Big Novel

 

Lilly sat at her dressing table drying her hair and thinking about the events of last night. 

Last night was a night Lilly would never forget. 

Stefan had opened up to her and told her about all the horrors of his childhood that pushed him into this criminal lifestyle and although Lilly knew he had a dark side and a reputation for being a monstrous killer, after hearing everything he went through she couldn't blame him for following in the path of his uncles, after all, it was all he had ever know and he didn't 

 

have a choice- when he was led down the dark path to becoming the Boss of criminals he was still really just a child. 

Besides Stefan's dark side Lilly had in the very short space of time she had known him to come to see another side of the famous King of the London underworld, he had opened his heart to her and shared secrets with her he never told anyone apart from Marcus as he had admitted for some strange reason he was drawn to her just as she was to him. Stefan had been 

gentlemanly, thoughtful, and even supportive when Lilly in turn had told him everything about her childhood and Lilly knew it was crazy given the circumstances, and the short time she had known him but she knew in her heart that she was falling in love with him. 

Despite her feelings, however, that didn't mean there would ever be a future for them, as she understood more now why he couldn't back out of his deal with her brother as not only would he be leaving himself vulnerable to attacks from the Russians, who Stefan had told her where the security threat he was referring to but that his uncles might try to take him out too fearing he had gone soft if word reached them about his weakness as they were as cruel as his father since one of his uncles was his father's brother and they shared the same cold-blooded genes and the other in Lilly's opinion was worse as he was Stefan's mother's brother and he sacrificed his sister's life for power when he forced his sister into an arranged marriage with Stefan's father knowing the monster he was. 

Lilly knew this could be there last week together and she didn't hold a grudge, Stefan last night had promised that if her brother didn't come up with the money that he would agree to Lilly's demand from their first night and kill him mercifully- it broke Lilly's heart to think about her brother's death but she understood the difficult situation Stefan was in and she was grateful for the small mercy Stefan offered. 

Stefan told her he was growing 'fond' of Lilly and he didn't want to kill her and he was considering letting her go at the end of the week no matter if her brother held up his end of the deal or not and honestly Lilly didn't know how she felt about that. 

Lilly, of course, felt guilty that she might live and her brother wouldn't but at the same time... he had betrayed her and after all, this was all his 

mess and she was an innocent victim- no one made him steal from the Mafia 

after all, but the idea of death although she understood it was still upsetting. Lilly also thought she would feel relieved that she would survive and have the rest of her life to do all the things she wanted to do such as get married, have a family and build a career but the more she thought about those things she began to realize they no longer held the same prospect of happiness they once did - as she was beginning to yearn to do all those things with Stefan and she knew in her heart that could never happen, as their families wouldn't accept them as a couple. Jason would resent Stefan if he managed to live and Stefan's uncles no doubt would want Stefan to marry someone more fitting to be the queen of the London Mafia empire - they could never be together in that way. 

Lilly sighed as he finished drying her hair and stared at herself in the mirror, 'why couldn't I meet Stefan under normal circumstances like in a coffee shop?' She thought but she already knew the answer- because Stefan was not a normal man he was darkness and light and he needed someone to love him for and be able to cope in both of his worlds and Lilly sadly didn't think she was that person, she may have been falling in love with him but she could never live in his world but she would make the most of the week they had left she vowed as she lifted her chin and wiped away her tears. 

Lilly was finally dressed in a baby pink sundress, cream cardigan and sensible pair of not too high brown wedges and her hair was pinned to the side with a small pink rose in it, she took one last look at herself and made her way downstairs. 

"Wow, you look gorgeous Lilly!" Gemma gushed as she greeted Lilly as she entered the dining room and handed her a glass of orange juice. 

"Yes doesn't she just ..." Stefan said entering after Lilly and walking over to kiss her on the cheek good morning making Lilly blush. 

"Thank you...both," Lilly said smiling at Stefan and at Gemma who had lowered her head in a submissive manner as soon as Stefan entered. 

"If you don't mind I asked the chef to make breakfast to go I thought we can get an early start at the shops as I have a surprise for you later on," Stefan asked Lilly completely ignoring Gemma out of habit. 

"A surprise... you have me nervous now, but sure. Thank you anyway, Gemma." Lilly said handing Gemma back the glass of juice who looked for a brief moment a little annoyed before she smiled sweetly and again lowered her head as Stefan's gaze landed on her. 

"Yes...thank you." Stefan forced out and attempted to smile in a friendly manner at Gemma making Gemma lift her head in shock and look at him unsure how to respond for a brief moment before she nodded and lowered her head again. 

Stefan then took Lilly's hand and led her out the mansion and into the waiting landrover where Lilly was pleased to see Aiden was waiting for them. 

"Aiden! How was jane's birthday party? I hope she liked her cake and your wife let you off the hook?" Lilly asked excitedly making Stefan raise his eyebrow questioning. 

"Oh I wanted to bake yesterday but I had no inspiration and I overheard Aiden mention it was his daughter's birthday and he needed a cake and Aiden was kind enough to let me design a cake for his daughter," Lilly told Stefan bending the truth a little to protect Aiden who was looking at Stefan fearfully in case he took it badly that he had asked Lilly to work. 

Stefan wasn't stupid however, he could tell Lilly was fibbing about something as she was a terrible liar but he could see she was genuinely happy to see Aiden and she had told him last night how much she loved baking so he knew that whatever she was lying about probably wasn't that big of a deal and if she was happy he was willing to play along to keep her that way. "Oh really, how lucky for you that you found some inspiration, I am glad you had fun angel and I bet the cake was wonderful," Stefan said as he subtly looked at Aiden threatening him with his expression to agree with his statement - not that he needed to as the cake truly was spectacular. 

 

"Thank you for asking Miss Thompson, my daughter loved the cake and my wife at first bit my head off as she had her heart set on a cake made from that posh shop located in Bond-street and she knew the cake wasn't from there as apparently all their cakes come in gold boxes with a logo and your cake was wrapped in plain white boxes, however as soon as she saw the cake she was in awe as were all the guests at the party- everyone said it looked a thousand times better than any cake that shop ever made and when they tasted it they were all demanding to know who made it," Aiden replied smiling at Lilly thankfully. 

"I am so glad your daughter and wife liked it and that you stayed in 

your wife's good books! It was my pleasure and if I am being honest I really enjoyed it, I haven't been able to bake anything that ambitious of luxurious since my mother worked at Carlo's as a contracted baker and I helped her with wedding cakes, I had so much fun and it brought back amazing memories." Lilly smiled and Stefan listened intensely at the joy in Lilly's voice. 

"Well I know your Mr. Marconi's guest but if you enjoyed it and would like to make a few more a lot of guests at the party asked if I would be willing to pass on their contact information along with a description of what they were looking to get you to make so if you were interested in making the orders you could give them a quote?" Aiden said as he nervously glanced towards Stefan who looked at him blankly not showing how he felt which made Aiden even more nervous. 

"Really?! Wow that's amazing! It's always been my dream to bake professionally." Lilly squealed as she looked at Stefan who changed his blank expression to one of happiness and support. "Oh but it's not great timing like you said I am Stefan's guest and am staying in his house I wouldn't want to be rude and take over his kitchen and I am not really sure what my ...schedule will be like after this week, thank you for the opportunity but can I think about it?" Lilly said choosing her words carefully as she was unsure if he knew about Stefan's deal with her brother. 

"Of course you can, most of the requests for orders are from people wanting wedding cakes next year or in a few years or christening cakes for a few months away yet, they were just all so blown away with your talent they wanted to book it as soon as possible and pay a deposit now to secure their booking but they will wait," Aiden said assuringly. 

Lilly, Aiden, and Stefan spent the next half an hour of the car journey 

talking amongst themselves with Aiden and Stefan both sharing amusing tales of Aiden's wife who sounded like an amazing woman Lilly couldn't wait to meet. Stefan also spent the remaining journey unbeknown to Lilly thinking about everything Lilly had said and vowing he would give her the future she dreamed of no matter the cost. 

They finally reached the shopping center and Lilly and Stefan walked hand in flanked by Aiden, Marcus, and various other men in suits that Lilly hadn't yet been introduced to but she assumed were members of Stefan's protection detail. Lilly held Stefan's hand and tried to focus on the safe feeling being close to him provided and not the fact that it was unnerving that Stefan needed this much protection for a simple trip to the shops- surely he didn't have that many enemies? But even as Lilly thought it she knew she was being nieve, he was the King of the London criminal underworld and he didn't get to that position by being elected he got there by blood, force, and fear- of course, he had lots of enemies. Lilly was just lucky she had only ever witnessed a small glimpse of that side of him on the first day they met and as frightened as she was then she knew that for some reason even then he was being in his own way, gentle with her. 

"Are you okay?" Stefan asked stroking her hand and interrupting her thoughts. 

"What...oh yeah sorry I was just daydreaming," Lilly said as she tried to push her nerves aside and instead try to focus on enjoying spending time with Stefan. 

"I know it must seem intimidating all these men around for security... I promise it's not that bad it's just Marcus being overprotective as usual he likes to take the role of my annoying overprotective brother.." 

"I heard that!" Marcus interjected as he turned to scowl at Stefan then winked at Lilly making her giggle 

Stefan rolled his eyes at Marcus and when Marcus had finished grinning at the fact he had annoyed Stefan and turned back around Stefan reached a hand out to stroke Lilly's face, "When we get into the shopping center the men will guard the exits and we will have the place to ourselves to spend the day alone without them shadowing us okay?" Stefan asked and Lilly nodded, she was enjoying the intimacy of Stefans strokes for far too much to vocalize the question on her mind, what he meant by alone- surely he didn't mean they would have the whole center to themselves? 

Lilly's question was soon answered however as they stepped through the front door into the center and Lilly saw the place was completely deserted apart from the retail staff who were standing in the shop doors with their heads bowed respectfully and a tall beautiful woman who began to briskly walk towards Stefan wiggling her hips seductively as she did so with eyes full of lust.

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