Chapter 15: Did you apply for the job

"You shouldn't have done that," Lilac said to Stanley, forcing him to look at her before opening the car door.

His brow arched as he glanced at her, perplexed. "Do what?" he inquired, crossing his hands over his broad, toned chest.

Lilac stared at the man, his pleasant nature spoiling her mood. Despite the obviousness, she could not shake the person she had long admired.

"Why did you tell the brother where I was?" she said, remaining firm on her point. Despite the height difference, she continued to arch her neck up to look directly into his grey eyes.

Stanley studied the girl before reaching into her pocket and removing the phone.

Lilac's brow wrinkled as she watched him scroll something before turning the screen towards her.

Her eyes widened and she stared back at him in disbelief.

"He installed a tracker in my phone?" Lilac snapped, seizing the phone from his grip and searching through it.

Lilac was not expecting such a cheap trick to be pulled on her, but knowing she was not an obedient child, Kalix decided to take a drastic step.

"How could he?" she snarled, disappointed in him.

"He wouldn't have done it if you had been understanding. But since you had already broken the code, he had no choice but to monitor your movements," Stanley lamented before turning and strolling toward the driver's door.

Lilac glared at him, her chest rising with wrath.

"I wouldn't have if they hadn't made me go on a blind date. I had to run somehow," she screamed, defending her actions.

"A week-long run with no one knowing where you were—amazing," Stanley said as he got into the car and turned to fasten his seatbelt.

Lilac was not a fan of giving explanations, but seeing how he didn't care made her fury boil.

"You knew I wouldn't be able to do that," she added, shooting her furious eyes at him, who immediately paused and stared back at her.

Lilac and Stanley knew each other. But no matter how she tried to comply, he couldn't give in to her request.

The moment Lilac observed the shift in his look, she grabbed his hand and yanked him out of his trance.

"You know I like you, so what's the point in meeting other potential candidates if I'll reject them?" She spoke, her eyes almost imploring him.

Stanley stared at their hand and immediately pulled back.

"I've already answered you. There will be nothing between us," he declined once more, hurting her feelings with his harsh words.

Lilac liked Stanley, not because he was attractive or had that alluring charisma that made every other girl swoon. However, it was his unique personality that drew Lilac to him.

Knowing the battle he faced to stand on his own amazed her, and she wanted to be the one he could rely on emotionally.

Stanley may have closed his heart, but Lilac believed she could open it and show him the beauty of love.

Lilac watched him look away before starting the car. Her eyes squinted as a thought sprang to mind.

"You know I have another date today," she remarked, shifting herself in the seat and looking ahead on the road.

Stanley's grip on the steering wheel tightened, but he refused to look at her and instead hummed.

"And I want you to come with me"—his head snapped in her way in shock as soon as she uttered those words.

Lilac's eyes twinkled with mischief, but she was confident that her strategy would succeed this time to break Stanley's determination.

*****

Winter awoke after an hour nap, and the first thing she did was write her resignation letter to her now-former company.

After deciding to leave her job, the first thing she needed to do was find a job and enroll Seren in a new playgroup. Now that she decided to stay, she had to come up with a way of living.

Watching her kid play with the toys her father brought her in the morning, she began searching the internet for job openings.

Winter had a backup of her documents and resume, which she immediately posted to a few websites before closing her phone in the hopes that someone from the company would contact her.

Money has been draining out of her pocket since she moved to the motel, and before it ran out, she needed to locate stable employment as well as a place for them to stay.

The hotel wasn't an option anymore nor was her house.

"Star, do you want to eat fruits?" "Star, do you want to eat fruits?" Winter asked, grabbing her daughter's attention. She nodded in response before turning her attention back to the doll she was holding.

Winter smiled and prepared to head for the kitchen when someone knocked on the door.

Wondering who may have arrived, Winter's frown grew as she opened the door to see Kalix standing there, carrying a few parcels.

'Is he on a shopping spree? Why does he have to pack her room with so many gifts? ' She wondered looking at the bags in his hand, only to find they were not additional gifts but food.

"I do not mind if you kiss me. I am already dying to taste your lips." Kalix's bold comments jolted her out of her reverie, and she rolled her eyes at him.

"In your dreams," she murmured, clearing the way for him to enter.

"Daddy..." Seren squealed and dropped everything as she ran towards her father.

Kalix passed the bags to Winter and bent down to pick up Seren in his arms.

"My baby, daddy missed you so much," Kalix said, kissing her cheeks and making her laugh.

"Me too, Daddy," she replied, putting her arms around his neck.

Winter sighed defeatedly as she dragged her heavy legs toward the dinner table while the two entirely ignored her.

She placed the bags on the table and proceeded to set the food on the plates.

Kalix talked with Seren about her day, paying close attention to her babbling. She told him about Lilac's visit and how she enjoyed playing with her.

Kalix was already aware of everything, which is why he did not burden his sister with additional duties. Furthermore, he refrained from prolonging her work hours, as Sylvester had already established a date for her.

The old guy would nag him for interfering with his sister's love life, and the last thing he wanted to hear was his lecture.

As his thoughts wandered, the buzzing sound of the phone on the table drew his attention.

He read the notification with his eyes fixed on the screen and aimed his voice at Winter.

"Did you apply for the job?"

Winter paused what she was doing, her eyes hesitantly peering at him, wondering why he was suddenly angry.