On the way home from work, Selene's phone buzzed. Ben turned to her and asked, "Are you still playing phone tag with Lucy?"
Selene checked her phone before answering and saw that it was indeed a text from Lucy. She had texted Selene yesterday trying to arrange a time to talk but with their work schedules, they weren't able to. This time, Lucy said she was free on her dinner break from her shift at the hospital, which was 7pm. It was around 6:30pm at the time of the text, but they were arriving home soon so Selene texted that that time worked great.
After settling in at home, Selene received Lucy's call. She already knew what it was about because the first text from Lucy had read, "I just saw Max and he told me some interesting things! I can't believe all that you guys have been hiding from me! Can we please talk?? When are you free?" She also knew this phone conversation was on the horizon because Ben had asked her about Lucy and whether they should fill her in on the plans they had regarding the Drakos group and family.
Selene had assured Ben that Lucy could, of course, be trusted. "She would never betray us," Selene had said, "But I'm just afraid of how to explain that she was the only one among us three who did not know what was going on with your plans." In her mind she added, "I hope she understands."
After they exchanged greetings, Lucy started with, "Sooo, I'm sure you know what I'm calling about."
"Yes," Selene answered, hesitantly.
"Aaaaand?," Lucy inquired with a tone that indicated her frustration.
Selene rushed in with, "I totally understand if you're mad at us, but really it wasn't my secret to tell. These are the plans Ben, Johnny, and Max have been working on for years, so it was really their secret, you know? I mean, it did involve me, so I guess I'm part of it, especially after they told me and we did the sting with Hybrid, but then again…"
Lucy interrupted, "Wait just a minute. Back up there. A sting? What are you talking about? Maybe you could just start from the beginning."
"Well, how much did Max tell you?," Selene asked, again with hesitation. "And where are you? Is it some place private?"
"Why? Are you only going to tell me what he said?," she asked. "Look, I get it. This is some serious business going on and it's on a need-to-know basis. But if I'm going to risk my life on a trip half-way across the world, I feel like I have the right to know everything. And, I'm in my car by the way so no one can over hear."
Selene nodded to herself, "I agree 100% that you should know everything in order to make an informed decision. Ben said I could tell you everything. But Lucy, you have to promise not to say a word of this to anyone, not even your parents or your sister."
"Of course, I wouldn't say anything to anyone," Lucy assured, a little miffed that she was being questioned about her loyalty.
Selene sensed the tone and quickly assured, "I trust you implicitly. It's not about that. It's just that sometimes we forget who we're not supposed to tell, you know? I'm like that too. Everyone is I think."
Lucy calmed down based on those words and replied, "I get it. Well, I won't tell a soul, I promise."
Selene had a faint smile on her lips as she said, "I know you won't. So, how much did Max tell you anyway? I just want to know so I don't repeat what he said. And, by the way, why did you see him in the first place? I didn't realize you too were seeing each other."
Lucy blushed even though she was just on the phone. She answered, "We aren't. He texted me after he left on Saturday asking if we could have lunch some time but I'm working so much, he decided to come visit me at the hospital and we had lunch in the cafeteria. That part wasn't a big deal. But then when I walked him to his car, that's when he said he had something to ask me, and we sat in his car for a little while as he filled me in on what he actually does for a living."
She recalled their conversation. Max said, "I want to ask you something, but first I have to be fully honest about my job." He then told her about how Ben had hired him even though he had no real experience as an assistant but that Ben saw "something" in him that made him stand out from the other applicants. Because of this, Max felt a certain loyalty to Ben. So, when Max was told about their plans after a few months of working there, it was no question for him to want to help.
Lucy asked, "What plans? What are you talking about? And what does this have to do with me? I'm a little confused."
Max put one hand on her arm and replied, "I'm getting there. It's a long story but I'm trying to make it quick." He smiled and gave her arm a squeeze.
She nodded and he continued, "Ben pays me a lot more than most assistants and he brought me in on several deals that have been very lucrative for me. I owe him my life. I mean, he saved me and my mother from a difficult life. So I couldn't say no. I didn't even want to say no after I found out what Drakos had done to him and Selene. Ben came up with a plan many years ago to take out the Drakos group and essentially put the whole family out of business so they couldn't hurt Selene again. Johnny and I have been helping him this whole time." He paused to see her reaction.
"Does Selene know about this?," Lucy asked, thinking about her friend and worrying that yet another secret could destroy her confidence in herself, not to mention in Ben.
Max looked at her in surprise at first but then thought, "Typical Lucy. Thinking first of her friend." It made him like her even more. He nodded, "Yes. She's known ever since the kidnapping I think."
Lucy's eyes widened, "And she didn't say a word to me?"
Looking down, Max replied, "Maybe she didn't think it was her place to say anything about this part of everything. I don't know."
Lucy shook her head and said, "I don't know either. I wish she'd said something. But, I guess I understand." She took in a deep breath and let it out, "Okay, so what does this have to do with me now other than me being her best friend?"
"I have a favor to ask," Max answered, looking at her intently but kindly.
She cocked her head to one side and asked, "Really? Me? How can I help with all this? I'm just a nurse."
Max shook his head and said, "First of all you're not 'just' a nurse. You're an amazing nurse. All those stories you told me over lunch? They show how much you care for your patients." Lucy looked down and smiled as she blushed. "And this favor actually has to do with the fact that you're a nurse."
Her head shot up and she asked, "How so?"
"I need to go to Greece on some business related to all this," he responded, "and I was hoping you would come with me as sort of a cover if you will."
"But I'm planning on going to Italy," Lucy stated matter-of-factly. Her brows pinched in confusion as her shoulders shot up.
"What do you think about going to both Italy and Greece?," Max asked. "The trip will be paid for by UniTech."
Lucy's initial look of surprise at that was exchanged for one of concern as she asked, "Will this be dangerous? I mean, I don't need UniTech to pay for me so that's not an issue. But I'm obviously going to be concerned since Victor Drakos is clearly a psychopath."
Max turned his whole body to look at Lucy and try to reassure her. He said, "I'm not going to lie. It could be dangerous because we never know what Drakos might do. But the goal is to disguise this as just a vacation between two...friends..., so he doesn't suspect anything. And, of course, we would be careful and there will be plenty of security."
Lucy found herself nodding along to Max's words, but she then she let out a long breath and said, "I'm not sure. I'll have to think about it. And I want to talk to Selene first about all this."
"Of course," he responded. "I understand. Sorry to just dump this all on you at once."
"It's a little overwhelming," she agreed. "But, if it will help Selene in any way then I want to be in the know."
Lucy relayed the gist of the conversation to Selene, who then said, "It sounds like he told you everything."
"Are you sure?," she asked. "I mean, that's really everything?"
Selene answered, "As far as I know. So, what do you think?"
"I think you're living in a K-drama!," Lucy exclaimed. "I mean, how is any of this your actual life? And now it's my life? I'm just a regular person with a regular job!"
"It is pretty strange and overwhelming," Selene chuckled, "It took me awhile to process everything too."
"I'm not trying to make light of it," Lucy said in a more serious tone. "But you have to admit, it's a lot."
Selene nodded, "It *is* a lot."
"Seriously though," Lucy continued, "What do you think I should do?"
"I don't know," Selene answered. "I can't really tell you what to do since there might be danger involved. But, I will tell you, that ever since the kidnapping, the security Ben provides is just beyond crazy. In fact, that situation I mentioned that I call the sting wouldn't have been possible without all the security he provided." After Lucy asked again what she was talking about, Selene filled her in on how she met with the CEO of Hybrid at House Sushi as part of Ben's plan.
"I can't believe you did that!," Lucy exclaimed.
"I can't either," Selene chuckled. "But I really want to put Victor behind bars so he can't hurt me or Ben again."
Lucy gave a firm nod as she said, "Okay. That settles it. I'll tell Max that I'll help. You're my friend and so is Ben. I want to help you guys as much as I can."
"Oh Lucy, you're the best. But are you sure?," Selene asked.
"Absolutely," Lucy affirmed. "I'll call Max tomorrow to let him know. Or maybe I'll just text him after we're done."
Selene was curious, "Sooo, you and Max seem to still be communicating regularly."
"Oh stop," Lucy groaned. "We're just friends."
"We'll see if you still say that after the trip," Selene teased with a laugh.