CHAPTER 9 - The Armoni Groups

/LORCAN/

A few days had passed since I had allowed Theo to continue his stay at the apartment but it was about time to go back to work.

I adjusted the cuffs of my tailored suit jacket as I stepped out of the executive elevator. For the last three hours, I had been tearing through a budget dispute with a group of stubborn directors who thought they could siphon funds into a failing tech project.

“This is what a one month break causes,” I muttered to myself.

I was back at the headquarters of the Armoni Groups and my patience was already wearing thin. Sure, Theo unintentionally annoyed me every now and then, but at least he was a lot easier to deal with.

"Well, look who finally decided to grace us with his physical presence."

I didn't even need to look up to know who the voice belonged to. Reed was leaning against the doorframe of my private office, a smirk plastered across his face. I had forgotten that I had put Reed in charge while I was away, so he had quite literally made himself at home.

"Move, Reed," I muttered, brushing past him to walk over to my desk.

"Oh, come on, big brother. Is that any way to greet the person who has been holding down the fort while you play house in the slums?" Reed followed me inside, shutting the glass door behind him. He practically sloped onto the leather sofa, draping one arm over the backrest with theatrical exhaustion. "You have no idea the absolute hell I’ve been going through. The elders are breathing down my neck, father is asking questions, and Zara Hayes? She’s been practically haunting my cell phone trying to find your exact location."

I sat down behind my desk, pulling a stack of paperwork toward me. "You're getting paid to handle them. Did you give up my location?"

"Please. Give me some credit," Reed scoffed, rolling his eyes as he examined his manicured nails. "I told them you were on an extensive, highly confidential business trip to secure an international merger. I don't think they believed it though.”

“Clearly,” I groaned. What kinda lame ass excuse was that?

“But seriously, Lorcan, how long is this little disappearing act going to last? You’re alternating between a gorgeous mansion and a middle-class flat with... what was it again? A roommate?" He looked repulsed. “Not to mention that you still refuse to tell me where your apartment is. Don't you trust me?”

“No, I don't,” I stated clearly. “Also, it's temporary. I needed a space away from the family politics to focus on the subsidiary oversight,” I said flatly, keeping my eyes on the documents.

“A space away from disturbances…hmm,” he didn't seem to believe me. “You've never been the type to tolerate people, so why would you even have a roommate? And why are you keeping them away from me?”

“My choice to have a roommate is solely my business. Also, you have a loud mouth,” I answered. I don't even know why I bothered with him honestly.

“I'm just saying, because the Lorcan I know doesn't share kitchen appliances unless there's a very good reason. Is the roommate at least easy on the eyes?" He bounced his brows like the idiot he was.

"He's a Beta," I snapped. "And he's irrelevant in this conversation. Drop it, Reed."

Reed held up his hands in a mock surrender, a breathless chuckle escaping him. "Alright, alright. Don't flex your Alpha pheromones at me, I’m just making conversation. I’ll keep playing the distraction, but you owe me a very expensive bottle of scotch for keeping Zara off your trail."

Before I could tell him to get out, the office door opened again after a brief, polite knock. Fenton, my personal assistant, walked in carrying a tablet and a fresh folder of corporate approvals.

"Sir, I have the weekly performance reports for the creative tech sector," Fenton reported. He gave Reed a polite nod before stepping up to my desk.

"Leave them," I said, reaching out to take the folder.

Fenton hesitated, clearing his throat slightly. He adjusted his glasses, looking visibly uncomfortable. "There is... one other matter, Mr. Armoni. It’s regarding your current residential utility billing. As your assistant, I manage the automated drafts, and I couldn't help but notice the co-signer listed on the minor electricity account."

Reed sat up a little straighter on the couch, his ears practically perking up at the mention of the flat.

"What about it, Fenton?" I asked, my tone turning sharp.

"Sir, with all due respect, living in a middle-class residential area is a massive security risk," Fenton explained, his brow furrowing with genuine anxiety. "The building has basic digital locks, no private security, and anyone could easily track your routine. Furthermore, we know nothing about this roommate of yours. I strongly suggest I run a deep background check on him.”

“Fenton, Fenton,” Reed whispered his name.

“Yes?” Fenton who looked clearly irritated already turned to look at Reed, though it felt more like a glare.

“What's the name of Lorcan's roommate?” Reed asked.

“None of your business, Sir Reed,” Fenton answered bluntly. “Also, don't you have work to attend to?”

“Now you're sounding like Lorcan,” he pouted.

“Get back to work unless you plan on working overtime tonight,” Fenton threatened.

While those two were going back and forth, my mind instantly flashed to a memory from the days I'd spent with Theo. He was either being loud or annoying, cooking, snoring softly with a streak of dried drool near his cheek or just being a total idiot.

“Sir, you haven't said anything yet,” Fenton broke my train of thoughts. “What if he's a corporate spy or something?”

“That sounds like something I would imagine, not you, Fenton,” Reed laughed.

A corporate spy? The kid couldn't even organize a digital folder without crying.

"Don't waste your time, Fenton," I said, a faint scoff slipping past my lips as I opened the folder.

Fenton blinked. "Sir?"

"He's too stupid to harbor ill intent," I stated bluntly, my eyes scanning the first page of the corporate report. "He doesn't even know who I am. He genuinely believes I’m an overworked manager struggling to pay rent."

Reed burst out laughing from the couch, slapping his knee. "Oh, that is absolutely brilliant! The great Lorcan Armoni, terror of the corporate boardrooms, is being treated like a struggling salaryman? I would pay a million dollars to see this."

I shot Reed a glare that instantly silenced his laughter, though the amused smirk remained on his face.

"The background check is unnecessary," I repeated to Fenton, my voice leaving no room for argument. "And that's an order.”

"Understood, sir," Fenton said smoothly, bowing his head. "I will leave you to review the PixelPulse Studio integration logs. They are at the top of your pile."

"Thank you. Dismissed."

Fenton turned and walked out of the office, and Reed slowly stood up from the couch, stretching his arms. "Well, since you're clearly in a terrible mood and have a mountain of paperwork to crush, I’m going to take my leave. Don't stay up all night playing the poor roommate, Lorcan. It doesn't suit you."

"Get out, Reed."

He laughed, waving a hand carelessly over his shoulder as he sauntered out of the office.

I leaned back in my leather chair, rubbing my temples as a headache started to form. Maybe I should place a ban on letting Reed enter my office.

“Knowing him, he'd just sit on the floor outside my door and cry every day,” I muttered.

My hand instinctively drifted to my suit pocket, my fingers brushing against the crinkled edges of the neon yellow sticky note I had pocketed days ago.

I pulled my hand out of my pocket, annoyed with myself, and pulled the PixelPulse Studio report toward me.

‘I must have been crazy not to have thrown this away,’ I thought.