One Wild Night

Lucy remained silent even after the twenty minutes long video of Anita's confession ended, and Tom exchanged a look with Harry before looking at Lucy again.

"Are you okay?" Tom asked as he took both her hands in his, and Lucy sighed.

"I suppose I am. Did she have to go this far, though? This will put her in a difficult position," Lucy said with a slight frown.

"It's not your place to worry about her or feel sorry for her. She put herself in this mess," Tom said, and Harry nodded in agreement.

"Well, it's not her I'm worried about. This also draws attention to me in a way," Lucy complained.

"Don't let it bother you, Lulu. I think it's good she did this. This is pretty much what Tom intended to do to her and her family at the Eric Howel live interview after all," Harry pointed out.

"Did she really have a change of heart just because she found out about her mother's affair with her brother-in-law?" Lucy asked thoughtfully.

"It's possible. Who knows how crazy people think? By the way, why hasn't Barry called to report this?" Harry asked, bringing Tom's attention to the fact that he was yet to hear from Barry.

"I should call him. I'm running pretty late already," Tom said with a slight frown as he glanced at his wristwatch.

"Let's get moving. And you can call him on the way," Harry suggested, and they all got into the car.

Tom dialled Barry's line, and it took some time before Barry received the call, "Hey, pal! I'm in the middle of something really important right now. Why don't I call you back? I will tell you all about it after I'm done. And just so you know, you're going to have to triple whatever you're paying me. Things just got super interesting," Barry said before hanging up.

"What did he say?" Harry asked when he noticed the frown on Tom's face as he dropped his phone.

"He seems to be busy with something. I think something happened," Tom said thoughtfully.

"Don't worry, I will give him a call and find out what's up," Harry said as he looked at Lucy through the rearview mirror.

He couldn't help wondering what was on Lucy's mind. She seemed sort of distant for someone whose boyfriend was travelling. He knew without a doubt that if he were the one travelling, Jade wouldn't be seated so quietly. He chuckled at the thought of Jade's clinginess and how much he loved it.

"What is amusing you?" Tom asked with a scowl, and Harry grinned.

"Nothing that should concern you. I can approve Anita's resignation, right?" Harry asked, and Tom shook his head.

"No. Don't," Tom said, surprising both Lucy and Harry.

"Why not?" Harry asked in confusion.

"She is just going to run away to somewhere else so she won't have to face the consequences of her action. Since she has taken away the satisfaction I would have gotten from the live show, I should as well punish her in a different way. She shouldn't leave. Let her know that if she quits, I will press charges for all she did. She should stay back here and experience the same degree of embarrassment Lucy did after having her news all over the internet. She should face the embarrassment of working for me and facing both Lucy and me at meetings where everyone knows what she did. That's the only punishment we can give her, don't you think?" Tom asked, and Harry winced as he drove into the airstrip.

"Isn't that too much?" Lucy asked quietly.

"After the pain she caused you, I don't think that is punishment enough," Tom said as he looked out the window.

"We will let her family off the hook then?" Harry asked, and Tom shrugged.

"I guess we will have to see how that goes. If their mother still decides to show up on the live show despite all this drama, Eric will have to go on with it," Tom said dispassionately as Harry parked the car.

"You both can kiss and cuddle while I make sure the jet is ready to fly," Harry said as he got out of the car, excusing them.

Tom got out of the car and joined Lucy in the back seat, "Is everything alright?" he asked softly, and she nodded.

"Yeah. Sonia wasn't picking up, so I sent her a text. When I get home, I will talk to her. You don't have to say anything to Bryan," Lucy said, and Tom sighed.

"I'm sorry I reacted that way earlier. I could have made my point without being so harsh," Tom said, and Lucy nodded.

"That is true."

Tom sighed, "I really wish things would be better between us. I want us to be better," Tom said as he took her hand and raised it to his lips.

"I want that too. I understand that you've been patient with me this whole time, and you've been doing all of the giving. I'm sorry. I will spend the time while you're away working on myself," Lucy said, and Tom pulled her to himself.

"While you're at it, you can let me know whatever you think I need to work on as well. I'm not arrogant enough to believe I'm perfect. I'm pretty sure I have my flaws too. So let me know whatever you're not comfortable with. I want to be good for you, Jewel," Tom said, and Lucy nodded.

"I will."

"Earlier, you sounded like you wanted me to let Anita go," Tom said, and Lucy nodded.

"Yes. I will be more comfortable if I don't have to see her again. I don't think I will be fine with having to run into her at work. What I want is for her to get out of our lives so that we can be done with her and her family," Lucy said, and Tom sighed.

"Why didn't you just say so?" He asked, and Lucy looked at him blankly.

"You didn't seek my opinion. You said it like your mind was made up. So I didn't think my opinion was needed," Lucy said, and Tom winced.

"I'm sorry. If that is what you want, then I will let her go. But if her mother insists on showing up at Eric's live show, I won't put a halt to that," Tom said, and Lucy nodded.

"That is fine by me."

"Alright. Your therapy. You will take it seriously, right?" He asked, and she nodded.

"Yeah. I have to."

After what she experienced a short while ago, she didn't need anyone to tell her it was post-traumatic stress disorder. If there were any chance that therapy would make her function better in any way, then she would give it her best shot.

Harry knocked on the door, "It's time to leave," Harry announced, and Tom kissed Lucy's forehead.

"Be good, alright? I will call you after I arrive, and every chance I get, I will call or text," Tom promised, and Lucy nodded as they both got out of the car.

"You can approve Anita's resignation," Tom told Harry as they all headed for the plane.

"Why the sudden change of heart?" Harry asked, and Tom shrugged.

"Lucy doesn't want Anita around. Lucy's comfort is more important to me than teaching Anita a lesson," Tom said, and Lucy, who was quietly walking between them, looked at Tom.

"Don't you think you should have asked Lucy's opinion first before rambling about it earlier? Stop confusing me," Harry hissed, and Lucy giggled while Tom glared at Harry.

"Aww, LuLu is laughing now. I was beginning to worry about you. I think she likes it when I scold you, don't you, Lulu?" Harry asked as he looked at Lucy.

"Yeah. I do," Lucy said, and Harry placed his arm around her neck and pulled her to himself.

"I got you then. I will scold Tom every chance I get," Harry promised and chuckled when Tom slapped his hand off Lucy's shoulder.

"Take good care of her, okay?" Tom said as they stopped by the plane, and he turned to Lucy and embraced her.

"I don't feel comfortable leaving this way. I feel like we haven't resolved things properly...."

"It's fine," Lucy murmured.

"We will be fine," Tom promised as he kissed her lips lightly.

"I love you," he said, and Lucy smiled.

"I know. I love you too," Lucy said as she watched Tom walk away.

"Really, Tom? I don't get a goodbye hug and kiss," Harry called to Tom, and Lucy giggled when Tom sent him the middle finger without turning back.

"I love you too, Tom!" Harry called out, making Lucy laugh.

"Are you okay?" Harry asked as they got into the car after watching the plane take off.

Neither of them had said a word to the other as they walked back to the car together, and he had noticed Lucy brushing off her tears.

"Yeah."

"Are you telling the truth?" Harry asked, and Lucy looked at him as she gestured helplessly with her hands.

"I don't know, Harry. I just don't think things will be the same between us again. I don't know why, but I think everything is going to change, and I don't know how I feel about that," Lucy said as another tear dropped from her eyes.

"What if it's a good kind of change?" Harry asked, and she sighed.

"I don't know," she said with trembling lips.

Harry could see what Tom meant when he said Lucy was scared of change.

"Lucy, I don't know much about anything else, but one thing I know for a fact is that Tom loves you, and he isn't letting go," Harry assured her.

"Are you thinking of letting go?" Harry asked, and Lucy shrugged.

"If I can't give him what he wants, I will have to, won't I?" Lucy asked, and Harry patted her shoulder in a friendly manner.

"I think instead of you to spend time worrying about the changes or what to do if you're unable to give Tom what he wants, you can make an effort to make sure the changes are positive changes," Harry suggested.

"How?"

"By healing. Why not focus on your therapy? Try focusing on yourself and becoming better. While you're on that you can also read books on relationships. I understand you don't exactly have much experience in the relationship field. Why not read up on relationships? You can't imagine the magnitude of knowledge you can get from such books. I could lend you a couple of mine. Maybe you feel this way because you're not exactly sure yet about what you want or what you're doing. You want Tom in your life, don't you?" Harry asked, and Lucy nodded.

"Of course I do."

"Good. He wants you too. That is something you both have in common. You might not yet have reached an agreement on the terms on which you both want each other, but I think this is a good starting point. Forget everything else and focus on healing and building your mind. I think that is what you need the most right now. Don't worry. Everything will be fine. Give it time," Harry said, and Lucy sighed.

"What if after the therapy, I still don't want to get married?" Lucy asked, and Harry smiled.

"That doesn't matter. If you don't want to, you don't have to do it just to please Tom or anyone else. By the end of the therapy, I believe you will be in a better mental space and perfectly able to know and choose what you want. Whatever you will choose to do, I will support you," Harry promised, and this time Lucy smiled, grateful for his understanding.

"Thank you."

"Just don't tell Tom I said that. He will kill me. Let this be a secret between us cousins," Harry said with a wink, and Lucy giggled.

"Sure."

"I will drop you off at Tom's...."

"No. I'd rather go to my apartment. You can drop me off at a convenient spot where I can get a cab," Lucy said, and Harry shook his head.

"Can't do that. I will drop you off at your apartment then," Harry said as he started the car and drove off.