56 – Cypress Mosaic

“Then ​perhaps ​we ​could ​meet at your ​place ​next ​time? ​Given ​the nature of the ​conversation… ​or, you are ​more than welcome ​to ​come ​to ​ours.”

For ​a ​moment, Elian’s face ​flashed ​through ​Lorenz’s mind again. ​The sense of failure ​when he ​realized Elian ​knew about ​the arranged ​marriage, ​the ​hesitation and embarrassment ​of not ​knowing how to introduce ​Adriana. Such emotions were ​trivial and unnecessary.

Why on ​earth did ​he ​feel this desire to keep Adriana ​from crossing paths with ​Elian? ​It ​was ​nothing ​more than a ​bizarre, baseless ​confusion.

Lorenz ​composed himself. He ​coldly ​cut away the obstacles that ​were clinging ​to ​his ankles, hindering ​his ​progress ​toward ​his ​goal.

“If it ​is ​not inconvenient ​for you, I shall host you at ​my home.”

“Shall we?”

“We ​can coordinate the ​date and time later.”

The ​hotel doorman ​approached to inform ​Lorenz ​that his vehicle ​was waiting. Adriana ​mentioned she ​had ​something to ​buy ​at the ​hotel’s ​underground shopping ​arcade. ​Once ​again, the two ​exchanged ​a handshake ​before ​parting. ​It ​was a greeting that could only be described as remarkably dry for two people who had promised to marry.

As he stepped outside the hotel, the golden autumn sunlight overflowed across the streets like a blessing. Lorenz looked around. Naturally, Elian and Vincent had already vanished into the Manhattan crowds.

■

Midtown Manhattan, 57th Street.

Billionaires’ Row, where super-slender towers stretched upward, thin and dizzying as pencils.

Known as the street of billionaires, it was a dense area of ultra-high-rise residential buildings, symbolizing the new wealth of Manhattan.

Among them was The Orion Spire, which had made headlines for setting the record for the most expensive apartment in New York. The 90-story building was a complex consisting of a five-star hotel, residences, officetels, and residential condos.

Early in the morning, while everyone was preparing for the start of a new day.

A Lamborghini Revuelto entered the tower’s driveway with a rumbling engine. Grigio Antares—a color that evoked cold silver metal rather than grey. Recognizing the car, the doorman and parking attendant hurried down the steps.

The driver’s side scissor door swung upward like a wing, and Joshua Lockhart appeared, wearing dark sunglasses. As soon as he stepped out of the car, he hurried straight toward the lobby.

A private elevator was waiting for him.

It took barely a minute to get from the lobby to the entrance of his penthouse on the 89th floor.

Three floors, from the 88th to the 90th, belonged to Joshua’s penthouse. The 88th floor featured a private pool, gym, and sky lounge, while the 89th and 90th floors served as a duplex residence.

It was a home he had purchased to stay in whenever he visited New York.

As the elevator doors opened, an aide who had been notified by the front desk was waiting.

“You’ve arrived.”

“What’s the schedule for today?”

As they walked down the runway-like long hallway, the aide followed closely behind, explaining.

“You have a video meeting at 2 PM regarding the equity investment with Blackstone. At 8 PM, you have a dinner appointment with the Vice Chairman of Herald Media.”

The moment he exited the hallway, a panoramic view of Manhattan unfolded before his eyes. The entire 3,000-square-foot living room, devoid of any obstructions, was surrounded by floor-to-ceiling glass walls, making it feel as if he were floating in mid-air. It was a sight that would overwhelm anyone.

Central Park to the north, the Hudson River to the west, and the Midtown skyline—including the Empire State Building and the Chrysler Building—to the south. On clear days, one could see as far as Bear Mountain, 40 miles beyond Manhattan. From this penthouse, a 360-degree view of the city was possible.

Everything was far below his feet.

Not just Manhattan, but even the sky above felt as if it belonged to him. That was why Joshua liked this house. Because he could anesthetize his deep-rooted sense of defeat with the feeling of being the ruler of this city.

Even the Lockhart family estate, where his father once lived and where Lorenz resided now, was nothing more than a small dot when looked down upon from here.

Taking off his sunglasses and tossing them carelessly onto a large coffee table, unauthorized copyhe [Read on Read BL Novels]flopped [unauthorized copy]face-down onto the sofa.

“Ugh, my head hurts…”

He had spent the night hanging out with his crowd and had fallen asleep right there on the carpet of a hotel room where one of them was staying long-term. He had woken up fitfully and come straight home. He desperately needed a shower.

“The meeting is at 2, so I’m sleeping until 1. Don’t wake me.”

Because he had buried his face in the cushion, his voice echoed as if coming from inside a cave.

“Um, Mr. Joshua…”

At the sound of the aide’s troubled voice, Joshua turned his head. The things that followed that kind of tone were never good news.

Joshua’s lips twisted.

“What now?”

“Mr. Montrose has contacted us saying he will visit.”

Upon hearing that name, Joshua’s red lips muttered a curse.

“When?”

“He says he is on his way now.”

“On his way from where? LA?”

“He has already arrived at the airport and is currently heading to Manhattan.”

“Fuck, why the hell is he coming here?”

Joshua finally snapped, throwing a fit as he hauled himself up.

Mr. Montrose.

In other words, Alexander Montrose.

The male Omega who was Damon Lockhart’s second spouse and Joshua’s biological progenitor—his other father.

He had expected the visit to some extent.

The fact that his grandmother, Evelyn Lockhart, had recognized Joshua as one of the candidates for the successor must have reached his ears. As far as Joshua knew, he wasn’t the type of person to sit quietly in the West after hearing such news.

He was likely intending to meet Joshua in person to persuade him.

But it was a waste of time.

Even if he traveled from the other side of the world instead of LA, even if he performed that cliché tear-jerking act in front of him again, Joshua had absolutely no intention of being persuaded regarding this matter.

By the time he showered upstairs and came back down, Mr. Montrose had already arrived.

Joshua’s steps faltered at the sight of the man’s back, standing right in front of the glass wall at the edge of the living room.

“Why are you standing there like that?”

At the blunt voice, the man turned around and beamed a smile upon seeing Joshua. Even in his fifties, it was a smile that still possessed a certain charm.

“I really like this house.”

Joshua pulled down the towel covering his head, flopped onto the sofa, and chuckled.

“Grandmother hated it. Said it was a place where only vulgar nouveau riche live.”

“Well, she’s someone who doesn’t recognize anything in Manhattan other than the Upper East Side.”

The man looked back at the scenery beyond the window.

He looked like a child completely captivated by the brilliant fireworks of a theme park. He murmured in a voice full of dreamy ecstasy.

“It feels as if the whole world is beneath my feet. That’s why I love it.”

It was exactly the same reason Joshua had chosen this house.

Despite how much he hated this man, could it be that blood truly doesn’t lie?

A servant brought drinks and placed them on the coffee table. An Orange Bitter Tonic, which Joshua enjoyed after showering, and champagne for Mr. Montrose. Champagne before it was even 9 AM. Some things never change.

Joshua gave a bitter smile and picked up his drink, standing up.

Then, he walked behind the sofa and approached a strange man who was waiting like a shadow a few paces away.

Sipping his drink through a straw, Joshua tilted his head crookedly. Joshua’s manner as he scanned the man was indifferent and dry, as if he were reading a billboard on the street.

“Did you buy a new doll?”

Joshua paused for a moment and corrected himself.

“Ah, should I call him your new boyfriend for the sake of politeness?”

Tall, with a sturdy build and sharp, bold facial lines—a masculine beauty.

And in his late twenties.

His father’s consistent taste.

“Better than the last one.”

Joshua stepped closer to the man, who stood perfectly still. They were so close their noses almost touched. He whispered, his lips parting as if he were about to kiss the man right then and there.

“Interested in doing it with another Alpha?”

“Joshua!”

Mr. Montrose’s irritated shout pierced his right ear. Joshua giggled and turned around.