Alright, Lilly, you got this. Whatever they tell you, you can handle it. Yup, no big deal. You are a strong and -

"He slept his way into the business." Martin stated, without batting an eyelash.

My inner conversation halted as I tried to process what had just been said to me. Joshua did what?

"Did you really have to say it like that?" Robert directed himself toward Martin, who was sitting back casually in his chair. Later, I would realize that it was just the way Martin was. He always had total control over situations, so he tended to simply relax and watch things unfold.

"She needed to hear it, might as well put everything on the table. It's the only way we can convince her." Johnny contradicted towards Robert.

I wasn't really paying too much attention to their chatter. My attention was more wrapped up on what Martin had said.

"What do you mean?" I knew I was sounding dense, but I really needed one of them to clarify.

"Well, let's just say Lachowski didn't get his modeling contract with just his pretty face." Johnny told me in a bored tone.

"Ah, but he did!" Martin joked.

That's when I got pissed off. He was taking this as if it were a big joke or a fucking game! My emotions were conflicted and I wasn't sure whether to be pissed off, distressed, or laughing my damn head off in a bout of madness.

"So, you're telling me he slept with people just to get his modeling career started? Alright, that's a bad thing, but he's changed and he probably did what he had to do and-" My ramblings were cut off by Johnny, who intervened with a chirp of his voice.

"He slept with Lanning."

The look on my face must have been hilarious in any other situation, because it was of utter disgust. I immediately imagined the two together and my stomach got all hot and my throat closed up.

My mind raced back to when I first found out I would be working for Lanning. I had googled the heck out of Joshua and his life. Obviously that bit of information hadn't popped up, but if I remembered correctly Joshua got his contract when he was seventeen.

"No, you're wrong. He was only seventeen when he got it! Lanning's like... I don't know, but she's old. Really old!" Alright, so Lanning wasn't that old. Hell, she looked to be my age, although she obviously wasn't. It still freaked me out that a seventeen year old Joshua would have anything to do with Lanning.

God, that's when I really hated the bitch. I imaged a young Joshua and my heart stopped. I wasn't mad. No, I was scared and hurt. I felt bad for Joshua. For the things he had to do to get what he wanted. He had to do them right?

The rest of the guys in the room only stared at me. Watching it all sink in.

Johnny was the first to realize how I really felt.

"Oh, god. You feel bad for him don't you?" He questioned, looking at me like I was crazy.

Suddenly, my feelings of pity were gone. I didn't know why, but I didn't feel bad for Joshua anymore. It was as if my mind knew what was to come next.

Martin scoffed and rolled his eyes up towards the ceiling. Was I fucking missing something? I looked towards Robert's direction, looking for a little help.

"Did you?" I asked, wishing for him to say yes, although it was bad for me to wish the same thing for Robert.

"No, Why do you think it took me this long? I'm sorry, Lilly." Robert really did look sorry. Robert was a lot older than Joshua, and he had about the same amount of experience, so it made sense.

"Look Fenster, I realize that you and Lachowski had a thing. That's not new. He's had a thing with almost all of his managers. Hell, I told you it would happen!" Johnny spoke to me sternly, with one hand supporting him on the expensive table.

Fuck, maybe he was right. I recalled the other girls that Joshua had been with who used to work for Lanning. Was I just one of those? Had I been stupid enough to fall for him, when it wasn't even real?

Had I been any different? Shit, I wasn't feeling so sure anymore.

"Fine, so he slept with people to get what he wanted. That still doesn't change my mind." I spoke with all the strength I had left in me. I didn't have much left, the least I could do was take a chance on what I used to think was real between Joshua and I.

"This has dragged on long enough. I have other important things to do, so let's just get it all out now." Martin claimed, finally leaning forward and looking like he cared. Something told me that when he finally reached this point it would be all business. None of my feelings would be spared the way Robert and even Johnny had been trying.

"You think this is all for his sister? That's right, I know all about his sister." Martin crossed his arms over his chest, looking straight at me. I was the sole recipient of his attention and let me tell you, having Martin Vance's attention is no easy thing. The man devours you with his eyes, and not in a good way.

I stayed silent, a little shocked that he knew Joshua's secret.

"All of this might be partly for his sister, but the damn truth is that Lachowski wants fame. He wants money, fame, and everything else that comes with being on top. He slept his way into the business, because his pretty face wasn't enough in the beginning. Lanning promised him everything he wanted and he got it, almost." Martin paused, while he watched it all sink in.

 "Gola Hurwitz? That idiot didn't have to sleep with anyone to get where she wanted. Her daddy did all the work for her. Michael Hurwitz isn't a billionaire for nothing. You know what a marriage between Gola Hurwitz and Joshua Lachowski means? Fame and loads of money. You weren't part of their equation Lilly, but you are part of mine." Martin Vance finished his speech and continued to stare my way.

At that point my gaze had drifted to my shoes. You know that horrible moment when you don't want to cry but the tears accumulate inside your eyelids, threatening to overflow at any point? Your eyeballs feel hot and you know that the moment you blink the dam with break and the tears will flow.

That's exactly how I felt as I stared down at the floor. I could feel Martin's gaze burning into me, along with everyone else's, although none as strong as his.

It all made sense now. Having Joshua's engagement announced in front of me for the sole purpose of being humiliated hadn't been that bad compared to this. This was when my heart really broke.

Nothing was ok, and I really needed a hug. The one person who could take all of my troubles away was the reason that the troubles existed in the first place.

Instantly, almost magically, the impending tears dried up and my gaze drifted back towards Martin Vance.

I was practically a genius, but I had known nothing about love. There was only one way for me to know the truth, because although Martin's words had rang true, so had Joshua's.

I was going to find out the truth by myself, and I knew just how to do it. For now, I would follow Martin's game. I knew that being on his side was a smart idea, at least that much I could decide.

"So, what do you need me to do?" I spoke, staring at him without any emotion. I was done with emotions, at least for a while.

It was all going to be about information, getting all of my answers. I wasn't going to cry or let myself wilt. Nope, this was the start of a new Lilly Fenster. Everyone had a secret agenda, and it was only time that I had my own.

Martin and Johnny smiled, obviously pleased with my new attitude.

"You will be the one thing that both Lanning and Joshua have always wanted. We're going to make you famous. Lachowski and Hurwitz will be yesterday's news once we're done." Martin claimed, with a slant of his brow.

"It won't even be hard. You already have the talent to make it." Robert added, looking at me with a small shy smile.

"What do you say to having your own clothing line and a spot in Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week?" Johnny asked with a giant smile on his face.

What would the old Lilly say?

Fuck no.

What would the new Lilly say?

I smiled at the three men in front of me.

"I'd say, yes."

EEEP, I HAVE BIG THINGS PLANNED FOR LILLY. BIG THINGS. LOL

Hope you guys enjoyed the chapter and please vote! Watty awards are creepin' D:

Thank you for following Lilly this far, for your comments, votes, and fans!

Finally, the song on the right is now Lilly's theme song :D well, sort of! Give it a listen because it sort of foreshadows the following chapters. That, and I'm sort of addicted to it at the moment. :)