Chapter 113 - Conference Call

After staring at the screen for a while without following the movie being shown on the screen, Tom turned to Lucy, "I will be outside," Tom whispered to Lucy as he tried to stand up.

"What? Why? The movie barely just started. Is something wrong?" Lucy asked in concern as she glanced at Anita to see if something was wrong, but Anita's gaze was fixed on the screen.

"Everything is okay. I don't think I enjoy the movie, and I need to make a phone call outside. I will join you when I'm done," Tom said as he stood up, and waited for Lucy to adjust her legs before walking out of the row.

"Wait," Lucy called out before he could walk away, making some of the viewers near them turn to look at them as they frowned at the noise, "Sorry," Lucy whispered to them before turning to Tom.

"You should go with the car key," she said, extending it to him.

"Thanks," Tom said as he took the car key from her before walking away.

Once he left, Lucy turned to Anita, "Did something happen between you both?" She asked in concern. She couldn't believe that after she had just finished commending herself on a job well done in bringing them together Tom had decided to leave.

"Not at all. I think he would have preferred to be here alone with you," Anita said, flashing her a small smile.

Lucy giggled at the statement, "Nah. He would have preferred to be here alone with you, trust me. He likes you," Lucy whispered conspiratorially since she believed Anita liked Tom as well.

Anita's perfectly carved brows shot up, "You are mistaken. You are the one he likes," Anita said, and Lucy shook her head with an amused smile.

"Don't worry, I'm sure you will find out soon enough that he likes you," Lucy said with a confident smile before returning her attention to the screen once again.

After Tom left the movie hall, he walked over to the parking lot, unlocked the car, and dialed Jade's line as he sat on the driver's seat. It was Sunday and as such, he knew she wouldn't be at the office, and if anything she would be in her study at home looking over a case file or just resting.

"Sup!" Jade greeted distractedly once she received the call, but her eyes were still on the open page of the hardback crime novel she was reading.

"Do you have a minute?" Tom asked with a note of urgency in his tone, which prompted Jade to sit up on her bed and drop the novel next to her.

"Sure. What's up?"

"I need your opinion on something," Tom said with a frown.

"Okay... What's up?" Jade asked, waiting to hear what the problem was.

Tom looked at the screen of his phone when he heard the notification of an awaiting call,

"Hold on, Bryan is calling. Let's have a conference call, that way you both can tell me what you think," Tom said as he received Bryan's call and made it a conference call where all three of them could speak to each other at once.

"Hey, Bryan! I was just talking to Jady before you called, so it's a conference call," Tom informed Bryan.

"Hey, sissy! How're you doing?" Bryan asked curiously.

"If you wanted to know you should have called," Jade hissed at him.

"I would have called if I wasn't on this damn wheelchair," Bryan said, trying to turn the table.

"What wheelchair?"

"A wheelchair? Why?" Tom and Jade asked simultaneously. Their concern was evident in their voice.

"You see? Maybe if you had bothered to call to check up on me you would have known that I twisted my ankle," Bryan said with a smug smile, knowing he had succeeded in turning the table.

"When did that happen? How come you didn't mention it when we discussed this morning?" Tom asked in concern.

"Sorry, it slipped my mind. I slipped in the bathroom on Friday night. Sonia is fine, she went shopping with Mia, hence I'm calling now," Bryan explained.

"Good to know you are okay, Yan. Tom, how was your dinner date last night? And what was the issue you needed my opinion on?" Jade asked, bringing Tom's attention back to the issue they were discussing.

"You need her opinion on something? Why didn't you call me first?" Bryan asked grudgingly.

"Tsk! I can't believe after all these years you are still always competing for attention with me. What a shame," Jade said, clucking her tongue.

"You wish," Bryan muttered.

"Listen up. I'm outside this Cinema hall. Lucy is inside with Anita, who happens to be my ex-girlfriend, and for one reason or the other they are both trying to matchmake me with each other," Tom said, catching both their attentions at once.

"Wait, what? Your ex-girlfriend is friends with Lucy? How? And why are you outside the hall? Are you stalking them?" Bryan asked while Jade listened patiently as she waited for Tom's response to Bryan's questions.

Tom took in a deep breath before going ahead to explain how Lucy had suggested they see a movie with her friend, and how he had found out the friend was Anita. He also went on to give them the details of his relationship with Anita and how he now owned the company where she worked. He also told them how Lucy had come to the conclusion that Anita was the lady he liked.

"Wow!" Bryan and Jade exclaimed in unison after he was done.

"So you mean Lucy is trying to help you win Anita, and for some twisted reason the gold-digging Anita is trying to hook you up with Lucy?" Jade summarized, and Bryan burst into a fit of laughter.

"Damn! I don't wish to be in your shoes right now," Bryan said with an amused smile.

"What do you guys think I should do?" Tom asked wearily.

"Why not just tell Lucy that Anita used to be your girlfriend? It's not a big deal, especially as Anita doesn't even know your true identity," Jade suggested.

"The thing is, Anita and I already agreed not to tell anyone about our past," Tom added.

"I don't think Lucy is just anyone at this point. She deserves to know your actual relationship with Anita, that way she won't feel like a complete fool at the end of the day," Jade reasoned.

"And what if he tells her about it, and she insists on seeing the lady he likes?" Bryan countered.

"Of course she has every right to ask to see the lady, but don't forget that Tommy also has every right to not tell her who the lady he likes is. And if she insists, you can just tell her that she is the one you like. That is surely going to shut her up," Jade said matter of factly.

"Or you could just say you will tell her about it after your temporary relationship ends," Bryan suggested instead.

"Temporary relationship? Are you dating her already, Tommy?" Jade asked, making Tom raise a hand to comb his fingers through his hair. He was mixing up his conversation with Bryan and Jade. He could no longer keep track of who he was telling what to.

"You weren't aware?" Bryan asked happily since he knew something Jade didn't know about.

"Yeah, I was able to convince her to be my girlfriend," Tom said and went on to explain how he had been able to do that.

"Hm. You are sure you want to keep up with this deceit for long? She is going to be pissed when she finds out everything," Jade said thoughtfully.

"Women and sentiments," Bryan murmured with a dramatic sigh, "So what if Tom here finds out she isn't all he thinks she is and changes his mind about wanting a relationship with her? Her being upset or not won't matter then. The important thing right now is for him to be sure that she is what he wants, after that he can apologize and find ways to make it up to her," Bryan said, making Jade sigh.

"For his sake, I hope it will be that easy. Tommy, I really think you should just tell her that Anita is your ex-girlfriend, I'm sure it isn't that big a deal," Jade said, and Tom sighed.

"Alright. I will. Thanks," Tom said with a sigh.

"By the way, I and Sonia will be featuring in a reality show. I thought you should know," Bryan announced.

"A reality show? Since when did you start doing that?" Jade asked in surprise.

"Since I twisted my ankle and can't meet up with the deadline of some pending jobs."

"That's great. I will be sure to follow the show. Can't wait to see my sister-in-law," Jade said in a mocking tone, as she still didn't believe that Bryan was genuinely engaged to Sonia.

"By the way, when was the last time either of you heard from mom or dad?" Tom asked when he remembered that it was almost a week since he last spoke with his mother.

"Monday," Bryan and Jade responded in unison.

Tom sighed. He also last heard from his mother on Monday, "Maybe we should consider paying them a surprise visit soon?" Tom suggested.

"Once I wrap up this case, I will make time for a visit. Have you been able to speak with Harry?" Jade asked hopefully.

"Yeah. He's on it. He said he will get back to me within 48 hours, so let's wait until then."

"What are you guys waiting for? What is Harry getting?" Bryan asked, sounding lost.

"Harry is helping me find a witness for my case," Jade explained.

"Thanks, Tommy. If that's all, I got to go now, love you both," Jade said before hanging up.

Bearing Jade's advice in mind, Tom returned inside the hall to join them since he didn't want to leave Lucy alone in Anita's company.

Lucy who was already beginning to doze off, sat up when she saw Tom standing beside her, and she let him pass to his seat.

"Where is she?" Tom asked as he sat down.

"She left to take a call," Lucy said with a yawn, "What took you so long?"

Tom turned to her, "Listen, I think there is a misunderstanding between us. Anita really isn't the person I'm interested in. I don't even like her," Tom said with a scowl, wanting to get that out of the way before Anita returns.

Lucy frowned, "You don't? But you said..."

"I know what I said. But I'm serious. She really isn't the one. Anita is... She is my ex-girlfriend," Tom said, making Lucy blink at him in surprise.

"Your ex?"