-Haruka POV-
Levi hadn't told me where we were going, only that I had to trust him. I wasn't sure if that was a good or bad thing, but I went along with it anyway.
It wasn't until we stopped in front of a small, charming cafe tucked between two larger buildings that I finally understood. The scent of fresh pastries filled the air, and the display window showcased an array of cakes, tarts and sweets that instantly caught my attention.
Levi glanced at me, smirking. "Figured you'd like this place."
I blinked at him. "This cafe just opened last week, and I've been wanting to come here. How did you know?" I said excitedly.
He let out a chuckle. "You talk about desserts more than anything else." He shrugged. "Wasn't hard to figure out."
I felt a warmth creep up my neck but chose to ignore it. Instead, I turned toward the glass case, eyes scanning the selection. "This place looks good."
Levi held the door open for me. "Then let's go in."
The inside was even cozier than I expected. Soft lighting, the gentle hum of conversation, the smell of sugar and butter in the air. It was perfect. Luckily, there aren't many people since it's a working hour.
I didn't waste any time picking out what I wanted. A slice of strawberry shortcake, chocolate eclair, fruit tart, Paris-Brest, chocolate souffle, and strawberry milkshake. Levi raised an eyebrow at the amount, but he didn't say anything. Instead, he ordered an Earl Grey tea and a small croissant for himself before leading us to a table by the window. Ten minutes later, everything we've ordered arrived.
As soon as I took the first bite of my cake, I let out an involuntary sigh. "This is so good."
Levi sipped his tea, watching me with an amused look. "I don't get how you can eat that much sugar in a day."
I huffed. "Because it makes me happy."
He shook his head but didn't argue. Instead, he reached for my plate, swiping a bit of cream off my cake with a small spoon provided and shovelling it into his mouth.
"Hey!" I frowned. "That's mine."
Levi smirked. "Tastes better when it's yours."
I narrowed my eyes, but I couldn't hide the way my heart skipped a beat at his words.
We spent the next hour talking about nothing and everything. Complaining about work, teasing each other, and just… enjoying the moment. For the first time in what felt like forever, I wasn't thinking about Claude, or Ray, or the mess I had thrown myself into.
It was just me and Levi. And for now, that was enough.
After leaving the cafe, Levi and I wandered through the city, letting the day unfold without a real plan. That was how we ended up in a small, quiet bookstore nestled between two larger shops.
Levi had spotted it first, and the moment I noticed where his gaze had landed, I already knew we'd be stopping there.
"You want to go in?" I asked, though I already knew the answer.
Levi gave me a look. "Obviously."
I chuckled and followed him inside.
The bookstore had an old-warm charm, wooden shelves stretching from floor to ceiling, warm lighting, and the faint scent of aged paper mixed with fresh ink. It was the kind of place that felt timeless.
Levi immediately drifted towards a section filled with books on classical paintings, sculpture, and music theory. I wasn't surprised. I've known about his love for the arts even if he didn't talk about it much.
He pulled out a hardcover book, flipping through the pages with a look of deep focus. His fingers traced over a page featuring a Renaissance painting, his expression unreadable.
"You should just buy it." I said, leaning against the shelf beside him.
"I already have too many books." Levi said that with a sigh.
"So?" I smirked. "That's never stopped you before, I guess."
He didn't respond, but after a moment, he closed the book and held onto it. I took that as a win.
While Levi browsed more books on arts and music, I let my eyes wander. A few titles caught my attention. Complex historical theories, scientific journals, and literature from different countries. I picked up one, skimming through it at a pace most people would struggle to keep up with.
"You're actually reading that?" Levi asked after a while, watching me as I flipped through the pages.
I nodded absently. "It's interesting. Why? Is there any problem?" I asked, raising my brow.
Levi scoffed. "Figures. You could probably finish that entire thing in one sitting. You're a genius, after all."
I shrugged. Well, he wasn't wrong.
Eventually, Levi stopped in front of a section dedicated to classical composers. His fingers brushed over the spines before pulling out a book about Beethoven. He stared at it for a long moment before tucking it under his arm.
"You like Beethoven, huh?" I mused.
Levi hummed in response. "He composed some of his best works even after going deaf. That kind of dedication is rare."
I watched the way his eyes lingered on the pages, the way his fingers carefully turned them as if handling something delicate.
"Can you play any of his masterpieces?" I asked.
Levi hesitated for a split second before answering. "Well, I guess you could say that."
"Then, could you play for me once?" I asked, blinking my eyes. Of course he can. He played one of the hardest songs the other day.
He let out a soft chuckle. "Sure. I'll play any songs you want me to play." He replied with a bright smile, which made my heart skip a beat.
Without thinking, I reached over and grabbed another book. It's about music compositions. "Here."
Levi raised an eyebrow. "What's this?"
"Well, in case you wanted to be a composer in the future." I replied with a smirk.
He stared at me for a moment before clicking his tongue. "Tch. You know I'm going to focus on the arts in the future."
He said that, but he didn't put the book back.
After browsing for a while longer, we paid for our books. Well, Levi's paying, by the way. Levi with his art and music selections and me with a few titles that had caught my interest. It's been a while since I've gotten books.
As we stepped outside, the sun was beginning to set, casting a warm glow over the streets. I didn't know my day off was going to be over.
Levi glanced at me. "Where to next?"
I thought for a moment before grinning. "How about the street market? Maybe I'll find more sweets."
Levi sighed, but there was no real annoyance in his expression. "Fine. But if you buy more than three things, I'm cutting you off."
I rolled my eyes. "Yeah, yeah. Let's go." I grabbed his arm to follow me.
And with that, we continued our day, wandering aimlessly, but together. Honestly, I didn't want this day to end.
//SKIP//
The office was quiet. Too quiet.
I leaned back in my chair, staring at the skyline through the large window. My thoughts drifted, as they had been for the past week.
Levi.
It was strange how natural it had become, having him by my side, in my bed, in my life. What started as something impulsive had turned into something more. A routine. A habit I wasn't sure I wanted to break.
One night, he slept at my place. The next, I found myself waking up in his bed. And then it repeated, over and over, as if it had always been this way.
It wasn't just sex. It was the quiet moments in between.
The way he always made my favourite hot chocolate for me in the morning without asking how I took it, because he already knew. The way his hand would linger on my wrist just a second longer than necessary. The way he let himself relax around me, showing parts of himself I was sure few had ever seen.
I exhaled, rubbing my temple.
And then there was Ray.
He had kept his words. Guarding me 24/7, strengthening security at my place, even moving into a hotel suite where my place was to keep an eye on me. But he never hovered. Never interfered. Just watched from afar, making sure nothing or no one got too close.
Claude's voice echoed in my mind.
"But don't think for a second that this is over."
I know. I know it's not over yet. I wasn't stupid enough to think he'd given up. He was biding his time. And I had no idea what his next move would be.
"You're thinking too much."
I jolted slightly, snapping out of my thoughts as Levi's voice pulled me back to the present.
He stood in front of my desk, arms crossed, watching me with that sharp gaze that always felt like it could see through everything. "We have a meeting in fifteen minutes."
I blinked, momentarily forgetting about the upcoming schedule. I had been lost in my thoughts that I almost lost track of time. Straightening in my chair, I grabbed the tablet from my desk. "Right. The board meeting with the senior executives. Everything is prepared."
Levi nodded in approval but didn't move immediately. Instead, he leaned against my desk, his gaze lingering on me. "You good?"
I exhaled, setting the tablet down for a moment. "Yeah. Just thinking."
Levi didn't buy it. He never did when I brushed things off easily. He studied me for a moment before pushing off the desk. "Come on. Let's go."
I followed him, adjusting my tie as we made our way to the conference room. The air was thick with professionalism, but the moment we entered, all eyes shifted to Levi. He carried an effortless presence, one that commanded respect without saying a word. I had seen it time and time again.
As we took our seats, Levi reviewed the key points on the agenda, his fingers tapping lightly on the table.
The meeting began, and as expected, Levi handled everything smoothly. His words were measured, his responses direct, leaving no room for unnecessary debate.
As the discussion shifted to future expansion projects, one of the senior executives turned to Levi. "Mr. Ackerman, while the proposal is promising, there are concerns regarding the projected costs. Have you considered alternative funding sources?"
Levi barely hesitated before replying."Mr. Auclair, give them the breakdown of our latest financial model."
Without missing a beat, I pulled up the relevant report on my tablet and explained, "Based on our most recent analysis, the current budget allocation allows flexibility for external investments without compromising operational efficiency. Additionally, we have identified potential partners willing to co-finance the project with minimal risk."
"Sorry to interrupt, Mr. Auclair. Well, if that's not enough, I can be part of the partners too." Levi said that sarcastically. Well, he's actually giving a warning not to ask unnecessary questions when everything was already provided.
Then he leaned back slightly, allowing my words to settle. The executives exchanged glances before nodding in understanding.
By the time the meeting concluded, decisions had been made, and Levi's authority remained unquestioned. As we stepped out of the room, he exhaled quietly, adjusting his cufflinks. "You handled that well." He said with a smile.
I smirked. "Of course. That's what I'm here for."
Levi scoffed, but there was something in his gaze, an unspoken acknowledgement. Without another word, we walked side by side towards our office.
-Levi POV-
-Levi's Office-
The meeting just ended, and here I am in my office alone. I sat at my desk, fingers tapping idly against the surface as I glanced at the time. It's almost lunch hour.
I sighed, leaning my back against my chair.
My thoughts lingered, thinking about Haruka. Haruka was hiding something, and I'm sure of it.
It wasn't just his usual deflections or sarcastic remarks. It was something deeper, something heavier. And no matter how much I pushed, he wasn't letting me in.
I clicked my tongue in annoyance.
Just as I was about to look at the folders on my desk, my phone buzzed.
A message.
My brows furrowed as I picked it up. An unknown number.
"Let's meet. I have something important to tell you. It's about Haruka Charles Auclair."
TO BE CONTINUED!!!
PS/: ACTUALLY, I'M REALLY NERVOUS. PLEASE WISH ME LUCK ON MY INTERNSHIP :')