Chapter 152: Gambling. (1/2)
After Lukas and Yaho had finished the bowls of noodles that the Manga Café had kindly given them for free, they sat there quietly for a little while longer, savoring the last warm sips. When the clock showed it was nearly lunchtime, Yaho looked over at Lukas and said, "Why don’t we head back to the hotel and grab something there?" Lukas nodded in agreement, folding his chopsticks carefully and standing up. They left the cozy café together and walked down the street toward the Peninsula Hotel, where he was staying.
Once inside the hotel, they made their way to the dining area reserved for premium guests. Lukas took his seat at the polished tablecloth, noticing the soft light of the chandelier overhead and the neatly folded napkin beside his plate. Even though he was staying in the imperial suite, these lunches were not free like the ordinary meals in the hotel had been so far. He briefly thought about the cost—he knew it must be high—but he did not worry.
Lukas leaned back in his chair and looked around the room, imagining how many people would pay a small fortune for this level of service. But for him, it was just part of the trip. He was happy to spend the money without a second thought, especially since every detail of the meal would teach him something new about Japanese food and culture. With that in mind, he picked up the menu and prepared to order, already excited to taste each dish and learn more with every bite.
Lukas and Yaho ate at a relaxed, steady pace, taking their time with each bite because Lukas wasn’t in a rush. The gambling event was scheduled for the afternoon, but even then Lukas planned to place only one bet on a single race before heading back. He didn’t really enjoy gambling all that much.
"Boss, you can go rest up," Yaho said, standing by the table. "I’ll let you know when my manager calls me." She will go along on this trip to the horse racing event to support and see Lukas betting so much. He nodded in thanks, gave her a small smile, and left the dining area. Since he was already full, he decided to return to his suite for a short rest before anything else.
After a short break, Lukas headed down to the hotel’s gym. He spent about half an hour on the treadmill, keeping his pace steady as he warmed up and cooled down. Once he was done, he walked back to his suite and stepped into the shower. The hot water helped him relax and wash away any leftover tension from his workout.
When he stepped out, refreshed and dry, he chose his outfit carefully. He put on a tailored Zegna suit that fit him perfectly, its dark fabric crisp against his shoulders. He fastened a Rolex Day-Date "President" watch with a diamond-bezel variant on his wrist, then tucked a Patek Philippe Lepine pocket watch into his vest pocket. Standing in front of the mirror, he adjusted his tie and smoothed down his hair. He looked every bit the aristocrat he felt like today.
"Damn! Alright," Lukas said to himself, meeting his own gaze with approval. He took a deep breath, satisfied with how he appeared, ready for whatever the afternoon would bring.
After Lukas finished buttoning his jacket and straightening his tie, he sank down onto the soft couch in the corner of his suite. He reached over to the low table beside him and picked up the Japanese edition of Weekly Playboy. Even though the text was all in Japanese, the glossy pages and striking photographs would appeal to any man, no matter where he came from. He flipped through the magazine slowly, pausing now and then to study an image or scan a headline, enjoying the feel of the paper in his hands.