Lila's pov
It all feels too good to be true, all that I had to do was to lie I was dying and I get to live the life of my dreams? Luxury lifestyle? School of my dream! Now all I have to do now is to win over the man of my heart. You can call me desperate for all I care but I'll stop at nothing to get what I want.
( 3 months ago)
"I heard Ms Wilder goes to the restaurant uptown every Friday, we should go there this Friday I might have a chance to see her" I said to my best friend Avelyn as we walked back home from school.
"Don't you think you're becoming more of a stalker? I know about your crush on Zane but stalking his mom? Girl c'mon it's kinda creepy" Avelyn said with clear disgust in her voice. Guess she's tired of me obsessing over the Wilder's for the past years.
"I'm not a stalker babe, I just want to be recognized!" I said smiling as an idea ran through my mind. "See you later vee!" I said bolting off in the opposite direction of my house straight to uptown.
After several minutes of walking, I arrived at the restaurant. It wasn't as big as I thought, but still expensive for me, anyway. With a deep breath, I pushed the door and entered. As I stepped into the restaurant, I could feel gazes on me not in admiration but disdain that was when I realized my outfits didn't belong here, I mean I'm wearing my late mom's dress which is pretty worn out from me wearing it at least 3 times every week, it reminds me of my mom and truthfully if not for avelyn I'm not sure I'll be taking it off me, my shoe's original color was red but right now anyone would bet it was pink and never red paired with my big glasses giving me that nerdy look and my hair twisted in two French braids.
With all the gazes on me, a part of me starts regretting I ever came here, I was sucked out of my own little chaotic world when I felt a tap on my shoulder.
"Hey girl, missed your way?" A young lad around my age asked, judging by his outfits, I'm sure he's one of the waiters around here. If it weren't for my crazy obsession with Zane I'd have fawned over how cute he was.
"Errrmm…yeah….no, I'm actually here to see the manager" I replied fiddling with the string of my backpack anxiously.
"Do you have an appointment with him, Miss?" He asked his voice somewhat professional than earlier
"Yes" I lied and he led me to a table
"Please have a seat while I inform you of your arrival, tea or coffee Miss…?" His tone suggested I insert my name.
"Tell him from the wilder's" I lied once again, looking up to the tag on the young lad's chest I read his name before adding" tea Matteo, thanks" He nodded and left. A few moments later I saw him approaching me with a man in his early thirties whom I assumed to be the manager.
He had a confused look on his face probably cause of the way I'm dressed or because he's never seen me before, the two lots reached my table, Matteo dropped my tea on the table and I mouthed a small thank you as he bowed and left leaving the manager whom I have no idea his name was with me.
"Please sit down" I said smiling awkwardly as I pointed my hands at the empty seat opposite me, he pulled the chair out and sat down giving me a questioning look.
" Hmmm…" I started "My name is Lilian Arlo but my friends call me Lily, I lost my mom when I was 7 to cancer…. I paused debating on whether to pronounce my dad dead I mean he's dead to me afterall. "2 years later my dad committed suicide after finding out the cancer mom had was genetic and I have only few years to live, ever since then I've been trying to live the best of my life cause it can end anytime and I know I'm wrong for using the wilder's name as an excuse to see you but that's the only way to gain your attention " I rushed the lies out of my mouth as I lifted my gaze to meet his face which was confused with his eyebrow raised in question.
" How do you know the wilders?" He asked. Why won't I know the wilders? Apart from being one of the wealthiest people in the country, they own my dream school and also the family my crush of all time came from.
"Why are you here and telling me all this?" He asked again his voice rising but still gentle. I put on my sympathetic look and then said" It's always been my dream to work in a restaurant and I come here in hopes you'll grant my wish as I have little time to live now". I could feel his demeanor soften, I'm sure he's feeling sorry for me. " I'm so sorry you're going through all that and tho we have no vacancy I can scrub you in with the waiters, I don't want to be the reason you couldn't fulfill your dream, you can resume tomorrow after school" He said giving me a too wide smile. " thank you so much Mr manager!" I said happiness evident on my face. " would you like to have anything?" He asked his voice warm with concern. " no, I better start going, see you tomorrow Mr manager" I said strapping my backpack on my back as I exited the restaurant waving excitedly at the manager.
My happiness dissipated as I opened the door to my house to find Donna ( my dad's wife) waiting for me. Ever since my dad got married a year after my mom's death, I loathed him and stopped regarding him as my dad. He married Donna the two-faced snake acting all nice in my dad's presence and hitting me in his absence.
"Where have you been?" She growled
" I helped Vee home, she hurt her leg and couldn't walk home herself" I lied. She was the person who made me perfect at lying cause the truth costs me getting beaten up.
"Ohh I see! You're Avelyn's caregiver now?" She asked inching towards me as I closed my eyes anticipating a slap from her which never came cause of my dad's voice that echoed from behind me.
"Welcome honey" she glared as she passed by me smiling as she hugged her husband and I left them hurriedly heading over to my room.