Lilah's pov
Now it has been two weeks since I heard from Mel since her report on Lucas I am very intrigued as to what she could be doing that has prevented her from getting in contact with me yet, or rather, from hearing from me yet because of her parents' calls.
Is she in a situation where she's managed to get herself into trouble and is being tortured or has I's cover been blown… I hope she's all right.
Miles sat calmly, enveloped in an ambience of calm and mystique, as he looked out of the window into the city landscape below. He exuded an aura of calm, yet there was an intensity that was apparent, yet impossible to define. The warm light of the setting sun played on his face, casting an entrancing spell of intrigue.
Bluey, his secretary, was moving with the stealthy efficiency of a well-oiled machine, as if helping to construct Miles' report into a compelling story. Occasionally, her eyes would dart towards Miles, her gaze a combination of curiosity and awe, as if trying to solve the puzzle that was her boss.
The air was filled with a palpable tension, as if the future itself was poised in the balance. Miles' stoic façade stood in stark contrast to this, acting almost like a magnet that drew in all the disturbances from the outside world, only to swallow them whole in that unnerving calmness that permeated him.
This was the moment when Miles was the epitome of the paradox of the stormy sea on a windless day – mysterious, unflappable, and utterly enthralling.
"Sir, these are the documents you asked for, with respect to the business proposal that Julio's company offered, all you need to do is to sign it, and I heard your friend is back, sir," said Bluey, Milo's secretary.
I would not say that is my friend because of what happened between him and my sister, and going back to Melly, have you been able to monitor what she is doing lately because I personally do not have any contact with her number this past few weeks.
Every time I call Lilah, she would always say she was either hanging out or busy with school projects. Even if I know she blames me for not defending her in her fight with mum and dad.
I haven't been supportive of her dreams since that incident; at least I could look out for her, especially now that he is back. He would surely look for her, not knowing the damage he had caused to the extent of going to the psychiatrist and using hypnotherapy on her. Poor Melly.
***
The nightmare
Her fragile body lay motionless on the bed, her chest rising and falling with each shallow breath. The case of an allergy accident from drinking had weakened her; despite the best efforts of her medical team, she hadn't been responding to treatment.
Memories of that night five years ago still clung to her, haunting her dreams. The mafia raid, the chaos, the feeling of being trapped, helpless. Then came the person she tried to save, the one she thought was innocent. how they stabbed her with a knife, gashing her back, leaving her for dead.
Mel's eyes fluttered open: her mind was befogged with the nightmare. Lucas lay beside her, his eyes filled with a wave of concern.
"Hey, are you okay?" he asked softly.
Mel nodded weakly, trying to calm her racing heart. The presence of Lucas was reassuring, but she could not shake off the feeling that he was hiding something from her.
There was this odd, familiar sensation that she felt whenever Lucas was around, like she knew him before, but couldn't quite remember. But then, she dismissed the thought as she focused on the worry etched on Lucas's face.
Mel couldn't shake her sense of unease as she continued to hear footsteps outside her door, as Miles finally found his way into the mansion and Mel knew he was there.
Miles emerged from the grand foyer and out into the warm night air, his gaze sweeping over the well-manicured lawns surrounding the mansion. "The same old guilt with regards to Melly due to not being able to protect her in the crash washed over him."
As he walked towards the maid's quarters, he saw Lucas standing outside, staring fixedly at something.
Miles followed his gaze out and saw a girl emerge from the doorway. She was in a simple, plain maid's uniform; her hair was tied back into a neat bun. Still, there was something about her that made him linger-a flash of something that nudged at Miles' memory, which wasn't quite identifiable.
Their gaze finally met with Miles', and they simply stared at each other for a few moments. Feeling the tension, Lucas took a step closer and spoke in a firm voice. "I think it is time you returned to your duties," he said, his eyes locked on the girl.
She nodded, her gaze never leaving Miles', before she spun and disappeared back into the doorway. Miles watched her go, his mind reeling with questions. Who was that girl? And why did she seem so familiar?
Lucas turned to Miles with a neutral face. "What brings you here?" he asked in a smooth voice.
Miles shook his head, trying to clear the cobwebs. "I just wanted to check in on you, heard you were back," he said, his eyes still fixed on the doorway where the girl had disappeared.
Lucas nodded, his eyes narrowing slightly. "She's still recovering," he said. "But I think she'll be okay."
Miles nodded, still dazed by his imagination of the mysterious girl. He felt like he had seen her somewhere, that she was somehow connected with him, but how?
He then called Lilah, Mel's best friend to confirm his suspicions."Hey, Miles," she said, bright with her voice. " Why call?" "I just wanted to check up on Melly since she is not answering my calls " I said. Yeah, she's is still pissed about what happened but she is excited to spend the summer with me." Lilah answer
Miles' eyes narrowed as several questions flew through his mind. Spend the summer with Lilah? But what about the girl he had just seen? Was she somehow connected with Mel?
He turned to Lucas, his eyes locked onto his. "You know anything about a girl who works here?" he asked, his voice low.
Lucas' face was impassive, but Miles felt the slightest glimmer of turmoil lurking within the depths of his eyes. "I don't know what you're referring to," he said calmly.
Miles' eyes narrowed and a million questions began racing in his head. What was all this about? And who was this strange girl
While in the courtyard, Lucas stood facing Miles, his eyes blazing with a cocktail of emotions: curiosity, concern, and a hint of desperation. When he took a deep breath, he mentally steeled himself for their conversation.
"Miles, I need to know," Lucas began, his voice low and intense. "Who was the girl who saved me five years ago? What became of her after.after she was assaulted in that very courtyard?"
Miles' face was a mask, his eyes focused on something behind Lucas' shoulder. Lucas continued talking, hardly able to get the words out fast enough.
"I've tried to remember, but my memories are fuzzy. Bits and pieces of a face, a voice, and an impression of safety. But the more I think about it, the further it recedes. And now the courtyard—there are so many secrets, so much pain there."
In that instant, Lucas latched his gaze onto Miles', searching for any hint of response, the tiniest fissure in his stoicism. But Miles remained unmoving, his silence a thick, heavy force that repelled Lucas.
The air was heavy, as if with unspoken secrets hanging in the balance of desire to know versus fears of uncovering truths that were perhaps better left unsaid. The air seemed to vibrate with tension, heavy with the weight of unspoken secrets. The words from Lucas hung in the balance between a desired answer and a fear to know the truth, which was better not to be told.