Chapter 98: BONUS - : THE MEN WHO LEARNED TO ASK

Chapter 98: BONUS Chapter: THE MEN WHO LEARNED TO ASK

SATURDAY

8:17 A.M. — CROFT ESTATE

Allison woke up suspicious.

Nothing hurt.

Nobody was missing.

Her phone wasn’t ringing.

There were no federal agents downstairs.

No billion-dollar company was actively collapsing.

Nobody had been kidnapped.

Again.

She opened one eye.

Lucian was sitting against the headboard beside her with a laptop.

She stared at him.

He noticed.

"What?"

"What happened?"

"Good morning to you too."

"Lucian."

"Nothing happened."

"That feels unlikely."

He closed the laptop.

"Allison, it is eight seventeen in the morning."

"Exactly."

"And?"

"Historically, terrible time."

His mouth twitched.

She pushed herself upright.

"Any arrests?"

"No."

"Emergency board meetings?"

"No."

"Secret grandfathers?"

"Not since yesterday."

"That’s not funny."

"It was a little funny."

She narrowed her eyes.

"Did Rachel email?"

"Yes."

Allison reached immediately for her phone.

Lucian didn’t stop her.

That was the first thing she noticed.

Months ago, he might have told her it could wait.

Weeks ago, he might have taken the phone from the nightstand and told her to eat first.

Today he simply watched.

Rachel’s message was short.

Marston payment cleared. Monday briefing unchanged. No action required from you this weekend.

Allison blinked.

"No action required?"

"Apparently."

"What am I supposed to do with that?"

Lucian reopened his laptop.

"I believe normal people call it Saturday."

"Sounds fake."

"I’ve heard rumors."

Allison dropped back against the pillows.

Then she noticed his screen.

A spreadsheet.

"Are you working?"

"Yes."

"On Saturday?"

"Yes."

"Hypocrite."

"I didn’t tell you not to work."

"You thought it loudly."

Lucian glanced at her.

"That’s not legally actionable."

"Yet."

She reached for his laptop.

He lifted it out of reach.

Allison gasped.

"You have betrayed this marriage."

"You were about to close a document I have been editing for forty minutes."

"I was going to inspect it."

"You were going to press random buttons."

"I understand spreadsheets now."

"You enrolled in one accounting course."

"Exactly. Financial professional."

"The course hasn’t started."

"Technicality."

Lucian laughed.

Allison smiled.

There had been a time when that sound had felt rare enough to earn attention.

Now it belonged to ordinary mornings.

She leaned against his shoulder.

"What are you working on?"

"Monday’s employee briefing."

"Can I see?"

He turned the laptop toward her.

Allison scanned the page.

Pension protections.

Transitional governance.

Workforce council authority.

Restructuring safeguards.

"That’s a lot of words to say people’s retirement money isn’t disappearing."

"Legal reviewed it."

"That explains the suffering."

"Samuel asked for detail."

"Samuel deserves detail. Maya will still murder you if employees need three attorneys to understand it."

"That is almost exactly what she said."

"I like her."

"I know."

Allison continued reading.

Then pointed.

"This says no material pension restructuring during the thirty-day governance period without council consultation."

"Yes."

"Consultation isn’t approval."

"No."

"So technically the board can listen and then do whatever it wanted anyway."

Lucian looked at the sentence again.

"I’ll ask counsel about adding concurrence for certain actions during the transition."

Allison glanced at him.

"Ask?"

He looked over.

"Yes."

A small smile appeared.

"What?"

"You’ve gotten better."

"At?"

"Not treating every thought I have like an instruction you need to execute."

Lucian considered that.

"I’ve had practice."

"Some of it court-mandated?"

"Emotionally mandated."

She laughed.

His hand found hers beneath the blanket.

"I still want to solve things for you," he admitted.

"I know."

"Frequently before you ask."

"I know."

"It’s extremely inconvenient."

"For you?"

"For everyone."

Allison squeezed his hand.

Then leaned over and kissed him.

Lucian’s fingers touched her cheek.

When she pulled away, he murmured, "What was that for?"

"Growth."

"I’ve been rewarded?"

"Don’t get used to it."

"Too late."

She kissed him again.

Then whispered against his mouth, "Tuesday."

Lucian smiled.

"It’s Saturday."

"You got upgraded."

"To Saturday?"

"For today."

"And tomorrow?"

Allison pulled back.

"Greedy."

⸻

10:42 A.M. — CALLOWAY GLOBAL

Theo Calloway had made several mistakes in his life.

There had been the yacht incident.

The cryptocurrency phase.

A brief period at twenty-one when he believed wearing scarves indoors made him mysterious.

And then there was Simone Laurent.

Theo stood outside the executive conference room holding two coffees and wondering why this particular mistake terrified him more than all the others combined.

Simone came around the corner.

Stopped.

Looked at him.

Then at the coffees.

"No."

Theo blinked.

"I haven’t said anything."

"You have a face."

"I have several excellent faces."

"That one means you’re about to be emotionally sincere."

Theo looked offended.

"You say that like it’s contagious."

"I’m busy."

"You’re carrying a shopping bag."

"Very demanding shopping."

She walked past him.

Theo followed.

"Coffee?"

"No."

"I got your order right."

"No, you didn’t."

"Vanilla latte, oat milk, one extra shot."

Simone stopped.

Slowly turned.

Theo held out the cup.

She took it.

"This proves nothing."

"It proves I listen."

"It proves you’re creepy."

"I prefer attentive."

"You prefer annoying."

"That too."

They reached the elevators.

Simone pressed the button.

"Why are you here?"

"I work here."

"On Saturday?"

"I have responsibilities."

"You sent me a photograph at two this morning of a raccoon holding pizza."

"It reminded me of you."

"You told me it was our future child."

"He had your eyes."

Simone stared at him.

Theo took a long drink of coffee.

The elevator arrived.

They stepped inside.

Simone pressed the lobby button.

Theo didn’t press anything.

She looked at him.

"You’re not going upstairs."

"No."

"So you don’t work here today."

"Technically, no."

"Then why are you here?"

Theo looked at her.

Because Lucian had mentioned Simone planned to stop by the building to pick up a package.

Because Theo had remembered the exact time.

Because he’d gotten dressed.

Driven twenty minutes.

Bought her coffee.

And invented a reason to be in a building where he had no Saturday responsibilities.

Humiliating.

"I wanted to see you."

Simone blinked.

Theo immediately regretted possessing emotions.

"You came to your office on Saturday because you wanted to see me?"

"When you say it like that, it sounds pathetic."

"It is pathetic."

"Thank you."

"But also..."

She studied him.

"...kind of cute."

Theo nearly dropped his coffee.

"I need documentation."

"You’ll die waiting."

The elevator doors opened.

Simone stepped into the lobby.

Theo followed.

"Where are you going?"

"Home."

"Can I come?"

"No."

"Excellent."

She stopped so abruptly he nearly walked into her.

"Theo."

"Yes?"

"Why are you really following me?"

The joke arrived automatically.

He almost used it.

Then didn’t.

"I don’t know how to do this."

"Do what?"

He gestured between them.

"You’re going to need nouns."

"Relationship."

Her eyebrows lifted.

Theo winced.

"Potential relationship."

"Theo—"

"I know."

He shoved one hand into his pocket.

"I’ve spent most of my life being useful by being funny."

Simone’s expression shifted.

"When Lucian got too serious, I annoyed him. When Allison was scared, I made her laugh. If everybody else was panicking, I made sure there was at least one idiot in the room."

"You’re very committed to public service."

"Thank you."

"That wasn’t praise."

"I’m taking it."

His smile faded.

"I like being that person. I just didn’t realize how good it was at hiding everything else."

Simone waited.

Theo stared into his coffee.

"When Allison disappeared, I was terrified."

The admission came plainly.

No performance around it.

"I kept thinking I should’ve seen something. Done something. Been useful in some way that mattered."

"Theo—"

"I know it wasn’t my fault."

He looked at her.

"I actually know that now."

That mattered.

Simone let him continue.

"She somehow became my little sister without consulting me, which is typical Allison behavior."

A faint smile.

"And when she came back, part of me wanted to put her somewhere nobody could ever reach her again."

"That would have gone well."

"She would’ve stabbed me with a decorative object."

"I would’ve helped."

"I know."

Theo smiled.

Then looked at Simone.

"The problem is, I recognize that feeling now."

Her amusement faded.

"With me?"

"Yeah."

The answer was immediate.

Theo stepped closer.

Not touching.

"I care if you get home safely. I care when you’re angry. I care when you disappear for six hours even though I know you’re usually just ignoring me."

"I am."

"Cruel."

"You send too many memes."

"They’re curated."

"They’re raccoons."

"Curated raccoons."

Her mouth twitched.

Theo’s didn’t.

"I don’t want fear to turn me into somebody who makes your choices for you."

Simone studied him for a long moment.

Then said, "So don’t."

Theo blinked.

"That seems suspiciously simple."

"The concept is simple. You’ll still screw it up."

"Comforting."

"You’ll overstep."

"Probably."

"I’ll tell you."

"And I listen."

"Yes."

Theo nodded.

Then ruined the solemnity by saying, "This relationship already has a terrifying performance-review structure."

"Potential relationship."

"Right. My apologies to management."

Simone took a sip of coffee.

Theo looked at her.

Really looked.

And realized he still hadn’t said the thing that had brought him here.

"I care about you."

"I gathered."

"No."

His stomach turned.

"I mean..."

He stopped.

Simone waited.

Theo Calloway, who could talk through almost anything, discovered there were apparently four words in the English language capable of shutting down his entire nervous system.

"I think I’m falling in love with you."

Simone went still.

Theo immediately looked horrified.

"Well."

"Theo."

"That happened."

"Yes."

"I had intended something smoother."

"I doubt that."

"I had a whole theoretical speech."

"You’ve already given me one speech."

"Fair."

Simone’s expression softened.

"You said think."

Theo looked at her.

"Yeah."

"Why?"

"Because I don’t want to say something bigger than I understand just because it sounds good."

That surprised both of them.

Theo frowned.

"That was disturbingly mature."

"It was."

"I hated it."

"I could tell."

He exhaled.

"I think I’m getting there. And I know I want to find out."

Simone stared at him.

Then stepped closer.

"So find out."

Theo’s eyes searched hers.

"Can I kiss you?"

Her eyebrows rose.

"Look at you."

"I’m evolving."

"Slowly."

"Painfully."

Simone grabbed the front of his jacket.

"Yes."

Theo kissed her.

Not like their earlier kisses.

Those had happened in chaos.

Fear.

Relief.

Impulse.

This one happened in a quiet lobby on a Saturday morning.

No villains.

No emergency.

No reason except wanting to.

Simone pulled back first.

Theo looked dazed.

"That was excellent."

"Don’t review the kiss."

"Five stars."

"Theo."

"Would return."

She shoved him.

He laughed.

Then she started toward the doors.

Theo followed.

Simone looked over her shoulder.

"Why are you still following me?"

"You said I could come home with you."

"I absolutely did not."

"I inferred."

"Poorly."

"Can I take you to lunch?"

She stopped.

Theo waited.

Simone smiled.

"Yes."

His face lit up.

"But I’m picking."

"Absolutely."

"And you’re paying."

Theo opened his mouth.

She pointed at him.

"Think carefully."

He reconsidered.

"I would be delighted to pay."

"Growth."

⸻

1:26 P.M. — SMALL ITALIAN RESTAURANT, DOWNTOWN

Simone chose a restaurant with tables so small Theo’s knees kept hitting hers.

He suspected malice.

She stole one of his fries.

He stared.

"You ordered pasta."

"And?"

"Those are my fries."

"Our relationship cannot survive this level of selfishness."

"Potential relationship."

"Stop weaponizing technicalities."

She stole another.

Theo surrendered.

For several minutes, they ate without turning anything into an emotional breakthrough.

Theo discovered he liked that too.

Then Simone said, "Are you going to tell Allison?"

He nearly choked.

"About us?"

"About the sister thing."

"No."

"She knows."

"She does not."

"Theo."

"I have successfully concealed this for months."

"You bought her a sword for Christmas."

"It was decorative."

"You researched whether it could be sharpened."

"Due diligence."

Simone laughed.

Theo looked down at his plate.

"I’ve never had a sister."

"I know."

"I don’t know when it happened."

"You don’t need an anniversary."

"Good. I already have too many dates to forget."

Simone nudged his knee beneath the table.

"Tell her."

Theo looked up.

"Why?"

"Because people like knowing they’re loved."

The answer was annoyingly uncomplicated.

Theo stared at her.

"You’re very irritating today."

"I’ve been practicing."

⸻

6:18 P.M. — CROFT ESTATE

Allison was lying across the sofa with her feet in Lucian’s lap when Theo walked in without knocking.

She looked up.

"No."

Theo stopped.

"What?"

"Whatever you want."

"I haven’t said anything."

"You have a face."

Theo stared.

"Simone said that exact thing this morning."

Allison sat up immediately.

"Simone?"

Lucian continued reading.

Theo pointed at him.

"Control your wife."

Lucian turned a page.

"I’ve retired from that field."

Allison beamed.

"Growth."

Theo dropped into the opposite chair.

"You two are disgusting."

"You’re smiling," Allison said.

"No, I’m not."

"You are."

"I have gas."

"Romantic."

Theo grabbed a decorative pillow.

Allison narrowed her eyes.

"Did you kiss Simone?"

Theo threw it.

Allison screamed and ducked.

Lucian caught the pillow before it hit her.

Everyone stopped.

Lucian looked at the pillow.

Then at Theo.

"I’ve changed philosophically," he said. "Reflexes remain."

Allison burst out laughing.

Theo pointed at him.

"See, this is why nobody believes you."

"I didn’t throw it."

"Technicality."

Allison looked between them.

Then back at Theo.

"Seriously. Why are you here?"

Theo’s amusement faltered.

Simone’s voice returned.

People like knowing they’re loved.

Stupidly reasonable woman.

Theo cleared his throat.

"I need you to know something."

Allison’s expression immediately changed.

"No one is dead."

"Okay."

"Nothing is on fire."

"Good."

"I did not get Simone pregnant."

Lucian closed his eyes.

Allison stared.

"Was that a concern?"

"No. I wanted to establish parameters."

"Theo."

"Fine."

He took a breath.

"You’re my sister."

Silence.

Theo instantly wanted the floor to open.

Allison blinked.

"What?"

"Don’t make me repeat it."

"You don’t have a sister."

"I am aware of my family structure."

"Theo..."

He looked away.

"I know you’re technically Lucian’s wife. And my cousin-in-law or whatever ridiculous title applies."

Lucian murmured, "Cousin-in-law is acceptable."

"Nobody asked you."

Lucian returned to his book.

Theo forced himself to look at Allison.

"But somewhere in all this, you became my sister."

Her eyes filled.

Theo pointed at her.

"No."

She covered her mouth.

"Absolutely not."

"Theo—"

"If you cry, I’m leaving."

"You’re such an asshole."

"I know."

Allison stood.

Theo immediately became suspicious.

"What are you doing?"

She walked toward him.

"No."

She hugged him.

Theo went rigid.

"This is emotional blackmail."

"You love me."

"Unfortunately."

She laughed against his shoulder.

After a second, his arms came around her.

He held her tightly.

Not desperately.

Just tightly.

Allison pulled back.

"You said sister."

"I withdraw the statement."

"You can’t."

"I have attorneys."

"Lucian heard you."

Lucian turned another page.

"I heard nothing."

Theo pointed.

"Thank you."

"Traitor," Allison said.

"Family preservation."

Allison wiped her eyes.

Then she noticed Theo’s expression.

"Wait."

"No."

"This is because of Simone."

"I hate you."

Allison gasped.

"Oh my God."

"Do not."

"You’re in love with her."

"Potentially."

Lucian looked up.

"Potentially in love?"

Theo glared.

"Stay out of this."

Allison grinned.

"You told her."

Theo stood.

"I regret having a family."

"What did she say?"

"That I’m annoying."

"She knew that already."

"She also agreed to lunch."

Allison’s smile softened.

"That sounds promising."

"It was excellent pasta."

"Theo."

"And a kiss."

Allison squealed.

Theo covered his ears.

"This was a mistake."

She hugged him again.

"You’re abusing the sister privilege," he complained.

"Immediately."

Lucian lowered his book.

"Does Simone know what she’s getting into?"

Theo reached for another pillow.

Lucian raised one eyebrow.

Theo slowly put it back.

"Reflexes," Lucian reminded him.

"Terrifying household."

⸻

8:54 P.M. — CROFT ESTATE, BACK PATIO

Later, Theo found Lucian outside.

He sat beside him.

For almost a minute, neither spoke.

Theo finally said, "This love thing is terrible."

Lucian nodded.

"Yes."

Theo looked over.

"That was fast."

"You asked a simple question."

"I didn’t technically ask one."

"I answered anyway."

Theo leaned back.

Through the glass doors, Allison was helping Susanna carry dessert into the dining room.

"You ever stop being scared something will happen to her?"

"No."

Theo absorbed that.

"So that’s encouraging."

"I didn’t say fear gets to make decisions."

Theo glanced at him.

Lucian took a drink.

That was all.

No speech.

Theo nodded.

"Right."

A few seconds passed.

Then he asked, "How bad was I in there?"

"With Allison?"

"Yes."

"Painful."

"Scale of one to ten?"

"Nine."

"Cruel."

"You mentioned an imaginary pregnancy before telling her you loved her as a sister."

"I needed a buffer."

"You need therapy."

"Roman stole the family appointment."

Lucian laughed.

Theo smiled.

Then Allison opened the patio door.

"Why are you two hiding?"

"We’re not," Theo said.

"Mom has pie."

Theo stood immediately.

"Why didn’t you lead with that?"

He passed Allison at the door, then stopped.

"You good?"

Allison gave him a look.

Theo caught himself.

"Right."

He started inside.

Allison caught his sleeve.

He looked back.

She smiled.

"I am, though."

Theo’s expression softened.

"Good."

Then he went inside.

Allison watched him steal a slice of pie before Susanna had finished cutting it.

"He’s trying," she said.

Lucian came up beside her.

"Yes."

"So are you."

"Yes."

She looked at him.

"Very confident."

"I have received positive reinforcement."

Allison laughed.

"Come eat pie."

Lucian followed her inside.

⸻

11:18 P.M. — CROFT ESTATE

Allison was almost asleep when her phone buzzed.

Theo.

THEO: For the record, the sister conversation never happened.

Allison smiled.

ALLISON: Screenshot.

THEO: Delete it.

ALLISON: No.

THEO: I have resources.

ALLISON: So do I. My husband is richer.

Lucian spoke beside her without opening his eyes.

"Debatable."

"You’re awake?"

"You type aggressively."

Her phone buzzed again.

THEO: Simone says threatening your sister is unhealthy.

Allison sat up.

ALLISON: YOUR SISTER???

A long pause.

THEO: I hate this family.

Then:

THEO: Goodnight.

Allison smiled.

ALLISON: Goodnight, brother. Love you.

This pause was longer.

THEO: Yeah. Love you too.

Immediately followed by:

THEO: Deny it under oath and I will sue.

Allison laughed into the pillow.

Lucian opened one eye.

"Theo?"

"Unfortunately."

Her phone buzzed again.

Different number.

Allison’s smile faded.

She opened the message.

Ms. Croft, my name is Daniel Mercer. I represent Vivienne Laurent-Cassel in connection with limited family communications. I apologize for contacting you directly. Your counsel has also been notified. My client has prepared a sealed letter addressed to Clara. No delivery has occurred. We are requesting guidance regarding whether the letter may be transmitted to Clara’s guardian for review.

Allison read it twice.

Lucian sat up.

"What?"

She handed him the phone.

He read it.

"Gabriel needs to know."

"Yes."

Lucian returned the phone.

Allison looked at the message.

After a moment, she placed it facedown.

"Tomorrow."

Lucian nodded.

No argument.

No plan made over her head.

No need to turn midnight into another crisis.

Allison curled against him.

"Tonight Theo is my brother."

"That seems unfortunate."

"It really is."

Lucian kissed the top of her head.

Her phone stayed facedown.

Tomorrow could belong to Vivienne’s letter.

Tonight belonged to something much smaller.

Theo had finally said he loved her.

Simone had apparently decided Theo was worth investigating further.

Nobody was missing.

Nobody needed rescuing.

And for once, the people Allison loved had managed to care about one another without turning it into a battle plan.

That was enough for Saturday.