Boss Next Door

I didn’t want to think about Molly at a time like this, but I can’t help it. Of course, she was going to come into my mind as I considered the possibility of dating someone else, because she was the one who broke my heart and shattered it into pieces. I didn’t know what I was getting into when I married the woman who I thought was about to be the love of my life forever. I didn’t know that she only cared about one thing from me, but I found that out in the most heartbreaking way on our first anniversary, she only married me for my money and that she wanted a divorce. Nothing from her side had been real, she never cared about me one bit, and she was done. Out.

Sadly, I was pathetic and I tried to fight for her. I battled and battled even though I had lost before I even started. It took me a while to let go of Molly, and I still have scars on my heart three years after the divorce was finalized. I’m scared to ever let anyone in again and I don’t know if that’s something I will ever be able to recover from.

But with Serena, I want to try. I want to give it a chance. I will just have to protect myself by not letting her know anything about me. If she only thinks of me as ‘Will’ rather than William Brent, owner of Brent Corporation, then there’s a chance that if she does like me, it will be for who I am and what I can offer her. I don’t get gold digger vibes from Serena but I didn’t get those with Molly either and that came back to bite me in the ass.

“This will be fine,” I try to convince myself. “This is going to be good. Don’t let Molly wreck everything.”

I didn’t know much about Molly these days. She had someone else lined up before the divorce was done, but I don’t know if she’s still now with that guy or if she took the cash from another divorce to give herself a brand new life again. I don’t have any intention of ever finding that out, it doesn’t trouble me any longer, but I can guarantee that wherever she is, she isn’t thinking of me. I doubt I ever cross her mind anymore, so I shouldn’t let her trouble me either.

“Serena would be different from Molly, that much is already clear, so just go with it.”

I have to admit that my gut has a good feeling, that this is going to go well, and my gut doesn’t always steer me wrong. I’m excited anyway, keen for Serena to knock on my door and for us to see where this can develop. I shouldn’t be getting too carried away anyway. This is only a dinner, not a marriage proposal…

Oh my God. Staring at Serena across the candle lit dinner table is making my heart speed up in a way that I really wasn’t expecting. We have only been here for a couple of hours, and it’s already the best first date that I have ever had. I don’t know Serena that much, we only met a few hours ago, but I already feel like she really gets me. She’s laughing genuinely at all of my jokes, really getting my sense of humor, and we connect on a deep level too. There is so much that we share in common, we seem to like all of the same things, which means we never run out of things to say.

“Do you want dessert here?” I ask Serena as the waiter takes our plates away. “They do some great cakes…”

“Actually.” She bites down playfully on her bottom lip with a pink stain to her cheeks which has me wondering if she’s thinking something more…sexy. She is pure seduction when she’s looking at me like that. “I spotted an ice cream store on the way here and I would love to try it out. If that’s okay with you?”

I’m not even disappointed that she isn’t thinking about the bedroom. Of course, she isn’t. I don’t know how I know it but I can just tell that she is far too sweet and innocent for that. She’s cute but in a really good way. I like it much better than if she just wanted to jump my bones because then I wouldn’t be special.

“Ice cream sounds perfect.” I call the waiter over for the bill. “Looks you have a real sweet tooth?”

“Oh, for sure. How can you not?” She giggles a cute musical sound. “Ice cream can be to die for.”

“If you’re thinking of the same ice cream store that I am, then the ice cream there is the best.” I pay the bill without even giving it a second glance. I do notice that Serena’s eyebrows pop, but I think it’s because I didn’t even give her a chance to offer money, not that she’s worried about the price. I can’t imagine her even thinking that way. “You will love it. The strawberry cheesecake flavor is the best. I actually eat it imagining that I am in the pages of the book…”