On the other side of the city, far from the fading buzz of the lounge…
The Lancaster mansion stood tall, grand, and silent—majestic yet cold, bathed in light yet void of warmth. Its towering stone walls echoed arrogance, but never offered comfort.
Inside his private study, Ryuu sat behind an enormous desk, still in his wrinkled work shirt, his tie loosened and hanging around his neck. The desk lamp cast weary shadows across his tired face.
Stacks of important documents lay scattered—business contracts, investment reports, endless family files. His skilled hands signed papers and typed across the keyboard, his body moving on autopilot.
And yet, his sharp gaze… occasionally drifted to a small screen he had built himself, placed neatly at the side of his desk.
Not stock graphs. Not company financial reports.
But CCTV footage from Reina's apartment.
The small living room. The tiny kitchen. The narrow corridor. Even the modest bedroom where Reina often fell asleep clutching her stuffed doll. Tiny hidden cameras she never noticed.
Ryuu's eyes lingered on the feed showing Reina just home from the lounge, the black pendant resting beautifully on her beautiful neck. A faint smile tugged at his lips—bittersweet.
"You don't know, Reina… how much you've become my habit," he muttered, rubbing his face with one hand. "I barely realized how natural it feels to make sure you're safe… even when I can't be there."
Leaning back in his chair, he pulled off his glasses, releasing a long breath that carried all the weight—business, family, and the guilt of watching over Reina in ways she would surely hate if she ever found out.
But more than guilt, there was something else. Ensuring her safety was his reason. But the view of her body… was an irresistible bonus.
He opened his eyes again, glancing at the screen. This time it showed Reina stepping out of the bathroom, wrapped only in a polka-dot towel, damp and plump skin gleaming faintly under the dim light.
Ryuu froze, his body tightening.
"Fuck… This is the second time she's walked out like that… just a towel…" His voice was rough, his breathing heavy.
His sharp gaze locked on the screen. His free hand slid down, pressing over the bulge in his pants, his thumb rubbing circles with slow, hungry pressure.
"Reina… You don't know… how easily you make me hard with just that towel…" he groaned under his breath, his pupils dilating as his grip grew firmer, stroking the heat swelling beneath the fabric.
"Should I call you, Reina?" he whispered, eyes glued to the image of her choosing nightwear, oblivious to his watching.
Without another thought, he reached into his drawer for his phone. With his resources and connections, finding her number had been effortless. One tap, and it was saved. Another, and it was dialing.
Brrr—
The ringing tone stretched out, long and tense, until finally.
"Hello? Who is this?" Reina's voice came soft, clear, tinged with confusion. On the screen, Ryuu could see her tilt her head, holding the phone to her ear, back facing the hidden camera.
She stood there in confusion, towel clutched to her small frame.
"Hi, Reina." Ryuu's deep, familiar voice slipped through the speaker, making her jump, her heart hammering wildly.
"M-Mr. Ryuu?" Her voice trembled—shocked, but also secretly pleased to finally hear from the man haunting her thoughts.
"Yes. It's me," Ryuu replied, his tone short, husky, yet warm.
"H-how did you get my number, Sir?" Her brows furrowed, worry quickly following. "Are you sick? Your voice… it's so hoarse.. Is that why you haven't been coming to the lounge?"
She sounded fussy, but sincere.
"Shhh… I'm okay, Reina. Just a little under the weather. As for your number… I got it from a friend of yours," he lied smoothly, cutting her string of questions.
On the screen, she sank onto the edge of her bed, towel still wrapped around her petite frame, fingers fidgeting with its hem nervously. Her eyes stared blankly ahead, listening to his every word.
"I-I see… Your voice really does sound sick, though…" she murmured softly, almost in a whisper.
A faint smile curved his lips. A strange warmth spread through his chest—rare, sincere concern from someone.
"You don't need to worry about me. What matters now… is that you rest well and keep yourself warm," he said, his voice firm yet gentle.
"Um, alright, Sir… but, where are you right now?" Her question came hesitant, as though unsure if she was allowed to ask. Her soft voice poured into Ryuu's ear like honey.
Ryuu exhaled slowly. "At the main house. Family matters to handle. That's why I haven't been at the lounge."
"The… main house?" she echoed, puzzled.
But Ryuu didn't explain further. His gaze stayed locked on the screen, watching her so intensely that his hand unconsciously gripped his hardened length tighter. His voice dropped when he spoke again.
"Yes. I won't be long… maybe around—"
CLICK.
The door swung open.
A woman walked in uninvited, draped in a low-cut black dress that clung to her curves. In her hands—a plate of Ryuu's favorite cookies, as though she'd known him for years.
"Ryuu, I brought you cookies… I baked them myself.."
Ryuu instantly killed the call, yanking his hand away from himself. His face hardened, burying every trace of what he had just been doing.
"Sayaka." His voice cut sharp, cold despite its huskiness. "I've told you—knock before you enter."
Meanwhile, in her apartment, Reina stared at her phone, the call suddenly cut off. Her brows knitted, irritation and worry mixing.
"Sir…?" she whispered, though she knew the line was dead.
Silence.
She bit her lower lip, frowning at the abrupt end.
"Why did he hang up so suddenly? Was it bad reception? Or… did something happen?" she muttered, exhaling sharply in frustration.
The more she tried to calm herself, the more restless her thoughts spun. Finally, she grabbed a pillow, hugging it tight, then smacking it repeatedly to vent.
"Damn it, Mr. Ryuu! How could you ghost me like this...?!" she shrieked in annoyance.