Chapter 185: Figurines
After getting their food, the two found an empty table and settled down to eat.
"This work lunch is pretty good."
Luca picked up a piece of chicken, took a bite, and nodded approvingly.
Vivienne smiled and placed the largest piece of beef onto his plate.
"I hired the chef from a major hotel. If the food wasn’t good, he’d deserve to be fired."
"No wonder."
Luca nodded in understanding.
He had recognized the quality from the first bite. The chef was clearly skilled.
Although Luca had never received any official culinary certification, his system had rewarded him with master-level cooking skills. If even he thought the food was delicious, then it was genuinely excellent.
After eating for a while, Vivienne seemed to remember something.
"By the way, there’s something I want to discuss with you."
"Go ahead."
She put down her fork.
"The pharmaceutical R&D department needs funding for a new product. The company recently received several large orders, and most of the available money has already gone toward purchasing raw materials."
She looked at him.
"So we’re a little short on cash at the moment."
"You rushed back to San Fierro because of this?"
Vivienne nodded.
"Right."
Luca frowned slightly.
"Then why didn’t you tell me earlier?"
He looked a little unhappy.
’What is this woman worrying about?’
’Would I really refuse to help my own wife?’
Vivienne pursed her lips and gently pinched his fingertips.
"I’m the chairman of the company. When I encounter difficulties, I should try to solve them myself first."
Her voice softened.
"If I really can’t handle it, then I’ll ask My Darling for help."
Luca looked at her for a moment.
That was Vivienne.
A strong and independent woman who had managed to keep such a large company standing after her father’s unexpected death.
When she faced Benjamin Caldwell, despite him holding the overwhelming advantage, she hadn’t simply sat around waiting for fate to decide everything.
Instead, she quietly gathered evidence of Benjamin betraying the company’s interests and eventually turned the situation around.
That was the real Vivienne.
To her employees, she was a strict and distant female boss.
In San Fierro’s business world, she was a young, decisive, and promising CEO.
Among the city’s wealthy second-generation elite, she was also a respected "Big Sister."
Only when she was with Luca did she reveal the softer side of herself.
Even the members of the Day Family, people related to her by blood, were kept at arm’s length.
All of her tenderness...
...was reserved for him.
"Alright."
Luca could only nod helplessly.
He understood her pride.
There had to be a reason she had managed to support such a large company on her own for so many years.
Of course, Vivienne was independent, not stubborn.
She wouldn’t keep struggling in silence just to save face, waiting for Luca to somehow notice that something was wrong.
She had actually planned to ask him for help tomorrow.
Since he had returned to San Fierro earlier than expected, though, she decided to bring it up today.
"How much do you need?"
"Eight million?"
Vivienne looked directly into his eyes.
It was a considerable amount of money.
If Luca didn’t have that much available, she could always take out a loan to get through the situation.
Luca immediately frowned.
"Please remove the question mark."
"Don’t doubt your man’s abilities."
He raised his chin with such an arrogant expression that Vivienne couldn’t help laughing.
She shook her head.
’How can this man be so childish?’
Then she smiled to herself.
’But what if I like it?’
’Then I’ll just spoil him.’
Luca pulled out his phone and transferred the money to her.
A moment later, Vivienne’s phone vibrated.
She glanced at the screen...
Then froze.
"Why did you transfer so much?!"
She stared at the two transfers in disbelief.
At the same time, she felt both shocked and helpless.
She genuinely couldn’t understand how Luca always seemed to have such an absurd amount of cash sitting in his accounts.
What frustrated her most was that he didn’t even bother investing most of it.
He simply let the money sit there and accumulate interest.
Still...
As she looked at the transfers, a warm feeling spread through her chest.
It wasn’t just because Luca had solved the company’s financial problem.
It was because of how readily he’d helped her.
How naturally he had done it.
Without hesitation.
Without asking for anything in return.
Um...
Maybe he cared about her a little too much.
Luca wiped his mouth with a tissue before looking at Vivienne’s beautiful face.
Then he swallowed.
"By the way..."
"I also have a project worth hundreds of millions."
His eyes narrowed playfully.
"Do you want to hear about it?"
Vivienne had been watching his expression the entire time.
How could she possibly fail to understand what he meant?
His voice was low enough that only the two of them could hear, but they were still sitting in the company cafeteria.
Vivienne lowered her head.
A faint blush appeared on her face.
She held her fork and lightly poked at the remaining food on her plate.
She was embarrassed.
But...
She had also missed him.
Lately, she’d been busy dealing with company matters during the day. At night, sleeping alone in the apartment, she naturally found herself thinking about Luca while he was away in New Orleans.
They hadn’t been together for several days.
Of course she missed him.
So, in a barely audible voice, Vivienne whispered:
"I want..."
Luca’s eyes immediately lit up.
"You want it?"
"Don’t want..."
"Huh?"
Luca blinked.
"Why don’t you want it?"
Vivienne finally lost her patience.
She glared at him.
"Can you let me finish talking?"
"Ahem..."
Luca coughed awkwardly.
"You go ahead."
He was clearly getting impatient.
Vivienne stood up from her chair and leaned close to his ear.
"That project worth hundreds of millions..."
Her voice was soft.
"Is it still available?"
As she spoke, her full, rosy lips lightly brushed against his earlobe.
Whether it was intentional or not, a faint red mark was left behind.
"Tsss..."
Luca sucked in a breath.
It felt as though an electric current had passed through his ear and spread throughout his body.
Since this was supposedly a serious business discussion, he pretended to think carefully for a moment.
"This project is very demanding."
He looked at her solemnly.
"It requires Miss Vivienne’s complete cooperation."
Vivienne didn’t answer.
Instead, she picked up her plate and stood.
"Why am I still hungry after eating so much?"
Luca immediately got to his feet as well.
"I think we need some additional high-protein food to maintain a balanced diet."
Vivienne ignored him and walked away.
After taking two steps, she realized he wasn’t following.
She stopped.
Then turned around.
Her lips pouted slightly as she tilted her head.
"Then hurry up and follow me."
After saying that, she refused to look at Luca’s smug expression any longer and quickly walked away.
...
"The chairman is leaving work this early?"
"Didn’t you see Director Hale is here?"
A few employees exchanged knowing looks.
"The newlyweds have finally reunited after being apart for so long. Of course they’re going on a date."
"That’s so sweet..."
Vivienne drove Luca to an apartment she had purchased near the company.
It was a small two-bedroom apartment, fully furnished and equipped with everything necessary for daily life.
There were fresh vegetables in the refrigerator, along with groceries that had clearly been purchased recently.
"Do you usually stay here?"
It was Luca’s first time visiting.
Vivienne nodded.
"Sometimes."
"It’s close to the company, so staying here saves me the trouble of rushing back and forth."
After walking around the apartment, Luca noticed something inside a glass display cabinet.
A figurine.
He leaned closer.
Then his eyes widened slightly.
It was a figure of Mai-senpai.
"You watch anime too?"
Luca picked it up curiously.
Vivienne immediately shook her head.
"You misunderstood."
"My secretary bought two by mistake and gave one to me."
She looked at the figurine.
"I think her name is Sakurajima Mai?"
"Yes!"
Luca’s eyes lit up.
He suddenly pulled Vivienne into his arms, cupped her face in both hands, and kissed her cheek.
Then, with a completely serious expression, he asked:
"Are you... numb now?"
Vivienne blinked.
"Mm?"
A second passed.
Then another.
Her eyes widened.
"Um!!!???"