Lily's Mistake Draft Sample

Chapter 1

“Hello?”

“How did your job interview go honey?” My mother’s soft voice asked on the other end.

“It looked promising. They said they’ll call me in two weeks”, I said as I maneuvered the car out of the parking lot. I’ve been job hunting for the last three months with no prospect at all. I got laid off in my other secretarial job when Mrs. Donald caught Mr. Donald tried to seduce me. Allan Donald was a true gentleman….that is before his usual cocktail concoction of gin and brandy for breakfast….then he becomes a little ‘comfortable’. It wasn’t the first time I slapped his hand away but this time—Carla Donald was there to witness it and fired me on the spot.

“I called because Patricia’s back in town and wants you to join us for lunch at The Four Seasons.” Patricia Tatum’s my godmother and my mother’s best friend since they were in diapers. She married Hugh Tatum, a very well-known import/export business man and also a major investor in backing up Hollywood blockbuster films.

“What time? It’s almost noon.”

“Well, yes dear, we need you to meet us right now.”

“Sure. See you in a bit.” It was almost lunchtime and my stomach growled. A simple lunch at The Four Seasons would just be super! What can possibly go wrong?


My appetite apparently, as my godmother unfolded the reason behind this sudden lunch date.

“Excuse me did you just say Drake’s thinking of marriage?”

“Yes and to a monstrous gold-digging horrible woman!” Patricia dabbed the sides of her eyes. The woman was a complete mess when I joined them five minutes prior.

Drake Tatum’s planning on marriage? No shit. I don’t know if I should be happy or cry a freaking dam of tears to that news. Drake Tatum used to be the center of my universe. He was my first loved and the first man I have ever made love to. And the very same man, who walked away like I was diseased the next day he took my virginity away.

Drake’s two years older than me. Now, he’s engaged at the age of twenty-eight? Isn’t that a bit early for a well-known ‘man whore’ to marry? Oh yeah, Drake’s long line of women are quite known around Hollywood. He dates up and coming actresses, models, musicians and so forth. He’s working alongside his father, his notoriety is legendary. I should know…I mean I did Google the man once in awhile.

“….would that work for you dear?” my mom asked. Both women looked at me like I had the answer for salvation.

“Huh? Sorry my mind went off somewhere….” Yeah, somewhere that shouldn’t have Drake in it. He was the epitome of a player. He’s an insensitive prick and a two-timing prick to boot! He was the worst of the worst.

“I was asking if you would be Drake’s secretary for awhile? His recent one just quit because his girlfriend, Shannon, drove the poor girl crazy.”

HUH?

“Me? I don’t want to work with Drake. He and I hate each other for crying out loud!” Everybody knows it. I haven’t laid eyes on him since I was eighteen and I want to keep it that way.

“Please, Lily, my son’s future is on the line here. All I need for you to do is report to me about Shannon and make her a little jealous,” Patricia stopped me before I objected, “I’ve met her and she’s all fake. I know you and Drake don’t get along but please, Hugh and I are desperate here.”

“Even Hugh hates her?” How was that possible? Hugh loves everyone as long as you’re not against him in the business arena; he’s all hugs and kisses.

Patricia nodded. “Will you do this for us honey? You’re like a daughter to me, Lil. I would appreciate it if you can lend us a hand.”

Man, she used the ‘you’re like my daughter line’. How can I say no to that? If I ever had a second mom, that would be Patricia. She and Hugh did treat me like I was their own. Well, I did grow up with them. Hugh and my father became close as well. My father’s death when I was seventeen made our bond with the Tatum’s even stronger. Drake spent a lot of his time studying in Columbia and stayed around New York after he graduated. He comes to Los Angeles once in awhile from what I gathered from my mother and Patricia.

“Okay, I’ll do it for you and Hugh.” Patricia got up and hugged me.

“Thank you, Lil! I knew I could count on you!” she kissed my forehead and squeezed my hand and went back to her chair.

“Now all you have to do is try not to kill each other before fixing this problem with Shannon, hmmm?” my mother, Hope, quirked her dark eyebrows at me.

“We shall see.” I murmured.

I spent another hour with them and skipped the spa ritual that always followed lunch. They did this once or twice a week and I try to join them as much as I could but today, I felt like being alone.

My thoughts wandered around Drake ever since Patricia mentioned him. Drake and I grew up together. We were inseparable and I worshipped the ground that he walked on. I suppose I loved him too much that I didn’t see any of his flaws. The worshipping started at the age of eight I think. His clear grey eyes never failed to capture and held me in a trance. Even at that young age, Drake was already a handsome kid.

Everything changed that summer after I turned eighteen.




Chapter Two
8 years ago… Playa del Carmen, Mexico


“Are you two sure that it’ll be okay to stay overnight in Cozumel?” Hugh asked both Drake and me.

“I don’t mind staying here I want to go to the beach party tonight.” I smiled at Hugh and Patricia.

I met Ricardo last night at the local bar and he invited me at this beach party tonight and I’m so going. Drake was always talking on the phone to his new girlfriend anyway and has been ignoring me mostly the entire time. We’ve been here for four days and he’s only asked me to swim with him once. ONCE! Back in the day, he and I used to do everything together. I guess Columbia changed him.

“We’re good here mom, dad. You guys have fun!” Drake hugged each of his parents and they kissed him back and waved goodbye.

At the oddest times, I missed my dad. It used to be all six of us vacationing here, but now it’s just four of us. Mom decided the last minute to join her friend in Paris for a whole month. It’s only been over a year since my dad’s passing, but I still missed him like mad. I guess this missing hole will stay there forever and I would never be the same.

I bit my lip and started to walk towards the kitchen when Drake spoke.

“You’re going alone to a beach party tonight?”

Oh now, he’s talking to me? “No. I have a date. In fact, he’s picking me at four, so that leaves me another hour.” I announced over my shoulder and continued walking towards the kitchen.

I got a mango from the sprawling fruit bowl on the granite kitchen counter and went to go get a knife when Drake joined me. He sat on the counter next to chopping board.

“Who’s your date?”

Peeling the mango and chopped it in halves.

“His name’s Ricardo, why?”

“I don’t want you going on dates, Lil. You’re too innocent for those things.” He took a mango and popped it in his lush mouth. My eyes glued to his pink lips. His Adam’s apple bobbed and I studied his masculine neck. Everything about him was just all masculine and truly sexy. And that hot handsome face, where do I begin? I want him so bad! But he never noticed me that way and I guess I’m not too pretty or sexy for him. And I’m tired of waiting for him to come to his senses.

Yeah, I’ve been waiting! I’ve waited for so long for him until he asked me out. It’s obvious to anyone with eyes that I adored and loved Drake. I declined each guy who asked me out all through high school because there was never a doubt in my mind that I only ever want Drake and no one else. I even had enough balls to throw myself at him during New Year’s Eve but he pushed me off. There went my happy ever after, dashed hopes and dreams.

Well, not for long. I’m finally getting rid of my virginity thank you very much. And that chosen man is the hot Brazilian Ricardo Belmonte!

I shrugged. “Not for long, I won’t!” I sauntered my hot pink bikini clad body towards the open patio doors, sat on one of the cushioned loungers and enjoyed the view with my mangoes.

“Hold on, Lily. You can’t be serious right? You barely know this Ricardo dude! You can’t just do that!” Drake sat across me only wearing his surfer shorts. He didn’t even bother checking out almost naked body. See what I mean? He’s immune to me. Whatever, life moves on.

I tried to train my eyes away from those perfect washboard abs and those steel metallic grey eyes. Why does have to be so fucking hot??? His dirty blonde hair even had that sexy out-of-the-bed look. GAWD!

“Whatever Drake, is that all?” I took a bite from a mango slice and licked my fingers. I love me some mangoes, I thought happily.

“No, it’s not ALL. It’s stupid idea, Lil. You’re not stupid, so don’t do stupid things that you will soon regret.”

I sat up from the lounger and faced him. “You’re one to talk! What’s your problem anyway? Now you’re talking to me? You think I haven’t noticed how you’ve tried to ignore me the entire time? I’m not an idiot, Drake. I told you I was sorry about what happened during New Year’s but for some reason you still feel weird about it.” I screeched at him. When I glanced at him his eyes were on my breasts but he immediately dragged his eyes away and stared at the sea instead. Sigh.

“This is not about New Year’s Lil. You know what! Do what you want!” He sounded angry and got up and left for the beach. His well sculpted back and bottom was even gorgeous! Great! I really need to get over it!

It’s high time Drake Tatum move out of my mind and hopefully out of my heart.


“You look very beautiful, Lily, mi belleza!” Ricardo purred. We were at the restaurant we agreed to meet up on. The party was close by and he wanted for us to grab something to eat first before partying it up.

“Gracias, Ricardo.” I kissed his tanned cheek. He led us inside the restaurant and was immediately sat overlooking the breathtakingly beautiful Caribbean Sea.

I don’t consider myself in the ‘knockout’ department but some guys find me appealing. I’m five-four in stature, have dark brown hair and eyes, long hair and quite lacking in the breast department with my B-cups. The only redeemable asset was my perky bottom. My lithe toned body can be thanked from my night time swim and dedication to Pilates.

We hit the beach party right around six and the sun was setting beautifully as the backdrop. Spanish raggaeton music was blaring loud on the speakers. I already had two strawberry margaritas and I loved the carefree beach ambiance.

Ricardo and I went over to the bar and he ordered four shots of Patron.

“To mi belleza! And to your beautiful vacation in Mexico!” Ricardo held up his shot glass.

“Cheers Ricky Ricardo!” I hooted back and took the shots back to back. The Patron burned smoothly down my throat and my stomach, “Ahh.”

“Come on, time to party!”

Ricardo hugged my hips as we grinded with the music. I was pretty much plastered but I didn’t care much because finally, I’m letting go and finally having fun!

I giggled when Ricardo’s lips found the back of my ear. “You smell good belleza.”

“GET YOUR HANDS OFF HER!” Drake yanked me off Ricardo in an instant. I blinked a few times. My hazy drunk-filled state confused me for a second.

“Drake”

“Hey! She’s my girl. Go look for a different one to tango with, no? She’s mine!” A drunken Ricky Ricardo said.

“Lily’s always been mine.”

“Mierda!” Ricardo cussed and left to go to the bar.

“Hey!” I called out to him but Drake dragged me away from the party and stomped towards the shore that led to villa. It was half a mile away. I’ll be damned if I’m walking that far drunk.

“What the FUCK Drake! I’m going back to party!” I tried to detach my arm from his tight hold but he held me closer.

“Let me go, Drake!”

“Don’t fight me off Lily. You’re drunk!” We stopped walking and he glared at me with those steel eyes. Shit, the moonlight made him look like a dark hot…sexy panther.

Earth to Lily, hello? I swallowed. Get a grip Lil, seriously!

“What are you doing Drake?” I whispered to him, searching the depths of his ice grey eyes.

“We’ll talk about it once we get to the villa.” He said and turned on his heel and started walking again.

I looked back at the party and realized that we’ve been walking for quite some time now. The beach was alit with full moon, I stopped and took in the scene and tried to calm my hammering heart. Why was Drake acting out of character? He’s never acted this way.

Maybe he realized he loves me after all? Fat chance….but what if it was?

“Drake, stop”

“What?” He said over his shoulder but did stop and gazed at the beautiful moonlit sea.

I was quite unsure how to broach the subject but it was now or never. It’s just him and me out here for tonight. Surely he’s not going to push me away?

“Why are you acting like a jealous boyfriend? I thought you said you weren’t interested…” I bit my lip as I saw him stomp towards me. His chiseled body looked even more appealing with moonlight basking it aglow and his eyes smoldered liquid silver.

My body started to tremor looking at the beautiful handsome creature before me. His face was masked with something I couldn’t quite figure out. It was intense and forbidding. We stood there for a good minute, staring at each other. Wondering what the fuck is going on. “Drake….”

“You shouldn’t want a man like me Lil. I’m not good enough for you.” No….You’re even better….I’ve never met anyone like you. The rest of the men lacked brilliance when compared to you….

“Why would say that? You’re the only one I want.” I moved closer, feeling brazen when he didn’t move. I tiptoed and licked his lips. He tasted of salt and something masculine. My heart was beating erratically I felt exhilarated and faint at the same time to be so close with him. “I want you….I want you to be the one to take my virginity away.”

“I don’t think you get what I’m trying to tell you here…”
“I do, but would you rather I do it with someone else then, like Ricardo perhaps?” I knew I was playing with fire….but I was desperate. I want Drake to see me as a woman. A woman he can be with and desire—not the little girl with frilly dresses that would follow him around.

“Don’t even go there, Lil! OKAY—if this is what you want then meet me on the veranda in fifteen minutes. Go get ready because there will be no backing out once you come to me. Think it through, okay?”
Lily's Mistake