Chapter 6: The Boyfriend

"You know what, Lucas? You are insane!" Lily yelled, pulling her arm away from him. She did it so forcefully that the necklace around Lucas' neck bounced to reveal that golden tag with her name carved on it. 

Instantly, Lily stilled. Her heart skipped a beat while her eyes were glued to the pendant. This was the same necklace and pendant Lucas bought the week before he disappeared. 

More questions formed in her head, ‘Why was he wearing this? Did he still care? If he cared, then why did he leave in the first place?’

Lily's eyes could not help but brim with tears as she stared at the pendant. With this discovery, she looked into his eyes and begged, "Please, Lucas. Tell me why you left, and maybe we can set aside all this misunderstanding."

Lucas maintained eye contact. He clenched his jaws and said, "I can't, Lily. I just can't."

“Then -" Lily finally snapped. "I don't want this assignment. Talk to the major about this because there is no way I can stand being in the same room as you, much more, breathe the same air as you!"

She grabbed her duffle bag and threatened, "I'm leaving. Don't you dare say a word about it to Major Patton!"

"Lily," Lucas called, but Lily was already at the door. 

The bodyguards watching outside tried to reason with Lily, but Lucas said to his men, "Let her go. You'll only end up hurting yourself. She isn't a simple lion."

"Good that you know!" Lily yelled upon walking in the direction of the lift. 

***

"Where are you flying to, Miss?" The ticketing agent at Rose Hills airport asked. 

Where does she want to go? Lily did not know. She pursed her lips, wiping the tear that fell down her face. She told the woman before her, "Excuse me, let me make a phone call real quick."

Stepping aside and finding an isolated corner in the airport, Lily cursed, "Fuck, why am I crying? I really hate you, Lucas!"

She took out her phones. She had two: her personal phone and the one meant for the mission. She dialed Jake's number. 

"Lily, what a surprise! I thought you were out on a mission?" Jake, her boyfriend, answered after two calls. 

"Yes, things have changed, and I need you, Jake. I need to talk to you," Lily said. "You are in Lockwood, right? I'm in Rose Hills. Can I see you for a few hours? I won't disturb your business trip. I will go to be with Aiden after our talk."

She sighed and reiterated, "I want to see you."

"Of course, Babe. Come to see me in Lockwood. I am staying at Blue Intercontinental. Call me when you have arrived and Let's have dinner together. I missed you," Jake said, but Lily felt a lump in her throat and could not say the same words back. 

Instead, Lily responded, "Thank you, Jake. I'll see you in about two hours."

The truth was, Lily hoped that seeing Jake would make her stop thinking of Lucas. Thus, she went out of her way to see him. 

***

"Ah, there she is!" Jake exclaimed. His gorgeous grey eyes sparkled at the sight of Lily. He hugged her and pecked her lips. "God, I miss you so much, but this life of dating a military woman sure is tough."

"I -" Lily flushed. "I'm sorry you had to bear with that."

"It's alright, Lily. I understand. Come inside. Let's have a wonderful meal together," Jake suggested while grabbing her hand. They went to the main restaurant, and Jake quickly ordered Lily's favorite food. 

As they ate, Lily studied Jake. He had dark hair and sharp features. He almost looked like Lucas in the past, except his eyes were gray. Suddenly, Lily dropped her fork. She covered her face with the realization that Jake looked somewhat like the old Lucas. 

'Oh, my god,' Lily said to herself. She had probably seen this before and simply lied to herself. ‘Did I date Jake because he looked a bit like Lucas?’

"Babe, is there something bothering you?" Jake asked, interrupting Lily’s thoughts. 

"Nothing," Lily quickly recovered and faked a smile. She drank her wine and poured more, gulping down three glasses in a row. 

"Woah." Jake laughed. He said, "Are you sure everything is okay, Lily?"

Nodding her head, Lily answered, "Yes. I'm just pressured with work."

Jake was an heir to a known construction company in Braeton, the Bass Power Construction. He was currently the Marketing Director. Lily met him through her brother, Liam. 

Liam had introduced Jake to Lily as one of their new contractors. Often, Jake traveled to other cities to make proposals, hoping to get another project for the company. That was why he was in Lockwood. 

"Lily, my job here will be extended for another week," Jake revealed. "But I'll see you after that, right? Since your mission is canceled."

With a smile, Lily faintly replied, "Yes, it's fine. Do what you have to do here. Aiden wants me to spend time with him."

She continued to finish her meal, but just as she did, she saw a familiar figure walking towards them. It was her former high school classmate, Alicia Bennet. 

Immediately, Lily frowned. She said, "What is Alicia doing here?"

Jake turned in shock, saying, "Alicia? Oh." He shrugged and said, "I don't know."

Alicia Bennet was obsessed with Lily's boyfriend. She flaunted her admiration towards Jake, not bothering to be discreet. She would post it on her social media and tell some of Lily's high school classmates. 

This woman had long, straight blonde hair and dressed like a model. She was rather the opposite of Lily. 

As expected, Alicia walked over to their table. She smiled and said, "Fancy meeting you here."

"Really? You did not stalk Jake, right?" Lily asked while gazing at her boyfriend.

"So what if I did?" Alicia rolled her eyes. She said, "I at least have the freedom to do that."

Jake sneered at Alicia's words. He appeared to be disgusted by this woman. He said to Lily, "Ignore her, Babe. Eat your food. Let’s not waste our breath on her.”

"The truth is, I'm with my friends. I guess I'll be on my way," Alicia said before joining a table where three other girls were waiting for her. 

"Is she bothering you? I could ask my cousin to teach her and her family a lesson," Lily offered to Jake. 

Jake merely laughed and said, "This is the first time I have seen her in Lockwood. Don't bother yourself with unimportant people, Lily. Let's just enjoy our dinner."

After their meal, Jake invited Lily to his hotel room. She agreed. Again, she wanted to convince herself that she had moved on with Jake, but she did not last a second when her boyfriend kissed her on the lips. 

Lily pulled away and made an excuse, "I  - I'm sorry, Jake. I wasn't expecting to stay longer. I booked a flight to Braeton at ten in the evening."

"oh, that's a shame," Jake muttered. He smiled and cupped her face. He said, "Don’t worry. I will always understand you because I love you, Lily. You know that. I will always be patient with you."

He grabbed her hand gently and said, "Let's go and get you a taxi."

***

Earlier that day. 

Through a security surveillance video, Lucas watched as Lily left the Headquarters of the Thompson Group of Companies. His eyes were fixed on her slender frame, her small and cute face that had not aged over the years. 

Like him, Lily was already in her early thirties, but her face looked so young. 

Lucas did not want her to leave, but Lily was a force to reckon with. It wasn’t the time. He needed the right opportunity and he was determined to find it. 

He glanced up at his assistant and said, "Ryan. Have someone follow her. Update me on her whereabouts.”

"Yes, Sir," a man, also well-built with blond hair, acknowledged. 

Lucas returned to work for the rest of the day. He did not leave his office and wasn't planning to until nighttime. 

Ryan entered his office once more to update Lucas, "Sir, Miss Wright went to Lockwood to see her boyfriend, Mister Jake Bass. They had dinner together, and she spent a few minutes in his hotel room."

"Jake?" Out of anger, the pen in Lucas' hand snapped. The veins on his neck protruded, and his jaws were clenched. He was seething as he ordered, "Find out everything you can with this man, Jake Bass. I want all his dirt in twenty-four hours. You got that, Ryan?”

"Yes, sir," Ryan replied. 

Ten years ago, he left, but now he has returned. Lucas would stop at nothing to have Lily back in his life.