Chapter 277: Jenna's whereabouts
What followed the heart-wrenching conversation with Lucy was nothing but absolute solitude. Lucy no longer called Lillian Grey, but she still sends her text messages. Messages about how she finished her work and heading back home an evening greeting, and a single goodnight to end the day. Lillian could sense the visible shift as no more calls she received like usual. It filled the author with worry, worries that hurt her head from thinking too deep. Along with the transformation in her personal lifestyle, going from busy trips to nothingness worn out Lillian and she resorted to sleeping all day, away from worrying or concerning herself with Lucy or Giselle.
The following day she slept till early afternoon and woke up with deadly starvation. There were still some more leftover takeouts freezing inside the fridge, but Lillian wished to prepare her own meal. She tried reaching out to Jenna for simple recipes and did not receive any response from her. It was quite weird that Jenna hasn't sent any message or dialed to her number. Lillian assumed that she might be busy with her private life, probably someone asked her out-
'That seems impossible. She rarely has a chance to go on a blind date, and even if someone asks her out, she ends up declining them due to work or disinterest.'
Lillian calls Jenna, but the number directed to the voice mail. Nothing was urgent, and Lillian chose to let her be while she thought of asking someone else for assistance.
Anna Devine appears to be the next candidate with reasonable cooking experience. Lillian thought of calling Edwin, but she is still mad on him for throwing her out of home, going behind his daughter's back to connect with her friend in scheming plots to blow her cover.
Naturally, Edwin was out of the list despite his skills and experience.
Lillian sent Anna a message, begging for a recipe that can make her feel at home and simple to prepare.
While waiting for a response, she went through the inbox to find Lucy's morning text and that she is on her way to the fitting session for an upcoming fashion show. Lillian read the messages multiple times, stared at it till her eyes became dry, but the thought of this girl and her love-struck Lillian emotionally.
Lucy's love was so significant that it tapped the unbreakable Lillian Grey. Her feelings passed through the cuts and cracks until it reached to the impenetrable soul and lightened it with its pristine fever.
She was the first girl who made an impression of potential interest other than Giselle.
Lillian wondered why the distance hurt more. It takes a second to fall in love, but the minute something steps in between, the gap gets defined, thus slowly working its best to keep two hearts separated.
Nevertheless, out of all the people she poorly dated, Lucy appears to be a tough choice.
A minute's isolation sent the lethargic author to reflect on her life and relationships. The sound of her mobile returned the troubled Lillian to real-time.
Response from Anna!
Anna - 12:50 PM
Since you are asking, it means you are on your day off. I wanted to take you out for lunch, but I'm stuck with more clients today- Alright! How about chicken? I know for sure you won't have any ingredients but get your ass out of your couch because I know the supermarket is nearby. Get chicken thighs, broccoli, some sweet potatoes, oil, salt & pepper, and- something you can laugh off, it is called Piri-Piri spice mix which is sold in packets so grab a couple of those bad boys as it gives you the spice, and garlic to enhance the flavors. Go, get these right now, and I will send the procedure in the next message. Call me if you have any doubts about purchasing these simple items, Ms. Grey!
**
Lillian obeyed, and wore a jacket to her in-home casuals and walked a few blocks to the nearby store and purchased as listed and on her shopping, she received the details on how to prepare the 'Piri-Piri chicken with mashed sweet potatoes and broccoli.'
Lillian followed the procedure, which doesn't look tedious. With minimal effort spent, she could cook the meat and the veggies in the oven and mash the potatoes once done before serving. Adding the garlic helped in bringing out the flavorings, and the hilarious Piri-Piri spice added the kick to her impassive taste buds. Eating outside food for a long time silenced the endurance to accept the spice. It hurt at first when she tasted burning from the oven, but after eating, the food swarmed her senses from the punching spicy. A few tears dropped in honor of fiery flavor.
Lillian texted back to Anna, thanking her for such an easy yet blazing recipe.
..
The rest of the day went quiet with reading reports that Jenna handed over during their briefing. Lillian spared some time to read the reviews, including the critiques that Jenna mentioned. She noted down some pointers from a few insightful remarks and ignored the obvious negative rants. Spending time to learn about the reader's opinions, and not get easily swayed to their emotions let Lillian enjoy the hobby of snooping for observations. Sometimes authors don't read the feedback while some notice it and can get influenced to the reader's perspective.
Writing from a writer's perspective differs slightly away from that of readers, and things can be harsh with making specific decisions to your favorite characters, plots, etc. Thus, not getting triggered to any remarks can let the writer maintain their originality and have their individual style.
Lillian had fun reading the reader's reviews and passed the time having amusement on her own.
As evening approached, Lillian entertained herself by watching TV. It worked as a nice distraction because when Anna called Lillian, it clicked a sharp nine on the clock. The naturally enclosed rooms never alarmed the setting sun or the arrival of the nighttime. Anna called in to check how the cooking went and did it fail or not. To her startled, Lillian bragged her successful attempt to fix her meal. They talked until late. Lillian ate the leftover lunch for dinner and drank beer while finishing the rest of the reports. When she went to bed late in the night, it was a sharp two in the early morning- such a long, exhausting day. Her eyes burned from concentrating on reading, and the already digested dinner made her greedy for a late-night snack.
A three days old cold wonton soup did not appeal to the starved eyes, but a minute's heat in the oven melted the frozen liquid and appeared warm to its customer.
Lillian went to bed after finishing the soup in haste.
Wednesday morning, Lillian received a call from the chief editor, Mr. Norman, reaching out to listen to her offer about the show to expose her identity to the world.
Lillian declines the offer with her rational explanation. The two discussed for a while before Lillian asked about Jenna, wondering what happened to her.
"Did you not know?" Norman seemed surprised by Lillian's lack of information.
Lillian sternly asked what was going on, and Norman told her the shocking news.
Their call ended a long time ago, and now, rushing out via the elevator, Lillian Grey persisted on calling Jenna until the editor chose to answer against the inconvenience.
"Ms. Grey?" she spoke.
"What the hell is wrong with you, Jenna?" Lillian raged as she signaled for a cab.
Jenna stayed quiet on the other end while perplexed from the sudden shouting.
"What is it, Ms. Grey? Did something happen-"
Lillian did not let her finish and now reduced her voice to a rough tone.
"Which hospital?" she demanded an answer.
Jenna's hands trembled from hearing it, and her drained eyes refilled the moisture again.
Lillian repeated her question with more stubbornness, and Jenna gave in to her command.
Weekly Power Status
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