Chapter 676 Dinner Table
After freshening up, Tom and Lucy went downstairs for dinner, and they exchanged a look when they noticed that no one else was at the dining.
"Are Bryan and Sonia not having dinner?" Tom asked Samantha who had come out to meet them after she was informed they were ready for dinner.
"I'm not sure. I will send someone over to inform them you are having dinner now," she said, but Tom shook his head.
"That's not necessary. I'm sure they will come down themselves when they are ready," Tom said as he held out Lucy's seat for her to sit down before taking his seat next to her.
"Without everyone else here the table looks too large and empty," Lucy observed after they were seated and Samantha had excused them.
"Get used to it since it would be just the both of us here most of the time," Tom said and Lucy looked at him with interest.
"How did you ever dine here alone?" She asked and he shrugged.
"I usually ate in my bedroom when I was alone, and Harry had dinner with me sometimes," he explained.
"It must have been lonely," Lucy said and Tom smiled wistfully.
He had always imagined that in a couple of years he would get to share the dining with his wife and kids, but that didn't seem feasible anymore.
"It's a good thing I have you now to share my dinner with me almost every night, isn't it?" He asked and she nodded.
"Why almost every night, though?" She asked, interested in his choice of words.
"Because we will most likely not have dinner together every night. Either of us might have other engagements that would make us unavailable to eat together. There are business trips, and stuff like that," Tom said reasonably and she smiled.
"We could make it a habit of eating together every night as long as we are both in Ludus together. And when either of us is away we could have dinner together through video calls unless we are having dinner with other people," Lucy said, and Tom smiled.
"I will like that."
"Maybe we can replace this large dinning set with something smaller?" Lucy suggested thoughtfully, and Tom looked at her with interest.
It was her first time talking about making any changes in his home. Was he reading too much meaning into all her words and actions lately?
"What happens when everyone comes visiting?" He asked casually, and she sighed.
"You have a point," she said and smiled when two maids came to serve them.
"Thanks," Lucy said after they were done serving them and they gave her a polite smile before walking away.
"If you want to replace the dining set you can do that," Tom said, and Lucy looked at him with a slightly confused expression before she recalled they had just been talking about changing the dining set.
"Oh, I don't think that is necessary. The two of us can use this very large table but the whole family can't use a smaller table. The last thing we want is to have to move the dining furniture every time the rest of the family is around," Lucy said as they both began to eat.
"That's fine then. I would have really hated to let go of this set. I still have fond memories of it," Tom said with a grin and Lucy giggled, knowing he was referring to the time they had made love there.
"Do you ever entertain guests at home?" Lucy asked curiously.
"I've never really had to because I was keeping my identity hidden. But now that I've made a public appearance I guess I might invite some persons over from time to time. Why? Don't tell me you are dying to play the perfect hostess again?" Tom teased and she grinned.
"I'm not thinking of doing that anytime soon. But last night at the engagement party I just kept thinking it wouldn't be a bad idea to host balls and cocktail parties here," she said with a shrug.
What she had actually thought about was what she could do as his partner to support him and his business.
Tom wasn't just the usual or average boyfriend. He was a very successful businessman and things like these were expected from time to time if he was going to establish his place in the prominent society. This was something she believed he needed to start doing now.
"Aren't ball parties old-fashioned?" Tom asked, amused by Lucy's unexpected show of extroversion.
Lucy shrugged, "We would host a modern themed ball party then. It will be unique and strictly by invitation for only the top 0.1% with a couple of celebrities in attendance. No media people will be present. The pictures those celebrities would post on their social media pages will enough to tell the tale of the party. Naturally people would want to know more about you and your businesses. You'd get more investors especially for that mountain resort project you are working towards," Lucy said and Tom looked at her in amazement.
"Who are you? And what have you done to my introverted girlfriend?" Tom asked, and Lucy giggled.
"Hosting a party once or twice a year doesn't make me any less of an introvert. Besides, it's for you. Now that you have made your identity known to all, I was thinking it wouldn't be a bad idea to expand your social circle. It would go a long way in helping the company," Lucy said reasonably and Tom smiled.
"You never cease to amaze me, Jewel. You know what? You can do whatever you want with the house and with my money," Tom said as he reached for her hand and kissed it.
"What a romantic sight to behold," Harry drawled as he joined them and Lucy giggled while Tom raised a brow.
"Missed me and decided to come see me?" Tom asked with a smirk which quickly transformed into a scowl when Harry bent forward and kissed his cheek.
"I missed you baby," Harry said making Lucy choke on her food as she laughed while Tom pushed Harry away.
"Harry, quit being silly." Jade laughed as she handed Lucy a glass of water while Harry sat down.
"Are you here to spend the night with your girlfriend as well?" Tom asked with a raised brow.
"Who else is here to spend the night with their girlfriend?" Jade Matt was coming over," Tom said and Harry chuckled as he exchanged a look with Jade.
asked curiously as she sat down.
"Lucy said Candace is spending the night and Bryan called to say Matt was coming over," Tom said and Harry chuckled as he exchanged a look with Jade.
"Do you think it was planned and Candace is aware?" Harry asked curiously.
"What was planned and what am I aware of?" Candace asked as she joined them.
"When did you get here? We just drove in and didn't see you coming behind us," Jade said and Candace rolled her eyes.
"If you weren't too busy kissing and smooching each other in his car immediately after you both drove in, you'd have noticed I drove up behind you," Candace said dryly and Jade flashed Harry an apologetic smile since she was the one who had gotten into his car before he could get out to assault his lips.
"I need to go get out of these clothes," Jade said as she dashed off, and Harry smiled as he watched her go.
"I see my boy is growing into a man gradually," Tom said as he slapped Harry's back playfully.
"Fuck off," Harry said as he pulled out a seat for himself.
"Hello, Tom! Hey, Lulu!" Candace greeted.
"Hey CaCa! I can see you are fine. How is Jamal doing? You didn't bring him along?" Lucy asked curiously.
"Nah. He will stay with his grandpa. Besides, now that he has decided to let you go for Tom…"
"Let her go for me as though he could snatch her from me in the first place," Tom cut dryly and Lucy grinned.
"Don't be so sure. Jamal is such a charmer. You are lucky he cares about you and doesn't want to be responsible for your heartbreak," Lucy said making them all laugh.
Tom turned to Candace and Harry, "You've both not had dinner yet, right? Why don't you join us…"
"Thanks. I had dinner with my dad and Jamal already. Maybe you should ask Harry since he chose kissing your sister over coming home to have dinner with us," Candace said dryly as she sat down.
Harry shook his head, "It's a good thing you are able to have dinner now. A couple of nights ago I was so worried about you because all you could do was glare and hiss jealously around the dinner table while others were enjoying their dinner," Harry said, referring to the anniversary party.
"And thanks, Tom. Your sister and I had dinner already," Harry told Tom who was laughing with Lucy.
"Did you both have real food or your lips?" Candace asked with a sweet smile.
"How do people ever cope with having sisters? Or is mine just different? From what I know Jade is a sweet sister to you, and Lucy is an Angel…."
"You should be happy. You got the sister you deserve," Candace said, making a face at Harry.
"Talking about getting what we deserve. I ran into your mom and Crystal at the restaurant earlier," Harry told Candace and she scowled.
"Your mom, you mean? You were the one who kept calling her 'mom' over the phone the other day in your office," Candace said, mimicking Harry's tone over the phone when he talked to Sara.
"Will you both ever stop bickering?" Lucy asked in amusement as Tom signaled to one of the maids to get Harry and Candace something to drink.
"Tell that to Candace."
"Tell that to Harry," they both said in unison, and they all started laughing.
"Don't bother with the drink. I've had enough for one night. And I'm driving," Harry told the maid who was waiting to receive instruction from him on what drink he wanted.
"Anything sweet is fine, Clara. Thanks," Candace told the maid, she was familiar with their names from the little time she had spent with them in the kitchen.
"So, what happened when you ran into ?" Candace asked the same question that was on Tom's and Lucy's minds.
Harry shrugged, "Nothing eventful. Ignored her and then she stopped me on our way out," Harry said, explaining their brief exchange.
"Her feelings are probably hurt because she is not used to being at the receiving end of such treatment," Lucy said with a shake of her head.
"Too bad that's what she is going to be getting from me going forward," Harry said and Candace smiled in approval.
"I like that you are giving her the cold shoulder. She doesn't deserve being treated any differently whether or not you are playing pretend," Candace said and Tom nodded in agreement.
"She must be planning to run off with Crystal by now. I'm sure she likely thinks you are still searching for your sister," Tom said thoughtfully.
"Luckily I didn't have to search. Trouble walked up to me herself," Harry said dryly, and Candace scowled at him while Lucy and Tom laughed.
"I didn't walk up to you," Candace hissed at him.
"Whatever. Anyway, I should let you both continue with your romantic dinner. I will be waiting to have a word with you in the Den before I leave," Harry told Tom as he rose and Tom turned to Lucy.
"Do you mind if I go speak with him now?" Tom asked and Lucy shook her head.
"You definitely shouldn't keep him waiting," Lucy said and Tom kissed her cheek as he rose to leave with Harry.
"I suppose we are going to be mothers-in-law in the future seeing as you agreed to let Jamal have your future daughter, right?" Candace asked Lucy with a grin now that they were both alone.
Lucy giggled, "That wasn't what happened. What did he say?" She asked in amusement as the maid returned with Candace's wine.
"Thanks," Candace told her as she accepted the drink before turning to Lucy again, "He said exactly what I just said. He said you both agreed that he would let you be for Tom and in return when you both have a daughter he will date her in your stead," Candace said and Lucy laughed softly.
"You didn't tell him my daughter would be his cousin too?" Lucy asked and Candace rolled her eyes.
"As if he'd listen to that. There is no reason to worry. I know he will understand better the older he grows," Candace said confidently.
"He said he had a really wonderful time. It was all he talked about last night and this morning. Thanks," Candace said and Lucy smiled as she waved it off.
"I enjoyed myself too. How did you do such a good job raising Jamal to be so sweet?" Lucy asked and Candace shrugged.
"I have no idea. You know, I've often wondered the same thing myself seeing as his father wasn't the ideal father figure. I'm glad now that he is surrounded by such amazing men. I have no worries as far as Jamal is concerned. I hope you do know that you are lucky to have an amazing man like Tom?" Candace said and Lucy raised a brow with amused curiosity.
"Why do you think so?" Lucy asked and Candace smiled.
"It's open knowledge that the guy adores you. I mean that was one of the very first things I noticed about him the first time I met the both of you. He seemed so cold and unapproachable but when he looked at you his gaze was warm. I was so glad Jamal ran into you and not Tom," Candace asked, and Lucy smiled.
"That's right. I forgot about that," Lucy said as she remembered running into Jamal for the first time on the stairs (Chapter 219).
"Sitting here with you this way brings another memory to mind.Hearing your voice the night before I met you," Candace said with a grin, and Lucy raised a brow.
"What happened…" Lucy shook her head in embarrassment, "Don't tell me you heard us too?" She asked and Candace tittered with laughter.
"Of course, I did. It was mostly you making all the noise," Candace said, laughing harder when Lucy blushed.
"Jamal didn't hear anything, right?" Lucy asked, her ears burning in embarrassment and Candace wiped the tears from her eyes as she laughed.
"Thankfully he was very much asleep else I would have had to answer a lot of awkward questions."
"I was drunk," Lucy explained even if she couldn't remember the details aside knowing they had sex on the dining and she shouted a lot.
"After seeing how you act when you are sober and when you are drunk, I figured that out already," Candace assured her.
"I'm surprised you didn't say anything all this time. Especially to the oth hers,"Lucy said and Candace laughed.
"That's something Jade would do not me. I'm only bringing it up now because we are alone on the scene," she said with a wink.
"By the way, we are leaving for Sogal with my dad this weekend," Candace said and Lucy sighed.
"I will miss you all. I will have to take my first trip Sogal for your sakes," Lucy said and Candace smiled.
"It would be nice to have you around. I like you a lot, Lucy," Candace said and Lucy smiled.
"The feeling is mutual."
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