Chapter 6
Danny Reed Hated Mornings
Danny Reed hated many things in life.
Early mornings.
Meetings.
Exercise.
People who talked too much.
And most importantly-
Work.
Unfortunately for him, his father loved all those things.
“Daniel Reed!”
Danny groaned dramatically from beneath his blanket.
The loud voice outside his bedroom door sounded exactly like every nightmare he had ever had.
“Get up right now!”
“No,” Danny replied weakly from under the covers.
The door burst open anyway.
Richard Reed stood there looking seconds away from a heart attack.
“How are you still sleeping?!”
Danny blinked slowly at the ceiling.
Because he was, in fact, still half asleep.
The room around him looked like a disaster.
Game controllers scattered everywhere.
Snack wrappers on the floor.
Several drama posters hanging crookedly on the walls.
A giant plush shark occupying half the bed.
Richard Reed looked at his only son with deep disappointment.
“You’re twenty-four years old.”
Danny nodded sleepily.
“Mhm.”
“You are the heir of Reed Group.”
“Mhm.”
“You have an important business meeting today.”
“Mhm.”
“And you are still in bed!”
Danny finally turned his head slightly.
“…I’m listening though.”
Richard nearly exploded.
Sometimes he genuinely wondered if his son was cursed.
Other heirs spent their lives fighting for power and success.
Danny?
Danny fought for uninterrupted nap time.
“You’re attending today’s meeting whether you like it or not,” Richard snapped. “The board members already think you’re incompetent.”
Danny sighed.
“They’re kinda right.”
“That is not the point!”
Danny rolled over dramatically.
He truly didn’t understand humanity’s obsession with working endlessly.
Every day people exhausted themselves for money, success, and titles.
But they all looked miserable.
What was the point?
Danny’s dream life was simple.
A soft bed.
Unlimited food.
Good dramas.
No responsibilities.
Maybe a rich husband.
That sounded peaceful.
Unfortunately his father considered this mindset a personal attack.
Richard pinched the bridge of his nose tiredly.
“If you fail this deal with King Corporation today, the board will never accept you as future president.”
Danny blinked.
“…Okay.”
“Okay?! That’s your response?!”
Danny sat up slowly, hair messy and eyes barely open.
“I don’t even wanna become president.”
Richard looked horrified.
“Then what do you want?”
Danny answered honestly.
“To sleep.”
Silence.
Absolute silence.
Then Richard pointed toward the bathroom with terrifying calmness.
“Get dressed.”
–
One painfully long hour later, Danny sat inside the backseat of the Reed family car while eating strawberry bread lazily.
Beside him, his best friend Kai Mercer was laughing nonstop.
“I still can’t believe Uncle Richard screamed at you for forty minutes.”
Danny looked offended.
“It was rude. I was resting peacefully.”
“You’ve been resting peacefully your entire life.”
Danny ignored him.
Instead he stared out the window blankly.
Snowflakes drifted softly across Bayleaf City.
The weather made him sleepy again.
Kai suddenly smirked.
“You know… this whole situation could be solved if you just married rich.”
Danny immediately perked up.
“That’s true.”
Kai nearly choked laughing.
“You’re unbelievable.”
Danny leaned against the window thoughtfully.
Actually…
A very faint memory surfaced suddenly.
Rain.
Warm hands.
Dark eyes.
A ridiculously handsome man kissing him softly.
Danny frowned.
Weird.
For the past six months he occasionally remembered fragments from that drunken night at Noctis.
Not clearly.
Just pieces.
A voice saying his name gently.
A warm chest beneath his cheek.
Someone looking at him like he was precious.
Danny rubbed his face lazily.
Probably just alcohol hallucinations.
Still…
That man had been ridiculously attractive.
Kai nudged him suddenly.
“You’re thinking about your mystery hookup again, aren’t you?”
Danny looked away immediately.
“No.”
“You totally are.”
Danny pouted slightly.
“I barely remember him.”
“But you keep talking about him.”
Danny paused.
That was true.
Somehow the blurry memory kept lingering in his mind.
Especially the eyes.
Cold-looking but strangely gentle when they looked at him.
Kai grinned mischievously.
“Maybe it was fate.”
Danny snorted.
“Fate wouldn’t give me emotional attachment. That sounds exhausting.”
The car finally stopped before the towering building of King Corporation.
Danny stared upward silently.
The building looked absurdly expensive.
Glass walls disappearing into the snowy sky.
Luxury cars lined outside.
Employees rushing in perfectly tailored suits.
Danny already wanted to go home.
“I hate businessmen,” he muttered.
Kai patted his shoulder dramatically.
“Stay strong, princess.”
Danny glared at him weakly before stepping out of the car.
Cold wind brushed against his face instantly.
He pulled his oversized coat tighter and yawned.
Inside the lobby, everyone looked terrifyingly professional.
Danny felt personally attacked.
A nervous assistant rushed toward him immediately.
“Mr. Reed! The meeting started thirty minutes ago!”
Danny blinked.
“Oh.”
The assistant looked horrified by his complete lack of concern.
“This deal is extremely important!”
“Mhm.”
“Mr. King hates lateness!”
Danny frowned slightly.
Who names themselves King?
That sounded annoying already.
The assistant hurried him toward the executive elevator while panicking internally.
Meanwhile Danny only wondered if there would be snacks during the meeting.
The elevator doors opened directly onto the executive floor.
Several businessmen turned toward him immediately.
Their expressions shifted between shock and pity.
Danny frowned.
Why did everyone look like he was walking toward execution?
He pushed open the conference room doors lazily.
“Sorry I’m late,” he said while carrying iced coffee. “Traffic was annoying.”
Silence.
The room felt strange instantly.
Heavy.
Tense.
Danny blinked slowly.
Then his eyes landed on the man standing near the head of the table.
And his heart skipped unexpectedly.
Tall.
Broad shoulders.
Black suit.
Cold sharp face beautiful enough to ruin lives.
Their eyes met.
And suddenly-
Something strange happened.
Danny’s chest tightened softly.
Warmth spread beneath his skin.
Like he knew this man somehow.
The stranger stared at him intensely.
Too intensely.
Danny became oddly nervous for no reason.
Still…
The man looked familiar.
Very familiar.
Like a dream he almost remembered.
Danny frowned slightly while walking toward the empty chair.
Have we met before?
*****
A/N: If you’re enjoying the story please vote.
