Stefan's calm and agreeable response was not what Lilly was expecting nor was his use of the endearing term ' angel' followed by a sexy grin.
Caught off guard Lilly paused slightly before continuing with her bravado, "I wasn't expecting you to be so ... agreeable." Lilly blurted her ability not to be able to lie or not speak her mind making her do so.
Stefan grinned at his little angel's directness and honesty two qualities he greatly admired " And I wasn't expecting my angel to be so bold, but here we are." He replied in a ruggedly deep and manly voice that held a note of amusement in its tone.
Lilly blushed at hearing him use the endearing term before lifting her head higher and forcing herself not to coo like a lovesick schoolgirl or loose her newfound confidence. "Well as you reminded me bluntly last night, this may be my last week to live so I thought there was no point in giving in to my fear of you and I may as well not care about any repercussions of speaking my mind and angering you and just speak my mind. After all, what's the worse punishment you can inflict death- you will be doing that anyway most likely at the end of the week, so I may as well make the most of my last week, and I am neither an angel nor yours." Lilly replied daringly awaiting his reaction.
Stefan did something he hadn't gone it over a decade after hearing Lilly's speech, he threw back his head and he roared with amusement as his deep joyful laugh filled the room.
After he finally managed to control his laughter he looked at Lilly who was staring at him in shock and managed to reply, "Your right, it may well
be
so you feel free to speak your mind at all times around me. I have killed people who dared speak to me the way you just did, but I find I oddly enjoy hearing your blunt honesty ... you intrigue and amuse me... and your beauty and aura of innocence make you an angel in my eyes. So in return for you being allowed to speak your mind for the next week without repercussions, and believe me, they are ones worse than death, I will continue to call you my angel and you will not object as that's exactly what you are for the next week, agreed?"
Lilly swallowed, her innocent mind wondering what repercussions could be worse than death? Failing to think of any but intimidated none the less by the prospect, Lilly finally nodded agreeing to Stefan's deal.
"Excellent, I am glad we could come to an agreement and speaking of agreements...please continue with your requests... sorry demands," Stefan smirked before pouring himself more coffee and offering Lilly some who politely declined.
"Okay then, my first request.. demand," Lilly started quickly changing the word request to demand to keep her allusion of bravado, " is for you to stop intimidating the staff. If I am to stay here I want to make friends and I can't do that with you being all Mafia Bossy and frightening them. So I would appreciate it if you officially gave them permission not to be so formal and if you were less intimidating around them, smile occasionally, say please and thank you and try and appeared friendlier."
Stefan was expecting demands for diamonds, designer clothes, and other expensive things which he would have happily provided since money was of no consequence and since it was her, this humble demand threw him off guard and he took time to consider how to respond. " Friendly isn't in my nature." he finally replied but seeing Lilly's hurt expression he quickly
added in an attempt to please her, as he didn't know why but pleasing her was important to him " but for you... I will try, and I will instruct the staff to be less formal towards you. what's your next demand?" Lilly gave him a genuinely delighted smile that made Stefan's heart squeeze and made him pleased with his vow to try and change for her, as he would do anything to keep that radiant and stunning smile on her face.
"Thank you, next I will like a few things to entertain myself whilst I am ... your guest. I would like a few books to read and to be given access to the kitchen and allowed to cook and bake whenever I want." Lilly stated.
"I will see you have books and access to the kitchen if you write down your preferred genre of books and any baking supplies and cooking ingredients you want I will send the staff out to get them this morning. Stefan replied amazed still be her demands, most women would have demanded diamonds, perfume and lots more of expensive luxuries, she was like no woman he had ever met.
"Next I will like my clothes from my flat brought to me, whilst I appreciate you kindly allowing me to borrow what I assume is your clothing I can't wear yours all week." Lilly blushed
"I can't retrieve your clothing it's too far away and I have important business this week and can't spare any men to retrieve them but if you write down your sizes and the type of clothing you want I will have new ones delivered to you by tomorrow. And by the way, I like you in my clothes." Stefan compromised and winked.
Lilly blushed even more at his wink and nodded her approval, new clothes seemed excessive but if she survived the week she would make sure she either donated them to a charity or paid Stefan back.
"I would also like to write letters to my friends and a Will and I would
like your words that you will give my Will to a lawyer and make sure it's followed and that my friends receive my letters... in the event that my brother doesn't keep his promise and you kill me," Lilly replied authoritatively showing how much this demand meant to her.
Stefan's face contorted with anger that made Lilly flinch slightly.
He wasn't angered at her demand only at the fact it reminded him of the fact he had vowed to kill her if her brother let him down. The thought of Lily being hurt made his stomach churn with anger and guilt at the prospect of him killing her, he suddenly realized he didn't want to do it. He was
however in a difficult situation and he didn't know what he would do when the time came.
Stefan softened his expression seeing Lilly's fear and replied reluctantly choosing his words very carefully as he did, "I vow that... IF YOU DIE, I will see to it that your will is carried out according to your wishes and that any letters you have written are passed to the intended receptors." Stefan replied giving his word he would honor her demand but carefully not using words that would commit himself to kill her again.
Lilly sighed with relief, at least if the worst came to happen she was
comforted by the knowledge that her friends may receive some sort of
closure rather than having years of uncertainty not knowing she was dead as she lay at the bottom of a river somewhere rotting or whatever Mobsters did with the bodies of their victims. "Thank you," Lilly replied stiffly genuinely grateful- how odd she thought that she can display gratitude to someone for following a simple request after they murdered her.
stiff.
"Is that all of your demands?" Stefan asked in a tone equally as
"No, if my brother doesn't hold up his side of the bargain..." Lilly started but Stefan's expression turned dark assuming she was about to beg for her brother's worthless life and her own. He would never be weak enough to spare her brother but if she asked him to hers he would instantly. Stefan knew however even in the brief time that he had known her that Lilly, unlike her cowardly brother, was selfless and she would beg for someone else's life but never her own.
"It's not what you think..." Lilly said quickly seeing Stefan's dark expression and knowing that Stefan was assuming she was going to try and squirm out of the deal and beg for mercy. "I was only going to ask if my brother doesn't honor the deal you made that you allow me to say goodbye to him first before you kill us both and if you could maybe find it in your heart to make his death quick. I understand why you can't let his actions go unpunished and why you have to kill us but please if you can reconsider the threat of torturing him to death. I know in your world it would be expected and seen as your right to do that and you vowed you would but ... he's my brother." Lilly pleaded as, despite his cruelness and the fact he was a complete jerk and bad brother he was still her brother and she would do anything she could to look out for him right up until her last breath- as she
couldn't hold a grudge against all his misdeeds even if she wanted to, it just wasn't in her nature.
Stefan responded instantly wanting to get the subject of Lilly's death over with as quickly as possible. "I will agree to allow you time together to say your goodbyes, one-hour sounds fair but I will not commit to showing the thief any mercy- but I will consider it." Lilly unable to help herself stood up from the table and ran across the room to Stefan and kissed him chastely on the cheek before blushing and walking back to her seat at the other end of the table, leaving Stefan temporarily frozen in shock.
"Sorry I couldn't help it and thank you. I understand why you can't commit to not showing him mercy but the fact you are willing to consider it and that you are allowing us to say goodbye... it means the world to me," Lilly said shyly as Stefan unable to speak simply nodded his understanding and resisted the urge to touch his cheek where she kissed him and grin like a schoolboy
Stefan, at last, snapped out of his lovesick daze and went back to a persona he was more versed in- the businessman. "Well if that's all your demands they seem reasonable and as I said I am willing to agree to them if you are willing to agree to mine in return."
"Your demands?" Lilly asked slightly nervous.
"Yes, that's the way a deal works angel, both parties agree to terms that benefit both sides," Stefan replied amused by the nervous tone of Lilly's voice, what was she expecting him to say, that she must share his bed or walk around naked at all times? Although the prospects of both were highly arousing he knew she would never agree and he didn't know why but he really wanted her to see a different side to him other than a ruthless Mobster and he wanted her to respect him and feel safe with him and he knew
demanding s****I favors or forbidding her to wear clothes was certainly not the way to achieve that, so he decided to take a more gentlemanly
approach.
"Okay fine... I will hear your demands and then decided if they too are agreeable." Lilly replied still with a nervous tone.
"As you wish MY angel, firstly when I am not present you may spend your time as you wish, however when I am if I request your company you will graciously accept my invitation." Lilly thought the request over and finding it acceptable she nodded for Stefan to continue." Secondly you will be allowed free access around the house and its gardens but you will not attempt to leave the grounds if you do I will see it as an escape attempt and all my consideration for not torturing your brother will go out the window," Stefan demanded and Lilly paled at the threat before quickly nodding her agreement. "Good, thirdly if I invite you to an event and as per my first demand you attend you will wear whatever attire I leave out for you without protest." Lilly paused at this demand, " Is that request not agreeable to you?" Stefan asked noticing her hesitation.
"Not in principle but in theory ... I will not be comfortable in clothes like your dancers at the club wear." Lilly was finally able to blurt out embarrassed.
Stefan again howled with laughter, "I was thinking more classy clothes such as evening gowns, cocktail dresses, etc for outings at the theater, nice dinners or important work functions such as a ball I have later this week. " Stefan clarified making Lilly blush and feel like an i***t.
"Oh, I just assumed with you being a Mafia Boss... sorry. I didn't know the Mafia has such formal events or that members enjoyed such sophisticated leisure activities during their free time." Lilly responded
honestly as usual making Stefan smile.
"They don't have such formal events or enjoy such things in their spare time so I can understand why you assumed such but there is more to me than just a Mafia Boss, I am also a successful businessman and CEO of several multi-million-pound legitimate company's that I built myself from the ground up," Stefan replied proudly deciding to share both sides of his personality with Lilly and hoping that she accepted them both.
Lilly gaped at him before replying, "Wow I had no idea... I am so sorry I just assumed you were nothing more than a boss of criminals, that was rude
of me. I guess it's true you should never judge a book by its cover... not that you look like a criminal visually it's just under the circumstances... I jumped to assumptions without knowing you is what I meant to say." Lilly babbled embarrassed. "Your parents must be very proud of you though that's a big accomplishment for any age let alone a young man," Lilly added hoping to redeem her babbling and look like less of an i***t by complimenting him.
Stefan replied emotionlessly despite thinking to himself how cute she was when she babbled, " Thank you for your compliment - which I know was
meant with kindness but both my parents are dead."
Lilly chased herself, dam her and her big mouth!" Stefan, I am so sorry I am an orphan too and I know how painful that is, I am truly very sorry for your loss."
There was an awkward silence between them whilst Stefan contemplated telling Lilly about the circumstances surrounding his father's death but he eventually decided not too as she was too pure-hearted and could never understand his actions and he wanted to win her approval not give her more reasons to hate him.
"My next demand is that you follow any orders I give you that are given for your safety, I have many enemies and so since I am responsible for you whilst you are my guest you will do as I order to keep yourself unharmed and life," Stefan said forcefully making sure she understood the seriousness of this demand and Lilly instant nodded vigorously which pleased Stefan.
"I understand why that one is important and since I don't understand your world and the dangers it brings I will do whatever you tell me too- regarding my safety. Is that them all?" Lilly asked boldly.
"My last demand is that you will eat dinner with me every night and I will ask you any questions I desire and you will answer with complete honesty. You can do the same to me if you wish and I will answer honestly too but be warned you may not like the answer you get so ask wisely." Stefan stated as he finished his coffee.
"Why?" Lilly blurted out confused as to why Stefan would want to ask her questions.
"Because since you are to be my guest all week I want to get to know you better and I thought you would like the opportunity to know me too - all of me ...so you don't make any more assumptions any know the real me,"
Stefan replied honestly.
Stefan's demands were more reasonable than she expected and not at
all what she thought they would be, there really was more to Stefan than
just 'the Mob Boss' and she admittedly was curious to get to know
everything about him.
"Your terms are acceptable, we have a deal." Lilly finally said.
Stefan smiled and swiftly got up from his chair and made his way
towards Lilly with quick strides and despite her vow to appear confident
and brave Lilly flinched a little in fear as he stopped right in front of her."
Great we will celebrate tonight at dinner, if you'll excuse me I have business
to take care of but I will go and speak to the staff about being less formal so
you can use today to...make friends. I will instruct Marcus to bring you
paper and a pen as well so you can write your lists of needed supplies and
letters as agreed. Until tonight MY angel." Stefan said as he leaned down
and gently kissed her on the cheek as she had done to him and then left
leaving Lilly sitting at the table pining for more than a chaste kiss.