On a mission

Stefano’s POV

“Regarding my conclusion, my secretary will get in touch with you,” I said into the table microphone. “This meeting is now officially over.”

And with that, I stood up and made my way out of the conference room while my secretary and business partners trailer behind me.

Earlier today, I had called a meeting to review a promising start up company's proposal and to have them present their ideas to me, which had impressed me even more.

“You may be on your respective ways. I'm going somewhere,” I said, as we stepped into the elevator.

“Yes, sir.” They responded.

Strolling into the parking lot, I located my Lamborghini truck and unlocked it with my fingerprint. Thereafter, I drove to an Italian restaurant that I usually frequented downtown.

“Welcome, sir,” The elderly doorman greeted, and made to take my coat.

“It's fine, thanks,” I replied, before handing him a wad of bills as tip.

“Thank you so much, sir,” He grinned, slotting the money into his pocket. “Have a nice lunch.”

As I stepped into the restaurant further, I saw Lillian sitting at the further end of the restaurant, staring into space with a brown envelope and a glass of smoothie on the table in front of her.

Without thinking, I trekked up to the table and sat on the empty chair adjacent hers.

However, she didn't even notice me as she was too far gone in her thoughts, which made me feel bad for her.

“Hi, Lillian. Fancy seeing you here,’’ I said, yanking her out of her reverie.

She gave me a confused stare which morphed into a glare, as she grabbed her envelope and placed it on her lap.

“Are you stalking me?” She asked, and I instantly shook my head in negation.

“Of course not. I would never do something so low. I came here for lunch and happened to see you,” I defended myself. “I'm not stalking you, I swear.”

“If you say so,” She muttered, standing up. “I have no idea why you decided to sit at my table when there are several others around.”

Grabbing her arm, I stood up. “You seemed lost in thoughts earlier. Are you alright? Is something bugging you?”

“And how exactly is my business yours?” Lillian spat, drawing the attention of other diners to us. “Let go of me and stop this pretentious act of kindness. It doesn't and will never suit you. Just be the cruel jerk you've always been.”

Hissing, she snatched herself from me, grabbed her stuff before heading to an empty table nearby.

Nearly two months had passed since I moved here and I had yet to make an iota of progress in my plan to win her heart again.

No matter how hard I tried to be positive, there was no denying that Lillian despised my guts.

I understood her of course, I mean I had humiliated her in the worst ways possible throughout our marriage.

Of course, I knew I sounded like a selfish jerk but I was desperate for Lillian to give me a second chance to atone for mistakes.

“I will have my usual order,” I told the waitress. “Also, add her bills to mine.” I gestured to Lillian, whose smoothie was sitting abandoned on the table.

“Very well then, sir.”

As I scarved down my food, a woman clad in a pant suit walked up to Lillian. On seeing the woman, Lillian stood up as her eyes twinkled with hope.

Then, the woman said something, and within a second, Lillian's expression had turned miserable as she nodded along to whatever the woman told her.

Thereafter, the woman left and Lillian remained on her feet for a while, just staring into space, before she grabbed her envelope and walked past me to the payment desk.

Lillian looked furious as she stormed up to me and slammed a ten dollar bill on my table.

“Keep your money, I don't need it. They won't let me pay because of you,” She hurled.

Without waiting for my response, she headed out of the restaurant, leaving her smoothie unopened on the table.

“Can you pack it to go?” I asked the waiter, as she placed my food on the table.

“Yes, sir.”

Minutes later, I was sitting in my car, deep in thoughts. Heaving a huge sigh, I switched on my phone and a certain news headline caught my attention.

“Watkins Pierce Vanishes after selling iconic restaurant—The mystery deepens.

Only then did it hit me, the reason why Lillian came to the restaurant and why she had looked so despondent and lost in thoughts.

Her boss had sold the restaurant and she was now jobless, and had come to the Italian restaurant to look for a job but was probably not given.

For a moment, I considered pulling strings to help her get any sort of job she wanted at the restaurant, since I had a thirty percent stake on it, but I decided against it because it would be too obvious that I was behind it.

Regardless, I knew I had to do something to help Lillian whether she liked it or not.

+

Meryl's POV

“Welcome home, my darling,” Mum beamed, and hugged me. “How was your flight?”

“Very fine, mum,” I replied, pulling away from the hug. “I'm starving but I can't eat because I don't want to get fat.”

“Yes, your cheeks have gotten chubbier,” Mum agreed. “Perhaps, you should go on water diet for a while. Or what do you think?”

“I've started it already. I can't afford to be fat and ugly, My Stefano wouldn't like that at all,” I replied, plopping onto the couch. “But I'm going to have a cheat day today with a bowl of fruit salad.”

Till date, my mum was yet to find out that Stefano had called off our marriage after five years of engagement.

In all honesty, she didn't need to because I would get my Stefano back. He could never resist my charms.

I mean, he had divorced his leech of an ex-wife because I told him to.

The whole reason why I came to London was to win my man back, nothing more.

“Alright, dear. I'll tell the cook to make it for you,” Mum replied, and I smiled.

“You are the best.”

Just then, my phone dinged with a message from my best friend, Maggie Grey, and my smile widened.

“Hi, bitch. Are you in London now?”

“Yes, bitch. I am. Start planning the wedding, it's happening in three months.” I typed back before reclining against the couch while my mum left the living room.

My mum had taught me to always follow my dream and never give up on them. In that instance, my dream was Stefano.

I mean, my mum was the prime example of never giving up.

She had started off as my father's secretary, then his mistress before he divorced his first wife and disowned his kids to marry her.

That was one of the many reasons why my mum was my biggest inspiration.