Falling for my Friend's Father

CHAPTER 5: THE FIRST CRACK IN THE FAÇADE

Serena stared out of the café window, lost in thought as she sipped her coffee. The early

morning rush unfolding before her – people rushing to work, cars racing down the streets but

her mind was in another dimension. Last night's events were replaying in her head in a loop she

couldn't seem to break.

She had wanted to be there.

The realization hit her hard, freaking her out more than she wanted to admit.

She had spent years convincing herself that Dominic Blackwood was just Isla's father—just a

man she had known since she was a teenager, someone utterly unattainable. But the way he

had looked at her in that study, the way the air had crackled between them, told her that

whatever had been buried was clawing its way to the surface.

She needed to bury it again.

Before it ruined her.

"Lost in thought?"

Serena flinched, the familiar voice snapping her back to reality.

Noah.

She titled her head to face him, her eyes meeting his as he stood beside her, dressed in a

tailored navy suit.

He really does look like the successful lawyer he had worked so hard to be.

Serena forced a neutral expression. "What is it again?"

He gave a smile which Serena knows so well to be fake "I was in the area. Thought I'd stop by

for coffee. I spotted you as soon as I stepped in. We've been bumping into each other lately,

isn't that fate?"

She glared at him. "More like stalking." She took a small sip of her coffee hoping he would leave

her alone but nay.

He slides Into the seat across from her, staring at her shamelessly.

"You look …. Different," he said after a moment.

Serena exhaled quietly. "Older?"

Noah grinned mischievously. "Nope. Distracted."

She shot him a dirty look.

"I've been busy."

"Right." He leaned forward slightly, lowering his voice. "Or is there someone else?"

His words hit her like lightning but she remained calm and composed.

She threw daggers at him with her eyes "That's none of your business."

He snorted. "You know, you were always terrible at hiding things from me."

Serena didn't respond.

Because for the first time, she wasn't sure if he was wrong.

That evening, Serena stood in her father's office, he had called her to come home. She doesn't

know why her father is suddenly interested in lecturing her, this isn't his first time though but she

just couldn't shake off the feeling that he had something important to tell her.

"I'm telling you this for your own good, Serena." Henry Carter's voice was sharp, filled with the

same authority he had carried for years in the business world. His almost grey hair was combed

back neatly, his tailored suit pristine, as always. "The Blackwoods are not people you should

associate yourself with."

Serena sighed. "Isla is my best friend, Dad."

"I'm not talking about Isla." His gaze darkened. "I'm talking about Dominic."

Serena stiffened.

Henry leaned back into his chair, observing her with the same piercing look Noah had given her

earlier that day.

"Serena, I have seen the way you react anytime his name is mentioned. I may be your father,

but I'm not stupid"

She opened her eyes wide, her mind in a maze.

"Dad, I don't understand what you're saying." She said, trying to be calm.

Henry looked at her, seeing past her façade. "I am not blind. Serena, listen to me. There are

things about Dominic you don't know. That you don't want to know."

Serena frowned. "What things?"

He hesitated. Then, finally, he said, "Once upon a time, Dominic and I weren't enemies. We

were business partners."

The revelation hit her like a slap.

"What?"

Her father nodded. "Years ago, before you were born. We built something together. And then,

he betrayed me."

Serena's heart pounded. "How?"

A muscle ticked in his jaw. "It's not important. What matters is that I don't want you anywhere

near him. Do you understand me?"

Serena pierced her eyes on him, her chest tightening with something she couldn't quite name.

Because for the first time in her life…

She wasn't sure she believed him.

Across the city, some miles away, in a dim glow light, a woman sat at her desk, her fingers

flipping through a stack of old letters.

Celeste Monroe.

Her investigative instincts had led her down this path—down the tangled mess that was

Margaret Blackwood's death.

And now, she was holding something that could change everything.

Her fingers traced the faded ink of a letter written in elegant cursive.

A letter from Margaret.

A letter which wasn't meant to be found but she had found it.

Her pulse quickened as she read the words over and over again.

I did what you asked. But if you think I'll stay silent forever, you're mistaken. This isn't over.

Celeste leaned back, exhaling slowly.

Blackmail.

Margaret had been blackmailing someone before she died.

The question was…

Who?

And had it gotten her killed?

That night, Serena's dreams were wild. She couldn't say this was the exact moment she sank

into slumber, but as soon as she closed her eyes, she was thrown into a world that was way too

real.

She was in the Blackwood Estate.

In his study.

The sound of crackling flames filled the air, and the soft lift highlighted the leather furniture but

what caught her attention was the man standing before her.

Dominic.

His eyes on her, staring intensely at her, making her heart skip a beat as it sends shivers down

her spine.

She took a step closer.

So did he.

Her heart raced as their eyes met.

His eyes burned into her as he stared at her, his hands reaching out, trailing her neck in slow

motion, giving her butterflies.

"Serena."

He whispered, like a desperate call.

She should move.

She should wake up.

But she didn't.

She let herself fall.

And just before their lips met—

Her phone rang.

Serena's eyes snapped open, her heart racing, an aftermath of the dream. She couldn't believe

she had a sex dream.

She reached out for her phone wondering who could probably be calling late at this night.

The phone dropped as she saw the name on her screen.

"How did he get my number" she thought.

But then, she was feeling excited wondering what he have to say to her.

She picked up her phone from where it had dropped.

She looked at the screen again.

Dominic.

The phone was still ringing, she answered with a shaky breath.

His voice came through, deep and controlled. "Serena. I need to see you."

Her fingers tightened around the phone.

Alone.

He didn't need to say it. She already knew.

And just like that…

The world tilted beneath her feet.