Ice and Fire novel Chapter 808

Overhead lights flickered to life, casting the corners in shadows as Lawrence entered the room. Realizing that Bill and Lily had already gone to bed, he decided to go up directly to his room. Looking around the familiar place, he noted that the layout had not changed and nothing seemed out of place. But the textbooks were no longer where he left them and that his cartoon quilt had been replaced by a solid colored one.

Shrugging off his jacket, Lawrence sat at the foot of his bed. Deep in thought, he decided to call Mike, not realizing how late in the night it already was.

"Ring.. Ring.. Ring.." The sound of the phone ringing shrilled through the quiet night. "Hello? Lawrence?" Mike drowsily answered.

"Mike? Did I wake you?" Lawrence asked, sounding alert and awake despite the hour.

"Yes, Lawrence. I'm trying to catch up some sleep, heck I was already dozing even before I arrived home. Our long flight was exhausting. Partly because unlike you, I wasn't able to rest on the plane. I was rather busy getting to know a beautiful girl," Mike replied.

"Drop by my house early tomorrow morning. Let's go to the JC Group together," Lawrence curtly replied, directly going straight to the point. Hearing Mike sound so worn out, he didn't want to keep him up further.

"Oh! Uhm, Lawrence, why are we going to the JC Group?" Mike asked, sounding upset and surprised.

"Assuming office," Lawrence decidedly said.

"Huh? Now? So quickly?" Startled, Mike bolted up in surprise, "Didn't we agree to have a short holiday first before we start working there? Oh well, we came back earlier than expected anyway. But your father and the top executives of the JC group aren't aware that we're back, yet. So what's the rush? Why do we need to go there early?" Mike asked as he laid back comfortably.

"I am gonna have to take over the entertainment business sooner. Uncle Mond promised to hand over all the management rights of his entertainment business to me," Lawrence calmly replied. He decided to be transparent with Mike with regards to all business matters.

Mike, who was starting to slowly doze off, was instantly awake upon hearing what his friend said. "You mean you're planning to block her?"

"Maybe," Lawrence coldly replied. He had not forgotten what happened and he had no plans of letting it go. He would never forget how Rebecca's deception caused his sister's accident. He deeply felt sorry for Violet and he could not just let Rebecca off the hook for that.

"Lawrence, let it go. Let her go. It wouldn't help to keep haggling over her affairs," Mike slowly replied. He was trying to persuade his friend. Rebecca also rubbed off him in a bad way, but they did not need to keep meddling with her matters.

Lawrence did not reply. Mike could hear him breathing over the line so he knew Lawrence heard him.

Silence. Mike decided to not push Lawrence and waited for what his friend had to say.

"Good night, Mike. Have a good rest and see you tomorrow morning," Breaking the silence, Lawrence hung up the phone without waiting for a response.

Amidst the chaos of their preparations backstage, Alice was busy delegating tasks. Models were getting dressed and their make-up artists were trying to decently retouch their already made up faces. Clothes and cosmetics were all over the place. Assistants were busy doing last minute preparations.