3: A Woman of Many Charms
1284 Words
Serena murmured, “Over…? Why?”
“There’s no reason.” Adrian’s voice was calm, as if he were simply discarding an unwanted piece of clothing—no explanation needed, no emotions involved.
“Adrian, you’re too cruel!”
Tears welled up in Serena’s eyes at just the right moment. She bit her lip, her voice full of accusation. “What do you take me for? I’ve been with you for so long, and I never once asked for jewelry, houses, or cars…”
His voice was indifferent. “The estate in West New Belmont—I’ll transfer it to your name.”
Serena’s sobs came to an abrupt halt.
“Serena, from the very beginning, I told you—when we part ways, we do it cleanly. I won’t leave you with nothing, but if you push your luck, you might walk away empty-handed.”
She knew better than anyone that Adrian never made idle threats. He was a man of his word, and she understood when to back down. It wasn’t as if she was truly heartbroken—there was no need to make things ugly and risk losing everything she had gained.
So, she blinked, letting the tears she had been holding back finally roll down her cheeks. At the same time, she pushed him away, stomping her foot. “I’ll never forgive you for this, ever!”
Then, she stormed out.
When she reached the staircase, she glanced back at the balcony.
Lifting a hand, she slowly wiped away her tears, and her lips curled up involuntarily. Was there even a trace of sadness left on her face?
---
To play the role of a heartbroken woman properly, Serena locked herself in her room for the next two days. On the third day, when the yacht docked, she wasted no time leaving and headed straight to the property registry.
As expected, the estate worth tens of millions was already in her name.
Serena smiled. She had to thank Young Master Adrian for his generosity—this deal was absolutely worth it.
That land was prime real estate, something money alone couldn’t buy. And all it had taken her was a few tears to secure it. What could be more cost-effective?
As she stepped out of the property office, her phone rang.
“Serena, about the contract with Opal Dynamics, how would you like to proceed?”
Serena had a legitimate job—she was the Public Relations Manager of Astoria Enterprises, one of the country’s top corporations.
Opal Dynamics was one of the toughest clients she had been trying to win over recently.
Pinching the bridge of her nose, she sighed. The reason she had even attended that five-day yacht party was because she had heard that Opal Dynamics’ CEO would be there. She had planned to seize the opportunity to close the deal. But the intel had been wrong—he hadn’t even shown up.
It seemed she had no choice but to visit their headquarters in person.
Exhaling lightly, she said, “Book me a flight. I’m heading to Silver Bay tonight.”
“Understood, Serena.”
---
For the next week, Serena remained in Silver Bay, negotiating with Opal Dynamics. Despite her eloquence and persistence, she never once got the chance to meet the CEO in person.
With no other options, she reached out to her well-connected friend, Veronica.
Veronica did some digging and came back with an answer: “Nine o’clock tonight. He’ll be at OMNIA.”
OMNIA—one of Silver Bay’s high-end bars.
Serena considered her options before pulling a shimmering silver mermaid dress from her suitcase.
The form-fitting design accentuated her curves, the open-back cut revealing a smooth expanse of pale skin. She casually swept her hair over one shoulder and finished off with a flawless yet sultry makeup look. She was a vision—pure temptation wrapped in elegance.
She was a seasoned PR professional. She knew how to use her strengths, and more importantly, she knew men’s weaknesses.
As expected, the moment she stepped into the bar, several men immediately approached her. She greeted them with a polite but distant smile, casually mentioning that she wasn’t alone—her friends were also here.
No one wanted to cause trouble at a bar, so they backed off, though their eyes lingered on her, filled with unhidden desire.
OMNIA had no private rooms, only booths surrounding the dance floor. Serena scanned the booths, and soon, she spotted her target—Martin, the CEO of Opal Dynamics.
He was surrounded by three or four other men, each of whom had two women clinging to them.
The atmosphere in the booth was lively. Martin was being toasted left and right, and he accepted every drink without hesitation.
Serena waited until they finished a round of shots before stepping forward, casually picking up a cocktail from the bar along the way.
“Martin, you’ve had a drink with everyone else,” she said with a teasing smile. “You wouldn’t want to leave me out, would you?”
Martin instinctively turned toward her.
The moment he laid eyes on her, he froze. For several long seconds, he didn’t move, didn’t speak—just stared.
Serena lifted her glass slightly, her smile laced with effortless charm. “Martin, your drink.”
She clearly saw the appreciation flicker in his eyes.
But what she didn’t notice was that another man had been watching her the moment she walked in.
Unlike the others, whose gazes were filled with lust, this man’s expression remained distant. His cool eyes carried an air of detachment, yet there was something beneath it—a hint of scrutiny, as if he were studying her.
“Mr. Lancaster, should we go over there?” his secretary finally asked, unable to ignore the fact that he had been standing still for quite a while.
Adrian said nothing. With a slight turn, he walked in the opposite direction.
---
Meanwhile, Martin finally snapped out of his daze. He reached out, taking the cocktail from Serena’s hand, his eyes locked on hers.
“I’ll drink.”
He downed the cocktail in one swift gulp.
Serena smiled approvingly. “Good drinker.”
“What should I call you?” Martin gestured for her to sit beside him, immediately shooing away the women clinging to him.
“Serena.”
“Serena, huh?” He leaned closer, intrigued. “I don’t think I’ve seen you at OMNIA before.”
“There are so many people here every night. How can you be sure we’ve never crossed paths?”
Martin smirked, his tone carrying a playful edge. “I come here often. If someone like you had been here before, there’s no way I wouldn’t have noticed.”
Serena merely smiled.
Then, suddenly, Martin’s expression shifted slightly. Something felt off. “Wait… how do you know my name?”
Serena’s lips curved slightly.
She met his gaze, her demeanor changing subtly—no longer the sultry temptress, but someone far more composed and professional.
Standing up, she extended a hand toward him.
“You’re right—I’ve never been to OMNIA before, and you’ve never seen me before.” Her voice was crisp and clear. “But I, on the other hand, have known about you for quite some time, Martin.”
The final words carried an unmistakable weight.
Martin narrowed his eyes, already growing suspicious.
Serena’s smile remained steady.
“Nice to meet you, Martin. I’m Serena, from Astoria Enterprises. I’d like to discuss the Westport Bay tourism development project with you.”
Martin was momentarily stunned. He looked at her outstretched hand, then slowly began to grin.
“Oh?”
- Writer
