Lily: Seems a little trickster put your number in my phone ---

It was one of the showings for Leiella's students, and Lily was on hand to make sure that everything went smoothly that night at the gallery.  It was always nice to see the fresh talent.  Not to mention, it was a break from the typical clients that frequented the place.  She was dress down slightly from her usual business wear for her days at the gallery -- wearing just a pants black pant suit and jacket that were tailored to fit her body, a pair of boots, and a dark green top under the jacket.  Her wavy blonde hair fell down, stopping just below her shoulder blades.

She saw Lei and David enter, but there was someone with them that she hadn't met yet.  "Hello, Little Bit," Lily smiled, kissing Leiella's cheek.  "And David," she greeted with a smile.  "Lei, there is about an hour left for tonight, but so far a few have sold things."

Lei beamed, "Thank you again, Lily.  I'm going to go check on things."  She looked back at David, not sure if he would stay with Noah or not.

"My name is Lilianne," she offered her hand in greeting to the other man that accompanied Lei.  "Haven't seen you here before."

( leagueofextraordinarymuses )

She had made her bargain with the devil.  The very man that had once been her best friend.  It was her last ditch effort to get herself safely out of Paris and away from an organization that had fallen into things that she could no longer support.  On paper, Lilianne was still tied to the Patron Minette, but she could safely travel to the States to work there.  She would still have to report into Montparnasse, and in reality, she was still second in command.  This got her a bit of freedom, loosening the noose that she had put around her own neck when she was a teenager.

Setting up in New York was easy, and the city reminded her of all the things she had once loved about Paris.  It took her a few years to get herself settled – to get her foot into the game.  As she did in Paris, her cover was still that of a painting restoration artist.  It put her in touch with clients when it came to shipping paintings in and out of the country, as well as many other expensive secrets.  To that world, she was Lilianne Joubert.  To the other side of her life, she maintained the nickname LJ – a name that very few ever learned truly belonged to a woman.

There had been a man from Detroit wanting to move things through New York.  He had contacted LJ’s assistant for a meeting.  LJ was curious, because usually, she did not have out of town clients request a meeting with her.  This wasn’t just a client, thought.  She did her research, which only fueled her curiosity.  Arranging the meeting at one of her secure lofts within the city limits, LJ waited and wondered just what the man might want.

The night of the meeting, she slipped into one of her tailored business suits.  This one had a pencil skirt, instead of her typical pants.  Stockings, heels, and all of the trimmings of a well put together woman adorned her.  LJ’s blonde hair was twisted into a bun, with tendrils of curls hanging from it – all secured with a ornate silver hair stick.  Dinner had been ordered, and it was already sitting on the table.  She believed in never just discussing business.  It was too cold and impersonal.

Hearing the knock on the door, she opened it with a smile.  “May I have your name?”  Her voice was sweet and calm, fully knowing the man’s name already.  “LJ will be right with you.  Would you please have a seat at the table?”  She stepped back, motioning him towards the dining room.  Soon, she would get the fun of letting him know just who she was.

LJ had decided to get a roommate.  It was Lei’s idea to be honest.  The petite brunette swore up and down that a roommate might help LJ adjust to “normal” life.  Even though it had been five years since the thief had moved to New York, she had still kept a fairly closed off way of living.  Work and home.  She didn’t budge much from that patterned, only really having one or two friends.  Well, two friends.  Lei and Gia.  That was about it for the people that LJ allowed to really know her.

The potential roommate was due to arrive today.  Lily had spent the better part of the week cleaning, as well as straightening up the spare room.  Hearing the knock on the door, she went to answer it.  Now, usually, at work, Lily wore the nicest dresses or a tailored suit.  At home, she wore a t-shirt and jeans, hair down, and barely any make up on. 

“Hello there, it’s --- “  Her words stopped midsentence when she saw the man.  Montana.  “This is – no.  You can’t be my roommate --- “  This was the worst possible thing, because LJ could keep up her façade outside of her home.  Having Monty around her fulltime --- oh, that would certainly let Monty into her world – into the world that she had spent years hiding from him.

It was the night of the gallery's latest opening.  This was another one of the student shows, which had become rather popular.  LJ was happy to help out Leiella, and it had brought in a fresh client base into the gallery.

Standing near the front of the gallery, LJ's eyes grew a little wide with surprise when she saw the man that walked in the door.  It was William.  Someone that she hadn't seen in forever.  Keeping up the appearance of her job, the blonde walked up to him, offering her hand in greeting -- as she did most people that walked into the gallery.  "Hello William.  What brings you into the gallery tonight?"

narlagadiathu

It couldn’t be long enough for him in his mind. He loved being near Lilly, and there was no doubt of that. As they stood there, his arm wrapped around Lilly, he couldn’t help but let the words escape his lips. His eyes met hers as he waited for what she would say. And then a smile escaped as she said the three words he wanted to hear from her and leaned down, kissing him softly.

"And for that? I am a lucky man love. I can’t imagine my life without you in it now…"

Her finger still felt odd without the weight of her engagement ring.  She had finally forced herself to take it off --- to accept that she had been left the night before her wedding.  Lilianne had let herself fall in love, open her heart long after she swore she never would.  It back fired in the worst way --- the one way she never thought it would. 

She sat in the bar in her usual spot --- the end, where she could watch the entire room.  Laying in front of her next to her glass of scotch were the two fully paid plane tickets for her honeymoon.  It was too late to get the money back for them, and it’s not like she really had a friend to drag along with her on the all expenses paid trip.  Downing the last of her scotch, the blonde settled on a wild idea – randomly asking someone to just go with her.  She had done crazier shit in Paris, and it’s not like she couldn’t defend herself if something went wrong.

Heading out of the bar after tossing down enough money to cover her one drink and a tip, she walked up to the first person she saw.  The man was blond, like her, and he was sitting on a motor cycle.  “I have probably the craziest question to ask you, if you are willing to take a moment to listen?”  She was always one to get right to the point – always a touch blunt.

"Oh…..oh, hello, I don’t think we’ve met before," Liam blushed.