A gift from Santa

A loop

Lily's POV

I scoffed at his pathetic joke because that was all it was to be and nothing else.

My eyes fell on Raymond, who was leaning against the doorframe, and it pissed me off even more than it would have initially.

“Get out!” I pointed at the door at him.

“Does that mean you have made your choice then?” He demanded when I glared at him.

“Get the hell out of my house. Now.” I roared when he placed both hands up.

“Careful, Tesoro, you are the one person who I wouldn't mind being tough with me, but not just this way.” He smirked before twirling on his knees as he made his way out.

He had barely shut the door when my phone dinged, and I slapped across my face because how was it possible that he was able to get my number?

*Tomorrow Tesoro.* The message sprawled, almost glaring at me.

What the hell was wrong with him? And why was he addressing me as Tesoro?

Grunting, I aimed at the wall when I held myself back; that would only result in a sprained wrist, and it was the least of what I wanted now, but….

“Calm down, Lily. Take a chill pill and think.” I whispered repeatedly to myself.

I shouldn't have panicked. I should head over to the client's house and get the truth because I know Raymond was lying. Yes, that had to be it.

Ditching the Louboutins for something comfy came to mind, but I shook that off my mind. If I wanted to be intimidating, I had to do my part, and by doing my part, the shoe would make me all bossy.

I dragged in air, contemplating if it was the right time to step out barely after he had gone, when I didn't feel a shadow.

Letting out a sigh when I saw he was nowhere to be found, I took the pain of stepping back into the elevator before getting into my car.

It was imprinted at the back of my head where the house was at, and when I got there, the bright white duplex greeted my gaze, and I couldn't have felt even happier than I would have.

All of this was going to work out just fine for me, yes, it would. I would be able to know Raymond had cooked that up, so that was why I sauntered down, my heels click clacking as I headed down after getting out of my car.

I knew he must have seen me through the CCTV camera and wouldn't deny me access.

I strutted in, keeping my head up while at it, before I came face-to-face with Eduardo.

He pulled his hands apart as he trudged to me, wanting me to embrace him when all I gave was a tiny smile.

“Always so rigid, aren't you, Lily?” He smiled before snapping his fingers at his maids.

“Get a jug of marmalade here, would you?” He made a request to which I shook my head.

“I wouldn't be staying that long.” I dismissed that.

“Oh, I thought you reconsidered my proposal to be with me; you know how perfect we will be together.” He added that smile of his, which would melt everyone's heart, but I wasn't everyone, and he wasn't the one who I wanted.

A girl had to have some taste even when she wanted a partner.

“That isn't why I am here. Actually, I am here to get your confirmation about something, you know the case…the one I got you out from?”

“ The one that involves Raymond, no?”

“Yes, that one.”

“So what is it?”

“So I know I told you to be truthful with me, so why weren't you?” It was better I used that approach instead of coming out soft.

“I was.” He answered when I shook my head.

“You weren't because Raymond is out, and he handed me a clip proving his innocence. Why weren't you truthful with me? I am your attorney.”

“Well…” he shrugged at my words. “It isn't like telling the truth would help my case. Someone has to take the fall, and that was where he came in from.” He explained.

My knees weakened at his words. “You lied to me?”

“What would saying the truth cause?”

“He is out now. Eduardo and you are the cause of it all.”

“Barrister Lily, all I did was walk into the Olive Law Firm and ask for the best attorney they had, and I was directed to you, so what is the huge deal? When everything is clean and speckled?”

“Raymond is back.” I reminded him yet again.

“He is a small fish, and he wouldn't hurt me.” He searched my face for a reaction.

“Is that why you are this scared? Because you think something would happen to me? I never knew you cared about me that much.”

I glared at him, wishing he had never crossed my path, but how was that possible when it was years already?

I twirled on my feet, taking steps away from him as I edged over to my car, when he raced after me, wrapping his hands around my wrist.

“Why don't you stay the night and…”

“Get your filthy hands off me. Now!” I barked while he slipped them off.

“Rest, b***h. You should be glad I am even interested in you. Have you seen the girls I roll around with? You are the least b***h I should even be interested in.”

I took gasps of breath, imploring and reminding myself why I had to relax and not to let this escalate because I wouldn't like the results.

I traipsed past him, not paying heed to what he had just uttered before slipping into my car, where I tapped on my phone.

“Oh, Lily, is there a problem? You never call unless there's one.”

I bit into my lips, knowing it was true, but I had no choice. I couldn't go back home. There was no limit to what Raymond would do, and if I needed to live, I had to stay far away from him.

“Can I crash at your place? Just for the night? I will leave in the morning. I have to be at my parents's and…”

“Of course.” She intercepted. “You never ask, and I would be glad to help you with this.”

I let out a sigh I never knew I was holding before stepping on the gas as I made my way to her house. Just a night, and I will leave.

**************

The bird chirping on the windowpane did little to help, but I was up soon, knowing that I had to be at the law firm and take that much-needed leave I had said I would think about. Who would have known it would come just right? And at a time when I required it?

Olive seemed deserted when I stepped in, and the music being played in the background irritated me even more, but I knew I had to rein in my horses since I wouldn't be staying for long anyway.

“Oh, Lily, thank goodness you are here. Raymond's lawyer came in today to reopen his case.” My feet halted as I stared at her.

“Oh…” I mouthed out, trying to hide how shocked I was when my principal stepped out with hair tousled and a stubble on his beard, which seemed to have grown overnight.

“You are here.”

“Yes, and I would like to take that leave now. I will be…”

“Nope,”

“What?” I blurted out.

“Sorry, but you won't be taking any leave, Lily, until this mess is cleared by the very one who made it, which happens to be you. You are to stay back.”