Plain Jane

The Return of Lily

Ryan’s POV

Why was he here? What was he doing here? He didn’t need to see her. I put her in this room for a reason. She’s only for me.

You sound like a love sick puppy. My subconscious mocked me. I slammed my office door shut behind me, stalking down the corridor, trying to get as far away from her and her intoxicating scent as I could. Amelia scurried up to me as I was almost halfway towards her desk.

“Mr. James, I was just on my way to see you I wanted to tell you Lily was here.” She whispered the last part, and my eyes moved up to lock with her, sitting right in front of Amelia’s desk, a smug smile on her face.

I felt my face heat up in anger and I sighed loudly. “What do you want Lily?” I yelled towards her.

“Ryan, don’t pretend like you don’t know why I’m here. Your publicist emailed me just now saying that we were to release a statement of us getting back together! I could barely contain my excitement so I rushed here. I knew you would take me back baby!” She yelled back, running into my arms. Her long arms wrapped around my neck and she kissed my cheeks, leaving red lipstick prints all over.

“We need to talk. Come with me to the utility closet please Lily.” I grabbed her arm, leading her farther down the hallway past Amelia’s desk and into the closet.

“Oh Ryan, didn’t know you needed me that much, eager aren’t we?” She muttered, kissing up and down my neck. I resisted her, pushing her to the other side of the closet and breathing deeply.

“Look Lily, the reason I say we are getting back together isn’t for the reason you think. I have personal reasons and gain or benefits from this you could say, and we could work out something to where you gain from it too. But I wanted to make it clear, we are not getting back together this is just for show. Okay?” I said.

Her breathing got louder and she let out an irritated sigh. I could tell she was going to be serious Lily for a minute. I sometimes miss her being serious, she was only serious with me. She didn’t talk in that obnoxious blond voice and she didn’t speak in high pitched tones.

“You're doing this to make someone jealous? The girl that was at your house that one day huh?” She asked.

“No, I don’t care for her. I just had something to tell her. Jane. Her name is Jane and she was reporting on something I needed to talk to her about, that’s all.” I answered, my voice wavering. I still hadn’t ever told Jane my reason for her being there.

“You're lying, I know this because she’s the only other girl you’ve ever brought to that house besides me and your sisters. You brought her there right away didn't you Ryan?” She asked again.

My neck was sweating and suddenly the closet felt way too small. Why was she asking all these questions? Acting like she knew me, and ignoring everything she ever did to me. “Yes Lily, not like it’s any of your business.” I snapped.

“You didn’t show her your extremely expensive condo like you showed me the first time you wanted to impress me.”

She’s not like that, that wouldn’t have impressed her. I thought to myself.

“There’s no chance of you ever forgiving me for what I’ve done is there?” She asked softly.

“Why do you care? You told me you loved him. You love him.” I said just as softly.

“I do. I don't know why I sit here and play these games with you, I really don’t. He loves me Ry. He treats me like a queen, he doesn’t just want me for my looks. He sees me, he really sees me.” She says, I could feel her smile and when she talked about him, for once something in me didn’t hurt.

“I treated you like that.” I said.

“No you didn’t. You know the reason you took me home that night was because I was hot and you wanted a good f**k. Just like you always have. You didn’t fight for me back after I did what I did. Hell, you tried to get that girl, Jane, to stay and talk to you that night I showed up at your house.”

“What’s your point Lily? I don’t want to talk about the affair you had, or how you feel about the guy you cheated on me with or-“ My voice died off as her cold hands suddenly touched my face.

“Don’t pretend like you care Ryan, don’t. I don’t need you to play victim anymore, I know you didn’t love me. You thought you did, but you didn’t. You’ll see one day, what love really feels like I promise but don’t pretend right now. I don’t need this.” Her hands fell from my face, “Look I’ll do it, I’ll pretend were back together, for whatever reason you need us to be. I don’t need to get anything out of it, I owe you. Okay?”

“Thank you.” I answer.

“Shh, listen.” She said, putting a finger to my lips. We both listened intently and could hear Amelia and Jane’s voice conversing somewhere close to the closet, probably at Amelia’s desk.

“Follow my lead.” Lily said, then her lips were on mine quickly. I was stunned but didn’t say anything as she ruffled my hair and undid my tie and some of my buttons. Then she took her hair out of her bun, shook it out, and partially unzipped her dress. Dragging her hand across her mouth and smearing her lipstick she grabbed my hand and swung open the utility closet.

“Oh my God Ryan, you animal!” She fake giggled, speaking loudly. I let a small smile come across my face and ran a hand through my hair as I felt Jane’s eyes on me.

“Mr. James your 1:30 is here.” Amelia spoke up.

“Thank you Amelia, and Jane thank you for getting Lily here, if you could prepare the statement about us and email it to me for revisions that would be great.” I said, avoiding eye contact.

“Yeah, yeah I can do that Mr. James.” her voice was unusually happy.

I looked up to see her facial expression but she was smiling down at her phone, not paying any mind to Lily and I. Amelia was looking at me with disappointment on her face, but I pulled Lily close to me, kissing her harshly on her lips.

“I’ll call you, see you later.” I waved Lily off and she sent me one last look before stepping into the elevator, the doors closing behind her.

I walked the rest of the hallway, reaching my office and slamming the door shut behind me for the second time that day.