Lily's POV
I was wide awake. Laying on my bed and looking up at the ceiling. At our family.
Mom, Dad and me.
I still remembered that day when we had taken that picture. We had gone off to the beach and stayed in one of the cabins there. I still remembered when a crab had bitten my finger and I had cried. And I still remembered how my mother had shushed me and how my father had bought me a stick of candy floss to make me smile.
That crab bite had hurt a lot. Stupid crab.
I had only been four back then. Just four and so young.
I closed my eyes and took a deep breath.
I hadn't known if I should've gone back to the bakery. I wasn't even sure if Steve would've wanted me back again after my sudden outburst yesterday. I had just ran off, without giving him any explanation.
And I was sad too. I had hoped Grandpa would've woken up. But he had just made a slight movement. And that, didn't mean anything. When I had heard this, all of my hopes had crashed over me.
"You shouldn't keep your hopes high, or else when they fail, you feel like you're drowning."
I was worried for grandma. She hadn't eaten anything since grandpa had gotten admitted in that hospital. For the first time, I could feel the whole burden of it. The burden of my life. And it felt heavy. As if I might break any moment.
Why was this even happening?
The sudden ringing of my phone interrupted my thoughts. Glancing over at it, I decided how I really didn't want to answer it. Whoever that it was.
But it kept on ringing. Again and again until I let out a groan and picked it up, answering the call.
"What is it?" I snapped, which I shouldn't have.
"Are you okay?" Stella asked.
Of course I wasn't.
"I'm fine, Stella. Just a bit tired." I lowered down my voice.
"And cranky." She added, though she sounded confused. "Aren't you coming to the bakery?"
"Would Steve even want me back after I just ran off?" I asked.
"Of course. I mean, he was confused when I told him how you left but it was all handled. You can't just give up." She replied.
I know.
"I'll come then." I closed my eyes.
"But the timings for the day shifts are over, just head over there at night." She said.
That was fine with me. At least that way, I could get some sleep.
×××××
Ace's POV
Her eyes.
I was trying so hard to get her image off my head. Any way that I could just forget her.
How could I?
The way her eyes shone. The way she smiled. The way her hair fell on her shoulders. It was so striking. She was the first person who ever brought my attention. She was quite hard to ignore. And yet, she was beautiful.
But she had ran off all so suddenly. What haf happened? What had been so important that she had left?
Yesterday had been a tiring day. Especially going through that bastard, Daniel. Just thinking about him grew this strange anger inside me. He thought that he could take that contract so easily.
Well, he was wrong.
Going through my way wasn't considered that easy.
I sat down on the couch, dragging a hand through my hair. Lily. That was her name.
How could I even forget her?
Unconsciously, I found myself dialing Steve's number on my phone. He picked up after the second ring.
"Hello. Steve speaking." He answered.
I picked up a pen and clicked it. "Steve. How's your business going?" Steve was a nice, old man. He was like my father.
"Ah, Mr Morwood! Good to hear from you. Of course of course, the business is going smooth. Since you helped with the documents." He laughed.
A small frown formed on my forehead. "Stop calling me that, Steve." I muttered. "You know you can just call me Ace."
"I'll keep that in mind." He chuckled.
Here it goes.
"I wanted a favor from you, actually." I added, coming to the point.
"Of course. Ask anything." He said. I leaned my head back against the couch, a small smile forming on my lips. You could almost hear the confusion in his voice.
"What can you tell me about your new waitress?" I asked.
He was silent for a moment.
"Lily? I don't have much information about her. Other than she needed a serious job." He still sounded confused.
That wasn't much. I needed to know everything about her. For instance, why did she ran away yesterday.
"Who do you know, that could tell me more about her?" I asked.
There must be someone.
"Ace, why are you so eager to know about her?" He asked.
"Don't worry about that, Steve."
He took a sigh and replied, "Okay, her friend, Stella. I could give you her number."
Her best friend. Surely she'll know.
"Ask her to come by the Stone Enterprises." I stated. "Evening, that is."
×××××
"Sir, there's a girl named...Stella. She's asking to meet you. Should I send her up to your office?" I held the intercom to my ear as I heard my receptionist, Samantha's voice.
"Send her up in my office." I said.
A bit later, a girl came inside. A typical blonde you'd usually see here in New York.
She entered my office and took in the surroundings. I was used to this. Whoever came in here, they looked at it as if this was a palace. It slightly annoyed me.
But she quickly overcame the surprise and looked at me. "You know, this place is really cool and all. But I'm not here for a tour." She spoke. "What do you really want?"
Quite clever. I raised me brow and leaned back in my chair, "I want you to tell me about your friend, Lily."
The look on her face was priceless. I might've even asked her to sit down when she paled. "What...do you mean?"
I took my phone out and unlocked the screen. "I need you to tell me about Lily." I repeated.
Why was she taking so much time?
She slowly shifted from one feet to another. "How do you know about Lily? That she's my friend?"
I inhaled deeply losing the only bits on patience I had within me. "I have my own sources. Can you come back to my question?" I asked. I was trying to be polite. As polite as I could've been.
But I guess, that wasn't in my blood.
She shook her head in slight determination. "I'm not telling you anything about her. No way in hell would I do that."
A smirk placed itself on my lips. "Lily Willows, isn't it? I can most definitely find her address very easily. You want me to do that?"
I saw her stiffen slightly.
"How do you know her last name?" She asked, curiosity quite evident in her voice.
How was I not supposed to know it?
"Sources." I kept it short. She didn't need to know about everything.
"Last chance. You either tell me what I ask about her. Or–"
"Fine." She blurted out before I could've completed that sentence. Threatening people was so much easier. Something I was quite used to.
"Why did she leave yesterday?" I straightened up, placing my elbows on the glass table. "From that café."
Her eyes widened slightly. This time, however, she didn't ask me how I knew that all.
"Her grandfather." She murmured, looking around once again. The look on her face told me clearly how much she wanted to kill me. Then herself. "He's not fine. He had a stroke. And well, he's in coma right now."
What?
"What do you mean he's in coma?" I asked with a frown. "Aren't the doctors–"
"Not everyone is as rich as you." She glared at me. I clearly remembered how pissed off I got when somebody tried cutting me off. But right now, all I could think about was her.
And so I ignored her remark.
"I have better work to do than being here." She started backing off. I didn't stop her as she went towards the doors and left silently.
Lily.
I knew what I had to do.
×××××
Lily's POV
"Hey, Lily?" Stella spoke up suddenly as we walked alongside each other. We were walking in the park just beside my house. The moon shining brightly above us.
Stella had told me how she needed to talk to me after my night shift at the café. I had agreed.
Though she had been looking nervous the whole time. Something was definitely going on with her. But I didn't have to push her. I never had to. She always told me herself if anything was bothering her. That's why she was my best friend.
"Yeah?" I asked, looking at the two children running around.
She was fidgeting with her fingers nervously. I wasn't surprised as a strange feeling clawed in my stomach.
She was making me nervous too.
"If I did something bad, you wouldn't be mad at me, right?" She asked. Hope was evident in her voice. That kind of triggered more nervousness inside me. What had she done that she was practically asking for my forgiveness?
"That depends." I shrugged. I was trying my best not to show it on my face.
She remained silent after that. We stopped near a big old tree but she still didn't say anything. I finally opened my mouth to ask her but she just interrupted me,
"Itoldaboutyoutohim." She blurted out, then scrunched up her nose. "I mean, Itoldhimaboutyou."
She looked at me with worried eyes before blowing out a sigh. "He was asking me about you. He asked me why you had ran off yesterday. I told him about your grandpa."
What?
"Who are you talking about?" I asked, confused and a bit scared. My heart was beating a bit fast as I took it all in. She told a stranger about my grandpa?
She looked apologetic. "Ace."
Ace?
"Who is Ace?" I asked.
She frowned. "The same guy who you were about to take the order from, yesterday at the café. But you got a call and threw your book on his table and left."
He was Ace? But-
That's why Steve was calling him Mr Morwood.
Stella only nodded in response.
"Why would he ask about me? And why did you tell him? You were the one who told me he was dangerous!" I started freaking out.
She was the one who had stopped me at the first place to ask any help from him. How could she become a traitor all of a sudden?
"He wanted to know, Lily. And...he knew your last name. If I hadn't told him, he would've found out himself."
I looked at her in bewilderment.
"I'm sorry, Lily. I really am." She added.
I looked at her, feeling my stomach knotting itself inside me.
"It's...fine." I murmured, looking away. "Just don't go around telling random strangers about this, okay?"
I wish I could've blamed her for what was coming my way. But I didn't know what was coming.
And I surely couldn't have guessed it either.
Lily's POV"Here you go." I directed a small smile towards the lady before placing her order on her table.Phew. This shit was hard.It was quite a lot of hard work. Especially when you had to go from one table to another in just a second. Or sometimes, even in a mini second.I pulled back a strand of my hair away from my face. I'm sure I looked like a total mess. I had told grandma about my job in the morning. Of course, she hadn't looked anywhere near pleased with it. But I had to do this. I needed to help grandpa.What I had said was, "It's okay. I want to do it willingly, Grandma. By the way, these vacations are boring me anyways and I don't even find these books interesting nowadays."She had nodded and accepted it all. I knew she wasn't believing me. Especially on the last part about books. She knew how much I adored my books given by Jade. But what's the danger in lying? And lie is always for a reason.I had decided to enjoy these vacations before University started. But then
Lily's POV"Lily." Stella broke the silence before sitting beside me. "What's wrong?"I was sprawled on my bed with a blanket over me. Stella had come over to my house and was now kind of getting annoyed since I wasn't replying to her. At all. I could've lied to her and said that I was sick. Having a fever. Or maybe going through some stress disorder? That wouldn't actually be a lie."I'm having a fever." I murmured, closing my eyes.Two days had passed since I'd eaten anything. At least that's what grandma had said. Which wasn't exactly true. I hadn't gotten out of bed. I hadn't felt like getting out of bed.I was scared."You're such a bad liar. I thought we didn't keep secrets." She frowned.We didn't. But how was I supposed to tell her about Ace? Him and his stupid deal? She'd just blame herself.Maybe I should get over it. Maybe I shouldn't think about it at all.But part of me knew how I couldn't do that. Grandpa wasn't being treated. Days were slowly passing by without him be
Lily's POVThe second I entered my house, all I heard was silence. Where was Grandma?I took off my sneakers and went towards the lounge. I felt guilty for keeping grandma worried. She didn't need this in between all of the stuff that was already happening.Or maybe she wasn't home yet.I was wrong when I went inside the lounge. There they were. Not only Grandma, but Stella too. "Grandma?" I broke the tense silence.Both of their heads whipped in my direction and then, they were rushing towards me."Lily!" Grandma spoke up, relief quite evident in her voice. "Where were you? I've always told you to take your phone with you."I laughed nervously, trying to ignore Stella's glare. Both of them sometimes acted a lot protective. And that did went up to an annoying level."I forgot. But I'm fine. I just lost my way." I said, partly telling the truth. I couldn't have said how three drunk psychos were after me. I was tired and exhausted and I just wanted to sleep.A worried frown formed on
Lily's POVMorning started out pretty badly since Stella decided to drop by my house. Not just that, but she even came up in my room, threatening to spill cold water over my face if I didn't wake up.That was the only reason why I woke up and trudged downstairs with my drowsy state, still in my pajamas.I was so not a morning person. As I moved downstairs, Grandma and Stella were seated around the dining table, waiting for someone. Probably me."What was so important to ruin my sleep? I literally just slept three hours ago." A small groan escaped my lips as I slumped down on the couch.That was the truth. Sleep hadn't come easily last night. Especially since all I could think about was today. And what was about to happen this day.I was scared of leaving my own house. I was scared of leaving my grandparents. "Yeah, we can see that, Lily." Stella eyed me.Something was definitely wrong with them. The tense atmosphere said so. And I was literally tired of facing such kind of atmospher
Ace's POV"I might be busy." I spoke up, dismissing my secretary.I was beyond exhausted and these meetings wouldn't just stop. Walking towards the suite, I realized how Sofia was still walking beside me.Not right now.I dragged a hand over my face, urging myself not to grain out loud. All I wanted was some sleep. At least, one hour."Ace!" She hissed beside me.I barely controlled my annoyance and looked at her. "What is it?""Lily's here." She gestured towards the suite.Lily's here?Dammit! She had to arrive today. How did I forget that?"Right." I nodded slowly, walking ahead more eagerly this time. "You showed her everything?"She nodded, a little too frantically. Meaning she needed to say something else too."And?" I asked."She was asking where you were." She glanced at me, carefully arranging the papers I had given her.She was asking about me?How unusual."I'll see about that." And then I dismissed her too.She nodded and walked the other way, towards the elevator. When I w
Lily's POVAll alone.I was all alone in a dark place. Nothing was there. The darkness was seeping deep into me. I could not hold it much longer. It was suffocating me.Consuming me.I opened my eyes in a sudden jerk. My throat felt dry. Looking around, it took me a whole minute until my vision adjusted.It's fine. It was just a dream. I'm fine.I rubbed my hands over my face and closed my eyes to level my breathing. My throat still felt dry. My insides felt like they were twisting themselves.Water.I needed water.I stood up groggily from the bed and headed outside, opening the door. My head felt light as if I had been dehydrated for days. Frowning I went towards the familiar kitchen when I saw him.Ace.And a part inside me breathed out in relief when I saw him. I hadn't expected to see him here. Not in the morning especially. Since he was always busy with his work.But after that strange dream, I was glad to know that I wasn't alone in this big, empty house.I slowly went over tow
Lily's POVI spent the rest of my life in the library. Almost.It was the only place apart from my room which seemed comfortable enough to roam around. Even if the library was huge, there was this something about the tall shelves filled with books which somehow felt comforting.I didn't actually see anyone here besides me. Which was more than fine.Picking out a random book, I sat down on one of the soft black couches around one corner.The books here were kind of interesting. Historical. Crimes. Psychology. It gave a sort of mysterious aura to this place, confusing me even more.Especially since Ace had indirectly pointed out that I was in danger. He told me not to leave this place by myself.But why?I wasn't in danger my whole life. I never remembered my grandparents ever telling me not to leave the house by myself.Did that mean that I was in danger just because of Ace?I frowned at that, shaking my head slightly. It would be better if I not thinking into this too much. It clearl
Lily's POVI opened my eyes in clear frustration when the alarm clock didn't stop ringing like crazy. Reaching out with my hand, I searched around for it before pressing down the snooze button. Then I rubbed my eyes and sat up, slowly looking around until my eyes stopped at the black alarm clock. Which clearly wasn't mine.This wasn't my freaking room either.Slowly, realization dawned upon me and I came to remember what had happened yesterday night.But I didn't sleep on the bed, did I?I furrowed my eyebrows in confusion.On the other hand, this room was very much like Ace himself. The walls were painted a light shade of grey and a big closet door beside the couch I remembered sleeping on. It smelled like him.God.I drifted my mind off from Ace and stood up. I really had the most satisfying sleep last night. Something about this room was comforting.Or maybe it was just the fact that I hadn't been alone in this room last night.I really needed a shower to get these thoughts out of