Come Closer

Chapter 28

After washing up, the three were having breakfast when Jayden’s phone rang loudly. Jayden hastily pulled it out of the pocket. “I’ll take this.” He excused himself from the table.

“What do you want?” He asked, irritated. The person on the other side didn’t seem to be faltered by Jayden’s manner of talking. “Good morning to you too, little brother!”

Jayden couldn’t help the smile forming at this. ‘Little brother’ this phrase brought a warmth and a comfort and a feeling of safety itself, every time his big brother called him that. But he continued the act of an irritated teenager.

“Why are you calling me? I was in the middle of having breakfast!”

“Aah! Breakfast! Is it more important than me? Anyways, I have news.”

Jayden frowned. “On what?”

“I’m hosting the party!”

Jayden rolled his eyes. “For a split second, Hayden, I thought that you were going to say something useful!”

“Why? You’re coming, right?”

“Nope!” Jayden said, popping the ‘p’.

“A bit of socializing won’t do any harm, Jayden. You can make connections there.”

Jayden huffed. “Connections? My ass. I have enough.”

“On 26th this month, at 5 p.m. at the Elden Essa hotel.

Jayden rolled his eyes. “I’m not com- wait.” His eyes widened. “I am coming. And I’ll bring someone with me there.”

Hayden frowned on the other side. “Who?”

“Keep wondering!” Jayden sang and cut the call.

Avelyn put her fork down as she saw Jayden beaming. “What’s the sudden smile?” She asked. Jayden sat at the table. “I’ll tell you later.” He gave her a cheeky grin and resumed his breakfast. Avelyn looked at Nathan in curiosity. ‘What might this be?’ She seemed to be asking. Nathan shrugged. ‘If he is going to tell us anyways, what’s the hurry?’ He thought.

“My brother is throwing a party.” Jayden broke the news when they were relaxing in the living room. He waited a moment, to see the other’s reaction- not that he got any. He sighed, and continued to elaborate. “It’s not just a party. Every businessman, every powerful man, is coming there. Even some mafias.” At this, the other two leaned forward. “What I’m saying is, they bring their girlfriends, wives and some guards there. We can get a clue on Lyena.”

“But, how can you be so sure?” Nathan asked.

“I don’t know, I just have a feeling.”

Avelyn looked at him. “You have a FEELING? What are we gonna do, are we going to shout ‘has anyone seen Lyena’?”

“That’s not what I mean.” Jayden waved his palms in front of him. “Let’s think about this in another way. Let’s go to the party, and subtly look for a clue, or something like that. If we didn’t get one, we are coming back. After all, what have we got to lose here?”

……………………….

The car came to a stop in front of the illuminated hotel. Jayden got off first, followed by Nathan, and opened the door for Avelyn. “Am I the third wheel here?” Nathan muttered as he saw his two friends acting all lovey-dovey. Avelyn smirked at Nathan. “You can be my second boyfriend.”

“Oh hell no! Don’t drag me into both of your misery.” Nathan stepped back a little, as he was afraid of getting infected by a disease.

“I’m kinda jealous of Nathan. Avelyn, what do you say? Would you like Nathan to be your partner?” Jayden asked, a silent plea in his eyes. Avelyn got irritated and rolled her eyes. “Get over yourselves idiots! If we are going to act like this, others would get suspicious. Now come along. We’ve got a party to attend.”

“Jayden!” Jayden looked around as he heard his name being called out, and saw his brother waving at him. “What made you change your mind so suddenly?” Hayden asked teasingly, indicating Avelyn with his eyes. “Oh shut up!” Jayden rolled his eyes.

Hayden looked at Avelyn and Nathan curiously. As far as he knew, Jayden didn’t have friends like this. He eyed the girl, making it subtle, and had to admit that she was attractive, and had an authoritative aura. The other, he noticed, had made sure that he was dressed for the occasion, and gave out dangerous vibes. ‘Better keep an eye on them.’ He thought.

“Hayden, this is Avelyn, my partner, and this is Nathan, my friend.” Jayden’s voice broke his trail of thoughts. He quickly composed himself, and gave them a charming smile. “Nice to meet you both

He shook hands with them. “Well, I have to excuse myself. Enjoy!” He walked away, not failing to notice the look Avelyn gave the other two.

“He doesn’t seem to suspect.” Avelyn told Nathan and Jayden, more or less as a question. Jayden shook his head and smiled. “He is going to ask me about you two sooner or later.”

“No way! How can he guess?” Nathan exclaimed.

“He is my brother. He knows it when I’m lying.”

The soft music and chatter filled the room. Avelyn, Nathan and Jayden were walking around, giving smiles and chit-chatting here and there. Several men at the party were giving Avelyn quite occasional glances, admiring the way the long red dress defined her glamorous figure. “They are looking at you.” Jayden teased Avelyn. “I know,” Avelyn whispered through her teeth, still smiling at the crowd.

“Poor guys. They don’t know what kind of creature they are prying at.” Jayden shook his head dramatically.

“I can see your brother is among them.”

Jayden widened his eyes at that. He quickly looked at his brother, and caught him turning his eyes away from Avelyn. “God help me! I’m not ready to have you as my sister in law,” he said, horrified.

“Who said that I’m gonna marry him?” Avelyn gave a sly smile.

Jayden gasped. “Nathan! I don’t know how you have been dealing with her alone.”

Nathan shrugged. “Birds of the same feather flock together.”

“Couldn’t have agreed more.” Jayden shook his head disappointedly.

“Why are you acting soo disappointed? We can find you someone from here.” Avelyn wiggled her eyebrows at Jayden.

“Yeah, I saw some good looking ones over there,” Nathan joined her.

“No thanks” Jayden flashed a fake smile at them.

Avelyn giggled. “Why? Do you already have- you’ve got to be kidding me!” Avelyn whispered the last part. Nathan looked at her, and saw her surprised state. “Why? What happened?” He followed her gaze and saw a couple being all lovey-dovey. He didn’t recognize them, but Jayden knew one of them. He frowned at James, who had his hand placed on a woman’s waist, and giggling with her. “What on earth?” He heard Avelyn curse under her breath.

“Why?” Jayden asked curiously.

“That’s Lyena!” The surprise was evident in her voice. Nathan and Jayden whipped their heads at the couple, who seemed to be in their own world. “Let’s get to work.” Nathan ordered, and the three of them spread out, keeping their eyes on the couple.

“Hello, James!” Jayden approached the couple, with a fixed smile playing on his face. “Jayden.” James nodded a greeting and shook Jayden’s hand. “It’s been a long time since we’ve seen each other,” Jayden’s gaze swept to Lyena. “And this might be…?” James gently pulled Lyena closer to him. “Meet my girlfriend Lyena. Lyena, this is Jayden.” “It’s a pleasure to meet you,” Lyena shook hands with Jayden. “The pleasure is all mine.”

The three met again a few minutes later. “Found something?” Avelyn asked. “They are together” Jayden said. Nathan frowned at that. “Together?”

“Yes, like, they are a couple now.”

“What the-” “Sssshhhhhh!” Nathan shushed Avelyn before she cursed out loud. She lowered her voice. “Are you serious?”

“Yeah, I talked with James- James is the boy’s name.” He added as he saw the confusion in Avelyn and Nathan.

“What are we going to do now?” Nathan spoke the question that was running in three of their minds. They fell silent as they thought. “Avelyn, I think you should talk to Lyena.” Jayden suggested. “Yeah, you should know what has happened to her,” Nathan added. Avelyn tapped on the floor with her foot, uncertainly. “What’s the matter?” Nathan asked as he saw Avelyn’s reluctance. She shrugged. “I don’t know…I just- I- this is something I have never expected. Yes, I came to rescue her, but I never thought that such a thing like this-” She indicated Lyena and James. “-Would occur.”

“Neither us, Avelyn.”

“I-” her voice cracked. “I wonder if she even remembers me.” Jayden placed his hand on Avelyn’s shoulder. “Why wouldn’t she? She’s your sister.”

Avelyn took a deep breath, to calm herself down. “I’ll just use the washroom.” She quickly stepped away, escaping the pressuring atmosphere.