Conrad stayed in the car, waiting until his meeting was over before he got out. He saw that Evelyn had already wrapped up for the day.
“Conrad, the whole team worked really hard today, and I learned a lot too. Why don’t we treat them to dinner?” Evelyn sidled up to him, putting on her best sweet tone.
She wanted Lillian’s classmates to see that no matter what, she was in a better place. She had Conrad’s affection, after all. Conrad basically ran City N-what was there for her to worry about?
A dinner invite meant nothing to Conrad, so he turned to Ford. “Go arrange it.”
“Thank you, Conrad,” Evelyn cooed.
As for Lillian, Conrad didn’t ask, and she certainly wouldn’t bring her up.
When they got to the private room at the hotel and sat down, Conrad finally noticed Lillian wasn’t there with them.
“Director, go ahead and order. Anything you want,” Evelyn said, already playing the part of hostess with Conrad as her prize.
Jack started looking over the menu when Conrad spoke up. “Everyone’s here?”
“Uh, yeah, they’re all here. Hard to pass up a free meal, right?” Jack replied.
“Isn’t someone missing?” Conrad continued.
Evelyn’s smile froze. “Conrad, Lillian left early.”
Conrad frowned. “When?”
One of Lillian’s classmates blurted out, “She hurt her hand, so she obviously went to the hospital!”
Conrad’s expression darkened. “Hurt how?” he asked, and suddenly the room’s atmosphere dropped to ice.
“Oh, it was really nothing, just…” Evelyn tried to cut in, noticing that Janet looked alarmed.
“I wasn’t asking you,” Conrad said, tapping his fingers on the table. “How did she get hurt?”
“How else?” the classmate continued boldly. “Janet here sent her scorching hot coffee, and it spilled all over Lillian’s face. Luckily for her, she blocked it with her hand, but she still had to go to the hospital. There’s no way she’s making it to this dinner.”
Someone tried to nudge the guy to quiet down, but as a university student, he didn’t care. Conrad’s favoritism felt like an insult to people like him who actually earned their spots.
“Conrad, Janet didn’t mean it,” Evelyn quickly defended, “and besides, Lillian poured the hot coffee on her in return.”
Conrad gave her an amused look. “Poured the hot coffee back on her?”
“Yeah, look, Janet’s got a little blister on her face to prove it,” Evelyn said, pulling Janet closer to show Conrad.
Janet added quickly, “It’s fine, Mr. Conrad. I’m sure Lillian didn’t mean it either.”
Lillian’s classmates looked at each other, baffled. Did Conrad have zero common sense?
“In that case, we’ll wait to order until everyone’s here,” Conrad said.
Everyone stared at him, and with a blank expression, Conrad added, “Did I not make myself clear? Get her back here. No one eats until we’re all present.”
Evelyn and Janet felt a bit on edge, unsure what Conrad’s intentions were. But with his orders given, Evelyn wasn’t about to defy him.
If Lillian could stay by his side for three years, Evelyn was determined to prove she’d be even better.
Gordon took Lillian all the way out to the countryside. Just as her phone started buzzing, he immediately snatched it from her and tossed it into the back seat.
“What the hell are you doing?” she protested.
“Who are you texting while you’re out with me? Not happening.”
Lillian was speechless. “I’m not even anyone to you.”
“Oh really? Well, that’s up for debate. Who knows what might happen?”
“Is that even how you use that phrase?”
“As long as you get my point.” Gordon grinned playfully.
Meanwhile, back in the private room, everyone was sweating bullets. The tension was thick.
“So… since she’s not picking up, should we just start dinner?” Jack was getting worried that Conrad would lose it. It almost felt safer if Lillian stayed away, rather than coming back to get her head bitten off.
“Is your phone still charged?”
“Yeah…”
“Then keep calling.”
“…”
******
Gordon pulled up at a mountaintop lookout.
“Where are we?” Lillian asked.
He opened her door. “Get out, and you’ll find out. For all you know, I’m here to sell you off,” he teased.
Lillian rolled her eyes, unable to help herself.
Gordon chuckled, threw his arm around her shoulders, and led her out to a wide grassy area where there were hang gliders set up, with a few staff members and some tourists.
“Boss,” one of the staff greeted.
Gordon gave them a nod. “Two sets of gear. I’m taking her up for a flight.”
Lillian froze, her eyes widening. “We’re flying off this?”
Below the mountain were clusters of tiny islands, glistening in the distance.
“That’s a lake down there?”
“Of course it is. Why do you think I brought you up here? Come on!” he said, tugging her arm and strapping a helmet on her head.
After putting on his own gear, he gave her a smirk, patting his chest. “I’ll get you covered.”
Lillian hesitated, but Gordon scooped her up in one motion, plopping her into the front seat of the tandem glider. Then he jumped in behind her, buckling them together.
“Alright, Lillian, you’re mine now! Get ready-the most amazing view in the world is waiting for you. Ready?”
“No, no, no!” She was terrified of heights. Who cared about a view?!
Too late-Gordon had already taken off at a run.
“AHHH!” she screamed, eyes squeezed shut as they lifted off the ground.
At that moment, the world was below her, her only anchor being the solid grip of the man behind her. The wind rushed against her face, her fingers brushing through the cool air as it swept past.
“Lillian! Open your eyes and look!”
“I’m too scared!”
“What are you afraid of? Just let go and enjoy the view!”
Through her eyelids, she felt the brightness of the sun. She opened her eyes just a crack, catching sight of the sunlight glinting through the clouds, and below, the mountains and lakes sparkling. At that moment, all the frustration pent up inside her vanished.
“Isn’t it beautiful?” he shouted from behind her.
She nodded and called back, “It’s incredible!”
Gordon lifted a camera to record. “Come on, wave to the camera, and give me a smile!”
“Gordon, the wind’s getting stronger!”
“Stronger wind just makes it more fun!” he replied, sounding even more thrilled.
Her heart raced the entire descent.
“That was amazing!”
“Not regretting coming out with me, right?” Gordon asked with a grin.
“No regrets!” she replied, raising her bandaged hand. “Would’ve been even better if my hand wasn’t hurt, though.”
Neither of them realized that someone had already recognized them and snapped photos, which were now circulating around their social circle. Conrad received his own copy soon enough.
The photos and videos taken secretly showed Gordon hugging and holding Lillian. That damn girl was smiling so sweetly, like someone had just given her ten million dollars.
And she even dared to sit on Gordon’s lap and mess around.
Great. Just great.
Conrad tossed his phone onto the table, and Ford, noticing his mood, quietly slipped out of the private room. If this continued, he was worried Conrad might take it out on Lillian’s classmates.
Ford called the club directly.
“Mr. Gordon!” A staff member hurried over. “Someone’s here looking for you.”
“Oh really?” Gordon quipped, “How’d they even know I was here? What, they got a tracker on me?”
He picked up the phone, still amused. “Who’s this?”
“It’s Ford.”
“Oh, really? Here to join us?” Gordon replied casually.
“Could you bring Miss Lillian back, please? Otherwise, her classmates are going to be stuck here indefinitely.”
Gordon smirked, “Why don’t you tell her yourself? If she wants to go back, I’ll take her.”
Lillian took the phone, and her good mood instantly disappeared after hearing the message. “I’ll head back right away,” she said.
Seeing her put her phone down and start walking out, Gordon trailed behind. “You’re really going back?”
Lillian looked over her shoulder, a bit self-mockingly. “It’s not like I have much of a choice.”