Elliot who's hands were shaking slightly, poured the pancake batter onto the griddle. He flipped the pancakes, his unsteady hands nearly throwing them out of the pan and unto the floor. He plated the golden pancakes, drizzled them with maple syrup, and scattered a bunch of fresh berries on top. He set the plate in front of Lila, along with a cup of freshly brewed coffee.
"Here you go ma'am, a plate of pancakes and berries," he said, forcing a smile. "Hope you enjoy it." Lila took a bite of the pancake, her eyes never leaving that of Elliot's.
"Mmm.... This is Delicious," she purred. "My sister definitely hit the jackpot with you. Sometimes I wish it was me instead." Lila added.
Elliot replaced his little smile with a face of seriousness. "It really is just a simple breakfast," he replied, his voice firm. "I am very sure I am not the only man that knows his way around the kitchen." Elliot added trying to warn Lila. Lila swallowed back her next words. They ate in a long silence, just the sound of cutlery against plates echoing through the quiet house. Elliot kept glancing towards the staircase, his anxiety growing with each passing minute. He needed to get Lila out of the house, but he could not seem to find a polite way to do it.
"You know, Elliot," Lila said, finally breaking the silence, "I am feeling a bit warm and it is currently that time of the month for me. Would you mind if I freshened up? I think I might have a change of clothes in my car."
"Of course..." Elliot said, his voice a bit too eager. "There is a guest room upstairs. It has a bathroom." He pointed towards the staircase. "Just head up, it is the second door on the right." Lila nodded, a fake smile playing on her lips.
"Thank you, darling. I promise, I will not be long." She rose from the stool, walking back out the door to her car to get her bag. As soon as the door clicked shut, Elliot heaved a sigh of relief, drinking cold water to try and calm his nerves. Few minutes later Lila returned with a gym bag in her hand, she threw a smile at Elliot before going up the stairs. Elliot watched her disappear, his breath catching in his throat.
He needed to warn Jonah, but he could not leave the kitchen. He just hoped Jonah was hidden properly, he crossed his fingers underneath the counter and closed his eyes tightly. Heck he almost prayed.
Lila however, instead of heading straight to the guest room, paused at the top of the stairs. She scanned the hallway, her eyes narrowed, searching. She moved slowly, her footsteps light, almost silent. She passed the guest room and continued walking down the hall, her gaze fixed on the slightly opened door at the end. She pushed the door wider, her eyes thrown around the room as she took in the scene.
The bed was scattered, a clear sign of recent activity. She guessed this was Elliot's room. "That is weird? Elliot's housekeeper is not around? She is always around." Lila muttered to herself. A wave of suspicion washed over her. She stepped into the room, her eyes darting everywhere, searching for clues. Jonah, hidden in the walk-in closet, held his breath, his heart pounding in his chest. He watched through a narrow gap in the closet door as Lila explored the room, her movements precise.
He knew he had to stay out of sight, he tried to flatten himself at the back of this wardrobe behind where Elliot's coats hung. Lila moved to a shelf, her fingers tracing the spines of the books. She paused, her eyes landing on a small, inconspicuous space behind the rows of books. She reached into her bag and pulled out the teddy bear, Victor had given her.
With a quick movement, she pushed the rows of books neatly arranged apart and placed the teddy bear behind it, just enough so the eyes of the teddy bear had a good view of the room. She used other items to conceal it. She then turned and left the room, her expression blank. Shutting the door quietly behind her. Jonah waited until he heard Lila’s footsteps walking down the stairs before emerging from the closet.
He moved to the shelf, his brow furrowed. He searched for what he saw Lila keeping on the shelf. His eyes roamed around till they settled on something black and shiny in the dark corner of the shelf behind some books. He pulls it out and it turns out to be a teddy bear. He turned it over in his hands, confused by Lila's actions. Why would she hide a teddy bear in his room? He shrugged, dismissing the odd behavior.
He first placed the teddy on the top of the shelf citing a better position, but he could not seem to shake off the unsettling feeling he got from those black beady eyes. Hence he moved to the walk-in closet, placing the teddy bear in the bottom drawer of a dresser.
"I have to tell Elliot. When he comes upstairs, this is too weird." He muttered under his breath. Lila entered the guest room and changed her clothes as she had told Elliot. After changing she walked around the room, inhaling a familiar scent. She could not place her finger on the scent, walking to the vanity, she realized after seeing the perfume bottle there. It was Clara's signature scent, Lila sighed, her emotions confused.
She hated the fact that Elliot was gay, and she wanted him for herself. She was willing to do anything including making Elliot's family turn against him and her being the comforter. But she did not like that she was no longer in control and Victor was. She uncapped the bottle bathing herself in the perfume before leaving the room. Lila descended the stairs, her expression serene. She smiled at Elliot.
She returned to the kitchen, "I am really sorry for the delay, Elliot," she said, her voice smooth. "I found a little something I needed to adjust." Elliot threw her smile back. "No problem," Elliot replied, his eyes scanning her for any sign of suspicion. A cool sensation washing over him seeing she did not act weirdly. She did not see Jonah, Thank goodness. Elliot thought to himself.