Chapter 16 Decision

Chapter 16 Decision
I glanced at the clock on my phone, which read five in the afternoon. My heart still felt empty. Today, the shock I felt was even stronger. I felt a strange sense of loss when Leo left. He was a stranger I'd only known for three days, yet somehow I felt very close to him.

"Excuse me, Hana. Have you been waiting long?" Mr. Kiyose said as soon as he arrived in front of me.

"Oh no, I just arrived too. Sorry for asking you to meet on a Sunday like this, Mr. Kiyose!"

"It's okay, Hana! You sounded so desperate, so I thought you might need some help," Mr. Kiyose said, pulling out a chair directly in front of me.

"Thank you for coming to see me. I just thought you might know something."

"What is it? Is there something you want to know from me?"

"Is it about Leo?"

"Leo? You mean Galileo Morrone? Your co-star in two films?"

"Ah yes, he's the one I wanted to ask you about."

"What do you want to know about him?" Mr. Kiyose's eyebrows began to furrow, as if he were suspicious.

"How does Mr. Alex Tanaka know him?"

"Mr. Alex?"

"I mean, how did they meet?"

"So you're curious about that?"

"He actually stayed at my house for three days, did you know that?"

"Really? He stayed at your house? Don't you live with your mother and two stepsisters?"

"Yes, he claimed he didn't have enough money for food or a hotel room for some reason. So he asked me to let him stay at my house for a few days until he got his money back."

"So you let him stay?"

"Yes, he kept begging, and I had no choice but to let him stay."

"Oh my, he's really a sensational young man."

"Sensational?"

"Well, he's definitely not that poor. He came to town and offered to film some scenes just to have fun and show off his big dick to everyone. He's a very daring young man!"

"What does that mean?"

"Listen, Hana, you don't have to take his advances too seriously because he's clearly just out to have fun. He's a bad boy, a real bad boy. So be careful with him!" Mr. Kiyose said, warning me about Leo. However, that didn't answer the question I wanted to ask.

"Have you known him before?"

"Yes, I met him three years ago when I was on vacation in Las Vegas to gamble at a casino. I lost a lot of money and was losing until Galileo came along and offered to help me. I tried his services as a jockey, and he ended up winning me quite a bit of money. I have to admit, he's very good at it."

"You mean Leo is a jockey at a casino?"

"I've heard a lot of rumors about him, but the most surprising one was the rumor that he was a member of a very famous gang in America."

"Gangster?"

"More precisely, the mafia. I don't know much about his identity, but he was the one who lent Mr. Alex some money to open a business and Mr. Alex chose the adult film industry as a very promising business."

I was shocked to hear Mr. Kiyose's statement, which was so far beyond my expectations of Leo. Really? Leo, who didn't even have money to pay for a bowl of ramen, was the one who lent my boss the money to make a movie?

"That's impossible."

"You seem very surprised, huh? He's a strange young man indeed, and I don't know what his motives were for joining the film, but after reading your profile, he suddenly asked Mr. Alex to let him star opposite you."

"H-he read my profile? Y-you mean he already knows my real name?"

"It's possible, because your profile with Mr. Alex includes your personal information."

"No way. If he's already read my profile, that means he already knows my real name. Is that why he suddenly asked to stay at my house? What's his real goal?" I thought. I felt extremely uneasy, unable to imagine what Leo was planning to do to make such a big deal out of me.

"Hana? Are you okay? Why are you daydreaming? What exactly happened?"

"Mr. Kiyose, can I ask you a favor? Just this once, can you help me?"

"What's wrong, Hana? What can I do for you?"

"Can you tell me the name of the casino where you and Leo first met?"

"It was called The Royal."

I hurriedly packed my things before sunrise tomorrow morning. I didn't have much time, as I was sure Mom, Mei, and Sora wouldn't let me leave so easily.

I had to go to Las Vegas and see Leo. I was sure he'd already returned to America, knowing that I would most likely come looking for him once I found out who he really was and his true intentions.

All I had was two large suitcases, and I couldn't possibly bring any more.

My heart was beating very fast when I realized it was almost morning, and Mr. Kiyose still hadn't arrived to pick me up.

Dring...dring...

My phone rang, and I quickly opened it to see who was calling.

"Mr. Kiyose? Hello?" I said nervously.

"I'm in front of your house! You can come out now!"

"Okay, I'll be right there!" I said, grabbing my two suitcases and hurrying off before anyone woke up.

At the gate, I saw Mr. Kiyose's car parked, and without further ado, I loaded the suitcases into the trunk before getting in and sitting in the passenger seat.

"Sorry, Hana, I should have helped you load your suitcases!"

"It's okay, Mr. Kiyose! You're already willing to take me to the airport, and I'm very happy."

"Are you sure you really want to go there?"

"I'm sure. I have business with Leo and I need to finish it soon!"

"I don't know what exactly your business is with him, but what about your filming schedule for your next movie? Have you told Mr. Alex you're leaving?"

"No—"

"Really?"

"I'll call him when I get there, because right now the most important thing is that I have to see Leo."