Six

Lily's POV

The 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 grandma's forehead, her eyes softening up. "You're safe, Lily. That's all that matters."

Before I could've said something, Stella came in between Grandma and I. "Becky, you should go and rest now. It's almost midnight anyways."

I nervously smiled and nodded at Grandma. Somehow, she agreed and went in her room before squeezing my shoulder in a relieved gesture.

I really did worry her.

Meanwhile, Stella didn't even let me take a step towards my room when started questioning me. As if I had done this all on purpose.

"What do you think you were doing?" She hissed. She was acting like a parent and it was funny since I had none.

"I went out for a walk." I stated slowly.

I wasn't in a mood to elaborate every single detail to her. I was grateful that she had been there with grandma but I still felt shook up after all that had happened back there.

"You call this a walk?" She raised her hands up in the air in clear exasperation.

I sighed and sat down on the couch. Now that I thought about it, the ride back home in Ace's car had been really tense.

And he thought I'd live with him?

"You weren't thinking about committing...suicide, were you?" Her voice dropped to a whisper as she sat down beside me.

I gave her an odd look at that. "Why would I do that?"

She shrugged, partly relieved. "You were quite stressed ouy today."

I shook my head at that. I was definitely stressed out. But tat didn't mean I'd take my own life just because my grandfather was in coma.

And a really hot guy had asked me to live with him. Who also happened to be a billionaire.

Which once again, didn't make sense. Why did he want me to live with him? Was that because-

I felt my face heating up before I shook my head again. "I'd never do that, Stella."

There was silence after that. I didn't want to think about this anymore. I didn't want to think about Ace and his intentions behind that...stupid deal.

"Ace brought you here, didn't he?" She asked.

I looked at her in surprise, clearly taken aback by that question. How in the hell did she know that? Had she seen us in the driveway?

"N-no." I lied.

"Don't lie." She leaned back against the couch, looking up at the ceiling as her blonde hair framed either side of her face. "I told him that you weren't coming back home. I...called him."

She sent him?

"I thought you were my best friend." I narrowed my eyes at her.

She stood up and tried to hide the smile tugging on her lips. "I am, Lily. I just thought he had somehow forced you to accept the deal. I thought he'd kidnapped you."

I frowned at that. I couldn't really blame her. Not when I felt exhausted out of my mind. Closing my eyes, I inhaled deeply. "Tell me about him. All that you know."

She was silent for a bit. Not in an angry way. But in a thoughtful way.

"Why are you asking that?" She asked after a while.

If I was to live with him, I needed to know everything about him. But then again, I couldn't have said that to Stella.

"Just curious." I whispered.

I felt the couch dip slightly as she turned towards me. "Well, he is the CEO of the biggest company of New York. His dad's a rich guy. He himself is a rich guy. I mean, you go to his apartment and your mind blows off. He, on the first hand, is really rude. He thinks of himself as the biggest and most strongest man. And blah blah...he switches his girlfriends like about two times in a day and those girls would be the meanest you can ever see."

I opened my eyes and looked at her, slight horror creeping inside me at her words. But then her gaze softened. "But I think, he isn't that bad. The way they all make him sound." She spoke up. "Why else would he have helped you tonight?"

I was kind of surprised to hear that coming from her mouth. All of it was quite hard to take in. I wasn't going to ask her where she got to know all of that. She loved gossip and gossip traveled in New York way too fast.

"What if I accept his deal?" I asked all of a sudden.

Instead of getting surprised, she just sighed. "I knew this was coming. Just know that he's also famous for ruining people. He could ruin you and your life." She stared at me.

I ignored the sudden chills running up my spine.

"You'd still be my best friend, right?" I asked her with a small smile.

She smiled back and a small part inside me, sighed in relief.

"Of course, Lily. You dont even have to ask that."

×××××

"How are you feeling Grandpa?" I asked softly as I sat down beside him, on the soft hospital bed.

A part inside me itched to hear him talk. To hear him reply to me. Even a little movement would've been fine. But nothing happened as he laid there beside me, completely motionless.

I looked at the numerous wires around him. So many machines beeping around us in this room. He was getting weaker day by day. And that mere thought hurt too much.

"I have a choice, grandpa." I said, looking at him.

This morning, when grandma had told me how she was going to the hospital to visit grandpa, I had tagged along with her. I knew how I needed to make up my mind sooner or later.

About the deal.

"You will be fine again. You could wake up again." I felt a small smile forming on my lips at that thought. "You've done a lot for me. All I have to do is live with him."

I was expecting silence at that. But surprisingly, I heard a gasp. My instincts told me it was someone else but I still found myself looking at grandpa, hoping he might have opened his eyes. But he was still motionless.

That meant it was somebody else. I quickly looked behind me and saw grandma. Staring at me in surprise.

Shit.

She heard it. I should have seen before saying anything. I was about to say something when grandma interrupted me, "What are you saying, Lily?"

Grandma never used that tone on me until she was really angry. And right now, she pretty much was.

"Grandma, I was going to tell you." I spoke up, my heart beating faster.

She blinked and came over towards the empty chair in front of me before she sat down. "Lily, what have you been hiding?"

I looked at her, my words stuck in my throat. I wasn't sure what to say. I had no idea how she would react.

"Who were you saying you'd live with?" She asked, a friend forming on her forehead.

I was nervous and scared.

"Ace Morwood." I said, barely a whisper.

Maybe she wouldn't know who he was. Maybe she'd just think that I was talking crazy. But I realized how it wasn't that easy when the air between us tensed up to a whole new level. Just when I mentioned his name.

"What are you even saying?" She asked unbelievably.

She knew him?

I didn't know how she knew about him when I didn't. I could've thought of some excuses to cover this up. But then I realized, if I was really thinking about accepting this deal, she needed to know about it. All of it.

So I told her. Everything about that deal.

She was quiet the whole time, listening to me intently. When I was finished, she still kept silent.

"Grandma, this is the only way."

"I've never rejected you on anything, Lily. But not this." She said, her lips slightly trembling.

Please don't cry, grandma.

"But Grandma-" I started.

"How could you even trust him? How do you know he won't do something...bad?" She asked.

I looked at her silently. Because she was right. I wasn't sure about anything.

"Sometimes, you just have to take some risks." I whispered quietly.

She looked at me, shaking her head. "I can not let you do this."

Of course, she couldn't. Because she was my caring grandma. Who just wanted my life to be as normal as possible.

"It's not like I won't come and see you." I spoke up, hearing my voice waver a bit. I needed her to understand me.

"Lily, Jack would never have wanted this for you." She whispered.

I knew that. Grandpa would never want that. All he wanted was happiness for me. But how could I be happy when he wasn't even conscious?

"You always trusted my decisions, didn't you?" I asked, holding her hands in mine.

She looked at me, her eyes filled with regret. And sadness. And I wished I could've done something.

"Think about it, grandma. I've got some work to do." I gave her hands a slight squeeze before getting up.

I knew how she'd have to agree to this. She trusted me. But at this point, I didn't even know if I could trust my own self.

×××××

When I was outside Ace's apartment, I realized how big it actually was. Almost like a palace. I would see such buildings all the time here in New York, but I never expected to go inside one.

Should I even do this?

I was nervous. Quite a lot nervous. I never liked going in such huge places. How could I even live in here?

Stone

Enterprises.

Taking in a deep breath, I went ahead towards the entrance. Guards in black attire guarded the entrance and a part inside me was hoping that one of them would stop me. But apart from just a glance, none of them bothered to do anything.

I went inside from the tall glass doors, looking around the place slowly. That's when I noticed the receptionist, sitting behind a glass desk. The entire place was filled with expensive looking furniture. Black, grey and white.

I looked back at the receptionist. Her dark black hair were tied up in a sleek bun, wearing a black fitted suit. I wasn't surprised at the professional aura surrounding her.

And that just made me feel more uncomfortable.

I didn't belong here. At all.

Hesistating at first, I walked over towards her hoping she could tell me where Ace was. I was here to just talk to him. To clear things between us. And I wanted to leave this place as soon as possible.

When I made no move to say anything, the receptionist looked up at me with her dark black eyes, her brows raising up slightly.

"Can I talk to Ace?" I asked, the sudden air conditioning making me cross my arms.

She examined me a little before her gaze moved over to her screened computer. "I believe you can't meet him right now. He's in between a meeting."

A meeting?

"Is it really important?" She asked, looking at my confused face.

I just nodded.

"Well then, he'll be free in a while. You can wait in the lounge for the meantime." She said, giving me a small polite smile.

I forced a smile on my face and nodded. I really didn't want to stay. But I really wanted to talk to him too.

When I went inside the waiting lounge, I realized how there were three people already there, dressed in expensive suits. Making me more uncomfortable.

I inhaled a deep breath and sat down on one of the black couches. I waited for almost five minutes which felt like five hours, fidgeting with my phone and sweater. Then finally giving up, I stood up.

Thinking how better it would be to just leave right now, I headed back towards the receptionist. I could just ask her to tell Ace how I had come here to talk to him. Maybe he'd actually be kind enough to take out some time and talk.

I was irritated.

I was almost there when one of my feet got hooked behind my other and I fell. Blame the slippery floor.

Before I could've met the floor, face first, someone gripped my waist. My heart almost in my throat, I looked up at him.

A small, tiny part inside me was thinking how it was Ace. But I was more than glad when I saw how he wasn't.

I broke out from my thoughts when I realized how he was regarding me with an amused smile. He looked quite the opposite of Ace actually. His green eyes crinkling up at the corners as he smiled. Almost like mine.

I straightened up and gave him a small grateful smile. "Thank you."

I stiffened a little when I realized how he was still holding onto my waist. "No problem. Be careful next time."

A small uncomfortable feeling nagged my insides when he didn't pull his hand away. Before I could've pointed it out or even backed away, another voice interrupted us. A much familiar one this time.

"Lily?"

I looked towards the voice and saw Ace. Few steps away from us. I did see the look of confusion crossing his face. But almost immediately, when his eyes trailed over towards the boy in front of me, his expression turned into a glare. A really angry one.

"See you later, sweetheart." The guy who saved me from falling, finally pulled his hand away. He winked at me despite Ace's glare and backed away. Before leaving.

What was that about?

I was interrupted from my thoughts when Ace gripped my arm and pulled me towards him. My eyes widened a little in surprise as I registered the very close proximity.

What was he even doing?

"What the hell, Ace-"

"What were you doing with him?" He cut me off, glaring at me now. I almost, almost cowered away when his blue eyes darkened up in what I assume was anger.

I tried to pull back but his grip on my arm was firm.

"I just slipped, Ace! He caught me. Why are you acting like this?" I asked, my eyes widening up in exasperation.

A frown formed on his forehead and he let go of my arm. I stepped back almost immediately.

How the hell was I supposed to live with him if he acted like this?

His gaze trailed off behind me before he dragged a hand acroos his face, pushing back his hair. "Why are you here?"

I rolled my eyes and let out a huff, crossing my arms.

"I came to talk about your deal."

He looked at me, clearly surprised that I was touching that topic. I really didn't want to. "What about it?"

I couldn't believe I was actually about to say this. But I had no choice other than that.

"I'm accepting it." I looked up at him.

He didn't even try to hide the surprise, amusement clearly event in his eyes. The look in his eyes told me how he had known that I'd accept it.

"But I need to clear some things first." I spoke up, frowning at me. I had come here for that, after all.

"Go ahead." He nodded.

I shifted from one feet to another uncomfortably. "How do I know that grandpa and grandma are fine?" I asked.

He raised his brows at that.

Was he even taking this seriously?

"I'm serious, Ace." I said.

"You'll just have to trust me." He replied.

He might've seen disappointment on my face for which he added, "They'll be fine. I promise."

Promise. I could at least hold on to that.

"And if I'm living with you, you won't do..." My face heated up a little. "...something."

God.

The corners of his lips twitched a little as his eyes trailed across my face. "Something like?"

I narrowed my eyes at him. "You know what I'm talking about." I muttered.

Instead, he just smirked before stepping closer towards me. Out of instinct, I backed off, my back hitting the wall lightly. My heart thudded loudly in my ears as my eyes widened at his actions.

"Something as in this?" He asked.

I felt my neck heating up.

"You...can't do this." I said, trying to back off.

Thankfully, his phone rang at the exact moment making him stop. Something inside me sighed in relief as he took it out with a small frown.

Instead of receiving the call, he looked at me. "Anything else?"

I shook my head. Almost a little frantically since he was still too close. And it felt like I couldn't breathe.

"Now that you have accepted my deal, I choose when you come here." He stated.

What?

I was about to object when he spoke up, "Tomorrow. Tomorrow my assistant will be there to pick you up."

He didn't even wait for me to say anything before receiving the call, and walking away.

Tomorrow?

That was too early. I looked over at his retreating form as he walked away. Sudden frustration seemed almost overwhelming at this point.

This was all going too quick.