Lukas smirked faintly. "Don’t worry. I got you."

There was a brief pause, then the tone shifted, lighter.

"So... what are you doing this week?"

Lukas glanced briefly at Joanna, then back ahead. "Nothing planned. Why?"

"I’m heading to Monaco tomorrow," the voice said. "Got invited to something... a yacht thing. It’s chill. Not one of those crazy parties or anything. You should come."

Lukas raised an eyebrow slightly. "A yacht?"

"Yeah," the voice laughed. "Relax, it’s calm. You’ll be fine."

"That’s not what I’m worried about," Lukas said. "I’ve just never been on one before."

"That’s even better," the guy replied. "Come."

Lukas considered it for a second.

"Can I bring someone?"

"Yeah, of course. Bring whoever."

"Alright," Lukas said. "When?"

"I’m flying out tomorrow. I’ll send you the address. Just meet me there."

"Okay."

The call ended.

For a moment, Lukas just looked at his phone.

Then he turned his head slightly, looking up at Joanna.

"Were you serious earlier?" he asked.

She raised an eyebrow. "About what?"

"About not leaving my side."

She smiled faintly. "I was."

Lukas nodded once.

"Good," he said. "Then get ready."

She frowned slightly. "For what?"

He sat up now, looking at her properly.

"We’re going to Monaco tomorrow," he said. "We’re getting on a boat."

There was a brief pause. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

Then her expression changed.

* * *

The lobby of the Fairmont Monte Carlo carried a quiet kind of authority. Marble floors stretched beneath towering chandeliers, and every movement inside felt measured, intentional.

High ceilings. Marble floors. Soft lighting that reflected off polished surfaces. The kind of quiet luxury where even the smallest movement felt intentional. Outside, Monaco moved at its usual pace—cars, tourists, sunlight bouncing off the water—but inside, everything was controlled.

Lukas stood near the center of the lobby, phone in hand.

He had dressed light for the weather—an oversized white t-shirt, loose and breathable, paired with beige tailored shorts that sat just above the knee. On his feet were clean white Puma sneakers, simple but sharp, and a black cap rested low on his head, not hiding his face but framing it.

Joanna stood beside him, dressed just as effortlessly—summer light, relaxed, but put together in a way that fit the place without trying too hard.

Lukas raised the phone to his ear.

"I’m here."

There was a short response.

"Alright."

He lowered the phone.

"He said he’ll be down in a minute."

Joanna nodded slightly, looking around the lobby with quiet curiosity.

Less than two minutes later, a side door connected to the private section of the hotel opened.

Lukas’ attention shifted immediately.

A figure stepped out first.

Then another.

And then—

Musiala.

He walked toward them with a relaxed stride, a faint smile already on his face. Behind him was a girl, around their age, calm, composed, moving naturally beside him.

"Lukas," Musiala said, extending his hand.

"Jamal," Lukas replied, stepping forward to meet it.

They shook hands, firm but easy.

For a brief second, Lukas’ eyes dropped to Musiala’s leg—just instinct. The injury from April had been serious enough to keep him out for a while, but now... he looked fine.

Back.

"Good to see you," Lukas said.

"You too," Musiala replied.

He turned slightly, gesturing toward the girl beside him.

"This is Leah," he said. "My girlfriend."

Leah smiled, offering her hand.

"Nice to meet you."

"Lukas," he said, shaking it briefly. "Nice to meet you too."

He stepped slightly to the side, motioning toward Joanna.

"And this is Joanna."

Joanna smiled, stepping forward. "Hi."

Leah returned it easily. "Hi."

There was a brief moment where the four of them just stood there, the introductions settling naturally.

Then Musiala gestured toward the elevator.

"Come," he said. "Let’s go up."

The suite matched the rest of the hotel.

Spacious. Open. Glass walls looking out over the water, sunlight pouring in, everything designed to feel effortless. Bags had already been placed neatly, drinks set out, the space prepared in advance.

They didn’t rush.

They talked.

Simple things at first—travel, the final, the call-up, small jokes about the upcoming international duty. The conversation moved easily, no tension, no pressure.

After what felt like ages talking, Musiala checked the time.

"We should head out," he said.

Lukas nodded.

Joanna stood.

Leah grabbed her bag.

And together, they left the suite.

* * *

The port of Monaco carried a different kind of energy from anything Lukas had experienced before. It wasn’t loud or chaotic like Frankfurt after the final; it was controlled, polished, almost deliberate in the way everything moved. The yachts lined along the harbor looked less like boats and more like floating statements, each one pristine, each one larger and more extravagant than the last.

Lukas stood for a moment at the edge of the dock, taking it all in as the sunlight reflected off the water in sharp flashes. The air smelled faintly of salt and fuel, mixed with something expensive he couldn’t quite place.

"This is insane," he said quietly.

Musiala, already a few steps ahead, glanced back at him with a small grin. "You’ll get used to it."

"I don’t think I will," Lukas replied, shaking his head slightly.

Joanna stood close beside him, her hand brushing lightly against his arm as she looked out over the harbor. "You might have to," she said, her tone calm but teasing. "This is starting to look like your world."

Lukas exhaled through his nose, not fully agreeing, but not denying it either.

Ahead of them, the yacht Musiala had pointed out stood out immediately. It was large, sleek, and modern, its white exterior broken only by long panels of tinted glass. Crew members moved across the deck with quiet efficiency, preparing everything before departure.

"That’s the one," Musiala said.

They walked up the boarding ramp, greeted briefly by a member of the crew who stepped aside without question. Everything had clearly been arranged in advance.

As Lukas stepped onto the yacht, he felt the slight shift beneath his feet, subtle but unmistakable. It wasn’t enough to throw him off balance, but it was enough to remind him that he was no longer on solid ground.

He adjusted instinctively and kept moving.

The main deck opened into a wide lounge area, with low white seating arranged neatly around glass tables. Drinks had already been set out, and soft music played in the background, just loud enough to fill the space without interrupting conversation. Toward the back, a dining area overlooked the water, while a staircase curved upward toward the upper deck.

There weren’t many people there. A handful, maybe ten at most, scattered across the deck in small groups, talking, laughing, moving around freely.

It wasn’t a party in the way Lukas had imagined.

It was quieter.

More controlled.

"See?" Musiala said, walking beside him. "Nothing crazy."

Lukas nodded slowly as he looked around. "Yeah... this is different."

Leah had already moved ahead, greeting a couple of people near the lounge, while Joanna followed at a relaxed pace, blending into the environment without hesitation. Lukas stayed near the center of the deck for a moment, still taking everything in before eventually following Musiala toward the upper level.

A/N: THIS IS PURE FICTION!!! THERE’S NO ATOM OF IRL TRUTH TO ANYTHING/PERSONS IN THIS