All the tension left Serena then. Her body sagged and she slumped down onto the sofa, feeling the strength leave her body. Roman was gone. And this time she knew it was not just from the room, it was from her life.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
After Roman left Serena sat for a long time, totally disgusted with herself. She’d been stupid to think that a man like Roman Steele could have any interest in her. Of course he would want a worldly woman. Of course he would want someone who matched his level of experience. To him, she must seem like such a novice. Why would he have time for someone like her?
Serena heaved a sigh and propped her chin in her cupped hands. Why had she stayed back at the office working so late on a Friday night? If she hadn’t, none of this would ever have happened. But deep down inside, she realized, she’d known what she was doing. She’d worked late into the night because she wanted to impress Roman. She wanted to have the report finished and perfect and sitting on his desk when he got back from his trip. And, she now realized, she’d hoped that maybe, just maybe, he’d come to the office that night and find her there.
Serena lifted her face from her hands. The revelation hit her like a slap to the cheek. She’d always known she wanted this man but now she knew without a doubt that she was in love with him.
The thought made Serena even more depressed. She was in love with a man who did not love her back. He did not even want her the way she wanted him. That much was clear from how he’d been so quick to walk away.
She groaned. How could she have fallen for the one man she’d met who wasn’t falling over himself to impress her? How could she be in love with the one man who had ever looked at her with an expression of disgust?
She didn’t know how she could have fallen for the worst man in the world she could ever have chosen. One thing she knew for certain, though: Roman Steele must never know what she felt for him.
*****
“Serena, you’ve been there all of six weeks and you’re telling me that you’ve learned all you can?” Richard’s voice was sharp with annoyance. “The plan was for you to be there for six months not weeks.”
“I know, Dad,” Serena replied, trying to keep her voice calm and soothing, “but I’ve learned so much in the time I’ve been there. I think it’s time I join you and learn about the family business.”
“I’ll have to talk to Roman about that.” Richard sounded unconvinced. “Is this something you both agreed on?”
“Not exactly,” she said, her voice hesitant, “but I’m sure he’ll agree that it’s time for me to move on.”
For a moment there was silence. Then Richard spoke. “Okay, I’ll give him a call. But I want you to understand that if you decide to break the internship and start working with me the same rules apply. You’ll be here to work, not play around.”
“I understand,” Serena replied, her voice subdued. She felt a little hurt at her father’s statement but how could she blame him? Her history had not exactly been one of dedication and interest in anything to do with the family business.
Now, though, things had changed. She really had learned a lot from Roman and she’d also learned a lot about herself. To her surprise she’d enjoyed the world of business, coming up with new product concepts, taking them from the seed of an idea to birth into the marketplace. Roman had opened her eyes to her abilities and given her newfound confidence in herself. He’d never once expressed doubt because of her lack of experience. Instead, he supported her every step of the way, offering her diverse opportunities to utilize her talents, making her feel she belonged. Too bad he hadn’t found it in his heart to love her, too.
She shook her head. It was no use thinking about Roman anymore. It was time to move out and move on. “I’m ready to join you, Dad,” she said, her voice strong with determination. “I’ll come right away if you’ll have me.”
Serena was not surprised when her father called her late that afternoon to tell her that Roman had agreed that she’d learned enough from him and she was ready to move on to the family business. No, she wasn’t surprised, but she could not help feeling hurt that he’d made no attempt to keep her. Her father made it sound as if Roman had not even questioned her decision to move on. She sighed. He was probably glad to see the back of her.
The day she packed up her things and left the offices of Steele Industries, Roman was nowhere to be seen. He hadn’t even had the courtesy to come and wish her well. Obviously, she was of so little importance to him that he could not even spare the time to bid her goodbye. Well, if he wasn’t thinking about her, then she certainly wouldn’t think about him. At least, that was what she told herself. Easier said than done.
Serena started at Van Buren and Associates the following Monday morning. There was no fanfare at her arrival and she didn’t expect it. She was treated like a regular employee, assigned to her task, and instructed to execute them according to deadline just like everyone else.
Eventually, as she learned more about the business she began to take more initiative. She asked her father to allow her to work more closely with the heads of each department so she could learn as much as possible in the shortest amount of time. She spent a few days in the manufacturing plant working with the operations manager, then with the sales manager working in the field, then with the marketing director meeting with the advertising agency.
Every evening she went home feeling satisfied with a day well spent, knowing that soon she would become a valuable asset to her father. She would be one of the few people in the company with such a broad knowledge base, covering all aspects of the company’s operations.
Despite all that her nights ended with a feeling of dejection. She could not get Roman Steele off her mind. He was always in her thoughts but was he thinking about her, too? She doubted it.
Sometimes she wondered if she’d made a mistake in declining her father’s offer for her to move back home. No, she told him. She needed this feeling of independence. It was part of growing up. She’d even reminded him of the speech he’d given her about budgeting. How would she ever learn if she didn’t have to live within her means? And so they’d agreed that, at least for one year, she would remain a salaried employee and she’d be responsible for her own bills. She’d be leading the corporation one day. This was just another part of her preparation for that day.