Chapter 131: We’ve Arrived At New Orleans!
Soon, there were only two days left before the official launch of Twist Streaming Networks’ Creator Anniversary Event.
Luca Hale and Naomi Monroe boarded their private jet together. High above the clouds, Naomi could barely contain her excitement.
It was the first time she had been invited to attend one of the platform’s nationwide creator events as a top-tier streamer.
She would finally get to meet many of the successful creators she had admired for so long. Until now, they had only existed behind screens, so the thought of speaking with them face-to-face filled her with genuine anticipation.
The moment they stepped out of the private terminal, a luxurious executive Sprinter van rolled smoothly to a stop in front of them.
The passenger door opened, and a woman with delicate features and a flawless figure stepped gracefully onto the pavement.
"Mr. Hale, welcome. My name is Phoebe Gates," she said respectfully, bowing her head slightly. "Mr. Mertens instructed me to personally receive you upon your arrival."
When Morgan Mertens had first informed her that she would be welcoming a man barely in his twenties, Phoebe had secretly questioned the decision.
Those doubts vanished the instant she learned Luca Hale was the true owner and majority shareholder of the entire Starline Airways Group.
Only then did she realize how fortunate she truly was. Countless senior executives would never have the opportunity to meet the company’s real owner in person, yet she had been entrusted with receiving him directly.
Seeing the breathtaking Naomi standing quietly beside Luca didn’t surprise her in the slightest. A young billionaire with Luca’s status naturally attracted women of extraordinary beauty.
The pair immediately became the center of attention outside the terminal. Then, as a sharply dressed executive stepped out of a luxury vehicle and respectfully welcomed them, the surrounding travelers couldn’t help but speculate about their identities.
Most of their curiosity settled on Luca.
There was an effortless confidence about him, a calm authority that couldn’t be imitated. It was the kind of presence people only associated with those who stood at the very top.
Luca was quite pleased with Morgan’s arrangements.
"Naomi, let Twist know they don’t need to send anyone to pick us up."
"Understood."
As one of the stars of the upcoming anniversary celebration, Twist had already arranged premium transportation for Naomi, along with a luxury suite, a professional makeup team, wardrobe stylists, and everything necessary to prepare her for the red carpet.
Sitting comfortably inside the spacious cabin, Naomi pulled out her phone and called her manager to explain the change of plans.
Phoebe listened quietly from the front seat, unable to hide her surprise.
She had only known Luca was the owner of Starline Airways. Judging from their conversation, however, his relationship with Twist Streaming Networks clearly ran much deeper than she’d expected.
That also explained why their destination was the Grand Serenity Hotel.
Almost everyone in New Orleans knew Twist’s eighth anniversary gala would be held there in just two days.
Still, Phoebe wisely kept her curiosity to herself.
Knowing when not to ask questions was one of the most valuable survival skills she’d learned in the corporate world.
Around thirty minutes later, the van came to a smooth stop beneath the grand entrance of the Grand Serenity Hotel.
The driver turned around politely.
"Mr. Hale, Miss Monroe, Secretary Gates, we’ve arrived."
Phoebe stepped out first before turning back with a warm smile.
"Mr. Hale, Miss Monroe, Mr. Gideon and I will be staying in the corporate accommodations directly across the street. If you need anything at all, please don’t hesitate to call me."
After thanking her sincerely, Luca took Naomi’s hand, and together they stepped out onto the polished stone pavement.
Standing before the magnificent hotel, Luca found himself smiling.
He had admittedly judged the place by its name. Hearing "Grand Serenity," he’d imagined something elegant but conservative.
The reality was anything but.
The enormous building combined classic architecture with modern luxury. Towering pillars framed the entrance, crystal chandeliers shimmered through the massive glass walls, and an endless row of imported luxury cars lined the VIP parking area. Everything about the hotel screamed prestige.
"Naomi! Wait... Little Naomi, is that really you?"
Just as they were about to enter, the door of a sleek Porsche parked nearby swung open.
A graceful woman in an elegant white dress hurried over in high heels, her beautiful oval face lighting up with delight.
Naomi turned around, and her eyes sparkled.
"Sister Nora! It’s really you! We finally get to meet in person!"
For a brief moment, Luca studied the newcomer.
Nora Rachel was undoubtedly beautiful.
Still, she couldn’t quite compare to the unforgettable woman in white who had once crossed his path.
The two streamers immediately linked arms, laughing excitedly as they spun around together before finally stopping.
Only then did Nora notice Luca standing beside them.
"Little Naomi... who is this gentleman?"
Had it been anyone else, Nora would’ve assumed he was Naomi’s assistant or manager.
But nothing about Luca resembled an assistant.
His composed temperament alone stood out from the crowd, and with her trained eye, Nora immediately recognized the value of his tailored suit.
No ordinary assistant wore custom-made clothing worth tens of thousands of dollars.
"Hehe, Sister Nora, let me introduce you. This is Luca Hale, my boyfriend..."
"Mmph!"
Before Naomi could finish, Nora hurriedly covered her mouth with both hands.
She quickly looked around the entrance, carefully scanning for paparazzi or nearby creators before finally relaxing.
"Little Naomi, have you lost your mind?" she whispered urgently. "Do you know how many people are around here?"
"You’re one of Twist’s biggest creators now. If people find out you have a boyfriend, the internet will explode."
For beauty streamers especially, relationship status was an incredibly sensitive subject.
Naomi’s entire public image revolved around innocence and purity. If news of her relationship leaked, toxic fans could easily flood social media with abuse.
Cyberbullying would be the mildest consequence.
The truly frightening possibility was obsessive fans tracking down her address.
Nora had personally watched another famous female creator suffer exactly that fate after her relationship became public. The constant harassment eventually drove the woman into severe depression before she disappeared from the internet entirely.
Although today was the first time Nora and Naomi had met face-to-face, they had collaborated on countless broadcasts together and had grown genuinely close.
As an experienced veteran of the industry, Nora naturally felt responsible for protecting her adorable junior.
Naomi smiled gratefully.
"Thank you, Sister Nora. I understand."
The three of them entered the magnificent hotel lobby together.
After presenting their identification at the VIP reception desk, they each received their room keys.
Only then did both women notice something unusual.
Logically speaking, Nora was a veteran top-tier creator with years of seniority. Even if Naomi’s room were slightly better, the difference shouldn’t have been significant.
Instead, the gap was astonishing.
Nora had been assigned a deluxe executive suite.
Naomi had been given the Presidential Suite.
The difference wasn’t merely in the room names.
It reflected exactly how much importance Twist placed on each creator.
Nora stared at Naomi before slowly shifting her gaze toward Luca.
A powerful realization struck her.
She had heard rumors that Naomi possessed an unbelievably influential backer.
Until now, she’d dismissed those stories as exaggerations.
But looking at the situation before her...
Perhaps those rumors had been true all along.
And standing right beside Naomi was likely the mysterious man responsible for her meteoric rise.
Since their rooms were located on different floors, Nora stepped out of the elevator first.
Before leaving, she gave Luca one last meaningful glance.
Then she disappeared down the hallway.
"Wow, Luca! Look at this! It’s incredible!"
The moment they entered the Presidential Suite, Naomi rushed straight to the floor-to-ceiling windows.
Below them stretched New Orleans in all its glory.
The river shimmered beneath the afternoon sun, skyscrapers stretched into the sky, and countless lights reflected across the water.
Luca quietly admired the suite.
It truly deserved its title.
From the custom furnishings to the breathtaking panoramic view, every detail surpassed even the finest luxury hotels he’d visited.
He walked over to the refrigerator, retrieved two bottles of fresh juice, opened one, and handed it to Naomi.
"So," he asked with a smile, "do you like it here?"
Naomi accepted it happily.
"Mmh! I love it. Thank you, honey."
Luca chuckled before pointing toward a towering skyscraper visible across the river.
"See that building with the sharp spire?"
Naomi followed his finger.
"Yes. It looks amazing."
"Well," Luca said with a mysterious smile, "you’re looking at your new territory."
"Because you’re the lady of that tower."
"Cough! Cough!"
Naomi nearly choked on her drink.
She had expected him to compliment the view.
Instead, he’d casually informed her that the iconic skyscraper belonged to him.
Could he really own prime commercial property in the heart of New Orleans?
As outrageous as it sounded, she didn’t doubt him for even a second.
After everything they’d experienced together, Luca had absolutely no reason to fabricate something so unbelievable.
Besides...
Her husband was already unimaginably wealthy.
As that thought settled in, Naomi gazed at him with eyes overflowing with admiration.
’My husband is seriously incredible.’
At that moment, she finally understood why her mother, Elena Monroe, had asked those particular questions before she left home.
Just then, the sharp chime of the suite’s doorbell echoed through the room, pulling Naomi back to reality.