Chapter 141: Gordon Luiz!
After blocking Dexter Luiz’s burner number, Vivienne’s private phone rang again. The moment she glanced at the caller ID, a warm, genuine smile spread across her face.
"Hello?"
"Vivienne, I heard from Hank that you know Luca Hale?" David Day asked from the other end.
Vivienne had always maintained a strained relationship with most of the Day family in New Orleans, but David was the rare exception. The two had always gotten along well.
"Yes. Did the two of you happen to meet?" she replied before letting out a quiet laugh. "Right, I almost forgot you’re also one of Twist Streaming Networks’ major shareholders."
The warmth in Vivienne’s voice instantly told David everything he needed to know. Whatever relationship she shared with Luca Hale, it was far from ordinary.
"Do you know that he..."
David had barely begun speaking before Vivienne gently cut him off.
"I know," she said with a helpless smile. "But your cousin simply can’t stop loving this man. What else am I supposed to do?"
Since she had already spoken so honestly, David decided not to press the matter.
"Fair enough. As long as you know what you’re doing." He paused before adding, "By the way, Dexter Luiz has become obsessed with the female creator Luca brought to New Orleans. Two days ago, Luca broke the arms of Dexter’s top executive backstage."
"That kid definitely has quite the temper."
Vivienne’s expression changed the instant she heard that. She shot to her feet behind her executive desk.
"Are Luca and Naomi alright?"
David couldn’t help being amazed. It was the first time he had ever heard his normally untouchable cousin sound so openly worried over a man.
"They’re fine for now. But you know Dexter Luiz. He isn’t the type to swallow an insult quietly. Who knows what kind of dirty tricks he’ll resort to."
The call had barely ended before Vivienne summoned her personal assistant.
"Book me on the earliest flight to New Orleans. Immediately."
Three hours later, Luca Hale was fast asleep inside the master suite at Greenland Garden Villas, Naomi Monroe comfortably curled up in his arms.
His phone vibrated softly on the bedside table.
Luca reached over and answered it. The moment the line connected, a soft, enchanting voice drifted through the speaker.
"Little husband... where are you right now?"
"My red-haired vixen?" Luca sat upright, genuine surprise flashing across his face. "I’m in New Orleans."
"I know you’re in New Orleans." Vivienne’s lips curved into a gentle smile. "I missed you too much, so I flew over to see you. Tell me exactly where you are."
Luca immediately swung his legs off the bed.
He understood at once.
Vivienne must have heard about his conflict with Dexter Luiz and rushed over because she was worried about him. A warm feeling spread through his chest.
"Vixen, are you still at the airport? I’ll come pick you up right now."
"No need. Just tell me where you’re staying."
"Listen to me. Stay exactly where you are and don’t move."
"Mmh... okay."
Standing beside her in the arrival terminal, Secretary Chloe clicked her tongue in disbelief.
Was this really the cold, untouchable chairwoman she worked for every day?
Only in front of Mr. Hale did Vivienne become this gentle and obedient.
At the same time, Chloe couldn’t help thinking that only someone as handsome, powerful, and extraordinary as Luca Hale truly deserved to stand beside CEO Day.
Luca had originally planned to call Phoebe Gates to arrange transportation. However, the moment he stepped outside Greenland Garden Villas, he noticed a black Land Rover quietly waiting by the gate.
Inside sat two sharp-looking young women with neat, short hair.
The instant they spotted Luca approaching, both women climbed out and stood respectfully.
The taller of the two bowed slightly.
"Mr. Hale, I’m Marceline, tactical lead from Crescent Security Solutions. This is PB. Captain Rico ordered us to report directly to you."
Luca was thoroughly impressed by Captain Rico’s efficiency.
"Good. Let’s head to the airport. We’re picking someone up."
"Understood, sir."
The Land Rover pulled smoothly onto the road.
Luca settled into the rear seat and closed his eyes to rest.
While carefully monitoring traffic, PB occasionally stole glances at him through the rearview mirror.
Even after seeing his file photo earlier, she still found it hard to believe that the owner of Crescent Security Solutions was this young.
And unbelievably handsome.
’I really want him as my wallpaper...’
Unable to resist, she quietly slipped out her phone, angled it toward the back seat, and snapped a discreet photo.
Marceline immediately noticed and shot her a warning glare.
Completely unfazed, PB opened Marceline’s chat window, sent over the photo, then subtly pointed toward the phone tucked inside Marceline’s jacket pocket.
When the notification appeared, the corner of Marceline’s lips twitched ever so slightly before her face returned to its usual professional calm.
PB caught every bit of it.
’Hmph! I knew it! Even Marceline isn’t immune to a boss this handsome. One picture was enough to crack her poker face. I’m a genius!’
Roughly thirty minutes later, the Land Rover rolled into the pickup lane at New Orleans International Airport.
The airport was enormous.
Even after confirming Vivienne’s terminal over the phone, Luca still spent more than ten minutes weaving through the crowds before finally spotting her.
Perhaps the overnight flight had exhausted her.
Vivienne had fallen asleep against Secretary Chloe’s shoulder.
"Mr. Ha..."
"Shh."
Luca gently shook his head, signaling Chloe not to wake her.
He carefully slipped one arm beneath Vivienne’s knees and the other behind her back, lifting her effortlessly into his arms.
She was remarkably light.
Cradled against his chest, she looked almost fragile.
Vivienne actually stirred the moment he picked her up.
But the instant she caught his familiar scent and felt the warmth of his embrace, she simply smiled to herself, closed her eyes again, and drifted peacefully back to sleep.
By the time the Land Rover returned to Greenland Garden Villas, dawn was already beginning to brighten the horizon.
Luca asked Marceline, PB, and Secretary Chloe to rest in the guest quarters before carrying Vivienne upstairs to the master suite.
"Honey... you’re back?"
Feeling movement beside the bed, Naomi rubbed her sleepy eyes and slowly sat up.
As her vision cleared, she saw Luca gently laying a red-haired woman beside her.
"Sister Vivienne?"
Her eyes widened in surprise.
"Yeah." Luca smiled softly while brushing a few loose strands of hair away from Vivienne’s face. "She said she missed us, so she took the first overnight flight here."
His other hand reached over and affectionately ruffled Naomi’s soft hair.
"Go back to sleep for a while, honey."
"Mmh... okay."
---
When Luca finally woke again, it was almost noon.
Naomi had already left earlier with Nora Rachel for a shopping trip.
Following Luca’s instructions from the previous night, Marceline and PB had quietly accompanied the two women, providing discreet protection throughout the day.
After washing up, Luca had barely stepped onto the grand staircase when his encrypted phone rang.
He answered casually.
"Who’s this?"
A deep, authoritative voice came through.
"Mr. Hale, this is Gordon Luiz, Dexter Luiz’s father."
Luca wasn’t surprised in the slightest.
After all, he now held a massive twenty-seven percent stake in The Luiz Conglomerate, making him one of its most influential shareholders.
When Gordon Luiz discovered that scattered institutional shares had somehow been quietly absorbed overnight by a young businessman from San Fierro, he had been completely stunned.
He immediately activated his private intelligence network to investigate Luca Hale.
To his horror, before he could even arrange a formal meeting with the company’s newest major shareholder, his own arrogant son had already managed to start a direct conflict with him.
If Luca had merely been a major shareholder of Twist Streaming Networks, Gordon might not have taken him this seriously.
But acquiring twenty-seven percent of The Luiz Conglomerate overnight without triggering a single corporate alarm required an almost unimaginable combination of wealth, influence, and strategic precision.
Faced with someone capable of pulling off such a feat, Gordon had absolutely no interest in starting a corporate war.
That left him with only one option.
He had to make this call personally.