Private matters (part2)

"This is unacceptable..."

Alia muttered, her voice trembling with suppressed anger, her eyes flashing with defiance as she refused to back down.

"Whether it's reasonable or not, this is not your concern to interfere with."

Leonid replied coldly, leaning on the armrest of his chair as if his words marked the end of the discussion.

He read the report calmly this time, his eyes moving across the lines cautiously. The report clearly detailed recent events he hadn't heard in exhaustive detail.

After the police's sudden raid, the building's private security swiftly intervened to control the situation. No one noticed what happened in the dark, and, of course, no one realized when the body was removed from the residential complex.

With tightened security measures, entry and exit became strictly regulated, much like what had happened with Dmitri.

"Well, as expected."

Leonid commented indifferently, closing the report.

"What do you mean by that?!"

Alia exploded, directing her sharp gaze at him.

"I'm talking to you here, and all you can say is that?"

Throughout Leonid's reading of the report, Alia had continued defending her case and complaining about Leonid's withdrawn attitude.

Leonid slowly raised an eyebrow, looking at her with feigned patience.

"Hmm? Were you really talking?"

His cold tone fueled her anger even more, but he didn't seem to care, instead watching her with a mix of boredom and mockery.

"You!"

"Me? What else?"

Leonid smirked, his lips twisting in obvious sarcasm, waiting for his words to ignite more of Alia's rage.

In the corner, Vasili quietly retreated, taking cover under Dmitri's desk. His eyes darted between Leonid and Alia.

"Why don't you go to your office and spare us?"

Dmitri said wearily, his words sounding as if they took effort to leave his lips.

"Impossible!"

Vasili quickly responded.

"I can't sit at my desk now."

"And why not?"

"Because if I do, Alia will immediately drag me into that conversation."

Vasili hadn't even finished his sentence when his eyes widened suddenly, and he turned sharply to look behind him. Dmitri, who was barely paying attention, also turned slowly to find Deputy Commander Vladimir standing quietly behind them. His sharp eyes silently observed the scene.

"What's going on here?"

Vladimir's low voice was charged with authority.

Dmitri and Vasili exchanged quick glances before the former replied.

"Just a silly issue."

"Is that so?"

Vladimir raised an eyebrow at Dmitri's response. Dmitri didn't look like his usual self something in his expression made him appear more somber.

Vladimir hesitated for a moment, as if he wanted to ask what was bothering Dmitri, but instead, he turned his back to them and walked calmly toward Leonid's desk.

"That's enough."

Vladimir's cold voice halted the silly and provoking argument. He placed another report on Leonid's desk and added.

"Take a look at this. Today, Stars Corporation held its autumn season meeting, led by the eldest son of the Ivanovitch family."

"The eldest son?"

Leonid asked, his tone puzzled, then reached for the report and flipped through its pages carefully before beginning to read.

"Deputy Commander, I have something to tell you—"

"Not now, Alia."

Vladimir raised a hand toward Alia, cutting her off firmly, as if prioritizing the matter in front of him.

"The report contains the main points about the event, including a photo of the eldest son who has always worked in the shadows."

"You mean concealing his identity was deliberate?"

Leonid raised his eyes slowly toward the deputy commander, then returned to dive into the written details. His eyes suddenly stopped at the attached photo.

"Isn't this the one called Kaiser?"

Leonid narrowed his eyes, examining the picture of a man in an elegant brown suit matching the autumn atmosphere. His features were familiar, yet something about him triggered Leonid's suspicion.

"No. He's the eldest son of the Ivanovich family's head, Arseny Ivanovitch."

"Arseny? Impossible..."

Leonid pronounced the name as though testing its reality with his voice. In the photo, it was clear he was seeing Kaiser, though without the injury he'd seen on his head that morning. Even so, Leonid couldn't ignore the uncanny resemblance. It felt like he was facing a flawless duplicate.

"The CEO has always hidden his identity, but today he's unveiling himself."

Vladimir furrowed his brows, speaking in a calm tone, almost to himself.

"And what about the second son?"

Leonid hastily asked.

"Has he ever appeared?"

This man might not be the Kaiser he knew, but the possibility that the second son was Kaiser continued to haunt him.

"The second son... it's said that he's dead."

"Dead?"

This possibility was entirely unexpected for Leonid.

In the company corridor, Alex walked with quiet steps and knocked on the door before entering.

"Young master."

He advanced toward the eldest son, who had captivated the media with his charm and sophistication, appearing utterly self absorbed at that moment.

Kaiser sat indifferently at his desk, the sound of peeling off an old, makeup stained bandage breaking the room's silence as he replaced it with a new one to cover the wound on his forehead.

"The autumn season meeting and your sudden appearance were a great success with the shareholders."

Alex spoke with a small smile and added.

"Everyone is eagerly awaiting the next move, young master."

"Hmm..."

Kaiser murmured softly before asking.

"What about my father?"

Alex froze momentarily, trying to compose himself as his young master mentioned his father again. It wasn't something that happened often, let alone twice in one day.

"As for the head of the family... he's on a business trip in Germany. He specifically wanted to leave without informing the young master, so he left yesterday after causing chaos in your office."

"I see."

A smug smile spread across Kaiser's face as he rose gracefully from the luxurious chair, looking like someone preparing to play a leading role in a grand scene.

"Alright, Alex. I'll rely on you again. I have something important to check."

Alex watched him cautiously, trying to discern his intentions.

"Something important? Where are you going, young master?"

Kaiser stopped at the door, adjusting his tie with a confident motion.

"I'm going..."

He turned with a sly smile and added in a low voice, as if speaking more to himself than to Alex.

"To the family estate."

In the grocery store.

After regaining her emotional balance from the earlier shock, Charlotte decided to go out and buy ingredients for dinner. She pushed the shopping cart, scanning the shelves of steak cuts attentively.

"Which one is the best...?"

She muttered softly, contemplating the luxurious Japanese steaks on display. Though a capable woman who could afford any cut, she preferred something simple to cook, given her limited time.

"Are you undecided, miss?"

"Ah, yes!"

Charlotte looked up, expecting to see a staff member offering help. But the small smile beginning to form on her face quickly faded when her nose was hit by the smell of cigarette smoke coming from the man standing directly behind her.

"This..."

Charlotte murmured, stepping away slightly, her gaze reflecting a mix of astonishment and annoyance. His green eyes, reminiscent of dark leaves on an ancient tree, and his neatly styled black curly hair brought back a memory she wasn't eager to recall.

"Hello~"

The man smiled warmly, as if meeting her was something he had expected. He carried an air of confidence, as though certain she wouldn't be able to ignore him.

"You've grown even more beautiful than I remember."

His voice echoed with a calm tone laced with a hint of mischief. Charlotte didn't respond, but his words made her feel as though she were under a microscope.

"It's a pleasure to see you again."

He took a quick step forward, trapping her between himself and the cold meat shelf.

"Honestly, I've wanted to speak with you since our first meeting."

He moved closer until his chest pressed against her back, and she could feel the heat of his breath near her ear. Slowly and boldly, his hand brushed against her before gripping her neck firmly.

"What are you doing?!"

She spoke in a low voice, a mix of shock and anger, trying to move away from him, but he didn't budge. Instead, he let out a quiet laugh, as if savoring her reaction.

"I'm helping you,"

he said mockingly, as though playing a game whose rules only he knew. His thumb brushed her neck bone as if claiming ownership. He continued smoking near her head, the cigarette smoke wafting into her eyes, making them water slightly. She felt the urge to cough but suppressed it with difficulty.

With a nonchalant smile, he dropped the cigarette to the floor and crushed it under the toe of his polished leather shoe.

"You're still as sharp tempered as ever, miss."

He waved dismissively before leaning forward, coming even closer, his gaze filled with an odd sense of challenge. His appearance had changed slightly he now looked polished and attractive. Even his scent, once reminiscent of smoke and alcohol, was now neutral, carrying a subtle freshness.

"What are you doing now? Leave me alone."

Charlotte grumbled nervously, attempting to escape his grip. But her legs trembled, unable to move. His grip on her neck was firm, like a noose threatening her with every.