'Hufft... Just focus on work, Reina,' she scolded silently, feeling a flutter of unease.
Ryuu took a seat on a regular stool. There was something in the way he crossed his legs and rested his hands on the table—not entirely masculine, not entirely feminine—deliberate, measured, confident.
Reina served his usual—black tea, unsweetened, with a thin lemon slice on the rim. "Not in the mood for wine tonight, Sir?" she teased, leaning slightly forward.
"Mhm, i wanted to see you with my full attention tonight," Ryuu replied without expression, his eyes fixed on her face as if he could never tire of studying it.
Reina rolled her eyes and turned away, her cheeks aflame. "Oh, stop teasing me…"
While from the locker room, Yuki emerged and strolled over, glancing first at Ryuu, then at Reina, ready to tease her. "Whoa, Mr. Ryuu's vibe is different tonight, huh? More… androgynous? Like a gorgeous woman who makes other women swoon, but still classy like a Japanese CEO."
"Yuki!" Reina hissed, half embarrassed and half unwilling to disagree.
Ryuu smiled faintly at their whispers. He already knew Yuki was close to Reina—one of the reasons he'd installed cameras in her room—then sipped his tea.
A short while later, two elegantly dressed women settled near his table. Naturally, Ryuu's presence drew their attention.
"That's the guy who's always in business magazines, right?" one whispered.
"Yeah he's—Ryuu Lancaster. I heard he's mixed-Japanese, he's so pretty… and sexy," the other responded.
"Pretty and sexy—and handsome too—look at him," the first gushed.
Reina heard the murmurs dimly and felt a stinging oddness. She forced a smile at the bar, wiping the counter a little too vigorously under her breath.
Leon approached with a tray and shook his head. "Oh god.. you polishing the counter or polishing your grievances, Rein?"
"Just cleaning," Reina snapped, feeling annoyed.
Leon chuckled, glancing at Ryuu. "Jealous because those ladies are staring at him? I can see why. His aura tonight—definitely not your average man's."
Reina said nothing, but the heat rising to her cheeks.
---
Ryuu summoned Reina to his VIP room to deliver a drink. The atmosphere there was calmer than usual—quieter, almost intimate.
"Why are you so quiet, hm?" Ryuu asked as he leaned back on the sofa, his hair falling partially over his neck and softening his features.
Reina placed the tray on the table. "I just… feel uncomfortable," she admitted.
"Uncomfortable because of me?" he asked, arching an eyebrow.
"No—because of those women. They were saying you're beautiful and sexy… and I felt uneasy about it. I'm sorry, for that" she said, feeling embarrassed and annoyed.
Ryuu gave a small, almost amused smile. "So that's the problem…?"
There was a pause before he rose, closing the distance between them. He stood close, tilting his head so a stray lock of hair brushed her shoulder.
"Mhm, so you'd prefer I looked like most men, huh?" Ryuu's voice dropped, heavier now.
Reina stared at him at that close range, taking in the sharp lines of his face and the softness in his gaze. He could not be defined by a single word—neither man nor woman entirely—but he was unmistakably Ryuu. That alone made him unique and irreplaceable to her.
"Not that… I like you as you are. I just don't like other people liking you too!" she blurted, cheeks burning.
Ryuu chuckled, low and almost whisper-like. "Feisty. That means you should mark me quickly, before someone else does."
Reina jumped at his words. "W-what do you mean? Don't say that at work, Sir!" she hissed, turning away in embarrassment as her heart thudded.
He laughed softly, smirking before returning to the sofa. "Still, I'm glad to see you jealous, Reina."
That night Reina went home tangled with mixed feelings—irritated, relieved, embarrassed by Ryuu's comment about marking him. And yet, despite Sayaka's presence and Ryuu's continuing mysteries, she felt a curious lightness, as if the gulf between them had narrowed just a little.
---
In the mansion, Ryuu opened his desk drawer. Inside a small box lay sunglasses, a bottle of perfume, and an odd, empty lipstick case—mysterious in origin and ownership.
Staring at the objects, Ryuu murmured, "Reina… you don't know how complicated I am. But you still come closer. Don't regret it."
---
That night the lounge was calmer than usual. Soft jazz floated through the air, mingling with the scent of fine wine and the perfumes of the elite clientele.
Behind the bar, Reina polished glasses absentmindedly, her mind elsewhere. It had been two days now—two nights in a row—without a single sign of Ryuu. Normally, he would appear almost every evening. But this time… nothing.
"Maybe he's just busy," she muttered, though her expression betrayed her unease.
Just then, the door swung open. A woman entered—tall, slim, her long hair flowing elegantly, her sharp eyes lined with subtle eyeliner. She carried herself with the kind of presence that made her stand out immediately. She was not like the usual guests.
Leon, ever the professional, greeted her with his trademark charm. "Good evening, Miss. What may we serve you tonight?"
The woman smiled faintly, though it wasn't the kind of smile given to strangers—it was the smile of someone who already knew exactly where she was, and for whom.
"I'd like to sit in Ryuu's favorite VIP room," she said, her voice soft yet firm.
At that name, Reina froze mid-motion. Ryuu.
Leon hesitated for a beat before leading her to the VIP room. The woman crossed her legs gracefully, her gaze sweeping the lounge until it landed on Reina. Her lips curved into a knowing smile.
"Oh, we meet again…"
Reina's heart skipped. "Sayaka…" she whispered, stunned. She hadn't expected to see her again.
Sayaka leaned back casually. "Yes. And, I suppose you could call me an old friend of Ryuu's."
The way she said "old friend" carried the weight of "the one he could never forget." It made Reina bristle inside.
Reina simply nodded, pretending not to care.
"It makes sense if he hasn't told you," Sayaka went on smoothly. "We do share… many memories. Too many, really."
Her words landed like a slap dressed in expensive lipstick.