Chapter 396 – Beginning with a Daring Encounter

Jade cleared her throat, “I’m leaving with his mother today. We are leaving him behind, at least until we are done with the case, and it is safe for them to return to their home,” Jade explained, and Evelyn frowned.

“Who is going to watch over him when you leave him here?”

“Samantha, Adolf, and the others can keep their eye on him, at least until Benne returns from work,” Jade said reasonably.

Evelyn frowned, “Benne agreed to that?” She asked.

“Yes, he did. Oh! That reminds me, I need to ask Candace to make a list,” Jade said as she quickly stood up and excused herself.

“The kid needs more attention than that. Can’t we just take him with us?” Evelyn asked her husband with concern.

“No, we can’t. We also have serious business to deal with. He should stay here. Benne and Celsie can look after the kid,” Desmond insisted.

“But they’re both busy, and I can…”

“There is no buts, love. If he was Benne’s kid, would you want us to take him along with us? His mother wants him to stay here because it is safer here. I’m sure Benne will find a way to ensure the kid is fine,” Desmond said confidently.

After breakfast, Bryan stayed behind to talk more with his parents while Sonia excused herself.

The moment she walked into the bedroom, she noticed that her phone’s screen light was on, and she picked it up to check why. She sighed when she noticed that she had missed her editor’s call.

Even though she probably shouldn’t be angry, she was pissed at him at how easily he had bought the story about her riding on Bryan’s coat-tail. She had expected a little more understanding from him than others since she had worked closely with him for a couple of years. She had expected that he at least would have given her the benefit of the doubt especially considering the fact that he had been the one who had suggested they hold a book signing event in Sogal because her relationship with Bryan would attract more fans to the event if they found out Bryan would be there.

When the phone started to ring again, she reluctantly picked received the call, “Good morning,” she greeted coolly as she sat on the bed.

“I know I owe you an apology…”

“Let’s not bother with that. Why are you calling?” She asked dismissively.

“Sonia, I’m sorry. I know I should have handled it better. I was upset when I…”

“I really don’t care about that, James. If that’s the only reason you called…”

“No! That’s not the only reason I called,” he rushed to stop her before she would hang up.

“About the book signing event…”

“I’m not doing that anymore,” Sonia cut in before he could finish.

“But we have already started the plans…”

“Then are you ready to hold a book signing event without the author? Because I can assure you that I’m not going to show up.”

The editor sighed. He knew he deserved this much, “Alright, I understand. I also wanted to find out when you can come down to sign the contract with the movie producer. He is ready to sign the contract immediately. Some other producers have also shown interest in some of your other stories and would like to discuss the details with you in person,” her editor rushed to inform her, and Sonia paused.

Of course, she should have known that the scandal was going to give her this much publicity. “I will get back to you on that later,” she said and hung up the call just as the door opened and Bryan walked in.

“How are you feeling now, babe?” He asked as he went to sit beside her.

“Not good. When are we leaving?” Sonia asked as she leaned into him.

“Within the next hour.”

“You might have to leave without me. I need to fly down to Heden and meet with my editor. There’s a contract he has been trying to seal with a movie producer for a while now. I need to get down there and sign it,” Sonia explained.

“They will wait. They need you more now than you need them. Besides, there’s no way I can let you go down there on your own when you’re not feeling well. Let’s get to Sogal first since my parents are coming with us, and we can’t just cancel the trip. Once I’ve settled all I need to do there, we can all go down to Heden together since that’s where my parents live. You will get to do your work and visit the home where I was raised at the same time,” Bryan suggested as he kissed her forehead.

“Okay. That sounds like a good plan,” Sonia said with a nod.

Away from there, Lucas raised a mug of coffee to his lips as he observed a uniformed lady lift plate after plate out of a food service trolley as she arranged their breakfast on the dining table.

She first placed a bowl containing some diced fresh fruits at the center of the table, and then she arranged the other plates around it.

Lucas eyed the table, wondering why they had prepared so much for a simple breakfast. There was egg McMuffin, sweet potato, fried egg tacos, crispy fried egg, scrambled egg, a bowl of oatmeal, milk, sugar, and different flavors.

Once the lady was done, she bowed politely before excusing them. By now, the strange lady was done with her cigarette, and she had dumped it in her ashtray.

“I hope you enjoy the meal,” she said, gesturing for him to eat.

“Do you usually have such a lavish banquet for breakfast?” Lucas asked, and she shrugged.

“Not exactly. It’s a recent development,” she said as she rubbed her hands together. She was already itching to have another cigarette.

“What is your name?” Lucas asked, and her lips curved.

“Why? Don’t tell me you don’t eat with strangers, and so you have to know my name before you eat with me?” She asked with a teasing smile, and Lucas felt himself smile back involuntarily.

“Something like that.”

She sighed, “As I said, you can call me Savior. There will be no need to know my name after now,” she muttered the last part under her breath as she stood up.

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