Chapter 4
Chapter Four
LILY
This is Groundhog Day. Every day is the same, and I’m slowly going crazy.
Except Tristan has been around a bit more.
Months ago, that would have been a dream come true.
Now, when I’m plotting my escape, it would be beneficial if he weren’t lingering around.
Of course he would choose now to do the exact opposite of what I want him to.
He even went in late to work today, using the gym when I did.
I’m not sure what’s going on. I hope that he’s not on to me.
That’s the last thing I need. Thankfully he’s out of the house right now, which is perfect because I told Teddy I’d hop online to make sure we’ve got everything lined up for the big day.
The possibility of this plan truly working makes me excited and sad at the same time.
I don’t let myself delve too deep into the whys of that.
It would be messy and painful. I already lost my father, the only person in my life I had, and now I’ll be losing Tristan too, but honestly, you can’t lose what you never had.
He’s all I’ve known since my father died, and I’ve depended on him, so there’s also a comfort I’ll be losing.
I grab a few snacks to take to my room when I hear the sound of the elevator opening.
Shit, he’s back home already? That thought evaporates when I hear the sound of heels clicking on the marble.
A second later, Sasha appears with the normal stank expression on her face.
I swear her face is permanently stuck like that.
We both hate the other and make jabs, but she’s better at doing them when Tristan isn’t around. He believes she’s this innocent angel. I thought he was better at reading people.
Sasha is a freaking snake, and she thinks I’m pure trailer trash. To her, you’re wealthy or poor. Those are the only two options, and I’ll never be wealthy. Sasha was born into it. It’s not of her own making.
“Are you going to eat all that?” she asks when she sees the Cheetos and Pop-Tarts I have in my hands.
I don’t work out because I enjoy it. Don’t get me wrong; jogging can burn off energy if you have too much, which I often do.
That’s not the main reason I do it, though.
It’s so I can eat Pop-Tarts and Cheetos.
It also takes me back to when my dad was alive. We often worked out together, but that was more sparring. He always wanted me to be able to handle myself. Dad put me on my ass a few times, but all those memories make me smile.
“No, I’m carrying them around as accessories,” I say dryly.
She rolls her eyes at me. “You’re always such a bitch.”
I bark a laugh. “And you’re always a thundercunt.
” Her shiny pink lips let out a small gasp before she starts shaking her head in disgust. So I keep going to get in a few more jabs.
“Don’t be all offended like you’re some prude.
We all know you enjoy taking it up the ass but, girl, the ass to mouth. ” I make a gagging sound.
Even I’m grossed out by my own words, but her expression makes it worth it. Besides, she’s been doing this forever. I’ve only started to slap back. At first, I didn’t want to rock the boat, but now I really don’t give a crap. I’m sick of all these people.
“You’re disgusting.”
“Hey, I’m not the one doing ass-to-mouth.” I shrug. “Just saying.”
“I don’t know how he tolerates you.” I want to tell her he doesn’t, but she’d enjoy that too much, so I keep it to myself.
“Ditto, and for your information, it’s him that keeps me here. Not the other way around.” I know he’s not keeping me here out of a secret crush, but I know those small comments annoy her because she hates me being here.
“Tristan is a good man, and he’s doing right by your father.” I’d rather her call me a thundercunt and bitch than say that shit because it burns, and I’m sure she knows it.
“Why are you here?” I ask.
“I thought I was meeting Tristan. Is he not here?”
“No.” I keep my tone flat. I thought he was working. Whatever. I don’t care, I lie to myself. Sasha pulls out her phone and then lets out a giggle like a high school girl with a crush.
“Oh, right. I’m meeting him at the restaurant.”
“See you later then,” I say, encouraging her to leave.
“Let me double-check. He might want me to pack a suitcase for his trip tomorrow.” Whoa, there wasn’t anything on his calendar, and when did she start packing his luggage?
I suppose I assumed he did it himself. I grit my teeth as she laughs and clicks around on her phone.
“Never mind.” Sasha gives me a sugary-sweet smile that’s as fake as the rest of her. “I’ve got to go.”
She hurries out on her heels, as annoying as ever. I bite back a growl and head toward my room. My phone starts to go off, but my hands are full, and it’s Tristan. He’s the only one who really calls me. I’ve done well keeping Teddy a secret.
We met years ago at this etiquette camp thing I’d gone to one summer. My dad thought it might be a good idea for me to attend it. During the summers if he had to travel for work, he’d send me to these different camps.
This one was around the time he’d been working deeply with the FBI, and I too would attend events with him. It was to teach me how to be more proper. I can admit, I probably didn’t have a ton of manners back then. My dad and I ate out of to-go containers and yelled at the television most nights.
I was sure the camp was going to be terrible, and my dad had to practically bribe me to attend, but he turned out to be right.
I did get what I needed out of it: my Teddy Bear.
I like to believe she needed me too. My awkwardly adorable friend who people thought they could bully.
Enter me. I shut that shit down, and since then, we’ve been best friends, even if we live a million states apart.
I drop everything onto my bed as my phone starts to ring again.
I’m sure he’s logged into the cameras to check on me.
It’s annoying. I’m not a toddler. Now if he wants to stalk me for sexy reasons, I might be okay with that, but what can I say?
Captive romance is my favorite, but this is no romance.
I grab my phone and answer it. “What?”
“Still in a bad mood, I see.” I glance around my bedroom. He better not have a camera in here. “I was calling to let you know to pack. I have a work trip I need to go on, and you’re coming.”
“What? Why?” Any other day I’d be excited, but now I’ve got plans! The hell? He doesn’t usually take me with him. Why this change all of a sudden?
“You wanted a trip. I’ll send you the details, and I’ll be late tonight.” I already know that.
“I don’t want to go. I’ll stay here like I always do.” I don’t say “stay home” because this isn’t my home any longer. It’s a fancy-ass prison.
“Lily—”
“I don’t want to, okay?” I push back.
“We’ll talk about this later.” I’m not going, so whatever. We don’t need to talk about shit. Instead, I needle him.
“Have fun on your date.” I want to smack myself for my lack of self-control, but jealousy can consume me when it comes to him, and I hate it.
That’s a big part of why I need to get away.
It’s hard to forget him and move on with my life when he’s always right on the edge, lingering.
There’s no escaping him. He’s everywhere somehow but also not here.
I don’t understand what his plan is. Am I supposed to live here for the rest of my life? It’s mind-boggling, and I’m over waiting or trying to figure it out.
“It’s not a date.”
“Whatever.”
“Does that bother you?” His question catches me off guard.
“Does what bother me?” I ask right back, stalling.
“If I were to date.”
“It’s not my business.” The line is quiet.
“Well, this has been fun, but as you know, I’m busy doing nothing, and I should get back to that.
” I don’t wait for a response before hanging up.
To really needle him, I turn off my phone, knowing without a doubt that it will ruin his little dinner date.
I’m a brat, but he’s the one making me stay here, so he’ll just have to endure it.
I grab my controller from its dock, turn on my gaming system, and pull up Discord. This is where Teddy and I do most of our communication.
“I’m here,” I say when I come online through my mic. “He lingered today.” She knows who he is that I’m talking about.
“What do you mean?” Teddy whispers. “Is he on to us?”
“I don’t believe so. He mentioned a trip he has to go on for work.” I’m so not going. I’ll be standing my ground, but is Teddy right about him being on to us? I don’t believe so.
“Really?”
“He said it was last minute, and he’ll give me more details later, but I think we’re still good to go.” This plan will work. I won’t have it any other way. I can be as stubborn as Tristan when I need to.
“Either way, I can hang around until we can strike.”
“Strike?” I laugh. Teddy is so down with all of this. “I think we’re good. We have to be.”
“We got this.” Teddy sounds way more confident than I feel. It’s not going to be simple getting out of this building without Tristan finding out and a bodyguard hot on my ass.
“I’m excited to see you. It’s been forever.” I’m going to give her the world’s hardest hug. Even thinking about it makes my eyes burn with tears. I miss affection. You don’t notice those small things in life until they’re gone.
“Me too.” Teddy lost her grams a few months back, and I know she’s lonely too.
She, however, loves being locked away in her family estate.
This will be a big adventure for her. She’s putting herself out there.
A lot of people are assholes to her. They don’t understand her or even try, and honestly, they should mind their own business if they don’t like it.
No one needs your comments. People always want to put others in boxes.
“Are you bringing a lot of stuff with you?” she asks.
“No,” I say without hesitation. Tristan would know if I was packing a bunch of shit. “I want him to see that I don’t need what he gives me. That’s why I’ll be just fine without him.”
Tristan does fill my life with very exciting things.
I have clothes and jewelry that cost out the ass.
Sure, my dad made a good living, but we weren’t rich.
I often feel as though Tristan’s trying to buy me off to keep me in place.
It only goes to show that after all this time he doesn’t know me at all.
“That will show him.” I can hear the smirk on her lips.
“I wish I could see his face when he comes home and I’m just, poof, gone.”
“With all those cameras you told me about around there, maybe you can.” That would be kickass.
“Yeah, right. He’s got those on lockdown like everything else around here.” No wonder he worked with my father and the government.
“Are you sure you’ll be able to slip through security?”
“I guess we’re going to find out soon.” I have been paying attention to every detail around here over the last month when it comes to that. Who is coming and going and at what times.
“I can’t believe it’s finally happening.” I love that she’s as excited as I am.
“Yes. If anything changes, I’ll text you in code.” I know there are going to be points where I can’t use my gaming system, so text will have to do. I’ll send and delete, but in case he does see them, they will be vague.
“Teddy,” I hear Roland, her butler/uncle and maybe friend, say, making her scream in surprise. He must have popped up on her.
“Sorry, you scared me,” she responds to him. I can’t wait to meet Roland.
“My apologies,” he says. Always so formal. Roland takes the butler thing very seriously, whereas Teddy does not. Though she doesn’t take much seriously. “Mr. Gem is here.”
“Oh. Was I supposed to be seeing him today?” Not that creepy fuck. Why does he keep showing up there? “There was nothing on the calendar.”
Mr. Gem was her grandma’s lawyer. After she died, he’s been the one helping with the whole estate and trust. All of it went straight over to Teddy. Closed case. Why are we still doing this?
“He’s always showing up there. I don’t like it,” I tell her. I can’t wait to meet him either. We’ll have a few words.
“I better go and see what’s up.”
“Love you,” I tell her.
“Love you too,” she chirps back before jumping offline. I pull my headphones off, wondering if I could fake being sick to get out of this spontaneous work trip that I want to call bullshit on.
He can take Sasha with him.