An Invitation

Lanet Hines sat at his desk, his brows furrowed as he examined the financial plan in front of him. Across from him, Kira watched with a confused expression, her fingers tapping lightly on her tablet.

"Sir, you've been looking at that for ages. Is something wrong?" she finally asked, breaking the silence.

Lanet barely glanced up, his focus unwavering as he flipped through the pages.

The clinic where Beau worked was in desperate need of support, and he was determined to find a solution.

Last week, Zane had offered Beau a position as a medical consultant—a lucrative and career-advancing opportunity. But Beau had refused. The clinic needed him too much to consider leaving.

"The clinic needs all the financial help it can get, Kira, and this… this isn't enough," Lanet said, his tone tinged with frustration.

What he didn't say aloud was that he hoped this plan would make a difference—not just for the clinic but for Beau's future.

If the clinic could become more stable, with enough staff and resources, maybe Beau would finally reconsider Zane's offer. Or better yet, he could start pursuing his own dreams instead of being bound to a struggling facility.

There was still a trace of tension between Zane and Beau, but Lanet was optimistic that their upcoming weekend getaway might smooth things over.

"Sir?" Kira's voice pulled him out of his thoughts.

He blinked, snapping back to reality, and gave her an apologetic nod. "Sorry. Send this plan to the financial manager. After that, let's start preparing for a New Year's charity ball. I want it to be impactful."

Kira nodded briskly. "Understood. I'll get started on that."

"Good. You're free to leave," Lanet said.

Kira paused at the door, turning back as if she'd just remembered something. "Oh, before I forget—about your weekend getaway. Mr. White wanted me to remind you there will be no rescheduling this time."

Lanet nodded, his lips twitching into a faint smile. "Got it. Thanks, Kira."

With a polite nod, she left the office, closing the door softly behind her. Lanet leaned back in his chair, his mind already shifting back to the mountain of work ahead of him.

The previous weekend's getaway had been postponed due to an urgent matter, but he was determined to make this one happen.

An hour later, just as he was wrapping up for the day, a commotion erupted outside his office.

"No, you cannot go in there without an appointment!" Kira's sharp voice carried through the door.

Before Lanet could react, the door burst open, slamming against the wall.

Ronald Hue stormed inside, his presence as abrupt as the sound of the door hitting its hinges.

Kira followed closely behind, visibly out of breath, her cheeks flushed with irritation. "I'm so sorry, Mr. Hines. I tried to stop him," she said glaring at Hue.

Lanet's gaze shifted from her to Ronald with an unreadable expression.

He placed the papers he was holding on the desk and leaned forward slightly, maintaining a calm tone although he was seething. 

"Thank you, Kira. Will you please excuse us?" Lanet gave her a small, reassuring smile.

Kira nodded curtly, her disapproval clear as she shot one last glare at Ronald Hue before leaving the office.

The door clicked shut behind her, but not before she let out a loud, deliberate huff.

"She's feisty," Hue remarked with a smirk, settling into one of the chairs across from Lanet's desk.

Lanet resisted the urge to roll his eyes. Instead, he leaned back slightly, his expression carefully neutral. "How can I help you, Hue?"

Hue adjusted his cufflinks before leaning forward, exuding the kind of smugness that Lanet found deeply irritating.

"Oh, there's nothing you can do for me, Lanet," He said casually, as though they were old friends.

"I just wanted to personally invite you to a private viewing." He paused, his gaze wandering around the office as if appraising it.

"You'll be pleased to know that I've created some truly exquisite pieces with the Blue Diamond." Lanet's jaw tightened, but he maintained his composure.

What the hell was wrong with this guy? With an almost theatrical flourish, Hue pulled out an elegant black and gold invitation card and set it on the desk. The address was embossed in shimmering gold letters.

As Lanet's eyes followed the movement of Hue's hand, they caught on the ring adorning his finger. The band was decorated with small, brilliant cuts of blue stone—pieces of the Blue Diamond, no doubt. Ronald was slicing it into more fragments.

"Thank you for the invitation, Hue," Lanet said, his voice smooth and even. "When is this viewing?"

"Three weeks from now. Friday," Hue replied. He rose from his chair, straightening his blazer, then added with a sly grin, "Bring that hot little boy with you."

Lanet's expression darkened, though he masked it with a cold, polite smile. He watched silently as Hue sauntered out of the office, his arrogance trailing behind him like an unwelcome stench.

As soon as the door closed, Lanet thought to himself. This man was either bribing officials or the government was complicit in his actions. Either way, Lanet was determined to see him exposed.

Pushing those thoughts aside for now, Lanet packed up his bag, took a final glance at the cursed invitation card, and left the office for the day. 

Later that evening, Lanet lay sprawled on the couch in his apartment, his phone in hand as he texted Beau.

"Star is so excited for his birthday," Beau's message read.

"Where are you hosting the party?" Lanet typed back.

"At our cabin house," Beau replied.

"You have a cabin house?" Lanet paused, surprised. Then again, he shouldn't have been. Beau and his family were doing quite well for themselves.

"Yes, in the woods between the city and our town," Beau replied.

"Wow. Can I come?"

"Of course, love. Star will be happy, and I'll be even happier," Beau ended the message with a string of hearts and smile emojis.

Lanet smiled, warmth spreading through his chest as he read the reply. Their conversation continued, the gentle exchange of words lulling him into comfort. At some point, his exhaustion caught up to him, and he dozed off right there on the couch, phone still in hand.

The following days passed in a blur. Between long hours at the office and a series of back-to-back meetings, Lanet barely had a moment to breathe. Before he knew it, Friday had arrived, and Teddy and Beau were on their way to pick him up for the weekend getaway.

Panic set in as Lanet realized he wasn't ready. He scrambled around his apartment, grabbing anything he thought he might need. Toiletries? Check. Clothes? Check. Hiking equipment? Wait—did he even need that? Better to be safe than sorry, he figured.

By the time Teddy and Beau arrived in Teddy's car, Lanet was standing by the door with his bags in hand. They didn't even have to honk—he was already outside.

As they pulled out onto the city streets, Lanet leaned forward slightly. "Are you guys excited?"

"Are we excited?" Teddy snorted. "We're nervous as hell."

Beside him, Beau laughed and playfully slapped Teddy on the shoulder. "Don't worry him, Teddy." He glanced up at Lanet through the rearview mirror, his eyes softening. "We're excited. Honestly, I've been looking forward to this all week. I was so annoyed when you cancelled last weekend."

Lanet winced, offering a sheepish smile. "My bad, hun."

Beau's chuckle eased him, and the car filled with light conversation as they left the city behind. The drive was long but pleasant, the scenery shifting from urban sprawl to serene countryside.

When they finally arrived, Lanet's breath caught.

The beach house was nothing like he'd seen before, its large windows framed stunning views of the sea. The gentle sound of waves crashing against the shore added a peaceful rhythm to the moment, making Lanet's shoulders relax as he stepped out of the car. 

"Wow, this is going to be nice."