One Wild Night

When Candace and Harry returned to Aaron’s room, they met everyone laughing at something Jamal was demostrating, and a smile lit up Aaron’s eyes when he saw them.

“Jamal was just showing us the role he played in his school’s play. He’s a terrific actor,” Aaron told them.

“He once auditioned to be a Disney child actor. He wants to be an actor,” Candace said, and Jamal shook his head.

“Not anymore, mom. Now I want to be like Tom,” Jamal announced, making them laugh while Candace looked at his with interest.

“Oh, really? Why that all of a sudden?”

“He has lots of money, cars, and Lucy. I want to have all that too,” Jamal said, and the room erupted with laughter.

“I see,” Candace said with an amused smile.

“Lucy, thanks for staying with him. It’s late now. You guys can go home. I will continue from here,” Harry said, and Lucy nodded as she rose from her seat.

“Although my schedule is tight for tomorrow, I will find time to stop by and see you,” Lucy told Aaron as she leaned over and kissed his cheeks.

“Thank you for everything, Lucy,” Aaron said, looking at her with eyes filled with gratitude.

“I didn’t do anything special,” Lucy said before looking at Candace.

“I don’t suppose you’re coming with us?” Lucy asked, and before Candace could respond, Harry and Aaron responded.

“She needs to get some rest.”

“You can go with them. You look exhausted. I’m sure you need to rest,” Aaron said, and Candace smiled.

“I will see you tomorrow,” Candace promised, and Aaron smiled back at her as he gave her a nod.

“I will also see you tomorrow, right, mom?” Jamal asked his mother, and she gave him a nod while Aaron chuckled.

“I hope I get to see you tomorrow. You make this place fun,” Aaron said, and Jamal grinned at him before going to stand beside Tom, whose hands he held.

Tom looked down at Jamal with a slightly raised brow, and he chuckled when Jamal grinned at him.

“Thank you, Tom,” Aaron said, and Tom waved it off.

“Just get well quickly. I need a clear-headed Harry by Monday,” Tom said, and Aaron smiled while Harry scowled.

“I will see them off,” Harry told his dad as he escorted Tom, Lucy, Candace, and Jamal out of the room.

“Where is Jade?” Harry asked when he noticed that she seemed to be missing.

“She is probably around here somewhere,” Tom said, seeing no reason to tell Harry that Jade had not returned since after following him and Candace.

Before Harry could say anything, they saw Jade rounding the bend ahead of them.

“The party is over already?” Jade asked as she approached them.

“You can start yours,” Tom said, and she made a face at him.

“I’m staying back with my dad. You should go home with them,” Harry said, and Jade rolled her eyes.

“I thought we were done with this already? I’m not leaving,” Jade said before shifting her gaze to Lucy.

“Sonia wants you to call her,” she said, and Lucy gave her a nod, not knowing what else to say to Jade since it seemed Jade was still not happy with her.

“Are you aware that the folks are coming back to Ludus tomorrow?” Jade asked Tom as they all walked out of the hospital, and he raised a brow.

“Mom and dad?”

“Yep. And the Perrys too. At least that’s what Sonia told me,” Jade said, and Tom shook his head as he turned to Lucy.

“No one said a word to me. Were you aware?” Tom asked Lucy, and she shook her head.

Seeing the annoyance in his eyes, she could tell what he was thinking. The house was about to be filled up again, and he was yet to spend enough time with her. Lucy sighed softly as she rubbed his arm.

“Why are they all coming over when they only just left?” Harry asked, and Jade raised a brow.

“Why else do you think? To see you all, of course. You are family, and so are Candace and Jamal. Besides, Jamal has always been their baby, and I’m sure they can’t wait to see him,” Jade said, and Jamal looked at his mother curiously.

“Grandma Evelyn and Grandma Janet are coming?” He asked, and his face split into a happy smile when his mother gave him a nod.

Candace could only imagine how excited Jamal would be when he finds out he is related to Lucy, Janet, and Aaron. He had always envied his peers who had large families.

Tom exchanged a look with Harry when they got to the parking lot where his car was parked, “Call me if you need me,” Tom said, and Harry scowled at him.

“When I needed you to get your sister out of my house…”

“I’m still standing right here, Harry,” Jade said, poking his sides softly, making Candace and Lucy laugh softly.

“I had no idea,” Harry said dryly, and Jade smiled at him sweetly.

“You weren’t complaining when you kissed…”

“Shut up, Jade!” Harry pleaded through gritted teeth, and the others laughed at his embarrassment while Tom shook his head at Harry.

“You too, Tom. Shut up,” Harry said, knowing that Tom was going to tease him.

“I didn’t even say anything yet,” Tom said with a chuckle.

“I don’t want to hear a word. Get into your car and take them home. There’s a kid here. Don’t make me force you,” Harry said as he opened the door for Candace and Jamal to get into the car, and Tom chuckled.

“We will have that talk later,” Tom assured him.

“Can I have a word with you?” Lucy asked Jade, and she shrugged as they both moved away from the car.

“I know you are offended by my actions. I’m sorry. I don’t want this to cause any strain in our relationship,” Lucy said, and Jade sighed.

“It’s not like I don’t understand your reasons. I do, and maybe deep down, a part of me admires it. But I just can’t help my annoyance right now. I’m trying to be chill with it, so don’t let my attitude bother you. It will pass,” Jade said, and Lucy sighed.

“Are you sure?”

“Positive. No hard feelings,” Jade assured her as she embraced her, and Lucy sighed in relief.

“Thanks.”

“I may have called you some unpleasant names, though…” Jade said with an awkward smile and shrugged.

“I’m sure you did,” Lucy said as they returned to join Tom and Harry, who were conversing while waiting for them.

“Sorry for keeping you guys waiting,” Lucy said apologetically as she got into the front passenger seat, but just as Tom was about to get into the car, his phone rang.

He paused and raised a brow when he saw the call was from Bryan’s manager, while Harry and Jade, who were still waiting to see them leave, looked at Tom with interest.

“Hello, Jeff! It’s been a while,” Tom greeted politely.

“I’m sorry to bother you by this time, but I thought you should know that Bryan is involved in some scandal, and it’s all over the internet…”

“For Christ’s sake, when do I ever get a break?” Tom hissed angrily, surprising both the people in the car and Harry and Jade, who were still standing close to him.

“I think Bryan has caused a mess,” Jade, who was standing beside Harry, whispered to him as they watched Tom run his fingers through his hair in frustration.

“What did he do this time to get his name on the news?” Tom asked impatiently while Lucy got out of the car to join him.

“A fight? Are you kidding me? Even a kid would know that this is not the time for such nonsense! He barely just got out of one with Sonia and he is doing this? Bryan should know better! I’m supposed to be introducing him to the shareholders and announcing the creation of the entertainment agency at the first event of the anniversary next week. How the fuck am I supposed to do that if he’s involved in such a scandal right now?” Tom barked into the phone in frustration.

Looking at him, Lucy could tell he was at his wit’s end. It had been a busy day for him and it seemed like there was not even a moment of reprieve. What could she do to ease his stress? Lucy mused as she approached him.

Harry moved closer to Tom and took the phone from him while Lucy held Tom’s hand, “How bad is it?” Harry asked Jeff and listened patiently as Jeff explained the situation.

Jeff didn’t need to ask who it was since he knew that the only other person who could be handling Tom’s phone was Harry, and he had heard of how scary Harry could be.

“Alright. I will make some phone calls to get the news off the internet. Get over to wherever Bryan is and get him down here as soon as possible,” Harry ordered calmly and hung up the call before turning to face Tom.𝒪𝑽𝓵xt.𝑐𝒐𝑀

“Don’t worry about it, I will fix it,” Harry said, but Tom was too upset to listen to him.

“You have enough on your plate already. Focus on your business, and I will handle this,” Tom said, and Harry raised a brow.

“You know better than anyone that I handle things like this faster and better. Besides, I’m also the CEO, so this is my business too. I will take care of this. Go home and get some rest,” Harry said as he slapped Tom’s back.

Tom looked at Harry for a moment, and Harry grinned at him, “You don’t have to thank me. Just say you love me more than Lucy, and we are cool,” Harry joked, wanting Tom to smile, and it worked.

“You wish. Make sure you are good. I will see you tomorrow,” Tom told him before turning to Lucy, who was standing beside him.

“Let’s go home,” he said as he led her back to her side of the car and opened the door for her to get in.

“Calm down, Ace,” Lucy murmured, and Tom sighed as he kissed her forehead.

“I’m trying. Let’s just get home. I’m exhausted,” Tom said, and Lucy have him a nod as she got into the car.

Once he shut the door, Tom went around the car, “Be good, Jade. And talk some sense into that brother of yours,” Tom called as he got into the car.

Harry looked into the backseat at Candace and Jamal, “See you two tomorrow,” He said with a wave, and they waved back at him before he stepped away from the car and he and Jade watched as Tom drove off.