One Wild Night

After freshening up, Lucy put on one of Tom's tshirts and went to sit at the balcony as she dialed Candace's line.

It didn't take long before Candace received the call, "Hey, Lucy!"

"I never knew you were so proud to have me as your cousin that you couldn't wait to announce me to the world," Lucy teased and Candace closed her eyes as she giggled.

"I'm so sorry about that. It was a slip...."

"There is no need to apologize. I'm fine. I just wanted to know how you were doing. I figured since I didn't call to check on you and know how you were after the visit to the prison, I should call now. So, how are you doing? Still going back tomorrow?"

"I'm fine. And yes, I'm still going back tomorrow. How are you doing? Have any plans to go see your favorite aunt in jail?" Candace asked and Lucy giggled.

"I have no reason to do that. We have no business together. How is Andy doing? You both looked great on TV. And Andy, tell her I absolutely love her voice and she's going to have to entertain us at my Christmas party," Lucy said and Candace giggled.

"She's going to love that. Give me a minute to get her here," Candace said since she was in the living room alone with Matt. Andy and Jade had chosen to give them privacy they didn't ask for and were in the room chatting.

"Andy, Lucy is on the phone. She says you have to entertain the guests at her Christmas party," Candace called out to Andy as she opened the bedroom door.

"How much is she paying? I need to get a manager soon," Andy said, and both Jade and Candace laughed.

"Did you hear her?" Candace asked Lucy who was also laughing.

"You don't need to get a manager. I told you I will do that already. In exchange I get sixty per cent of all you earn," Jade said and both Candace and Andy looked at her incredulously.

"Sixty per cent? Here is your gun, Jade? I'm think you are an armed robber in training," Andy said and they all hollered with laughter.

"Hey, Lucy," Andy greeted as she took the phone from Candace.

"Hey, Andy. You are not a star yet simply because you were featured on television. And you shouldn't charge your family. We are family remember?" Lucy said and Andy rolled her eyes. 2

"Alright. Alright. I will give you a discount. Family should support my craft after all..."

"It's not a craft, Andy. It's your talent," Jade corrected.

"Whatever you call it, family should support it," Andy said and they laughed.

"Anyway, I'm just calling to check on you girls. I take it everyone is fine, so I will leave you to get back to whatever you were doing," Lucy said and Candace took the phone back from Andy.

"By the way, Jade, are you spending the night there?" Lucy asked since it was getting dark already.

"I guess so. Harry is not home yet and he asked me to wait for him," Jade said with a sigh as she glanced at her watch.

"Alright. Have fun," Lucy said to Jade and glanced at her phone when she received an incoming call notification from Lucas.

"Have a safe trip when you leave tomorrow. And give me love to Aaron and Jamal," Lucy told Candace hanging up.

"You guys haven't left yet?" Lucy asked immediately she received Lucas's call.

"We are at the airport, about to leave now. Did Amy receive an invite to the funeral?" Lucas asked, going straight to the reason be had called.

"Yes. She should have gotten to Heden by now. She left in the morning," Lucy said and then pursed her lips.

"Lucas..."

"Don't ask me any silly questions. I didn't call to be interrogated," Lucas cut in.

"You don't even know what I was going to say yet," Lucy protested with a scowl.

"You were going to ask if I'm sure I don't have feelings for her. Am I wrong?" He asked and she rolled her eyes.

"Yes, you are wrong," Lucy said but Lucas wasn't listening to her.

"You've asked me before and I've given you a response. I see no reason why you are asking again. Perhaps you think if you ask me again and again my response might change. Well, it's not going to change...

"Rachel was in my office today," Lucy interjected, seeing as he wasn't ready to listen.

"What? To do what?" Lucas asked in disbelief.

"Yeah. She came crying and begging, wanting me to help her get back with you," Lucy said and Lucas snorted.

"And what did you tell her? Why did you even let her into your office?" Lucas asked and Lucy explained what had happened.

"Amy saw her?" Lucas asked and Lucy raised an eyebrow.

"I just said a lot of things and that's the part you choose to comment on? Yet a couple of minutes ago you went on a long tirade about how you don't like her and stuff when I didn't even ask. You change her locks, go visit Miley's family as her defense lawyer, and drive her around everywhere, and you claim you don't care. Not that I care whether or not you are interested in her. I don't care what you do with your time either. That's your personal business. I know you are a dogooder but it would be in your best interest not to keep doing things that would give Amy the impression that you're interested in her. I'm sure if we all think that way, she would be feeling so too. And most importantly, you shouldn't lie to yourself about how you feel," Lucy said and Lucas frowned.

"You think she might think I'm interested in her because of all I'm doing? I mean, are these not basic stuff that a decent human would do?" Lucas asked and Lucy rolled her eyes.

"Basic? What will you do if she starts developing feelings for you?" Lucy asked, and before Lucas could respond, his flight was announced.

"I have to go now. I will call you when we arrive," Lucas said and Lucy sighed.

"Alright. She asked for your number. Can I give this to her?"

"No. Tell her I don't have a phone. Bye," Lucas said and hung up.

Lucy shook her head as she kept her phone on the table and looked ahead of her.

She really hoped Lucas knew what he was doing, both for his sake and for Amy's. Amy was a nice girl and the last thing she wanted was for him to lead her on unintentionally and break her heart by being emotionally unavailable.

Lucy turned to look into the bedroom when she heard the door open, and her lips curved in a smile when she saw

Tom walk in and her brows shot up when she saw he was carrying a basket.

"Mr Thomas Hank, what is that basket?" She asked from the balcony and Tom smiled as he went to meet her there.

"I went to get the Danish cookies and bounty chocolate, but saw this cute apology gift basket there," Tom said and she shook her head in amusement as she rose to kiss him.

"You do too much some times," she said and he shrugged. "Probably because I love you too much," he said and she smiled as she took the basket from him and set it on the balcony table.

"I think it's because you have too much money to spend. Did you get the ice cream?" Lucy asked without bothering to take a glance at the contents of the basket.

"Wouldn't dare to forget that. It's in the freezer downstairs. You can get it when we go down for dinner."

"Alright. Apology accepted. You must be pretty exhausted. Long day, huh?" She asked and he nodded as he pulled her close and embraced her.

"I missed you. And it was so boring driving solo," he said and she smiled.

"Yeah. I felt the same. Why don't you go in and freshen up? I will have them set the table for dinner, and after we are done, you can tell me about the change in plan regarding Mia, and how it went with the investors. We are having dinner with Mia," Lucy said and Tom sighed.

"I'm exhausted. I'm not in the mood for company apart from yours," he said and she smiled apologetically.

"Sorry, about that. But she's a guest in your home and it's only fitting that you have dinner with her even if it's just for tonight. Or would you rather go to the guest room to welcome her and talk to her?" Lucy asked and Tom chuckled.

"Like you would let me do something like that," Tom said with a yawn.

"What do you mean? I'm not that jealous. You can do that if you want," Lucy said and Tom chuckled.

"Thanks for the permission. By the way, i really wasn't okay with the idea of you taking a cab. No, before you argue, hear me out," Tom said as he placed both hands on her shoulders, and Lucy pressed her lips together.

"I know you still think you are just Lucinda Perry. While it is true that you are you, you are also my girlfriend. You are not dating just anyone, Lucy. You are dating Thomas Hank. You could easily be a target for anybody. Kidnappers or any irate staff or displeased business rivals. I don't think you should relax and let down your guard simply because we no longer have to worry about the Miller family. You need to be more careful. Next time if I'm running late, I'm going to have Adolf pick you up. No argument, please. Your safety is important to me. You can choose to express your displeasure any other way, but don't put yourself at risk ever," Tom said and Lucy nodded. 2

"Alright. I admit that I didn't think of it that way. I'm sorry for not listening to you," she said and he nodded.

"It's fine as long as you are safe. I will go freshen up now," Tom said as he brushed his lips against her forehead before walking away.

Lucy picked up the apology gift basket and followed him inside. She placed it on the table in the room and sat on the couch as she watched Tom undress.

"You should go slowly," she said with a grin and Tom chuckled.

"I'm not giving you a show," he said as he headed for the bathroom stark naked.

"Nice butt, boss," she called after him and he used both palms to cover his butt making her laugh as he disappeared from view.

Once he left, she smiled as she took out the contents of the apology gift basket and shook her head as she read the card tucked inside with a handwritten note from Tom.

[I really don't like to upset you. Forgive me.]

"As if it's the first time he's upsetting me," she thought with an amused smile as she opened the tin of Danish cookies and nibbled on one before going downstairs to supervise the setting of the table so they would include Mia.

Thirty minutes later, Lucy and Mia were seated at the table, and Tom joined them, "I hope I didn't keep you both waiting," Tom said as he sat down.

"No, you didn't. I only just got here," Mia assured him.

"Wouldn't be the first time you kept me waiting today," Lucy said and Tom chuckled.

"I apologize once again for the hundredth time," Tom said and she grinned.

"Apology accepted again. Let's dig in," Lucy said and they all began to eat.

"So, Harry informed me you changed the plans," Tom said halfway into the meal.

"Yes, I did. There's no need to put you all on danger because of me," Mia said and Tom arched a brow.

"You think Henry can hurt us?" Tom asked, while Lucy listened silently.

"I don't think, I know so. I know you're a big shot and all, but Henry comes from a line of big shots and he is a big shot himself. You have no idea how connected he is or how dangerous he is. I know him better than anyone else. I know what he is capable of," Mia said, and Lucy felt a chill run down her spine. ℗

"So, don't you think it's going to be just the same when he finds out we all made a fool out of him?" Tom asked even though he felt a bit put off by the way she was underestimating them.

Mia shook her head, "I will make sure he never finds out about your involvement," Mia said and Tom shrugged.

"Let's have it your way then. We will all discuss the details further tomorrow. Let's enjoy our meal," Tom said and they all returned their attention to their meal even though each of them were distracted by their thoughts.

While Mia wondered what Jeff was doing and what he was having for dinner, Tom thought about the pros and cons of Mia's plan, while Lucy couldn't help but worry and wonder.

She wondered what Mia's new plan was and worried about the safety of everyone now that she had heard what Mia said about her husband hurting them.

She could only hope and pray that they would be able to rescue Mia safely from the monster she had married, and everyone would go unscathed.

As Tom and Lucy settled down on the bed a short while later, Lucy had a frown on her face as Tom told her all about Mia's new plan.

"Is that safe? He could kill her," Lucy said and Tom nodded.

"Yeah. I think so too. But if it's what she wants, there is little or nothing we can do about it other than make sure she gets justice," Tom said and Lucy frowned. 2

"If you are willing to go against him to get justice after she dies, why not just do so now and save her further torture?" Lucy asked and Tom nodded.

"That's what I think too. But we can't act rashly. We have to apply wisdom and tread with caution here," Tom said and Lucy sighed as she snuggled closer to him.

"Whatever you do, make sure you stay safe," Lucy said and Tom nodded.

"Sure. Nothing is going to happen to me, I promise."

"Now tell me about the investors," Lucy said and they chatted for a bit until Tom finally gave in to his exhaustion and slept off, halfway into Lucy's story of her visit to the factory.