She wondered how long she could carry on. "Yes he is actually into a lot of them, so many kinky shits go on between us, but his favorites are dildos and vibrators." Clara responded her eyes closed wincing. "Oohh he sure is adventurous." One bridesmaid said.
The group cheered and took more shots. Clara excused herself from the room she needed some air. Lila looked on thinking, "Clara was not someone who liked talking about her sexual experiences in public. I think she is hiding something, if she actually had sex with Elliot she would not have said anything. How would a man date Clara for so long without trying to make a move on her." These thoughts flew through her mind. Something was wrong somewhere and someone is lying she has to talk to Victor.
Lila rushed to her room. She turned on her computer. The light from the screen illuminating the whole dark room. Her fingers flew through the keyboard as she typed Victor's name into the search bar. She was way sobered up by now. The search engine produced different results including his biography and other information. She searched for his email and decided to email him.
From: [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])
To: [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])
"Hi, it is Lila the girl you saw the other day. I believe you now that something awfully wrong is going on. I just need to see you to confirm the truth."
She clicked on the send button biting her nails nervously while waiting for a response. She paced her room. It would be dumb for her to wait for a response at 2am in the morning. She needed to calm down and sleep to wait for a response. As she continued the pace, her screen lights up with a notification. She rushes to her laptop. It was there a reply from Victor.
From: [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])
To: [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])
"I see you considered my words. That is great for you. I know you have a lot of questions right now and your mind is racing as you are uncovering the big picture. The answer to all your questions would be provided. Meet me at Vorne restaurant in downtown New York and I will give you answers including live evidence. Meet me on Thursday. Do not forget to save the date."
The email read
A sigh of relief escaped Lila's lips. She could not wait for Thursday to come. She would finally get answers. Lila thought to herself as she crawled into bed and slept off
***
The sun just began to set when Lila walked into the Vorne restaurant. She walked up to the front desk whispering quietly, "Reservation with Victor Crane." The lady smiled,"he is already here, right this way ma'am." The woman said as she led Lila to the table. Lila clutched her bag tightly fidgeting with the tassels. She was more than nervous.
Victor sat in front of Lila in all of his glory as the waitress pulled her seat out for Lila to sit. "I am glad to see you could make it." Victor said smiling.
Lila straight faced, "let us get to business." She said. "Business minded, I like that." Victor murmured to himself. "Anyways so what exactly do you want to know?" Victor asked Lila. "How did you know Elliot was gay?"
The elegant ambiance of the Vorne restaurant, usually a soothing backdrop, felt oppressive tonight. The clinking of glasses, the murmur of conversations, all seemed to amplify the frantic beat of her heart.
Victor leaned back, his smile unreadable. "Let us just say I have… sources, plus it was not that hard to find out" he replied, his tone casual, almost dismissive.
Lila bristled. "Sources? What kind of sources? I need proof, Victor. Something concrete." She was not going to be played for a fool.
Victor's smile widened slightly. "Patience, Lila. All in good time. Give it about ten minutes " He said as he looked at his watch. "Hmm, it seems they are already here." He tells Lila. Lila confused looked around, "Whose already here?" She asked. "Look forward towards the door." He told her. She gasps as she sees Elliot and Jonah strolling into the restaurant. Holding hands and acting like a couple.
Victor smiled looking at her reaction. He knew what she had just seen. She shook her head in denial. "I think they are just really good friends." She told Victor. "Oh Lila don't be dumb, do they look like just friends to you?" Victor asked her. She shook her head.
Lila's heart hammered against her ribs. She wanted to look away, to pretend she hadn't seen anything, but she couldn't. She was trapped, a captive audience to this painful, undeniable truth. She studied Elliot and Jonah, searching for some clue, some sign that this was all an act. But there was nothing. They looked natural. Comfortable. Happy.
A kind of happiness that Lila had never seen on Elliot's face when he was with Clara.
"I can't believe this is happening. When and where and how did this happen." Lila asked in disbelief. "Well the golden boy of the Sinclair's also had a thing for other golden boys too." Victor said. It's been going on for a while, actually."
Lila's eyes widened. "A while? How long is 'a while'?" she asked, her voice tight. She felt a surge of anger, not just at Elliot and Clara, but at herself. How could she have been so blind? How could she have missed the signs?
Victor scoffed. "Long enough, they visit this restaurant almost every week. That is how I got to find out first." he replied, his tone vague. "Let's just say that Elliot has diverse tastes. And Jonah, well, he's been a willing participant."
Lila's mind raced. She thought back to all the times she'd been around Elliot, all the times she'd tried to get closer to him, all the times she'd misinterpreted his polite indifference as shyness or disinterest. He was gay all along.
She freezes, her eyes widened in shock as she saw Elliot and Jonah kiss. "And there's your last straw of evidence." Victor said slyly. Lila unable to handle the betrayal pushes her chair as she hurriedly leaves the restaurant. She needed to escape from that place to think properly.