They’d been at the bar for over an hour now, and the drinks, music, and service just kept getting better.
Levi had a surprising tolerance for alcohol.
No matter how hard Luke and Teyana tried, they couldn’t get him drunk.
Instead, they both ended up a little tipsy while Levi just watched them.
Teyana heard a song she loved and joined some others on the dance floor.
Luke, now slightly sobered, noticed that Levi had been unusually quiet.
“This succession seems to be stressing you out.
You sure you can handle it?” Luke asked, sliding closer to Levi.
“Of course I can handle it, I can…” Levi replied, but his voice trailed off.
“I’m not asking for your head’s answer, Levi,” Luke said, serious.
“I want your heart’s answer.
If I’m taking the position, I need you strong.
I can’t have you crumbling on me.”
Levi took a deep breath and looked at Luke.
“Don’t worry, Luke.
I can do it!” He raised his glass toward him.
“Maybe you need a woman in your life,” Luke said with a grin, almost making Levi spit out his drink.
“A woman?” Levi said, confused.
“Yeah!
Not like your aunt, or grandmother, or even Teyana.
But someone who you love, love.
Someone who would share the burden of all this business with you.
Someone who can ease your mind and help you spend all those billions sitting around, doing nothing.
Because, let’s be honest, as guys we don’t care much about clothes or fancy living.
And with minds like ours, all that money just stays dormant,” Luke said, smirking.
Levi rolled his eyes.
“You sound like my grandmother.”
“Because she knows!
Everyone knows how hard it is to be the CEO of an empire without the right-hand person by your side,” Luke replied.
Levi smirked.
“And what are you waiting for?
If you get married, I will too.”
“No, no!” Luke cut him off quickly.
“My case is different.
It’s not like I haven’t been into girls or even dated.
But I have standards.
I can’t settle down when half of them only care about my wallet.
That would make things worse!
But you…
you could start looking for a woman who’s actually interested in the money, because let’s face it, you can’t exactly hide it.” Luke winked.
“I don’t have time for women!” Levi said bluntly.
“What?
Okay, you don’t have to focus on them,” Luke said.
“Let me find the one for you.
Or do you have someone in mind?”
“I don’t,” Levi said.
“And if I’m busy preparing, you’ll be busy too.
You won’t have time for pointless things.”
Luke groaned.
“Ugh, that’s true.” He stayed quiet for a second, then blurted out, “How about that Elsa girl?”
Levi’s face turned ice-cold.
Just then, Teyana returned from the dance floor, smiling and out of breath.
“What did you say?” Levi asked, his voice low.
“I said Elsa!
She might be a good match,” Luke said, not noticing how much the mood had shifted.
“Who’s Elsa?” Teyana asked, looking confused.
Levi reached for his glass and gulped down the rest of his drink.
He had forgotten that name.
He hadn’t heard it or thought of it in years.
Suddenly, a wave of guilt hit him.
He felt bad for forgetting her, for never reaching out, and for losing her phone number.
He didn’t even know if she was okay, if she was alive.
“I have to go,” Levi said, standing up abruptly.
He handed a stack of bills to the waiter.
“Call me when you decide about the jobs.”
They watched him walk out of the bar.
Luke noticed the change in Levi’s mood and smiled to himself.
What happened?” Teyana asked.
“Who is Elsa?
Why did his mood change like that?”
“She’s a friend from his old neighborhood,” Luke explained.
“I think she’d be a good match for him to marry.”
“What?
Marry?” Teyana blurted out.
Luke jumped, shocked by her reaction.
Yes.
His grandma wants him to find a girl, and he says he has no time.
He doesn’t even know where to look.”
“And you didn’t think of me!” Teyana snapped.
Luke stared at her, his mouth open.
“Whoa, Tey.
What do you mean you?”
“What if I want to be his wife?
You didn’t even consider me as an option!
How did you even think of this Elsa girl?”
Luke couldn’t believe it.
“First of all, I didn’t know you liked Levi like that.
Second, Elsa is the only girl from his old town that he doesn’t hate.
Look, Tey…
I don’t think you and Levi would work.”
“And why not?” she demanded.
“Because Levi doesn’t have time for a normal relationship.
If he gets a wife, it’ll be someone who is in it for the fame, or someone he already has a deep history with.
He doesn’t have time to build something new and be a ‘loving’ husband.
Which is why he needs someone he has history with or someone who doesn’t need his attention.”
“I have history with him too!” Teyana snapped.
She stood up and walked back to the dance floor, looking furious.
HALE MANSION
Meanwhile, Levi had returned home and immediately called Vennesa.
“Yes, Levi?” she answered.
“Vennesa, is it possible to get back something that was taken from me by a bank illegally years ago?” Levi asked.
Vennesa chuckled over the phone.
“If a bank took something from you the wrong way, there is only one way I’d suggest you take it back.
It’ll give you revenge and ease your mind at the same time.”
“What’s that?” Levi asked.
“Given who you are in this country now…
just buy the bank,” Vennesa said.
Levi’s eyes widened.
Even he hadn’t realized he had that much power.
The name Elsa hadn’t just reminded him of a girl; it reminded him of all the unfinished business he had left behind.
It was time to pay back those who had hurt him.