule before and quickly realized why Serena was trying to rekindle things with Adrian.
"You’ve really learned a lot, huh? For a project, you went all out and played the role of a corporate spy!"
Serena smiled slightly, "It’s not as dramatic as you think. I just wanted to know Adrian’s opinion on The Remington Family."
"Don’t say I didn’t warn you," Veronica warned. "This is Adrian we’re talking about. Playing tricks under his nose can be dangerous."
The office bell signaling the end of the workday rang, and Serena walked to the window. She saw a car pull up, and it was Irene, arriving on time.
Serena knew Adrian was no fool, but this step had already been taken. There was no turning back now.
---
Lancaster Estate was located on the outskirts of the city’s southern side. The car twisted and turned down a forested road, with tall trees flanking both sides, creating a canopy so dense that sunlight barely filtered through.
The car stopped in front of a classical mansion, its lights glowing warmly at the entrance. A middle-aged man holding an oil lantern stood by, as if waiting for someone.
Serena stepped out of the car and looked around, noticing the solitary mansion surrounded by lush greenery, secluded and serene.
The man approached and said, "Miss Vaughn, the young master has business tonight and won’t be back until later. He asked me to wait here for you."
"Who are you?" Serena asked.
The man smiled kindly, "I’m Eric, the butler of Lancaster Estate. Feel free to ask me for anything you need."
"Nice to meet you, Eric," Serena replied with a smile.
Irene would return to Adrian after dropping Serena off, so she left once Serena had entered the estate.
"Miss Vaughn, please mind your step." Eric moved the lantern to light her path. Serena glanced at the sign that read "Lancaster Estate," took a deep breath, and stepped inside.
As she entered, Serena was surprised to see that the front yard was filled with many orchids. The fragrance was rich but not overpowering, and the flowers, mostly pure white buds, swayed gently in the evening breeze.
"Does Adrian like orchids?" Serena asked casually.
Eric answered, "It’s not the master’s preference, but he personally planted these orchids."
Not his preference, but personally planted? Serena thought for a moment, guessing that perhaps his mother liked them.
The marble pathway leading from the front yard to the main hall was about two meters wide and ten meters long. On either side, there was a small channel with flowing water, so clear that the smooth pebbles at the bottom were visible. It was beautiful, though slightly cold.
Inside the main hall, the decor had a European style: dark blue carpet with golden borders, soft and firm underfoot. Behind the sofa was an Impressionist painting, not from a famous artist but perfectly matching the room’s tone. Above, a grand chandelier sparkled, catching the light with its crystal facets.
Overall, the place exuded luxury.
Eric led her upstairs and opened a door. "Miss Vaughn, the master has instructed that you stay in this room."
"Thank you, Eric," Serena said with a smile.
"You're welcome. If you need anything, feel free to ask," Eric said kindly and helped close the door behind her.
Serena paused, then remembered something. "Where is Adrian’s room?"
"The master’s room is just next door," Eric replied.
Serena raised an eyebrow.
Her luggage had already been brought to her room. She wandered around, admiring the luxurious furnishings. She couldn’t help but think how wealthy Adrian was—just a guest room, and everything was so high-end.
Soon, dinner was delivered. It was perfectly prepared—flavorful, easy to digest, and suitable for evening consumption. Serena had seen grand estates before, but Lancaster Estate truly stood out in terms of attention to detail.
It was just past nine when Adrian still hadn’t returned. Serena wasn’t in a hurry. She took a bath and then grabbed a book from the shelf. As she settled onto the sofa, she became absorbed in a suspense novel.
She was so engrossed in the plot that she didn’t notice someone entering the room until a shadow fell over her book.
She looked up, surprised, as Adrian casually took the book from her hands.
"You know French?" he asked, flipping through the pages with mild surprise.
"AS does business with French clients, so as the public relations manager, I have to know a little," Serena said, raising her hands with a smile as she looked at him.
Adrian bent down and allowed her to wrap her arms around his neck. With a swift movement, he lifted her and settled her on his lap.
"It seems what you said before was true—AS has a lot of talented people."
She didn’t hesitate to reply, "Of course!"
Adrian, his mind apparently elsewhere, asked, "For the Westport Bay bid, AS is participating. How confident are you?"
"Shouldn’t that be a question for you?" Serena swung her legs playfully and looked at him with bright eyes. "Mr. Lancaster, how confident do you think AS is?"
Adrian brushed his fingers across her cheek. Under the light, her face was makeup-free and looked refreshingly pure. He leaned down and kissed her, the soft touch turning into a deeper, more lingering kiss.
"Bidding is handled by Mr. Owens. I’m not sure," he murmured.
"Do you want AS to win?" Serena asked, enjoying the gentle kisses, her voice playful. "If LH and AS collaborate, and I’m the lead on the project, wouldn’t I get to visit LH every day? We could be together all the time, even at night. Wouldn’t that be sweet?"
Adrian laughed, lowering his head to kiss her neck more forcefully, making her shiver.
Serena gasped, pushing gently on his chest. "Not yet, you haven’t answered my question. Do you want AS to win?"
His lips barely moved from her collarbone as he answered, his voice low and husky. "Yes."
Serena, satisfied, stopped pushing him and let him continue, as he kissed his way down from her chin to her chest.
- Writer
