A small smile played on Lilah's lips. Classic Gerard, always so succinct! She typed back, “Thanks a lot.”
Without missing a beat, he shot back, “How do you plan to thank me?"
She blinked, a bit surprised. That was new coming from him.
Racking her brain, Lilah pondered. A gift? But what could he possibly want? An offer of help? But in what way could she be of service?
She settled on, "How about dinner on me?"
But it seemed so... small, especially considering all he'd done for her.
His response was a terse, "No."
Then he added, “I'd like you to join me somewhere."
She was intrigued and typed a message in agreement.
A knock echoed suddenly. Curious, she opened the door. There stood Gerard, casual in all-black attire. He looked freshly showered, the air around him carrying a hint of a grassy aroma. His silky hair, neatly styled, took years off his face and made him seem less stern, but no less striking.
“Ready to go?" Gerard asked.
“Wait, now?" Lilah blinked, glancing at the time.
"Yes, now. It's the only time I have, while Jerrold is out cold," he murmured, low.
The situation had her feeling like they were part of some secret rendezvous. Going out this late, with Jerrold in the dark? The very thought made her cheeks warm. Reading her hesitation, Gerard's voice, deep and magnetic, cut through. "Change your mind?"
“No! Just give me a sec to change," she said, quickly darting inside.
Anticipation bubbled inside her as they drove. But nothing could've prepared her for where they ended up.
An amusement park.
By all accounts, it should've been closed, but there it was, Lights blazing. The Ferris wheel, in particular, glowed brilliantly. It was like a scene straight out of a dreamy tale.
The eerie thing was the sheer emptiness of the amusement park.
"This place shutting down soon?" Lilah wondered aloud.
"Nope," came Gerard's reply.
A suspicion dawned on her. "You booked out the whole place, didn't you?"
His nod, nonchalant as ever, left her aghast. The sheer extravagance!
The ways of the rich sure were something else.