Lillian woke to the sound of her phone ringing.
She groaned and reached for it.
“Hello?”
Her manager’s voice came through immediately.
“Lillian, where are you?”
She rubbed her eyes.
“I’m…”
She looked around.
Her eyes widened.
She wasn’t at home.
“Give me a minute.”
“You remember the show next week, right?”
“Yes.”
“Good.
Don’t forget.”
“Okay.”
She ended the call.
Then slowly lowered the phone.
Her heart began beating faster.
She looked around the unfamiliar room.
Then she remembered.
The club.
The bathroom.
Adrian.
The hotel.
Her face became hot.
She slowly turned her head.
Adrian was sitting nearby.
He was already dressed.
He looked calm.
Too calm.
Lillian stared at him.
He looked back.
“Good morning.”
She pulled the blanket closer.
“Don’t say good morning like nothing happened.”
His lips twitched.
“I wasn’t.”
She quickly got dressed.
When she finished, she turned toward him.
“What happens now?”
Adrian looked at her.”What do you want to happen?”
“You’re asking me?”
“Yes.”
She folded her arms.”You brought me here.”
“You were drunk.”
“And you stayed.”
“Yes.”
“And…”
She hesitated.
“And we kissed.”
Adrian looked at her.
“We did more than kiss.”
Lillian’s cheeks turned red.
“I know!”
He almost smiled.
She glared at him.
“Don’t smile.”
“I’m not.”
“You are.”
He looked away.
“Are you going to take responsibility?”
Adrian became serious.
“I won’t pretend nothing happened.”
“Good.”
“But I’m not going to decide your future for you.”
Lillian frowned.
“What does that mean?”
“It means I’m not going to tell you what you should do simply because of last night.”
She stared at him.
“You really are difficult.”
“I’ve been told that.”
“I don’t regret it.”
“Neither do I.”
She looked at him.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then Lillian picked up her handbag.
“Fine.”
She walked toward the door.
Adrian watched her.
“Lillian.”
She stopped.
“What?”
“Are you angry?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because you’re too calm.”
He smiled.
“Would you prefer I panic?”
“Maybe.”
He laughed softly.
She rolled her eyes.
“You’re annoying.”
She opened the door.
Then stepped into the hallway.
She took two angry steps.
And stopped.
A woman was standing directly in front of her.
“Lillian?”
Lillian froze.
Her mother’s eyes widened.
“Lillian?”
Lillian’s mouth dropped open.
“Mom?”
Evelyn stared at her daughter.
Then her eyes moved toward the hotel room behind her.
Adrian stepped into the doorway.
Evelyn recognized him immediately.
Her expression changed.
“Adrian Sterling?”
Lillian closed her eyes.
This was going to be a very long morning.
Back inside the room, Victor Moore had arrived after Evelyn called him.
He looked from Lillian to Adrian.
Then back to Lillian.
“What exactly happened?”
Lillian lowered her head.
“Nothing I can explain in one sentence.”
Victor sighed.
Evelyn sat beside her daughter.
“Are you okay?”
“Yes.”
“Are you sure?”
Victor looked at Adrian.
“Did you know who she was?”
Adrian answered honestly.
“I knew she was an actress.”
“Before last night?”
“Yes.”
“Did you know she was engaged?”
Adrian paused.
“No.”
Victor’s expression tightened.
“She was engaged to Ethan Carter.”
“I know that now.”
Lillian immediately spoke.
“I don’t want to marry Ethan.”
Her parents turned toward her.
Victor frowned.
“Why?”
“Because he is a scumbag.”
Evelyn looked concerned.
“Did something happen?”
Lillian hesitated.
“He was disrespectful.”
Victor’s expression became serious.
“What did he do?”
Lillian explained what had happened at the club.
Victor listened quietly.
When she finished, he leaned back.”I understand.”
“I should have been the one to slapp hell out of him Evenlyn said angrily.
Victor looked toward Adrian.
Then toward Lillian.
“This changes things.”
Lillian looked at her father.
“I haven’t told Ethan I don’t want to marry him yet.”
Victor nodded.
“Then we would handle it for you.”
Lillian looked relieved.
She hadn’t expected the conversation to be easy.
But she still had another problem.
She glanced toward Adrian.
He was sitting calmly.
Almost too calmly.
She whispered,
“Why aren’t you nervous?”
Adrian looked at her.
“Should I be?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because my parents just caught us.”
Adrian looked toward Victor and Evelyn.
“You’re right.”
He paused.
“Perhaps I should be.”
Lillian almost laughed despite herself.
Her mother noticed.
“You two…”
Both became silent.
Evelyn sighed.
“We have a lot to discuss.”
Lillian lowered her head.
“Yes, Mom.”
And for the first time, the seriousness of the situation truly settled over the room.