The crackling of the coals in the grill was the only sound filling the terrace, creating an atmosphere of peace that seemed almost unreal to Lohan.
He was focused on seasoning the cuts of meat, feeling the texture of the fibers beneath his fingertips, when the beep from Isabella’s device cut through the air like a blade of glass.
Isabella, who was sitting on the leather sofa relaxing after the "fashion marathon," froze instantly.
Her body, previously relaxed, went instantly rigid. The golden glow of the Syn’s holographic interface projected into the air in front of her, illuminating her face with a pale light that accentuated the sudden pallor of her cheeks.
She didn’t open the message right away, her golden eyes fixed on the sender: Evelyn Vance.
Lohan, even with his back turned, picked up on the shift in Lisa’s aura through his Instinctive Perception, her heart rate skyrocketing, and her Mana signature, once sweet as dew, becoming restless and erratic.
Having dealt with this little vixen for over a month, he had already learned to decipher her mood through these subtle changes.
Hoping it was just a corporate report or a routine notification, Isabella tapped the message icon, and her fingers trembled slightly as she expanded the text.
[Evelyn: Bella, sweetie, I managed to snag an unexpected opening in the Group’s schedule today. I’m on my way to your place. Let’s enjoy this day off together, just mother and daughter. I’ll be there in twenty minutes, and I won’t take a no for an answer. 😘]
As she read that, Isabella felt as if the air purification system had failed and the lack of oxygen was suffocating her.
She looked at the grill, where Lohan was preparing what would be the first moment of true normality and connection she’d had outside the game in years, and the idea of leaving him there, grilling alone in the apartment she’d just furnished, broke something inside her.
However, the weight of the Vance surname was a very heavy anchor... Telling her mother, the President of the Vance Group, not to come, or suggesting that she come to this new penthouse where a "stranger" from the Lower Zone was living, was an invitation to disaster.
Evelyn was far too perceptive; she would connect the dots about Lohan, the fake doctor’s note, and her recent changes in milliseconds.
Lohan, sensing the prolonged silence and the tension emanating from the sofa, set the utensils aside.
He wiped his hands on a cloth and turned to her, maintaining a calm expression and deep blue eyes, exuding the calm and serenity that Halon always displayed in moments of crisis on Elysium, which was extremely comforting to the girl.
"Lisa? Is everything okay?" he asked, his voice steady and filled with genuine concern for how she was feeling.
Isabella let out a long, shaky sigh, closing the hologram with a sharp movement. She looked at the shopping bags, at Lohan’s new clothes, and finally met his gaze.
"My bad, Halon... it was my mom," she confessed, her voice coming out lower than usual. "She got the day off and is already on her way to my place. She wants us to spend the day together... and I can’t just ignore her..."
A momentary silence fell over the terrace.
Lohan was pensive for a few seconds, processing the information that they wouldn’t be sharing a barbecue today after all.
He saw the conflict in Isabella’s eyes between the desire to stay and the obligation to leave. He knew that forcing her to stay or showing disappointment would only add to the emotional burden she was already carrying because of her family, so calmly, Lohan took a step forward, maintaining a respectful distance but offering an encouraging smile.
"It’s okay, Lisa, you should go," he said, with a serenity that surprised the girl. "The day has already been incredibly fun. You picked me up, helped me dress like a prince, and rented this place for me. I’ve already enjoyed myself more than I could have imagined."
He gestured toward the skyline of the Upper Zone, where the crystal buildings sparkled.
"Now that we live close by, in the same sector, it’ll be much easier to make plans again. Go enjoy your time with your mom. It’s not every day that President Vance gets some time off, right?"
Hearing those words, Isabella felt the tightness in her chest ease slightly.
She was immensely grateful that Halon was so understanding. Most people she knew would have made a big deal about being "abandoned," would have acted sad to make her feel guilty, or would have tried to use the situation to get favors.
Seeing that he prioritized her well-being and her relationship with her mother, even at the expense of their barbecue, made her feel even more satisfied with her choice of Guild partner.
"You’re impossible, Halon..." she murmured with a small smile at the corner of her mouth, standing up and grabbing her wide-brimmed hat. "I’ll make it up to you for this. And don’t you dare burn that meat, or I’ll deduct it from your first rent payment!"
As she stood up to say goodbye, Isabella stopped in front of him, a few feet away, acting a little awkwardly, the scent of her wildflowers reaching his nose in a very pleasant way.
Lohan was also a little awkward; in the real world, seeing the appearance of a beautiful girl in front of him instead of a cute little white fox made his heart race, and he didn’t know how to react.
For an eternal second, her golden eyes met his blue ones.
There was a spark of something deeper, an impulse to break through the professional and social barrier separating them. But then, her cell phone emitted a second urgent beep.
Isabella stepped back, giving a quick, hesitant wave with her hand.
"See you at Elysium later!" she said, before jogging lightly toward the car a few meters away, her red hair swaying like liquid fire against the white silk of her dress.
Lohan stood motionless at the edge of the terrace, watching the white Ferrari take off and speed toward the horizon.
The roar of the engines faded until it was just a whisper in the wind.
He let out a heavy sigh, turning back to the grill.
’I’m an idiot...’ Lohan muttered to himself, feeling the heat of the embers on his face. ’Fuck, should I have kissed her right there? Or would that have ruined everything we’ve built so far?’