Chapter 29: He had just jinxed it. ┏(＾0＾)┛
Rika’s smirk widened while taking in their stunned reactions. "What? Is there a problem? My parents own this hotel... It’s got an indoor pool. Much nicer than sweating under the sun, waiting for some fish that probably won’t even come out." She gestured grandly towards the glass doors of the hotel lobby...
"Consider it a slight change of plans. Besides," she added, her eyes twinkling mischievously, "I thought you two could use a proper celebration, given the good news."
Sarah groaned, burying her face in her hands. "Rika-Yamamoto!" she called out her full name. "You are impossible!"
Leo, however, was still trying to process the sudden shift. A sleepover? With Rika? He glanced around the empty parking lot, then back at the sleek SUV that now seemed to be the only source of noise. This was far from the casual fishing trip he’d mentally prepared for...
"Who else is coming?" Leo asked cautiously, directing the question to Rika.
Rika just waved her hands dismissively. "Oh, just a few other friends. You’ll meet them inside. Now, come on. We have the entire top floor to ourselves. And I’ve already ordered room service."
She turned and started walking towards the hotel entrance without waiting for a response, clearly expecting them to follow her.
Sarah sighed, pulling her hands from her face and giving Leo a look that was a mixture of exasperation and amusement. "Well, this is going to be interesting," she mumbled. She grabbed his hand. "Come on, babe, let’s go inside."
They both followed Rika into the hotel lobby, which had a distinctly modern yet old-fashioned atmosphere. Instead of overwhelming luxury, there was a sense of elegance all around, drawing inspiration from minimalist Japanese design. Polished dark wood reflected under the room’s lighting. Carefully pruned bonsai trees and tidy arrangements of bamboo and stones added touches of nature and tranquility. The atmosphere carried a subtle, calming forestry fragrance, perhaps a hint of sandalwood or green tea, mixed with the scent of Rika’s perfume...
They walked passed a small reception desk, where an attendant in a yukata offered a slight bow as Rika walked past.
"She always does this," Sarah whispered to Leo as they walked towards a private elevator. "Invites you to one thing, and it turns out to be something completely different. It’s her way of doing things."
Leo could only nod, his mind still trying to adjust to the new reality...