The Stone Knight (gay)✔️

17. A much needed intervention.

Madeleine was dearly regretting the ill-considered remark she made to Dylan. Her son had been walking around in a terrible mood for the past four days and all the people who were preparing for the party gave him a wide berth. Fortunately, he did not have an active role, although he inexplicably managed to interfere with everything. She had a day job to address the many complaints she received.
"Why don't you leave the work to the people who were hired for it?" she suggested, pushing him resolutely towards his study. "I'm sure you've got plenty to do yourself."
"When's Lucas coming?" His gray eyes were on fire.
"Lucas isn't coming. He took care of everything. His presence is only desired at the party itself."

Dylan cursed internally. "I want to talk to him and preferably in private."
"Call him," she suggested.
"I've been trying, but it seems that the gentleman ignores my phone calls," he remarked bitterly.
Madeleine didn't know if she was laughing or crying at the farce that was playing out in front of her eyes. 'How was it that her intelligent son was so emotionally disabled?'
"Maybe you can give him the space he so obviously needs," she calmly remarked. "You know he'll be here in a few days." Her eyes fell on clenched fists. "Maybe you can talk to him quietly."

Dylan stood so abruptly that she shied away. "It would be a huge help if everyone wasn't so secretive. Both Jake, Noah and you, mother, refuse to tell anything about Lucas' new life. So don't make it sound like I'm the bogeyman. I just want to know how he's doing!"
Madeleine nodded. "I'm glad to hear you're committed to him, Dylan, truly. The moment Lucas is ready to willingly give you access to his life, I'll be the first to congratulate you."
She sat down with the deliberately chosen words that would no doubt excite him even further. For a moment she felt sorry for her tormented-looking son, but she knew it was necessary. Her eyebrows rose when he visibly held back.
"I'm going to the office. Don't wait for me. I'm sleeping in the city tonight."

After two hours in the office, everyone walked on their toes. There was no one who knew what was going on with the boss, but he was in an impossibly bad mood. Alice was grateful that there were no important meetings on the agenda. Through the glass wall, she watched him blankly staring at his screen. 'What was wrong with him?'
Dylan was brooding on a way to encounter Lucas 'by accident'. Coincidentally walking into his publishing house was out of the question. He had already looked a few times at the company's finances and whether it was possibly profitable to take over the business. Stone-Knight already had a children's department so an addition wasn't really necessary. So the house was left. Because it was on the edge of the estate, it had its own entrance. There was no way to meet each other 'by chance'. And so he was stuck again.
The next day, he drove home and made new plans. He could write off his mother, he thought deeply sighing. What remained were his sons. It felt underhanded to hear them out about information. In fact, he didn't expect success, since he had tried it before and they had both refused him immediately.

Apparently Noah was in a good mood, because at the dinner table he spoke enthusiastically about a book. It filled his father's heart with warmth to see his youngest son so enthusiastic about the written word. Jake had indicated very early on that he felt no affinity for the publishing house and he was at peace with that. He had been left with the choice to take over the family business and he had never regretted it. Their finances were so good that Jake could choose what he wanted. The only condition he stated was that a choice was made. Lazing around and aimless loitering were not an option. Luckily, Jake seemed to feel the same way. Now it was just looking for what made his heart beat faster.

"Is your project finished yet? You won't have time to work on it tomorrow," Jake told an untroubled Noah.
"Honey and me added the final details this afternoon. It's finished!" it sounded proud.
"What's finished?" informed Dylan curiously.
Three surprised faces looked at him.
"Erm... a model for school," Noah said hesitantly.
"And tomorrow's the presentation?"
Noah was flattered by his father's sudden attention to school activities.
"Actually, it's kind of an exhibition, but it's not necessary for you to come and see, Dad. I know you're always very busy with work."
"Is Lucas coming?" escaped him, ignoring his mother's smile.
"Sure," Noah nodded. "He's on the organizing committee."
"Gotcha!" thought Dylan triumphantly. Finally, he had Lucas in a place where he couldn't escape. Tomorrow at school he wouldn't be distracted by anything. In his mind, he already compiled a list of things he wanted to ask.
"Does this mean you're coming too, Dad?" asked Noah with delight.
"Yes," he nodded. "But let it be a surprise to Lucas," he quickly added.
His steering gaze towards Madeleine did not diminish her broad grin in any way.