Chapter 219 - Not So Invisible

"Jam, don't run! Wait up!" Candy called to Jamal the next morning as she tried to catch up with him as he raced up the stairs in his quest to look around their new environment. 

"Oh!" Lucy exclaimed when the kid ran straight into her, almost causing her to fall, if not for Tom who was coming behind her, and he grabbed her waist with one arm.

"Thanks," Lucy said to Tom as she crouched down on one knee to look at the cute little boy who seemed startled to have run into her, "Hello!" She greeted with a friendly smile.

"I'm sorry I wasn't looking at where I was going to," Jamal apologized, bowing his head in apology.

"It's fine. Better me than the big man standing behind me, don't you think?" Lucy asked with an easy smile, and Jamal sneaked a peek behind Lucy to see Tom who was staring at him with an expressionless face, and then he gave Lucy a nod which made her giggle, "You see?"

"I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!" Candy said apologetically as she finally caught up with her son while panting for breath, "Jamal!" Candy called in a scolding tone as she glared at her son who quickly moved to stand beside her with his head bowed.

Candy looked from Lucy to Tom who she hadn't been expecting to be in the house, at least that was what the butler and chef had told her when she arrived the previous evening. Judging by the way he was staring at them, she could tell that he didn't like that they were in his house.

Lucy said nothing as she straightened up, and joined Tom who just stared at the mother and son without saying a word. When Tom had relayed Jade's request to her about a lady and her little boy being in need of safety, she hadn't expected the lady to be this young and attractive. 

As if Lucy suddenly remembered how harsh Tom could be with others, especially considering how upset he had been the previous night about having strangers in his personal space, she stepped forward before he could say anything and offered Candy disarming smile, "It's fine. No harm was done. Besides, the cute little guy already apologized. I'm Lucy," she said as she stretched out a hand for a handshake.

Candy returned her gaze to Lucy, and then took her hand in a polite handshake, "I'm Candace. I'm very sorry for the inconvenience our presence might cause," Candy said apologetically, with her eyes returning to Tom since she could tell that he was the owner of the house, and Lucy was likely his girlfriend.

"I'm sure it's not a bother. Right, Tom?" Lucy asked with a smile, and then stepped back to jab his side with her elbow, asking him to say something.

Tom cleared his throat, "Yeah, it's fine. We will be leaving now," Tom said, and then looked at Jamal, "Feel free to run around the house," he told the kid before walking past them, leaving Lucy to hurry after him. 

"You are a terrible host. You sounded so unwelcoming," Lucy pointed out quietly as they both walked down the stairs.

"Jade said I wasn't going to notice that they were in the house. She said they were going to be invisible. What part of what happened was invisible to you?" Tom asked with a slightly raised brow.

"Well, maybe not so invisible. But he is only a little boy. I'm sure you know first hand how boys can be around that age."

"And that's the reason I gave him the go-ahead to run around the house. I have no problem with the kid. I would be a complete douchebag to have an issue with a kid, wouldn't I?" 

"So you have a problem with the mother?" Lucy asked, but before he could respond, the butler interrupted them. 

"Good morning, Tom! It's good to see that you're back to looking... Decent," the butler greeted with a wide smile as he approached them, and Tom could only imagine how eager he was to tattle to his mother. 

"Good morning, Miss! It's good to see you again," he told Lucy with the same smile, and her face flushed with embarrassment when she remembered the last time she had met him. He was the one who Tom had said reported everything to his mother. She made a mental note to always be careful around him. 

"Good morning, sir," Lucy greeted with a polite bow.

"Good morning, Adolf. How may I help you?" Tom asked the nosy butler impatiently since they needed to stop by a clothes shop on their way to the office for Lucy to change out of the previous day's clothes. 

"The chef asked me to inform you that breakfast has been served, so you should have a bite before leaving. She was up really early to fix breakfast when she realized that you spent the night here... Especially with company," Adolf said in a confidential whisper. 

"And how did she know that I was home?" Tom asked curiously since the entire house had been silent when they got home, and he had assumed that everyone had gone to bed.

"You should know that nothing goes on under this roof without my knowledge," The butler said with a smug smile before glancing at Lucy with something akin to amusement, and then he winked at Tom, making Tom chuckle as Lucy's face flushed with embarrassment. Of course, it was her. She had made so much noise the previous night that it would have been a miracle if no one had heard her. 

Seeing how embarrassed she looked, Tom cleared his throat, "You know everything that goes on under my roof, yet you didn't deem it fit to inform me that guests arrived here unannounced yesterday?" Tom asked with a stern expression, changing the subject so that Lucy wouldn't be uncomfortable. 

Adolf shifted from foot to foot, "I'm sorry, Tom. I wanted to call but..."

"But you chose to listen to my sister against your better judgment?" Tom cut in.

"She said you were already aware, and there was no need to talk to you about it," Adolf said defensively.

"Is my mother aware that the guests are here?" 

"Yes, sir. No. I mean no," Adolf quickly corrected when he realized his blunder. 

"I see you thought it was okay for my mother who doesn't live here to know about the guests, while you kept it from the house owner. Henceforth, you will receive your paycheck from my mother since she is the one you report to," Tom threatened before guiding Lucy towards the kitchen, leaving the butler who remained there staring at them speechlessly. 

"Wasn't that a little too harsh?" Lucy asked in a whisper as she turned to look at the man.

"Do you want my mother to hear about all you did last night?" Tom asked, and Lucy shook her head very quickly.

"Good. That would scare him, at least for a couple of days. So he wouldn't report it to her," Tom assured her as he led her into his state-of-the-art kitchen.

"Oh, Tom! Good morning," The matronly chef greeted, coming forward to embrace him, "I've missed you so much."

"You're so dramatic. You sound like you haven't seen me in weeks. Yet I was here just two days ago," Tom reminded her with a fond smile as he hugged her back.

"No, I meant I missed this real you. Not that handsome rascal with those piercings," Samantha explained, making both Tom and Lucy laugh. 

"Meet my girlfriend, Lucy. Lu, meet Samantha, the face behind those delicious meals you've enjoyed," Tom introduced, and Lucy smiled at her politely. 

"Good morning, ma'am. I hope I get to learn a few recipes..." Before she could finish speaking the chef embraced her.

This was the very first time Tom was introducing a lady to him, and she could tell that Tom really loved her, "It's so good to finally meet you officially. You're welcome," she said as she stepped away from Lucy, who was smiling in embarrassment.

"The pleasure is mine. Thank you," Lucy said politely.

"We are in a hurry right now, so we can't have breakfast. Have Adolf deliver it to the office. Also, we will be here for the weekend, so you don't have to worry about missing me," Tom assured her, and she smiled happily at him. 

"I will have dinner ready for you both then, so you don't have to eat leftovers," she promised them.

"That will be nice. Have a lovely day, Samantha, and please make sure the guests are comfortable," Tom added before leading Lucy out of the kitchen. 

Once they were both seated in the car and Tom was back to being her driver, Lucy turned to him, "Do you really think that they heard us last night?" She asked with a concerned frown making Tom chuckle as he started the car. 

"Not us. You. They heard you. When you decided to be naughty at the dining table, what did you expect?" Tom asked, making Lucy's face color with embarrassment.

"It was that damned alcohol," she groaned in embarrassment as she raised both hands to cover her face, making Tom laugh out loud.