Chapter 216 – Beginning with a Daring Encounter

“I already promised to help Jade,” Candy reminded him.

“Then you can do so from the distance. You won’t be of any help to Jade if you’re constantly worried about the wellbeing of your son or looking over your shoulder,” Matt said as he led her to the closest seat to them and made her sit on it before squatting in front of her.

“Listen to me. Your safety is my priority, not Jade’s case. I know that just yesterday I asked you to stop running, but that was before I realized the enormity of what was ahead of you. Allow me to send you out of the country to somewhere they wouldn’t easily find you, while Jade tries to wrap up the case,” Matt said as he patted her hand.

“Why are you doing this for me?” Candy asked in a small voice.

When he walked out of her apartment the previous day she had thought that was the last time she was going to be setting her eyes on him but seeing how he was here and trying so hard to help her, she couldn’t help feeling bad.

“Because I meant it when I said I like you. And although I don’t want to get involved with you after…” He shrugged as he couldn’t bring himself to tell her that she had killed the teenage boys, “… I just want to help you as a friend.”

Candy bit her lower lips to stop herself from shedding any tear, “You’ll be in danger,” Candy reminded him.

“I know I’m in danger already, but my father didn’t raise me to be a coward, and neither did my mother raise me to turn away when a lady needs my help,” Matt said with a shrug.

“Andy doesn’t want to leave.”

“I know. I spoke with her already.”

“So you want me to leave with just Jamal? I can’t leave Andy behind,” Candy protested.

“But you can leave your son behind?” Matt snapped at her irritably.

“He will be safe wherever he is, as long as it’s not here,” Candy said defensively.

“The safest place for any child is in his mother’s arms. If you really care about your son and you want to protect him, I don’t think you should send him off as you plan to do. Fine, if you don’t want to leave the country, at least we can make it seem like you did, while you go over to Jade’s brother’s house with your son as planned. You will definitely be safe there,” Matt suggested instead.

“Don’t worry, Andy will be safe,” Matt assured her.

“What? How could you convince her to change her mind?” Jade exclaimed in disappointment as she paced around the living room of the suite which she shared with Harry, while he followed her with his gaze.

“It’s the same. The only difference is that she won’t be there with her son. Besides, her sister already offered to stay behind as the bait you need. While Candace will help you with every information you need from the comfort of your brother’s home,” Matt suggested over the phone.

“It seems like you have it all figured out,” Jade said with a sigh.

“I did think it through. So? Have you spoken to him about it yet? Has he agreed to let them stay with him?” Matt asked curiously.

“You don’t have to worry about it. I have it all covered,” Jade assured him, “Just make sure they arrive there safely without being followed.”

“Sure. I will let you know how it goes,” Matt said before hanging up.

“You really should inform Benne that you’re taking them to his home,” Harry spoke up behind Jade the moment she dropped her phone, startling her.

“Jeez! I almost forgot you were here. How do you do that?” Jade asked as she turned to look at him.

“Do what?” Harry asked, looking at her with a blank expression.

“I meant, how do you manage to stay so silent. Never mind,” Jade said as she returned to her seat and picked up her laptop.

“When are you going to inform your brother that you’re taking strangers to his house?” Harry asked again when it was beginning to seem like she had no intention of answering his question.

“You are his assistant, so tell me. When should we tell him?” Jade asked without looking up at him.

“We? This has nothing to do with me. It is between you and your brother. And you should have told him last night from the moment you came up with that ridiculous idea!” Harry said with disapproval.

“I thought we were in this together?” Jade asked, looking up from her laptop to meet his disapproving gaze.

“Are we? Cause the last time I checked, I don’t remember you asking for my opinion until after you were done sharing your plans with them, or did you?” Harry asked as he got off the couch and dipped his right hand into his pocket.

“What’s the big deal anyway? His home is big enough to house twenty people without them crossing paths for at least a week. I’m sure he wouldn’t mind sharing his guest room with a helpless young lady and her son,” Jade called out dismissively as Harry headed for his bedroom.

Once he got to the door he paused, “Your brother doesn’t like such surprises, so make sure you call him and inform him of your plans!” Harry repeated irritably before shutting the door behind him, leaving Jade to wonder why he seemed to be in such a foul mood.

*********

“You will never guess what my cousin told me last night,” A beautiful lady blonde lady who seemed to be in her early forties told her friend who was seated beside her, and as expected four other ears in the VIP room of the ultramodern beauty salon perked up.

The first lady’s eyes shone excitedly, and from the gleam in her eyes, one could tell that she couldn’t wait to share her juicy gossip as almost everyone at the salon always had one gossip or the other to share.

“Hey, go easy!” She scolded the girl who was giving her a pedicure.

“I’m sorry, ma’am.”

“What did she tell you?” Her friend who was equally receiving a pedicure asked in excitement, eager to hear whatever gossip was about to be shared.

“This can’t leave this room, okay? Or else we will all be in trouble,” the first lady said, looking around at all the other four ladies in the room. Three of them were looking at her eagerly, while the last one seemed to be too occupied with her phone as they styled her hair.

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