Jenna becomes invisible as soon as Giselle takes charge of accepting Lillian's request. Hence, resorting to the abandoned couch, just like her, Jenna occupied the entire cushion to decompress while watching the two get ready for a shopping spree.
Giselle leads Lillian into trying several outfits, one after the other, as they changed from different designs to shades and patterns. Seizing the opportunity while Lillian is entirely fulfilling her command, Giselle slipped in a beautiful rose pink satin dress with silver sequin bodice and sleeves. To her anticipate, Lillian did not notice. She wore the gown and modeled it for Giselle.
"Wow! It takes me a great effort to make her wear a simple red dress, but here she is- swaying in a pink gown. Ms. Giselle sure holds authority-" Jenna complained to the nearby stranger, only to get caught right away.
"What was that now, Jenna?" Lillian called.
Jenna winced in a startle to accept the immediate withdrawal. She then saw Lillian realize Giselle's little play, to do nothing except delivering a soft punch playfully.
"It's a cruel world out there!" Jenna murmured again to the close stranger.
The streak continued for a few more times, and Jenna began to suffer under massive starvation. She looked at the time, and hardly twenty minutes passed. She wondered how long will it take for them to pick an outfit and held her tummy to endure the wait.
Several minutes further pass, and lastly, Giselle orchestrated a look that impressed Lillian at first try.
A plain white knitted shirt paired with a pale rose coat and a pant.
The soft fabric appeared innocent and worked the magic by providing extreme comfort for Lillian to move around. Outfits like this can endure a long, tiring day, and both instantly thought to agree.
Lillian loved it on sight, and Giselle approved. She called her editor, Jenna, for a word of comment on their most-likely pick. Finally served some attention, Jenna struggled to drag her draining body to join.
A single glance at the outfit and Jenna replied with a dull nod.
"That's it? That's your answer?" Lillian gaped from her weak response.
Jenna pledged to reassure that the weakness has nothing to do with her reaction. She even included victory signs and peace signs to prove her remark.
Having everyone agree to the dress, Lillian went on to purchase while the other two waited. Giselle worried if Jenna was too hungry and encouraged her to hold on a while until they could soon grab a bite.
Lillian returned after settling the bill to invite Jenna and Giselle for a lunch treat. She wanted to thank the two for helping her out on their busy day. The words of the food treat gave Jenna sufficient energy to respond actively.
"You really are hungry, huh?" Lillian chuckled to find Jenna rising from low spirits.
"Ms. Grey, I can eat an entire menu right now!"
"Go for it! It's my treat!" Lillian dared to challenge, and Jenna vouched.
The three left the boutique together to walk into the first restaurant that they encounter.
It was a cozy all-day diner with seemingly less number of customers at the moment. Under Lillian's treat, Jenna and Giselle ate wholeheartedly. As promised, Jenna devoured every dish she had ordered while Giselle and Lillian watched her in the awe. Seeing her eat made them full and restrained from any more requests.
**
Finishing their lunch, Lillian made sure to escort them till office.
Upon reaching KeyLine, it was time to say goodbye, and Lillian expressed her gratitude towards both once again.
"We're glad we could help!" Giselle said to thank Lillian for a delectable treat.
Jenna admits returning the gesture, commenting that she is full till her chest.
All three chuckled, and it was time for them to disperse to their responsibilities.
Lillian glanced at Giselle to signal her personal appreciation for playing along to her selfish appeal. Giselle smiled shyly to accept her regards. The two kept eyeing into each other with muffled smiles and wordless messages. Jenna smelled the bitter scent of abandonment to signal Lillian Grey, pleading her to leave.
"Alright, you two rush inside before Shane accuses me-" Lillian broke away after much restrain, yielding to Jenna's prayer.
Giselle agreed.
"We will be fine, but it is you that I'm worrying!" Jenna said to a surprise.
Both Lillian and Giselle looked at her with a questionable gaze.
"What do you mean?" Lillian asked.
Jenna explained how this event would be Lillian's official public book signing gathering. All this time, she had sighed several copies for anonymous winners. However, now, she has to do the same thing up front, facing her readers. Jenna worried that Lillian must be in good health and had enough rest to survive the reception.
Book signing events could become exhausting sometimes, and that is why Jenna's concerned about her author staying in perfect condition.
"You don't want to look like a zombie to them. So get more sleep, less drinking, and complete recreation, got it? Ms. Giselle also helped you with this, so I want you to look your best, Ms. Grey," Jenna advised.
Lillian promised hastily to depart with a gentle wave. Her rushed response bothered Jenna, who stood silently watching as Lillian's figure disappear from their sight.
Giselle, who waited by her side, saw Jenna genuinely troubled. She wondered what might be the case behind her disconcerting gaze.
I definitely wrote around six or seven rough drafts for this and the next two chapters, but somehow I couldn't get satisfied and kept writing until I got pleased.
I hope you guys enjoy reading it as well!
Thank you!