Chapter 197: A Thing For Glasses
“By the way, you won’t be needing my private dining room tonight, right?” Luca asked casually, completely ignoring the stunned look on Roman’s face.
“No, sir.” Roman quickly shook his head, forcing himself to recover. “Your private room has never been opened to the public.”
“Good. I’ll have dinner there tonight.”
Originally, the hotel hadn’t set aside a private room specifically for its owner.
Since Luca often dined here, Roman had quietly designated his favorite room as the president’s private dining room and instructed the staff never to book it for guests.
Judging by Luca’s expression, he was clearly pleased with Roman’s initiative.
Having inspected the kitchen several times during previous visits, Luca was already familiar with every corner of it.
He politely declined Roman’s offer to accompany him and headed straight inside.
After greeting the chefs, he picked up a knife, selected his ingredients, and began cooking with practiced ease.
The kitchen staff gradually fell silent.
Everyone watched in amazement.
An apprentice, barely out of his teens, nudged the middle-aged head chef beside him.
“Master…”
“Hm?”
“I think President Hale’s knife skills are even better than yours.”
The chef nearly exploded.
“You little brat! Are you asking for a beating?”
’You can think it, but don’t say it out loud!’
He’d spent more than twenty years in the kitchen.
Of course he could tell.
President Hale’s knife work was cleaner, faster, and more precise than his own.
Didn’t this kid have any emotional intelligence?
Or basic social awareness?
And President Hale…
Couldn’t he just act like a normal boss?
Why come into the kitchen and cook personally?
Not only was he cooking, he was doing it better than someone who’d devoted decades to the craft.
’Please don’t steal my job…’
’I’d rather take a pay cut than pack up and leave!’
Before long, every dish was finished.
Luca called over a staff member and asked for three takeaway containers.
He divided the meal into four portions.
The largest portion stayed on elegant serving plates, while the remaining food was carefully packed into the three takeaway boxes.
“Please have these delivered to these addresses.”
After sending Naomi a message, he wrote Vivienne’s, Amelia’s and Arabella’s addresses on three sticky notes and attached them to the boxes.
“Understood, Mr. Hale.”
The waiter accepted them respectfully before hurrying out.
The hotel already had a dedicated delivery service, so all he had to do was hand the meals over.
Knowing they were personally prepared by President Hale, the waiter made sure to remind the delivery staff to handle them carefully.
Less than five minutes after the dishes were arranged on the table, the private room door opened.
Naomi and Raven walked in together.
“You didn’t buy anything?” Luca asked after noticing Naomi’s empty hands.
She smiled mysteriously.
Instead of answering, she turned around.
A tiny pink crossbody bag, barely larger than the palm of her hand, rested neatly against her lower back.
“Well?” she asked, glancing over her shoulder with sparkling eyes. “Does it look nice?”
“It does.”
Luca nodded sincerely.
“It suits you perfectly.”
Naomi’s youthful charm naturally reminded people of a sweet, innocent campus beauty.
The simple little bag matched her style perfectly.
His praise made her lower her head shyly.
Then she reached into the new handbag and pulled out a small oval-shaped case.
“I bought something for you too.”
Luca accepted it with curiosity.
“Glasses?”
“Mhm.”
She nodded eagerly.
“They’re plain lenses. I just thought they’d look really good on you.”
Hope filled her eyes.
She’d seen him wearing sunglasses before, but never ordinary glasses.
To her, Luca already looked handsome.
With glasses…
She imagined him looking refined, elegant, and scholarly.
The image had been so irresistible that she’d bought them without hesitation.
She’d always liked the look of guys in glasses. There was something about that gentle, bookish look that made her heart flutter. Maybe she’d been into nerds all along.
“All right.”
Luca opened the case, removed the tag, and slipped the glasses on.
They felt slightly unfamiliar at first.
He looked toward Naomi with a smile.
“How do I look?”
“…Naomi?”
When she didn’t answer, he waved a hand gently in front of her face.
Only then did she snap back to reality.
“Huh?”
Her cheeks instantly turned pink.
“Oh… honey…”
“You’re… so handsome…”
Her eyes sparkled uncontrollably.
She’d been completely captivated.
At that moment, she finally understood what people meant by refined elegance.
With those glasses on, Luca looked gentle, cultured, and unbelievably attractive.
’I really am the luckiest girl…’
And before she knew it…
Her imagination had started running away with her.
“Hehe…”
’I shouldn’t think about that…’
A tiny trail of drool escaped before she even noticed.
“…”
Luca sighed with amusement.
He quietly pulled out a tissue and gently wiped the corner of her lips.
Feeling the touch, Naomi froze.
When she realized what he’d just done and noticed both Luca and Raven looking at her, the color spread all the way from her neck to the tips of her ears.
She immediately lowered her head, wishing she could disappear beneath the table.
Her fingers nervously twisted the hem of her skirt.
“What…”
“Don’t ask!”
She hurriedly cut him off.
“I’m absolutely not telling you what I was thinking just now!”
Inside, she wanted to bury herself alive.
’What’s wrong with me…?’
’He just put on a pair of glasses…’
’How did I end up daydreaming like that?’
Thinking about it was embarrassing enough.
Actually drooling because of it?
That was beyond shameful.
She was taking that secret to the grave.
No matter how much Luca asked.
Luca simply chuckled and shook his head.
’She’s ridiculously adorable.’
“I only asked because I wanted you to hurry up and eat before the food gets cold.”
He smiled.
“I came here early just to cook for you.”
Naomi looked at him with surprise and warmth.
“So you came to the hotel first… just to make dinner for us?”
Even Raven’s eyes flickered with surprise.
She wasn’t only impressed by how beautifully the dishes were prepared.
She was equally surprised by how much Luca spoiled his girlfriend.
While Naomi enjoyed herself shopping, he’d quietly come here to cook for her.
As for why he could freely use the kitchen of the San Fierro Grand Hotel…
Naomi had already explained that the hotel belonged to him.
It wasn’t that she wanted to show off.
She simply couldn’t hide it.
The moment they’d entered the commercial district, shop owners and managers had greeted her one after another with bright smiles.
Every single one of them addressed her as “Boss Lady.”
Keeping a low profile had become almost impossible.
“Senior, try this.”
Naomi smiled as she placed a shrimp into Raven’s bowl.
“Luca’s cooking is amazing.”
Even before tasting it, Raven had guessed it would be good.
The dishes looked vibrant, smelled incredible, and were presented better than many five-star restaurants she’d visited.
She picked up the shrimp and took a bite.
Its sweetness and freshness exploded across her palate.
“…Delicious.”
Unable to resist, she sampled the other dishes.
Each one exceeded the last.
She found herself genuinely impressed.
Luca really was remarkable.
Handsome.
Wealthy.
Thoughtful toward his girlfriend.
And somehow, an exceptional cook as well.
He seemed almost unreal.
Raven quietly glanced at Naomi, who was happily eating beside her.
A complicated expression crossed her face.
For the first time, she thought she finally understood.
Someone like Luca…
Someone this attentive, capable, and impossible to dislike…
No wonder Naomi had willingly chosen to stay by his side.
He truly was the kind of man people found difficult to resist.