A/N: As usual, I would recommend putting the video on loop.

Changed, (f/n) glanced over how she looked. Admittedly, she did think that the outfit looked nice on her, and she'd be fine with wearing it if she wasn't going to be on a 'date' with Tristan. Knowing that she'd be around him, the skirt felt shorter than it really was. She tugged on her skirt a little and pouted. "Can't I change?" she asked even though she was certain Anita wouldn't budge on the outfit choice. Anita's shake of the head was enough.

"No, you look cute!" Before (f/n) could protest again, Anita grabbed her hands and tugged her forward. "He'll be here any minute and get to see you like this!"

"How fun," she answered in a monotone voice. As soon as they left the kitchen, however, she glanced over to Lee before she focused back on Anita. "Since this date is going to happen, I have an idea to make it better." That gave Anita pause, and she raised a brow curiously.

(F/n) managed to free her hands from Anita, and she stepped over to Lee, who was wondering what she was going to do. Did (f/n) want him to end the plan and just go to frightening Anita until she left for the hills? Or, did she want Anita to think that she was going crazy? He didn't know, but he managed to keep himself from looking down to (f/n) when she placed a hand on his right shoulder. "I'm going to bring him along."

For a long moment, Anita simply stared before she burst out laughing. "You're joking, right?" she managed to question between laughs. When (f/n) shook her head, Anita stared again before she crossed her arms. "Really? And, how will that make the date better."

"Easy. Tristan does interior design with an antique feel." (F/n) pointed to Lee with her free hand. "He's an antique. He also looks like person." She didn't exactly like saying that last sentence, but she had to be careful with her words. Otherwise, Anita might start to think she's imagining things again. "So, Tristan can use him as a display when he's coming up with ideas. He can see how people will look in the room and also get a bit of an antique vibe."

"... Okay," Anita said slowly, furrowing her brows. "It's like you never were scared of that thing." No doubt things had changed drastically between Lee and her, but (f/n) had accepted his past and wanted to keep having him by her side past their deal.

Shrugging, (f/n) squeezed Lee's shoulder a bit. "Eh, I got used to him. And, he's been helping with business."

"And, you think Tristan is going to be okay bringing a mannequin along?" Anita questioned, sounding highly doubtful. "Plus, what will we do for the menu? He's become a part of this café."

"Doesn't h –" (F/n) stopped when there was a knock on the front door. Anita grinned and opened it, revealing Tristan on the other side. He had on a grey button-up, black shorts and grey boat shoes. He was very happy to see (f/n) wearing the outfit he picked. Of course, he didn't say anything on the matter since he liked keeping that secret to himself. Plus, he didn't want to make her uncomfortable since it had been a close call at the pool, but he hoped that she'd extend her promise of a kiss at the coffee shop to today as well.

"Come on in, Tristan." Anita stepped to the side. "(F/n) just has to grab her purse."

"Thank you." He gave (f/n) an apologetic expression. "Sorry, that this was such short notice. Anita ..."

Crossing her arms, (f/n) quirked a brow. "She got to you too, didn't she?" Tristan nodded while Anita smiled proudly. "Doesn't surprise me." (F/n) sighed and patted Lee on the shoulder. "I was just telling Anita that I should bring this guy along with us." That caused Tristan to look incredibly confused, and he glanced to Anita to see if (f/n) was being serious. Anita shrugged and shook her head.

"I'm no interior designer. That's your area, and (f/n) thinks that the mannequin can help with planning or something like that." Anita still wore an unconvinced expression about the whole thing. "Not to mention you'd have to carry the thing all the way to the hotel and my menu holder won't be here, then."

"Anita does have a point, (f/n). But if you want to help with some of my designs again, why don't you bring your laptop?" That actually was a good idea. If she did overhear something at the hotel, she could record it on the laptop. But, there were the saved files as well as her search history. And even though she was leaving it behind where Anita could get to it, Anita was working and didn't have time to sneak around upstairs, except for a bathroom break. Even then, a couple of minutes wouldn't be enough for her to get past the password.

If she was to bring it to the hotel, she'd be working on it with Tristan nearby. That content wouldn't be pulled up, but she didn't feel comfortable having it around him since she didn't know what his computer expertise extended to. And if she needed to use the restroom, it'd be weird for her to bring the laptop in with her. He could try to look into it, then, and she wouldn't put it past Tristan as being that kind of person.

Her thoughts got interrupted, though, when Tristan added, "Actually, I have a better idea. Before going to the hotel, let's get you a new phone. That way, you don't have to carry a laptop around, especially since we're going for drinks later."

Clapping her hands together, Anita nodded. "That's a great idea! And, (f/n) can make calls again and text too." (F/n) didn't want them to have better access to communicating with her, but she'd prefer a phone shop over the hotel. All she had to do was stall for time. Even if she didn't avoid the hotel entirely, it'd shorten time there, and she could use that time in the shop to think of more ways not to venture into the hotel. She'd like to bring Lee along, but that plan was failing.

Shoulders sinking, she muttered, "I suppose that'll work." She glanced to Lee. "Sure, you don't want me to bring him along?"

Tristan rubbed the back of his neck. "It might be too much of a hassle, (f/n), but if you ever want to go over plans here, we can use him, then." He gave her a small smile. "Hopefully, you don't mind."

"... It's fine. I do need a phone eventually." She turned from Lee and headed for the stairs. "I'll get my purse." Lee wanted to tug her back and wrap his arms around her protectively.

"Don't take too long!" Anita called out. (F/n) waved a bit and headed into her room. Chuckling, Anita soon winked to Tristan. "You're welcome by the way."

On his lips formed a smile. "Yeah, thanks." Tristan glanced to (f/n)'s room. "I hope that she'll get more comfortable around me today."

"I'm sure she will. She can't be like that forever. Eventually, she'll cave and show you that she really likes you." Anita patted him on the left shoulder before she headed for the kitchen. "Have fun!" She winked back to him before she entered the kitchen. A smirk touched his lips before he diverted his light blue optics over to the mannequin.

"Tch, like I'd want to bring this thing along." He flicked it on the forehead and didn't like how it just stared back at him blankly. "F*cking creepy." Lee had the urge to stab Tristan right then and there. It'd be so easy, and he could make it a slow death. A chuckle parted from Tristan. Maybe, that meant, though, that (f/n) was into some weird sh*t, and he was down for that. As for Lee, he didn't care very much for Tristan's smirk, and he would've preferred to slice it off than just look at it.

Seeing (f/n) leaving her room, he quickly made sure to compose himself again, and he smiled up to her. (F/n) didn't have to see what he looked like moments before, however, to know that he was vile. "Ready?" he asked kindly. Slowly, (f/n) nodded. He held out his left hand to her, and she reluctantly took it. As Tristan guided her out of the café, she glanced to Lee briefly.

"I'll stall," she mouthed to him before she looked ahead. The door closed soon after them, and Lee knew that his heart would be clenching terribly if he had one. He had hoped that her excuse for bringing him would've work even if it was a long shot, but he hated knowing that they both might head to the hotel, and he'd be nowhere near it. Not to mention that service would start soon, and he'd clearly be noted as missing if he was to leave and go after them. Plus, people would see him on the streets, which would cause more problems.

But if anything happened to her, he'd snap, and Anita would be the first one to go. Since he could leave the building now, he'd then hunt down Kaleb and Tristan and make them suffer immensely. No doubt service was going to be difficult, and he couldn't wait until (f/n) got back. He hoped that she'd remain safe and that she'd be able to stall for enough time to avoid the hotel.

Walking down the street, though, (f/n) wished to turn back and stay with Lee, but she looked up to Tristan when he asked, "What kind of phone would you like?" One that he didn't know about. Since she wasn't going to say that, however, she hummed in thought while he waited for her response.