014 Lie To Me

"Boss. I got her for you." Buster knocked on the door and got in after he got approval from Edmund.

Looking up, the first thing Edmund caught with his eyes was the pout on Lilith's face, but she didn't notice that Edmund put something in his drawer the moment they came in.

"I thought we have an agreement." Edmund pushed the file in front of him a bit further away, smirking at Lilith, "I don't remember putting down 'try to escape' as part of your job description, my little maid."

"I'm NOT," Lilith threw off Buster's hand on her arm, "trying to escape!"

"Then why does my loyal guard has to bring you in like this?" Edmund chuckled as he came out of his desk, "Having fun playing hide and seek?"

"And I don't remember losing my total freedom is part of the deal either!" Lilith protested furiously, "I wouldn't have to try to get out if I didn't lose my phone in the crash."

Edmund rose his eyebrow and closed his drawer with a natural move as he stood up -- he JUST put her phone in there when they came in.

Lilith would have been furious if she knew Edmund was using her "lost" phone only a moment ago.

"Who are you trying to get in touch with?" Edmund asked, stepping out of the desk, "If I may ask?"

"I'm a maid, not a prisoner!" Lilith frowned at the question, "I'd rather go to prison than stay in this contract if I couldn't even make a phone call."

"You are not the one going to prison, in that case." Edmund said in a light tone, and Lilith pursed her lips tight.

It would be Emma.

"I just want to call Emma, to check in with her." Lilith sighed defeatedly, knowing Edmund got her right in his hand.

Edmund exchanged a worried look with Buster, but Lilith missed it in her burning anger.

The whole point of Edmund signing this contract with her was to prevent her from finding out that her best friend had disappeared from her home. Well, that and an evil witch was after her.

"I'd hope you can ask me next time when you want something instead of trying to escape the building." Having his arms crossed in front of his chest, Edmund tilted his head at Lilith.

"To make a phone call?" Lilith put up a sarcastic smile with her teeth clenched, "Do I also have to ask permission for breath from now on?"

"Sometimes you do." Buster murmured and both Lilith and Edmund glared at him.

"I'll be outside if you need me, boss!" Buster bowed and got himself out of the door with lightning speed.

"He's terrified." Lilith crossed her arms, imitating Edmund sarcastically, "Probably because of the nice and gentle boss he has."

Edmund curved his lips with a polite smile: "I always treat my employee nice for them being sarcastic when they are talking to me."

Lilith bit her lips but didn't talk back.

"So you want to make a phone call." Edmund stepped aside and Lilith saw the landline behind him, sitting on the desk, "You needed only ask."

"Your employee of the year took a phone out of my hand when I asked, NICELY." Lilith returned a restrained smile, "Please do show me how I can do that better."

"Please, Miss Hayes," Edmund put up a genuine smile as he pushed the landline on the table toward Lilith, "Do let me know next time when you want something if that's not too much to ask."

Lilith: "..."

She picked up the telephone with a pout, avoiding his eyes.

She didn't think Edmund would really be able to "show her" and somehow SHE became the unreasonable one -- for wanting to make a phone call?!

"I'm sorry." Lilith mumbled looking down at the floor.

Edmund curved his lips at her reaction -- it was new to him how someone could handle his direct command but not his politeness.

Lilith dialed Emma's number, and of course, no one answered. She tried again and yet again got only the same result.

"No one's home..." Lilith handed back Edmund's phone reluctantly, "That's really weird..."

"She could be out for any number of reasons." Answered Edmund casually, "I wouldn't be too worried."

"She's usually home at this hour," Worry was written all over Lilith's eyes, "Something is wrong."

"It WAS her car that you crashed." Edmund shrugged, "Maybe she's called in by the police."

Lilith pursed her lips. That was a very eligible guess.

"Are you always this worried for others? She's an adult, you know?" Teased Edmund as he observed Lilith closely.

"She's my best friend." Lilith sighed, "And I just crashed her car and disappeared for days. I just want to let her know."

Edmund stopped the teasing smile. Something about her genuine care towards Emma touched Edmund's heart.

"Can I take a day off tomorrow?" Lilith looked at Edmund with appealing eyes, "I just want to make sure she's safe, and I'll be back and be a good maid, I promise."

Edmund sighed with his lips pursed.

He didn't know how serious or dangerous Ann's intentions towards Lilith were, so he couldn't risk letting Lilith know just yet. There was no telling what Lilith would do if he just set her free.

"Only two days in, and you are already asking for day-offs?" Edmund rose his eyebrow, pretending that refusing Lilith was not making his heart ache, "I can see you are not aiming to be employee of the year."

"I'll be aiming for that when I have my basic rights given back." Lilith didn't flinch, "Even prison allows phone calls and parole."

"I'll grant you a phone call every time you answer one question of mine," Edmund curved his lips, "Truthfully."

"Okay." In the hope of making her life easier, Lilith decided against talking back at Edmund, "Deal."

"So," Edmund tilted his head, "Do you have a boyfriend?"

Lilith shot her head up in surprise, staring at Edmund without being able to utter any word.

"Is that also a secret?" The smile faded away from Edmund's face as he fixed his eyes on her face.

As horrible as it was, he couldn't help but open Lilith's phone, and the first thing he saw was the endless chat history between Lilith and Jacob.

He KNEW, they were together.

"No," Lilith took a deep sigh as tears started filling up her eyes, "No, I don't have a boyfriend."

Edmund's heart sank.

Why would she lie? He would have been able to accept the fact that he couldn't have her because he met her too late. He would still love her.

But why would she lie to him?

"Leave." Said Edmund, closing his eyes in distress, but Lilith didn't move.

"When can I make another call?"

"You can't!" Edmund opened his eyes, and in those eyes were now anger, "Leave, now."

Lilith bit on her lips hard trying to not let the tears fall, but she failed.

"Yes, Mr. Gaomond." Lilith got the coldness in Edmund's voice fast, and she knew it was not a good time to keep fighting with him, though she had no idea why her answer seemed to have angered him.

"Get Buster in." Edmund added without looking at her and Lilith didn't even reply when she closed the door behind her.

"Boss, you called for me?" Buster asked in a cautious voice when he came in. He didn't have to know Edmund as well as he did to see Edmund was deeply frustrated.

"Get me EVERYTHING on Jacob Algood," Said Edmund coldly, facing the window, "Also, continue your investigation..."

"Yes, boss?" Buster's voice was so small because he was taken by fear.

He had never seen Edmund so upset.

"Continue your investigation on Lilith Hayes." Said Edmund sullenly, eyes fixed on the dark sky.