Chapter 180: Last Day In New Orleans
Over the next few days, aside from occasionally checking the stock price of Day Family Holdings, Luca spent nearly all of his time at the office discussing very important "life matters" with Cecelia.
Every single time, after they were finished, Cecelia would secretly swear to herself that she would never fool around with him at work again.
Without fail, Luca would eventually wear down her resolve with endless coaxing and shameless persistence.
And every single time...
She surrendered.
One evening after dinner at a restaurant, Luca insisted on taking her back to the company instead of driving home.
She already knew exactly what he was thinking.
What she hadn’t expected was that he would actually drag her over to the floor-to-ceiling windows...
Even days later the memory still made her cheeks burn. He had spun her around and pressed her front-first against the cold, enormous pane.
The chill shocked her bare breasts and stomach while the rest of her burned. His hands locked her wrists high above her head, pinning them there so she had nowhere to go, nowhere to hide.
Outside the city glittered, endless ribbons of headlights far below, office towers still lit like scattered constellations. Anyone looking up might have seen the silhouette of a woman being fucked against the glass.
He entered her in one smooth, relentless thrust, burying himself to the hilt while she gasped against the window. Then he set a steady, punishing rhythm... deep, measured strokes that rocked her whole body against the cool surface.
Every time he drove in, her nipples dragged across the glass. Every time he pulled almost free, the wet sound of their joining seemed obscenely loud in the quiet suite.
The lights inside were off. Only the glow of the city painted silver streaks across her skin and the flex of his arms as he held her in place.
"Luca—a-aaaa..."
The broken moan still echoed in her head. She had tried to stay quiet, tried to keep her face turned away from the glass, but he caught her chin and forced her to look out at the glittering night while he kept moving inside her, slow and deep and unrelenting.
The thrill of it... of being so exposed, so thoroughly taken, coiled tight and unbearable in her belly until she came hard around him, legs shaking, forehead pressed to the cold glass, her own reflection blurred by steam and pleasure.
Even now, the memory made her cheeks burn with embarrassment. Beneath the moonlit sky, the glittering city lights and the endless flow of traffic no longer seemed innocent. Somehow, they carried an entirely different meaning now.
Worst of all was Luca’s unbearably smug expression afterward.
It annoyed her so much that she grabbed him and bit him repeatedly.
Only after he’d started tearing up from the pain did she finally let him go, thoroughly satisfied.
"You’re leaving tomorrow?"
Still flushed, Cecelia rested her head against his chest, unable to hide the reluctance in her voice.
Luca answered with a quiet hum, gently stroking her smooth back.
"The Starline Airways flight has already been arranged. We can leave anytime."
Everything in New Orleans had already been taken care of.
The only reason he’d stayed this long...
...was because of her.
After a brief silence, he suddenly remembered something.
"By the way... has that family been bothering you lately?"
She immediately understood he meant her former husband’s family.
Warmth spread through her heart, and she smiled softly.
"No."
"Thank you."
"That’s good."
Luca leaned down and kissed the top of her head.
"You never have to thank me."
She smiled sweetly.
"Okay."
’Seriously...’
’How can she be this adorable?’
Beautiful.
Mature.
Understanding.
She always tolerated him far more than he probably deserved.
"Oh right."
Luca suddenly sat upright.
"I almost forgot. I bought something for you."
He slipped into his pajamas and climbed out of bed.
"W-Wait..."
Cecelia immediately grabbed his wrist.
Her beautiful eyes pleaded pitifully.
"I... I haven’t recovered yet."
"Can we... wait a little while?"
Luca blinked in confusion.
"Wait?"
"What are we waiting for?"
The moment their eyes met, realization hit him.
His gaze drifted toward the impossibly revealing outfit lying beside the bed.
He rubbed his forehead helplessly.
’No wonder...’
Recently, almost every "gift" he’d given her had been some mischievous little surprise.
Even that expensive box of hair ties...
...had only been because he wanted to see her wear twin ponytails.
So when he’d suddenly mentioned another gift...
Of course she’d misunderstood.
She thought he’d bought yet another one of those "interesting" presents.
Seeing the growing panic in her eyes, Luca couldn’t help teasing her.
"Ms. Cecelia..."
"Did it ever occur to you..."
"...that I might actually have bought you a real gift?"
"Ah!"
Only then did she realize she’d completely misunderstood.
Her face instantly turned scarlet.
She hurriedly let go of him before disappearing beneath the blanket in embarrassment.
She wished she could hide forever.
’She’s way too cute...’
Chuckling softly, Luca patted her head before heading into the living room.
A small black box lay forgotten in the corner of the sofa.
"So it ended up here."
It had probably slipped out of his pocket while they’d been cuddling there earlier.
When he returned to the bedroom, Cecelia was already sitting up, curiosity shining in her eyes.
The moment she saw the black box...
...her curiosity turned into shock.
She recognized the logo immediately.
Winston.
A pair of Winston earrings.
Although she earned a very respectable salary, luxury jewelry from a brand like Winston had always remained firmly in the realm of dreams.
Like countless other women, she loved beautiful jewelry.
She simply couldn’t justify spending that kind of money on herself.
Never, not even once, had she imagined she’d actually own a pair.
Luca smiled.
Seeing the surprise in her eyes, he knew he’d chosen well.
"Try them on."
"I want to see."
She carefully opened the box.
Inside lay a pair of teardrop-shaped sapphire-blue earrings.
Under the bedroom lights, they shimmered brilliantly, radiating understated luxury.
[ Ding! Host spent $230,000 for Cecelia and triggered a Critical Reward! ]
[ Congratulations! Host has acquired a 10% stake in Sapphire-Vanguard Group! ]
"Sapphire-Vanguard..."
Hearing the notification, Luca raised an eyebrow.
Ten percent wasn’t controlling interest.
But for a corporation the size of Sapphire-Vanguard...
...it was still worth an astonishing fortune.
"Luca..."
Cecelia had already put the earrings on.
She gently touched them before turning toward him with an excited smile.
"Do they look nice?"
He looked at the woman before him.
The sapphire earrings perfectly matched her elegant temperament.
Without hesitation, he smiled.
"They’re beautiful."
"So are you."
Her smile immediately brightened.
This was the very first gift Luca had ever given her.
She loved it so much she silently promised herself she’d treasure it forever.
A moment later, she quietly wrapped her arms around his waist.
"Luca..."
"When do you think..."
"...we’ll finally have a baby?"
During these past few days, they hadn’t taken any precautions.
Yet nothing had happened.
Luca looked at her with an amused smile.
"You want to start trying again right now?"
She rolled her eyes, equal parts charming and helpless.
"I’m exhausted."
"Please show a little mercy."
"How about tomorrow morning?"
"Haha."
"Alright."
He laughed, reached over, and switched off the bedside lamp.
Darkness quietly filled the room.
...
The next morning, Luca stepped out of Cecelia’s home looking refreshed and in an exceptionally good mood.
After receiving his message, Phoebe Gates had already arrived outside Silverbrook Residences and was waiting patiently.
The moment she saw him, she hurried over and accepted the coat from his hands.
"Mr. Hale, your luggage and Miss Monroe’s were delivered to the airport this morning."
She opened the rear door respectfully.
"Shall we pick up Miss Monroe now?"
Luca nodded, bent down, and got into the back seat.
"Let’s go."