-Levi POV-
The moment the car pulled up in front of the Ackerman Group Hotel, the doormen were already in information. As I stepped out, the soft click of polished shoes against pavement echoed beneath the golden glow of the entrance lights. The revolving doors parted, and a synchronised greeting welcomed me with practiced precision.
"Welcome, Mr. Ackerman." The manager greeted me with a poised smile, though I could see the nerves behind his eyes. "We've been expecting you."
I didn't return the smile, but a curt nod was enough. I wasn't in the mood for small talk or formalities, not after I was forced to come here. Luckily, Haruka's text before lightened up my mood for a bit. I wanted to talk to him again.
The marble floors reflected the ambient lighting overhead, and the scent of fresh lilies lingered faintly in the air. Hotel staff lined the way to the elevator, heads slightly bowed, posture straight. Some of them looked nervous. Others, more composed. All of them knew who I was.
I didn't say a word as I made my way to the penthouse floor. They'd already taken care of everything. My luggage had been sent ahead, and the suite was set up exactly how I liked it. Clean lines. Minimalist. No unnecessary clutter. I stepped inside, loosened the top button of my shirt, and exhaled deeply for the first time all day.
Then, I grabbed my phone and sent Haruka a message.
Me: Arrived at the hotel and just entered the penthouse. Staff are still scared shitless of me.
I tossed the phone on the bed and then headed towards the bathroom to splash cold water on my face. I had just returned to the room when the phone was lit up. Haruka is calling.
Facetime.
I quickly answered.
His face lit up the screen, his hair a bit messy, probably from rolling around on the bed. His background was dim, soft light falling on one side of his face. He looked like he'd just finished getting ready for bed or had been waiting for me to call.
"Took you long enough." He said, voice low and teasing.
"I was in the bathroom." I muttered, settling on the couch. "It's night over there. You should be sleeping."
"Not until I see your face." He shot back, a smirk forming on his lips.
Honestly, I was taken aback a bit, but I kept calm. I rolled my eyes but didn't say anything.
"How was the flight?" He asked, concern slipping into his tone.
"Long. Boring. Usual crap. Landed fine. Everyone's here acting like I'm the damn chairman."
He let out a small chuckle. "You're the vice chairman after all. You are Ackerman royalty." Haruka quipped, then leaned closer towards the screen. "You look tired."
"I am." I paused. "Didn't get to eat breakfast yet."
He frowned immediately. "You skip breakfast again? Seriously, I should be going with you."
"I don't have the time yet, and… I was distracted." I said, avoiding eye contact.
He sighed, soft but audible. "Levi…"
"I'm fine." I said. "Don't fuss. I'm not a kid. You just need to wait for me, okay?" I said that softly.
He didn't say anything for a bit. He just stared before sighing slowly again.
"Alright. Are you going to see your uncle?" He asked.
I nodded. "Yeah. Just a short visit. Haven't seen him in a while. Not after Laura's wedding."
"Anything about your grandfather?" He asked, changing the topic.
"No." I replied in a low voice.
"He'll be fine. I'll ask my brother to tell you every single thing." He said with a smile.
"Haru-chan, every single thing is a bit… Your brother's a doctor. He must be super busy." I let out a small chuckle.
"It's been a while since I saw you laugh." He said that with a soft voice, looking at me with loving eyes.
"Ahem. It's late. You should go to sleep." I said, voice softening.
"Alright. Let me know how everything goes later, okay? Oh, and don't forget to eat breakfast first." He said firmly, leaning closer towards the screen.
I sighed. "I will." I replied shortly.
"Good." He paused, then whispered. "I miss you."
Something in my chest tightened.
"...I miss you too." I said with a low voice.
After we hung up, I stared at the now-black screen for a moment longer than I should have. Then I took a shower before going out again to visit Uncle Kenny.
-Ackerman Group, New York Branch-
Now, I'm in front of the main entrance of the Ackerman Group New York Branch. The ride over was quiet, the driver knowing better than to start a conversation. When we pulled up, the guards outside straightened immediately.
I stepped out of the car, nodding once at the guards who straightened at the sight of me. No greetings. No unnecessary words. They knew better.
Inside, the silence grew thicker. Staff watched from the corners of their eyes, pretending to stay busy. I could feel it all. Respect, fear, curiosity. I didn't pay them any mind.
I didn't need directions.
I walked towards the elevator, pressing the 37th floor where his office was. Arriving at the floor, I walked through the familiar corridor that still smelled faintly of varnished wood and stale ambition. Outside the office, his secretary jumped up like she'd seen a ghost. Her fingers hovered over the intercom but didn't press it.
"Good morning, vice chairman. What's bringing you here?" She stood up, bowing slightly.
"I'm meeting my uncle. Is he inside? I already informed him, though." I said with a flat voice.
"Yeah, he is." She replied, trying her best not to stutter.
I nodded and then opened the door.
And there he was.
Kenny Ackerman.
The man who raised me when my father decided to send me to genius school when I was six. Uncle Kenny never once pretended to be gentle. But he taught me how to survive. How to fight for myself. How to be ruthless when I had to and when to hold back. Everything I am now, everything I've built, started with what he gave me.
He was busy looking through the documents, cigarettes in his hand.
"Well, look who decided to come here." Uncle Kenny said, smirking around a half-burnt cigar.
I shut the door behind me and then let out a breath. "Tch. I was forced to come here."
"Hah. Figures. That's just how your father is."
Uncle Kenny gestured to sit across from him, and I did as I was told.
"You still smoke those things?" I asked, nodding at the cigar.
"You think I'm gonna stop just because the world's getting soft?" He snorted. "Hell, no."
The corner of my mouth twitched, just a little.
"You look tired." He said, narrowing his eyes. "Business wearing you down?"
I shrugged. "Not the business. Just the people."
Uncle Kenny grunted, like that made sense.
"So what? You're just here to say hi?" He asked, smoking the rest of his cigar.
I leaned back slightly, resting my arm on the chair. "Just checking. It's been a while, after all."
"Tch. I didn't see that genius secretary of yours. You didn't bring him along?" Uncle Kenny's question made my heart twitch.
"My father said not to bring him along, so what choice do I have?" I avoided making eye contact with him. Haruka is my weakness after all.
"You know," Uncle Kenny paused before continuing talking. "For a long time, I thought your father was gonna ruin you. Sending you away, treating you like a tool to sharpen. But you didn't break."
"No." I said. "I had you."
Kenny froze for a bit. Then he looked away.
"You were a pain in the ass," he muttered. "Stubborn. Angry. Never talked unless I forced you to. But you learnt fast."
"You taught better than he ever did."
He didn't answer, but I caught the way his jaw tensed.
"So, how long are you going to stay here?" He changed the topic.
"I'm not staying long." I said after a moment. "I'll attend the meeting. Then I'm flying back."
"I figured." Uncle Kenny replied. "Got someone waiting, huh?"
He met my gaze and then leaned forward, flicking ash into the tray. Before I could reply, the office door suddenly swung open.
"Uncle Kenny, I…"
The voice stopped mid-sentence.
I turned my head slightly, gaze landing on the last person I expected to see walk through that door.
My younger brother, Louis.
He froze. Hand still on the doorknob, eyes wide like he'd seen a ghost. Or more accurately, like he'd seen me in this office, his new domain. Sort of.
"Levi?" He said cautiously, like testing the air.
I stared at him, expression unreadable. "Louis."
There was a bit of silence.
I hadn't seen him in person since he was sent here five months ago. Not as punishment, of course our father would never call it that. He called it a "learning opportunity," because Louis had screwed up back in Paris and was forced to work here. Of course I'm the reason he's here. So Uncle Kenny got saddled with him, just like he got saddled with me.
Kenny looked amused now, eyes flicking between us. "Look at this. A family reunion. You boys always show up when I'm trying to enjoy a quiet afternoon."
Louis stepped in slowly, clearing his throat and straightening his posture. Still trying to look confident. Still chasing approval.
"I didn't know you were coming." He said to me, "No one told me."
"Wasn't here for you." I replied flatly. "I came to see Uncle Kenny."
His expression faltered for a second before he recovered. "Right… Of course."
The air turned awkward. Heavy.
Uncle Kenny just leaned back again, arms folded like he was watching a good show.
"Well, I'll just come back later." Louis started to turn.
"Stay." I cut in. "You're already here."
He hesitated but came in, standing near the desk, hands behind his back like a scolded intern. That same nervousness he always had around me when he was a kid.
"I heard you're doing some damage control." I said, tone neutral.
Louis winced. "Yeah. I messed up. I'm handling it."
"Hope so. Uncle Kenny doesn't babysit."
"Damn right, I don't," Uncle Kenny muttered.
Louis glanced at him, then back at me. "I'm not here to ask for anything." He said. "I just… didn't expect to see you."
"Clearly."
Silence again.
Then, awkwardly, he cleared his throat. "Do you want to have lunch together later? Just us. If you're not too busy."
I looked at him for a moment. Well, I didn't expect him to ask me to have lunch with him. He seems better than before. I guess sending him here was the right choice after all.
I didn't answer right away. Then finally gave a short nod. "Sure, why not?"
His shoulders eased just a little. "Okay. I'll text you the place later."
"Alright." I replied shortly.
Louis nodded and gave Uncle Kenny a quick glance. "I'm sorry for interrupting. I'll come again after lunch, Uncle Kenny." With that, he left the room.
Kenny snorted under his breath. "You're way too generous sometimes."
"I agreed to lunch. He's my younger brother after all." I muttered.
He gave a low chuckle, tapping the ashtray again. "Still, he looks up to you. Can't blame him."
I didn't respond.
I was already standing, brushing invisible dust from my coat sleeve. "I'll be at the hotel before dinner. Let me know if anything comes up."
Uncle Kenny waved lazily, but his eyes were still sharp. "Don't go too hard on the kid. He's not you."
I paused at the door, turning my head slightly. "Of course he's not."
Then I stepped out into the hall, already bracing for lunch with a brother I barely knew anymore.
TO BE CONTINUED!!!
PS: I WANTED TO POST TWO CHAPTERS A WEEK BUT I'VE BEEN VERY BUSY AND I DIDN'T HAVE THE TIME TO UPDATE THE STORY. I'M REALLY SORRY :')