After his conversation with Rachael, Tony returned to Lily but she was nowhere to be found. The sound of running water in the bathroom informed him that she was having a shower. He then decided to leave so that she could have some privacy but, as he was about to leave, his phone rang.
Looking at the caller, his jaw tightened in anger.
It was Louis.
After a few rings, he picked up but said nothing, waiting for him to speak.
“Tony! I have great news.” He started and Tony hummed, walking out of Lily’s room as he didn’t want her knowing he was involved with Louis.
“I just had a meeting with Mehdi.”
Tony paused in his tracks and he wondered if he had judged Louis wrongly.
Was he really going to tell him about his conversation with Mehdi? If that was the case then, Louis might not be as bad as he thought.
“Really? What was it about?” He asked, now in his room. He shut the door and sat at the edge of the bed, listening attentively to Louis.
“Well, I managed to get on his good books once again. I apologized for my wrongdoing and asked if he wanted to speak to you, maybe finally get the bad blood between the both of you out of the way you might not believe this but, he agreed. He wants to meet with you and straighten things out so that we can all move on from this.” Tony held in a scoff, only showing as much as a smirk.
‘I should have known. There’s no way Louis would suddenly change from his old ways.’ He thought.
“You can use that opportunity to become friends with him and slowly lure him into our trap. In no time, Mehdi would be done for.” Louis finished, sounding more excited than usual.
“Is that so?” Tony asked calmly.
“This is the opportunity you’ve been waiting for Tony. You can finally get your revenge.” Louis added, making his lie seem more believable.
“Hmmm.” Tony hummed. “And is that all you both spoke about?”
There was a sharp silence from Louis but it was soon broken with laughter. “Of course! What more do I have to discuss with that son of a bitch!?” He replied, feigning hate for Mehdi.
“Alright then. If you say so. You can tell Mehdi that I accept his invite and we can meet whenever he is ready at whatever location he wants.” Tony said with a firm nod.
“Thank you, Louis. Who would have guessed that you would be of great help to me?” His voice was calm but his expression was as cold as ice, a sneer dancing on his lips.
“What can I say? I am a man of my word. I hope you are too.” He said and Tony scoffed quietly.
‘What a liar!’
“Of course. The deal remains. After I am done with Mehdi, you can have Lily as promised.” He replied with gritted teeth and a clap was heard on Louis’s end.
“Perfect! I can’t wait,” Louis said happily and Tony ended the call, his head bowed as he calmed himself.
He then raised his head, ready to return to Lily’s room but as soon as he lifted his head, his eyes widened and his throat dried up.
Standing by his door was Lily with a terrified look on her face and unshed tears in her eyes.
He immediately realized that she had heard his conversation with Louis.
“Lily…” He whispered. “I…I can explain, Lily. It’s nothing like you think.” He stood and walked hurriedly to her but she backed away from him, shaking her head.
“H…how could you?” She asked in a shaky voice, hurt evident in her eyes.
“Oh God, Lily. It’s nothing like that. I swear!” He reached out to grab her but she swerved away from his touch.
“Don’t even try to lie!” She screamed. “I heard everything! I heard it all!” She moved closer and hit his chest.
“Why the fuck will you even speak to Louis after everything he has done to me?! Why the fuck will you go as far as working with him just to satisfy your ego and prove to Mehdi that you have more power! And what was that? After you have your way with Mehdi, Louis can have me?! What the fuck do you think I am? A fucking object that you can move around as you please?” She screamed, now crying loudly and hitting his chest angrily.
“How could you, Tony? How could you after everything I-”
“Lily!” Tony yelled, grabbing her shoulders. “That’s enough, you hear me? Enough!”
“Don’t yell at me! Don’t you fucking yell at me, Tony! You have no right! Not after what I just heard!” She snapped back, shaking her head like a crazed animal.
“Can you just listen to me first?!” He asked, screaming as loud as her but Lily continued to shake her head.
“No! No! You’re just like him!” She screamed and pushed him away, pointing directly to him.
“You are just like him!” She said again and then shook her head, deciding to rephrase her sentence. “No, you’re worse.”
Hurt immediately flashed in Tony’s eyes at her statement and his shoulders fell.
For some reason, the look in Tony’s eyes made Lily quiet down. It was like her senses finally returned to her and made her stop ragging.
Tony looked like he had been stabbed by the one he cared about the most and just the sight of his made Lily feel sick to her stomach.
“Wow, Lily…” He chuckled sadly, looking into her eyes. “Is this how low you think of me? After everything I have done?” He asked with a smile that was far from a happy one.
“I am not one to count the good things I do for people but, the universe knows that I have been more than good to you. Everything I did, I did without wanting anything in return, and yet, this is how little you think of me?”
“I have told you countless times how much I love you and how I want nothing but your happiness. I have risked my life countless times just for you but, all of that just isn’t enough, is it? Nothing will be enough to prove to you just how much I love you.” He shook his head and turned away from her.
“For you to think that I’d want to hurt you is the most hurtful thing, Lily. For you to think I am worse than Louis, the man who hurt you…”
“It’s enough now, Lily. Since you aren’t going to listen to me or hear my explanation, we have nothing more to discuss.” He said and turned back to her, his cold nature creeping back in.
“You’re free to leave the house whenever you like. The maids will help you pack. You don’t need to live with a man you do not trust.”