Chapter 232 - Family Reunion

Once the best friends stopped crying and settled down on the couch, Lucy remembered what Tom had told her, and turned to look at Sonia, "Tom said you broke up with Bryan. Why did you do that?" Lucy asked in a concerned tone since she knew for a fact that Sonia was in love with him.

"I just don't want him to get mixed up in this. He's an actor and his public image is important to his career," Sonia explained with a sigh.

"Is that what he told you? What did he say when you asked for the breakup?" Lucy asked, and Sonia looked away guiltily.

"I actually didn't ask. I just ended things with him myself."

"I guess it's true what they say," Lucy said in amazement.

"What they say about what?" Sonia asked, returning her gaze to Lucy.

"Even the smartest people are not so smart when they're in love," Lucy said with a shake of her head, "You should have first talked things through with him instead of just breaking up with him like that."

"It doesn't matter now, does it? The deed has been done. So what's the plan for the video? What social media platform do you have in mind?" Sonia asked, wanting to change the subject. 

She didn't want to think about Bryan right now. She didn't want to start worrying about why he was yet to call or text her. Although she had ended things with him unexpectedly, she still expected him to understand her and give her a call.

"You're the social media freak, so I was hoping you would have an idea. Although one of my neighbors mentioned something about having a YouTube channel with many followers," Lucy said, and Sonia pursed her lips thoughtfully.

"YouTube... That's not a bad idea. We could shoot it there and then I would share the link to the video on my Instagram bio since I have lots of followers there," Sonia said, and then looked at Lucy with serious eyes.

"Are you sure you want to put yourself through this? I could just make a video of myself defending you. It's easier that way," Sonia suggested even as Lucy shook her head. 

"No, it's not. Let's not argue about it," Lucy said dismissively, and Sonia narrowed her eyes at her suspiciously.

"Why do you sound unaffected by this?"

"I'm not unaffected. I'm just trying not to let it weigh me down. Would you rather you came here and saw me hiding under my duvet?" Lucy asked, and Sonia shook her head.

"Nah, I'm glad you seem okay. By the way, why don't I see Tom around? Come and show me his apartment," Sonia said, tugging Lucy's arm as she got off the couch.

"He left some minutes before you arrived. I didn't want him to be here when they arrive," Lucy explained as she pulled Sonia down.

"Why?" Sonia asked in confusion.

"This is not the time for that," Lucy said, giving Sonia a pointed look, and she sighed.

"You're right."

They both turned to the door when they heard the doorbell, "I guess they're here," Sonia said as they both got off the couch, and Lucy hurried to the door to open it. 

"Mom," she greeted as she embraced her mom. 

"Oh, my poor baby!" Her mother cooed softly as she embraced her, "You've lost so much weight," her mother observed as she broke the hug and looked Lucy over, "You're not eating enough."

"If you're done weighing her, can I hug my princess?" Lucy's father asked impatiently, and her mother moved away to embrace Sonia so that Lucy could embrace her father.

"Sonia my darling, how have you been?" She asked as she embraced Sonia.

"I've been great. I don't think there is any need to ask you how you've been. You look lovely as always Mrs. Perry," Sonia said admiringly, and Lucy's mother smiled.

"Thanks for coming to see her. I'm sure this must not be easy for you either."

"Daddy!" Lucy cried out as her father's strong arms came around her, and he lifted her off the ground making her laugh like she always did whenever he did that.

"I'm too old for this now," Lucy complained as he set her down and gazed fondly into her gray eyes which were identical to his.

"You can never be too old in my eyes. You'll always be my little princess," her father said as he pecked her forehead and then moved away from her to look at Sonia, "Who knew I would run into a celebrity here? I hope to get an autograph before I leave," He asked with a teasing smile as he embraced Sonia and pecked her cheek.

It was no secret in Lucy's family that Lucy's father was Sonia's first crush. He was not just handsome, but also looked very athletic. And he seemed to look even more attractive as he got older, "You're going gray," Sonia observed when she noticed the gray hairs that decorated his beards.

"And more handsome, yeah?" He asked with a wink and chuckled when she blushed.

"Let the poor girl be, Drew! Quit teasing her," Lucy's mother chided her husband with a giggle.

"Hey, Lulu!" Lucas greeted as he walked in carrying their mother's duffel bag. He set it down and embraced her, "I'm sorry I yelled at you earlier. I was upset," he said apologetically.

"It's okay. I've missed you," Lucy said, looking at him with a fond smile.

"Where is that boyfriend you spoke about? Or was it a lie?" Her mother asked, looking around the house.

"Did we come here because of her boyfriend?" Her father asked incredulously.

"Did we come here not to meet her boyfriend? Why can't we kill two birds with one stone?" Her mother asked before turning to look at her, "Why isn't he here? Don't tell me he broke up with you because of the news?" Her mother asked, making Lucy sigh as she met Sonia's gaze.

"He didn't. It's not like this is a happy family reunion or something..."

Her mother cut her off with a wave of her hands, "Of course, it is. We haven't seen you in a while so we needed to be here to make sure you are okay. Listen, baby, we are one happy family and we won't let anybody take our joy from us. Especially not now that you have a boyfriend. Don't worry, sweety, we are definitely going to resolve this. There is nothing to worry about," her mother said with a confident smile.

"Let's all settle down and then we can talk about this," Lucy's father suggested as Lucy showed her mother and Sonia to the bedroom.

*********

Once Tom took off the disguise and changed into the outfit he had worn earlier that morning, he picked up the keys to Lucy's car and left the office.

On his way to the parking lot, his phone started ringing and he received the call when he saw that it was from Harry, "Hey!"

"I've gotten the details of the person who made the first post," he announced without beating around the bush, and Tom's steps faltered.

"Text it to me."

"I will. I've been on the phone with most of the shareholders all day and they're not pleased that we are yet to fire Lucy. I have also received several calls this evening, and I was told that you escorted Lucy out of the company as the CEO and fired an employee in the presence of other staff for speaking ill of her. Is that true?" Harry asked quietly.

"Yes, I did. And Harry please don't start telling me about what I'm supposed to do or not do as the CEO. She is mine, and I owe it to her to protect her," Tom said before Harry could say anything else. 

"We are the only ones who knows that. If you were married to her and you were doing all of this no one would dare to challenge you. But right now everyone thinks she is just an employee, so your actions are questionable," Harry tried to explain.

"Then I should just open up to everyone and let them know that she is my girlfriend," Tom suggested.

"This is not the time, Tom! It's not the right time for this. I understand that this must not be easy for you, but you're also not making things easy for me either. I've been trying all day to convince the shareholders to be calm, and I'm also here trying to help Jade with her case. I'm feeling overwhelmed by all of it," Harry complained.

"I'm sorry, Harry. I will deal with this. I will deal with the shareholders as well. Just send me the details," Tom said as he headed for the car, and got in. 

"Please, Tom, do not do anything reckless. I understand that Lucy means a lot to you, but the company is also important to us. You know best how this works," Harry pleaded. 

"Don't worry, Harry. Just focus on Jade's case, and leave this to me," Tom said, and then glanced at his phone when he got the notification for another call. 

"Let's talk later, I need to take Bryan's call," Tom informed him and hung up.

"What's up?" He asked once he received Bryan's call.

"If you're not too busy can you pick me up?"