Serena

Chapter 37

Serena's POV

"I don't remember you on the guest list."  Mother stands, awaiting for Vincent's answer.

"I wasn't on the guest list, Mrs. Vespertine. I came in hope to be on friendly terms with your family." He stops by my side, giving a slight bow to my mother.

"You are much like your father." She says.

"Thank you." He reply taking her insult as a compliment with a smile.

She turns to look at Koen who is standing not far behind us. Now, it is unpredictable on what she will decide on, either a grand award in cash or to silent him with death. I had taken off the tag name off his shirt on the elevator as I knew she would personally investigate.  

"And the guard." She keeps her eyes on him. "You stayed to help my daughter while the rest of the guards ran? Why?"

Now, it is based on his answer to decide whether she would allow him to live or not. Koen steps forward, "I stayed to help as it was my duty as a guard, I was simply following instructions."

"Simply following instructions? How unexpected for a young boy." A small smile curves at her lips. She takes a minute to decide, my heart pumps, nerves tingles down my spine. But I cannot show an ounce of interest.
"He knows too much and seen too much. A quick death as a reward." She decides and immediately our men's guns were all pointed to his head.

"Wait." I say, unsure of why or what I am doing. But I can't have him dead.
Maybe because he had saved me by the cliff or because he joined me to murder a pig. Mother turns her attention on me again, waiting.
"He goes to the school I'm investigating. I have taken interest in him, mother. I don't want him dead, at least not yet." She waits a little, nods the men off with the guns.

"How so, Serena?"

"He saved me once by an unexpected assassin attack."

"Is that all?"

I hesitate, "... I like his face."

"Very well. Have your fun but remember. Do not make him a weakness." She holds my shoulder, digging her nails into my skin as she reminds me of how she had raised me to be. She lets go of me and exists out along with her husbands, my father's eyes lingering a bit longer on me before he follows.

I let out a heavy breath before I nearly stagger in my stance, Alek and Koen catching both my arms, holding me back. God, just a few minutes with my mother and It drains the living shit out of me. How pathetic.
I pull my arms out of both their grips before I stand facing them.
"Go home, Alek." I tell him before I walk over to Koen, taking his hand, pulling him. "Vincent, get our men to guard his family for the night, report anything immediately." I say before I pull Koen to my car.

"Wait, where are you taking me." He halts in his stance, I unable to drag him any further.

"To my place."

"What! Your place?" Alek rushes over holding my elbow gently pulling me over to him but I don't let go of Koen.

"Why?" Koen ask clearly confused of the power my family has.

"My mother wanted you dead. And I am not confident to say that you are completely off the hook. You going home defenceless would bring death to you and your family. Stay at my place, my men will handle your place." I explain, attempting to pull him again, this time he takes slow steps but Alek holds me back.

"You're not staying with another man alone." He says looming over me with his height.

"This is none of your concern."