Chapter 26
Luca
Use safe zones to regenerate.
You’ll need the energy.
I hold Lara for too long, and our embrace is too tight.
I realize the moment Akito clears his throat in amusement.
I had a plan to play it cool. Like Maleek told me to.
Like it would be wise to. But once again, Lara’s caught me unaware.
I let go of her, but her scent lingers on my clothes, reminding me of that night I slept so well.
My hands tingle like they’re not ready to part with her yet.
I take a hurried step back and hug Akito next.
I need to get a grip. Not just because of the competition, but also because I’m here with my damned boss.
What sort of message is that sending? He already has nothing nice to say about PixelPulse, and I’d rather Lara didn’t appear on his radar.
“How are you both? Have you been here long?” I ask, trying to steer the conversation straight over to small talk, but then I get distracted by the woman behind Lara.
Her eyes grow wide, and she makes a little strangled noise.
Her face is pale as a sheet, and she looks like she’s seen a ghost. I follow her gaze straight to Hank’s cheerful, smiling face.
He’s chatting with Theodore, who owns a studio in Manchester.
I suppose that explains who the woman is: Sophia Richards.
Lara starts to answer my question, but breaks off mid-sentence when she realizes I’m distracted. When I return my focus to her, she glances behind her, giving her boss an inquiring look. “Sophia, you all right?”
Sophia nods, blinking rapidly, as if to shake herself out of a trance.
“Yeah, brilliant,” she says, but she sounds tense.
Her face is strangely familiar. I studied the participants’ photos beforehand, of course, but that’s not it.
It’s almost like I’ve seen her somewhere before, but I can’t pinpoint where.
Maybe at one of the many conferences in London I’ve attended.
I mean, we work in the same industry and in the same city, after all.
“I need the loo; I’ll be just a moment,” she says and smiles at us tersely.
“Me too,” Maeve says, jumping up, and together, they disappear through the door.
“Hmm, she seems sort of on edge, don’t you think?” Lara asks, gazing after her boss with a frown.
“Well, tomorrow’s a big day. I was hardly able to eat anything today; she’s probably feeling the same,” Akito muses.
I nod in agreement, looking at Lara, who seems genuinely confused.
There’s no way she knows what’s going on.
Sophia must have kept the whole thing from her team.
After all, why would she tell them and risk one of them going public about her theft?
Though my heart aches for Lara, that realization is a relief. At the same time, I wish I could pull her aside and tell her everything. But I’m acutely aware of Hank’s presence on the other side of the room, and so I stay silent. Again.
A waitress comes over to our group and takes our orders—Lara asks for a Coke like last time, Akito and I order beers, and then we amble over to one of the sofas. I push a large beige decorative globe aside so Akito can fit his wheelchair next to us and then plop down on the comfortable upholstery.
“Well, well, look who’s here.” Akito grimaces like he’s just caught wind of something nasty. I see why as I turn: Shane has just entered the lounge with another man in tow. Lara groans.
“I can’t believe he got through,” Akito continues, and I grumble my agreement as I watch Shane move through the room like he owns the entire estate. He snaps his fingers at the waitress, although she was already on her way over.
“I hope our booth is as far away from his as possible,” Lara says, narrowing her eyes as she follows Shane around with her gaze.
“I just saw your booth; it looks really pretty!” Akito tells her with a smile. “So cozy. We’re kitty-corner from you, but our design is the exact opposite: futuristic, stark-white walls, and neon lighting.”
Lara chuckles. “And I bet Luca’s is bloody and gruesome. There’ll be something for everyone.”
“The rules said we can’t use blood—much to Maleek’s disappointment,” I reply. “But yeah, it’s grim for sure.”
“Shame Maleek couldn’t come,” Lara says.
I shake my head. “He has a date tonight; I think he’s fine.”
“And you’ve brought along Hank Bayford instead,” Akito says with an approving nod. “I think you could have done worse.”
I turn in search of Hank and see him sitting on one of the other sofas. Four other participants are gathered around him, hanging onto his every word. Akito is right. Hank’s already starting to win everyone over with his charm.
When I turn back around, Lara’s dark brows are knitted together. There’s a sharp line between her hazel eyes.
“Everything all right?”
“I dunno . . . ,” she mutters, sipping her Coke. I follow her gaze and catch a glimpse of Sophia leaving the room and heading toward the reception desk. “I think I’d better go.”
“Don’t you want to go have a look at your booth?” I ask, and I can’t deny I was secretly hoping to spend some more time with her.
“Oh, definitely!” Lara tells me. “As far as I’m concerned, that would’ve been my first stop. I just want to check if everything’s all right with Sophia.”
“I won’t be staying much longer,” Akito says. “If I don’t see you again—goodnight.”
“You too,” Lara responds. “I’m . . . looking forward to tomorrow?”
Akito laughs. “Was that a question?”
“Confusion, I think.” Lara’s mouth twitches, and my stomach flips instantly.
It’s good to see her like this—maybe not one hundred percent calm and happy, but so much more relaxed than last time.
It’s like she’s starting to lower her defenses little by little, now that she realizes no one’s attacking her.
“To a fair contest!” Akito says.
“Now I feel like I’m at the Olympics,” I say.
“Unlike you lot, Hiroshi and I built our booth ourselves. That definitely felt like the Olympics.”
Lara laughs, waving at us again, and then she hurries after Sophia, disappearing through the grand door. I gaze after her. For too long. And when I turn back to Akito, there’s a knowing smile on his face. Damn it.