Chapter 180: Annie & Bella. (1/2)
The next morning, sunlight poured gently through the thick curtains of Lukas’s penthouse suite in Philadelphia. The soft hum of the city below buzzed faintly in the background, but within the suite, everything was calm and meticulously pristine. Lukas opened his eyes slowly, staring at the high ceiling for a few seconds before sitting up on the edge of his king-sized bed.
The room was grand, tastefully designed with dark wood paneling, contemporary lighting fixtures, and wide marble floors. A large framed abstract painting hung over the bed, its bright colors the only chaotic element in the otherwise serene room.
He took a moment to stretch and rolled his neck, the previous day’s meetings and tension still clinging faintly to his shoulders. He threw on a gray tank top and gym shorts and made his way down to the private gym on the suite level. The gym was as lavish as one would expect: sleek equipment, a private sauna, and a stocked juice bar.
Lukas started with light cardio, warming up on the treadmill while scanning through emails on his tablet. Then he hit the weights, focused and consistent. For Lukas, fitness wasn’t just about physique—it was discipline, something he valued deeply in a world that constantly sought to distract. After forty-five minutes, he wiped the sweat from his brow, finished a cold-pressed juice, and headed back to his suite for a shower.
Breakfast awaited him in the dining space—lavishly arranged by the hotel’s room service staff. Eggs Benedict with a creamy hollandaise drizzle, freshly cut seasonal fruits, a tall glass of mango smoothie, and a basket of warm croissants with imported French butter. Everything was served on fine bone china with fresh tulips in a slender vase to brighten the setting. Lukas ate slowly, savoring the quiet.
Halfway through his breakfast, he picked up his phone and called Annie. Her number was saved as "Angel."
She answered on the third ring, her voice still sleepy. "Lukas...?"
"Morning," he said softly, his voice instantly warmer. "I hope I didn’t wake you."
"I was about to get up anyway. Bella just left for the bookstore."
"How are you feeling?" he asked. He could picture her: curled in bed, hand resting on her stomach.