"I'm sorry, Lily. It's Chris Eaton we're talking about. He's not someone to be messed with. If you need anything else, I'll try to help you, but..."
"Oh, come on!" Lily screamed in frustration. "You can't abandon me now, Jude! Chris Eaton has trapped me with this contract, and I need to solve it without my parents finding out."
There was a pause on the other end. "What kind of contract are we talking about here?"
Lily lowered her voice, glancing around as if Chris might be lurking in the shadows. "Well, you see... I'm technically married to him. But I didn't read the papers before I signed them!"
A high-pitched squeal erupted from the phone, nearly deafening Lily. "Yay! My bestie is married!"
"This is not a celebration, Jude!" Lily hissed. "This isn't even a real marriage. Chris Eaton is mean, and arrogant and I hate him. I need to get out of this contract!"
There was a moment of silence as Jude processed the information. Then, her voice took on a conspiratorial tone. "Okay, don't worry. I have a plan. Let's go to Martin's VIP club tonight. High-class lawyers go there to drink. If you can convince one of them, maybe you can get some help. You know, instead of a phone conversation, meeting with them in person might make them agree."
Lily hesitated for a moment, weighing her options. It wasn't exactly a foolproof plan, but at this point, she was willing to try anything. "Alright," she agreed with a sigh. "I'm in."
As she hung up the phone, Lily couldn't shake the feeling that she was about to step into a whole new world of trouble. At least she must give it a try instead of worrying about her current situation.
…
"You are so cute," Evan Matthews, whose parents owned one of the biggest law firms in the city, complimented Lily. She just smiled in response, seated next to him on the plush couch in the VIP lounge. Evan drank his whiskey while Lily pretended to sip hers.
"You're cute too," Lily replied, taking in Evan's boyish face. He wasn't lying - he did have a certain charm about him.
Evan leaned in closer, his eyes fixed on her mouth. "You have nice lips," he murmured. "Like rose petals."
Lily felt a blush creep up her cheeks. "Oh, really? Thank you."
"Fillers?" he asked bluntly.
Lily nodded, feeling a twinge of embarrassment.
"Nice lip fillers you got," Evan continued, his gaze growing more intense. "Makes your lips look plump and... edible."
Lily sighed inwardly, thinking about the current beauty standards that demanded women have lips that looked like they'd been stung by bees. The pressure to look good had pushed her into getting the fillers, just like it had driven her to undergo all those other cosmetic procedures that almost damned her life—and trapped her in a contract with Chris Eaton.
As Evan continued to stare at her lips, Lily reminded herself why she was there. She needed to ask him now, and somehow get out that stupid contract.
Evan leaned in closer, his breath hot on Lily's ear. "How about we take this conversation upstairs?" he suggested, his hand resting on her knee.
Lily shifted uncomfortably, remembering her true purpose. "Before that," she said, gently removing his hand, "I actually have something to ask you."
Evan's eyebrows shot up with interest. "Oh? And what might that be?"
"I was hoping you could help me with a legal case," Lily explained carefully.
Evan puffed up his chest, a cocky grin spreading across his face. "Of course! My parents own the biggest law firm in the city, you know. I've personally won countless lawsuits. What's your issue, beautiful?"
Lily took a deep breath. "Well, I accidentally signed a contract with... Chris Eaton."
The change in Evan's expression was instantaneous. His face drained of color, eyes widening in pure horror. "I'm sorry, did you say..." he lowered his voice to a whisper, "Chris Eaton?"
Lily nodded, her heart sinking. "Yes, that's right."
Evan abruptly stood up, nearly knocking over his drink in his haste. He set the glass on the table with a shaky hand. "I'm sorry... I don't want to get involved in this," he said, his voice trembling slightly.
Lily felt as if she'd been doused with ice water. She stared at Evan in shock, unable to process the sudden shift in his demeanor. Just moments ago, he'd been bragging about his legal prowess and flirting shamelessly. Now, at the mere mention of Chris Eaton's name, he looked ready to bolt.
"But... but you said you could help with any case," Lily stammered, her voice rising in desperation.
Evan was already backing away, shaking his head vigorously. "Not this one. I'm sorry, but you're on your own. Chris Eaton is... he's not someone you want to cross. I can't help you."
As Evan hurried away, disappearing into the crowd, Lily slumped back onto the couch, stunned and utterly defeated.
Jude rushed over, sliding into the spot Evan had just vacated. "It's alright, Lily," she said, wrapping an arm around her friend's shoulders. "We can find someone else. This isn't over yet."
Lily leaned back, closing her eyes with a heavy sigh. "I don't think I'm going to find any lawyer willing to help me, Jude. Not against Chris Eaton." She let out a humorless laugh. "God, I feel like a damsel in distress."
"Oh honey," Jude replied with a smirk, "you're not a damsel. You're married."
Lily scoffed at her friend's ill-timed joke, shooting her an exasperated look. But as she glanced around the VIP lounge, her breath suddenly caught in her throat.
There, across the room, a pair of piercing blue eyes were fixed on her. Chris Eaton stood leaning against the bar, a drink in hand, watching her intently. His gaze was unwavering, a mixture of amusement and something else Lily couldn't quite decipher.
Her heart raced as their eyes locked. How long had he been there? Had he seen her failed attempt to recruit Evan? The thought made her cheeks burn with embarrassment.
"Jude," Lily whispered, gripping her friend's arm tightly. "Don't look now, but Chris Eaton is here. He's watching us."
Jude's eyes widened, and she subtly glanced in Chris's direction. "Oh my God," she breathed. "What do we do?"
"We do nothing!" Lily stood up to her feet. "I'll keep on asking other lawyers here."