One Wild Night

The car was silent as Harry drove Mia and Jeff to Tom's residence. Each of them was occupied by their own thoughts.

While Harry was thinking about Henry Rosewood and how to help Mia make sure he signed the divorce documents without drama, Mia was thinking about her phone call with Henry and her father, and wondering what they planned to do next now that they knew she was alive.

Jeff on the other hand was wondering if moving with Mia was the right thing to do. As much as he understood that Henry would want to hold him responsible for Mia's absence if he came to find Mia and she was missing, he also thought going into hiding with her would give them the idea that he was Mia's lover or something and he wasn't sure that was good.

Not because he didn't want to be Mia's lover but because Henry could easily change the narrative and make it seem like she was asking for a divorce because of him and not because he had been abusing her.

"Is Tom aware that I will be staying at his place?" Mia asked thoughtfully after a while and Harry met her gaze through the rearview mirror since she was seated at the back while Jeff was seated in front with Harry.

"Of course. It was his idea," Harry said and Mia nodded.

"How do you plan to convince Henry to sign the divorce papers?" Mia asked curiously.

"We have some men digging up dirts…" Harry's voice trailed off when Mia suddenly burst into a humorless laughter.

"Dirts? Seriously?" She asked, laughing so hard that Harry frowned while Jeff turned in his seat to look at her, wondering what was amusing her.

"What's funny?" Harry asked in confusion.

"I'm sorry I'm laughing, Harry. But you must be dreaming if you think Henry is the kind of man blackmails work on. Do you think I don't have dirts on him? Do you even have any idea how much dirts I have on him? Yet here I am," Mia said with a shake of her head.

"Listen," she said before Harry could speak again. "I know you mean well, and I appreciate it, but your way won't work this time. Trust me, I know Henry. Henry doesn't give in to blackmail. You heard him, he doesn't give in to failure…"

"Don't you think your fear of him is making you overestimate him? He might not be as powerful as you think he is," Jeff said and Mia shook her head.

"How much dirt do you have on him? Do you have evidence?" Harry asked before Mia could respond to what Jeff had said.

"That's the point, Harry. It's not just dirt, it's evidence. Financial crimes, tax evasion, and lots more, enough to bury him. But what good would it do? Henry's a master manipulator. He covers his tracks well. He thrives on scandal. He'd spin it, make himself the victim and somehow anything I have could be spun as hearsay. He has all the major news outlets in his palms. That's why a clean divorce is the only way. No mudslinging, no public spectacle. Just a clean break, but he won't give me that. And that is the exact reason I had to go to that extent to run away in spite of all I had against him. So, no, Jeff. I'm not overestimating him. I fear him because I know exactly who and what he is, and if you knew half of what I know, you'd think twice about crossing paths with him," Mia said with a confidence that left no doubt that she knew what she was saying.

A tense silence settled in the car again. broken only by the rhythmic hum of the engine as they neared Tom's residence.

Jeff, feeling helpless, turned back around, his gaze fixed out the window. Harry, however, tapped his fingers thoughtfully on the steering wheel.

Judging by what he had heard in Henry's tone and what Mia had said, it seemed like their usual tactics won't work on Henry and they would have to apply caution both for their sake and Mia's sake.

"So, what do you suggest?" Harry finally asked. "You've made it clear you don't want him to know we are directly involved, and you don't think blackmailing him will work either. We can't just walk in there and ask him nicely, can we?

"Don't you think we that maybe we can use a bit of force to make him sign it? I would love to punch him in the face," Jeff said and Mia tilted her head, considering.

"There might be another way. A way that doesn't involve force, threats or digging up dirt," she said quietly.

"What is it?" Harry and Jeff asked in unison, both eager for a different approach.

Mia pursed her lips, a glimmer of determination in her eyes. "It's a gamble, but it might just work. It involves appealing to his ego, not threatening it." She paused, letting the suspense build. "We need to make him think this divorce is his idea."

Jeff's brows furrowed. "His idea? But why would he agree to that?"

"Because," Mia said, a steely glint entering her eyes, "we're going to give him a reason to think he's better off without me."

"How? What are you thinking?" Harry asked, and this time she smiled as the idea began to take form in her head.

Maybe, just maybe she finally had what it would take to face him. It might cost her life or give her her freedom. What was life without risks? This was a risk she was willing to take for her freedom.

"Mia? Say something," Jeff urged her.

"Now that I have you behind me, I'm going to let him come get him…"

"What are you talking about?" Jeff asked in disbelief.

"You heard me right. I'm going to let him find me and take me back…"

"You couldn't even talk to him over the phone a moment ago. How are you going to live with him? Mia, I don't think…"

"I can't live this way forever, Jeff. This is my life. I need to take control of it. I tried running from him, but it didn't work. Now I have to run back the same way I came and do the chasing. But first, let's see what he would do next. Knowing Henry, he would first try to get the attention of the public by publicizing the news of my survival. He most likely wouldn't say I ran away. You heard what he said. He would say I lost my memory. His ego wouldn't let him admit that I ran away from him. Harry, that is where you and Tom will have to come in. Make him believe that you are on his side by letting him know I'm hiding out at Tom's place. You are his business partners after all," Mia said and Harry frowned.

"Why would you want to be exposed to him again? He could kill you. The public might not know what you did, but he knows you tried to run from him. What if he kills you this time?" Harry asked and she shrugged.

"Then maybe I'm better off dead…"

"Mia!" Jeff growled angrily, "How can you say that? After all you've been through shouldn't you be fighting to live now? What about those of us that are now involved in this with you? How do you expect us to feel knowing we couldn't protect you after all?" Jeff asked heatedly.

"Relax, Jeff. No one would be dying. I'm a lot stronger now than I was before I left Henry, and I have you all. Things are way different now. But it's the only way," Mia said while Harry remained silent as he thought about what Mia had proposed they do.

Mia's words hung heavy in the air, the tension in the car amping up by the second. Jeff's anger was understandable, but Harry, ever the pragmatist, saw the potential in her plan.

"Why aren't you saying anything?" Jeff asked Harry under his breath.

"Is there something in particular that you want me to say?" Harry asked while Mia relaxed in her seat as she listened to them whispering.

"You said you were going to help her. It isn't helping her if you let her walk back into the lion's den. You should discourage her from this crazy plan," Jeff pointed out.

"She wasn't asking for my permission. She asked me to help her and she has just told us how she thinks we can help her. You haven't heard all she has to say about her plan yet you assume you know better…"

"It's not about knowing better! It's about keeping her safe!" Jeff interjected and Harry turned to spare him a glance.

"And do you think you care about her safety more than she does?" Harry asked and Mia's lips twitched as she watched Jeff frown.

"I'm just saying…"

"Relax, Jeff, I know what I'm doing," Mia said softly, touched by his genuine concern for her, "If Henry is going to have to hurt anyone for me to get my freedom, I'd rather it is me."

"Let's hear the rest of your plan, Mia," Harry said as he drove through Tom's gate.

Mia went on to tell them about her plan, and even after Harry had parked the car, neither of them got out of the car as they Mia continued to speak.

"But what if he sees through it?" Jeff interjected, his voice laced with worry. "He's not stupid, Mia."

"He is arrogant," Mia corrected, "and blinded by his ego. He will see what he wants to see, especially if we present everything with a perfect bow," Mia said confidently.

The plan was risky, a high-stakes poker game where they were betting Mia's safety for her freedom. Yet, amidst the trepidation, a flicker of hope flickered in the car. It was a long shot, but it was a chance. A chance to finally outsmart Henry and reclaim Mia's life.

Jeff remained silent for a moment, then let out a deep breath. Although he didn't like the plan, he could see it working.

"Alright, Mia," Harry said, his voice firm. "We are in. We will do everything we can to keep you safe and get you the clean break you deserve," he promised.

"I'm still worried, Mia. But if this is what you want, I'm with you," Jeff said, and they all got out of the car.

As Harry opened the trunk of his car for them to get out their luggage, Jeff hesitated in taking out his bag, "If you are going to let him take you back, don't you think it's best I go back to the apartment while you stay here? It won't be good for him to think there is something going on between us. I mean, he could hurt you more if he thinks you cheated on him. And maybe if he shows up at the apartment, I can point him in your direction too," Jeff suggested.

Although Mia didn't exactly like the idea since she wanted Jeff there with her and possibly sharing a room with her, gave him a nod. "Okay. But you don't have to leave right away, right?" She asked, and he gave her a nod while Harry watched them both, wondering once again what was going on between them.

After leading them into the house and having the housekeeper show Mia to the guestroom that had been prepared for her on Lucy's instruction, Harry left them and headed for Tom's office so he could discuss the change of plan with Tom.

He knew that Tom had wanted nothing more than for them to mess Henry up both physically and reputation wise, but that would have to wait. The most important thing was for Mia to first get her freedom. Every other thing could follow after that.