Elysia barely slept that night. Her mind replayed the events of the dinner over and over, each moment leaving her more conflicted than the last. The kiss Zane had planted on her cheek lingered in her thoughts, not as a manipulation but as a precious memory she clung to. She had promised to help him, and in her eyes, it was a sign of trust, a bond that tied her closer to him. But beneath it all, a fear gnawed at her: what if Zane succeeded in winning Lilith over? Would she lose him forever?
The next morning, Elysia wandered through campus, her steps aimless. The usual bustle of students preparing for the day felt distant, muted, as though she were walking in a dream. Her phone buzzed, snapping her out of her thoughts. It was a message from Zane: "Meet me in the library at noon. Don't be late."
She held her phone tightly, her heart fluttering. The thought of seeing Zane again filled her with nervous excitement. He needed her—that's what mattered most. Whatever doubts lingered were overshadowed by the chance to stay close to him.
When noon came, Elysia arrived at the library, her heart pounding. Zane was waiting, sitting at a table near the large arched windows. The sunlight streaming through made him look even more striking. She saw his composed demeanour as a sign of his confidence, his strength—qualities she admired deeply. As her figure entered his view, a subtle smirk curled on Zane's lips, a look of satisfaction as though he had just secured a vital piece in his game. He gestured for her to sit across from him, his movements deliberate and composed.
"Good. You're on time," Zane said, his voice cold and authoritative as he slid a piece of paper across the table. "I've yearned for Lilith since the moment I met her. She's everything I want—perfect, untouchable—and that's exactly why I like her. But I'm done waiting. She's meant to be mine, and you're going to make her crave me too."
Zane leaned back in his chair, his sharp gaze fixed on her trembling form. Her shallow breaths and stiffened shoulders betrayed the storm of emotions within her, but he felt no sympathy. To him, her torment was a fleeting inconvenience, a trivial cost in the grand scheme of his plans. His lips curled in a faint, detached smile. Lilith was his goal, his obsession, and Elysia was nothing more than a stepping stone—a pawn he could move as he pleased. Her pain? Irrelevant. Only the outcome mattered.
"Here's what you're going to do," he said, his voice cutting through the air, cold and commanding. "You're going to start talking to Lilith. Get close to her, earn her trust, and make her comfortable around you. And every chance you get, shift the conversation to me. Make her notice how I've always been there, at every event she's attended, how I've paid attention to her in ways no one else has. Let her know I admire her, that I'm interested in her, and that I'm the one who's always available for her. You'll make her see me. You'll create the openings I need to make her mine."
Elysia's grip on the paper tightened, her knuckles white with the effort of holding herself together. She couldn't look up, couldn't face him—not when the pain clawed at her chest so viciously.
The sharp sting of jealousy burned inside her as she stared at the paper. The words blurred before her eyes, but the message was seared into her heart. This was all about Lilith—his obsession, his fixation, his life revolving around someone who wasn't her. She could barely stand to read it, knowing she was now a pawn in Zane's relentless pursuit of perfection.
Every word he spoke felt like another stab, a reminder of how little he saw her, how invisible she was compared to Lilith. Her chest tightened with the weight of it all, and for a moment, she wondered how much more of this she could endure.
Zane's voice sliced through her thoughts. "This is what needs to happen, Elysia," he said, his tone leaving no room for argument. "You'll do this, or I'll find someone else who will."
Elysia swallowed hard, her throat tight with emotion. There was no escaping this, no way out. She loved him—and had fallen for him and kept falling for him with every moment they spent together. But now, she was stuck helping him win over another woman. She glanced at the paper one last time, her eyes lingering on the title that felt like a dagger to her chest: Operation: Make Lilith Mine. The words burned into her mind, each letter a painful reminder of how little she mattered to him, how his every thought and effort was devoted to another woman.
With a shaky breath, she nodded.
With Zane's cold voice still ringing in her ears, she left the library, the task ahead weighing heavily on her shoulders. She wasn't sure how she would do it, but she had no choice. Lilith was an obstacle she couldn't avoid. And Zane had made it clear: Elysia's role in this was critical. She had to make Lilith see him. She had to make her desire him. The thought of it twisted something in her gut, but there was no escaping it. No way out.
Elysia walked through the campus, her steps sluggish as the weight of her task settled in. It was only when a program announcement from the film department cut through her haze that she realised where she was headed. A collaboration between departments, a showcase of new talent—Lilith was the key organizer. She had no idea what to expect from the event, but when she arrived, the air was thick with anticipation, a hum of excitement that felt foreign to her now. Students milled around, some rehearsing, others socializing, but there was an undeniable air of anticipation hanging in the room. It was here, at this impromptu event, that Elysia finally saw her in person.
At first, she didn't even recognize Lilith right away—there were so many people, so much happening—but then, across the room, she saw the unmistakable figure of a woman who drew everyone's attention. Lilith stood near the stage, surrounded by directors and producers, yet it was clear that no one else seemed to matter. She was engaged in conversation with a few key figures, but her very presence commanded the room.
Elysia stood frozen, the crowd parting like the Red Sea as Lilith moved toward her. She was tall—impossibly tall—and yet she didn't tower over anyone. Instead, she had that perfect, actress's height, the kind that made her look elegant in any setting, as though she belonged on the silver screen. Her outfit was understated, yet exquisite: a tailored jacket that draped perfectly over her shoulders and a simple silk blouse beneath it. It was the type of effortless glamour that screamed sophistication without even trying.
As Lilith walked closer, Elysia felt her breath catch in her throat. Her beauty wasn't just about her physical features—it was in the way she held herself, in the way she moved with a certain cinematic grace, as if she were always performing for an audience, even when she wasn't. Her skin was flawless, glowing with a radiance that seemed too perfect to be real. Her eyes—the sharp intensity of them—looked through people, like a master of her craft, aware of everything around her, yet able to remain aloof, untouchable.
Elysia had heard about Lilith for months—how she was a rising star in the film world, already landing major roles despite her youth, how directors and producers alike couldn't get enough of her. But hearing about it was one thing. Seeing it up close was something else entirely. Elysia hadn't even realized how much she had imagined Lilith's beauty would surpass her expectations until now. And now, she was facing the cold reality: Lilith wasn't just beautiful—she was captivating.
She stepped back slightly, not wanting to be noticed, but it was impossible. Lilith's presence filled the space like a spotlight, and no matter how hard Elysia tried, she couldn't seem to escape it. She was magnetic, her every movement radiating elegance and authority, as if the world was hers to command. No wonder Zane was obsessed with her. Lilith was the kind of woman who didn't need to chase dreams; dreams chased her. The kind of woman Elysia could never hope to become.
For the first time, Elysia realized that Zane's obsession with Lilith wasn't just about her looks—it was about Lilith being a woman who seemed to embody everything he wanted in a partner: powerful, beautiful, untouchable. Lilith was perfection, in every sense. And Elysia? She was just a girl who didn't fit into that world, no matter how hard she tried.
Elysia's chest tightened as she tried to leave the venue. The sight of Lilith—her perfect beauty, her effortless charm—had twisted something inside her. She couldn't stand it anymore. She needed to get out, away from the jealousy that was suffocating her.
Elysia's heart raced as she moved through the venue, her nerves practically buzzing beneath her skin. The pressure of the night—the weight of Zane's expectations—was too much to bear. She had seen Lilith across the room, surrounded by admirers, effortlessly commanding the attention of everyone around her. But Elysia didn't belong in that world. She wasn't like Lilith. No matter how hard she tried, she could never be the woman Zane truly wanted.
She turned to leave, her breath catching in her throat, but her escape was cut short. As she rounded the corner of the hallway, she collided with a solid chest.
Elysia froze, her heart stopping for a split second as she looked up into Zane's sharp eyes.
"Leaving so soon?" His voice was cold, cutting through the rush of her thoughts.
Elysia swallowed hard, struggling to find her voice. "I... I was just—"
"You're not going anywhere," Zane interrupted, his tone firm and unyielding. "You have a job to do. And I don't want you to forget it."
Elysia's pulse quickened, the weight of his words sinking in. She had already failed, hadn't she? She had wanted to run, to escape the suffocating pressure, but here he was, his eyes locking onto hers with that same commanding presence. "You're going to do what I asked, right?"
"Of course," she whispered, her voice trembling.
Zane nodded, but his expression was unreadable, his eyes studying her. "Good. We can't have people seeing us together here. I don't want Lilith to misunderstand us." Without another word, he grabbed her by the wrist and pulled her toward a side exit.
Elysia stumbled slightly as he dragged her through the crowd, her mind spinning. He led her outside, the cool night air hitting her skin like a slap. The silence outside was a stark contrast to the lively buzz of the venue, and she felt a shiver run down her spine. They were now away from the eyes of others, hidden in the shadow of the venue's entrance.
Zane turned to face her, his expression still hard. He handed Elysia the bouquet of deep crimson tulips, his gaze unwavering as he spoke. "Take these flowers and give them to Lilith. Make sure she gets them. And tell her that I'm sorry I can't make it tonight."
Elysia blinked, waiting for him to elaborate, but Zane's voice remained cool and calm. "I want you to create the excuse. Make it something that will make her feel my absence. This is the first time I'm not attending one of her events, and I want her to feel it, to notice it. I want her to wonder why I'm not here."
Elysia's heart raced. This wasn't just about delivering a simple message. She needed to come up with an excuse that would make Lilith feel Zane's absence—like something important was missing. She had to make Lilith question why he wasn't there, without giving away the real reason.
Zane's eyes locked onto hers, his tone turning colder. "Make it work, Elysia. Don't you dare disappoint me."
With a nod, Elysia took the bouquet from him, her fingers trembling slightly. As Zane turned to walk away, she was left standing in the quiet of the outdoor space, the weight of her task heavy on her shoulders. She had to create the perfect excuse—something that would make Lilith feel like this night was incomplete without Zane's presence.
She couldn't avoid it now. With her head held low, Elysia pushed through the crowd, trying to steady her shaking hands as she searched for Lilith.
It didn't take long to find her. Lilith stood near the stage, her presence impossible to ignore. Surrounded by a group of admirers, she stood tall, her posture perfect, her smile warm and inviting. The crowd seemed to part for her, and for a moment, Elysia felt completely invisible.
But she had a role to play.
Elysia swallowed hard and stepped forward, her heart pounding in her chest. She cleared her throat softly, her voice barely rising above the hum of conversation. "Hi, Lilith?"
Lilith turned, her eyes meeting Elysia's with a polite smile. "Yes? How can I help you?"
"I… I'm Elysia," she stammered, trying to keep her voice steady. "I just wanted to say… your performance tonight was incredible. Truly inspiring."
Lilith's smile widened, and a warm, genuine look appeared in her eyes. "Thank you. That means a lot."
Elysia forced herself to meet her gaze, her stomach twisting. She couldn't let her feelings show. She had a job to do. "Actually… I'm here on behalf of someone. Zane wanted me to tell you that he couldn't make it tonight. He's training for his upcoming rugby competition."
Lilith's expression flickered, a brief shadow passing over her face. "Zane… he's never missed one of my events before."
Elysia felt a pang of guilt shoot through her, but she pushed it down. "He really wanted to be here," she said quickly, almost pleading. "He asked me to give you these."
She extended the bouquet of tulips, the crimson petals seeming to gleam with significance. Lilith's gaze softened as she took them, her fingers brushing against the flowers, and for a moment, she seemed lost in thought. Elysia's heart ached at the sight, the intensity of the moment almost too much to bear.
"Thank you," Lilith said, her voice quiet now, a softer edge to it. "It's… sweet of him to think of me."
Elysia forced a smile, though it felt like a fragile mask. "Of course," she managed, her throat tight. "I'll let him know you received them."
Lilith smiled at her, a warm, genuine gesture that only deepened the ache in Elysia's chest. "Take care, Elysia. And thank you again."
Elysia nodded quickly, excusing herself. She didn't wait for a reply, already retreating from Lilith's presence, the weight of the flowers still heavy in her arms.
The world felt quieter as she walked away, the distant hum of conversations barely reaching her ears. She had done what Zane asked. She had delivered his message. She had handed Lilith his flowers. And in that moment, all Elysia could feel was the suffocating emptiness that came with it.
She had just given him another piece of herself to offer someone else.