Lia wakes up to the realization of her father leaving today. It depressed the little girl's usual bright day mood and spoiled its charms. She came out of her room, stiffly wiping her dry eyes from last night's fallen tears and inflated cheeks appearing animated.
"Good morning, honey bunny!" Ethan welcomes his daughter with greater enthusiasm and a full wide smile that flashed his side dimples. Lia looked up to see her father. Meeting him and witnessing his glowing face made the little one frown from sorrow.
"I made you my famous blueberry souffle pancakes!" Ethan added his tunes while luring in his dejected customer.
Lia's eyes showed interest in his magic words, along with the sparkling sight she perceived from seeing the plate full of fluffy pancakes, colored dark blue with crushed blueberries spotted here and there.
Ethan invited one more time, and Lia agreed to his delectable treat.
***
Lillian woke up in her old clothes and a sharp headache. It hurt her badly, and she regretted running away from work.
Every new book release would leave Lillian and Jenna, a fully packed schedule, comprising of many sit down interviews. Recently, a new event called 'Surprise the Reader,' where the author gets to pre-sign a freshly published copy, and these books will go to the randomly selected lucky winners. However, most of the events serving for GILL were sit down interviews for printed magazines. These events get regularly planned during the following week from the new book release. Running away let Lillian postpone her typical, busy schedule for another time, hopefully, the next week. Since her return from self house arrest, Jenna caught Lillian hot-handed and dragged her to all of the places, requiring her appearance. The locations differed within the city along with a few out of country trips that remained tied up with KeyLine Publishing House for a long time.
Waking up exhausted, Lillian Grey dragged her worn-out body and mind. She dressed in formal attire for the final episode, and this ends her week-long packed schedule. The very thought of it left Lillian with an enormous amount of strength to keep running her engine.
"Just one more story, and then I'm done."
She quoted to herself and the alarming sound from her mobile. To her deep sighed annoyance, it was Jenna. Not that Lillian hates Jenna, but all this racked up agenda, repeated work made the Author temporarily dislike as well as get feared by her editor.
Lillian picked up the phone to answer.
"Good morning, Ms. Grey. Today's last, I believe you are still capable of being ever-charming in your closing performance as well."
Jenna greeted with a weak and an uptight voice. Instead of responding, the cocky Author had fun from seeing her editor suffer as well.
"I kindly ask you to stop laughing, Ms. Grey. It is all resulted from your unreasonable decision. I may ask for something, and it is for you to repent for your poor choice, Jenna cried in her jittery tone.
"I am, but seeing a friend suffer by my side leaves me ecstatic. My mood for the morning ruined until you called."
Jenna ignored the blatant comment, which, if paid any attention, would surely piss her off.
"Are you ready, Ms. Grey?" she asked, neglecting the audacious remarks from her Author.
"I am born ready to rock this last interview, and after this, I can be-"
Jenna interrupted even before letting Lillian finish.
"After this, you are free as the eagle in the sky and as the owl all through the night."
Both weakened from the busy days and drained body and soul, forwarded to annoy each other at every possible opportunity.
"You mean I am even free to die," Lillian said it to seem mediocre, and it hurt her even more from Jenna's dead opinion.
"Yes, you can even die."
The heartless answer from her favorite editor made Lillian give up on her ways to upset Jenna.
"Fine," Lillian sternly replied.
Realizing how heartless her words arched, Jenna sulked in instant regret. She immediately withdrew to her senses.
"Ms. Grey, I'll apologize for phrasing my words harshly. However, you should reflect on being crazy to push back all of your schedules. Remember, Ms. Grey! Every other Author has exposure to the mediums and on-screen offers except you. Since you chose to hide your identity, you should take responsibility to be careful and willing to use platforms with considerably high prospects."
Jenna expressed, and only then did Lillian remain in silence without firing responses.
"I agree, and I am sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry for another million years for being so stupid. Let's finish this, and I owe you one."
"You do owe me for this time," Jenna exclaimed.
With that, the call ended, and both kept aside their phones to get ready for the final battle.
I already updated that I was assisting my grandma for her eye surgery and had to take proper care of her. So, here's a double update.
I wrote this and the following chapter while waiting in the hospital! Writing with pen and paper always does less stress o the hand than typing on the keyboard.