Chapter 24

"So it's done? He's accepted the deal?" Jack asked after they spent an hour and a half talking to the head of the first that was supposed to invest in their company.

"Yeah. You knew he would," Lucy said with a smirk, looking at Jack with bright eyes.

Jack shrugged and let out a smile. "Can't help my charisma"

Lucy rolled her eyes and started packing up her stuff and was getting ready to go home. "Your charisma? Please". She paused whatever she was doing to and smiled a little.

Lucy didn't know where this boldness was coming from. Usually, she was really shy when it came to Jack and to talk like this to him was a first for her.

“Care to tell me what's gotten you in such a good mood?” She teased, expecting Jack to maybe blow her off really rudely. But she was shocked.

“Nothing you should worry about. Come on. Let's get out of this place.”

Lucy squinted her eyes but said nothing. If Jack didn't want to tell her he wasn't going to. And nothing she did or said was going to change his mind.

She gave him a fake smile and they got into the elevator. Throughout the ride, she kept on throwing him discreet looks. She was not delusional enough to think Jack considered her as anything more than an employee. But maybe it would come. Not now. But someday. She just had to keep being her.

“See you Lucy,” he said, then got into his car and drove off. Lucy sighed and watched him leave. What wouldn't she give for him to fall for her? Or even like her just a little? What wouldn't she give.

***

Jack walked into the restaurant. He knew his mother hated tardiness. So he always made sure to arrive before her. No matter where they were going to.

He would have gladly picked her up from her house. But she had declined, claiming she was going to be busy before that. Jack didn't mind though. That made for less time for the interrogation he knew was going to come.

After sitting at the table he had told Lucy to reserve, he took out his phone. There was a text from Ana but he didn't want to respond to it right away. Because he knew that when his mother was going to arrive, he wasn't going to have any time for Ana anymore.

His mother was the epitome of overbearing mother hen. She had good intentions, yes. But Dorothy Knight was so involved in her child's life. And Jack was the only child she had so she turned all her attention to him.

Jack hadn't minded it the first few years of his life. His father had been mostly absent so his mother's overbearing and almost suffocating attitude almost made him forget about his father's absence.

About five minutes after Jack had gotten into the restaurant, Dorothy Knight walked in in all her majesty. She was looking smart and beautiful. Jack smiled as soon as they spotted each other.

She headed to the table and Jack stood up and pulled out her chair. He had been trained to respect etiquette and good manners and all that. So he made sure to respect them at all times.

"Mother," Jack said as a way of greeting her. There was a smile on his face. He loved his mother. She was his rock. And she had been there for him his whole life. It wasn't a few imperfections that were going to make him to stop loving her.

Dorothy's smile was just as wide when she asked, "Jack. How are you?"

"Mother, is that any way to talk to me? Why do you need to sound so formal?" Jack asked and Dorothy rolled her eyes playfully. It was a familiar greeting.

Jack always said she was too formal but for her, there was nothing such as too formal.

"Oh hush, Jack. You know you're never too old for me to give you a spanking," she said and Jack chuckled. That was a joke if he had ever heard one. His mother had never laid her hands on him. Except once. And he had to admit that he deserved it on that day.

"Mother you can stop with the jokes," Jack said and both of them laughed. It wasn't Ana's kind of laughter. On the contrary. The laughter was light and pleasant to the ears. The complete opposite of Ana's.

"Oh you can stop telling me what to do. After all, I don't even think you're my son anymore," Dorothy said. By this time, the waiter had already taken their orders and while Jack was sipping on scotch, Dorothy had a glass of wine in front of her.

"Why would you say that mother?" Jack was genuinely confused. He had always had a strong relationship with his mother and made sure she was informed about practically everything in his life.

"Have you called me even once in the past month?" Dorothy asked, with a smile, then took a sip of her wine. Jack knew his mother though. She was sad. Even though she didn't want to show it.

"I'm very sorry Mother," Jack said and held her hand.

"It's alright. At least we're here right now," she said and smiled brightly. "And don't you think I've forgotten"

Jack raised his brows. "Forgotten what Mother?"

"Forgotten about whoever was in your life. And don't you think of diverting the subject young man."

Jack waited till the waiter placed their starters on the table. And he waited till he walked away before he started talking.

"Mother, I don't think she's important–" Jack started but Dorothy quickly interrupted him.

"Don't even start with that. I am your mother. Any person you are seeing is important enough. I don't want to hear that trash," Dorothy said.

"Mother, yes I am seeing someone. And I will present you to her. Be patient," Jack said and Dorothy's expression became more understanding. She nodded and started with her food.

Jack let out a sigh of relief. His mother could be relentless when she meant to be. And he was glad she had taken his explanation.

A while later, they had finished the meal and Jack was leading Dorothy to his car. He was going to drop her as he didn't see the use calling the driver and waiting for him to come.

The evening had been a good one. Dorothy was everything to Jack. Actually, they meant a lot to each other. And the mother son bond they shared was really strong.