Lily's Mistake (6 page)

“Of course, I can. We’ll be married soon and the company’s going to be part mine.” Shannon directs her gaze at me. “What are you still doing here, looking amused? You can leave now. You’re not needed.”

That does it.

I roar in laughing hysterics. I start to cry tears of joy when I hear Drake join in. Goodness this woman takes delusional to another level. To think that Hugh would hand her a partial part of the company is unrealistic. The man worked hard to get where he’s at in his life. He’s not going to risk being a pauper by giving some of those riches off to some gold-digger.

The horror on Shannon’s face is beyond ridiculous.

After a good few minutes of barking my amusement, I use the linen napkin to wipe my tear-stained face. “I can’t fire Lily simply because mother hired her. Second, if I do choose to fire her, my parents will disown me in a heartbeat. Third, Lily doesn’t live in a shady part of anywhere. She inherited half of her father’s worth when he died.” Drake clears his throat and looks at Shannon. “I think you better leave. You can move out of my home while you’re at it. Leave the keys on the kitchen counter. Bye, Shannon.”

She stands instantly up in rage and slaps Drake on his cheek, leaving a red spot. “You, son of a bitch! You’re not going to get away with this.” Shannon threatens before she scampers out of the restaurant in furious haste.

I gasp and stare at Drake while he rubs his cheek. “So, that was Shannon, huh?”

Drake’s eyes twinkle. “You find this funny, don’t you? Just as well. That woman was becoming a nightmare.”

Interesting. Wasn’t he planning to marry her? “Um, so I guess there’s no wedding then?”

Drake sighs and looks away. His eyes seem distant as he watches the beach. He looks sad. If Shannon meant so much to him… then why break up with her?

“I never wanted to get married… well not right away, and especially, not with her,” Drake says, breaking the silence.

He waits until the waiter is done placing our food on the table before starting again. “Four months ago, Shannon was pregnant. I know it’s not enough reason to marry someone, but I want to offer my child the same childhood I had, with two loving parents. My parents didn’t know that she was pregnant. I was going to tell them, eventually, but there was never a right time, you know? Shannon miscarried during her sixteenth week. I was going to tell her that the wedding was not going to happen, but each time I tried, she would go into a crazy meltdown. She almost killed herself once. After that incident, I was complacent and told myself that I will wait for a few more months before I break it off with her. I wanted her to seek professional help, but she insisted that she was fine. Anyway, that’s the story behind Shannon and me.” Drake takes a lengthy sip of his water and starts to eat his meal.

I stare at him in astonishment. How could he just eat after the shocking information he just bombarded me with? “What if she tries to kill herself again, what are you going to do?”

“That’s her family’s problem now. Her parents know how their daughter is, but they just brush it off. If they can do that, so can I. Shannon used her pregnancy and miscarriage for far too long. I am well over it.” 

“I’m sorry about the baby,” I murmur.

He shrugs. “Yeah, but it was for the best. I don’t honestly think she and I would’ve been any good as parents anyway. I can always be grateful for that, I suppose.”

I’m still reeling from all the insane information. I can barely even manage to put the food in my mouth, let alone swallow it. Drake, a father… it’s the most bizarre thought. He’s never been keen on kids. I mean he finds them cute, but he stays away from them like they were diseased or something. I guess that was the old Drake. The new one might actually love to have babies. I suppose I really don’t know this man anymore.

After that eventful lunch, Drake hands me a spare key for his house and gives me some other important details that are essential for me to know, like where he gets his dry cleaning done and so forth.

When the clock hits five pm, I get up and gather my belongings. I glance towards the door when I hear a knock.

It’s Drake.

“There’s an event tomorrow night. I will send a car at six to get you.”

Um, you mention this now? “Do I have to be there? I don’t think I’ll be necessary.” I don’t want to be an idiot accessory, either.

“It’s work related. You will meet a lot of our contacts and it’s good for you to know who they are.” Sigh. Of course he brings up work.

Shit.

I nod. “Okay, six tomorrow night.” I get up, sort out my things, and shove whatever it is that I need in my tote purse. When I hear him clear his throat, I’m a little startled. He didn’t leave yet? I thought he left already.

“Yes?” I ask, not glancing in his direction.

“I won’t be here tomorrow, so I will see you at the event. Mindy will have all the information on your desk tomorrow morning. She already picked up the dry cleaning, so you don’t have to do it any longer.”

Thank God for Mindy. I totally forgot about his other demands. He also added that Skull was already taken care of. Okay.

“So, I guess I will see you tomorrow night?” He lingers longer.

Does he plan to leave any second now?

“Yes, Drake, I will be there tomorrow night.” I gather up my things and stride towards the door. I frustratingly halt when he blocks my passage.

I groan. “What now?”

“Do you need a ride home?” he whispers sultrily at me. His eyes focus on my lips.

I need to get out of here, NOW! “I drove here. I have to go. I have things to do. Will you move out of my way, Drake?” I try not to look at him directly. I simply can’t. I don’t have it in me to do so.

“You have plans tonight? A date with that boyfriend of yours, perhaps?”

“What is this, twenty questions? You already know that I do. Drop it, will you? You’re starting to get on my nerves!” I exclaim with passion, but the man is being infuriatingly dense.

“I was just curious, Lil. I haven’t seen you in almost a decade. I suppose you can say that I miss making you blush. You’re blushing now and I must say I like this look better on you.” A devilish grin suddenly emerges as he eyes me closer as if in inspection, again.

Not today, Drake, or ever AGAIN will I succumb to you. Once was lesson enough.

Without blinking, I speak with utmost certainty. “I am not interested, Drake. So, please, do us both a favor and drop the Mr. Seduction act because it will never work on me.”

Drake moves closer, our chests touching. I instantly try to pull away, but he has my shoulders on lockdown. “Why do you tense up when I’m close to you, Lil?” Drake painstakingly brushes my cheek and I look away and try to avoid his touch. “Or why does your breathing become shallow…” Drake whispers as he draws himself closer. All air leaves me when I feel his hot breath against my ear. “You still want me, but you’re fighting it.”

Fine, maybe I still do, but that doesn’t mean I’ll act on it.

“Dream on, Drake.” I forcefully push him aside and stride out of my office. It doesn’t take him long to catch up with me as I wait for the elevator.

The man is beyond exasperating! He makes me want to commit bloody murder. 

I don’t acknowledge him when he jumps next to me inside the elevator.

“Do you want to go out for dinner?” Drake annoyingly asks.

For the love of God! Leave me alone!
I want to scream, yet, I hold myself in check. I can’t lose my temper on my first day of work. Although, I’m tempted… oh, so tempted.

“Nope, I’m going out with Jared. Remember?” I almost feel triumphant when I don’t hear a smart comeback. It only lasts briefly.

“Is Jared staying over at your place, too?” he finally speaks, his voice low, but succinct.

I glare at him. With both of my hands on my hips, I tell him off. “My sex life is none of your business. Who I fuck and don’t fuck is irrelevant. This interrogation ends now.”

“For now,” Drake states in a matter-of-fact tone, but I completely ignore him.

I don’t even bother to respond because the elevator doors open. I hurriedly scramble out and into the lobby and race towards the parking structure.

Once I’m in traffic, I begin to fume some more. “Fuck you, Drake Tatum.” I swear. Drake is royally screwing with my head and I hate it.

The fundraiser event for independent films is held at The Beverly Hills Hotel in The Crystal Ballroom. It’s illuminated with subtle pinkish-lavender lighting and each table is decorated with white orchids. The ambiance is dreamy and the soft jazz eases some of my tension.

I’m sipping my champagne when I feel a zinging sensation on the back of my neck all the way down my spine. There is only one man who can make me feel like a fucking magnet and that is Drake. Knowing he’s close by, I don’t even bother to look for him. Instead, I opt to savor the beautiful surroundings and the beautiful ambiance.

“Lily.” 

Guess that didn’t last long. I spin around and greet him, bitingly, “Drake.” I briefly assess him, looking handsomely dapper as ever, but I force my eyes to drag away from his striking features.
I am not going to dwell about this man,
I repeat many times in my head.

“You look gorgeous. Gold suits you. It brings out your eyes,” he compliments as his eyes gingerly rove over my body. Admiration clearly stated in those metallic orbs.

Well, heck, I didn’t plan to look like crap even though it crossed my mind, once. Or twice. Instead, I wore a tight-fitted, body-hugging, gold sheath dress that exposes my entire back with a slit up one leg. My hair is stylishly piled on top of the crown of my head.

“Did you need something?” I go back to my old pose, trying to block out his handsome face.

He comes closer. Drake stands behind me, brushing my butt softly against his thigh. “You can’t expect to ask me that question and not get hard. I always need you, it seems.” His lips caress the tip of my ear.

I simply shudder and try to ignore the tell-tale signs of my own arousal. “Stop being a twit and start thinking with your head, Drake. And I mean the head up there and not down south, nestled in between your legs.” I bring the point home by poking my finger at his topmost head.

Drake roars with amused laughter. “That sharp wit of yours, Babe, it will get you in trouble. I get turned on more when you whiplash me with your words. I can’t help it. You’re sexy as hell… and that dress is giving me all sorts of ideas…” Drake uses the back of his fingers to trace my naked back and doesn’t stop until it reaches the top of my ass. “I do so want to rip this off your body. You naked with your heels on and nothing else... bent over and ready to be mounted.”

Mother of God! What in the world?! “Damn it, Drake. We’re at a fucking event. Stop being such a horny kid and focus,” I chide him, but to no avail.

“You can’t dress like this, dangle this sinful body of yours, and not expect me to react.” Drake moves closer, his state of arousal hard against my butt cheek. I try to compose myself before I pass out from the feel of it. “Behave yourself tonight. I don’t want you talking to other men.”

I straighten up, tense. “You wish.”

“Don’t push it, Lily. You’ve been running away from me for too long. That’s coming to a close. I will possess every inch of you, soon… very soon.” Drake’s deadly warning pins me on the spot, but I will not be threatened.

“Not yours, Drake. Now, go find your seat and be a good boy. I will find mine. I’ll see you around.”

When Mindy made the reservations, she had assumed that Shannon was going to be with Drake tonight, so our seating arrangements are different. I am grateful for it since the tension is too much with him. I can only take it in small doses.

Of course, Drake sits with The VIP’s while I sit next to the minions, but I don’t mind it. In fact, I have a blast. Chris, a guy who works at one of the most sought after PR firms in Hollywood, is quite entertaining. His stories about celebrities are hilarious. It actually drowns out whoever is talking and making a speech about so and so. Yeah, I don’t pay much attention on those since Chris’s storytelling is much livelier and not as much of a snooze fest by some stuck-up CEO.

I’m already on my fourth champagne flute by the time dessert rolls in when Chris asks me to dance, I delightfully say yes. He chooses a spot where it is dark and secluded. I don’t mind since he is quite attractive with his brown hair, mini-faux hawk and chocolate brown eyes. Chris holds me close against him as we dance to the slow jazz beat.