“I normally don’t care for strangers touching me, but his hands are magic.” Lucy let out a long sigh.
“Thank you,” the masseuse said. “Have you ever had a massage before? Your muscles are so tight.”
“No, never.”
“I think it’d be in your best interest to come in once in a while. With muscles like this, you must have a lot of pent-up stress.”
“I’m a worrywart; everything stresses me out.”
“I’ll do my best to make sure you can relax while you’re here.”
“Thank you.”
This really is relaxing. Ella’s eyes started to droop, and before long, she passed out.
Her mom glanced over at her and smiled. “Sleep tight…”
“Do you want to play games? There’s a casino here,” Ella said after they came out from their massage.
“How about lunch first? I’m hungry. By the way, where’s Leon?” Lucy asked.
“Sorry, I had something to take care of.” Leon popped up behind them, and they both jumped.
“Geez.” She held her hand over her racing heart. “You’re as quiet as a cat.”
“Oops, sorry. I’ll make it up to you with lunch. I know just the place.”
Leon led them to a cafe with loads of sweets with a few savoury meals available. “Order anything you want, even if we have to get a to-go box. I have a call to make.” Leon sighed, looking at a text from Zeke.
“I’ll order you something, too,” Ella said.
“Thanks.” He wiggled his phone around. “I’ll try to make it fast.” He headed out of the cafe.
“He sure is busy, isn’t he?” Lucy sighed. She couldn’t help but think that he’d end up leaving Ella alone too often because of work. It’d be how it was when Ella was growing up.
“I know that look, and don’t worry; he makes time for me.”
“You wouldn’t be lonely with me around,” a male voice came from beside them.
Ella froze, goosebumps trailing up her arms. It can’t be…
Sebastian sat down in Leon’s chair and smiled at her. “Hello again, Ella; this must be fate.”
“It’s not fate,” she snapped at him. “You know I work here, so it stands to reason you can find me around somewhere. Where’s Alice?” I thought she was keeping an eye on him.
“I got tired of her following me around so much, so gave her the slip.”
“You… I remember you…” Ella’s mother narrowed her eyes. “How dare you even show your face in front of my daughter, you rotten pig?”
He leaned away from her, wide-eyed and speechless.
Go, mom!
“Come on, it was in the past and not a big deal—”
“Not a big deal? My daughter loved you, and you spit on her love by cheating on her; how is that not a big deal?”
A hand gripped the back of Sebastian’s seat. “Excuse me, I think you’re sitting in my seat.” Leon did his best to hold back his anger.
Sebastian looked back at him, then at Ella’s mother, before standing. “Now’s not a good time, I suppose. I’ll see you soon,” he said to Ella before taking off.
“I hope not,” Ella grumbled.
“I swear, I can’t leave you alone for even a few minutes without that cockroach showing up.” Leon sat down, glaring at Sebastian’s receding figure. “I wish I could get rid of him. Too bad a restraining order isn’t good enough.”
“It still couldn’t hurt to have one…” Her mother watched Sebastian leave the same way Leon did.
“I know he’s not the most influential, but he can cause a lot of damage because of how determined he is. So it might be in our best interest to avoid getting involved with him,” Ella warned.
“I would love to avoid him, but he’s after you.” Leon gently pushed a strand of hair behind her ear. “So I won’t back down if something happens.”
“T-thank you…”
“You know, I still wasn’t sure about you two, but I think he truly loves you.” Lucy sighed. “Official stamp of approval.” She winked at him.
“My protection stretches to you as well, should you ever need it.” He picked up her hand and kissed the back of it. “My future mother-in-law.”
“I-I should be fine, but thank you nonetheless.”
“Y-your order.” The waitress wasn’t sure if she should interrupt but brought their plates over, anyway.
“Thank you,” Leon said, and they each dug in.
“So, what do you two want to do now? We have a variety of sports activities available,” Leon said.
“I’m not the most athletic… not anymore.” Lucy sighed.
Leon raised an eyebrow.
“When I was in high school, I was on the volleyball team.”
“Cool. We have volleyball courts, but if you don’t want to play any sports, we can find something else to do. There are a few beaches near here and an amusement park.”
“I don’t think I’d want to go to an amusement park. A beach isn’t so bad; it’s been a long time.”
“But you can go to the beach anytime. How about the casino we have here?” Ella suggested. She had been there only when she checked out the entire resort for reference, but hadn’t had the chance to play.
“You know I don’t like to gamble money away…”
“It’s Leon’s money, which if we lose, will go back to his company, so you shouldn’t worry too much. This is a chance to have some fun without worrying.”
“When you put it that way, it doesn’t sound so bad.”
“I insist you spend my money.” Leon laughed. “Our money,” he corrected himself.
“A phrase that would make most men shudder.”
“I’m not most men.” He winked at her.
“Do you like to throw your money around or something?”
“Generally, no, but I want to spend it on Ella, so please spend it. Outside of the company, investments, and boring stuff, I don’t actually spend a lot of it.” He sighed. “I’m too busy to.”
“Sounds like you’re the one who needs a break. Are you going to join us in the casino?”
“I can, but I can’t promise I won’t be pulled away for more work.”
“What are you always working on?”
“A multitude of things, really. Working with other companies, opening another branch, my mother keeps calling me… and so on.” He sighed.
“Opening another branch? I thought your father was basically eating your company with his?” Ella asked.
“He wants to when I officially take over his company, but I want to see what I can do on my own until then.”
“And didn’t this place just open?”
“And it’s been doing spectacularly! Which is why I’ve been looking for a new location to make another one. Now, enough of this business talk; let’s go have fun.”
They left the cafe and Leon headed to the casino below, escorting Ella and her mother on both sides of him.
Chatter, music, and the sound of slot machines filled the air as they entered the casino.
“This place is busier than I expected.” Lucy looked around with curious, wide eyes.
“I’ll grab us some chips and coins. You two decide what you want to try out.” Leon excused himself.
“Would it be bad if I just want to use the slot machines? I’ve actually always dreamed of seeing the seven-seven-seven show up…” Lucy asked her.
“If that’s what you want to do, then go ahead.” Ella looked around. I don’t know how to play poker or any of the card games. What would be easy to at least tryout? Roulette? Maybe I’ll just try everything once? But if I win, I’ll be tempted to try again…
“Lost in thought again? I hope you’re not thinking of rushing off?” Leon popped up beside her.
“What? No…” Where’d my mom go?
“She’s over at the slots already,” Leon answered her unspoken question.
“Maybe I should just play slots with her.”
“I know you two want to hang out, but you’re both grown women; you can play different games if you want to. And with everyone having cell phones, it’s easy enough to find people, even with a crowd like this.”
“I guess.” She bobbed her head around, biting her lip.
“I’ll teach you any game you want.”
“You know how to play them all?” What in the world has he been up to?
“Yes,” he chuckled. Another habit of his from college, and he always came out ahead.
Continued in chapter 31.