A person brushed past Elliot and Jonah, causing Elliot to turn a bit from his initial focus, in the course of that, he catches a glimpse of Lila's face and gets nervous. Jonah concerned touches Elliot's arm. "Is everything okay Babe? "
"Huh? Uhmmm yea, yea" Elliot said visibly distracted. "It does not seem like it. What is wrong Elliot tell me." Jonah begs Elliot.
"I think Clara's sister might have just seen us." Elliot said sighing. "Oh." Jonah said in realization. "I mean it might not be that bad. If her sister already supports us she might know something too. Don't sisters tell each other stuff?" Jonah tries to reassure Elliot. Elliot hissed rubbing his face furiously.
"I do not think she would take what she saw lightly. She has had the biggest crush on me, like forever." Elliot told Jonah. "You know what? We have to leave and never come back here." Elliot said quickly standing up. Jonah sighed and reluctantly got up. Elliot dragged him out of the restaurant quickly. Victor watched, a sinister smile formed on his face as he slipped his drink. 'This plan might be my best one ever yet.'
**********
Lila did not want to believe what she saw. Her mind raced. "Elliot was really gay. Does this mean he has been playing the whole family?" She asked herself. She walked down the hallway to Clara's room. She just had to tell Clara, she could not keep this to herself.
She pushed the slightly opened door to Clara's room wider. She rushed inside waking Clara from her sleep. "Lila is that you?" Clara asked her eyes squinting. "Yes it is me, wake up I have something to tell you." Lila said
"What do you want to tell me that is so important, you had to wake me up from sleep." Clara asked. "Can you just sit up first." Lila begged. Clara groaned and slowly sat up. "Fine I'm up. Now what is it?" Clara asked.
"Elliot is gay." Lila said. Clara was taken aback. 'How did Lila find out?' she thought to herself. She decided to put on an act. "What nonsense are you spewing Lila?" Clara asked. "I am serious, he is gay. Homosexual, uhh, not straight, call it whatever. I saw him kissing a man at a restaurant." Lila explained.
Clara laughed, "Now how am I supposed to believe you, it is really sad that you had to go through this route to get Elliot just for yourself." Clara continued. "But.. but.. but I am telling the truth." Lila stuttered.
"Oh please Lila, I know you have had a crush on Elliot for the longest time. It only makes sense for you to pull this stunt so close to the wedding." Clara continued. "Lila come on you are beautiful and smart, a lot of men would be willing to have you. I am really disappointed you had to do this. Now how would it sound if it got out that you tried to snatch Elliot from me." Clara lectured.
Lila clenched her fists her fingernails digging into her palms. "Better luck next time Lila. Please leave my room." Clara told her. Lila stomped off in annoyance, tears threatening to spill from her face. She liked Elliot but she would not lie about something of this degree. It broke her heart to see no one trusted her.
Once Lila left Clara's room. Clara heaved a sigh of relief. "How did she get to find out?" Clara thought. She reached for her phone on the nightstand and dialed a number. The words Elliot with a heart emoji appeared on the screen. "Pick up, pick up, pick up." She said frantically. On the last ring Elliot finally answered. "Hello Clara, how are you?" Elliot asked.
"I am not fine, as a matter of fact you equally should not be fine." Clara said. "Clara what's wrong." A sense of urgency could be heard in his voice. "Lila knows, she said she saw you and Jonah kissing in a restaurant." Clara told him.
Elliot sighed, "Yeah, about that. I saw her too. What is wrong?"
"Well she just told me, I denied it but Lila is not as rational as I am. It will not take long before she starts talking." Clara told him "What are we going to do now?" Elliot asked. "I don't know. I will try to handle things from my end until after the wedding." Clara told him. "You have to be more careful Elliot especially as we are this close to the wedding." She continued. "Sure Clara, I will try to be more careful. Thank you so much. We just need to hold out until the merger happens after the wedding." Elliot told her.
Clara ended the call. Hse sat and stared into space. Sleep escaping her as she thought deeply.
********
Lila's phone ringing jolted her out of her sleep. An unknown number flashed on the screen. Her face scrunched up in confusion. Out of curiosity she answered the call. "Hello Lila." Victor's smooth voice floated through the phone speakers into the room.
"Victor? How did you get my number?" Lila asked. Victor chuckled, "Well that is for me to know. A true magician never reveals his secrets" Victor answered "Hope you now have your evidence and you can see I am not lying." Victor continued.
"Yes I do but no one seems to believe me." Lila complained. "I completely get you." Victor laughed slightly. "Elliot has mastered this game of acting the perfect son and man in public. I mean even you did not believe me until you witnessed it." Victor told her.
"Hmmm you are right. What do I do now?" Lila asked. "Wonderful question Lila. We will need to provide your family with strong, live evidence. Just like the one you witnessed." Victor told her. "How am I going to do that? I mean Elliot and my sister would start avoiding me like the plague." Lila complained. "Well that is not an ideal situation but I am sure we can make something out of it." Victor told her.
"Well I have got to go now. We will continue to talk. And remember if you see anything that could help us prove Elliot as a fraud do not hesitate to tell me." Victor continued. "Alright." Lila said her voice shaky and unsure.
What did Victor mean by live evidence?
She thought to herself. Elliot was a fraud and Clara did not believe her. This might truly be her turn to shine and take the spotlight. "I just have to get closer to Elliot." She thought to herself.