I wore the clothes and even the damn socks he brought. Damn. Money is really something. Every piece of clothing felt like it was created for me, completely wrapping me in expensive fabric. He probably got my measurements from my agency. Damn, money is sure something.

I left the room with my expensive and amazing-smelling armor; luckily, the lion wasn't there. I walked down the stairs to the living room. He wasn't there either. As I was glancing around to find him, I heard that locking mechanism from his door.

My moment of bliss in expensive gear was cut short with that sharp, metallic click. Then I saw him looking at me from the mezzazine overlooking the living room, in front of his locked room. He was practically still for a second and then came down the stairs.

He was really pale. My heart skipped a beat. I also thought he was pale when I saw him earlier, but he was pale again, a sickly pale with a glazed shadow in his eyes.

With a tiny concern in my voice, I asked, "Are you okay? You don't look so good."

He swayed his hand stiffly. "I am deeply offended. It took me months to get this suit tailored for this dinner."

"That's not what I'm saying. You look like you are about to pass out."

"Apologies," he said while placing his palm to cover his face. "Social outings are my weakness; I cannot stand them." Then he rubbed his face. Levi having a weakness—it almost sounds unbelievable. I was unsure of what to say. Is it possible to comfort him?

"Uhm..." I murmured with confusion. "Okay... What can I do to help?"

Levi removed his hand and looked at my confused face. "It seems that I worried you. It is needless to be concerned. I have spent my entire life in socialites like this one," he said. That noble blood of his.

"Do we just go then?" I asked.

Levi straightened his shoulders and ruffled his hair. "Yes, the carpool will be here in ten minutes."

"Carpool?"

"Of course. Since I took half the day off, I have things to discuss with my secretaries," he said.

I scrunched my nose in disgust. "Ew. Holden is going to be with us the entire ride. Now I'm going to get sick." My subtle attempt at elevating the mood worked; he chuckled.

"I told you already, I can fire him right this second. It would save him the ride," he said. A knot formed in my stomach.

"It is unsettling when you say things like that," I stated to him. Because it reminded me of my own place, how he can also get rid of me with a flick of his hand.

He casually shrugged. "Why would it unsettle you? I would fire him so you wouldn't scrunch your nose."

Without context, it might have sounded sweet. "No, just don't. It feels weird to talk about someone's livelihood like that."

"As you wish, Raphael," he said with his unchanged expression. But, a silver lining in the rainy clouds, his complexion was much better. He really did enjoy casual banter. I mean, if you can call it 'casual'.

…

Minutes later, a black van with tinted windows pulled up in front of the house, and we left. Holden, his suit impeccably tailored, got out of the car first, opening the back seat door for us. He bowed to both of us. "Good evening, Mr. Blake." Levi nodded curtly in response.

Why do people bow in this day and age?

Levi gestured for me to get into the car first, and I complied. To my surprise, there was someone else inside, sitting across from me. It was a woman, in another tailored suit with a black pencil skirt. Impeccable hair and black stilettos told me she was Holden V2. I stiffened.

She bowed without getting out of her seat. "Good evening, Mr. Blake."

Why was she bowing? Just stop. I waved my hand to make her stop. She lifted her head, and I could finally see her face in the dim light of the car.

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Prejudice is a scary thing. She had doe eyes, sparkling with respect and admiration. "Please accept our apologies for inconveniencing you." Her voice was buttery and smooth. I needed that warm voice after spending a week with Levi. My eyebrows shot up in surprise.

"No, no. Of course not." I relaxed slightly and placed my head against the leather cushion.

First Levi, then Holden got inside. Immediately after that, Holden closed the van door. Levi sat next to me, while Holden sat across from us. Both secretaries had their tablets out. Levi gave Holden a quick nod, and Holden knocked on the driver's glass. The engine started running, and a soft hum filled my ears. The people in this car, without making a sound, did everything Levi didn't say aloud, like a well-oiled machine.

As we silently took off, Levi extended his hand towards the woman. "This is Annie." Annie responded with a polite, silent nod. Oh, God. This car needs noise, like music or something. Everything is silent between these three. Am I the odd one here? Levi gaze remained fixed straight ahead, ignoring the silence. Annie's posture was rigid, her attention fixed on her tablet. Someone say something. I shifted uncomfortably, my eyes darting between the silent figures.

The least expected person finally made a noise. Holden took an exasperated breath, filled with terror. Annie and Levi lifted their heads, waiting for him to speak urgently. Holden flipped his screen towards Levi and spoke. "They did it again, Mr. Blake. They postponed our meeting for the third time in a week."

Levi's expression was something out of a slasher movie. Since I was seated next to him, I could see his jaw tighten in anger. The fist he clenched while gripping the edge of the leather seat was making noises. His thick brows were furrowed with fury. He glanced at Annie, his eyes like dark bullets. Annie flinched slightly and nodded.

At that point, I was scared shitless to ask what was going on. Who were they? What meeting? I wasn't even sure I wanted to know. Levi took a deep breath to compose himself. Annie, thank God, finally did whatever Levi asked her to do.

"Sir," Annie said, her voice strained, "they just released a statement saying they're halting stock trading to make reforms within the company. They also had massive layoffs in the last week."

Levi's eyes narrowed, and his jaw tightened again.

"I told her to wait, and she flew over my head," he said. Oh, shit's about to hit the fan. I could feel it in my bones. The air inside the car was ice cold.

"She just needed to wait one more month." Levi spoke in a whisper through clenched teeth. While Levi's gaze was fixed on the outside, Holden broke the silence. "Sir, I can schedule a meeting with her."

Her? Who's her?

Levi turned his face to Holden, his eyes cold and devoid of emotion. "Tell her to come to my house later tonight." Levi turned to Annie, his eyes like chips of ice. "And tell Julia to clean up her mess before I do."

Shit, is this about Julia? And Levi called her to our house. My heart pounded. I eventually wanted to talk to her about him, but I wasn't sure if I was ready. Levi's gaze remained fixed on the outside, his expression unreadable. Annie's hands tightened on her tablet. "Yes, I will tell her."

If we were alone, I would probably bitch to Levi about inviting his ex to the house, but how could I possibly do that right now? Levi remained silent, his gaze fixed on the outside, oblivious to my internal turmoil. Holden and Annie were both glancing back and forth between me and Levi. Annie was practically begging to speak with her eyes. "Sir..." she finally said, trembling. Levi glanced back without turning his face. "According to our intel, stockholders want to pull our product launch to an earlier date."

"Sure, let's release a drug without clinical trials, possibly committing mass murder with a glass of water."

Levi's sarcasm, which was usually playful and teasing, was not joking this time.

"Understood, sir," Annie said, her voice audibly trembling. Both secretaries, with their grim and pale faces, were fixated on their work. Levi was still looking outside.

Okay, Raphael. My stomach is in knots, and I feel like I'm about to puke because of the intense air. My current husband invited his ex to our house, potentially about the bankruptcy of her company. What can I do to lighten the mood? It's the only thing I'm good at. Do something, or I'm going to roll down the window and barf.

"You guys are going to give me indigestion at dinner," I said. Come on brain, is indigestion the best you can come up with? Levi will probably shove an antacid into my mouth. Levi turned his face to me, and I immediately shuddered. Why did I open my stupid mouth?

"Accept our apologies, work is becoming more and more hectic these days," he said in his usual flat voice. Okay, it didn't go that bad. Let me take another step to elevate this grim mood. Yet my brain was useless to make another joke. So, I placed my hand on Levi's hand and told him, "It seems so, but I think you'll be alright."

My hands were a little smaller than his, and his hands were cold to the touch as always. "I appreciate your gesture," he said without moving his hand or gaze. Then he continued. "Right, let us discuss something else. I was not expecting potential corporate espionage. Apologies about my anger."

Annie and Holden looked at their tablets, but did not make a sound or look up. They did shift slightly in their seats. I thought the intense air was slightly less tense, though still very much present.

He glanced at his secretaries. "If you have anything else to add, say it right now." With Levi's command, Annie first glanced at me, then Levi. "Sir, the Ministry of Health doesn't want to approve our process for a new potential drug." Holden intercepted with disdain in his voice. "The Minister always does that; he just wants to talk at the dinner with the King about how he holds us back with an email."

Levi flicked his hand. "Do not bother me with that 'noble'. If he wants to boast to the King, speak to the King's physician; he'll know what to do." Annie and Holden nodded quickly.

During the entire conversation, my hand was still on Levi's. He didn't pull back. The road and them talking about how Levi basically owned the King's physician continued while my mind wondered whether he actually wanted to hold hands.