Luca stared at the message, the glow of his phone screen casting a faint light in the dimly lit apartment. He was irritated, but also uneasy. Rian Becker's persistence was unnerving, and the fact that he had somehow tracked down Luca's private contact information only added to his unease.
TT: I'll be waiting, Mr. Fontaine. Don't keep me waiting too long.
Luca let out a frustrated breath and tossed the phone onto the sofa. The man was clearly not used to hearing the word "no." He paced the room, his mind racing. The last thing he wanted was to get involved with someone as determined and potentially dangerous as Rian Becker. But something about the way Rian had spoken to him at the gallery, the way he felt like he had seen through him.
Made him uncomfortable in so many ways.
Luca's thoughts shifted to the debt that had shadowed his life for years, a burden left by a father who had disappeared without a trace, leaving him to pick up the pieces. The money he had received tonight had made him debt free, but his mother was still in the hospital, and there were always more bills to pay. Despite his success, the pressure never seemed to let up.
He stopped pacing and ran a hand through his hair, glancing back at the phone. Meeting Rian could be risky, but Luca couldn't deny his curiosity. There was something about the man that made him want to know more, despite his better judgment.
"Bellevue at 8pm…" he muttered to himself. It was one of the most exclusive restaurants in the city, a place where only the elite dined. The thought of meeting Rian there felt like stepping into a world he had always observed from the outside but never quite belonged to.
Luca exhaled sharply, grabbing the phone again.
TT:I'll be there. But this better be worth my time.
He sent the message before he could change his mind, immediately regretting it but knowing that the decision had already been made.
The reply was almost instant.
TT:I assure you, Mr. Fontaine, it will be worth every second.
Luca placed the phone down again, trying to push away the unease creeping up his spine. He headed for the bathroom, deciding that if he was going to face this unexpected turn of events, he would at least do it on his terms.
The warm water of the shower did little to wash away his unease, but it allowed him to collect his thoughts.
By the time he stepped out, his decision was final. He would go to Bellevue, meet Rian Becker, and see just what the man was after.
Luca dressed in acomfortable pair of sweatpants and tshirt after the shower, he looked at his appearance and gritted his teeth, the one thing he hated the most was to see his face.
Those pair of dark grey eyes that had brought him nothing but pain.
As he prepared for bed, the cool sheets offering a sense of calm, though he couldn't shake the unease that had settled in his chest.
Before lying down, he reached for his phone again and dialed a familiar number, one that he called every night without fail.
The phone rang a few times before a soft, weary voice answered on the other end. "Luca?"
"Hi, Mom," he said, his voice gentler than it had been all day. "How are you feeling?" he asked, his tone light but laced with concern.
"Better today," his mother replied. "The nurses have been taking good care of me. But enough about that—how was the showcase? Did you sell any pieces?"
Luca hesitated for a moment, not wanting to burden her with the details of his evening. "It went well. The pieces got a lot of attention, and I was able to sell a few." He paused, then added, "I finally paid off the last of the debt."
There was a brief silence on the other end, and Luca could almost feel the relief in his mother's voice when she spoke again. "I'm so proud of you, Luc. You've done so much, and all on your own. I'm ashamed as your mother I couldn't do anything to help you and you had to struggle so much to get by on your own and also take care of me."
He didn't respond right away, swallowing the lump in his throat. "It was what needed to be done and I'll do anything just so you can walk out of the hospital one day. We'll even go on vacation to Bali like you wanted.."he finally said, his tone softer.
"Just make sure you take care of yourself too," she continued. "You've been through so much. You deserve to be happy. Get a girlfriend or a boyfriend whosoever makes you happy I don't mind. I'll support whatever path you chose."
"…"
"Mom…I don't need anyone right now.."he replied, though he knew finding happiness was more complicated than just wishing to be happy. "You should rest now. I'll visit you this weekend, okay?"
"Alright, the younger nurses have all been waiting to see you."
"…"
"Mum! I've told you to stop pairing me up.."
"Aiya..they're so beautiful, you might just the one you like.."
"…"
"Take care of yourself, goodnight. I'm hanging up.."
"Hey! Hey! Remember to have to dinner, don't let your ulcer act up. You promised me you'll stay healthy.."
Luca smiled, after all these years she was still worrying about him skipping dinner.
Staring at the portrait on the bedside table, he prayed his mother recovered faster so she could smile the way she used to before he illness.
"Alright, I'll have some instant ramen before I sleep.."
".."
"I'll let it pass but eat a proper dinner next time. Alright, mum loves you! Don't let the bedbugs bite, two kisses, one from mum and the other also from mum. Bye!!"
Luca stared at the darkened screen with a smile, at least when he was at his lowest, he could always count on his mum to lift him up.
"I love you too, mum.."