CHAPTER 29 — Lunch at the Mansion

Justin had exactly thirty-seven minutes to regret agreeing to Charlie's invitation.

The moment the sleek black luxury sedan pulled up outside his apartment building, he had considered pretending he wasn't home. Unfortunately, the driver had stepped out, bowed politely, and addressed him by his full name.There was no escaping after that.

Now seated in the back of a car that probably cost more than his future career earnings combined, Justin stared out the tinted window as Monaco's busy streets slowly gave way to quieter roads and increasingly ridiculous properties.

"This is insane," he muttered for what was probably the fifth time.

The driver, maintaining perfect professional silence, didn't respond.

Justin sighed dramatically and leaned back against the leather seat.

"Maybe they're taking me somewhere to harvest my organs."Still no response.

"Fair enough," he muttered. "I wouldn't answer that either."

The car continued down a private road lined with trees that somehow looked expensive.Then Justin saw the gates.Huge black iron gates.They opened automatically.

His jaw dropped."No."

The car drove through.

"Absolutely not."And then he saw the mansion.

Justin had seen large houses before. He had watched documentaries about billionaires. He had even stalked celebrity mansions online during exam season instead of studying.Nothing prepared him for this.

The estate stretched across the landscape like its own private country. The gardens were immaculate. The fountains sparkled beneath the afternoon sun. The building itself looked like the kind of place where presidents held secret meetings.

"Oh my God," Justin whispered.

The driver smiled slightly.

"We have arrived, sir."

He was being called "sir" while arriving at a billionaire's mansion.

Justin climbed out of the car and stood frozen.

The front doors opened before he could decide whether to faint.

Charlie walked down the marble steps wearing a casual white shirt and dark trousers, looking entirely too pleased with himself.

"Welcome!" he announced dramatically. "What do you think?"

Justin slowly turned and looked at him.

"With all due respect," he said honestly, "this belongs to your brother, not you."

Charlie's smile froze.For exactly two seconds.Then he burst out laughing.

"You really are sharp-tongued."

"I prefer 'honest.'"

Charlie draped an arm over his shoulder.

"I like honest people."

"I usually get into trouble for it."

"Excellent. Then you'll fit right in."

Justin wasn't sure if that was comforting or terrifying.

As they walked toward the entrance, Justin noticed several security guards positioned discreetly around the estate.He leaned toward Charlie.

"Should I be worried?"

Charlie grinned."Depends."

"On what?"

"Whether you've committed any federal crimes recently."

Justin immediately stepped away from him."I knew I shouldn't have come."

The front doors opened before they reached them.Mrs. Kate stood waiting with her usual warm smile.

"Welcome, Master Justin."

Justin nearly tripped."No, no, no. Please don't call me that."

Mrs. Kate laughed softly."Then what should I call you?"

"Justin. Just Justin."

"Very well, Justin. It's lovely to finally meet you. Aiden talks about you often."

Justin blinked."He does?"

"Of course."

For some strange reason, that made him feel unexpectedly happy.

"Where is Aiden?" he asked.

Mrs. Kate exchanged a knowing glance with Charlie.

"He went upstairs."

"To his room?"

Charlie smirked."No. He went to see my brother."

Justin nearly choked. "Damien?"

"Yes."

"But isn't he supposed to be at work?"

"He was," Charlie replied innocently. "He came back a little earlier than expected."

Justin stared. "For Aiden?"

Charlie shrugged. "I didn't say that."

"You implied it."

"I merely provided information."

Justin opened his mouth to argue, but then stopped.

The interior of the mansion had finally registered in his brain.

Crystal chandeliers hung from impossibly high ceilings. Paintings that looked expensive enough to pay his tuition decorated the walls. The staircase curved upward like something from a royal palace.

"Oh my God," he whispered again.

Charlie folded his arms proudly. "Impressive, isn't it?"

"It really is."

"I know."

"But it still belongs to Damien."

Charlie placed a hand over his chest, "You're hurting my feelings."

"You have feelings?"

"Occasionally."

Justin laughed despite himself.

At that exact moment, footsteps echoed from the staircase.

Aiden was descending slowly, dressed in one of the expensive sweaters Damien had bought in Tokyo. He looked healthier than the last time Justin had seen him. The dark circles beneath his eyes had faded, and there was color in his face again.

"Aiden!" Justin shouted.

Aiden smiled. "You actually came."

"Of course I came! Someone sent a luxury car to my apartment. Do you know how terrifying that is?"

Aiden laughed. "Sorry."

Justin marched over and pulled him into a hug.

"You disappeared for days, got kidnapped, got drunk, disappeared again, and now you're living in a billionaire's mansion."

"When you say it like that, it sounds strange. It was only a day"

"Because it is strange!"

Charlie watched them with amusement. "I think I understand your friendship now."

"You understand nothing," Justin informed him.

"Fair enough."

Aiden glanced around."Where's Sean?"

"He already went back to the company," Charlie explained. "Damien asked him to bring over some documents."

Aiden nodded.That made sense.

A lot more sense than Sean casually hanging around a mansion in the middle of a workday.

"Speaking of Damien..." Charlie's smile became suspiciously mischievous. "How did your conversation go?"

Aiden immediately looked uncomfortable.

"We haven't talk"

"That's not right?"

Justin narrowed his eyes. "You're both hiding something."

"We're not," Aiden and Charlie answered simultaneously.

The silence that followed was deafening.

Justin pointed dramatically. "See? That's exactly what guilty people do."

Charlie burst into laughter.

"You are definitely staying for lunch."

"I'm already here."

"Excellent."

As if summoned by fate itself, Sean walked into the room carrying a tablet and a stack of documents.

Justin stood up so fast his chair nearly fell over. "Another one!"

Sean blinked. "Another what?"

"Rich person."

For the first time, Sean actually smiled. "That's probably true."

Charlie nearly doubled over laughing. "Relax. Sean doesn't bite."

"That's exactly what someone says before the biting starts."

Even Aiden couldn't stop himself from laughing.

"This was a mistake," he muttered.

"No," Charlie said cheerfully. "This is the most fun I've had all week."

Lunch began shortly afterward. Justin had every intention of behaving, Unfortunately, behaving became increasingly difficult when the food kept arriving...And arriving...And arriving.

Finally, he lowered his fork. "How many people are we feeding?"

Mrs. Kate smiled. "Only four."

Justin stared. "Four?"

"Is there a problem?" Charlie asked.

"No. I just realized your family eats like they're preparing for a natural disaster."

Charlie coughed into his hand to hide his laughter.

Aiden nodded thoughtfully. "That's fair."

The conversation shifted to university, Then classes, Then somehow, against Aiden's greatest hopes and dreams, it shifted to drinking.

Charlie suddenly paused."Wait."

Aiden froze.

"You really asked Damien if he missed you?"

Justin nearly inhaled his drink. "What?"

Aiden's face turned bright red. "No."

Charlie's smile widened. "That's not what Damien told me."

Aiden stared. "HE TOLD YOU?"

"Oh yes."

Justin slowly put down his fork.

"This just became the best lunch of my life."

Aiden lowered his head onto the table. "I want to die."

"Actually," Justin announced, grinning as he took another bite of food, "I think I like rich people now."

The entire table burst into laughter.

And for the first time in weeks, Aiden forgot about the nightmares.

He forgot about Tokyo.He forgot about kidnappings, scandals, and the invisible war surrounding Damien Smith. For one brief afternoon, sitting between his best friend and the strange family that had somehow become tangled with his life, he felt something he hadn't expected to feel again, Normal, Not completely, Not permanently.

But enough.