HIS SECRETARY AGAIN

-Levi POV-

"Mr. Auclair, you're back." A voice spoke. This voice, I knew very well who it belongs to. Of course, it's my father. I look at the door, and there he is, my father. Sophia looks at me with her apologetic face.

"You can leave Sophia." I said, and she bowed before leaving.

"What are you doing here, father?" Even though I already knew why, I asked.

"What? Of course I came to welcome Mr. Auclair back here. How's your vacation, Mr. . Auclair?" My father asked.

"That was great, Vice Chairman. Thank you for asking." Haruka appears to be just playing along with my father.

"That's great to hear that, then. Well, I actually did not expect what Levi said to be true." This old man. He's doing this on purpose.

"I'm sorry, Vice Chairman. But what do you mean by that?" Haruka asked. Clearly, my father's sudden remarks would have confused him.

"Ah, right. Levi said that if Louis stops working here, you'll come back. He even took days off from work to bring you back here. Louis will be off to the States tonight, since you're back here. I guess Levi didn't tell you yet, right? Well, it's good to see you back here, so putting Louis anywhere doesn't matter, right? I did my greeting, so I'll leave now. You don't have to send me off." With that, my father left the room.

"So your father knew?" Haruka looks at me.

"That's the only way to get Louis to stop working here. I need to tell my father. You know my father favors Louis the most. But when it comes to business, of course he'll choose business and since he knows you'll be more useful than Louis, he doesn't care about which branch Louis will work for. I didn't tell him the details, I just mentioned that you left because you had some arguments with Louis, that's all." I tried to explain in the best way I could.

"Working here for more than two years, of course I knew how your father is, and I didn't blame you for what happened. Actually, I should act more like an adult. Well, I guess even a genius can act dumb when they're heartbroken. I should thank you for bringing me back here. To be honest, I don't even know what to do if I stay on that island longer lol." Haruka replied and laughed. This is the first time I see that.

"Then I'll say that again. Welcome back, Mr. Auclair. Please enjoy the coffee." I said that happily.

"Alright, alright. Thank you, Director. Now, you should go back to your office and do your work, sir." Haruka said, asking me to leave.

"You're so mean. I even bought you your favourite coffee." I tried to sound a bit sad, but I guess that doesn't suit me.

"I didn't even ask you to buy me that. And please don't use that tone with me. You're giving me goosebumps." He said, looking at the hairs on his hand.

"Alright, I'll leave. Happy working, Mr. Auclair." With that, I left.

KNOCK!KNOCK!

After 5 minutes, Haruka enters my room.

"Did you miss me already?" I said that playfully, and he just glared at me.

"I'm just doing my job, sir. You have a strategy meeting with all the department representatives at 9. After that, you'll be having a meeting with the finance and marketing departments regarding their new proposals, and the chairman's wife wants you to attend the art exhibition held at the gallery after lunch. At 4 pm. You have a meeting with LK Entertainment regarding the new launch of Ackerman Fashion's new launch. That's all scheduled for today." Ugh. That's a bit tight for today, I guess. Maybe that's because I've been absent for a few days.

"That's too much I need to do today, I guess. Thank you, Mr. Auclair. Oh, btw, please clear my schedule on Thursday. Just move anything I have on that day to tomorrow or Friday." I said that and clearly looked puzzled.

"And may I ask, why, sir?" He asked that politely. I guess he really is different during work hours then.

"I have something to do on that day, so I won't be able to attend any meetings that day." So I hope you can arrange that for me." I look at him, and he just nods.

"Will do, sir." He bowed and was ready to leave, but I stopped him.

"Have lunch with me today, Mr. Auclair." I said that, and he looked at me. Well, I'm not hoping for a positive reply, actually.

"Sure. If that's all, I'll take my leave." With that, he left the room.

Did he really say yes? I didn't expect that. Usually he would turn down even if I tried to force him. I guess we are really getting closer now.

-Haruka POV-

Did I really just say yes to Levi's invitation right now? OMG, I shouldn't agree to go for lunch together. You're stupid, Haruka.

//SKIP//

-Lunch Time-

"Mr. Auclair, let's go." Here he is. He's here at 12 p.m. sharp.

"Do I need to go there together with you, sir? I brought my own car, so I can go there by myself." I seriously don't want to be in the same car with him right now.

"We don't have to go by car. We'll be eating at a nearby restaurant because I need to go to the gallery later. So, why don't we just walk there?" He said that with a smile.

"Sir, why don't we just have lunch together the other time? I think it's better for you to have lunch nearby the gallery, so you wouldn't need to rush later." That's it. I just need to find an excuse for today.

"No worries. I already booked the private dining room and ordered the food. The food will be served as soon as we arrive." That's it. I failed.

"Well, if you insist. After you, sir." I told him to walk out first, and so he did.

We walked just about 5 minutes from the company, and here we are. Sphere Restaurant. I did not expect Levi to reserve a private dining room here, though. Well, since it's the nearest one, maybe that's the reason.

"Mr. Ackerman. We've been expecting you. Let me show you your dining room." The manager greeted Levi once we entered the restaurant and led us to the dining room.

"Please have a seat, sir. The food will be served in a moment." The manager bowed before leaving the room. And just like he said, the food is served moments later.

"Please enjoy the meal, sir. The dessert will be served after the meal." The waiters put all the food on the table, and I was shocked when I looked at it.

"What is this?" I look at Levi with cold eyes.

"What do you mean? It's our meal." Levi said with a smile.

"Levi, I'm not joking around here. You know I can't eat seafood. You said you asked my Hanabi about what I like and don't like. In fact, you already knew that I can't eat seafood, and yet, why is it all seafood dishes here?" I can't control my anger. Was he just trying to play around with me all this time?

"It's not that you can't eat them, it's just that you don't like them. Try them. It's not that bad, seriously." He said in a persuasive tone, I could hear that.

"And who are you to say that to me? It's just that I don't like them? Yes, I don't like them, so I won't eat. You have no right to say something like that to me. Is it due to the fact that I am now treating you more kindly that you display this behaviour towards me? Seriously, I can't get what this guy is thinking right now. He's really trying to get on my nerves.

"Mr. Auclair, I'm sorry if I offended you. I just wanted to enjoy eating seafood with you. I ordered everything with a mild flavor just for you. Please just try it a little, I'm sure you won't regret it. And if you do, I'll ask them to bring other dishes, so please." He keeps convincing me. Why is he trying so hard?

"Why are you trying to make me eat something that I don't like?" I asked him again. Doesn't he say he loves me? Then, why do this?

"I told you, I wanted to enjoy eating seafood with you. We're probably going to eat lunch or dinner together again, right? So please, I'm asking you again to give it a try. Please?" He looks at me with his puppy eyes. Seriously, this guy is behaving like this with me now.

"I agreed to eat with you today as a thank you, nothing else. So don't expect that we're going to have another meal together again in the future." I tried to sound as cold as possible.

"Then that's the whole reason you need to eat them right now. Mr. Auclair, we don't want to waste our time, right? So you better have a try now." This man, he is really annoying right now.

"If you think we're wasting our time right now, then you shoul….." I couldn't finish my sentence. Levi did shove something in my mouth. I couldn't spit it out, so I didn't have any choice but to let it enter my throat.

"What do you think you…" Again, he cut off my words.

"What do you think? It tastes good, right?" Levi asked with a smile, and I just realised I already ate them. Surprisingly, it doesn't taste bad. Actually, it's not that bad.

"Well, I guess it's not that bad." I didn't make eye contact. I feel a bit embarrassed, actually.

"I told you, you won't regret it. Try this one. I've ordered everything that would be easy for you to digest." He puts everything he wants me to try on my plate. A smile never left his lips. He's really enjoying himself right now, even though I'm the one who's eating.

"Aren't you not going to eat, Mr. Ackerman?" I asked him, realizing he hadn't eaten any.

"Ah, I'm too excited to feed you. I forgot to eat myself. Lol. Well, let's dig in then." He started to eat, and I ate mine too. I guess eating seafood is not that bad. I think I can understand why Levi loves seafood so much. The taste is definitely different from the meat.

//SKIP//

"I'll be leaving for the gallery, so I won't return to my office for today. Thank you for having lunch with me. Let's have another meal together again sometime." He said it with a smile. I've noticed him smiling a lot lately.

"I told you not to hope for something like that." Looking away, I replied to him.

"And I told you, I'll keep hoping for that. You're meeting Hanabi after work today, right?" He asked.

"Yeah, why do you ask?" I look at him with a confused face.

"Well, I'm not sure I should tell you or not, but Louis is leaving for America at 11 tonight."

"And why are you telling me that?"

TO BE CONTINUED!!!