Never Be Free Chapter Three
Feet aching, weighted down with bounty from a day spent shopping, Serena stumbled into her penthouse apartment. Kicking off her shoes she stumbled into the main sitting room. A mess of modern, traditional and country chic styles it was obvious that no interior decorator had been involved with its design. Not expecting visitors it took a minute to register that someone was lounging in her priceless Bruno Mathsson chair. The one museum quality piece of furniture she owned.
“Chuck!” Startled Serena’s shopping bags went flying. Luxurious purchases, wrapped in store logo imprinted tissue, scattered at her feet like offerings. Picking up items randomly and shoving them into various bags she clumsily attempted to bring order to the brightly colored chaos. Stuffing the last remaining item back in its bag she turned to him irritated. “How did you get in here?”
He smiled smugly, enjoying her discomfort. “Did Nate forget to tell you he gave me a key?”
She shot him a withering glare. “He did.” She held out her hand impatiently. “I’ll take that back now.”
Twirling the key between his fingers he regarded her with amusement. “I’m afraid I can’t do that.” He placed his hand over his heart mockingly. “Nate entrusted me with a grave responsibility and I would be derelict in my duty as his best friend if I relinquished my role as warden of the emergency key.” With a grand gesture he slipped the key into the breast pocket of his suit coat.
Sighing in annoyance she walked over to the small mini bar and grabbed some bottled water. “I’d offer you a drink, but you already helped yourself.”
Holding his glass up, he inhaled the aroma, nostrils curling in distaste. “Remind me to bring my own scotch next time. I can’t believe the swill you and Nate have. It looks like I need to spend some quality time with my boy again. He seems to have forgotten everything I’ve taught him.”
“I’ll be sure to tell him,” she said wryly. Twisting the cap off her water she took a drink studying Chuck covertly from out of the corner of her eye. To say she was surprised to see him was an understatement. While she saw him frequently at society functions, familial holiday dinners and when he picked up and dropped Nate off from their Bro- dates she hadn’t spent time alone with him in years. Whether by his choice or hers she was uncertain. It wasn’t that they disliked each other or that they went out of their way to avoid being alone together rather it was what was between them. The million pound elephant they pretended didn’t exist. “If you’re looking for Nate he’s out of town until Friday.”
Setting the offending glass down on the glass-topped table with a thud he turned to face her. “I know.”
Puzzled she set down her water. “Then why−“
“I saw Blair.” Eyes hooded, Chuck watched Serena intently. Observing, deciphering the widening of her eyes, the flutter of her pulse at her throat and the almost unnoticeable trembling of her hand. “Or to be more precise I fucked her. Several times, actually.”
Her response was immediate, fierce. “Stay away from her.”
“You’ll have to do better than that.” His lips spread in a sardonic smile.
Exhaling, she roughly massaged her forehead, attempting to put order to her racing thoughts. “Wait−what, I don’t understand. When? Where did you see her?
“She didn’t tell you?” His voice cynical, faked surprise.
Shaking her head, she moved shakily from behind the mini-bar.
“I ran into her last week at a wedding party in Paris. Suffice to say we ended up back at my hotel.” He closed his eyes pretending to remember. “She was even better then I remembered all−”
She interrupted him sharply. “I don’t need the details.” She swallowed and cleared her throat. “You had a one night stand with Blair. Congratulations. Why are you here?”
“Information.”
She laughed hollowly. “Why come to me? You have your own private detectives. Go to them.”
He leaned forward. “Because there are pieces missing and you’re the only one who can give them to me.”
“Chuck, I am begging you, leave her alone.”
His eyes narrowed at her speculatively, her request ignored. Leaning back into the chair he feigned boredom as he rattled off the facts he had acquired. “By every account Lord and Lady Errol are the perfect couple albeit a bit private. They donate to all the right charities and participate in the necessary societal and political events in London. They rarely leave the country and in the last few years they have become more reclusive than usual, entertaining less and spending more time at their country home. The press, their friends and everyone familiar with them makes a point of mentioning how devoted and over-protective her husband is, how she is never without him. It’s almost considered a scandal that after so many years of being married they are never apart.” He paused, his tone changing imperceptibly. “Yet the one time I run into her she is in Paris and he is nowhere to be found. Stranger still she has no compunctions about committing adultery. “
Serena shrugged her shoulders nervously. “What does it matter where you met or that he wasn’t there? You obviously got what you wanted so why do you care that Blair cheated?”
Chuck looked at her sharply. “I don’t believe in coincidences”
Feeling weak she settled into her favorite armchair, overstuffed and printed with cabbage roses, a glaring contrast to the modern edges of the chair Chuck was seated in. Comfortable physically she fortified herself for the ensuing mental battle of wits. “Aren’t you being a bit paranoid?”
Chuck said nothing, instead choosing to study her like a specimen under a microscope.
“I don’t understand what you want me to say,” she said hesitatingly. Uncomfortable under his gaze, she gulped. “You haven’t mentioned her name once since she left. Why do you care?”
“Tell me about her husband.” It was a command, not a question.
Serena peered curiously at him through her lashes. “Cedric? There isn’t much to tell, no dark secrets or mysterious past. He’s kind and gentle and he adores Blair.”
“How did she meet this paragon of virtue?” He asked with a hint of carefully orchestrated boredom.
“Through her dad, I think.” She crinkled her nose in thought. “Harold was friends with Cedric’s mother. She owned property next to his vineyard. Cedric was staying there when Blair went to live with her dad.”
“So they meet, fall in love and marry within a span of a few weeks.” His face darkened in contempt, his voice filling with scorn. “Not even two months after she declared her undying love for me; typical behavior for Blair. There is a word for women like her.”
Eyes blazing, her expression was thunderous. “Don’t you dare judge her. You had your head so firmly stuck up your ass you couldn’t even see what was right in front of you. She−” Slamming her lips together she captured the words before they tumbled from her lips.
He leaned in, capturing her gaze, eyes boring into hers. “She what?” His tone was calm, yet sharp as a knife.
She shook herself free from his stare, focusing instead on her entwined fingers. “You have to let this go.”
“What aren’t you telling me?”
“Stop it Chuck! There is no conspiracy, no mystery here. After her suspension Blair was a mess so she decided to go live with her dad for a bit. Jumping into marriage was a bit out of character for her, but the circumstances were extreme. She was in a dark place and she met someone who fell passionately in love with her the first time he saw her. “
Serena hesitated, choosing her words carefully. “It was kind of rushed, but Cedric had been very sick. That’s why he was staying in France. He was recovering from chemotherapy. Because of that he didn’t to want to waste any time, he asked her to marry him almost immediately. For Blair it was like something out of a romantic movie and she desperately needed to be loved after what you and Nate put her through. You can’t blame her for moving on when you had nothing to offer.”
He considered her words, inclining his head in acknowledgement. “That certainly explains his numerous medical visits over the years, but it doesn’t explain hers.”
Her mouth dropped open in surprise. “You managed to get their health records?”
“Don’t be ridiculous, of course not.” He shrugged matter-of-factly. “Only the paid in full receipts from their accounting firm.”
“Do you have any idea how sick this is?” She asked aghast.
His eyes darkened becoming flat and unreadable. “Not as sick as hiding the truth. I know you Serena. Even with your upbringing, you fail at the art of deception and manipulation. Your face is an open book. You haven’t lied to me today, but you also haven’t been honest. You’re hiding something about Blair.”
She lifted her chin, meeting his eyes boldly. “There is nothing I can tell you.”
“Can’t or won’t?”
She drew a deep breath. “Go out tonight, get drunk….sleep with some models. Forget about what happened last week with Blair, put it in the past. She’s happy and I won’t have her hurt because you decide on a whim to mess around in her life.”
“When was the last time you saw her?” He asked with deceptive calm.
“A few months ago. Why?
“She’s not happy,” he said flatly.
“Are you certain about that? You haven’t known her in a long time,” she retorted accusingly.
“I beg to differ. I recall knowing her, in the biblical sense, only a week ago.” He smirked, enjoying Serena’s embarrassment as her cheeks flushed with color.
“If you’re so convinced you know her why are you here? Why don’t you go talk to her yourself?
He stretched his long legs nonchalantly. “I would, but she and her husband are currently staying at his country estate. No visitors allowed. The damn place is practically a feudal manor, surrounded by woods and gated, with only one way in and one way out. Somehow, I don’t believe I am on the guest list.”
“Well, then. Best to let it go,” she said crisply.
He rose gracefully in one fluid motion. “I can’t and I won’t.” A melancholy frown flitted across his features. “She didn’t have to come to me that night, but she did and it changes everything.”
His expression hardened becoming vicious. “In the future remember I gave you a chance to come clean. I will find out what you’re hiding and you better pray it’s insignificant. Because if it’s not you will be responsible for the consequences.” His lips twisted in a cruel smile. “Give my compliments to Nate when he returns.”
Turning on his heel he strode from the room leaving turmoil and panic in his wake.
A/N: All comments, positive or negative are loved. Just let me know you are reading. :D