CLAUDE BERNARD

-NO ONE POV-

"Well, well. If it isn't Levi Ackerman." A familiar voice cut through the air like a blade.

The man who stepped in was the last person he expected to see. The president's second son, Claude Bernard.

"What are you doing here, Claude Bernard?" Levi asked in a cold voice.

Claude chuckles. "Levi, I believe you're not that stupid, are you? You should already know this dinner party was held to celebrate my birthday. That's why I'm here." Claude replied with a smirk.

"I'm asking you why you're here right now. What do you want?" Levi asked again, his voice cool and measured.

Claude chuckled again, taking a slow step forward. "Still as sharp as ever, I see. No pleasantries? No 'how have you been'?" 

Levi remained silent, his gaze unwavering.

Claude let out a mock sigh. "I heard you've been doing well after that accident." His smirk widened. "I have to admit, I'm impressed. Thought you'd never recover."

Levi's jaw clenched slightly, but he gave nothing away. He had no interest in playing whatever game Claude had in mind.

"Should I be flattered that you're keeping tabs on me?" Levi said, voice laced with sarcasm.

Claude chuckled again. "I must say, I didn't expect to see you doing so well after what happened." Claude continued, tilting his head as if analysing him.

Levi's gaze darkened, but his voice remained steady. "And yet, here I am."

Claude laughed, clearly amused. "Impressive. Truly. I was almost convinced you'd disappear after that accident. But it seems you're still standing."

Levi looks unfazed. "You seem awfully invested in my downfall. Didn't you get what you wanted last time?" Levi said with a smirk on his lips.

Claude's smirk twitched, but he masked it quickly. "Oh, I wouldn't say that. I just like to keep an eye on things. You never know when old acquaintances might come in handy." 

Levi steps forward slightly, his presence exuding quiet authority. "Acquaintance? That's generous." His voice dropped a notch, sharp as a dagger. "I don't keep track of insignificant people."

Claude's smirk faltered for a split second, but he recovered, laughing lightly. "Same old Levi. I suppose some things never change."

Levi's expression remained impassive. He had no patience for whatever game this man was playing.

"Enjoy the party." Levi said flatly, dismissing him before turning away. 

"You know, I ran into someone interesting earlier," Claude said casually. "Haruka Charles Auclair, was it?"

Levi stops and turns to face Claude again after hearing that. Levi's expression darkened instantly.

Claude smirked, completely unaware of the tension he had just ignited. "Sharp guy. Polite, but there's something about him… almost too composed. We had a nice little chat.

Levi's jaw clenched. "What did you say to him?" His voice was low and controlled, but there was a dangerous edge to it.

Claude chuckled. "Oh? Didn't realise you'd be so interested. What's he to you, Levi? A trusted subordinate? An old friend? Or…" He let the words trail off, watching for any reaction.

Levi didn't answer, but the dark glint in his eyes said enough.

Claude continued, undeterred. "He looked like he didn't trust me much. Can't blame him. But seeing your reaction now, maybe he trusted you? Makes me wonder what the relationship is between you two." He keeps talking with that smirk of his.

Before Levi could respond, the door opened again.

"Levi?"

Haruka's voice cut through the tension, and both men turned toward him.

-Haruka POV-

The party is coming to an end. I did meet the president's second son, and I didn't expect that he was the person who asked me to have a drink with him earlier. No wonder he seems so full of himself. Well, that doesn't matter. Now, where is Levi Ackerman? 

I look everywhere for him. I opened every door there. Why does this scene feel so familiar to me right now? Haha, seriously. As I kept walking through the corridor, I saw a room with a dim light inside. I opened the door.

"Levi?" I spoke slowly, trying to see who was inside.

Honestly, I was surprised to see who's inside. Levi is not alone. He's with the president's second son. What are those two doing here alone? My eyes landed on Levi first, taking in the rigid posture, the way his fists were half-clenched at his sides. He looked… pissed.

"What's going on?" I asked, stepping inside. I could feel my expression harden slightly.

The president's son smirked, clearly enjoying the shift in atmosphere. "Ah, there he is. Speak of the devil."

Levi exhaled sharply, running a hand down his face before stepping toward me. "We're leaving." His voice was firm, leaving no room for argument.

"Levi…" I frowned.

"Now." Levi cut in, not looking back at the president's son.

The president's son chuckled behind us. "Leaving so soon? That's a shame. I was just starting to enjoy this conversation." He said sarcastically.

Levi didn't bother responding, but as he reached for the door, he leaned slightly towards me and muttered low enough only for me to hear.

"Stay close."

With that, he led me out, his presence as solid and unyielding as ever.

The president's son remained where he was, watching us leave, a knowing smirk still playing on his lips.

I followed Levi through the dimly lit hallway, my mind racing. The tension back in that room still clung to the air between us, thick and suffocating. Levi's pace was brisk, his steps purposeful, but I could tell that he was agitated.

Neither of us spoke at first. Levi didn't even glance back, but I knew that "stay close" wasn't just a suggestion but it was a command.

We turned a corner, away from the noise of the party, where the corridor was emptier. Finally, I had enough.

"Levi." I tried to call out Levi's name. My voice was steady but firm.

Levi didn't answer me. He kept walking.

I exhaled sharply. "Stop."

That got a reaction. Levi halted abruptly, shoulders tense, but he didn't turn around. I stepped closer, eyes narrowing.

"What the hell was that back there? Who was he to you?" I said in a demanding tone.

Levi didn't turn, but I saw his fingers flex, a telltale sign of frustration. "He's the president's son." Levi muttered, as if that explained everything.

I crossed my arms. "Yeah, I figured that much. What I don't get is why you looked like you were ready to break his face." I asked again.

Levi finally turned, his stormy gaze meeting mine. "Because he's trouble."

I raised my eyebrow. "And?"

Levi exhaled, his jaw tight. "He mentioned you." Again, he doesn't answer my question properly.

I blinked. "So?" I asked again.

Levi's eyes darkened. "He doesn't just talk to people without a reason." His voice was low, edged with something that I couldn't quite place. "He's calculating. If he was asking about you, it wasn't casual." He added.

I frowned, trying to process Levi's words. The encounter had been odd, but I didn't sense anything immediately dangerous except for his overly confident aura. 

"What did you talk about with him?" Levi took a step closer towards me.

"He just asked me to drink with him, but I turned him down right away." I replied.

Levi's jaw twitched. "Tch."

I narrowed my eyes towards him. "Levi, what's going on? Why are you acting like this?"

Levi didn't answer right away. Instead, he ran a hand through his hair, clearly debating how much to say. Finally, he spoke.

"Just don't speak to him ever again. Well, I hope you never run into him again." That's all he said. And what's the reason he said that?

"And why is that?" I asked. I need a clearer answer.

"It's nothing. Just don't speak to him again." He said the same thing.

"Seriously, Levi. That doesn't seem like nothing at all." I clenched my fists, unable to accept Levi's answer.

Levi stared at him for a moment, then looked away, his lips pressing into a thin line. Whatever it was, he wasn't ready to talk about it.

I sighed, forcing myself to loosen my stance. Pushing Levi never worked. I need to wait for the right moment.

"Fine," I muttered. "But don't think I'm letting this go." I finished my words.

Levi finally met my gaze again, something unreadable in his eyes. "I know." He said that softly.

For now, that was enough.

//SKIP//

It's been a week since the incident between Levi and the president's son happened, and Levi still didn't say anything to me. He just acts like nothing happened when we meet again at work. And the same goes for today, he's still acting as casually as always. 

RING! RING!

The office phone rang, which surprised me.

"Hello, Mr. Ackerman's secretary speaking." I answered the phone professionally.

"Mr. Auclair, the thing is the…" 

Suddenly, the door swung open without warning, revealing someone whom I didn't expect to appear right now. The president's second son, Claude Bernard.

"It's okay, you can hang up now. I'll handle the rest." I said that and then hung up the phone. I looked up at him, and his sharp gaze met mine.

A slow smirk spread across his face as he took in the room, his gaze eventually settling on me.

"Well, well," he mused, stepping inside like he owned the place. "Didn't expect to find you here, second young master. I was wondering why the staff mentioned your name earlier. So, are you working for Levi Ackerman?" He asked me with a smirk.

"Do you have an appointment?" Ignoring his question, I asked him coldly.

Claude chuckled. "Oh, I don't need one. After all, I came for you." He said, looking at me with an unreadable expression. Huh? He came for me? For what?

Before I could respond, Levi's office door opened. Levi emerged, his sharp eyes instantly locking onto the unwelcome guest. His expression darkened.

"You have some nerve showing up here." Levi said, his voice cool and cutting.

Claude merely grinned, completely unfazed. "Come now, Levi. No need to be so hostile. Well, seeing you doing well right now, I guess it's all thanks to the second young master. No wonder you achieved so much in five years." Claude snickered, as if he were looking down at Levi, and it made me angry.

"Levi Ackerman achieved everything with his own hard work, and that has nothing to do with me. He's got something about him that made everything he did turned out to be good. I'm just doing what I need as his secretary. Nothing more, nothing less." I moved my sharp gaze on him and clearly looked amused.

"Wow. You just said the exact same thing like my father told me when he wanted me to get close to Levi Ackerman. Hmm, seeing you call him by his name, your relationship might be much deeper than I thought, huh?" He looked at both of us with that smirk of his.

"If you learnt that much, maybe this is time for you to leave my office." Levi said with his cold voice.

"Relax, Levi. Actually, I'm not here for you. I'm here to make an offer." He said, his gaze flickered back to me.

"Join me." He said that, looking at me.

"Excuse me?" My brows furrowed slightly.

Claude's smirk widened. "Someone as capable as you shouldn't be wasting their talents playing secretary." He shot a glance at Levi, his tone mocking. "You deserve better than working under him."

Levi didn't react, but the air around him grew heavier.

However, I let out a short laugh before I replied. "You think I'm wasting my time here? And what exactly do you think I'd gain by joining you?" I looked at him with a sharp gaze, which didn't affect him.

Claude's expression didn't waver. "Power, influence. A position far greater than being Levi Ackerman's assistant." He took a step closer, his voice dropping slightly. "You're sharp. You're resourceful. You shouldn't be taking orders from someone beneath you." His smirk grew wider, which made me angry.

"You're mistaken about something," I said evenly. "Levi isn't beneath me. And I don't take orders. I choose to work here." I said that firmly.

Levi's gaze flickered towards me at that, but he remained silent.

Claude let out an exaggerated sigh. "Loyalty. How admirable." Then his smirk returned, sharper this time. "But let me remind you, Mr. Auclair. My father is the president of this country. Your grandmother may be the princess of Great Britain, but that power doesn't apply here. So, there are consequences to choosing the wrong side, you see." 

His eyes gleamed with something dangerous as he looked at Levi. "You know that, don't you, Levi Ackerman?"

Levi's expression remained unreadable, but his fingers curled slightly against the desk.

I clenched my fist under the table. I hate the way this man spoke, as if people were just pawns on a chessboard he could move at will. Claude turned back to look at me again.

"I'll give you some time to reconsider. But don't take too long, or else your beloved boss here will be the one to face the consequences." He took a step toward the door, pausing only to glance at Levi one last time.

"After all, he said with a smirk, "I always get what I want."

And with that, he walked out, leaving the office heavy with unspoken tension. I exhaled, running a hand through my hair before turning to look at Levi, who still remained silent.

"Levi, look at me." I said softly, grabbing his hand. He turned to look at me with a guilty expression.

"Levi, I know this may not be the right time for me to ask, but I can't wait any longer. So tell me, who is he to you actually?"

TO BE CONTINUED!!!