Bright Star

Chapter 3: Blurred Lines

Note: Sorry this took so long, I was in the hospital last Sunday and I didn't really feel well physically or mentally all week. I didn't get the best news, but I will be okay eventually. This chapter is going to seem kind of rushed, I didn't want to keep you guys waiting any longer so here it is. I will probably tweek it later jsyk. The next chapter should be up by Wednesday!

It was 9:45 in the morning as Lily sat staring at her computer screen, the glass door shielding her from the gossiping happening on the other side. Every once in a while she would look up to see one of her co-workers staring in at her, amusement on their faces, causing Lily to frown and pretend it wasn't happening. But the paper lying next to her keyboard told her exactly why it was. On the cover of The Guardian was the worst thing that could have happened to her life of anonymity. She stared at it from the corner of her eye, the evidence folded in half so she couldn't see it. It had been waiting for her when she came in that morning, sitting there like a tiny bomb ready to blow her life to smithereens. She bit the inside of her cheek, nervously as the phone on her desk suddenly buzzed loudly. Grabbing the receiver she pulled the trash bin out from under her desk and pushed the paper into it, knowing many more would be following after it.  

"This is Lillian." She answered, stuffing the bin back under the desk as Janie knocked on the door.  

"Lily, darling will you come to my office please." Her grandmother asked politely, as Lily gestured for Janie to come in.  

"Of course, I'll be there in a minute." Lily told her as Janie pushed the glass door open and walked in, a thick folder in her hand.  

"What is it Janie?" Lily asked as she hung up the phone and stood from her desk. Janie moved closer and held the folder out for her, silent. For whatever reason she seemed nervous and Lily wasn't quite sure why.  

"Is there something the matter Janie, you seem a little odd this morning?" Lily asked remembering the way Janie could barely look at her this morning, as she sat at her small desk against the wall outside of her office. Lily took the folder and opened it up as Janie remained silent.  

"Well Janie, what's the matter? Are you sick do you need the day off?" Lily questioned as she looked down at the thank you letters to all the attendees of the charity benefit from the night before.  

"No...Lady Lillian." Janie stuttered and Lily's eyes immediately shot up to her assistant.  

"What's going on with you, you never call me that?" Lily asked as she tucked the folder under her arm as Janie fidgeted uncomfortably, pulling at the hem of her dark blue cardigan.  

"I know, it's just...I...I thought...well since you're dating the Prince..." She stuttered again.  

"Whoa, stop right there!" Lily snapped holding her hand up, "I am not dating the Prince, and I thought I made it clear when you started here that we were on first name basis only, no Lady Lillian..." She started as Janie nodded her head agreeing.  

"I know but you're an aristocrat, and you're dating the Prince...I should be..."Janie yammered on, and Lily rolled her eyes at her assistant's selective hearing.  

"Janie I am not dating Harry, look I don't have time for this, I need to go upstairs...just get back to work alright." Lily snapped annoyed, walking past her.  

Lily moved through the office trying to avoid the eyes of her co-workers as she made her way to the lifts. She could see some of them reading the same paper she had just pushed into the trash bin, others The Evening Standard, there were even a few reading The Daily Mail, a trashy tabloid that didn't even get delivered to their office. All of them had the same picture on the cover. How could she have been so stupid last night, so careless? Angrily she jammed her finger into the lift button as the murmurs of "Do you think she's really dating him?" and "She dated Prince Harry before?" started reaching her ears. Crossing her arms, she tried her best to ignore them, even as some started directing the questions at her. She didn't want to answer them, frankly because it was none of their business, but mostly because she was too embarrassed. Everyone knew that she prided herself on being a private person, and here she was splashed across every major London newspaper and tabloid being anything but. She looked like a hypocrite. Lily was thankful as the lift finally dinged and the doors slid open. She slipped inside, tears stinging her eyes, as she pressed the button for the seventh floor. The doors slid closed without anyone else getting on and she leaned back against the gold railing letting her tears fall.