I've always been a pianist

"Ah… The cheap actor has finally arrived!" There was a chilling smile on Bryce Sterling's face as he welcomed Leon into the private room.

Bryce was seated on a neat square wooden table. There was a half-eaten set of breakfast in front of him with a bottle of wine. He seemed to have been waiting for a little while.

"I am not a cheap actor." Leon's face grew stiff as he spoke in his defense, walking deeper into the private room.

"What now? You've advanced into a con pianist," Bryce rested his chin on his interlaced fingers as his elbows were propped against the table.

"I've always been a pianist," Leon said without explanation as he sat down across from Bryce on the square table.

Bryce's eyes drifted and landed on Leon's gloved hands. A scowl made its way to his face.

"I'm going to be quick. It's hard to breathe with trash in the room," Bryce sat up properly, clearly implying that Leon was trash. 

'You're the one who's trash! Your entire family is trash!' Leon raged internally.

Externally, he gave Bryce a tight-lipped smile and said, "You're breaking our agreement. You said we wouldn't cross paths again."

Bryce poured wine into his glass as he said, "I told you never to show your disgusting face in front of me. I didn't say anything like not crossing paths again."

'Don't they mean the same thing??' Leon thought.

Like Bryce could read Leon's mind, he said, "I can see you. You can't see me."

Leon's eyes thinned. He had a hard time comprehending Bryce's words. Then again, he had never understood the man to begin with because he never needed to. 

They shouldn't be interacting in the first place. They shouldn't even be aware of each other's existence. But circumstances…

"Anyway, as I said, I'll be quick. I know you met with James AM recently, and he asked you to teach him how to play the piano. I want you to agree to be his piano tutor." Bryce cut to the chase before taking a sip of his wine.

If Leon's body was stiff before, now he totally went into statue mode. 

The reason why Bryce had him come all the way here was so he could get him to tutor James? What in the world of annoying rich people doing whatever they liked was this!??

Leon was still trying to wrap his head around Bryce's demand when the latter said, "It'll be fine if you quit your other jobs to focus only on James."

Those words could be translated to, "James should be your only priority."

Bryce looked at Leon. The man wasn't moving. His face was neutral with its resting frown in place. Bryce found that the omega hadn't changed at all from the first time they met almost half a year ago.

Still the same countenance. He still carried the same air of self-importance when he had nothing in his life to be proud of. Bryce hated nothing more than the false sense of dignity that was engraved into Leon's being.

He had always wanted to prove that it was nothing but that—false. Which was why he found slight pleasure in this reunion.

"Don't think that I have you doing this because you're special. James thinks he needs you, and I promised I'd help him get you. So make like a good dog and do as you're told." Bryce said, snappy.

"I have to turn down your offer. I'm not interested in tutoring James," Leon finally found his voice, speaking with firm resolve as a deep frown set on his features.

'I am not a dog,' he told himself internally.

"You don't have to be interested. You just have to do it." Bryce countered sharply.

He couldn't see that underneath the table, Leon's fists were clenched. If not for the material of his gloves, his nails would be digging deep into his palms.

"You can force or manipulate me into anything else. But not this." Leon looked straight into Bryce's eyes as he spoke.

He was not on Bryce's level. Clearly. Bryce was a top-class celebrity, a film emperor in better terms. His background was even more powerful. Leon had heard rumors that Bryce might even come from a royal bloodline.

No one who liked living went up against Bryce. That was why the first time he'd been unfortunate enough to get on Bryce's bad side, he had given in and let go of his pride.

But not again. Not this time.

"It seems you're unaware of your position here. You will tutor James if you want to continue living this pitiful life of yours." Bryce relaxed his back with ease, like he wasn't dishing out a threat.

"Why are you even concerned about this? What does tutoring James have to do with–" Leon cut himself off midway.

He had forgotten. Forgotten that the person whom he hated the most (Bryce) was best friends with the person he feared the most (James). 

It was no new news that the two people were childhood friends, and their friendship was so strong that nothing could come between them. How could Leon forget such an important detail?

It was as if the entire universe was against him at this point.

After rejecting James, the silly fool must have tattled to Bryce, which would explain why Bryce came looking for him in such a short period of time.

Leon felt the need to massage his head. Why was his life getting so complicated because of these two people?

"You don't have to answer my question," Leon said, standing to his feet, "Just know that I can't do as you want me to."

"You dare leave?" 

An unexpected weight suddenly came down on Leon, stopping him from taking a step in the direction of the door. The thick scent of aged whiskey and smoked honey clouded the atmosphere, seeping into Leon's skin. The urge to collapse there and then surged inside Leon.

"S-stop…" Leon's voice trembled as he spoke.

An alpha's pheromone—the most lethal weapon that could be used on an omega. Bryce wielded it effortlessly against Leon.

Leon's knees became weak and his body grew hot. Sweat broke out on his skin, and he bit down on his bottom lip to prevent himself from letting any form of unwanted sound escape from his mouth.

"Give in first. Don't make it seem as though I'm sending you to your death. You'll get paid with money; the thing you care about the most." 

Bryce stood up from his chair as he spoke with a deep voice, the scent of his pheromones growing more pungent.

Leon couldn't hold out anymore and crashed on the floor. His vision was hazy and the pheromones were driving him crazy. 

He wanted to say yes and free himself from this torture. But he was stronger than that. He was stronger than all of this. If not his pheromones, then his willpower was mighty.

"I said no!" Leon spat, refusing to give in.

Not even a second later, he felt a sharp pain on his chin. Bryce had gripped him with just two fingers and lifted his head with it.

Leon met Bryce's gaze, amber eyes full of hatred and disgust. His tone was authoritative and compelling as he spoke.

"You will submit, or else…"