Chapter 126: Investment Beyond Their Expectations!
Sophie Kennedy mumbled under her breath, her voice barely more than a whisper. "You bad guy..."
"Hm? What was that?"
"I said..." She puffed out her cheeks, then finally met his eyes for a split second. "...you’re a bad guy."
Even with the passenger seat fully reclined beneath her, Sophie refused to release Luca’s arm. Her fingers stayed tightly wrapped around his sleeve while her gaze darted around the cabin, landing on anything except him.
Luca let out a low, warm chuckle.
"Hehe... little girl, I’ve got much worse tricks up my sleeve."
A full moon hung high over the mountain, bathing the quiet hillside in cool silver light. Inside the cozy cabin of the BMW M2, the "big bad wolf" had cornered his adorable little rabbit.
Luca leaned in and captured her lips in a deep, hungry kiss. Sophie whimpered softly against his mouth, her shyness quickly melting away in the heat of it.
She kissed him back just as fiercely, her small hands sliding up to cradle his face as their tongues met. The kiss turned messier and more desperate, wet sounds filling the small space while he claimed her soft lips.
Her fingers trembled as they worked at his shirt buttons. One by one she undid them, then pushed the fabric off his shoulders, revealing his toned chest.
Sophie’s palms pressed against his warm skin right away, tracing his firm muscles with shy admiration and feeling the steady beat of his heart beneath her touch.
Luca groaned into her mouth. In one smooth motion, he tugged her shirt up and over her head, tossing it toward the back seat. Her bra followed moments later as he unhooked it with ease.
The cool night air brushed over her bare breasts, making her nipples tighten instantly. Sophie gasped and instinctively moved to cover herself, but Luca gently caught her wrists and pinned them above her head.
"Don’t hide," he murmured, his voice rough with want. "You’re beautiful."
He kissed her again, deeper this time, his bare chest pressing against her soft curves. Sophie moaned into the kiss, her body arching up to meet him. The car began to rock gently as their movements grew more urgent.
After a long, breathless minute, Sophie suddenly pushed at his shoulders and broke the kiss. Her face was flushed deep red, her eyes glassy with arousal.
"Luca... wait..." she panted, her voice shaky. "Did you... did you buy a condom?"
Luca’s lips curved into a wicked smile. He reached into his wallet, pulled out a foil packet, and held it up between them.
"Always prepared for my little rabbit."
He unzipped his pants and shoved them down along with his boxers, freeing his hard cock. Sophie’s eyes flicked down to it for a moment before she looked away, embarrassed, though her thighs pressed together with clear need.
She lifted her hips and quickly slid her skirt and panties down her legs, kicking them aside.
The moment she was fully bare, her shyness burned away in the fire of her desire. She reached for him, pulling him back down.
"Luca... put it in me already," she demanded breathlessly, her voice trembling but insistent. "I can’t wait anymore..."
Luca let out a surprised, amused laugh.
"Look at you," he teased, tearing open the condom and rolling it on. "I’m supposed to be the big bad wolf, but my little rabbit is the one getting impatient and demanding to be eaten."
Sophie whined in embarrassment and covered her burning face with both hands, but her legs parted wider for him.
Luca settled between her thighs, rubbing the head of his cock against her slick entrance. Sophie moaned loudly as he pushed in slowly, stretching her open.
The car rocked harder from side to side while he sank deeper, filling her completely. He groaned at the tight, wet heat surrounding him.
"Fuck... Sophie," he breathed, beginning to move with long, deep thrusts that made her breasts bounce with every motion. Sophie’s hands flew to his back, her nails digging into his skin as she cried out in pleasure.
The windows fogged up more, and the luxury coupe creaked rhythmically beneath them.
Luca leaned down to kiss her again, swallowing her moans as he picked up speed and drove into her harder. Sophie wrapped her legs tightly around his waist.
Her shy whimpers turned into loud, unrestrained cries every time he hit that perfect spot inside her.
The car kept rocking under the force of their passion, the suspension groaning as Luca thrust into her again and again. Their bodies grew slick with sweat in the warm cabin.
Sophie’s voice climbed higher, more desperate.
"Luca...! Ah—! I’m—"
Their rhythm grew frantic, the world narrowing to nothing but heat, breath, and the overwhelming pull between them. Pleasure crashed over Sophie in waves, her body tightening around him as she came undone with a broken cry.
Luca followed moments later, burying himself deep with a low groan, his grip on her tightening as release claimed him.
They stayed locked together afterward, chests heaving, the only sounds left in the fogged-up car their slowing breaths and the quiet creak of cooling leather.
Outside, the silver moonlight still bathed the silent hills, as if the night itself were keeping their secret...
---
Two days later, Luca received word that Austin Silva had officially arrived in Ashford.
The meeting had been arranged in one of the luxurious private dining suites on the top floor of the Stone Free Grand Hotel.
Warm lighting filled the elegant room, while the rich aroma of freshly prepared dishes lingered in the air.
"Luca, my man! Finally!"
"Mr. Hale, it’s a pleasure to meet you in person. I’m Patrick Halloway. We spoke briefly over the phone a couple of days ago."
Besides Austin, Patrick Halloway was the only other guest already present, attending as the senior representative of Apex Legal Group.
Luca and Sophie were naturally the last to arrive.
As the principal parties behind the investment, it was only fitting.
After exchanging greetings, Luca introduced Sophie.
Patrick merely smiled politely, maintaining the calm professionalism expected of one of the country’s top attorneys.
Austin, however...
His eyes nearly popped out of their sockets.
’Brother... you’re unbelievable.’
’Having Naomi and Vivienne wasn’t enough? You somehow managed to keep a goddess like Sophie by your side too?’
Austin genuinely couldn’t understand how Luca did it.
Every woman around him seemed breathtakingly beautiful in her own unique way, and each of them cared deeply for him.
Most men would consider themselves unimaginably fortunate to win the affection of even one such woman.
Luca...
He somehow attracted them one after another.
And that was only what Austin had personally witnessed.
Who knew how many others remained behind the scenes?
---
As dinner progressed, Austin gave a detailed report on the independent game studio founded by Johnathan Chris and his college roommates.
Everything Lucy had told Luca was true.
There had been no exaggeration whatsoever.
Austin also spoke highly of the game’s current prototype, praising its core gameplay loop and long-term commercial potential.
In truth, whether the project eventually became a global hit wasn’t what mattered most to Luca.
What pleased him was discovering that Lucy and Johnathan had been completely honest with him.
They hadn’t fabricated stories.
They hadn’t tried to exploit his goodwill.
That alone made the investment worthwhile.
Money...
He already had more than he could realistically spend.
If wealth had been his only goal, his fortune would have surpassed tens of billions long ago.
At this point in his life, what he valued most were the things money couldn’t easily buy.
Family.
Love.
True friendship.
Watching the faint smile on Luca’s face, Sophie quietly understood.
He had already made up his mind.
A warm feeling spread through her chest as she thought about Lucy and Johnathan.
Their dream was about to survive.
---
That afternoon, Lucy and Johnathan arrived at the Stone Free Grand Hotel, both unable to hide their excitement.
Luca had personally called them and asked them to come finalize the equity agreement.
That invitation alone was all the confirmation they needed.
He had agreed to invest.
Johnathan wore a freshly tailored suit, while Lucy had carefully done her makeup for the occasion.
Standing together, they looked every bit like a couple ready to take on the future.
"Lucy," Luca said with a smile after everyone had taken their seats. "Let me introduce everyone properly. This is Austin Silva, one of my closest friends, and this is Patrick Halloway, representing my legal team."
Once the introductions were over, everyone moved straight to business.
Several of Johnathan’s former roommates joined the meeting through a live video call from the studio, allowing every shareholder to participate in the discussion.
Halfway through reviewing the draft agreement, Luca suddenly looked up.
"By the way, Austin..."
He tapped his pen lightly against the table.
"Should we ask Gavin and the others? Maybe they’d like to invest too."
Austin burst into laughter.
"Forget it. Those three are practically broke."
Luca blinked.
That answer genuinely surprised him.
Logically speaking, Gavin Ross and the others came from families just as wealthy as Austin’s.
They shouldn’t have been short on money.
Reading Luca’s expression, Austin grinned.
"Gavin’s hopeless. His dad gives him ten grand every month, and he spends every cent chasing girls."
"As for Dominic..." Austin rubbed his forehead. "Last year he became completely addicted to Genshin. He dumped hundreds of thousands into the gacha system before his family finally froze his accounts."
"And Ayden..." Austin couldn’t help laughing again. "Poor guy got scammed by some senior during college. Lost both his savings and his heart. His big sister controls every dollar he spends now."
Luca couldn’t help shaking his head.
Those three really were living colorful lives.
Meanwhile, Austin was still happily throwing pool parties surrounded by beautiful women without a care in the world.
---
After nearly two hours of negotiations, the final agreement was signed.
Luca Hale would invest 1.5 million dollars in exchange for a 60% controlling stake.
Austin Silva would contribute 500,000 dollars for 20% ownership.
The remaining 20% would stay with Johnathan and his development team.
The final distribution left Johnathan and his partners completely speechless.
Their original expectation had been far less generous.
In their minds, the absolute best outcome would’ve been Luca investing around 1.2 million dollars while taking ninety percent of the company.
Keeping ten percent had already seemed fortunate.
Instead...
They had secured two million dollars in funding.
And they still retained twenty percent ownership of the company they had built together.
To them, it felt less like a business deal...
...and more like a gift.
---
After Johnathan and Lucy left the suite to celebrate with the rest of the team, Luca turned toward Austin.
"You didn’t have to sacrifice your own percentage just to join my investment."
Austin shook his head seriously.
"I don’t think I’m sacrificing anything."
He leaned back in his chair.
"I honestly believe this game has huge potential."
"Tomorrow I’m heading back to San Fierro to restart our digital publishing division."
"I’ll personally handle their publishing."
Luca looked at him with mild surprise.
He had assumed Austin was investing simply because of their friendship.
Clearly, that wasn’t the case.
Austin genuinely believed the project could become something extraordinary.
Thinking about it, that made perfect sense.
If Johnathan’s game hadn’t been exceptional, Apex Gaming would’ve never gone to such lengths trying to force a complete buyout.
Luca lowered his eyes to the newly signed share certificates resting on the table.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
Perhaps...
This small game studio would end up bringing him a surprise far greater than anyone in the room could currently imagine.