Lily’s POV.
We get inside the elevator and I act like I don’t care who the hell he is. Ryan has no right to be jealous and upset when we don’t have any relationship between us anymore. I feel uncomfortable and hot at the same time as I am standing beside Davis.
I am starting to hate elevators nowadays as they remind me of not doing so many things. I hold on my breath and stay stoic as we go down. But when we get off Davis gets a good look at Ryan.
“You are Ryan Anderson. Hi, I am Davis. We met at the wedding.” Davis introduces himself.
“Hi.” Ryan says politely.
“And you know Lily.” Davis says.
“Yes… I do. So where are you both going? Maybe I could drop you both.” Ryan says.
“No thanks. We are going out on a date and I know you won’t like becoming a third wheel.” I say with a smile.
“You never know.” He says.
“Well I know for sure. Let’s go, Davis.” I say and take Davis’s arm in mine and walk away.
“For a minute there I felt like he wanted you or maybe I was just imagining that.” Davis says.
“Well he doesn’t and you were just imagining.” I say.
“Okay.” Davis says in suspicion.
We go in his car to Vance and Kathy’s new house and wait for them. Their house is luxurious but with a very homely feeling. We go over our plan then leave in two different cars. First Vance and Kathy go to Freya’s penthouse then Davis and I go.
“So are you ready?” Davis asks as we get on the elevator.
“For stealing? I don’t know.” I say.
“Well in the past, you stole that pen from Maddie in college.” Davis says.
“That was a wrong rumour. It was my pen to begin with. I let her borrow it during the exam and it is my lucky pen. It was also my Mom’s gift to me when I started writing with a pen in school. It has my initials on it too. I was never letting that go just like that. Do you know how much I have to think to keep the pen hidden in case she comes to take it?” I say.
“Maddie did tell everybody that you stole the pen but as nobody could find it, you were not accused over a simple thing like that.” Davis says as he laughs, “By the way, where did you hide it?”
“I hid it under the stitching of one of my coats.” I say sheepishly as we get inside the lift.
“What?” Davis says as he laughs.
“What! That is my lucky pen. Whenever I use it to sign something that is important to me, I always get good results out of it. Like when I signed for my college and then for my first job and my this job. I wish I had signed on my ex boyfriend too, so it would have lasted longer.” I say as we get off the elevator
“Where have you signed on his body, by the way?” Davis asks with a wicked glee in his eyes.
“Davis.” I exclaim and laugh with him.
“Don’t you both look cute?” We hear a feminine voice and turn around to see Freya.
“Hi, Freya. Thanks for inviting us.” I say.
“Yes. Thanks for inviting us Freya. You have a really beautiful penthouse. I think our date will get more exciting now. What do you say, Lily?” Davis asks near my ear and I see Ryan behind Freya looking at us all the time.
I look at Davis and say, “It would be more than exciting for me I think.”
“Well I hope you both enjoy my party.” Freya says and takes us to meet some people.
She shows off Ryan like he is some kind of trophy and I see Ryan just smiling and talking casually. I don’t understand. I thought Ryan wanted to be with Freya then why do I
I feel like this is not what he actually wanted. Maybe my heart still believes that he does not want to be with her but me.
I shake my head and go towards a corner with Davis. I don’t drink anything as I want to keep my head clear but I do eat some appetizers as I feel too hungry suddenly when I remember that I haven’t had a good lunch.
“So wanna dance?” Davis asks.
“Dance?” I ask.
“Everybody is dancing and your friend there is looking at us suspiciously thinking why do we have so much space between us.” Davis says as he stands in front of me to hide me from others.
“You are right. Let’s dance.” I say and we go out on the floor.
Soon the beat changes and everybody gathers to have a couple dance in which you change your partners. I dance with Davis first then some guy then Ryan comes.
His touch still sends current through my body and I feel jolted as he looks me right in the eye with a possessive look on his face. His hands hold me close to him with familiarity. How many times we had danced and it had turned into something else?
“So you are dating again?” He asks.
“Yes. Why? Did you think I would wait for you forever?” I ask.
“No. I just thought you were never interested in Davis that way. And the way you are together doesn’t seem like you are more than just a friend.” Ryan says with a smirk.
“So, should I just kiss him to prove to you that we are more than friends?” I ask and I feel his hand tighten on my waist and I see his blue eyes turning darker.
“You won’t.” He says and before I could tell him he has no right whatsoever to dictate my life, our partners change.
After the dance, Vance comes to me as per our plan. Kathy is busy munching over some food and calls for Ryan and Freya. I nod slightly at Vance and look at the couple coming towards us.
“Freya, I have an urgent meeting with a client right now. Can you show me a place where I can attain it?” Vance says.
“Sure.” Freya says.
“Lily would accompany me too as she is my secretary and she has to take some notes.” Vance says.
“That is fine. Come with me.” Freya says and we follow her upstairs.
She takes us to a study room and tells us that we could work from here. Vance tells Freya to be with Kathy as he is not with her and in case she needs anything. Freya assures Vance that she would personally look after Kathy.
“My best friend is lucky to have you by his side.” Vance says.
“Thank you, Vance. I will make sure no one disturbs you except for Ryan or me.” Freya says and leaves us alone.
As soon as we hear her fading footsteps, we peek out and see no one is around. Vance starts opening and closing some doors carefully. He finally finds Freya’s bedroom and enters it. I stay outside to keep a watch.
Freya’s bedroom is two doors away from the study room so I stay near the study room door. I start to get anxious when fifteen minutes pass by and call Vance to ask how much more time he needs.
“This lock is tricky. I would need ten more minutes. Please keep a watch otherwise my reputation would get tattered and I would not be able to see my son’s birth.” Vance says in a melodramatic way.
“Okay.” I say and am about to hang up when I hear footsteps coming up, “Someone is coming up.”
“Take care of it.” Vance says casually.
“Take care of it. But how?” I ask.
“Lily, this safe is already bothering me. If you save me from this situation, I promise to make you Godmother of my baby. Please keep whoever that person is distracted for my sake.” Vance says.
“Okay.” I say and hang up.
I look at the tailored pants and polished shoes wearing legs which stop in front of me. I look up slowly and my eyes widen when I see Ryan in front of me. He looks at me in confusion.
“I am here for Vance as I have a need to talk with him.” Ryan says and starts to go towards the study room but I put my arm in front of him to stop him.
“You can’t go in there right now. He is busy.” I say.
“That’s okay. I am his friend. He would be fine.” He says and starts to move again but I stop him again.
“He told me not to let anyone disturb him.” I say.
“But-” Ryan starts but I get close in front of him to distract him. I have to do this. I don’t know if my idea will work or not, but I will try this once, then Vance is doomed.
“But what? Are you here really here for Vance or for something else? or someone else?” I ask as I step towards him and he starts stepping back.
“What do you mean?” Ryan asks in confusion and gets stopped by the wall behind him.
“Who are you kidding, Ryan? You and I both know what we want.” I say as I trap him between the wall and me.
“And what is it we want?” He asks as his breathing gets harder.
“Don’t you really not know what I want?” I ask.
“No.” Ryan says but from his dilated pupils I think he knows exactly what I want and what he wants too, still he is denying.
“Fine, I will say it. You broke up with me out of the blue. We didn’t sleep together for three days before that happened. If I had known that you are leaving, I would have spent one last night with you.” I say as I don’t touch him but didn’t even move an inch away.
“Really?” He says as he raises one brow.
“Yes. It was so sudden. I got ready in those clothes for a special reason hoping that night could end like that first night. Don’t you think I deserve to have one bonus night with you? You owe me one night.” I say near his ears.
When Ryan closes his eyes to maybe control himself, I get a quick look at the door and see Vance showing thumbs up. I go to Ryan’s left side and move him over to not let him see Vance going into the study room.
“Lily. We have to stop.” Ryan says as he starts to turn away but I put my arms around his shoulder.
“Why? It is not like you don’t want me.” I say as I brush against the clear evidence of his arousal.
“I can’t. I may feel this way for you but not that way.” Ryan says.
“I don’t care about any way. I have seen fire in your eyes when Davis puts his arms around me. Tell me that is fake and I will leave you.” I say.
“It was fake.” Ryan says but I know that he is lying. Something is holding him back as he keeps looking at the stairs.
“Fine. I will have someone tonight. Either it would you or Davis. And he is clearly more available than you.” I say and start to leave when Ryan tugs me back to my place.
“There is a reason for me breaking up with you. Please don’t be back with Davis. Wait for me.” Ryan says and I look at him in confusion.
“I know the reason.” I say.
“What?” He asks.
“You love her.” I say as my heart breaks when I say that.
“No I don’t.” Ryan says.
“But you said it yourself that you have feelings for her that you don’t feel for me at all.” I say.
“And from that feeling he meant hatred.” Vance says suddenly.
“What are you doing here?” I ask in confusion as I look at him. He was not supposed to be seen.
“Did you get them all?” Ryan asks Vance.
“Yes. I even got something better.” Vance says.
“Let’s go inside and see.” Ryan says.
“Will somebody tell me what is happening here?” I ask as I follow them inside.
“In a minute, Lily.” Ryan says as he looks at the stuff Vance is holding.
I stand beside them and look at them and I am shocked. These are the photos of me. Some of them are of me with Davis and some of them are of me with Ryan and those are more intimate than before.
“Why does she have these?” I ask as I look at the picture of me Davis.
One is me kissing his cheek which I think Betty took for memories and second is me dancing with him. Then I look at the pictures of Ryan and me kissing, holding hands and others. Why would Freya have these photos in her locker?
“To blackmail me.” Ryan says as he takes the photos and puts them in one bag then looks at the document.
“Why?” I ask in shock.
“Lily, I will tell you later but please let us finish our business here first.” Ryan says as he and Vance take pictures of some papers.
I stay silent and help them anyway I can. After that is over, Ryan goes back to put everything back while Vance stays back with me. While he is gone, I look at Vance for answers.
“Please can you wait.” Vance says.
“I have been waiting for the last two days to know what the hell is happening.” I say with anger.
“Please wait a few more minutes and Ryan himself will tell you everything.” He says.
“Everything is good to go.” Ryan says as soon as he enters the room.
“Now can I know?” I ask.
“Of course. But first let’s get out of here.” Ryan says.
“Yes we should leave soon. I have to go to Kathy too, otherwise I have to sleep on the couch.” Vance says and we leave the room.
We walk down and meet Freya half-way. I tell her that I have to leave with Davis as I can’t leave my dog for a long time. I leave first and reach my apartment. I again thank Dani and Davis for helping me and then they leave after that.
I wait for Ryan’s call in anticipation. I want to know why Freya has my and Ryan’s pictures in her locker and why was she blackmailing Ryan with it. And if she was blackmailing Ryan then what Ryan said about the break up was also fake. I am so confused. My head starts to hurt and I suddenly feel very hungry as I didn’t have the main course.
I take out cookies from the jar and munch on it as I wait sitting on the couch. Where the hell are they all? They should be here by now. This curiosity is literally killing me and also this hunger. Then I hear the doorbell ring and I get up to open it but after taking one more cookie with me.
When I opened the door I did not expect to see Freya in front of me with a wicked smile.