Narrator-
Liliana didn't see Mr. Cavalier again, until it was time for them to land. When the pilot prompted that they had landed safely, and could now exit the plane, Frantz return to the sitting area quietly, where he found Liliana already standing with her purse in hand. Armagio entered the cabin from the cockpit and headed straight for the door. Once Armagio opened the door, Frantz allowed Liliana to head out first, and he followed a few steps after. Another driver was already waiting for them on the tarmac.
Just as Liliana prepared to enter the car, her phone rang. Seeing the unknown caller ID, Liliana answered the call, and cautiously pressed the phone to her ear with trembling fingers.
"Hello?" Liliana answered carefully, her voice meek and unsure.
"Lili darling!" Carlos greeted, and with an unfriendly tone, Liliana replied, "yes Carlos?"
At the mention of Carlos's name, Frantz signaled for Liliana to place the phone on speaker, which she did, just as Carlos spoke "time's ticking love."
"I know, I just landed, I'm heading to the Luxury Hotel as we speak." Liliana explained, and with a silent signal from Frantz, Armagio and the driver hopped into the car, as he and Lili entered as well.
"Well that was quick, should I assume that your boss, who's hot for you, will be joining us?" Carlos asked, and Liliana looked up at Frantz, hoping that he'd give her a clue what to say, but Frantz simply remained silent, letting Liliana handle it herself.
"And if he was?" Liliana decided to stall.
"It doesn't change anything. I'm still going to get what I want, but he's welcome to watch... or join in." Carlos invited, and Liliana looked away from Frantz's hard eyes, feeling embarrassment to the third degree.
"Can I speak to my mom?" Liliana asked, as she wiped a silent tear which had fallen onto her cheek without her control.
"Alright." Carlos surprisingly agreed, and Liliana chanced a quick glance at Frantz before she looked away again.
"Lili?" Her mom's shaking voice ran through the phone, causing Lili to draw in a relieved gasp.
"Mommy." Liliana sobbed, and Frantz felt her cry tug at his heartstrings, as he looked out the window for a second, before his eyes returned to her.
"I'm okay baby, it's okay." Her mom cooed, but Lili could feel her voice quavering over the phone.
"How's dad?" Liliana asked, and she heard her mom sniffle as she replied, "he's doing okay, we're fine Lili, really." Her mom tried to reassure, and Liliana nodded, releasing a soft smile as she said, "I know ma, I know."
"Remember psalms 23?" Her mother questioned, and Liliana giggled then sniffled as she wiped another tear and replied, "I do."
Meanwhile Frantz continued to study her, his heart melting with every raw emotion that Liliana displayed. He wanted nothing more than to hold her in his arms, but he wasn't sure if Liliana would appreciate his actions.
"Good, you hold on to that." Her mother advised, and Liliana prepared to say something else, but her heart tremored when Carlos's voice came back on the phone as he said, "well that's just sweet, but my patience is running thin."
"I'm less than fifteen minutes away, please don't hurt them." Liliana begged, her tears pouring unending, and that caused Frantz to ball his fists. He didn't like the idea of Liliana begging someone like Carlos.
"No promises." And with that Carlos hung up the phone. Liliana placed her face in her palms as she tried to calm herself. She sniffled, and attempted to wipe her tears with her hands, but when her tears refused to relent, Frantz pulled a handkerchief from his front pant pocket, and handed it to her.
"No, it's fine-"
"Just take the damn handkerchief Liliana." Frantz cut her off, not giving her the chance to argue. He was over her turning him down at every corner.
Speechless, and slightly on edge due to Frantz's tone, Liliana grabbed the piece of cloth with a soft "thanks", and proceeded to wipe her eyes, then blow her nose.
Somewhat pleased her compliance, Frantz pulled out his phone, and dialed the Deputy's number. Once Frantz reached the deputy, Frantz gave him an update, which the deputy welcomed, and instantly alerted the nearest Sherriff who agreed to meet the couple at the hotel.
Just as the car arrived at the hotel, Liliana's phone rang.
"I am outside." Liliana wasted no time in saying as she answered the phone.
"Alright. Come to the fourth floor, room 415. Alone. No police and leave your boyfriend in the lobby. Your parents are in a grave danger as we speak. If your boyfriend decides to be a hero, I will kill them." Carlos declared and with a firm "I understand." Liliana ended the call.
She turned to the Sherriff, and Frantz as she said, "He said, to meet him on the fourth floor, but I have to go alone." Liliana explained, her eyes shifting between Frantz's intense gaze, and the sheriff's eyes.
"Like hell you are-" Frantz started, but Liliana cut him off as she added firmly "he says that he will kill my parents if I don't show up alone. I'm doing this." Liliana added firmly.
"Alright, It's okay. we're going to have officers at each exit, and at the elevators. There's no way he's leaving this building without getting caught." The Sherriff reassured, and with a firm nod, Liliana began heading towards the elevators, not sparing Frantz another glance.
With every step Liliana took, she felt the distance grow between her and Mr. Cavalier. And the further she got from him, the more she hoped that he would stop her, and maybe, just maybe, proclaim his love for her. She hated the fact that they had a fight. She hated the fact that she toyed with him because she was so indecisive. She hated the fact that she had pushed him too far, and now she may never have a chance to tell him just how hard she had fallen for him. She hated that she couldn't put her fears aside, and risk trusting him, because maybe, just maybe, he was being honest about having true feelings for her.
By the time Liliana had pressed the button to call the elevator, she had lost all hope. Maybe it was truly over.
Liliana watched the numbers count backwards, as the elevator got closer and closer to the lobby floor. As the numbers decreased, Liliana felt the pace of her heart increase. With every second that passed her by, Liliana began feeling the weight of her demise pressing on her mind, which caused her nerves to go into overdrive as her palms became sweaty, and her heart trembled in her ribcage.
When the elevator dinged, Liliana swallowed a dry gulp, as her heart plummeted to the lowest pit of her stomach. With a shaky and uncertain breath, Liliana prepared herself to step into the silver elevator, as the doors began to part. Just as Liliana placed her right foot into the elevator, she heard the one voice which caused her heart to skip a beat.
"Liliana!" Frantz called out, as he rushed towards her. She looked back just as he grabbed onto her upper arm, and turned her around, his lips landing on hers in the blink of an eye. Using his body, he pushed her into the elevator, making sure to press "hold" button along the way, and he didn't stop guiding her until her back was against the cool metal wall. The moment she had the wall and his body for support, Liliana's fingers found his hair, and his left hand cupped her neck and cheek, while his right hand held her waist to his.
Frantz kissed her mouth, and pecked her lips, and nicked them, drawing Lili's breath from her lungs with his actions. Liliana in that moment forgot about the monster she would face a few floors up. He didn't stop kissing her until they both ran out of air. And when they pulled away, it was only far enough that he could comfortably rest his forehead against hers.
Breathing heavily, Liliana pressed her hands against his chest, and Frantz slid her right hand until it was positioned on his heart.
He looked into her eyes as he said, "I never thought I'd ever feel this way about a woman again, but here I am. Liliana Chavez, whether you like it or not, I have fallen madly in love with you. And I know you asked, for time, but because I don't know for how long that 'time' will last, I just wanted to make sure you knew how I truly felt about you."
Liliana closed her eyes, gulping back her tears. She didn't want to lie to him, but she wasn't sure what would happen up there with Carlos.
"Frantz," Liliana sighed, her tears already falling. She didn't want to make any promises, so instead, she leaned her face upwards, and kissed him deeply. Frantz closed his eyes, his own tears spilling, and ironically meeting with hers as both their tears dripped onto the soft breathing skin of her chest. Frantz had no idea what her kiss meant, but he could only assume that it wasn't to reciprocate his feelings, and that broke his heart. It almost felt as if his heart was being ripped into pieces.
When Liliana pulled away, she pecked his lips softly, then she took a deep breath, though she shuddered as she said, "I-I can't-".
"I know you can't. But I'll wait anyways." Frantz whispered. Then he pulled away, and wiped his face of any tears, as he pressed the button to open the doors. He stepped out without a word, then pressed the fourth floor button, then he walked away silently, sending her one last glance.
The moment she was alone in the elevators, Liliana sighed and tried to compose herself.