Emma was shocked at Alex question as she didn't expect him to ask that.
" Why? ", Emma asked but Lilly interrupted her.
" No, I am not a minor. I am 19 but don't you think it is wrong to ask a girl, her age. Would you like it if I asked your salary? "
She spoke with a polite tone while her words were harsh but right. It didn't look that she was the same girl who was crying her eyes out. She completely turned into a new leaf, changing her demeanour.
Alex and Emma just stood surprised and then Emma came near him.
" It looks like you have opened a pandora's box. This is surely going to be fun. ", she whispered and immediately moved away from him.
" I am sorry Lilly, I didn't mean to offend you. I was just worried because if you were a minor, it could have led to some issues. "
" I understand that but do you think that I will like answering personal questions like that. "
Lilly's sharp words pierced Alex's heart like a dagger but he still remained calm.
" I know that you don't trust me yet and it is only right for you not to trust me. To you, I am just a stranger but trust me, I will never hurt you. ", Alex said, as gently as he could.
" Yes Lilly, Alex is right. Don't forget that he was the one who saved you. "
Emma's words, supporting Alex, caused Lilly to glare at her. Her sharp glare even shook Emma as she tried to do damage control.
' I mean yes, the price was too much but..... "
Thinking something, she stopped without completing her sentence.
" What is it? Why did you stop like that? ", Lilly asked, curious while Alex did not utter a single word.
" It was nothing much. Let's go and see what you can do. ", Emma said and without waiting for any answer, she pushed the door open.
He guided others down the stairs as the entire room was pitch black while his hand wandered on a wall by his side.
" Found it! ", he exclaimed suddenly.
" What? "
" The switch. ", he said as he switched on the lights, brightly liting the entire basement.
" Oh, so you were trying to find the switch! ", Emma exclaimed. " I thought that this basement never had any lights. "
" It didn't but I had to put some lights, because of it's darkness. ", he replied, looking at Lilly.
Then they walked down the stairs and reached the basement. It was completely empty and a chair was placed at the center of the room. It was so clean that it didn't look like a basement. Emma was also surprised at how clean it was.
" Hadn't you started using this as a store room? From what I remember, this basement was completely abandoned, wasn't it? "
" It was but I cleaned it for Lilly. ", he replied, looking at her.
His gaze and words somehow made Lilly feel nice while a smug smile came on Emma's face. They stared at each other for some seconds and then Lilly immediately diverted her eyes.
" So what do I have to do? ", she asked.
" Are you feeling thirsty or something? ", he asked instead of answering her question.
" It is a little hot in here but I think I can manage. "
" I see. This place feels quite stuffy so I am sure you will start feeling restless in some time. ", he replied.
" Then what? "
Lilly was not able to understand why he wanted her to feel restless and uncomfortable and she also had a bad feeling about this but, as Emma was also present with them, she didn't think that Alex could do anything wrong.
" Just sit over there. ", he said pointing to the chair.
Without saying anything, Lilly obeyed him and sat down.
" You won't mind if I dim the lights, right? ", he asked, reaching to the switchboard.
Unsure of what to do, Lilly looked in Emma's direction for help and she just gave her a smile and Lilly nodded in response.
" Why are you trying to increase her adrenaline flow? ", Emma asked Alex.
" Can't you understand? What will adrenaline rush do to her? ", Alex asked with crooked eyebrows instead of answering.
" I know what it can do but trying to increase the flow and thirst by artificial way...It does not feel right. ", Emma objected, looking at Lilly who just sat there in silence.
" I know but I think it is better to try and test things out, as soon as possible. "
Alex's eyes were fixed on Lilly while he was explaining Emma, as if asking her opinion.
" Yes, it's fine. I want to get over all this as soon as possible too. ", Lilly spoke up.
" If you don't have any problem so who am I to say anything. "
Alex looked around the room to look for something and soon disappointment was visible on his face.
" I forgot to get something. Let me bring it from the kitchen. ", Alex said as he was about to when Emma stopped him.
" Hey Alex, can you get me something to sit on too? How long am I supposed to stand here? ", she complained.
" Then you can go and get a chair yourself. It's not like you don't know where things are, you know my house like the back of your hand so go get yourself and don't forget to get one for me too. I forgot about us. ", he replied and walked away, leaving Emma grumbling.
" That annoying.... "
Lilly just smiled watching them bickering and when Emma was about to leave, she spoke up.
" Emma, I can't stay alone here. ", she said.
" Don't worry, Alex must be coming back with whatever he wanted and I will be back in some minutes. ", she replied and ran off, leaving her alone.
" You need to get used to this place during your time here. ", she shouted and disappeared.
Having left alone, with nothing to go, she got up to wander around the room.
" This just has an eerie vibe but there is nothing to be scared from! ", Lilly exclaimed, running her fingers through the cracks in the wall.
Soon Emma returned with two chairs in both of her hands and threw one of the chair, down the stairs.
The chair ran crashing down and Lilly caught it before it the wall.
" Why did you throw it? ", she asked.
" This chair is from Alex's study so I don't have any problem breaking it. "
Emma's wicked reply made Lilly laugh in surprise.
" That is cruel! "
" He deserves that. ", Emma replied, sulking. " He should not have made me climb so many stairs. "
" By the way, can I ask you a personal question? ", Lilly asked suddenly as a question kept lingering in her head.
" Sure. "
" Are you guys dating or something? ", she asked.
Lilly's question made Emma dumbfounded and after sometime, she spoke up.
" What? Me and Alex? Ha... Ha... Ha... ", she said and burst into laughter. " No way, not at all. "
" Then? I don't think that you are just a friend, isn't there something more than friendship? "
" No way, you don't have to misunderstand our relationship. I am really just a friend but we are close to each other just like siblings. ", she explained. " We have been friends for a long time so naturally, we are very close. Alex is older to me by age and at work also, he is senior to me so I have been relying on him for a long time. "
Before Lilly could say anything, Alex returned with a small puppy and a bowl in his hand.
On seeing the puppy, both of them got surprised and Emma screamed in horror.
" WHERE IN THE WORLD DID YOU GET THIS FROM? "