Chapter 31

Lilith’s POV

My blood freezes at the sound of Kent's voice.

I slowly turn, looking eyes with him, his steely huge frame blocking my escape.

“What are you doing here, Lilith?” He repeats the question fixing me with a hard stare.

“Oh um I'm sorry. I'll leave immediately.” I said, dropping the journal back on the table.

His eyes zoned on the leather journal now on the table and back to my face.

“You didn't answer my question.” He said walking imposingly towards me.

I stuttered trying to say something but nothing would come out.

“I um. I thought this was the library.” I lied.

“You thought this was the library? You literally got locked there two days ago and last I checked. The Library isn't hard to miss and gave a strict warning for you not to enter my office.” He said taking more steps towards me.

I moved back until I was against the wall, peering up at his large body.

“Forgetful not. I'll leave at once. I'm really sorry for intruding your space.” I tried to move away from his stare only to be blocked by his strong arms either sides of my head.

“And?” He asked with a perfectly arched eyebrow.

“And?” I asked confused.

“You've seen things you are curious about and things you have questions about and I know you want to ask them. It's in your eyes.” He said, moving back to sit on the table.

“Oh I didn't see anything really. You don't need to explain your business to me. I intruded into personal space and I apologize.” He looks at me through hooded eyes, wondering.

“That was my childhood journal and the other papers you saw are for buisness.” He explained slowly fiddling with something on the table.

“Who's Emily?” I blurted out suddenly, my ears reddening.

His jaw clenched as he let out a sigh. “Emily is or was my sister.”

I grimaced. I couldn't believe I was jealous of his sister. His dead sister.

“Who-” I began

“I thought you said you didn't want to intrude in my business and I don't need to explain anything but now you're asking asking a lot of questions.” He looked at me,amused.

“Oh.” I turned my eyes away, my cheeks flaming. “ I thought you said you were going out for something.”

“Was that why you thought it wise to go through my space when I told you not to?” He said, still leaning against the table.

I smiled awkwardly turning my head away. “You have secrets and that's fine. We all have our secrets. You dnt have to be forced to tell me anything you want to tell me.”

“You have secrets as well.” He said in a clipped tone.

“In due time. All will be revealed.”

“Indeed.”

***********

“That was absolutely horrendous!” Donna shouted to no one in particular.

“I mean it wasn't that bad. At least there was good out of it. Most of the ladies now see herel as a high society gold digger.” Matilda said in an attempt to palcate her friend.

“No! It was terrible. Everyone was pointing and laughing at me as we left. Did you see the way he protected her and the way he glared at me in front of everyone not even caring about the ladies who were there and how my reputation would literally drop to the group after the tea.” Donna said with tears pooling in her eyes.

“No no no. I mean any mean any man's protective instinct would come out if the saw their bed warmer in an odd state.”

“That's not true. Father doesn't care what happens to his whores. He just sends them on their merry way after the night.”

Matilda’s lips thinned, a weird expression covering her face but Donna was too deep in herfeeling to notice anything happening to her friend.

“The next you know. She's going to have his baby and then he'd have to marry her.” Donna said, crying even harder.

“Don't think that way. We did say we were going to kill her. Before anything of that sort happens. She'd already be dead and gone.”

“Do you think he's in love with her?” Donna asked sniffling.

“How could you even think something like that?”

“It just makes sense to think that. He won't look my way.”

“It doesn't makes sense. Men are vain creatures. They see an attractive woman and all their attention is fastened on her. It's like she has him wrapped around her little finger.”

“Why isn't his attention fastened on me then. I'm an attractive woman am I not?” Donna asked looking a her best friend through teary eyes.

“You are.”

“Then? More reason I think she's enchanted him. You didn't see the way he looked at me at that moment. With so much hate and only for him to turn back to her, his eyes full of concern and care. He looked at me like he wanted to kill me at the moment and dispose of my body.” Donna said, crying even harder.

Matilda sat next to Donna, holding her closely. “Don't worry, just wait a while. She'll be out of the picture and you'll get your dream man all to yourself.”

“She'll be long gone by then.”

“Yes she will.”

*************

The evening's wind blows. The weather perfect.

Lilith is immersed in the world of books, her posture relaxed. She is sprawled alone the floor. Lady like behavior far forgotten.

A steady knock comes at the door.

“Come in.” She said absent mindedly.

“I see you are quite entertained.” A deep voice said causing Lilith's eyes to widen.

“Kent.” She said standing up, brushing her gown down and hoping badly her hair wasn't looking as bad as she thought.

“What are you doing here?” She asked.

“In my library?”

“Oh.” A deep blush covers Lilith's face.

“Come. Let's go for an evening stroll. Today was uneventful. A walk is sure to get our spirits up.”

Lilith and Kent walk out of the manor with a scarf for Lilith in case she got too cold.

They walked, enjoying the scenery of the town in comfortable silence.

“If I hadn't been there, your face would have scaled and left a scar because of some silly obsession, a silly obnoxious girl has with me.” He said, his face set in a grim line.

“I was about to move. The tea wouldn't touched me.” Lilith says stubbornly.

“No you weren't. You were standing still and your eyes were closed waiting for the impact.”

“No they weren't. I knew she was going to do something weird and I was ready for anything she had to show.”

“That isn't true but if you insist.” He said looking at her.

“Why's she so drawn to you? Did you promise her marriage only to leave her wanting at the altar or you told her when you were kids, she would be your woman and then you reached adulthood only for you to ruthfully abandon her.” Lilith said looking at Kent suspiciously.

Kent's head was thrown back in laughter. Lilith looked at him star struck. She loved the sound of his laugh.

“No. I didn't do any of those things.”

“Then?

“She just has a very powerful hungry father who wants to do anything to get into higher tanks going as far as getting the most sought after business man and bachelor to marry her. That would solidify him and give him so much power and connections.”

“So she's being manipulated by her father to throw herself at you?”

“I guess you could say it like that.”

“That's sad. She almost killed herself for your attention. The desperation is chilling.” Lilith said visibly shivering.

“It is.”

“There was anither woman who basically instigated the whole thing.”

“There was?”

“She was me a gold digging whore and I was using you to climb up the ranks of high society.”

Kent's jaw clenched visibly.

“I'll make sure she is severely punished.” He said, his teeth grounding.

“You don't need to do that for me. I said we were just friends. It would only bring more gossip.”

“Are we though?”

“Are we what?”

“Are we just friends?”

“Oh I don't know. There's nothing else to call this I guess.”

There is visible tension in the air as they look away from each others eyes.

“Well then.”

“Doing something would just be like you're agreeing to their claims. It would boost the talks. I don't want that.”

“But she bad talked you. That's enough for you to be top gossip.”

“It doesn't matter.”

“Yes it does.”

“Why does it matter to you?”

“It matters because-” Kent's voice cut off turning to look at something else. “I think we better get going.”

“Lilith!” A voice breaks out behind them. Lilith visibly stiffens with disbelief turning slowly towards the voice.

Her demeanor changed instantly. A smile breaking out on her face.

“Finn!”

She mumbles something incoherent rushing towards the strange man.