t。 Whowas this
guy？
？It？s crazy work； but somebody？s got to do it。？ He recrossed his legs and leaned back； studying
her from head to toe。 ？But you look fabulous。 Gorgeous。 Just like Thad said。？
？Right。 Thad；？ she repeated； growing suspicious。
？Oh my gosh； I totally didn？t introduce myself。 I have a tendency to do that。 I just talk and talk；
because I get nervous usually； although you？re so sweet and pretty I don？t see how you could
make anyone nervous； unless it was some boy who wanted to ask you out。。。。？
Serena blushed。 Who was this person？
？And I？m still babbling；？ he continued。 ？Oh my gosh； I？m so stupid sometimes。 I？m Serge。 It？s
so great to meet you finally。？
？Serge；？ she repeated。Serge？ Serge？ Who the hell was Serge？
？Serge。 Thad？s boyfriend？？ he clarified。 ？I can？t believe it？s been so long and we haven？t met
before now。 I？ll have to punch Thad when I see him。 Keeping us apart like this。 Ridiculous。？
Thad？s 。。。what？
？Oh； Thad talks about you so much；？ she lied。 ？I can？t believe that we never met either。？
？I guess itkind of makes sense；？ Serge admitted； grabbing a tub of concealer off the vanity and
fiddling with it。 ？We？ve got to be kind of discreet； so most of the time I？m just sitting around my
room。 I mean； we？re not even in the samehotel 。 I？m holed up at the Mercer。 But you know how it
is？you？ve been posing with those photos with him all around town。 You？re the sweetest。 We both
really appreciate it。？
Those photos？ The kiss had been just for photographers？ Thad had been using her？ Serena
slumped against the wall。 She couldn？t believe she？d been so mistaken。 She？d thought they？d had
a real connection；