The Height Of Happiness

Serena rolled her eyes and shook her head, “You take too much pleasure in that Edward Summerfields.”

She looked out over the party. Her staff was handling things beautifully, and there seemed to be nothing to pull her away. However, Serena realized she didn’t want to be pulled away from the conversation, but rather she swirled the wine remaining in her glass and looked back at the man still standing before her.

“I hope we can be friends after all this. At least give me the pleasure of your platonic company. Who knows? Maybe I could even charm you into actually wanting Summerfields to buy Belle and Beau.”

“I’d like to see you try,” Serena shot back with a wry smile.

Something ignited in Edward as he took a step closer, asking, “Is that a challenge?”

Swallowing the last of her wine, Serena replied, “No, it’s a fact that what you just said will never happen.”

“What?” Edward raised his eyebrows. “Our friendship or me convincing you to sell?”

Staring him down, Serena said, “Guess.”

Before he could even answer, she poured the last of the bottle into his glass and walked away into the kitchen. She pulled off her shoes as she gave final instructions to the event manager. Walking through the back she found her bicycle parked on the grass leaning against a wooden fence post. Turning on the light, she pointed her wheels towards home, ready to take her satisfaction all the way to bed. She tossed her shoes into the basket, but Edward came rushing around the building before she could take off.

“So is it the friendship or the business that won’t happen? What are you challenging me to right now?” he called out.

Turning back, she replied coolly over her shoulder, “Aren’t you smart enough to figure this out on your own?”

He came closer, “Can we not be friends because you still think about that night like I do, Serena? Or do you think that you’ll never sell because of your family pride? Or is it some wild mixture of the two?”

“Why don’t you come to my house tomorrow at seven and you’ll find out for yourself?”

“Dinner?”

“No,” she called back as she pushed off onto the dirt path. “We’re going to work!”

Driving down the dusty road in her bare feet, Serena knew Edward was becoming smaller and smaller behind her until he disappeared into the night just as she did for him. The noise of the party faded into quiet, and the qualms in her heart began to find their peace as well in a newly hatching plan. Serena knew what to do to end this discussion once and for all.