Author's Note: I just to want to take the moment to thank you Assassin of Syria for your kind review! (*≧∀≦*) I'm so glad that you liked it, and you'll be very happy to hear that I've already finished this story months ago! Though even with that said, I'll only update one chapter per day (which isn't a lot — this isn't a long book unfortunately LOL). I hope you stick around still. ヾ(*'▽'*)
The other room was a small conference room, so Lili and Sebastian had to sit next each other on the black leathered chair with an open laptop in front of the butler. Sebastian searches for local tournaments to their first destination while Lili remained quiet in her seat arms crossed, head down avoiding his direction.
Lili would be lying if she said she wasn't feeling guilty over snapping at Sebastian, she may be a lot of things, but she isn't the upsetting type.
After minutes of silence — save for the typing keyboard noises — the lady turns to him with a regretful expression. "Sebastian, please forgive me for my uncouth actions, it was crude of me for snapping at you." Lili said so genuinely.
Sebastian breaks his focus from the screen and turns to her; he comfortingly pats her shoulder, a gentle smile lacing on his face. "It's all in the past, Ms Lili."
The guilt on Lili was replaced with relief and a soft smile. "Thank you." she replied back.
The teenager turns to the door where she knew in the passenger seats, Leo is still reading on his phone peacefully and unbothered. "Now I'm concerned how we're going to proceed the plan with Mr Kliesen on tow." the lady murmurs with a groan, sinking further into her seat.
"Ahh, yes yes. No doubt he will tell your father all about where we've been. We must make a plan."
After long discussions of rejected and half baked ideas, complete with long searches for available tournaments, the two have finally reached an ending: They've booked tickets for a booth in a musical theater, and they'd have Leo distracted by the performances and the dim-lit room would give the perfect cover to sneak out to the tournament so long as Lili would be quick to return.
"This is perfect! You're the absolute greatest, Sebastian!" Lili throws her arms around her butler to give him a brief and tight hug. Sebastian could only chuckle at his ward grinning at him brightly like an innocent child instead of her usual poise and graceful self, often a moment to live through.
The plan went accordingly; by the time they've arrived to the theater, Leo was distracted enough by the play. The lady snuck out from her seat and made it to the local tournament on time. Lili made sure she finishes her opponents in less than 30 seconds.
When the play was over, Lili was already there in her seat — though slightly out of breath and furiously wiping out the sweat on her skin with disgust, she was there and have discreetly won the tournament. Leo didn't ask, but secretly wondered why she appeared a little out of place. The teenager and her butler share a knowing satisfactory smile.
Since the plan was a success, they've repeated the same formula every time they've booked tournaments on country after country. Of course along the run, Leo has beginning to notice a pattern.
They were staying at a 5 star hotel in India when he had confront her — Lili had just walked out of her hotel room fully dressed up and ready for another day with Leo on tow, when he suddenly broke the usual silence between them. "My lady, have you been sneaking away without my knowledge?"
Lili stops on her tracks — a pause of silence hang until she slowly face him with an innocent face plastered. "Why no! why have you asked such nonsense?" she tuck her arms behind her, her tone is sweet and convincing but Leo knows better than to fall for it; his eyes narrow on her as he crosses his arms. "It doesn't take a detective to realize you've already done it a few times during this trip. Your father's not gonna like this when I report you've been escaping my line of sight."
Lili was taken aback from the sudden threat. Her face flickers to a scowl before quickly transforming into one of her signature haughty smirk as she steps closer to him, heels clicking down the floor with force. Leo steps back away but Lili grabs his red tie and pulls him closer until they're less than a meter away; it's their closest interaction range.
Since their faces are also close enough to see the little details, the young bodyguard grows more uncomfortable each second the lady stares intensely into his eyes — while he remains serious, anyone could tell his body was tensing.
"You don't have any evidence, Leo. I've been nothing but a cooperative lady over the last weeks. You must be seeing things because as I can recall, I was always with you since day one." Lili flutters her eyelashes and her voice has gotten even more sickening sweet and soft, but there was a pinch of venom in every word.
Leo gulps down the nervousness bundling in his throat before Lili releases him, then twirls around and resumes strutting down the hallway with grace.
Leo gawked alone in the hallway for a moment before snapping back to reality and chased his protectee. As much as he hated to admit it, the teenager had a point — he had no proof that she left him, she and Sebastian had carefully planned every step so it's almost impossible for them to slip up.
Yet with determination, Leo decides to play the game they've been doing behind his back. He's going to catch Lili in the act and no force of the universe is gonna stop him.