Vernon took Luca's hand and led him inside. Strange enough, this time Luca didn't let go like he usually did.
His wandering thoughts kept him from noticing Vernon inching closer, seizing the moment.
The room had two chairs facing a long, rectangular table, adorned with a small vase of fresh flowers as a centerpiece.
Vernon didn't stop there—he quickly pulled out the chair for Luca, making him furrow his brow and stare at Vernon with a confused look.
Yes, confused. Because Vernon, the notorious playboy who only cared about himself, had suddenly turned into a gentle man. And he was doing it for him—another man.
Was the world going crazy? Or was it just him?
"Aren't you drunk, are you?" Luca asked.
"No. I haven't touched a drop of alcohol today."
"Next time, don't treat me like a girl. I'm a guy, in case you forgot!" Luca snapped, turning his gaze to the window and ignoring the man in front of him.
"Yeah, I know. You're a guy—but you're sweet." Vernon rested his chin on his right hand, his eyes fixed on Luca with an admiring glint and a soft smile.
"I'm handsome, not sweet. Get that 'turning gay because of me' nonsense out of your head. You're sane, and so am I!"
Right! Luca was sensitive about being coddled like a spoiled girl. Worse, Vernon's gaze was obvious—he looked like a teenager with a crush. The thought made him shiver.
He was a grown man. Not some kid who'd get flustered when someone took an interest in him.
"Why can't you see how sweet you are?" Vernon said, grinning.
Luca shot him a sharp glare at the word "sweet."
"Say that one more time, and I'm leaving!"
"Okay, okay. I'll be quiet."
Vernon knew Luca wasn't bluffing, so he immediately turned his attention to the waiter who'd just handed him the menu.
Meanwhile, Luca's mind was still racing about the man whose face he hadn't seen— the one who'd been with Luzen earlier.
As he waited for Vernon to order, Luca stood up. "I'm going to the restroom for a minute."
"What about your order? Do you want me to come with you?" Vernon asked.
"No need. Just order the same thing as you—I'm not picky about food."
Luca left the room heading for the restroom outside, planning to pull out his phone and hack into the CCTV in the adjacent room.
"Sweetheart, what are you doing here?"
A familiar voice called out from behind. Luca stopped in his tracks and turned around.
"Having lunch, obviously. Same as you, Mr. Dominic." Luca replied with a faint smile.
Luzen paused for a moment, then walked over and reached for him with his right hand. "Have you been here long? Why didn't you say hello?"
The long hallway fell silent instantly. The usual noise—footsteps, passing waiters—seemed to vanish into thin air.
Their eyes met for a split second before Luca pushed Luzen back a step.
Luca chuckled softly. "Don't do that, Mr. Dominic. You were busy with a client—you two were even laughing together. Would it be right for me, your little secret, to interrupt?" He tapped Luzen's chest playfully.
Luzen grabbed his index finger and pulled him closer. Now they stood face-to-face, no space between them. He wrapped an arm around Luca's waist and pulled him tight.
"Sweetheart, since when did you get shy about interrupting people?"
"You! I'm still sane, you know. Of course I'd be shy doing that in public. Though if it were in front of your wife, that'd be a different story."
"Luca, you're my lover. Whether it's a client or someone important, they'll have to be quiet when you're here."
"Is that so? Then who's the guy inside?" Luca leaned in, his eyes probing but his lips curved in a small smile.
Luzen found Luca adorable when he was jealous. He pulled him even closer, pressing his left hand against the nape of Luca's neck and kissing him.
Luca's sapphire-blue eyes widened in shock at the sudden kiss.
"Nngghh!"
He let out a soft moan as Luzen hungrily sucked, licked, and tasted his lips and tongue with passion.
To hell with the surroundings. All Luzen cared about was not wasting the chance to savor those cherry-sweet lips that had always been his addiction.
They lost track of time as their tongues tangled together, until Luca started gasping for air. He needed oxygen.
He bit down on Luzen's lower lip, making him pull away. "Bastard! If you want to kiss me, at least pick a place first. It's your business if you've got no shame—but not mine!"
Luca grumbled, wiping his wet lips with a pout.
Luzen just smiled and dabbed at his own slightly bleeding lip.
"Okay, okay… my bad. Next time, we'll do it again later—in a private place."
"Did you just say that?" Luca pretended to be deaf, stunned by Luzen's shameless admission.
As they bickered, a man in a hat—now wearing a mask too—emerged from the VIP room door.
"Brother Zen, I've been waiting for you, but you didn't come back. So I thought I'd follow you, but… it looks like you're talking to someone. Am I interrupting?"
The stranger asked in a soft voice, his eyes meeting Luca's with a helpless look. It was clear even behind the mask, in the way he stared.
Luca had met his share of "white lotuses" before—he could tell this masked man was one of them: a schemer who always played the victim in front of his target.
The masked man stepped closer and took Luzen's arm, clinging to it and looking up at him with teary eyes.
Luzen seemed annoyed by his behavior. He pulled away, then ruffled the stranger's hair.
"No, you're not interrupting. Funny you two should meet here. Niel, this is my lover, Luca. And sweetheart, this is Daniel—my late brother left him in my care. It's the end of the semester, so he's back in City X for the holidays."
For some reason, Luca felt irritated watching their interaction—but he was too proud to show it.
He walked over to Daniel and held out his hand. "Hi… I had no idea this workaholic had a foster kid too." He said sarcastically.
Daniel took his hand and shook it. "Well, I had no idea Brother Zen had a lover either. I thought he was tired of his wife, but apparently he still has room for a secret."
Luca put his index finger to Daniel's lips and shushed him. "Ssst… don't say that so loud. Do you want your Brother Zen to get caught on camera and go viral for having a secret—and a male one at that?" He whispered, winking at Luzen.
"Hm!" Luzen cleared his throat, a bad feeling creeping in at Luca's teasing.