Lily’s POV.
The next day, I woke up all gloomy and decided to work on something to distract myself. I look at the email that Ryan sent me about vacancies. And then I don’t have much to do at home, so I decided to go to the grocery store today.
After having a breakfast of cookies and milk, I call one by one to every company that is mentioned and ask for appointments. But most of the vacancies are already filled. I have two interviews lined up tomorrow.
I also searched some more to get a better option. I saw a vacancy in one of the companies I worked at last year. The post is for the CEO’s personal secretary and the company provides security of every kind to other companies, celebrities or people in physical and technology both ways.
It is very good in computer security services too. I call the company and get an appointment for the day after tomorrow after I mail my portfolio. I do it immediately after talking to them and give it to other two companies too.
But if I get a job in this security company, my life would get much better. Not only will I learn more but I will have better earning too. At least there is one thing to look forward to in my future and which also made a bit of my day.
I leave my apartment and have a lunch of burgers and fries with a banana chocolate milkshake. I don’t get any calls from Ryan so I don’t disturb him either. We both need time to think this through. It is not that big of a thing but I don’t want to go deep in this relationship only to get my heart broken later.
I buy groceries from stores and also go to a bakery to buy some butterscotch and chocolate pastries for the Andersons as a gift for welcoming me to their house. I arrange everything then decide what to wear. Richard said that along with me three more guests are invited for dinner. And they all are of my age.
My hands find a dusty pink colored asymmetrical ruffle hem satin dress with a wrap belt. It has a deep v-neck and fluttering short sleeves. It was a gift from Emma and Lucas on my last birthday. But I didn’t have any special occasion to wear it and sometimes pink doesn’t suit red heads as per rumour but apparently Emma doesn’t believe in those rumours.
But I don’t care about them either, so I wear what I like and in what I feel comfortable in. I take shower at 4 in the evening and put on my dress. It feels great against my skin and it compliments my body perfectly.
I decide to leave my hair open and part them in one side and also curl them a bit. I wear my watch and earrings. I also wear the necklace that Ryan gave me as it would look good on this not because I miss him. I wear grey color heels and take my sling bag and put my lipstick in it.
I hear buzz on the intercom and a gruff voice saying he is here to pick me up to take to Anderson’s residence. I lock my apartment and go down to see Wyatt.
“Hi. Myself Lily. We didn’t get to introduce each other yesterday.” I say.
“I am Wyatt Carter.” He says with a small smile which makes him look more approachable now.
“Pleasure to meet you Mr. Carter.” I say as I forward my hand to shake.
“Same here Ms. Scott but please call me Wyatt only.” He says as he shakes my hand in his warm one.
“Of course but please call me LIly only too.” I say and he nods as I smile.
He opens the back door for me but as there is no one in the car, I sit in the passenger seat. I don’t want Wyatt to feel like he is my driver and our ride is going to be long as it will take an hour to reach Riverhead in Long Island so I as well give him some company and talk.
Wyatt and I talk about our families. I tell him about my brother and his wife and their two children. And he tells me about his wife and their one and only daughter, Daisy. Daisy is studying arts in London university and to my surprise I came to know she is the second god daughter of Richard.
“Well then I would love to meet her.” I say with an excited smile.
“Well I don’t think she will come back for a year or so as she has an internship to do. But we are going to go there on her special day next month as she is graduating. Even Richard and Heather would come.” Wyatt says proudly.
“If she was anything like her Dad I bet she would be stubborn and strong but I also bet she must look like her mother.” I say and his face turns blank and I think I may have insulted him.
“You are so right and I am so glad for that.” He says and laughs and I sigh in relief and laugh with him.
We reach the mansion at 6:30 and Wyatt helps me out of the car. The door is opened by a middle aged beautiful honey blonde colored hair lady with a sweet smile and she greets me.
“Lily, she is my wife Viola.” Wyatt introduces me to her.
“Well you were not wrong.” I say.
“About what?” Viola asks as she glares at Wyatt.
“That you are very beautiful and also you have the sweetest smile.” I say and she blushes.
“Thank you, my dear. Please come in. I must say you are very talented as Wyatt never gets chatty with anyone.” Viola says and we smile at each other.
“Lily.” I hear Richard calling my name as I enter the drawing room and he comes towards me. He hugs me and kisses my cheek and I do the same.
“How are you?” I ask as I hold his arm.
“How do I look?” He asks as he spreads his other arm.
“Charming and handsome as always.” I say with a wink.
“There you go. You know me well.” He says.
“Hi, Lily.” Heather says as he enters the room.
“Hi, Heather. This is for you.” I say after I hug her and give her the bag which has pastries.
“Please do sit down and what was the need for this?” She asks and I sit down on the soft couch.
“Just a small token of thank you for inviting me here and also Richard likes butterscotch pastries so I can’t resist.” I say.
“She is right. Save it for me dear and please don’t let Theo anywhere near it. So how was the wedding?” Richard asks as he pours wine for us and gives us as he takes scotch.
“Very beautiful ceremony. I loved it.” I say.
“And your dance with Ryan?” He asks and I almost splutter in my wine.
“It was good. It was a last minute trick the happy couple played on us as I caught the bouquet and he caught the…garter.” I say and drink some more wine.
“It would take time for them to come. Why don’t you show Lily around the estate for the time being? And I will see if the cook has prepared everything or not.” Heather says and after giving a small kiss to Richard she leaves.
“Let’s go.” Richard says and I put my empty glass on the coffee table and follow him.
Richard’s mansion-like estate is near the sea and very beautiful. It has a front lawn and is surrounded by trees from three sides. But the back of it has a sea view. It is a bit high and we have to take steps to go to the beach.
On the left side of the estate is a pool. It also has an indoor pool and gaming room. It has twenty five bedrooms in which most of them have an ensuite bathroom. It also has a modern kitchen, dining room and a ballroom too.
As we walk around the right side of the estate where there is Richard’s car collection and garden we talk about my future career options. I tell him that I have interviews lined up for two days.
“Two are in Queens and one is in Manhattan. And I hope that I get the later one as it would be a good opportunity and I can also stay close to my family. Have you met little Eve?” I ask him.
“Yes. She looks just like your mother, especially her nose.” He says as he chuckles remembering my Mom.
“Do you still miss her?” I ask.
“I miss both of them. One was my childhood friend and one was my college buddy. Prim, your mom always believed in me. She was the first person to invest in me. And in return I made her meet the love of her life, Lucius.” Richard says proudly.
“Really? You never told me that story. Tell me please.” I say.
“Well… I got to know about their relationship a year later.” He says with a grin.
“What?” I ask.
“Yes. They were dating secretly as Prim was worried that I wouldn’t like her having a relationship with my other best friend and Lucius was worried that I would make him walk down the aisle if he mistreated my friend. But when I came to know about it accidentally, I was happy.” He said as he looked far away with a serene smile.
“Weren’t you not even a bit angry about them hiding things from you?” I ask as I realise that I am doing the same.
“I was but then I also saw how much in love they were and it was not my place to get between someone’s relationship. It is just that if they would not have ended up together I would have been disappointed and things would have become way too complicated for each one of us.” He says.
“Yes. That could happen.” I say.
I realise if I tell Richard about my relationship with his son and later if it doesn’t work out apart from Ryan and me, Richard would also get hurt. And after all he has done for me, I don’t want to give him any kind of pain in return. He is not like but literally my second parent.
“So if you have a boyfriend in the future , don’t hide him from me.” Richard says suddenly making me come out of reverie.
“Well… Yes… I will… Why not?” I say as I try not to feel guilty about lying to him.
“I have noticed that for the last month you have totally changed. You go out more and have even started taking the much needed time for yourself. You look more… relaxed and beautiful.” He says.
“Spa?” I joke and he laughs with me.
“Richard… Richard… There you are.” A feminine voice says.
We turn around to see a young brunette woman who looks a bit older than me coming towards us. She looks a bit familiar. I have seen her somewhere but I don’t know where. But then I see Ryan coming with her and I remember where I saw her. She was the one I saw coming out of the hotel with Ryan in that article. So that means she is Freya, Ryan’s ex-girlfriend.
“Oh, Richard. I missed you so much. How are you?” She asks as she hugs Richard.
I look past them to see Ryan is now accompanied by two more young men. One is wearing a checkered red shirt with jeans who looks younger than three, so he must be Noah. And the other one who looks dashing with a lopsided grin on his face must be Theo.
I look at Ryan again to see him giving me a serious look. They hug their father and start talking. Freya gets mixed into them so well like she has in this family for years and I feel like an outsider looking in. I feel for a minute that I don’t belong here and that is my worst fear.
“Lily meets Freya, Ryan’s girlfriend.” Richard says and my heart feels like it has shattered but I don’t react when I see Ryan trying to hold his smirk. What is happening here?
“Hi. I didn’t know that Mr. Anderson had a girlfriend.” I ask with a smile.
“No I am not his girlfriend but a friend in a girl but I am hoping for something more maybe.” Freya says as she throws a teasing smile at Ryan.
“Well I hope your hope gets…what it wants?” I say as I don’t know what more to say.
“And these two are my boys, Theo and Noah. And boys this is my first goddaughter, Lily.” Richard introduces me to them.
“Hello, Lily.” Noah says politely as we shake hands.
“Hello.” I say with a smile which comes to face naturally when I see him smile.
“Bonjour, my lady.” Theo says and kisses my hand when I give it a handshake.
“Bonjour.” I say as I giggle when he moves back when he sees Richard glaring.
“And you know Ryan.” Richard says.
“Yes. I do.” I say as I smile at him politely to show others.
“I do too.” Ryan says as he smiles back at me.
“So now I pronounce you both husband and wife.” Theo says and we look at him in shock.
“Theo!” Ryan and Richard exclaim.
“What? They said I do. They had to see that joke coming. It is not like you both are actually married or something.” Theo explains.
I look at Ryan with dejection as he reacts so harshly. I can understand Richard’s reaction but not his. I look away from him when he sees me looking and my eyes meet Noah who looks at me weirdly.
A maid comes and tells us that the dinner is ready and we all start to walk inside. I see Ryan walking with Freya and feel pangs in my heart. I slowly follow behind Theo and Richard.
“You shouldn’t walk so slow that people will leave you behind, alone.” I look beside me to see Noah and look in front of me to see they all are way ahead of me.
“Sometimes it is better to be behind and alone than being heartbroken and alone.” I say as I look Freya’s arm around Ryan as they talk.
“Well maybe nobody has to be left behind or be alone or heartbroken.” He says with a smile.
“Maybe.” I say as I smile.
“So… are you just going to let him make you jealous like that or are you going to use me to make him think that two can play this game?” He asks suddenly and I stop walking.
“What?” I ask as I look at him.
“Well I have always been direct unlike my brother who is a fool. I know you two are dating for I don’t know how long but it is definitely more than a month, I guess.” He says and I look at him in shock.
“How did you come to know about it?” I ask as I realise we were very careful.
“In Vermont while you both were riding towards sunsets and I also saw you both kissing. So I came to the conclusion that you both are dating as Ryan doesn’t take vacation from work for just anyone, not even his previous girlfriend Freya.” He says and I look at the direction they all are walking away. They have yet to notice that we are not following them.
“Please don’t tell anyone about this, especially Richard. I don’t want to see him hurt in any way.” I say as I plead to him.
“Hey, chill. It is between you and Ryan. And I never disclose anything to anyone if it is not mine to do so. So back to my earlier question, do you want to make him jealous?” He asks as he smiles wickedly.
“But why would he try to make me jealous?” I ask as we start walking again.
“Whenever my brother is serious about some deal and wants it but doesn’t want the client to think he has the upper hand, he tries to make them think he has options. So the client comes running back to him with any price he offers for the deal. My brother is trying the same thing here. Did you both have any argument or what? Did you break up?” He asks.
“No. I told him if he doesn’t see any future of this relationship then we have to think about it. But I didn’t mean we were breaking up.” I say as we come near the door.
“Then you have to fight back. I saw him with you and he was so happy and there is nothing wrong in asking for assurance. He is just trying to make you jealous so you go back to him and don’t ask for things to change.” He says.
“Are you sure?” I ask.
“Yes. If you want something, fight for it.” He says with a smile.
“Why do I think there is something in it for you too that is why you are helping me?” I ask in suspicion.
“Oh! But there is. I want to see a jealous look on his face and also I don’t want Freya to mess up our life again.” He says.
“What do you mean by that?” I ask but get interrupted by Theo.
“Hey! Why are you both so slow? Let’s go in.” Theo says.
“Yes. We are coming. Lily, are you ready?” He asks with a wicked smile while Theo looks at me.
“For what?” Theo asks, looking at Noah.
“For dinner of course.” I say as I smile back at him and nod.
Well Ryan, I will show you that two can play this game.