Chapter 11

Lily's POV

Thomas's easy smile froze instantly at my direct question.

His hands gripped the steering wheel tighter, and I could see him desperately searching for the right response.

"I... that's not what I meant," he stammered, clearly caught off guard by my bluntness.

"I was just trying to warn you about William's personality. You know, giving you fair information to make your choice."

"Nice recovery," I thought, amused by his obvious discomfort.

"Though not entirely convincing."

"Of course," I replied sweetly, deciding to let him off the hook for now.

"How thoughtful of you to look out for me."

When we arrived at Sterling Group headquarters, Thomas immediately dove into work mode.

"I have several urgent meetings today," he explained, already distracted by his phone buzzing with notifications.

"Feel free to... explore the building or whatever."

And just like that, he disappeared into the elevator, leaving me standing alone in the lobby.

"Well, that was brief," I thought, not particularly surprised.

"Seems the Sterling brothers aren't really fighting over spending time with me."

I made my way to the security office, where Leonard was waiting with his usual warm smile.

"Back again?" he chuckled, gesturing for me to sit down.

"Let me guess—another Sterling brother too busy to actually get to know you?"

"Something like that," I said, settling into the comfortable chair beside his desk.

"Thomas lasted about five minutes before work called."

Leonard shook his head with amusement.

"These boys don't know what they're missing. So, what should we talk about today?"

We spent the entire day discussing everything from his latest tech investments to my memories of growing up in the Blue Mountains of Vermont.

Leonard had a way of making conversation feel effortless, and before I knew it, the sun was setting outside the windows.

"At least someone in this city knows how to have a proper conversation," I reflected as we wrapped up our chat.

The next morning brought my scheduled day with Henry, Broadway's golden boy.

I'd barely finished breakfast when Tyler informed me that Henry had left early for rehearsals.

"Master Henry asked me to tell you that today is quite special," Tyler explained with his usual formal politeness.

"It's his birthday and the tenth anniversary of his debut. He'll be performing at a Broadway theater tonight, so he won't be available until this evening."

"Another brother, another excuse," I thought, though I couldn't really fault Henry for prioritizing his career.

With nothing else to do, I retreated to my room and settled in for a long nap.

The king-sized bed was incredibly comfortable, and I slept deeply until the afternoon sun streaming through the windows finally woke me.

When I wandered downstairs around lunchtime, I found Fiona chatting animatedly with Thomas, Samuel, and Michael in the living room.

William was notably absent—probably buried in work as usual.

"Lily!" Fiona exclaimed when she spotted me, her voice bright with false enthusiasm.

"Perfect timing! I was just suggesting we go shopping. The boys could use some new clothes, and we should definitely get Henry a birthday gift."

She smiled sweetly, but I caught the calculating look in her eyes.

"What do you say? Want to join us for a little retail therapy?"

"Interesting. What are you planning, Fiona?" I wondered, but curiosity got the better of me.

"Sure," I agreed. "Sounds fun."

The luxury shopping district was exactly what I'd expected—gleaming storefronts, perfectly dressed shoppers, and prices that would make most people's eyes water.

Fiona led our little group into an upscale boutique that screamed exclusivity.

"Oh, Lily," Fiona said, immediately latching onto my arm. "Let me help you pick out some outfits! I have such great taste—everyone says so."

She began pulling dresses from the racks with theatrical enthusiasm.

The first option was a shapeless, oversized brown dress that would make anyone look like they were wearing a sack.

The second was a revealing mini dress with an uncomfortably low neckline that screamed "desperately trying to get attention."

"These would be perfect on you!" Fiona gushed, holding up the unflattering garments.

"This style is very... rustic chic. Very you."

"Seriously? She's not even trying to be subtle," I thought, rolling my eyes internally.

"Does she really think I'm that naive?"

I smiled pleasantly at Fiona, my voice sweet as honey.

"Fiona, if you don't like me, you really don't need to put on this fake act. And you definitely don't need to use these pathetic little tricks."

Her face froze, the artificial smile wavering.

"I may be from the country, but my taste isn't any worse than yours."

Fiona's cheeks flushed pink, and she immediately switched to her wounded innocent act.

"Oh no, Lily! You've completely misunderstood. I was just trying to help! I thought these styles would suit your... natural beauty."

She bit her lower lip, eyes glistening with fake tears.

"I would never try to make you look bad. We're going to be family!"

"Oscar-worthy performance," I thought sarcastically.

"Too bad I'm not buying it."

Instead of responding to her dramatics, I turned my attention to the boutique's actual offerings.

I selected several elegant pieces—a sophisticated black cocktail dress, a tailored blazer in navy blue, and a flowing silk blouse that would photograph beautifully.

Each item I chose was understated but expensive, the kind of clothing that whispered wealth rather than shouting it.

"I'll take these," I told the sales associate, pointing to my selections.

"Please have them wrapped."

When we reached the register, I was about to pull out my credit card, but a familiar hand appeared, offering a sleek black card instead.

I looked up to find William standing beside me, his expression typically unreadable.

"William?" I said, genuinely surprised. "When did you get here?"

"Don't misunderstand," he said coolly, his tone making it clear this wasn't a romantic gesture.

"Father specifically instructed me to ensure you had everything you needed."

Before I could respond, he turned and walked away.

"Well, that was awkward," I thought, looking at the cashier who was now holding his black card.

"Thanks for the warm and fuzzy moment, William," I muttered.

The total came to just over three hundred thousand dollars, which made the sales associate's eyes widen slightly.

From across the store, I heard Michael's derisive snort.

"Some people have absolutely no shame," he said loudly enough for everyone to hear.

"Spending that much money like it's nothing. I guess when you're from a small town, you don't understand basic manners or restraint."

Before I could respond, Fiona jumped in with her fake diplomatic voice.

"Michael, you shouldn't say things like that! Miss Reed was just buying a few basic items."

Her tone was perfectly pitched to sound defending while actually making the situation worse.

Michael rolled his eyes dramatically.

"A few basic items? If that's 'just a few,' I can't imagine what serious shopping would look like."

"She's good," I admitted grudgingly.

"Making it look like she's defending me while actually fanning the flames."

I turned to Michael with a pleasant smile.

"Were you the one who just paid for this?" I asked innocently.

Michael's face went rigid.

"That's my brother's money!"

"Exactly," I replied, my voice remaining perfectly sweet.

"It's your brother's money. He didn't complain about it, so what exactly are you whining about?"

I picked up my shopping bags and headed for the exit.

"If you have issues with how William spends his money, take it up with him."

Behind me, I could hear Thomas trying to suppress his laughter, while Samuel made a small appreciative sound.

Even Henry, who had joined us at some point during the shopping expedition, looked amused.

Michael stood there with his mouth hanging open, clearly struggling to come up with a comeback.

"One point for me," I thought with satisfaction.

"Maybe the Sterling brothers will think twice before assuming I'm an easy target."

As I settled into the car, I caught Fiona's expression in the reflection of the window.

She looked frustrated that her little scheme had backfired, but I could already see her calculating her next move.

"This is just the beginning," I realized.

"Fiona's not going to give up that easily."

But I didn't mind.

I'd dealt with far more dangerous opponents than a spoiled socialite with a crush on William.