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75.93% Get Back to You / Chapter 344: The boss pays a visit

บท 344: The boss pays a visit

The number of people waiting to meet Lillian Grey increased by time, and she politely signed their books with grace, occasionally entertaining their chat. Some couldn't believe that they were meeting Gill in real life while a few passed on comments about her beauty. Jenna stood by Lillian's side to take care of her author and keep the line orderly.

****

Earlier for the panel discussion, Norman led the authors to the stage by introducing them one after the other. He made sure to give them a proper introduction before calling out their name.

One by one, the stage got filled with accompanying applause and special cheering for Jayce's charming entrance. When it came to Lillian's turn, everyone awaited to meet her in person, so they remained hushed as Norman spoke. Some even stood up to see her closely in awe while giving a big round of applause.

The panel discussion then began where every author had an opportunity to talk about their published works, current or future projects, inspirations, writing process, and so on.

Though feeling slightly anxious to share about her craft out loud in front of a dedicated audience, Lillian managed to face her fears with the help of her fellow authors. She was not alone but riding the same boat as Jennifer, who made a debut recently. The new novelist joined in expressing her angst as well.

Nonetheless, Norman kept it light for them on their first experience. The panel lasted for about thirty to forty minutes, following which he allowed a few questions from the audience to ask the authors.

Without a doubt, one of the questions was for Lillian about revealing her identity.

To much anticipation, everyone waited for her answer, including Giselle, as she stood together in a group with fellow editors. They were all expecting specific details behind Lillian's choice and wished to know.

Norman couldn't ignore as he signaled Lillian to respond quickly.

Evading the actual truth, Lillian answered by admitting that it honestly felt the right time to expose her identity to the public. There was no particular reason for her decision. However, everyone in the room got covered in disappointment from Lillian's answer, including Giselle, who hissed from hearing the same response.

She replied confident, holding a sweet smile on her face as everyone in the audience, including Giselle, got covered in disappointment.

Giselle ground her teeth from hearing the same response. She suspected an actual reason, which Lillian seems to be hiding. Nevertheless, she had nothing to prove her theory. Therefore, ignoring it like everyone else, Giselle sighed to relax. She glanced over at Lillian to find her staring back at her.

Where their eyes met, Giselle's face suddenly flushed as if she got caught from doubting Lillian. She turned away her face naturally from shy.

****

Twenty minutes passed since the authors began signing the books.

More people joined to get their copy signed by Lillian Grey.

Competing with her was Jayce's queue, packed with females as the engaging author chatted heartily with his beloved fans.

Lillian would often glance at the direction where Giselle resided next to busy Jayce. She would take short glimpses of her while encouraging the crowd in front.

Seeing Lillian getting distracted repeatedly, Jenna stepped in to ask if she needed a break or so. Lillian refused, assuring Jenna not to concern herself with this and requested for something warm to drink.

Jenna left her place momentarily to act, and Lillian kept signing the book. As soon a reader left her space for the next one, she fished out her phone to send an urgent text message. When another appeared with a book on their hand along with a cheerful greeting, Lillian excused herself. She returned to her post and resumed her duty briskly.

"Hi!" she would greet with a bright smile to receive their copy of her published novel.

"And your name?" Lillian added a request to satisfy the reader.

Jenna returned already with a cup of black coffee for Lillian. She kept it on the table where it won't be a hindrance to Lillian.

During the short break after the panel discussion, the entire Reading room got a makeover and transformed the space into four major forks, giving space for the readers to fashion a line and wait to get their copies signed.

Norman took charge of handling Jason's desk while Jennifer's editor encouraged her to speak louder so that the people could hear it properly.

Thankfully, Jayce became Lillian's neighbor, granting her all the access to keep an eye on Giselle.

Meantime, Giselle had her own sneaking peeks of Lillian. Her delicate actions caused no suspicion, giving her the leisure to watch Lillian shine all in her glory. Often she found herself getting worried whenever someone approached Lillian to interact closely.

Giselle fidgetted within herself from feeling intimidated. Ever since hearing Jenna talk about Lillian, she found herself getting upset unknowingly. She couldn't hide her contempt from seeing Lillian closer with someone else. Worried when and where did the locked-up emotions slip to her oversight, Giselle continued to keep an eye on Lillian.

***

The event ended as people retired eventually. Towards the end of the gathering, Shane paid a visit to the hotel. Together, the group then assembled in a private spot reserved for them to celebrate the successful day.

Shane treated his employees for a drink as he shared a few words to thank the authors for their work. His speech also included devoting editors working hard to accomplish the goal.

Shane thanked Norman exclusively for making this event a success. Following his compliments, the director of the publishing house sent his holiday wishes to his dear employees before signing off. It was a short and sweet message to the authors to continue creating their passion projects and to his hard-working editors to guide them in the right direction. His note also included the rest of the KeyLine employees who worked behind the scenes. Everyone applauded to his support as Shane hinted at his departure for the day. He signaled Lillian before leaving in a hurry for another appointment.

"You sure are a busy man, Ricardo!" Lillian remarked as the two took an empty spot for a quick chat.

"It is always the same during this time of the year. Forget about me, look at you-" Shane said to stare at Lillian's outfit for the day.

"Pink?" he exclaimed.

Lillian blushed. They were away from the group, yet Lillian made sure that no was present to hear Shane.

"W- Why? Am I not allowed to wear the color?" she appealed sternly from the tease as Shane still found himself staring at Lillian's pink power suit.

He dared not to say a word but turned around to find Giselle and found the woman dressed pleasingly in the same color.

"So-"

Shane only opened his mouth, but Lillian stopped him abruptly by covering his lips with her hands, not letting a sound slip out from it.

"Don't you dare!" she warned.

Shane withdrew by obeying ultimately. He did not make another comment about the matching outfits. The two returned to join the group, where Shane bid his goodbye to everyone personally. He thanked Jason for attending the event, encouraged Jennifer to continue her journey boldly with KeyLine, gossiped with Jayce about his adventure today, and finally, looked at all the editors to acknowledge their hard work. He adored the sales team for creating a separate stand to sell books for the fans without a copy. Luckily, every book they had put out got sold to a reader, and it tripled the joy.

"Good work, everyone! Be sure to take rest during the holidays!"

"Alright! I'll be off then-" he added to leave.

However, submitting without a fight made him stop in his steps, "Lillian-" Shane called out suddenly.

Everyone waited to watch the director turn around with a solemn grimace.

"-And Giselle," he yelled for attention.

"You guys look cute together! Goodnight fellas!'" Shane said to leave immediately. He knew if he extended his stay, Lillian is sure to pulverize on him for his comment.

Surprisingly, Giselle remained bold yet speechless while Lillian's face reddens from seeing everyone staring at both in the sense of awareness. The color deepens on her cheeks as people continued to observe her in wonder.

Jenna chuckled at the sight from far, and Jayce bitterly lifts his glass to call for a toast on Lillian's first company event.

"To Gill!" he raised his voice as everyone joined, soon ignoring Shane's remark and Lillian's hot blush.


บท 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.

***

The party comes to an end shortly. Jayce was getting ready to leave first. He thanked Giselle, his editor, for her poised assistance in smoothly handling his fans. He jokingly added that she should be on alert as some on his die-hard fans might keep an eye on her working with him closer. Giselle smiled at his humor.

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.


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