Chapter 169
The building was brown, a two-storey building with an archaic design. He wondered what could have possibly attracted Sebastian to such an eyesore of a building.
Well, that's why he contacted the Leroy's; they provide the best renovations in the country; Zeno knew that this building would be a masterpiece once it was done.
"Careful, Zeno, those stairs are creaky," Cassian cautioned gently as he stood in front of the door, waiting for Zeno.
Zeno looked down and saw that he would have truly fixed his legs right through the wooden stairs if he stepped on them.
He directly climbed the front deck, "Thank you, would have been bleeding by now," He chuckled.
"You're alright," Cassian smirked at him and pointed to the door.
"Ready to speak to those high-end stuck-up Brits?" Cassian asked lowly.
Zeno nodded with a smile, "Sure," He replied.
They walked through the large metal door and entered into a very dusty space. The hall was empty, full of cobwebs and unidentified broken furniture.
"This place is going to require a fortune," Cassian shook his head.
"He can manage," Zeno said.
"I hear voices behind that door, I guess that's where they are," Cassian pointed to another door at the end of the large hall.
As they walked over to the door, Zeno noticed small holes in the wooden floor, likely where display cases had once been anchored.
Zeno walked forward and gently pushed the door open, but he froze the moment his eyes found who never expected to see.
"Zeno!!!" Ken's voice echoed through the empty hall, alerting his engaged father about Zeno's arrival.
Zeno stood frozen; he didn't know how to react, but when he saw the now-taller boy running toward him, he knew he had to brace himself, or he'd be pushed to the floor like he used to.
"Zeno!" Ken jumped from a distance and wrapped his hands around Zeno's neck, hugging him tightly.
Zeno couldn't believe who he was holding in his arms; he tightened his arms around Ken, smiling.
They didn't speak; Zeno just let the boy hug him, and he returned the gesture; he'd missed Ken so much, and he always thought of the day he'd see him again; he never knew it would be very soon.
He was aware of the way Cassian, Sebastian's guest, and Sebastian were staring at them, but he didn't care, fuck business; Ken was the only human he wouldn't apply his stupid 'business is business' rule too. He'd break those rules and get all emotional with Ken.
"I miss you, Zeno, you never called, and you never came back," Ken raised his face from Zeno's shoulder and stared at Zeno, his eyes taking I'm every part of Zeno's face, happy he saw Zeno again.
Zeno looked at Ken's handsome face and saw his eyes were brimmed with tears. He felt his own tears threatening to push through, but he held it in for Ken.
"I'm sorry about that; I was planning to come see you soon; I just got caught up with things," Zeno replied, hoping the boy believed him.
"It's okay. You're an adult, and adults are quite busy," Ken replied, touching Zeno's jaw as if he were trying to recall how it used to feel in his hands.
"You've grown so big, Ken; I can barely hold you; working out already?" He asked with a heart-melting smile.
Ken nodded, "Yes, boxing, like you," He hugged Zeno around the neck again.
Zeno's heart melted away with that sweet hug; he felt proud and happy for Ken, and his heart warmed with the knowledge that Ken wanted to be like him.
"Hi, Ken, I'm Cassian," Cassian introduced himself since he was still standing behind Zeno and would see the boy's happy face.
Cassain was confused, but he wasn't going to ask any questions now; he would wait till they were done with their clients so that he could personally ask Zeno his many questions.
Zeno had said he'd never met Sebastian, how come he was familiar with his son?
"Hi, Cassain," Ken replied.
"Can I drop you you now?" Zeno asked softly.
Ken reluctantly nodded, "Okay," He said.
"Hi," Cassian met Ken and offered him a handshake.
"My name is Kenneth Orion, pleased to meet you, Cassian," Ken introduced as he shook Cassian's hand.
Zeno smiled, noticing how big and smart Ken had become.
"Nice to meet you, Ken, I can call you that, right?" Cassian asked.
Ken nodded.
He faced Zeno and grabbed his hand, "Come, Daddy is right here." He dragged Zeno.
"Daddy! Look, it's Zeno, I found him!" Ken announced as he walked over to his father.
'Shit,' Zeno thought.
Sebastian's eyes haven't left Zeno from the moment he opened the door, he even saw him before Ken did.
However, he wasn't going to share in his son's excitement.
Zeno stopped in front of Sebastian and a British man in a white suit, "Good morning, Mr. Sebastian, I believe this our partner?" He rather offered a handshake to the man beside Sebastian.
"Nice to meet you, Mr. Zeno. I'm Gerald; Sebastian was just telling me about you; I'm more than happy to work with you on behalf of Leroy's partnership," The man welcomed.
Zeno glanced at Sebastian; he wasn't going to ask the man what Sebastian was saying about; it was probably just business, and he really didn't want to know.
"Pleasure to meet you, Gerald, I'm ready to hear all about your plans. This is Cassian Leroy, first and only son of the Leroy family," Zeno introduced.
"Nic to meet you, Mr. Gerald," Cassain greeted politely.
"Nice to meet you, Cassian," Gerald shook Cassian's hand.
"Dad?" Ken tapped Sebastian's arm.
Sebastian looked down at him, raising a brow at his son, "I'm working, Kenneth-"
"But, Dad, Zeno is right here," He pointed at Zeno, who was pretending as if he was listening to their conversation as he spoke to Gerald.
"Kenneth," Sebastian called; a warning underlying his tone.
Ken saw the look on his Father's face and went quiet, walking closer to Zeno and holding his hand again.
Zeno glanced at the boy and gave him an acknowledging smile before turning to listen to what Gerald was saying.
Sebastian sighed, his fingers tightening slightly at his sides. Zeno had changed; he hadn't spared him a glance, or spoken to him, his cold indifference cutting deeper than any words could.
Zeno hated him, and he could guess why; he had caused it all; he chose this path, knowing it would turn out this way. That was why he was keeping his distance.
He wasn't going to pretend as if he and Zeno parted on the best of terms and tried to act all free and comfortable around him; he wasn't. But why was he unable to look away? To stay away...
He never expected to see Zeno last night at the Leroy family house. He'd been punched in the gut the moment he saw him together with Cassian, and he couldn't even explain how he felt when Mrs. Leroy called Zeno Cassian's boyfriend.
How long have they been dating? Did Zeno find someone else the moment he moved to Paris?
It was for the best, at least Cassian wouldn't ask him to hide his relationship with him from people, just like he had done.
It was none of his business; Zeno found his happiness, and that was awesome.
"Mr. Sebastian?" Gerald called.
Sebastian blinked back to reality and looked at him; he realized that everyone was staring at him, except Zeno, of course. He was a plague Zeno wanted to avoid by all means.
"Did you say something to me?" He asked Gerald.
"The blueprint, Dad," Ken facepalmed, sighing.
Zeno smiled at his cute yet naughty gesture, he loved that Ken was giving Sebastian some trouble, he hoped he'd give him a heart attack someday, not to kill him, but very close to death, he still needed to stay alive and take care of his family, but a heart attack once in a while would be nice.
"Let's take a look around the building first; I'll hand it to you once we're leaving," Sebastian spoke, his voice perfectly smooth.
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