345 Lillian's little upset!

"Shane Ricardo! I'll destroy his precious games later!!" Lillian swore as she took long sips of her chic cocktail. Jenna sat by next to Lillian, carefully watching her alcohol intake.

"Does it bother you that much, Ms. Grey?" she asked in disbelief.

Before retiring, Shane had advised everyone not to get hammered from spending too much time in the bar, so Jenna was cautious to keep herself sober with a single glass of Champagne. Even so, she consumed it only little by little while keeping her focus on the one who is infuriated by her side.

Jenna states Lillian's erratic reaction to the incident as over-exaggeration.

"Look at Ms. Giselle! She seems to be acting normal unlike you," she pointed out to Lillian's attention.

Moving her gaze to find Giselle, Lillian watched her behave naturally. It appears that what Shane had noticed most likely unstirred Giselle. Lillian leaned against the counter to watch the group busily chatter amongst themselves. She began to wonder if Giselle had worn that dress for her sake, or was it merely a coincidence.

'Does she even care that it made me very happy to see us match?' Lillian pouted, her chin resting on her hands as she suffered from untended love.

Jenna watched Lillian sulk over a trivial subject. It was a new color that Lillian displayed for the first time in years, and Jenna found it to her amusement. In the past, it was Lucy who had to beg or plot some devious plan to make them wear the same colored clothes, and even so, Lillian would not care to pay attention. However, right now, the same Lillian is blushed from her friend's public remark and is pouting like a child from seeing Giselle unaffected.

Jenna chuckled to herself, enjoying Lillian's change of demeanor. She roused the moping figure to cheer up.

"Why don't you go and talk to Ms. Giselle? The event is over, and you are free now," she suggested.

Lillian woke up to still hold her pursed lips from sulking. She glanced at Giselle's way to find not only her but including the newcomer, Jennifer, stuck with Jayce. The guy was passionately preaching to them while the two only listened.

"How can I approach her? Forget about it! People will come to notice if I meet with her, especially after that idiot Shane's-" Lillian paused herself to get reminded of that embarrassing remark once again. It agitated her mood, causing her to take another long sip to finish her drink.

"And that bothers- you?"

"Yes! I don't want people bothering her at work because of me."

Jenna didn't trouble to pry as it was valid and unexpected that the Lillian Grey had consideration before acting on impulse. Instead, she comforted the aching author to rest easy while keeping an eye on her drinking.

***

Satisfied with her going along with his fun, Jayce asked if he shall drop Giselle at her home. It was his first time expressing his kindness to an extent. He had never done that to any of his previous editors, which put him on the throne of being brave that Giselle would undoubtedly accept.

When she hesitates to decline his expensive offer, Jayce's face lost its color from the startling loss. He chuckled to hide the humiliation, rushing at once as his ride approached. Sending him off, Giselle waited to watch everyone leave one by one.

Norman was the last person to exit the hotel. He stopped to notice Giselle lounging in the reception area and inquired if she was having any trouble catching a ride. Unable to answer his question directly, Giselle kept stammering. Norman watched her panic and soon realized the reason. No longer did he sought from her. He bid his goodbye and quietly left the building.

Partly, Giselle felt abashed. She glanced upstairs to return to the bar, where two rested from leaving.

***

The bar is now getting more customers as evening approached, and the place soon got busy with people arriving in groups. Jenna took to her notice that everyone had already left the venue. She urged Lillian to do so as well when a strict opposition challenged her.

"Ms. Grey, do I have to remind you that you are no longer hiding behind your pen name?"

Lillian ignored to signal for the third refill.

Fearing that it might begin to make her feel tipsy, Jenna stopped Lillian from getting another drink and warned the bartender to abscond from their sight to serve other customers.

Meanwhile, disappointed by seeing the bartender snub her crying calls, Lillian continued to frown on the counter, stubbornly ignoring Jenna's voice to reveal the reason she wishes to stay behind.

"I asked Giselle to stay back so that I can drop her home!"

"When did this happen?" Jenna yelled instantly upon hearing, and Lillian admits sending a message to Giselle during the signing event. Surprised to discover, Jenna took another look to find no Giselle waiting. She passed on the bitter news to question if Giselle agreed to her invitation or not.

Lillian nodded lazily.

"Then, how come am I not seeing Ms. Giselle anywhere in here-"

As Jenna scanned the room for the third time, she saw Giselle's figure entering the place. With the lively crowd actively chattering, it was hard to find each other. Still, Giselle kept searching until she eventually saw Jenna beckoning towards her.

"Drive us, Jenna," Lillian asked politely to interpose before the reunion.

"What?"

"Please. I drank because of Shane, and now I'm feeling a little tired. Please, drive us home, Jenna," Lillian requested again.

She need not ask for such things as Jenna had already considered the case from observing Lillian's behavior. Nevertheless, she agreed since they initially arrived in Lillian's car.

Giselle almost neared to rejoin. She gestured a friendly smile with Jenna and then moved her gaze to a sulking body sitting beside.

Jenna could feel the air appear so brittle that it could snap from the tension. It was mainly due to Lillian's temperament that neither welcomed Giselle with a smile or greeted her with kind words. The only sound that reached their muted ears were the close chattering of people surrounding them. The lively bar made noises that filled the void when Jenna could barely survive in the knee-deep silence.

"Ms. Grey!" Jenna stepped in to fulfill her duty for the day before disappearing. She had no strength to witness any lovers quarrel after a hard day at work.

"Let's leave-" she hinted to gesture the two frozen figures.

It was noticeable that Jenna's suggestion reached the two ladies, yet no one made a signal to go along.

"Giselle?" Lillian interrupted the growing tension.

Jenna stopped speaking at once.

"Did you wear that dress for me?" Lillian asked brazenly.

'What the hell?' Jenna thought to furrow her brows in a surprise. She did not expect Lillian to get genuinely affected.

However, from the looks, it seems to be the case as Jenna saw Giselle's baffled expression on her face, struggling to answer. Thus, her reactions became stiff to hinder the scene anymore. Jenna watched as Lillian waited patiently to get acknowledged.

Equally suffered from such a daring question, Giselle, at first, wished to hide the truth while informally send her intentions. But, since it came down to this and from studying Lillian's obstinate face, she had no other choice except to reveal her feelings conclusively.

"Yes," Giselle admits, moving Lillian to form a smile finally.

Was it because of the alcohol or the innermost desire to validate?

Whatever be the case, Lillian seems no longer herself as the drink had sent tingling sensations to her brain cells, making it reflect her heartfelt wants.

Earlier, when she saw that Giselle acted unaffected despite Shane's comment, it made Lillian doubt herself. Since the two haven't properly chatted until now, Lillian's mind kept longing to confirm. Her face only relaxed after learning that Giselle wore the dress for her sake. Satisfied in her heart, Lillian signaled to leave the place at once, no longer wasting their time where she could now get drunk fast from happiness.

The three then together left the building as Jenna drove the car, and Giselle and Lillian sat together in the back seat.