Written by **EYRAM**
Serena made it to work as fast as she could and began to settle the nuances of her next big break. Since she might be busy for a while, she needed a new invention, and why wait? While the market was still eager, it was the best time to release it.
She made a holographic display caller that could allow one to see a hologram of the person they were calling, after settling the copyrights, it was set to be mass produced, now they were becoming tight on funds, so everything earned in profit was sent back into raw materials, and that was when she decided each branch would need an accountant, to monitor financial issues while she was away. Hence, she informed the HR department and told them her requirements.
Then she sorted out the paperwork, and when she realized someone had already applied for leave, she met up with her legal department online, with their latest invention, and they added a policy that prevented one from going on leave during their first year of work.
More experienced people wanted to work with her, but her policies were directed towards youth employment, and instead of picking up people who knew what they were doing, she picked up those who would learn with time, hoping to keep them loyal to her.
After the long day at work, she returned home, made something simple, like soup, drank it, and then went to sleep. The next day, she woke up at dawn and started her fitness routine, then she settled down and took in lots of water.
After that, she took her bath, then made it to work. This time her hair was in a high pony, and she wore a black suit, giving herself a professional outlook, but on the way to work, she saw someone she had not seen in a long time. It was Lance, and he stopped her.
"Lance, please, I do not have time for this right now. Work is really demanding, and I'm trying to make ends meet here, so can I go now?"
"Serena, I wanted to tell you I was young and indecisive, did not know whether or not I was really into you, was so hesitant, but then when I thought I might die, the world, would come to an end and nothing would be left, amidst all that I could not hold these words, that seemed so wrong yet right, I love you and I want to share that fact with everyone in the world, I love you and I do not give a damn what anyone might say, I just want you to be the one" Serena stood there in shock, not a clue on what to do, but then she said,
"For how long?" nonchalantly.
"What do you mean?" he asked.
"For how long would you love me? When are you going to ghost me?" he was silent, then said,
"I know experience might not be a good reference since I was indecisive, but as I said, now I am sure, I want you and not another person to be mine, the girl I spend my entire life with."
"I am sorry, but I cannot walk into another relationship right now, especially with the risk of it ending abruptly, leaving me second-guessing whether it was something I did or a problem you have with me. I have a lot going on right now, and I cannot set my priorities thinner." Then she inched closer to him, kissed him, and said, "Until we meet once again, just wait a little longer." Then she walked away, leaving him totally confused, unable to understand a thing.
Serena quickly arrived at the office, and after sorting all her work took some time to monitor the HR and legal department, to see if they were doing as they told her they were, they did not know she was able to do that, but if she caught one of them, the order keepers, going against the policies they would be fired, without an explanation, and she could care less for any lawsuit they file, she had enough evidence to back her up.
Now she was waiting out the days, counting the seconds, her mother, or even Elaine ought to show up once they received the mailed, signed divorce papers, and that was when her master plan would begin, in the grand scheme of things.
She did not have to wait long because soon, one of her assistant receptionists called her and stated that someone was looking for her, claiming she was her mother. Anne Starweaver. She made her way to the reception and met her mom.
One might expect a dramatic reunion, full of expressive words, emotions, and blame, but it was nothing like that, just some tension in the air, and decisiveness in both parties' eyes. Anne was the first to speak, stating,
"I know you might be a bigshot now, with money and power, but that does not change the fact that I am your mother and you shall respect me," she sneered and said,
"Oh, dear mother," sarcastically, "I would do no such thing, but I'd like to see what kind of backup you can provide," ending with a serious tone,
"Serena! What at all has gotten into you?"
"Oh, please save me the half-hearted, half-baked lies you've set up to gaslight me. What do you have to say for yourself? A mother who let her daughter go through some of the most difficult phases of her life all alone, watched me break my back to pay your bills, forced me to grow up at the young age of eleven, and become the backbone of this family!"
"You're in no place to judge me, do you know that my body has never felt the same after having you? Do you know how it feels for a loved one to leave you in your time of need?"
"Actually, as a matter of fact, that was the day you were not there for me, the day I committed murder, and the beginning of this life I live right now, but guess what, I stand here, and your abusive nature, made me the person I am today and that person, is perfection" Anne looked at her and said, threatening,
"Wow, I see you've grown a backbone, but listen, as of now, you, Serena, are in my sole custody and can go nowhere else, and since you cannot legally have cash, I guess I should start looking for a buyer to buy all the real estate in your name."
"Well, I might own a lot, but I'm in the red, and I can let you take that debt off my hands with a smile."
I guess that was pretty intense and filled with emotions, definitely a dynamic compared to the emotions she held for her mother, not too long ago, you know, sometimes, people show the traits they hate the most from others, and for her it was this one day I'm loved, and next I'm not, and that was the very same side of her, her mother saw.
Soon they were in a car that looked to just glow white, definitely garnering not only unnecessary but also lots of unwanted attention, but for Serena, this was the perfect outcome; it was really going to sum up to aid her course and allow her to achieve her goal, her current endgame.
Serena, who's twin, Seraphina, always wanted to receive the attention from their mother, the love from a multitude of boys, not knowing most of them were just the object of deceit, word birthed from sugarcoated lust, could not understand the mental trauma all these things were capable of causing to a person too young to be the object of it.
Soon they both alighted at the all too familiar mansion, where the lights lay, but that was when it dawned upon her, all the irregularities involved in her plan, and one of the biggest ones would be Lance; they both could not just make up their minds regarding the feelings they might or might not have for each other. And the fact that they would be living under one roof was certainly going to complicate things,
Taking a deep breath to give herself the notion of being on top of the situation and planning for the parts of her plan that she would have to adjust, but she herself knew that she would have to go over it and change it many times, Lance was simply unpredictable and it was naïve to base future encounters off events of the past because he was constantly changing and every time they met he seemed different,
Lost in thought, she soon found herself at a fountain, and that was when she could hear footsteps and knew the guy who was on her mind, as well as his mother, who was a walking war weapon, were coming to her, and mentally prepared herself for meeting them. And that was when something that might fall on the least expected, or unexpected side of things occurred.
Lance, in front of both their mothers, stepped forth, so close to her and looked her straight in the eyes, Serena eliciting her stance to space themselves, then he smiled and said,
"What is it? Are you scared of me now?"
"Keep dreaming"
"Be careful what you wish for, because you might just get it. I don't think I can hold back now that we are under the same roof."
Instantly, the whole room got heavier, Lance tipping the scale from zilch to peak, with a short exchange alone, did he not realize they were in the presence of family? This outcome was nothing like she expected and affected her plans tremendously.
For a time, everyone just stood there in the midst of the tension, Serena looking shocked and a bit disappointed on the outside, was completely lost in thought, and as for Lance, he made a gamble, and he was hoping it turned out well. But the true highlight of the scene was the shock written over both women's faces,