Chapter 6 Intense Lesson

Lillian:

To see a softer version of Drake sulking so cutely… and boy, did I enjoy watching it piss Drake off for about ten minutes. At some point, I felt a smile tug the sides of my lips. 

"Alright, enough.”

Caleb's head snapped towards me in hope. 

“Let's start with basic chord progressions," I stated. I opened my bag, pulled out my favorite red pen and opened my notebook. "If you pay attention, this will be easy."

Caleb did pay attention. To my face most of the time. But I waved my concerns aside and focused on doing my job. For the next hour, I broke down complex musical rules into simple steps. Caleb listened carefully, taking notes while Drake sat nearby, pretending to read his business papers. 

However, every time I leaned over to correct Caleb’s paper, I could feel Drake’s eyes tracking my every single movement. It makes my skin prickle in ways I didn't like.

When the jet finally landed, a fleet of black sports cars took us straight to an enormous racing circuit surrounded by tall green hills. Loud engine roars filled the air as mechanics in matching uniforms ran back and forth across the garage.

I didn't know what to feel. Was I impressed or overwhelmed? Both emotions made my legs wobble for a second. If Drake noticed, he didn't say a word. He led us into a quiet private office right above the noisy pit lane. A grand piano sat right in the corner of the room, looking strange next to all the digital screens and mechanical tools.

"Study here," Drake instructed, adjusting his cuffs while looking directly into my eyes. "It is quiet, and nobody will disturb you."

"Are you staying?" I asked, noticing he made no effort to leave the room.

"I need to monitor Caleb’s progress," Drake replied smoothly, leaning back against the edge of the piano while crossing his arms over his chest.

"Fine," I muttered, sitting down on the long leather piano bench. "Caleb, sit here beside me. Show me what you've got,"

Caleb sat down on my right, tapping out simple scale patterns on the ivory keys while I pointed at the sheet music. But whenever Caleb left the room to put on his racing suit, the atmosphere between Drake and me changed instantly.

Why did I agree to be here in the first place?

The moment Caleb was gone, I became painfully aware of everything. The silence. The space between us. Drake's presence. My heart wouldn't settle, and I couldn't seem to relax no matter how hard I tried.

Was it me, or was the room getting hotter?

Suddenly, he got up, and I quickly lowered my head, pretending to write on my notes. I scribbled random lines that made no sense, hoping he wouldn't notice. How would he know if I didn't explain it to him?

Drake walked slowly over to the piano and leaned down over my shoulder to examine my handwritten notes on the music stand. I held my breath. My fingers tightened around the pen, and I forced myself to keep still. 

Keep still, Lillian. Hold it…

"Your handwriting is very neat," Drake commented quietly as his shadow fell right across my paper.

"It has to be neat so your brother can actually read it," I replied, turning my head to look at him. His face was only a few inches away from mine, and I suddenly forgot how to breathe. "You are standing too close again." 

"You have not told me to leave," Drake pointed out, his voice dropping to a low tone while his dark eyes locked onto mine.

"Maybe I am just too tired to argue with you," I whispered back, holding my pen tightly so he would not see my hands trembling.

Before he could answer, the heavy office door swung open, and Caleb walked back in wearing his full red racing suit. Drake instantly straightened his back, stepping away from the piano bench as if nothing had happened at all.

"Time for my first track run," Caleb announced, grabbing his helmet from the table. "Wish me luck, Lilian!"

"Good luck!" I called out, letting out a long breath I did not realize I was holding.

While Caleb raced around the track outside, Drake sat at his desk across the room, working on his laptop. The quiet space between us felt electric, filled with unspoken words that neither of us dared to say out loud. Every time I looked up from my notebook, I caught him staring back at me with an intense expression.

He was doing it again. 

What was with those piercing looks? Every time I caught him staring, I felt my patience slipping a little more. By the time I finally summoned enough courage to ask if I had something splattered on my face, Drake stood up.

“Pack up. It’s time to leave.”

I stared at him, stunned for a second. This time, I couldn’t take his mocking tone anymore. The irritation I had been trying to ignore all afternoon finally got the better of me.

“I am not one of your lackeys, you know.”

“Says the lady with a hundred questions.” Drake shot back, disappearing out the door before I could even process his words.

I stood there, staring at the empty doorway.

What the hell?

Who did he think he was? One minute, he was staring at me like I had done something wrong, and the next, he was throwing those annoying comments at me and walking away before I could respond. I clenched my jaw, already regretting letting him get under my skin.

Finally, the long afternoon came to an end, and we boarded the private jet once again to return home. I was exhausted, but my mind was still stuck on everything that had happened.

By the time Thomas dropped me off at my apartment building, the sun had already set completely, leaving the sky dark and cold.