Raven Rival

"The boss wants you."

Serena looked up and removed her reading glasses. She threw a weak smile at Molly as the latter handed a single neon post-it to her. Her friend's green eyes seemed glassy.

"Are you okay?" Serena read what was on the post it and attached the little note on her calendar.

"I really shouldn't be," Molly answered, moving from Serena's table to her own. She arranged some folders on her desk and sat down on her computer chair.

"What has he done now?"

"The question is what hasn't he. Yet. I really feel like boxing that man's ears. If only he wasn't so tall, so dominating, so…" Molly raised both fists up her face as she ran out of adjectives. "I don't know how I can afford to be so… respectful."

"Let me see, good wages?" Serena suggested.

Molly sighed. She really shouldn't be complaining. Serena, her best friend, recommended her for this job. She should not be so ungrateful. She looked at her friend, marveling at the other girl's composure.

Serena stood up and took a sheaf of newly-printed documents. She cast a glance at Molly's direction before turning on her heels. Molly didn't fail to recognize the mirth in her friend's big blue eyes.

"I didn't say he isn't attractive," Molly blurted out.

It stopped Serena in her tracks and elicited crispy chuckles from her. "Molly," she said, making an about face, "you don't have to justify yourself to me. The reason why I asked you to take this job is because I know how level-headed you are when it comes to men. I mean, you do know how thankful I am that your knees and brains don't go jell-o over our CEO, don't you?"

"Yes, I had a hunch, but thanks for clearing it up. And since we're on the subject of honesty this moment I only want to know why he intimidates us so. I mean, he treats you ten times worse than he treats me and I never hear you complain about it."

"Take my unwarranted advice and don't let him rattle you." Serena turned to go to the boss's office once more.

"To be fair, you can never accuse him of what most secretaries and female employees fear."

"You mean sexual harassment? That one you got right dead on."

The impertinent buzz of the intercom gave Molly an electrocuted cat look and made Serena speed up her pace. To herself she acknowledged that the boss although ruthless, was fair. He simply expected efficiency from those he employed. Of course, not without thinking that he could be impolite and get away with it, while others cannot.

Serena was always confident when she entered his offices, except for that first time, when he interviewed her for the job. When he gave her the job, it was as if all her insecurities vanished right then and there.

"You wanted me, Sir?" she asked Darien Shields.

"I wouldn't have buzzed if I didn't," he snapped.

The man had a temper; she had to grant him that. It must be his Mediterranean origin. She learned quite by accident that his mother was Greek. She didn't know if he wanted her to know. It appeared that he thrived on making as much of an enigma of himself as he could.

"I need to meet a friend before lunchtime but I have a meeting here in my office right after. Do you know of a nice restaurant in this area?"

Almost at once, Lita's restaurant came to mind. It may not be ridiculously expensive or annoyingly exclusive, but she was a hundred percent sure that it would appeal to her employer's high tastes.

"The Seven Lily's just a five minutes' walk from our building." She nearly said, fromyourbuilding. "I can vouch for the food."

"I'll be needing directions," he stated.

She readily sketched one on her steno pad using her pencil. She ripped the note from her pad and handed it over to him. She collected a contract from his office and went outside to the photocopying corner.

It was almost lunch break when Serena got back to the office which she shared with Molly.

"We're lunching at the Seven Lily's today, remember," Molly said, somewhat accusingly.

"Oh, yes, I nearly forgot. Thanks for reminding me."

"Why? Do you need to put some sunscreen on? I don't mind, we still have time." If Molly was the insecure type, she'd envy her friend's creamy skin and pale gold hair, which when not in its usual chignon, was like spun silk. "And not all of us has His Majesty's perfect sun-buddy-buddy complexion," Molly added.

"Silly. I wonder where you get those digs. If I didn't know you any better I'd say you have a vendetta against the boss," Serena remarked, knowing full-well who Molly referred to as His Majesty. "Can't bother with sunscreen all the time, you know. Besides, my skin doesn't really burn. So pick up your bag and come on. We don't have the entire afternoon."

"By the way, your mother called while you're in the boss's office." Molly waited for Serena to look at her. She knew that Rowan Miller was not Serena's biological mother. Rowan was Serena's stepmother. And they all lived in the same house still.

The house that Serena's late father bequeathed to his new family and daughter. Molly could almost shake her head in exasperation. What was there to envy?

As a child, Molly had always hated the Cinderella story. And somehow she suspected that her friend was living one big Cinder-tale. It was really, really lame. And if Serena was not so kind, and if she were not her friend, Molly would really not concern herself with the girl's affairs. As it was, Serena seemed to take life in stride. Her indifference to matters of grave importance, like the way Darien Shields treated her, or maltreated—if one is to be politically correct, simply blew Molly's sails away.

There are times when Molly thought that maybe Serena was conditioned to it, because of the situation at home. But she simply did not see her friend as somebody who would let someone trample all over her.

"What… what did she say?" Serena asked.

Serena might hide it, but Molly noticed every single time her friend avoided to utter the word 'mother'.

"She wondered if you could make a preparation or something because Raye is arriving tomorrow." Hmp, Molly thought. Like royalty. Expecting the best treatment for her daughter, while demanding if not assuming that the lady of the manor would simply bend over backwards to do the domestic chores.

Molly could see that Serena was delighted. They were entering the restaurant now and Lita saw them at once. She smiled and motioned for them to wait while she instructed a waiter to lead them to their booth. Lita would join them for lunch every once in a while.

"You really like Raye, don't you?" Molly questioned carefully.

Serena nodded several times, smiling, like she could not contain her excitement. "Oh, Molly, we're stepsisters. It's not a question of liking. I think Dad insisted it's imperative that I love Raye. And she's not hard to like, you know."

"No, I don't know," Molly threw in nonchalantly.

"Don't worry. I don't take it against you. And we, you and I, I mean, are just like sisters, too. So don't go making me choose between Raye and you, okay?" Serena pouted.

"As if!" Molly rolled her eyes heavenwards. She wouldn't give that cat the satisfaction.

"We're just happy that Raye never forgets where she's come from. She really made my dad proud. And you've met Rowan…her mother," Serena said somewhat belatedly. "Raye's just so…extraordinary, so beautiful, so vivid. And have you heard her sing? She has the most fantastic voice," she continued.

"I'll choose my pet parrot any time," Molly cooed, not joking.

Serena just laughed. And her laughter simply coaxed giggles of hilarity out of Molly.

While the waiter was serving their food, Molly was engaged in food for thought. Raye may be an amazing singer and a rising star, but that was all the credit Molly was willing to give the dark-haired beauty.

As far as Molly was concerned, Raye was fake and shallow. It was not easy to see through the veneer but Molly was lucky to have caught glimpses of it whenever she'd visit Serena when they were younger. Little things about Raye, Molly kept to herself. She thought it was necessary in order to preserve her friendship with Serena. They've been friends since kindergarten. Her parents knew Serena's mom. That was why they felt a little betrayed when Serena's dad remarried. Not that they took it against Kenneth Miller. After all, life had been lonely for him, with his beloved wife leaving him so early.

Raye, Serena thought. It's been a long time since she'd last seen her stepsister. Their half-brother Sammy would be thrilled. He was always bragging about the gorgeous Rachel Mills—Raye's screen name- to his friends. She'smysister,he would say. The thought made Serena smile, a smile similar to the one her fiancé Jed could coax from her.

WouldRayelikeJed? Serena thought.Her stepmother had no objections. Sammy said the guy was fine, which was more than a great deal coming from him.

"Guess who's dropping by?" Lita said when she joined them. She sat beside Molly.

"A celebrity," Molly replied, blasé, her disposition sour.

Lita laughed. "What? Did you wake up on the wrong side of the bed this morning?"

"Something like that. So, who's coming?"

"A celebrity," Lita answered, beaming.

"Oh, the celebrity fever. You caught the bug too. I think I'm going to be sick now," Molly continued her drama.

"I'm hurt," wailed a voice beside their table.

"Mina!" Serena stood up to hug her friend. "Wow!"

"I hate you, Molly," Mina said in her little-girl voice. The blonde's left hand was accusingly pointed at the redhead.

"Well, I love you and your get-up so hate me all you like. How's England? I guess they can't accuse you of a false accent now?" was Molly's return.

Mina sat beside them as the group laughed. "London's fine but I missed you guys."

"We missed you, too," said another voice. It was Dr. Amy Young.

"Wow, this is like a reunion. The only one who's missing is Raye," Mina said.

"Not to worry. She's coming tomorrow. How did you know we'll be here, Amy?" Serena asked.

"Lita called me up as soon as everybody's in the house," the cool doctor answered.

"Don't tell me you came in the ambulance," Lita joked.

"It was the only way I could get here on time," Ami toyed back.

"Right. I just came in myself. I picked up Mina from the airport."

"Serena, do you think you could hook me up a job at your firm? In the vicinity of your boss, of course," Mina's pretty face was on her pleading hands, her light blue eyes giving Serena the lost-and-hungry puppy look.

"Oh, please," Molly started. "Is she one of them?"

"One-of-them what?" Amy was intrigued. This was news to her, being the least gossip of all the girls Serena knew.

"One of them Darien Shields fans," Lita answered. She told the waiter to serve them the house specialty.

They all laughed.

"I just could not understand why a girl of your beauty and achievements would want to incarcerate herself in a stuffy, albeit modernized office, when you have modeling offers and boyfriends left and right," Molly said. "She really doesn't know Darien Shields, does she?" she asked Serena.

"I saw him abroad when I was doing this stint for racing cars. I think he was buying if not racing one," Mina justified.

"And on the account of that solo encounter you've fallen head over heels for him?" Serena asked. "Please tell us why."

"Well, don't you see him everyday? Need I tell you? He's dark and brooding and mysterious and terribly romantic…and…" Mina was apparently swimming in compliments for the guy.

"Serena, tell her the 'terribly' part I agree," Molly suggested, "but—"

While they all laugh and eat in between, Serena let the laughter settle and looked Mina in the eye.

"I really hate to burst your bubble, Mina, but Darien Shields is as cold as ice. Grow up, Princess. Prince Charming is for dreamers. He always disappears when you wake up."

"But you promised you'd get me a job with him if I do my best," Mina wailed.

"What is your best?" Amy asked.

"I attended secretarial school, really!"

"Serena, should I be looking for a job right away?" Molly asked, half-joking.

"Not really. I actually asked for two assistants and HR said the boss approved it." She was going to resign after she and Jed had settled but not right away. She was planning to train both girls to divide the work between themselves.

"Oh, you're super!" Mina was easily appeased.

"She is a child, isn't she?" Molly bantered.

Mina stuck out her tongue at the other girl.

"Mina, Darien is rather very handsome," she said carefully, "but please don't fall in love with him?" It was as if she was asking a favor. Deep inside she had a feeling that Mina was playing with her. Mina was the type of girl who could take care of herself. It was as if Mina was waiting for some sort of reaction from her, the right reply… not the indifference which Serena was throwing her friend's way.

"Handsome is as handsome does. Half the guy that have dated your gorgeous stepsister can't compare to him in looks," Mina gushed on.

"Which reminds me, I'm preparing a party for Raye tomorrow. Can I expect you all to be there?" Serena asked.

There were murmurs of agreement from her friends.

Molly would have liked to say, "Countmeout," but she really wanted to be at Raye's homecoming party if only to save her best friend from her stepsister's antics. She had a very, very bad notion that this time, Serena would be hurt quite badly.

"Say, why don't you invite your boss? Let's introduce him to your—sister," Mina continued.

"I don't know," Serena replied. "He could be busy. He always is."

"You're just afraid that he'll see right through Raye with those dashing Greek eyes of his. I wonder if he considers women as a necessary tool to continue his handsome lineage," Mina prodded.

"How narcissistic," Amy remarked.

Now this was a side of Mina that was new to Molly. The model must be showing the world the happy face and volatile act, but there was a hint of sadness in the girl's eyes. What could have brought it? Could she really be enamoured of Darien Shields as she claimed?

"Hmm, Greek, huh?" Lita commented. "Athenian or Spartan?"

Laughter.

"Definitely Spartan," Mina conceded.

Serena was still getting over where Mina learned that Darien was half-Greek.

"Oh, get your brains out of the gutter Mina," Molly chided. "He's too intelligent to be wholly Spartan."

"Molly, he may not look at a happily married girl like you the way a man with hot blood should, but are you always in the room when he looks at our ice princess herself? That's for calling Darien cold," Mina said, as if she and Darien were close.

Suddenly, Lita's head waiter called her.

"What is it?" Lita asked.

"I'm sorry if my warning's late, ma'am. Can't help overhearing your conversation when I brought in the trolley. But if I'm not mistaken, the client who just left was Mr. Darien Shields?"

Different faces registered different emotions. Humor. Indifference. Shame. Embarrassment. Mostly humor.

Lita was aghast to say the least. It was her establishment after all. And though Shields is no food critic and tattletale, she really had no plans of making an enemy of him. "And where was he sitting?"

"In the booth next to you." The head waiter turned upon his heel after making a respectful bow.

Serena gave a slight shrug. Darien Shields would let it pass. She was certain that he didn't care a jot about her opinion of him. She was his secretary and that's all she'd ever be to him—an efficient tool in his well-organized office.