Chapter 32: Chapter 32: The First Date
At the Central Perk café by the lake in Central Park.
The afternoon sun, like golden velvet, wrapped itself around the windows, casting a warm, orange glow inside the café.
In the sunniest window seat, a man and woman were on a date.
The man was tall, muscular, and strikingly handsome. His sharply defined features were like a Renaissance sculpture, giving him a presence that stood out even among other attractive men. His deep, dark eyes held a slight melancholy, adding an artistic flair to his charm, making him even more unique.
Sitting across from him was a stunningly beautiful woman with an exceptionally curvy figure.
She was dressed in an oversized, form-fitting sweater paired with knee-high boots, perfectly highlighting her voluptuous curves and long legs.
In the golden sunlight, her honey-colored skin glowed with a soft red hue, like melted honey, giving the air around her a sweet and sultry aura.
"Brown gave a silent compliment, set down two cups of coffee, and smiled, 'Enjoy!'"
"Thank you!"
Luca nodded politely.
"Luca, has the issue with the book publication been resolved?"
After the waiter left, Lima stirred her coffee and asked softly.
"Yes, the contract is signed. The physical book should be out next month."
The signing process had gone smoothly. Kate wasn't in it for the money; she just wanted the novel published and was willing to compromise on royalties.
Felix, on the other hand, saw it as a favor, never expecting the novel to become a hit.
It was a simple deal.
"Congratulations, Luca! You're about to become a famous author!"
Lima raised her coffee cup in a toast.
"No, Kate is the author," Luca corrected.
"Alright, a toast to the great author, Kate!"
Lima took a sip of her coffee, then suddenly smiled. "But it seems you've put Kate in a tough spot again."
"What do you mean?"
Luca was confused.
Lima shrugged and started explaining slowly.
A few days ago, Kate's submissions had been repeatedly rejected, and somehow, word of this spread in the modeling world.
Whenever people saw her, they teased her by calling her the "great author."
Those who didn't get along with Kate gossiped behind her back, saying she was uneducated and vain for thinking she could be a writer. Many people took pleasure in her rejections.
Some even said her writing was trash, which is why it was turned down.
Kate was really upset and even had a huge argument with one of them.
"Ugh, I didn't think it would turn out like this."
Luca rubbed his forehead.
Originally, he thought the book would be published without a hitch, hoping it could help Kate transition from modeling to writing. But now, seeing how many times it had been rejected, he regretted making Kate bear the burden.
Kate had never brought up these troubles at home, which made Luca feel even guiltier.
"It's alright. Kate doesn't care about these things," Lima said with a soft smile.
Luca shook his head, feeling like ever since he entered Kate's life, he had only brought her more trouble. From her breakup with Leo to the car accident to this novel writing business—he wondered when he'd finally just be a peaceful, untroubled man.
"Luca, look over there!"
Lima suddenly raised her eyebrows toward the entrance.
Luca turned to look and saw Leonardo and Gisele holding hands as they walked in.
The golden couple instantly drew everyone's attention as they entered, though the clientele here were discreet enough not to make a fuss.
Leo was heading for a corner booth—he was a huge celebrity and didn't like sitting in obvious spots.
But Gisele tugged his hand and pointed to Luca and Lima.
Leo looked surprised but followed Gisele over.
"Hey, Leo. Hey, Gisele," Luca and Lima greeted them.
"Wow, Luca, and Lima, are you guys on a date?" Gisele asked, surprised.
"Yes, Luca and I are on a date," Lima said with a smile.
Gisele's lips curled slightly in a thin smile. "Lima, I have to say, you've got quite unique taste."
The word "unique" was emphasized, and with her expression, it was clearly meant as a jab.
It was both an insult to Lima's taste and a dig at Luca. Even though Luca had gained a bit of fame recently, the general perception of him was still that of a washed-up, crippled loser.
Lima narrowed her eyes slightly and smiled. "Gisele, your taste is also quite unique. You and Leo make a perfect match."
Leo had a notorious reputation as a womanizer. After breaking up with Kate, people even called him a jerk. Naturally, a perfect match for a jerk could only be a "jerkette."
"Thank you!"
Gisele swayed her hips as she moved to a booth nearby.
"Ha!"
Leo, caught in the middle, let out a couple of awkward laughs and asked, "Luca, how's your back?"
Luca gave a slight smile, "Almost healed. Thanks for asking."
Leo nodded and gave a thumbs-up. "I saw your interview with Superman last time—you were really brave."
"Thanks!" Luca smiled.
"Yeah, but let me give you some advice: you should be resting at home, not out here chasing girls with an injured back. That's not bravery!"
Leo laughed and returned to his booth, clearly still holding a grudge about the last time Luca hung up on him.
Luca smiled awkwardly. He had hoped that Leo was over their past conflicts and that they could talk normally. But the sudden jab showed that Leo hadn't forgotten. What a sneaky guy.
He and Lima exchanged helpless glances. A perfectly nice date, ruined by running into those two—what bad luck.
"Luca, maybe we should go. The movie's about to start," Lima suggested.
"Alright."
Luca stood up, leaning on his cane, when he overheard Gisele and Leo talking.
"Haha, Leo, did you know Kate's writing a novel? She actually thinks she can be a writer!" Gisele laughed.
"Really? I thought she only did one year of college," Leo replied.
"Yup! She finished a novel about vampires and submitted it to several publishers. But guess what? They all rejected it! Haha!"
"Is that so?"
Leo mumbled, then turned to Luca. "Hey, I know a few publishers. If Kate needs help, I could introduce her to some."
"Leo!"
Gisele's tone was filled with displeasure.
"Gisele, we're all friends. It's no big deal," Leo insisted.
"Leo, thank you on Kate's behalf," Luca smiled.
"Ha!"
Gisele scoffed. Of course, she would still need Leo's help.
"But no need," Luca added. "Kate's novel has already been signed. It'll be on shelves next month. If you're interested, feel free to check it out."
"No way!"
Gisele was shocked.
"Haha, it's true, Gisele. Greenwood Publishing is a very reputable company," Lima chimed in with a smile.
Gisele's face darkened but then smiled sarcastically. "Well, even if it's published, it probably won't sell."
"We'll see!"
Luca grinned, helped Lima into her coat, and said goodbye as they left the café.
In the sunlight outside the door, the two walked closely together, drawing the eyes of onlookers—a tall, handsome man and a sexy, curvy woman.
"They really do make a good pair," Leo said with a soft laugh.
"Hmph, just a loser who relies on women!"
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