After Lilly had explained her plan to Mr. Ambrose, a thoughtful look briefly shadowed his chiseled features. Finally, he sighed, and stood from his office chair. "Fine. Let's go." Lilly beamed, then jogged after him. He was much, much taller than her and each of his strides were equal to four of hers. The doors to his office swung open under his soft touch, probably too afraid to damage them in any way, Lilly thought. Mr. Stone, hearing the clicking of heels upon the marble floor quickly opened a tab to his documents and tried to look as if he were working. "Oh, hello sir!" Mr. Ambrose and Karim ignored him, and Lilly shot an apologetic glance back at him. 

She ran into the elevator just as it was closing. "Hey, wait, will you?" 

"Either you keep up with me, or get left behind." Lilly sighed. The elevators dinged open on the first floor, and all the employees bustling around and chattering fell immediately silent. They parted before him as he stepped out, lowering their heads and training their eyes on the floor. Mr. Ambrose strode through them as though there was no one there. Lilly and Karim followed after him, and soon they emerged on the blustery London sidewalk. She drew her coat tighter around herself. "My car is this way," Mr. Ambrose directed her to a black 2005 Toyota Prius parked on the street. Lilly stared at in shock. 

"That's.... your car?!" She exclaimed. There was nothing wrong with it, per say. It was just.. It wasn't what she expected. Maybe a fancy sports car, a Ferrari, or at least a Camaro. Not a Toyota Prius from 11 years ago. 

"Yes. Now get in." Mr. Ambrose ducked his head and entered the passenger seat, while Karim settled into the driver's seat. Lilly climbed into the leather back seat and Karim squealed away almost immediately. "Where are we going to get your dress?" 

Lilly smiled deviously. "I know just the place. I just hope she's not home..." She added under her breath. 

10 minutes of scary driving later, Lilly staggered out of the car. "Karim! I think you need your driver's license revoked." 

"It is you who needs a transplant for bravery, Linton." 

Lilly snorted. "This might take a while!" She called back over her shoulder and ran up the steps to her house. She burst in, surprising Eve and Flora who were on the couch. 

"Lilly!!" Flora cried. 

"Why are you here so early- don't tell me you got fired again!"  

"Eve, have some faith! No- I just need to dress up for a party. Help me please?" 

"Ooohh!!" Eve and Flora cried. "Who's your date?" 

Lilly flushed. "No one! I'm just accompanying my boss!" 

Flora giggled. "It's alright we won't tell Patsy. Now let's get you ready!" 

Lilly emerged 18 minutes later, tugging at the short hem of the black dress. Her legs were clad in matching fishnet tights while a pair of thigh high boots finished up her look. She walked unsteadily down the stairs, already regretting her choice of footwear. These were Eve's shoes, and she wasn't accustomed to such unstable shoes. She saw Mr. Ambrose in the front seat, face turned away and talking to someone. As she approached the car, a few of his words wafted out of the open window. "Warren, meet us at the London Marriott Hotel in 10. Yes, I mean now. I want 15 men to-" Mr. Ambrose stopped talking as he caught sight of his secretary. Lilly flashed him a smirk. 

 "Let's go!" She called, stepping into the car. The car lurched away, combining with London's traffic. Mr. Ambrose reviewed the plan with her one last time, glancing at her once in a while in the back mirror, looking away again when she caught his eye. It seemed to Lilly, as though he had never been in the presence of a woman. It was kind of cute, and gentlemanly that he was like this. Lilly confirmed the plan and climbed out of the car, clutching the onion Mr. Ambrose had given her in the car. She wasn't quite sure when he'd went out to buy an onion, but she took it nevertheless. It was time to see if Theater Camp had worked after all. 

She sliced the onion into quarters, inserting one of them into the sleeve of her dress, then put the rest into her purse. Lilly made her way to the Reception desk, tears already leaking from her eyes and starting to blotch the cat's eye Flora had drawn on her lashes. She stepped from behind the pillar and started to sob, her shoulders shaking. When she had reached Reception Desk, her eyes were positively streaming with heartbroken tears. The man looked up at her, surprised to see a random, beautiful crying lady in front of him. "Um, Miss?" 

"P-please, you've g-g-got to help me," Lilly hiccuped, staring up at him from her lashes. "My- my husband... I-I think... He's cheating on me!"  

"Ms..." He looked at her imploringly. 

"I... I was Ms. Juliet Desdemona Bennet. Before I married that wretched, wretched man!" Lilly wailed again, collapsing against the desk. The man hurried around his desk and took her in his arms. 

"Please, Ms. Bennet, is there anything I can do?" 

"Oh- oh, yes! Please, I think my husband is here. His- my- no, his last name is Simmons. Please, I need to know." The receptionist immediately agreed and went to his computer, logging into the Guest list. 

"Room 328 Ms. Bennet! Do you need me there? I can just be there for... Moral support, and if you want," the guy hesitated, then said in a rush, "I can take you out for dinner after." Lilly squashed the feeling of disgust that rose up in her chest. He was just trying to take advantage of another vulnerable woman! 

"No thank you, I need to do this on my own." He nodded understandingly as Lilly walked away, pretending to wipe her eyes. She met Mr. Ambrose and Karim in the hallway next to the elevators. 

"You laid it on a bit thick, Ms. Juliet Desdemona Bennet. Seriously, Romeo and Juliet, Othello, and Pride and Prejudice?" Mr. Ambrose asked, falling in beside her. Lilly looked up at him in surprise. She didn't have to crane her head back anymore. She was now eye-to-neck with him. 

"You read Romance novels?" 

"No." 

"Then how do you know about them? So, do you watch romance movies then?" Lilly teased him as they entered the elevator. 

"Let's get to work, Ms. Linton."  Ignoring her, Mr. Ambrose turned away. Karim's beard twitched. 

Lilly left the two at the end of the hallway on Floor 3, proceeding alone to room 328. The door was a normal, off white color, the metal card reader flashing red. She raised her fist, reciting Simon's physical features. Long, shoulder length blonde hair. Thin nose, and scar above right eyebrow. Lilly knocked, and waited. The door swung open only a minute later, revealing a short brown haired guy. 

"Hello?" He was so short, even without her heels, Lilly would have towered over him. 

"Oh, sorry. Wrong room, I was supposed to meet my friend here." 

"Okay then." He closed the door behind him. 

This happened again and again as Lilly went to the seven different hotels. Her plan worked perfectly, and everyone was eager to help the poor distressed woman who had been cheated on. All the Simmons had been wrong; a few tourists and an old wrinkly bugger who hadn't known who she was but still tried to seduce her. Then, finally, on the sixth hotel, they got lucky. 

When Lilly knocked on the door, discouraged and completely sure it would be another random person. Instead, a dashing blonde man with long hair opened the door. He had looked irritated at first, but immediately upon seeing the pretty brunette in front of him, adopted a winning smile. "Why hello cutie." 

Lilly smiled. She had seen the scar on his eyebrow. She put her hands on her hips, the signal for Mr. Ambrose and Karim. She leaned against the door frame and smiled up at him. "You Simmons?" 

"Yeah sweetie, why'd you wanna know?" 

"You took something from my friend. He wants it back." A confused look crossed Simmons' face. Then he saw something over her shoulder, and he paled rapidly. Lilly backed against the wall as Mr. Ambrose strode from behind the ice machine, Karim behind him. Simmons tried to close the door, but Mr. Ambrose stopped it with the palm of his hand. He pushed against it, sending Simmons stumbling back into his room. 

Karim and Mr. Ambrose entered, a gun suddenly in the body guard's hand, pointed straight at Simmons. "Where is it?" Mr. Ambrose demanded. 

"W-what?" He babbled inching toward his bed. 

"Where is the file? Where is it!?" 

"How- how did you find me?" Mr. Ambrose glanced toward me, then away. 

"None of your concern. I will ask the questions. Not you."

"N-no, Sir," Simmons mumbled. "I mean, how can I e-ever thank you. Thank you so much, sir, for coming after me! There were these men and they broke into your office. They took some things and they- they forced me to come with them and..." 

"Simmons?" 

"Yes, Sir?"

"If you utter another lie, you are a dead man." Mr. Simmons gaped up at Mr. Ambrose, not a sound coming out. Mr. Ambrose strode toward the bed, finding the suitcase on the covers. He flipped the cover open, revealing piles of euros cushioned in black satin. More money than Lilly had ever seen in her life. How much was this file worth, anyway? 

"It's all I need." He fired the gun, Karim bellowing in anger and firing back. Mr. Ambrose dodged and Lilly dropped to the floor, bringing her arms over hear head. The tinkle of breaking glass alerted her to Simmons' departure through the window. She staggered upright. Karim was gone, presumable after the criminal. Mr. Ambrose was standing at the window, watching as Simmons climbed on the wall, scrambling to get away from the huge bodyguard. 

Lilly staggered up to him. "What are you waiting for? Let's catch him! I didn't waste my entire afternoon just to let him get away!" 

"We won't let him free. We will go after him in exactly one minute and 36 seconds," Mr. Ambrose said, glancing at his gold watch. It seemed to be the only truly expensive item on his persona. 

"Why not now?! He's getting away!" Again, Lilly tried to get past him to climb out. He pushed her back, still looking at his watch. 

"I have a plan, Ms. Linton. Hold still, another minute and 8 seconds to go." Lilly stood, glaring at him until finally he pulled his sleeve over the clock face. "Let's go." He clambered out of the broken window, grabbing the case of money on the bed, which he somehow managed to attach to his belt using a carabiner. Lilly followed after him. He was clutching at the window sill, his foot on the window below. He grabbed for the corner of the wall next to him and swung himself on it, hugging the side of the building. Karim and Simmons had already finished climbing across the wall and were chasing each other across the roof of a small shop next to the hotel. 

Lilly took a deep breath, careful not to look down below. The fall was at least 30 feet, and would hurt incredibly if she fell. Again, regretting her shoes, Lilly carefully placed the flat ends of the boot on the window sill. She clutched tightly at the wall, fingers scrambling for handholds. She followed Mr. Ambrose's careful progress across the wall. The bitterly cold London wind did nothing to help the matter. She was only thankful for the fog that day, it shielded them from sight from below. 

Mr. Ambrose arrived at the corner of the hotel, and the last window. Lilly watched as he let go of the wall, spinning around in mid air and jumping the gap to the small store. Mr. Ambrose turned to watch her. Lilly grabbed at the corner of the building, breathing deeply to calm her nerves. She could do this. It was only about five feet anyway... She let go, turning around and pushing off the wall with her legs, arms outstretched. 

She hit the edge of the stucco building, feet wobbling on the edge. Mr. Ambrose grabbed her about the waist as she tilted backwards. He pulled her back to solid ground, arms tight around her. Lilly gasped, clutching at his jacket in relief. They stood in each other's arms for another moment more before Mr. Ambrose released her abruptly and turned away. He strode toward Karim, who had backed Simmons onto the edge of the roof. Lilly followed shakily. 

Mr. Simmons seemed to be contemplating the drop to the pavement below. Karim waited for Mr. Ambrose and with his back turned, Mr. Simmons turned to jump. Suddenly, a group of men climbed up from the side of the building, grabbing him and binding him tightly as he struggled. Oh. So that's why Mr. Ambrose hadn't been concerned. He had a squad of his own men surrounding the building! 

A men stepped forward, a bowler hat on his brown hair. "Mr. Ambrose, sir!" He called. "Where do you want us to take Simmons?" Simmons struggled as he was dragged forward. 

"You're making a mistake! I didn't steal anything!" Mr. Ambrose silenced him with a glare. 

"Be silent! Warren, take him to the basement, make sure he's quiet. Karim, you know what to do." His orders were followed efficiently, and soon the rooftop had been cleared. Lilly approached Mr. Ambrose. 

"What are you going to do to him?" Mr. Ambrose's eyes flashed. 

"He will get what he deserves." A shiver ran through Lilly at the malice in his voice. "Your services are no longer needed. You will have the rest of the day off while I deal with this, Ms. Linton. However, you will be expected at my office tomorrow at 7:30 to make up for the time you missed today." 

Lilly nodded, she had expected that. "Um, sir, how will I get off the roof?" She heard him sigh. 

"Come with me." Lilly followed Mr. Ambrose as he approached the side of the building next to an alley. He climbed down, sliding off the lid of a dumpster and landing neatly on the pavement below. "Hurry, I've got no time for this!" 

Lilly hastened to obey his orders, lowering her legs onto the lid of the dumpster. She let go, her shoes finding no purchase on the slick surface. She slipped, her backside sliding down the lid as she fell, like a slide. Mr. Ambrose caught her about the waist again as she fell, dropping her unceremoniously on the ground after. She glared up at him, rubbing her backside. "Hey!" 

Mr. Ambrose said nothing, but his eyes seemed to be glinting with amusement. Lilly huffed, pulling herself to her feet. "Why was that document so important anyway? That was at least 5,000 euro in the case!" She exclaimed, pointing to the suitcase by his feet. Mr. Ambrose unconsciously clenched his fists, gaze narrowing. 

"None of your business Ms. Linton! Go home, and don't be late tomorrow!" Mr. Ambrose stalked away, not glancing back. Lilly huffed again. The least he could do was give her a ride home! She headed down the street, taking the crumpled onion quarter out of the sleeve of her dress. Great. Now she had to explain to Flora why her new dress suddenly smelled of onions. She hailed a cab, deciding against walking home alone dressed like this. 

As the cabbie lurched away from the curb, Lilly found herself mulling over the case full of money, the malevolent glint in her boss' eyes, and the mysterious document that had started all of this. It seemed to her that she now had to take out the big guns to find the answers for herself. Besides having been the best in Computer Tech at her old school, she had also been known as The Hacker.  

Hi. Just a reminder, this will not be as long as Storm and Silence (Seriously, 97 chapters!) so things will be going a little faster! But I'll definitely be trying to nail their characters better and keep the plot pretty similar, with a few embellishments here and there of course! Probably the last update of 2016! See you guys in 2017! Hopefully it's better than this year. 

P.S. RIP Carrie Fisher! May the Force be With You!