Next morning

Serena woke up without much strength in her body, and that was due to her monthly period that is on its way. Every time she's having her period, she suffers the cramp. She prays that this time around the pain would not be too much.

"Lily, can you please help me with the salt," She said, feeling some pain shot down her core. Lily hand the bottle to her sensing Serena's changed mood.

"Are you okay Serena? you look pale" Lily questioned, placing her palms on her forehead. Serena could barely answer her, it was like her lips had been tied down.

"Oh God, you're burning up" Lily panicked, her brows knitting together.

"I'm having my period soon" she managed to say, gripping the kitchen counter for support. Lily's eyes widen. her heart clenched seeing Serena like this. Whenever she's on her period she suffers, until after two days then the pain will subside.

"Have you taken your medications?"

"I'll take them later, for now, I have to finish preparing the food" Lily shush her by placing her hands on her shoulder.

"You're the head here you're not supposed to be working, your health matters the most and besides Mrs. Beatrice and her husband are not around so no need to worry yourself" Lily explained calmly.

"Then what about Ethan, he's inviting his friends over"

"Look at you, you're supposed to be concerned about your health, not Ethan and his friends. That would not be a problem, we're here. That is our job" Serena let out a small smile. Sometimes Lily can act childish and other times she acts maturely.

"You know, you sound just like the boss" Serena beckoned. The side of Lily's mouth twitch.

"Who knows, maybe I'll become a successful woman in the future. A CEO maybe. I'll be ordering people around" She blabbered. Serena leans her chin on her palms watching her going on and on. Lily is a young girl who has a lot of opportunities to chase her dreams. Working as a maid doesn't suit her. She wishes one day, the girl will get a better job with a better life.

"Okay, let me take off to my room and rest, I'm leaving my job in your hands. Make sure you don't mess up" She rose up from her sitting position lunging towards the door.

"Trust me, boss, I'll make sure Ethan and his friends enjoy themselves" She beamed. Serena waves her hands as she left the kitchen. As she was making her way upstairs, she suddenly remembered the last night's event. She and Ethan are starting up as friends, but she isn't contented with the stunts he pulled. He's lucky she accepted his request for being friends, as she made a promise not to fall for any man fake facade. Pushing the door open, the coolness of the room came in contact with her skin, sending cold shivers down her body. She marched to her closet, taking out her cardigan, she wore it trying her hair in a bun and got into the covers.

**

Ethan slammed his eyes shut, Resting his chin on his palms. A knock emerged from the door.

"Come in" he mumbled enough for the person on the other end to hear.

"Good day sir, here's your schedule for today" Cassey, his Secretary reported with a glint of flirt in her voice.

"What will be my first task?" he inquired in a normal tone.

"First, you have a meeting with Mr. Patrick in the next ten minutes. He's the one in charge of the machines. Second, you're going to check out the proposal for the new material designs we're launching. And last but not the least, you have a lunch meeting with Ashley" Ethan head snapped to her direction.

"Who is Ashley?" he finds himself asking.

"Ashley King, the daughter of the company biggest investor"

"Okay, you can go. Thank you" Cassey left not before swaying her hips on the way which didn't catch Ethan's attention for a bit as he was consumed in his thoughts. He let out a sigh. why would he have a lunch meeting with Ashley instead of her father? The thought kept running in his head, as he made his way to the room where he's having the meeting with Mr. Patrick. Upon entering the room, he was met with an elderly man.

"Good day Mr. Ethan, it's a pleasure meeting you. Your father talks a lot about you" he extends his hand for a handshake.

"Nice meeting you too Mr. Patrick" he shook his hands instantly "Have a seat" he gestured to the chair.

"Thank you"

"Mr. Patrick, I was told you're the person in charge of the machines. As you already know, I was being assigned to the position not long ago. So I'll appreciate it if you explain a few things to me." Ethan remarked crossing his arms on his chest. Mr. Patrick adjusts his sitting position.

"First of all, I'm the team leader. Our job is to make sure the machines are in good condition before they start working with them. To cut things short, I'll just say we're the machine maintenance..." Ethan listened to the man attentively as he explained to him.

'Thank you so much Mr. Patrick for giving Raymond Fabric your all. I hope you'll continue to support the company. I'll take my leave" he announced shaking his hands once again.

**

After going around checking on every department, he now has one task that is lunch meeting with Ashley. The ringing of the landline blared through the office. pressing on accept button, he places the telephone to his ear.

"Good day sir, your lunch meeting with Miss king is scheduled at Kings and Queens diner" His Secretary sure doesn't forget things easily.

"Alright" that's the only word he said before disconnecting the call.

The diner is few blocks away from the company, Ethan strolled to the diner without taking the driver with him. The name looks weird to him. is it some type of restaurant for royal families or what? His questions were answered as he finds himself in front of a magnificent building he has ever laid eyes on in New York City.

"Wow" he muttered

His curiosity got him more as he entered the inside, his mouth hanging open. Indeed, it should be called Kings and Queens. Everything was adorned like that of a royal. He completely forgot the sole reason he came there until he felt a presence behind you. Turning around, he was met with Ashley, with her killer smile as usual.

"Did I keep you waiting?" she started placing her expensive bag on the well-embellished table.

"No I came not long ago," he said taking a seat facing her. Just then a waitress came towards their table.

"Welcome to King's and Queens. Here's our menu" she placed the menu each in front of them.

Ashley scanned the menu, squinting her eyes on the way. "I'll have smoked salmon, peach pie, and Apple smoothie," She said handing the menu back to the lady.

"I'll have Cinnamon bun with soda" The lady noted their orders down.

"Your food will be ready soon" she bowed slightly, disappearing to wherever the kitchen is located.

"I see you still eat a lot" Ethan started, trying to ease the silence that resonates within them.

"Yeah, you too. You still drink soda" The corner of her lips twitched.

"Yes, you know when you like something so much it's hard for you to leave that thing" Ashley stared at him, she knew the words were directed towards her.

"Are you hanging up to the past?" her palms now intertwined together on the desk. The muscle in his face tighten. How dare she.

"Hanging on the past? what past?" a chuckle escape his lips, "If you're talking about the fling that happened between us two years ago, then you're mistaken"

"I'm still in your heart right?" Ethan tried to compose himself because if he loses his temper, it wouldn't be a good side to see.

"Right?" she said again. Smile dangled on the corner of her lips.

"Is this the reason for the meeting to talk about the past, if it is then I beg to differ I'm not interested" the chair made a screeching sound. Just then the lady came back with their food.

He was about to march out of the restaurant when his words stopped him on his tracks

"Hearing silence means your answer is yes" and that's it. Ethan clenched his fist turning around, he constantly twirled her around, placing his other hand on the table.

"Let me make something clear to you. I've already pitch you out of my heart long ago because you're not worth it. Don't get your hopes high about the fling we had back then, as I was immature back then. And I'll like it if you don't call me again if it's not work-related." with that being said he marched out of the diner not bothered by the looks people are giving him.

He didn't bother to go back to the office, notifying his Secretary to take care of the rest of the work left. His phone vibrates in his pocket, fishing it out Rex name flashed across the screen. He suddenly remembered, he invited them over to the house. Sliding the accept button, he placed it to his ear.

"Hey man, when are we coming over?" Reth said from the other end.

"You can come over later tonight and make sure you drag Jace along. The guys sure is a workaholic" loud laugh resonate through his ear.

"Don't worry till we see"

"Alright"

Roaring the engine to life, he drove to the house, his heart calming down a bit. His encounter with Ashley wasn't a good one, she has the audacity to bring up the past. He hopes they wouldn't meet again, he doesn't want to even see her face again.

**

Night came, food and drinks have been settled for Ethan friends that are coming over. Serena couldn't get out of bed as her cramp hasn't subsided yet. Lily, Rebecca, and Lillian are the ones in charge of taking care of the house.

Ethan friends have arrived, the whole living room was filled with noise watching wrestle mania on the LCD TV

"Jace, can you try this?" Julian asked getting a glare in return

"You know I can't do it, you would've asked Rex, he's the muscular one among us" He confided, tapping Rex who is busy sipping on his drink.

"Being muscular doesn't mean he can fight like those guys" And that is when their argument began. Ethan left the living room leaving them to their argument. He has a bunch of troublemaker friends, they can spend the whole day arguing. His eyes dart toward the kitchen. throughout today, he didn't set his eyes on Serena.

"Mr. Ethan do you need something?" Lily said sheepishly seeing his eyes scanning the kitchen.

"Where is your boss?" he inquired.

"Sir...she's.." Lily contemplated whether to tell him or not.

"She's what?" the look he gave her made her spill it.

"She's sick sir"

"What?" he stared at her. "Since when?" he added almost immediately.

"Since this morning" she stated tight-lipped.

"Are you didn't inform me? where is she?" He bombarded at once.

"Sir" The urge to see her increases without waiting for her reply, he sprinted upstairs. Lily stared at his disappearing figure wondering why he's so bothered about Serena.

"How many times will I tell you to stop calling me Adrian, we're over long ago what do you want from me again," Serena said even though she doesn't have that strength in her body. But with the continuous call, she has been getting from Adrian she had to take it. She can't recall how many numbers he calls her with. If she blocked it, he would call with another.

"Serena, please give me a chance to rectify my mistake" An annoyed chuckle made it way out her lips.

"Give you a chance? back then when I begged you, what did you do. You turned your back on me. We're divorced Adrian get that fact in your head" Suddenly the door burst open.

"Serena?"