Chapter 28

Lila's POV:

I opened my eyes and looked around. Something struck me. This wasn't my room in the Sparks penthouse. It was a completely different place, but exquisite. Confused and amazed by the place, I began walking forward, in no particular direction.

Then I heard a tune floating In. I recognized it instantly. It was the same song my mom hummed to me when I first met her. I walked in the direction where the song was coming from. I got there and what I saw brought smiles to my face.

It was a family. A happy one. The mother was busy holding the little girl and twirling her up in the air as the young girl erupted in wails of laughter. The father was at the corner just watching them and even though I couldn't see his face that clearly, I could tell he was smiling. Eventually he joined and played with the little girl, humming the same song to her. The girl couldn't stop laughing.

Suddenly, things took a dark turn. The Father mysteriously disappeared leaving the family lost and distraught. Then an evil woman with her face hidden in a mask appeared with a torch in hand to set the entire place on fire. She was going to throw the torch at the family but at the last minute, aimed at me.

I felt the scorching heat from the torch before I blacked out.

***

I woke up panting. So it was all a dream, thank God. I came out of the bed and stared into space. What did it all mean? Who was that family? Who is the person who tried to torch me? All these questions and more were the things running through my mind. I sure hope things aren't that bad as I think they are.

Sighing softly, I stood up from the bed and sauntered into the bathroom. I need to have a shower.

***

Once I was through and ready, I moved to the living room. As always, the boys had gone for their morning jog, so it was just me and the chef in charge of their food. I greeted him and joined him in making breakfast. Food was ready just as the boys were returning from the run. We served it and sat down to eat.

After some time, Nico looked at me and spoke.

"Hey Lila, I hope you haven't forgotten about yesterday?" He asked and I perked my brows. Remembering, I smiled.

"No, I haven't. I said I'll be joining you, didn't I?"

"You sure did." He grinned and continued eating. Chad glanced at the both of us.

"What's that?" He asked.

"Um, nothing. Nico asked me yesterday if I'd like to join him in the dance studio. He said he was thinking up a new choreography and wondered if I'd like to help." I explained.

"Oh…" He muttered. "That's good."

He said and smiled. I caught Dean staring at me, but when I looked at him, he looked away.

Whatever.

***

Ellen's POV:

I walked closer to Nikita as I saw her move back in fear. She thought I was dead. Well, that's never happening.

"You really ARE surprised to see me," I said and sat down. "Which is a good thing by the way."

"How did all this happen, and I wasn't aware of it?" Nikita muttered to herself. I cocked my head to a side and clicked my tongue.

"Let's see. Your master plan failed?" I said, and giggled. Some of the fear she first had were shaking off and an evil glare was replacing it.

"Well, alive or not, mark my words Ellen… I'm going to kill you again," she growled.

"That was supposed to be my line." I said back, my tempo matching hers. "You're the one who is going down."

"I don't think so. You might be the CG's first wife but I'm still the one the world knows and it wouldn't take long before I make you disappear." She threatened. I smirked.

"I'd like to see you try, because this time… I'm not going easy on you. I may have let you win the first time but you won't have the last victory."

"Let's wait and see." Nikita said. I stood up from the chair and left the room. Getting to the door, I stopped and turned.

"You want a battle, but I'm not bringing that. I'm starting a whole war." I gritted and walked out.

Nikita had better watch out.

***

Nikita's POV:

My confident smirk disappeared once Ellen walked out of the office. I ruffled my hair out of frustration. Why does everything have to happen now! First it was Lila, now Ellen. Where these thugs really messing with me.

"No…" I muttered to myself. "I can't sit here and do nothing. I have to stop them, or things would get terrible."

Panicking, I took my phone and hastily called Mason.

"Yes?" his indifferent voice filtered through the phone.

"We have to see… Now!" I said and hung up, panting heavily.

***

Lila's POV:

I was with Nico in the dance studio, and so far, so good. We'd come up with fantastic choreography. Turns out am an even better dancer than I imagined, and with a pro like Nico, life couldn't get any easier.

"That's enough." I called out, breathing heavily. Nico stopped and turned off the music as we went to grab a bottle of water. We glanced at each other and giggled.

"Why are you laughing?" I asked amidst gulps.

"Nothing… You look funny." He muttered. I ducked shyly and tried to pack my hair in place. It was all over the place and the sweat on my body wasn't making it any easier.

"Wow… Didn't know you could dance so well." He complimented.

"Didn't know either." I replied.

"You know… If not because Chad was the one that met you first, I'd have totally dated you." He stated, and I gawped at him. What?

"I heard that." Chad said, walking into the dance studio. Nico glanced at him and grinned. They greeted each other with fist bumps, and Chad turned to me.

"Hi." I said awkwardly as Chad stared at me.

"What have you two been up to?" He asked, and Nico glanced at me.

"Uh… Nico asked him to help him out, he's trying to create a new choreography." I explained.

"Really? Can I see it?"

"Y-you want to? It's not perfect yet."

"Well, let me see it then."

"Um, okay." I said, and Nico and I showed him the choreography.

"Wow… That's superb, but it can be better." Chad commented.

"Yeah, we'll work on that." Nico muttered. Chad grinned.

"I have to go now, need to her out of these clothes," I said and rushed out of the dance studio.

***

Ellen's POV:

I arrived home from Beamlights headquarters and went straight to my room. I don't know when Mira will be back, but she had told me I'd be meeting with Natalie today. With my appearance to Nikita today, I need to get my plans together or else Nikita will knock me off the course with her evil schemes.

For want of something to do, I began cleaning the house, before Mira and Natalie would arrive…

***

It wasn't until later in the afternoon that Mira arrived, but to make things easier, she came with the lady she called Natalie Maddox. She's a CIA agent and a detective from the way Mira introduced her to me and could be able to help me out. We settled down and talked, well it was me doing most of the talk. Natalie was just asking questions and Mira listening.

After I had narrated my past to her, I settled down to watch her expression and what she'll say afterwards.

"I'm not going to lie, but this is some serious shit." Natalie muttered after a while.

"It's why we need your help." Mira said. "What are you going to do?"

"I don't know." Then she glanced at me. "Your daughter, Lyric, isn't aware of this, is she?"

"No, and I can't tell her yet."

"Why?"

"Well… If she knows now, she might not handle the news. I'll break it to her eventually but for now I need to have something going."

"Why didn't you take her away from the Sparks?" Natalie asked.

"She'll be safer there than she would be with me."

"What do you mean?"

"Her cousin, Chad is part of the boy band. I know he'll take good care of her."

"Is he aware of all of this?"

"No, not yet."

"Then you need to tell him."

"I'll definitely do that."

"So… What's the plan?" Mira asked. Natalie glanced at her.

"I really don't know yet but Ellen has to introduce herself to Chad, so he knows what's going on and can keep a proper watch on Lyric."

"And you?"

Natalie turned to me. "You know where CG is buried, don't you?"

I nodded sadly. "Yes."

"Good. I'll have to dig him up and perform an autopsy on him. Find out what really killed him. If it was normal or induced. That might lead us somewhere."

"Then let's get to work." Natalie said and stood up, planning to leave. I rose after her.

"Thank you." I said to her.

"Don't thank me yet. Let's finish this first." She replied.

"Okay."

***

Lila's POV:

I was in the garden, staring out when I heard footsteps approach me and stop. I glanced up at noticed it was Chad.

"Hey." I called out.

"Hi." He said and sat beside me. "What are you doing here?" He asked.

"Nothing, just thinking."

"About what?"

I sighed. "I had a nightmare last night," I announced. He glanced at me, his brows raised.

"You did?"

"Yes, it was really weird. It felt like it was trying to tell me something."

"Wow…" I heard Chad say. I turned to him and smiled.

"You know…" I began, staring at the pool. "Now that I've met my mom, I expected it to make things easier, but it feels to me everything is about to get more complicated."

"Hey…" Chad said and scooted closer to me, wrapping his hands around me. "Don't talk like that. I'm positive that with everything, you'll make it out," he said, assuring me.

"Aww, thanks. I feel motivated right now." I said and he chuckled. Once the laughter died down, I hugged him.

"Thanks a lot, Chad."

"You're always welcome."

***

Nikita's POV:

I was lost in thought in the office when the door opened with someone barging in. I looked up and saw it was Mason, then released the breath I didn't know I was holding.

"Hey, what happened?" He asked as he got closer. I stood up from my chair and rushed to him, grabbing him by the shoulders.

"Everything!" I yelled, petrified. "Everything. Everything has gone wrong."

"Woah, woah? Take it easy, what is it exactly?"

"It's Ellen. She's also not dead. She came to see me today and warned me."

"Ellen? Who's Ellen?" Mason asked.

"Ellen… She's CG's first wife. I thought I killed her and Lila in the fire but turns out the goons fooled me. They are both alive and well."

"Oh my gosh! That's bad!" He exclaimed.

"It's worse. I have a feeling she isn't backing down this time. Oh gosh, why didn't I cross-check what the goons did. I let them fool me!"

"It's okay, you'll be fine. You'll think of something," Mason said reassuringly, but I wasn't getting any of those. There is just no way I can calm down now. Mason wraps his hand around me and pulls me to himself. He tilts my face towards him and whispers.

"Just take it slowly, okay?" He mutters, and I nod. He soon takes over my lips with his and soon enough we're kissing passionately. In my bid to temporarily forget all that has been going on, I give in to all of his advances.

The kiss becomes hot and demanding, and Mason carefully places me at the edge of my desk about to move my skirt up inches higher. I can already feel his member against me. Just as he is about the thrust in the door flings open and someone walks in.

We hastily pull apart and am about to tongue lash my assistant… Except, it's not my assistant.

"Mom… Mom! What are you doing!? Mr. Roberts!?" Ximena asks.

Damn it!