A story about Lillian Grey!

Shane Ricardo, as promised to Jenna, finished his work and called for her to meet.

..

"Mr. Ricardo," Jenna greeted as he came outside from the meeting.

"Let's go somewhere, Jenna. Any place would do, I cannot spend another minute in this building. I'm done for the day!"

Shane cried as he retired from the long rally.

"Mr. Ricardo?" Jenna worriedly asked for his well-being. Shane replied that the start of the week was never great to him, for he spent the entire day roaming around and sitting down for different gatherings.

"I don't mind, let's leave this place before they hold another unplanned meeting and drag me into it," Shane said as he briskly walked out, feeling the necessity to quit the building.

Jenna saw him in such a state often, and knowing his mental stress from the work, she quickly planned to think of a place to tour.

"There's a deli nearby," Jenna said after much consideration.

"A Deli?" Shane blinked.

"No, it is a nice place, and they serve tasty drinks and food!" Jenna panicked as she tried persuading her boss to her recommended site.

"That's alright. We can go!" Shane approved, caring of none, and requested Jenna to wait outside while he collects his things from his cabin.

The two met at the said spot and left together to the nearby Deli place.

Walking around the block to get to the front consumed some time to exhaust the foreman. Soon to Jenna's alarm, they arrived promptly before the busy business hour.

Jenna knew the place well, and with the staff's aid, she requested a table. Shane kept staring around to study the scene. To his awe, within a few minutes, the customers crowded.

"Woah," Shane gaped from the rushing spectacle.

Jenna observed the reason for his admiration and explained that they were lucky to arrive a little earlier to reserve a table.

"That's risky, yet I like this place. It's been a while since I ate in a deli," Shane remarked sentimentality.

Due to rush, both placed orders quickly. Jenna got herself the classic California Club sandwich. Meanwhile, Shane, having encountered such a cozy spot, became inspired to try out new relishes, he went for a cheesy pastrami sandwich and matzo ball soup.

The staff upon receiving order requested them to wait, which gave the perfect opportunity for Shane to discourse.

"So, how long have you been stalking me?" he asked to confirm.

Flinched at once from overhearing, Jenna fought to verify such behavior to the director, himself.

"I'm sorry," she confessed.

"I asked how many days did you follow me?" Shane insisted on knowing.

Jenna admitted to following Shane for the long week since Lillian Grey disappeared, sparing a day to reach out to the author's best friend, Anna Levine, to find any information that could help her.

"You reached out to Anna?" Shane choked from learning her investigation.

Jenna admitted.

"Well, I guess no one knew except for me," he said.

"Why?"

"Because she ran away this time,"

"What?" Jenna roared, which did not surprise the nearby strangers, for the place itself, was busy as bees. Everyone chatted with their company, heartedly.

"To where?" she urged for an answer.

Shane sighed and replied.

"She is currently hiding at her father, Edwin Grey's place, in South Carolina."

Jenna stammered as she repeated the city after Shane's reveal.

"I do remember Ms. Grey mentioning that her father moved to another place over the years. So, it was South Carolina!" Jenna commented.

"Hmm..."

Their food arrived swiftly to feast their tired eyes. To Jenna's surprise, Shane behaved like a typical person without the CEO aura surrounding him. It was her first time seeing him as such, normal with uncomplicated expression to expose his usual latent emotions at work. Without letting him notice, she chuckled softly to his disregard and dug into her club sandwich.

Being Lillian's editor over the years paved the way for Jenna to speak with Shane without any hesitation. The two can hold casual conversations at times outwardly.

"Mr. Ricardo, so when is Ms. Grey planning to return. I have a few invites for her to do interviews, and they are all the once we did for the previous book release," Jenna said to her concerns.

"I sent Giselle to convince Lillian to return!" Shane finally revealed.

Jenna, who was eating her sandwich, dropped it to the plate again in shock.

"But why Ms. Giselle?" she asked.

"You know that Lillian asked you to track this woman, right?"

"Yes,"

"Do you know who she is?"

"No, but I'm sure she is someone important to Ms. Grey,"

"Exactly, she is Lillian's lover,"

"What?" Jenna yelled instinctively.

"Well, technically, Giselle was the first one to confess to Lillian, and things happened to let Lillian fall for her, and just when she was about to confess, Giselle left without a word!"

Hearing all this left Jenna speechless and hard to process the pouring information at once.

"I know, right. Great story! But, our guy here, spoiled herself with Giselle's absence and never had the chance to confess her love. That was the main reason for Lillian to be like that-"

"Like what?"

"Her dating history and the rumor of her dating many people-"

"They are only rumors, right?"

"Yes, and no! She did get into many relationships, but they were not working for her. She never laid her hands on them as well. How can I explain?"

"So just a fling?"

"Something of that sorts, people approach her, and she goes along with her stupid mind, and she realizes and breaks up, or simple as it gets she meets someone that reminds her of this special person. She would hang out with them and soon realizes that the person is not Giselle herself, so she ends up leaving."

"But, Lucy is not like-"

"I know, right now, Lucy and Lillian are getting serious with their relationship, but to her harsh reality, Giselle arrived accepting my request."

"Your request?" Jenna's eyes gawked.

She tried to search for this woman years and obtained nothing. Meanwhile, this person admits to his comfort that he found her.

"Yes, I asked Giselle to return with a job offer."

It concludes that the power this guy has in his pockets to find someone even without a clue. Jenna sighed with the disappointment of her efforts. However, that doesn't matter right now.

"Why would you do it, now that Ms. Grey likes Ms. Lucy sincerely," she asked.

"Why? You don't know Lillian. She might display that her likes of Lucy for now, but soon she would realize that it is not Giselle and end up breaking Lucy's heart."

"But-"

"It is not that I don't care for Lillian, but only because I do that I know Giselle is the key to settle her wild personal life."

Jenna agreed with his judgment.

"How do you know all this?" she inquired in awe.

"You know this already that we went to the same college, right?"

"Yes,"

"Well, at first, I didn't know Lillian Grey, but, soon, her presence already became gossiped around on the campus. Wherever I went, I heard of this literature student, who behaves rash and acts rude to all."

Jenna listened to the story, attentively.

"I once had the chance to see her outside the campus. We used to sneak out to go to the club, and there, I found her getting drunk," Shane said.

Jenna could easily imagine this scenario as she got used to Lillian's regard for alcohol. Her face could never more agree to that part of the story as she appeared to be familiar with it.

Nonetheless, Shane continued.

"I heard rumors of some saying that Lillian wasted all her hard-earned money from the part-time jobs into drinking and getting wasted. I happen to meet her on one of those moments, and she was extremely rude to a stranger whom she bumped into upon leaving. They got into a fight, and Lillian got banned from returning to the place again, for she was both young and reckless to easily get into aggression with random strangers. At first, I thought her twisted brain was the reason behind her tyrannical attitude with everyone, but soon that became incorrect."

"During our second year, she sat next to me. We bickered with each other initially. Through the course, I sensed that her wicked personality has a reason behind it- maybe she is suffering from a loss, I thought. I didn't know anything about her, but still, I believed that something precious that she lost to give up with loving, caring, or treating others with kindness," Shane said.

Jenna, at this point, already being close with Lillian Grey like a family, began to feel sorry from hearing the story. She eagerly anticipated for a reason behind Ms. Grey's harshness. With that, she listened to Shane talking.

"If one thing that united Lillian and myself, it would be games. We both love- no, more like addicted to playing video games. Our initial bicker resulted in learning this information, and soon, we enjoyed playing games together and often would spend hours during holidays or vacation to finish a single game at one stretch," Shane laughed at sharing this part of the story.

The life of being a student- without social responsibilities except for dreams and yearning to quickly join the adult world for lots of fun, despite the tests and projects, the time spent with friends- playing, were all precious memory to anyone who crossed that stage in their life.

Meanwhile, Jenna had a hard time processing such jolly days, for she had to maintain credits, do a part-time job and earn money, saved it, and took care of herself. Jenna was already living independently like a socially responsible individual. To her, Shane's story of going to clubs, playing games for hours, were all ludicrous. Nevertheless, she remained quiet, not questioning the lively lifestyle of these people.

"I think, at the end of our second year, we had a huge argument, and it was at that time I learned that her behavior is due to heartbreak. I laughed hard at first, then she told me the story of meeting Giselle and how the latter part of her high school life took a twist, and she ended up falling in love with this girl to her great shock and self-discovery," Shane revealed.

Jenna fumed from wanting to know what happened next as she gobbled her sandwich in one go, to place for drinks, following their meal.

Drinks arrived in a jiff, and they tasted it to wash down the delicious food.

Shane had never done this with anyone- sharing of Lillian's past, but somehow in front of Jenna, her long-time editor and a trusted person, who became a family-like figure to Lillian Grey. He ended up wanting to tell more about this untold story. He relaxed back into his cushion seat as he talked some of the doubts or illusion he had on learning about Giselle.

"I couldn't understand how Lillian fell for a gay person when she, herself, lived as straight till the point. Then, she told me, it isn't that she got attracted to all females in general, but only Giselle, thus suspecting her sexual orientation to be bi-sexual."

Jenna lastly heard the truth.

"I was, in fact, eager to see this Giselle girl, and Lillian showed me some picture they took during some school trip- I saw the photo, and I knew those two had something going on between them," Shane smiled softly with a smile.

"How can you say it?" Jenna asked with her curious eyes.

"They certainly looked like they fancied each other to the point of not being able to control those emotions anymore."

"Wow, Ms. Grey must have liked Ms. Giselle, a lot," Jenna replied in awe.

"Yes, she did. She loved her too much and never had the chance to confess that love. With no clue to guide, she kept destroying herself."

Having learned the sad past, Jenna prayed for Lillian and Giselle to get back together somehow.

"Maybe, that's why you asked Ms. Giselle to join KeyLine!" Jenna realized.

Shane agreed, explaining that he had a purpose behind it.

"Our little fights ended up with friendship. I also knew Lillian's love for novels, so I used to encourage her to keep writing till the day I could publish her book. Even when we were friends, Lillian got drunk often, maybe lesser than before, but she did by tricking me in joining her. During all those times, she would beg me for one wish- particularly a single wish!" Shane said.

"What is that wish?"

Shane repeated the same words Lillian Grey told him.

"Shane! Bring me back my Giselle!"

Jenna's eyes got wet from understanding the pain Lillian endured all these years. The reason why Ms. Grey kept searching for this person for years.

"She confided her past with me, we became great friends, and soon, I worked hard to take over my father's business- KeyLine publishing house. I invited Lillian to submit her manuscript to us when its ready, and she did. The rest is history as you already know that she is our star writer."

"Yes, she is," Jenna adored more.

Now knowing all, Jenna smelled trouble.

"Mr. Ricardo, if you wanted to bring Ms. Grey and Ms. Giselle together, then you should have let her be Ms. Grey's editor, right?" Jenna asked.

"You are wrong!" Shane instantly replied with a grudge.

"Do you think by letting those two work together would go smooth? Stories are there where lovers work together, but I don't want that right now. Plus, did you think that I will let you go easily?" Shane said in an alarming tone that frightened his company.

Jenna twitched at his words.

"I mean, after several failures, you were the correct choice for Lillian. Having a great editor is a plus for writers, and it helps them achieve great results, so you forget about leaving Lillian. As far as I can see, you are the only one who can handle her this well, and I can't afford to lose you," Shane answered sincerely.

Jenna smiled, a proud one that is, and she couldn't get happier from hearing someone at that position acknowledge her.

"That is true, indeed, but letting Ms. Giselle be Jayce's editor might stir up some trouble, Mr. Ricardo," Jenna warned with sure.

Shane thought for a second- and recalling Jayce's personality, yes- it would become chaos at work if Lillian finds that Giselle works for someone like Jayce. However, that can appear in the future for them to handle while right now, Shane faced a sudden loss of communication from Giselle.

As they were speaking, time passed, and it already became dark outside with people leaving from work to home. After noticing the clock, the two signaled each other to move.

Jenna went to pay the bill when Shane went ahead already to settle the amount, saying it was his treat for kindly listening to him talk for long.

They both left the place with a full tummy and a satisfied smile.

Jenna planned to retire with a farewell greeting when her mobile buzzed aloud.

She took it to answer, and upon seeing a random number, she attended the call, thinking it might be someone from work.

"Hello, this is Jenna," she said.

"Hey-" a voice responded.

Jenna's eyes grew from overhearing the voice.

Intuitively, she clenched Shane's hands tighter and stared at him.