Falling for my Friend's Father

CHAPTER 9: THE MOMENT EVERYTHING CHANGES

Serena stared out of the window sipping her coffee as she sat across from Isla at their favorite

café.

Isla looked up to her, putting her phone away. "Girl, you been MIA lately, what's going on or did

my Dad scare you away?

Serena forced a small smile. "Just busy."

Isla raised a brow. "Busy avoiding my house?"

Serena stiffened. "What?"

"My dad asked about you."

Serena gently dropped her coffee on the table while trying to keep her voice steady. "Why?"

Isla shrugged. "No clue. He just asked if you were busy with work." She leaned in, narrowing her

eyes. "He never asks about my friends. Ever. Did something happen?"

Serena shook her head quickly. "No. Nothing."

Isla studied her for a second longer before sighing. "Whatever. You're weird."

Serena let out a breath, relieved Isla wasn't pushing.

But inside, her heart was a mess.

Dominic noticed she was avoiding him.

She had tried to stay away—to put distance between them before she lost herself completely.

But it wasn't working.

And it was only going to get harder.

After downing their coffee, Serena and Isla stepped out of the cafe and into the vibrant

afternoon scene. The streets were alive - cars honking, people rushing. It was the afternoon

rush hour since everyone was trying to get back to work after lunch.

"You should come over tonight," Isla casually said as they walked.

"To where?"

"The estate."

Serena gave a weak smile. "I will think about it."

Isla huffed. "You always say that when you mean no."

Serena let out a soft laugh but didn't argue. They reached the corner where their paths

split—Isla heading toward her car, Serena back toward her office.

"Text me if you change your mind," Isla called before disappearing into the crowd.

Serena nodded, adjusting her bag as she turned the corner.

That was when she saw him.

Noah.

He was leaning lazily against his car, parked just outside her office building, his eyes fixed on

his phone like something amusing was going on in it.

"What is he doing here?" She thought.

Serena sighed and kept walking, pretending not to notice him.

She wasn't in the mood for this.

"Serena."

She ignored him.

Noah pushed out the car, falling into step beside her. "Wow. No hello?"

She kept her eyes forward. "Noah, I'm not doing this.

He smirked. "Doing what?"

She finally stopped walking, turning to face him. "Whatever this is. The waiting outside my work.

The questions. I don't owe you a thing, Noah."

Noah kept his smirk as his eyes darkened slightly. "I never said you did."

Serena crossed her arms. "Then what do you want?"

Noah stared at her as he answers her. "I do not know. Maybe I just miss the old you."

Serena clenched her jaw. "The old me?"

"The one who didn't lie," Noah said simply.

Something in her chest twisted, but she didn't let it show.

Noah didn't know anything.

Not yet.

But he was watching her.

And that was dangerous.

On the other side of the town, Isla was having the best time of her life at a sky lounge, lounging

as he sips her mixed drink. She didn't head back to the estate after saying goodbye to Serena.

"Serena doesn't know what she's missing," Isla said aloud.

"Of course, she doesn't." A voice said.

She turned around to see who the voice belongs to.

Harrison Cole.

He sat beside her.

"I didn't say you could sit with me"

"I never asked."

Isla was furious but kept her cool.

"Why are you here, then? And by here, I mean, why are you interrupting my peace?"

"I want to speak to you"

She sighed, sipping her drink "If you're here to talk about my dad, save your breath. I have no

interest in listening to you."

Harrison chuckled. "You're as blunt as ever."

She took another sip. "And you're still wasting your time."

Harrison leaned back, his fingers drumming against his glass. "I just thought you should know

the truth."

Isla finally looked at him, unimpressed. "You think I don't know my own father? Do you go about

talking to your rival kids?"

Harrison smirked. "I think there are things he hasn't told you."

"Everyone has secrets," Isla said easily. "Doesn't mean they're bad."

Harrison's expression faltered for half a second before he covered it with another smirk. "Blind

trust is a dangerous thing, Isla."

Isla set her drink down, turning fully to him. "And throwing baseless accusations at me is a

waste of time. So if that's all, I'm going to get another drink."

She stood without waiting for a reply, leaving Harrison sitting alone.

She didn't need to hear anything else.

She trusted her father.

And nothing Harrison said would change that.

Ethan Langford rarely got involved in personal affairs.

But tonight, he made an exception for his friend, Dominic. They have both agreed to meet and

now they are chilling at the VIP lounge of an exclusive club.

"You're playing with fire," Ethan said, as he fidget with his whiskey.

Dominic didn't react. "I don't play games."

Ethan smirked. "Then call it what it is—tempting fate."

Dominic's expression remained unreadable. "What are you getting at?"

Ethan leaned forward slightly. "Serena Carter."

Dominic's jaw tightened.

Ethan let out a small laugh.

"I honestly don't care who you get entangled with. But be careful, if not you will lose everything.

And by everything, it includes Isla."

Dominic swirled the amber liquid in his glass, silent.

Ethan shook his head. "Just think about it."

And with that, he walked away.

For the first time in a long time, doubt crept into Dominic's mind.

Serena lay on her bed staring at the dim glow of her lamp. She had been tossing and turning,

feeling suffocated, trying to escape her thoughts. She had read a book and watched movies yet

nothing was working.

But nothing worked.

The tension with Dominic. The way Noah had watched her like he knew something. The unease

that had been settling in her chest ever since that night at the estate.

She let out a frustrated sigh and grabbed her phone.

Before she could talk herself out of it, she pulled up Isla's contact and typed.

Serena: You still up?

Isla responded almost immediately.

Isla: Duh. Why?

Serena hesitated, then typed the words she hadn't planned on saying.

Serena: I'm coming over.

There was no turning back now.

Isla: Finally. Took you long enough.

And that was how Serena found herself at the very place she had been avoiding.

The Blackwood Estate.

Isla was already waiting for her at the door, her lips in a grin. "I knew you'd cave."

Serena rolled her eyes. "Don't make it weird."

Isla smirked. "Too late. Come on, we have snacks."

They curled up in Isla's room, binge-watching a ridiculous reality show that made no sense,

eating chips straight from the bag.

For a while, Serena let herself relax.

But even as Isla laughed at the screen, Serena couldn't shake the feeling that something was

pulling her elsewhere.

It was just a house.

She had been here a thousand times before.

As the night stretched on, Serena's mind drifted—down the hall, past the familiar doors, to a

place she shouldn't go.

The study.

She shouldn't.

She really, really shouldn't.

But her feet moved anyway.

The hallway was dim, quiet, and the soft glow from inside the study told her someone was there.

The door was slightly open.

She stepped inside.

Dominic was by the fireplace, almost dozing off. His sleeves rolled up and his tie loosened. He

looked tired.

Then he saw her.

Something flickered in his eyes.

Serena's breath caught.

"You are here again," he said, his voice low.

She swallowed. "Yes."

They stared at each other but no one moved.

"You've been avoiding me," Dominic said slowly still staring at her.

Serena gripped the edge of her sleeve. "I had to."

His gaze darkened. "Did it help?"

"No." She replied with a low voice.

Dominic stood up and shortened the space between them.

Dominic's fingers traced her arm, his touch soft but killing her inside.

Serena's lips parted.

His eyes flickered to her mouth.

She knew this was reckless.

She knew this was dangerous.

But when he leaned in, when his lips were almost on hers—

The door swung open.

"Dad?

Serena abruptly moved away, her heart racing.

Isla stood in the doorway, confused, her eyes wide.

Dominic straightened, his expression unreadable.

Serena took a shaky breath, her pulse in chaos.

This was bad.

Very, very bad