Chapter 7
Serena
Ms. Brooks must have just lost her mind.
I didn’t think I’d go through all these emotions in such a short amount of time. I felt pure joy when I heard my name leave her lips, but then I realized it wasn’t my name; everything was ruined with one name.
Julian Brooks.
My eyes locked on him, and the audacity written all over his face was enough to make my blood boil. He must have rehearsed that shocked expression a thousand times in front of a mirror before coming here. Typical man, always ready to swoop in and claim what he hasn’t earned. Why does he get to walk in here and suddenly snatch the success I’ve worked so hard for? And seeing Ms. Brooks hand it to him on a silver platter only adds insult to injury. I was already playing the game, but she’s expecting me to hold his hand and guide him through his new role.
Fuck that.
After all I’ve given to this company. All the late nights, the sacrifices, the things I’ve had to swallow and bury to keep us afloat, this is how she does me? No heads-up? No warning? Just blindsiding me in front of the whole damn staff? I watched Ms. Brooks as she gathered her papers, as if it was just another day in the office. I keep replaying our last couple of conversations to try to figure out what would cause her to betray me like this. I took a breath and mustered the courage to confront her. Fueled by frustration and concern, I couldn’t stand still any longer.
“Ms. Brooks, can I talk to you?” My voice was steady, but the tension simmered just beneath the surface.
She nodded; her expression unfazed, her eyes never making their way to mine. “Of course, Serena.”
I wasted no time addressing the issue; I needed to hear her excuse. “What the hell is going on, Evelyn?” Her eyes snapped to mine. I guess using her first name was the only way to get her attention. She stared at me like I did something wrong. She worked silently, forcefully stuffing papers into her suitcase.
“You made your son, Julien, CEO.”
“I made a decision that is best for the company; there’s nothing to discuss.”
Her words hit me like a punch to my stomach, making me take a step back.
“Why?”
She remained composed, but I could sense a hint of apprehension in her eyes. “I understand this might come as a surprise to you, Serena. But I firmly believe that Julien brings a unique perspective to the table.”
“Why are you talking to me like that?”
“Talking to you like what, Serena?” she sighed, exasperated.
The fucking nerve of this woman.
“Like a stranger. Like I didn’t help you build this place from the ground up, the ground being that musty ass Lake Harbin apartment we started in.” her nostrils flared, the only signal she had any humanity left in her.
“Back when you didn’t know shit about balancing spreadsheets, who was the one who took that loan, who sacrificed themselves—”
“Watch yourself!” Her voice slammed like a slap, reminded me we were not alone. My eyes darted quickly to where Julien was sitting and judging by his knitted brows, I had just sparked his curiosity.
I shook my head, unable to contain my frustration. “I’m not going to silently stand by while someone who doesn’t know our business is granted an equal say. It’s not right to the company or the employees who have dedicated themselves to its success.
Ms. Brooks sighs, her gaze softening with understanding. “I have full confidence in my son.”
My jaw clenched as my resolve hardened. She has complete confidence in her son but not in me. “And what does your son know about the lingerie industry, let alone Guilty Pleasures?”
“I appreciate your honesty, Serena. But I made my decision, and it’s final. I understand your frustration, but don’t forget yourself or who the company belongs too.”
Did she just talk to me like a child with a tantrum? Is that what she thinks this is, a tantrum? Did she not think about how this decision would affect me, how it would make me feel?
She averts her gaze, collects her briefcase, and casually begins packing her things as if I’m invisible.
Julian opens the glass meeting room door, his face filled with concern. I can practically feel his gaze burning on me, probably wondering why I’m just staring at his momma like that. If he doesn’t get here soon, I might just clean this glass window with her face.
Her face lights up when she glances at him, all smiles and sunshine as if we’re talking about cupcakes and rainbows. Annoyed, I don’t utter a word and storm off to my office, leaving them to their little family reunion.
She’s got a point. It’s her company. Maybe it’s time Guilty Pleasures got a new owner - me. ?
???
The conversation with Ms. Brooks had me so wound up that Steven was downing two Red Bulls and digging through company policies like a man on a mission. It was a useless mission, sure, I knew that when I sent him on it, but sometimes rage needs an outlet.
Anger’s a funny thing. It always comes back around collecting, like making a deal with the devil. So, when I sank into Nia’s cloud-soft couch, the scent of her simmering pasta sauce filled the air, and the heat inside me dulled.
It’s not gone, just on low.
“She didn’t,” Nia said, stirring her sauce, her face crinkled in disbelief.
“What a bitch,” Mika chimed in, popping the cork on a bottle of wine like it was a celebration instead of an intervention.
“Don’t call her that,” I muttered. Ms. Brooks was acting like it, sure, but no one else was allowed to call her names. That was my privilege.
“And yes, she did,” I added, sighed. “It didn’t even faze her, either. She just announced it like it was nothing. I wouldn’t be surprised if she hands him the entire company next week.”
Mika raised a brow, pouring herself a generous glass of red before cracking open a Sprite for me. She poured it into a wine glass, her version of solidarity. “Is her son fine, at least?”
“Mika!” Nia warned.
“What?” Mika said, shrugging and taking a sip. “I’d fuck her son right out of that position.”
“Mika!” she gasped, clutching her stirring spoon like it might shield her from Mika’s audacity. It set me off into a fit of laughter, snorts included. Mika always had a way of saying something outrageous just when I needed it.
“What? Give a man some good pussy, and he’ll hand you the keys to his destruction,” Mika said, completely unbothered.
“What if I already did?” My voice was calm but firm, enough to make them stop in their tracks.
A hush fell over the room, only broken by the sauce bubbling on the stove. Nia turned slowly, her arms crossing over her chest like she was about to ground me for sneaking out past curfew. Mika, on the other hand, clutched the wine bottle with both hands, looking like she might need a drink before I even started.
“You did what, exactly?” Nia asked, her tone so sharp it could cut through glass.
I hesitated for a beat, then dropped the bomb. “I may have already slept with her son.”
Mika gasped so dramatically that she nearly choked on her wine. “Girl, you should’ve led with that,” she said, sinking onto the couch beside me like she needed to hear this story sitting down. “Get to talking. I need details. Now.”
“Hold on!” Nia said, turning off the stove and setting her spoon down with the precision of a surgeon. “I need answers first. Did you have revenge sex,” she whispered the word sex like a schoolgirl said something scandalous, “in the office?”
“No!” I said, appalled she’d even suggested it. “I’m not that petty.”
“Hmm,” Mika hummed, skeptical.
“I’m not!” I insisted. “I don’t mix business with pleasure. You know my rule.”
“Then how was it?” Mika asked, her eyes gleaming. “Because if it wasn’t terrible, you wouldn’t have ruled out using it to your advantage.”
“It was the opposite,” I admitted, my cheeks heating just thinking about it. “The man had me ready to climb the walls and speak in tongues.”
“Oh my,” Nia whispered, fanning herself with a dish towel. She poured herself a glass of wine and sat across from us, her face a mix of shock and intrigue.
“Good. You needed your back blown out,” Mika said, her tone matter-of-fact.
“Well, damn,” I muttered, laughed despite myself.
“I’m serious,” Mika said, topping off her glass. “You’re always tense, always worrying about that damn company. All work and no play is a dangerous game. Leads nowhere but bitterness and regret.”
Her words lingered in the air, heavy with something unsaid. Nia and I exchanged a look, both of us knowing Mika was speaking from experience.
“If it wasn’t in the office, how and when did it happen?” Nia pressed, eager to steer us back to safer ground.
I sighed, the memory of that night still enough to throw me off balance. “I met him last night,” I began. “He saved me from some creep on the street, convinced me to let him take me to dinner, and… well… one thing led to another.”
“And next thing you know, he’s balls deep, and you’re calling his name like it’s your last prayer,” Mika finished for me, smirking.
“Mika!” Nia shouted, her face turning bright red.
“What? Am I wrong?” Mika asked, taking another sip. “We asked for details, ma’am, not the SparkNotes,” Mika sighed, kicking her feet.
“So, you slept with him and had no idea he was connected to Guilty Pleasures?” Nia asked, her voice dripping with disbelief. “Did you not exchange last names? Does he not have the same last name as his mother?”
“Oh, please,” Mika cut in. “I’ve had lots of back blowing nights exchanging less.”
“I bet,” Nia muttered, rolling her eyes.
“You got something to say, Nia?” Mika challenged, raising a brow.
“Plenty.” Nia shot back.
“Well, go on, then. We ain’t got all day.” Mika said, with a dramatic eye roll.
“It’s dangerous,” Nia said, folding her arms. “Sleeping with some random stranger like that. I’ve watched enough crime shows to know how these things end.”
“And what? It’s not dangerous sleeping next to some man you married who might kill you ten years in because he found some 20-something with a perky tits and a phat ass?” Mika shot back, her tone sharp.
Nia rolled her eyes but didn’t argue.
“I’m just saying,” Nia continued, “the danger is more probable with a stranger off the street.”
“We had dinner first,” I said, defending myself. “And I always share my location with y’all, so it’s not like I was completely reckless.”
“Plus, he was a perfect gentleman,” I added, my voice softening. “I felt safe all night.”
“But you still kept your mace handy,” Mika said knowingly.
“Always,” I said with a grin.
“So, how are you gonna deal with this at work?” Nia asked, her tone serious. “Are you still going to… you know?”
“Hell no,” I said, shaking my head.
“Why not?” Mika asked, looking genuinely disappointed. “So, no dirty office sex stories for me? Where’s the fun in that? Ya’ll so lame.”
I laughed, finally feeling some of the tension ease. “Sorry to disappoint, Mika. But this is already complicated enough.”
My mind is reeling, thinking about how complicated things are about to get, replaying every detail of today, and my body is tense with pent-up frustration. Nia stares at me, then at Mika, sharing a silent exchange as if I’m invisible.
Neither rush me; they give me the space to breathe. One thing about our friendship that’s always felt natural is how well we understand each other, even without words.
“I really cant believe she did you like this. She’d been hinting at making you CEO for years now. She practically made it sound like you were next in line.” Nia said, her voice tender and compassionate.
“She has!” I exclaimed, my voice cracking under the weight of my frustration. “At every quarterly meeting, every company party, she’s there praising me, calling me her ‘right hand,’ saying she couldn’t do this without me. So, I thought.” I paused barely able to catch my breath. “But today?” I let out a long, shaky breath, trying to compose myself. “Today, she introduces her son as the new CEO, one I didn’t even know she had all the years we’ve worked together. No warning, no heads-up—just a announcement, and everyone’s supposed to smile and clap like this is some happy family reunion.”
“Why now? Why would she just let him walk in and take the one thing I’ve poured my heart into? She even called me ‘family’. Said I was like a daughter to her.” I pause, my voice softening as the memory strikes a deeper, more painful chord. “And I believed her.”
Mika takes a slow sip of her wine, her gaze never leaving mine. “I get it, Serena. It’s hard not to believe someone who’s treated you like that. But you should’ve had that promotion in writing years ago. Girl, You know better than to just trust someone’s word on something like this.” Her tone is gentle, but there’s a firmness beneath it, the kind that only a real friend can deliver. “At the end of the day talk is cheap.”
I let her words sink in, feeling the pang of regret hit me in full force. “I know. You don’t have to tell me that twice.” I sink back, staring up at the ceiling. “I didn’t want to be that person, you know? The one who’s constantly looking over her shoulder, who can’t take anyone’s word. I wanted to believe she meant it when she called me family, that she’d never pull something like this. But now… I feel like a complete dumbass.”
Mika scoots forward, leaning in as if to close the gap between us. “You’re not a dumbass, Serena. You’re just… human. But you do have to be smart about this. You’ve worked too hard to let someone else walk away with what’s yours. And you can’t keep putting your faith in people who won’t even put you in the fine print.” She sighed, shaking her head. “You remember what happened with Preston.” Nia shoots her a warning look at the mention of my ex-boyfriend, Preston. “I know it’s not the same thing, but still.”
The mention of Preston is like a slap, the memory of another betrayal sliding into the forefront of my mind. “I know,” I whispered, feeling the bitterness creep in. “I should have seen the signs with him, too, but I wanted to believe he was genuine, that he was… different.” I swallow hard, feeling the familiar sting in my chest. “And now it’s happening all over again. Different person, same heartbreak.”
Nia reaches over, placing a comforted hand on my shoulder. “You’re not the same person who got burned by Preston, Serena. You’re stronger now. And wiser. And you deserve this. Title or no title, that company is yours. You built it from scratch. And everyone in that building knows it, whether they want to admit it or not.”
I take a deep breath, her words filling me with a flicker of strength I didn’t know I needed. “But where do I go from here? Half of me wants to march in there tomorrow and demand what’s mine, to tell that son of hers that he doesn’t even belong there. But the other half of me?” I pause, my voice dropping as I stare into the depths of my glass. “I’m so damn tired. Tired of having to prove myself, tired of fighting for what should already be mine. At what point is it enough?”
Mika watches me closely, her expression softening. “Serena, girl, you didn’t come this far just to let it all go because of some spoiled son who has no idea what he’s walking into.” Her lips curl into a sly smile. “He has no idea who he’s dealing with.”
I smiled back, feeling that old, familiar spark rekindle inside me. “You’re right. He has no idea who he’s dealing with.”
“Not a clue,” she said, lifting her glass in a toast. “But he’ll figure it out soon enough. And remember—you don’t need anyone’s permission to stand your ground. Whether you’re wearing the CEO title or not, that’s your shit. So, make sure everyone knows it.”
I raise my glass, clinking it against hers. “To making them remember who really run this shit.”
We both take a long sip, and for the first time all day, I feel a sense of calm settle over me. I glance around Nia’s cozy living room, feeling grateful for the women who’s been my rock through it all. They’ve seen me at my worst, lifted me at my best, and right now, they’re here, reminding me of the strength I didn’t realize I still had.
“Now, enough of that mess,” she said, setting down her glass. “Tell me about this boss man. I want to hear more about climbing the walls and speaking in tongues chile!.” She sticks her tongue out, laughed.
I groan, hiding my face in my hands. “Don’t even get me started. It was supposed to be just one night, one time I let myself let go, I swear. And now, I have to see him every day, pretending it never happened. Do you know how awkward that is?”
She bursts out laughing, shaking her head. “Girl, if this isn’t a soap opera waiting to happen…”
I laughed, too, feeling the tension from the day starting to fade, replaced by a lightness I hadn’t felt in weeks.
These ladies have always turned my worst days into something bearable, something I can laugh about. And right now, with her by my side, I feel like I just might be able to face whatever tomorrow brings.
As the night goes on, we trade stories and laughs, the pain of the day fading into the background. And by the time I leave, I feel like a different woman—one who’s ready to fight for what’s hers, no matter what.