For a long second, Linda was also as speechless. Yes, she didn't know him that well, but a gang? She turned to Jeremy with a concerned face, "G-gang? You are affiliated with a gang?"
Jeremy silently grinned mischievously purposely escalating their uneasiness. The Kings were respectable people with an impeccable reputation. They were feared and revered for their work ethics and the way they carried themselves. Yes, they had connections but all of them were legit, they shared no affiliation with any underground gangs. Hearing the word "gang" made her as flustered as her grandparents; this changes everything. Satisfied with the agitation written on their faces, Jeremy snickered, "Wow, you guys can't take a joke!"
Linda's face untightened and she sank in her chair, "So...there is no gang?", but before he could fully bask in the amusement, she playfully slapped his shoulder, "Don't ever joke like that...you almost made us kill you.."
Jeremy nodded with a fake sad face, then quickly became serious with his hands clasped on the table, "Actually, dear fiancé, about the gang, I cannot be sure- because he says his company is all security but I genuinely feel is a gang. I just know it-", just then his phone buzzed, "And he is right on time..."
Everyone was even more confused, Was there a gang or not? Who was Jeremy talking about? And what was this talk of security? Why would they need a security company?
Unable to hide her genuine concerns, Linda reached for his hand, "Jeremy....when you said you had a plan, you never said anything about anyone else or affiliations?", 'I feel blindsided', she thought.
As if reading her mind, Jeremy squeezed her hand and smiled warmly, "Don't worry...I assure you there is nothing to be worried about....trust me, okay?", and she nodded with half a smile. Considering that everything was already unfolding right before her eyes, she knew she had no choice but to trust him, besides, she already had a backup plan of her own should everything blow up in her face, 'We only get one shot at this and I don't want to waste it'.
"But still, it is very disrespectful of you to invite a guest without alerting the homeowners", Joseph squinted his disapproving eyes, and Jeremy lowered his head with guilt, he understood their concerns and they were all valid, " Please forgive me for being forward",
Just then, came a man being wheeled in by the family butler, "Your guest sir", and Jeremy stood up to receive him with tender eyes and beaming with happiness, this was someone he cared about and it showed.
"Thank you, Ronell.", Joseph said to the butler, and he bowed his head with respect, before leaving the room.
Jeremy bent to hug his long-time friend, "Brother...it's been so long.."
Casey smirked, "Please....stop pretending, people will actually think we are related, and I refuse to be associated with someone of low class like you...", they both chuckled then Jeremy turned to the anticipating group of people behind him,
Let me introduce you..." Lilly, Joseph...and my drop-dead gorgeous fiancé, Linda, everyone...this is my good friend, Casey".
With smiles, everyone got up to shake his hand, and when it was finally Linda's turn, Casey couldn't help himself, "Brother...I think you may have understated her beauty...wow!", he exclaimed turning her face red,
"Aw you flatter me, but I am the lucky one...Jeremy is way too good for me.."
"Please, don't be modest...I think everyone in this room can agree that he's the blessed one...not to mention, less attractive". They shared a good laugh.
"Finally someone who actually makes us laugh with his jokes...", Joseph grinned, "Please welcome to our home son.", and everyone instantly turned to him with questioning looks, this was the same man who was just giving Jeremy grief for inviting a guest without permission.
He chuckled, "What?? Anyone who can see the beauty and value of my granddaughter is welcome in this house.", Lilly rolled her eyes while Linda snickered under her breath. Although she is mad at them, she can't help their cuteness - her grandparents were adorable.
Soon after the pleasantries, a maid approached them with a tray of coffee, tea, and biscuits.
Swirling his sugar into tea, Joseph nonchalantly probed, "So, I heard that you run a gang", causing Casey to choke and spit his coffee, his eyes widened, "Sorry, Sir....What?!", but his attention soon landed on the culprit and Jeremy just looked away whistling.
Casey cleared his throat and sighed, "As I said ...my friend is not of the smart bunch...I actually co-run a security company, I am not much hands-on though. My main business is my animal clinic."
Joseph nodded, "Oh I see....that's good then. Now that's been clarified, can we get back to business? Jeremy said you had a plan to catch the culprit." Jeremy nodded at Casey.
Casey took out a laptop from his bag, "Yes. So as requested by Jay, I managed to gather the information that I think will be useful,", he turned the screen towards them, "and this combined with the evidence that Ms. Linda has collected so far, I can say we are starting at a very good place and soon, we will have the names of everyone involved and the mastermind - because it looks like a bigger person was pulling the strings....".
Everyone gasped at the footage of the man delivering a brown envelope to John's place, except for Lilly who seemed to have been caught by surprise at the mention of Linda's name.
"Sorry, did you say, Linda has evidence?", she turned her attention to her granddaughter, "You never said anything about evidence..."
Linda furrowed her eyebrows, "Touché...you are not the only ones who are good at keeping things.", Lilly's heart clenched and she dropped her face, her granddaughter was truly a cold person.
The room fell into a second of awkward silence with Joseph squeezing Lilly's hand to comfort her and Jeremy glaring at Linda, and she knew instantly what it meant. She sighed heavily, "Sorry grandmother, it slipped my mind. A lot had been happening lately. I forgot to mention it", lies. She just didn't want them to be in the middle of the investigation.
Jeremy smiled in approval of the apology, and she rolled her eyes, 'This man is making me soft', she thought, but she liked it, evident in her crimson face.
Just then, John entered the room, and it instantly went radio silent, "Oh...what do we have here? A party....interesting. And surprise surprise...my dear niece...I didn't expect to see you here...especially after yesterday. I thought you would be somewhere breaking bottles."
Linda rolled her eyes in annoyance and coughed, "Stalker", darkening his uncle's face with shame. Clearly, she's aware that he's had her followed, 'just how much does she know?', he wondered.
Meanwhile, Lilly's heart ached even more. All these years - she blindly believed the worst of her son. The more reason why she needed to catch this person - but what was she going to say to John? Will an apology be enough? What kind of a mother was she?
she sighed, "John, can we talk in my office?", she had no choice but to face it head-on. Accept the hate and wrath of her only son- after all, she does deserve it.