The Elias Chronicles

Chapter 1

“Arnold. Arnold.”

Lily was trying to get my attention and was failing miserably.

“Huh. Oh sorry Lil’, my head was somewhere else.” 

 “Clearly,” she said, “Last night you said you wanted to tell me something. So… out with it.” 

I tried to remember what it was I wanted to tell her and then it clicked.  

“s**t. Lily, please close the door and have a seat.” 

“Are you firing me?” she asked. “Was it about what happened yesterday with Erin? I can apologize to her if you want, but just don't fire me.”  

She truly looked distressed and it broke my heart to see her like this. I almost wanted to tell her that it's fine I'll tell her another time and to go back to her work, but my heart was telling me otherwise. 

“Well, it depends on how you answer this question.” I took a deep breath before asking her. “Lily, will you go out with me?”

Things were silent for almost ten minutes. And to be honest, those were the most excruciating ten minutes of my life.  

“You know what, just forget that I asked.”  

“Sorry,” she said, “It's just that we've been best friends since middle school so that caught me off guard.” After another pause, she asked “Do you mind if we take a walk? I can ask Sylvia to cover for me and you don't have any meetings scheduled for today so there's no risk of you missing anything important.”  

At that point, I started to panic. Will she say yes or no? Is she going to quit? Will our friendship still be the same? Did I make a wrong decision? Did I say something wrong? All these questions were going through my head as we made our way downstairs. I was almost at the point of tears when all of a sudden, she turned and faced me. 

 “I'm surprised and flattered that you see me that way. Honestly, when we became friends, I thought that I'd lost my chance at dating you, so when you asked me, I almost fainted.” 

I was relieved that she said that, but I felt that there was more to it. And, sadly, I was right.  

“I don't know whether or not I can handle all these pretty socialites throwing themselves at you. Hell, I can't even stand Erin, and she was the closest to making you settle down.” 

With each word she said, my heart broke a little bit more. It got to a point where I thought that I'll end up in tears, and at that point, I couldn't control myself.  

“Lily,” I said. “Please don't put me through this. The only person I've ever wanted to settle down with is you.” I then continued, “The Elias Corporation is having an event in about a month and I was hoping to unveil you as my better half.” 

 I could see her mind shift into overdrive as she contemplated the consequences of accepting my offer. What I didn't tell her is that she would be representing me on the organizing committee. If there was anyone who could handle both my mom and Volante at the same time, it was her. “Alright,” she finally said. “I'll go out with you. How hard could it be? I do love you and it would be fun seeing the other side of you.”

I won't lie, I wasn't expecting her to agree that easily. Anyway, I was glad that she did. Now I just had to start looking for a replacement. Do you know how weird it will look if my girlfriend was also my assistant?

“So, how about helping me look for your replacement?” I could tell that she was surprised and confused by that statement. 

“It would be weird if the head and founder of the biggest company dated his secretary.”

Lily turned red again, though this time it wasn’t out of embarrassment. 

“Arnold Thomas Elias,” she yelled at me. “You know better than anyone else that I do not giving a flying horses behind about what other people think. I became your secretary not because I needed the job, but so I could help you.” 

“Maybe you could pretend to step down?” I suggested.

Maybe I shouldn’t have.

“You insufferable i***t. I am going to kill you.” 

I took off, knowing full well what would happen if I stayed around. 

“Come back here, I just want to hurt you a lot.” 

And with that, my relationship with Lily became official. Well at least to the two of us.  

“Are you sure we should do this?”

Lily and I were at the Atera waiting for my mom to come. I know she was anxious about how the news about she and I would be taking, but I didn’t think it would be this fine.

“Don’t worry. My mom loves you, so I’m sure she would love the news.”

She was unsure, but my words put her at ease. Seeing her this unsure of herself was a new experience, and it was one I had to get used to.

“Lily darling, it’s been too long.”

As usual, my mom ambushed us with no warning. You would think that I would be used to it considering she gave birth to me, but nope. Luckily Lily was more comfortable with this.

“Hi Ms. Elias. It has been too long. How have you been?”

“You know me, constantly wondering when Arnold will settle down and give me grandkids. What about you? Hope he’s not working you too hard?”

“Mom!”

“Shush, the ladies are talking. If you could be a dear, could you order some wine for the two of us? We have a lot of catching up.” Turning back to address Lily, my mom asked her about the Erin situation.

“So word on the grapevine is that Erin tried to get back with Arnold? Is this true?”

“Yeah, emphasis on attempt,” I replied. “Lily wanted to run her over.”

“That’s a good girl. Keep her far away from him, he doesn’t know what’s good for him.”

“I will,” Lily replied with a smile.

"Out of curiosity, what did Arnold ever see in her? Like are men just suckers for a pretty face? Or was it the money?"

"Mom!"

Lily laughed.

"You know, I asked myself the same thing. It was like she had him wrapped around her finger and he didn't even know it."

"Just like someone we know," my mom replied. "Did you ever tell him what you thought about her?"

"Kinda. But I didn't want to seem like I was overstepping my boundary as a friend."

"Please. You couldn't overstep the boundary even if you tried. The boy practically worships you."

I glared at my mom, hoping that she would tone it down.

"Does he now?"

"Oh yes. Volante and I know if we want Arnold to do something, it's easier to ask you to get him to do it."

The side look she gave me nearly made me groan. She knew she had power over me, but she didn't realize she had this much power.

"Good to know. I'll keep that in mind whenever he steps out of line."

“Good. Now that that’s over with, what did you invite me here for? Hopefully some good news?”

I steeled my resolve for this. Just like Lily, I wasn’t sure how my mom would react, but hopefully she would like it.

“So, before I announce this to the company, as well as the rest of the world, we, well more like I, thought it would be a good idea to tell you first. Lily and I are now dating.”

My mom looked between the both of us for a good minute in shock.

“Really, well, that is certainly good news. I was wondering when he would finally get the balls to do it.”

Lily and I were both in shock.

“So, you’re okay with it?” Lily asked hesitantly, not wanting to get her hopes up.

“Okay? Darling I’m ecstatic. I’m just surprised it took this long to get to it. In fact, we should pop some champagne to it.”

Lily smiled. She was finally at ease. At least that made one of us.

“So, are you planning on introducing her at the Elias Corp. event?”

“That’s the plan. Unless something comes up before then. But as far as I'm concerned there isn't.”

“Great, your sister will be excited. You know how much she loves Lily. She's constantly talking about how when she grows up she wants to be just like her. Though Erin won't be happy by this recent change in fortunes.”

Shit. I had forgotten that Erin would be representing the Landelot’s at the event.

“Is she now?” Lily asked teasingly. “I guess she’ll have to deal with not getting her prize.”

I’m kinda regretting telling my mom about Lily and I. I guess I should have expected it. Never underestimate women who want to tease you. Surprisingly enough, Lily took comfort that whatever happened, she would at least have my mom and sister on her side. And that was something she had over Erin.

As the afternoon progressed, my mom and Lily bonded over how easy it was to tease me. I may not have been happy, but they were, and that was enough for me. Though I do wish they would ease up on the teasing.

As we left the restaurant, I was finally able to breathe a sigh of relief.

"That was a lot more stressful than I was expecting."

"Really? I thought it was absolutely delightful."

Of course she did. Just as I was about to reply, a familiar voice interrupted me.

"Arnold, fancy seeing you here."

Why was she here now of all times.

"Did you give a thought to what we talked about? Or did you finally decide to legitimize your affair?"

That last comment sent Lily off the rails.

"For your information, he hasn't been 'screwing' me. Arnold has been nothing but a gentleman, not only to me but to you, but clearly you're so far up your a*s that you can't see that. As for you and him, you aren't worth his time. I should have stepped in the first time, but this time, you aren't getting him if I have anything to say about it."

Erin stood there, first in shock then in anger.

"If that's the case, then we'll see who wins out in the end."

With that she left without saying another word.

"Do you think I crossed a line?" Lily asked me.

"Personally, nah. With her, most definitely. She never liked you, so it's just another thing to add to her long list of grievances against you."

Lily laughed.

"I honestly don't know where that came from. She just hit a nerve that's never been hit."

"Yeah, remind me to never do that. But honestly, I was glad you spoke your mind with Erin."

"Really?"

"Yeah."

"How about we head back to your place and you can tell me more about how you like me speaking my mind?"

Laughing, I grabbed her hand and pulled her closer.

"We definitely should," I whispered in her ear.