Chapter 127: Hey Handsome!
The following day, Luca Hale and Austin Silva boarded a flight back to San Fierro.
Trish Hale had thrown an enormous tantrum after learning she wasn’t allowed to go with them. Mother Hale had firmly put her foot down, leaving the young girl to retreat to her room in a sulk.
It wasn’t until Luca promised, with complete sincerity, that she could visit him in San Fierro the moment she passed her driving test that the clouds finally lifted from her face and her cheerful smile returned.
"Luca, my man, look over there," Austin whispered, nudging him with his elbow. "The girl up front is seriously gorgeous."
By now, Luca had completely figured out why Austin and Gavin Ross got along so well.
Gavin was the type to shamelessly make a move the instant he spotted an attractive woman.
Austin was different. He preferred to play the long game. Patient, smooth, and calculated, he enjoyed slowly reeling women in until they walked willingly into his arms.
Of course, Luca wasn’t blind to beauty either. But ever since the system had entered his life, he had met so many women of extraordinary beauty that his standards had risen to an absurd level.
Even the stunning woman he’d met at Crimson Velvet Lounge back in San Fierro hadn’t stirred the slightest interest in him.
Following Austin’s gaze, Luca paused for a moment.
The woman walking gracefully through the first-class cabin was none other than Lisandra Bonnet, the flight attendant who had cornered him outside the cinema just two days earlier.
This was the third time their paths had crossed.
Even Luca had to admit the coincidence was becoming almost ridiculous.
Today, Lisandra wore much lighter makeup than before. The heavy cosmetics were gone, replaced by a soft, natural look that made her appear far more elegant and approachable.
Unfortunately, the moment Luca remembered her openly admitting she pursued wealthy married men to fill her personal "fish pond," whatever appreciation he might have had vanished instantly.
"She’s an experienced player," Luca said quietly after noticing the excitement in Austin’s eyes. "You’re not equipped to deal with someone like her."
"An elite player?" Austin’s eyes lit up even brighter.
"That’s even better!"
He grinned shamelessly.
"I’m not trying to enter her life, Luca. I just want to enter her body."
Luca fell silent.
’...I seriously underestimated just how shameless this guy is.’
As Lisandra walked past, Austin smoothly slipped a neatly folded napkin with his contact information onto the service tray she was carrying. He even topped it off with what he believed was an irresistibly charming wink.
To his surprise, Lisandra merely gave him a polite, professional smile, nodded once, and continued walking without stopping or showing the slightest interest.
Even Luca found that strange.
This wasn’t the same relentless woman who had practically chased him into the restroom corridor at the cinema.
Austin was undeniably handsome. He wasn’t on Luca’s level, but he had the confident charm of a wealthy heir. His designer outfit alone was worth tens of thousands of dollars, making it obvious he came from money.
Normally, someone like Austin would have been exactly the type of target Lisandra pursued.
’Strange...’
Luca simply shrugged.
Whether she had genuinely changed or was merely putting on another act had absolutely nothing to do with him.
...
After leaving the terminal, Austin stubbornly refused to leave the arrivals plaza.
He stood there staring at his phone for several minutes, waiting for a notification that never came.
Finally, he turned toward Luca with an expression full of betrayal.
"Luca... are you messing with me?"
He had begun to suspect Luca deliberately called Lisandra a player simply because he secretly liked her himself.
’If you wanted her, you could’ve just said so. I’m not the type to steal a friend’s woman.’
Fortunately, Austin had enough sense to keep those thoughts to himself.
Luca merely shook his head, about to explain, when his phone vibrated.
It was Vivienne.
He answered immediately.
"Hey, handsome," Vivienne’s warm, sultry voice flowed through the speaker. "Where are you? I’m already on my way to pick you up."
Luca had originally promised Austin he would join him, Gavin, and the others for a night out.
But one phone call from Vivienne instantly made it obvious which invitation carried more weight.
After giving her his location, Luca ended the call and looked back at Austin.
"Austin."
He patted his friend on the shoulder with a solemn expression.
"You’ve got to keep your eyes on the bigger picture. Don’t let yourself be tied down by a single woman."
He paused before casually adding,
"Anyway, your sister-in-law is waiting outside for me, so I’m heading off."
Austin actually found the first sentence surprisingly profound.
Then the second sentence landed.
His face froze.
"Hold on!" he shouted. "Weren’t you coming out with us tonight? Didn’t you literally just say not to let yourself get tied down by a woman?"
"That’s different."
Luca nodded with complete seriousness.
"I don’t belong to the sisterhood, and I don’t have multiple women to juggle. That advice doesn’t apply to me."
Austin watched Luca stroll away with effortless confidence.
For a brief moment, admiration filled his heart.
’One day... I’ll become a legend like Luca. A man capable of embracing the entire forest.’
Then his brain finally caught up.
"...Wait."
"What the hell did he mean by the sisterhood?"
A horrified realization struck him.
"Did... did that bastard just call me a cross-dresser?"
Austin’s face turned green.
"Damn it, Luca!"
He cupped his hands around his mouth and roared across the airport plaza.
"I’m NOT a cross-dresser!"
His voice echoed through the bustling terminal.
Almost everyone nearby turned to stare.
Several parents instinctively pulled their children farther away, giving Austin deeply uncomfortable looks.
Just then...
Someone gently tapped him on the shoulder.
"Hello there, handsome..."
The voice was incredibly sweet, soft, and flirtatious.
Austin’s heart skipped a beat.
’Wait... don’t tell me...’
’Did that gorgeous flight attendant skip texting altogether and come looking for me in person?’
His confidence instantly returned.
Straightening his designer tie, he slowly turned around with what he believed was his most irresistible gentlemanly smile.
"Well, gorgeous, if you’re free tonight, maybe we could..."
His words died in his throat.
"...Holy crap!"
"Who the hell are you?!"
Standing before him was someone with striking purple hair.
The terrifying part wasn’t the hair.
It was the fact that the person speaking in that sugary, coquettish voice was very clearly a broad-shouldered, middle-aged man with a thick beard.
To make matters worse, the stranger was lazily tracing circles on Austin’s expensive designer jacket with a painted fingernail while batting his eyelashes with unmistakable affection.
"Handsome..."
"I heard you just flew in from that special clinic in San Fierro."
He giggled.
"There’s an exclusive futa lovers’ gathering tonight."
"I’ll be waiting for you..."
He puckered his lips dramatically.
"Kiss~"