The next day, Reina had just finished changing shifts when Leon caught up to her in the staff dressing room, his expression unusually serious.
"Hey, did you hear? The lounge is getting a visit from one of the old investors this week. If I'm not mistaken, that person's connected to Mr. Ryuu. Some say an old colleague… or maybe even an ex," he said casually, chewing gum.
Reina froze, her voice barely a whisper. "Her name's… Sayaka, right?" she remembered clearly the name Ryuu had spoken—and that makes her a bit insecure.
Leon raised his brows. "Wow.. you already know? Yeah, that's the one. Better brace yourself. Rumor has it she's gorgeous—classy, like a model straight out of a Japanese fashion magazine. But… people also say she's kinda intimidating."
Reina's heart raced at Leon's words. Already? So soon? She had only just begun to know Ryuu…
That night the lounge was busier than usual. Word had spread that a former investor would be returning, and the elite were eager to network—some seeking deals, others hunting connections.
As the night deepened, a woman entered. Her long, wavy hair gleamed gold under the lights. Her red evening gown hugged her slender figure perfectly. Her heels tapped a calm, measured rhythm that filled the room with an unspoken aura of dominance.
Several staff rose and bowed, Leon among them. Guests greeted her; even the lounge manager came forward to welcome her.
"Welcome back, Miss Sayaka."
Reina stood frozen behind the bar. From a distance she watched Sayaka tilt her head slightly, a small, perfectly painted smile on red lips. Her eyes cut toward Reina—too sharp, as if she wanted to strip her bare.
And as if… she had known Reina was there from the start.
A few minutes later, when the lounge had quieted somewhat, a staff member approached Reina and whispered in her ear.
"Hey Rein, you're being called to VIP room 3. Go up now, okay?"
Reina swallowed and nodded. She knew who had summoned her. Still, she walked forward—because avoidance wouldn't change anything.
When she opened the door to VIP room 3, Sayaka was already seated on the sofa, sipping wine from a crystal glass. Her smile greeted Reina, but the air in the room instantly dropped a few degrees.
"Reina, is it?" Sayaka's voice was soft—almost too polite. "Finally we meet…"
Reina inclined her head politely. "Yes. Good evening, ma'am." It was her first time meeting Sayaka.
Sayaka raised an eyebrow. "So formal. I only wanted a little chat. Woman to woman."
Reina studied her—firm, composed. Beneath that composure, though, something trembled that she tried to hide.
Sayaka crossed one elegant leg and leaned back against the sofa.
"Ryuu… is not easily forgotten. He has a way of making you feel special. But he also has a way of breaking you without even realizing it."
Reina frowned. "Excuse me—what do you mean?"
Sayaka's smile thinned. "You're innocent, aren't you. Consider this a warning. Being involved with Ryuu is not as simple as you think. I've been through it all—hit the lowest points… and I helped push him to become what he is now."
Reina met her gaze. She didn't step back. She didn't answer.
Sayaka continued, slow and cutting.
"He may seem calm, but there are wounds that remain. I… know them better than anyone."
A short while later, Reina left the VIP room with her head full of questions. She couldn't sleep that night. Sayaka's words spun in her mind like a storm:
'You know nothing about him, Reina.'
'Don't trust a man who hides too many secrets.'
'He may love you… but will he choose you?'
'I understand him best.'
Reina sat on the small balcony of her apartment at midnight, staring at the jet-black pendant still hanging at her throat. For some reason it felt colder than before.
"Mr. Ryuu… so many questions crowd my head, yet you don't even come to the lounge," she murmured.
---
Elsewhere in the city…
In his room, Ryuu stood at the window watching the drizzle blur the skyline. While Sayaka stood a few steps behind him.
"You've changed," she said softly.
But Ryuu remained silent, offering no answer.
"I want you back. It's okay—not as a lover, but as someone who knows how you survive in this world."
Ryuu turned. His gaze was cold.
"I am not the same person anymore, Sayaka."
She smile faintly, stepped forward, looked up him in the eye. "Well, we'll see about that, darling."
---
That day the lounge felt a little different—not because of the crowd or the music, but because Ryuu had arrived earlier than usual.
Reina, busy clearing glasses behind the bar, paused when a subtle mix of gentle perfume and a light aftershave brushed past her. The scent was familiar—strangely intoxicating—and it made her pulse skip.
"Ugh… Did senior just shave or something? But I don't think he has a beard…" she murmured to herself.
It wasn't an ordinary masculine scent, nor was it a purely feminine one. There was something indefinable—a blend of vanilla, musk, aftershave, and a hint of something that left her head pleasantly muddled.
"You've not been on the evening shift much," Ryuu's voice said softly, deeper than usual. This time she heard a teasing edge in it.
Reina jump in surprise, then cleared her throat, suddenly flustered. She turned and gave a small smile. "Yuki swapped shifts with me, so I'm covering tonight, Sir.."
Ryuu inclined his head; he'd stopped by the lounge after a meeting at a nearby hotel. "Oh—surprising to see you this late," Reina added, squinting at him suspiciously.
A faint smile curled Ryuu's lips. "I happened to come from a meeting, Reina.."
He wore a navy suit jacket; today the tie that usually sat neatly at his collar was undone, leaving the top two buttons of his white shirt open. His neck looked long and—oddly—irresistible, and Reina felt her gaze betray her.
'Hufft... Just focus on work, Reina,' she scolded silently, feeling a flutter of unease.