Chapter 29: Long Time No See
Leah Sinclair took one last deep breath, holding the cue vertically. She threaded it through the bridge she’d formed with her hand, trying her best to keep it steady. Aiming at the cue ball, she held her breath. In the end, she decided on a jump shot.
The cue ball jumped, spun in the air over the eight-ball, then landed, bouncing twice before striking its target. The eight-ball sank into the pocket, while the cue ball came to a perfect stop, teetering on the very edge of the hole.
"Holy shit! Leah!"
Ethan Shaw and Riley Sterling excitedly slapped a high-five. For that split second as the cue ball flew through the air, it felt like both their hearts had stopped. It was so damn intense!
After a moment, it sank in. Leah whirled around and excitedly threw her arms around Asher Keating. "Third Master Keating, I won!"
Asher Keating looked down at Leah, who was beaming up at him from his embrace. The corners of his mouth curved up as he gave her cheek a gentle pinch. "Not bad."
CLAP. CLAP. CLAP.
Morgan Sterling was clapping, his eyes narrowed to slits. "Leah, not bad at all."
"Eldest Young Master Sterling. One hundred thousand," Leah said, eagerly pulling out her phone as if terrified he might go back on the deal.
Morgan Sterling, to his credit, was prompt. He keyed in the account number she recited and transferred the hundred thousand on the spot. Leah’s eyes lit up as she checked her new balance. She was ecstatic. In a single evening, she’d somehow managed to earn one hundred and fifty thousand.
Asher Keating pulled her back to his side, a chuckle in his voice. "You’re this happy over such a small amount of money?"
"Of course! I saved your land, *and* I got paid. How could I not be happy?" Leah replied, still staring at her phone, her voice practically bubbling with excitement.
"What’s all the fun about? It’s so lively in here."
A woman’s voice suddenly rang out. Leah felt Asher Keating’s hand on her shoulder stiffen. She looked up toward the door. ’Madeline Sterling.’ The name materialized in her mind.
The woman who walked in was Madeline Sterling. She wore a black dress with a small blazer draped over it, black high heels, and her long hair cascaded down her back. Her makeup was exquisite. Removing her sunglasses, she looked at them with a smile.
Leah’s neck was stiff as she turned to look at Asher Keating, but he was already looking at Madeline Sterling. Madeline walked straight toward them, her eyes completely ignoring Leah. When she came to a stop, her vermilion lips curved. "Third Master. Long time no see."
The hand Leah used to clutch her phone tightened. In that moment, she finally understood the difference between the ugly duckling and the swan from the fairy tale.
"Madeline."
Ethan Shaw and Riley Sterling offered an awkward greeting. ’What a fucking disaster,’ they both thought. Now they finally understood why Morgan Sterling had insisted on bringing Leah Sinclair. It wasn’t because he was interested in her; he just wanted to see this exact scene unfold. They exchanged a look, both suddenly feeling that Leah was in a rather pitiful situation.
"Long time no see," Asher Keating replied, his reply a mere four words.
"Madeline, I promised you that you’d see your Third Master as soon as you got back. I’m a man of my word, aren’t I?" Morgan Sterling said with a grin, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed.
"Thank you, Morgan. I knew you were the best brother to me." Madeline turned to Morgan Sterling, hugging his arm affectionately and acting like a spoiled little girl.
Leah walked over to the pool table, retrieved the vest she had tossed there, and silently slipped it on. Asher Keating felt the space beneath his hand suddenly go empty, and he froze for a fraction of a second.
"Alright, now that the guest of honor has arrived, let’s not just stand around here. Let’s go sit over there. Third Master, come on," Morgan Sterling called out to them.
On the sofa, Madeline Sterling sat down beside Asher Keating as if it were the most natural thing in the world—in the exact spot Leah had just vacated.
"Leah, come sit here."
Just as he had when she first arrived, Morgan Sterling patted the seat beside him. Leah looked at the spot that had been hers, now occupied by Madeline Sterling, and turned to sit next to Ethan Shaw instead. ’It seems Morgan Sterling was right,’ she thought. ’The seating arrangement was bound to change tonight.’
"Leah, are you okay?" Ethan Shaw asked in a low, worried voice.
"I’m fine." Leah turned and offered him a small smile.
"So, is this the poor little girl my brother mentioned? The one from Azure Bay who keeps men company for drinks and happens to look a bit like me?" Madeline Sterling asked, turning her head with a smile as if she were just now noticing Leah.
Leah’s hand tightened on her phone. The nail of her left thumb dug into her right index finger, breaking the skin. Hearing this, Asher Keating shot a brief, frowning glance at Madeline Sterling before his eyes landed on Leah. But Leah’s head was bowed, and she didn’t answer. He couldn’t see her expression.
"Oh, she’s not at Azure Bay anymore," Morgan Sterling said with a grin, lighting a cigarette.
"Oh? Then where is she? Though I suppose this place pays better than Azure Bay. Still, little sister, keeping men company for drinks is a tough job. Do you need me to help you?" Madeline Sterling asked with an air of profound understanding.
"That won’t be necessary, Miss Sterling," Leah said, taking a deep breath and raising her head.
"It’s not your place to help her. Leah belongs to your Third Master now. Isn’t that right, Third Master Keating?" Morgan Sterling said, clapping Asher Keating on the shoulder.
"What do you mean, she ’belongs to the Third Master’? Does that... Does that mean what I think it means? Third Master, is it true?" Madeline Sterling grew frantic, grabbing Asher Keating’s hand as her eyes instantly reddened.
Asher Keating was silent for a moment before responding with a quiet, "Yeah."
"Third Master, you...!" Madeline Sterling looked as if she were about to burst into tears, rendered speechless for a long moment. After a while, she finally choked out, "Never mind. The Third Master is only with her because she looks like me. I... I can overlook it."
"I... I’m going to use the restroom."
Leah couldn’t bear to listen to their romantic drama. She murmured a quick word to Ethan Shaw and left the private room. Unsettled, Ethan tapped Riley Sterling, then followed her out.
Asher Keating watched Leah flee as if she were running for her life, and his heart clenched. He turned to Madeline Sterling. "We need to talk. Alone."
"Third Master. Over there, there’s a room."
Morgan Sterling smiled, pointing Asher Keating toward a discreet inner room attached to the suite. The purpose of such rooms was self-evident. "You and Madeline haven’t seen each other in so long. Don’t rush. Take your time."
"Leah!" Ethan Shaw caught up and grabbed her arm. Leah kept her head down, saying nothing.
"Don’t blame the Third Master. He and Madeline... Ugh, I don’t know how to explain it! Basically, the two of them have been tangled up for years. Things were only really settled when Madeline left for Arcadia to pursue her career with The Globe. We all thought she was gone for good, but now..." Ethan didn’t know how to finish.
"I know, Young Master Shaw. The only reason you paid all that money to reserve me that first time was because I look like her, wasn’t it?" Leah sighed. "You got a cigarette?"
"Huh? Oh, yeah." Ethan fumbled for his pack of cigarettes. Leah thanked him and pulled one out. He flicked his lighter open, and she leaned in to light it. Then, he led her to a nearby place to sit.
This was only the third time Leah had ever smoked, but she held it with the natural ease of a chain-smoker. She took two quiet drags, then suddenly laughed. "No wonder you guys like smoking."
Ethan lit a cigarette for himself, not knowing what to say to comfort her, so he remained silent. The whole night felt completely surreal. ’I still can’t process it,’ he thought. ’How did Madeline just show up out of the blue? I thought she’d emigrated.’
Meanwhile, in the adjoining room, it was obvious that Morgan Sterling had had it specially prepared. A faint, fragrant incense hung in the air. Asher Keating stared at the bed, which was covered in flower petals, and said nothing.
"Third Master," Madeline Sterling murmured, wrapping her arms around him from behind. "I’ve missed you so much."