The Carter Group building felt different after the media crisis.
Lucas noticed it immediately the next morning.
Employees greeted him with more respect.
Some even looked at him with admiration.
"…This is bad," Lucas muttered under his breath as he walked through the lobby.
A staff member bowed slightly.
"Good morning, Young Master."
Lucas nodded.
"Morning."
But as he passed, he heard whispers again.
"That's him."
"He helped solve the media crisis yesterday."
"I heard Mr. Adrian worked closely with him."
Lucas sighed quietly.
Rumors were spreading again.
And this time, they were worse.
Instead of seeing him as the arrogant villain heir, employees were starting to see him as a capable successor.
Lucas rubbed his forehead.
"This is exactly what I didn't want."
He stepped into the elevator and pressed the button for the executive floor.
As the elevator doors closed, he leaned against the wall.
The plan had been simple.
Avoid attention.
Avoid conflict.
Avoid Adrian.
But somehow, every step he took pulled him deeper into the story.
Lucas sighed.
"This novel is really stubborn."
The elevator opened.
Lucas stepped into the hallway and headed toward Victor Carter's office.
A meeting had been scheduled this morning.
And Lucas already had a bad feeling about it.
When he entered the office, Victor and Adrian were already there.
Lucas sat down across from them.
"Morning."
Victor nodded.
"Sit."
Lucas relaxed into the chair.
Adrian watched him quietly.
Victor placed several documents on the table.
"I reviewed yesterday's incident."
Lucas stayed silent.
Victor continued,
"You both handled the situation well."
Lucas blinked slightly.
Compliments from Victor Carter were rare.
Adrian nodded slightly.
"Thank you."
Victor turned toward Lucas.
"You gave useful suggestions."
Lucas shrugged.
"Just basic ideas."
Victor studied him carefully.
"Basic ideas that prevented serious financial damage."
Lucas rubbed his neck awkwardly.
"Well… teamwork."
Victor leaned back in his chair.
"The Harrison Group has always been aggressive."
Lucas nodded.
"I figured."
Victor's expression became more serious.
"This is only the beginning of corporate pressure."
Lucas crossed his arms.
"Expected."
Victor looked at both of them.
"Which is why I've made a decision."
Lucas immediately became alert.
That sounds dangerous.
Victor continued calmly.
"You will both begin participating more actively in company operations."
Lucas's heart dropped.
"…Both?"
Victor nodded.
"Yes."
Adrian didn't seem surprised.
Lucas forced a calm expression.
"What kind of participation?"
Victor slid two folders across the table.
Lucas opened his.
His eyes widened.
"…Project management?"
Victor nodded.
"You will assist in overseeing upcoming company projects."
Lucas stared at the documents.
This was much more responsibility than simple observation.
Adrian looked at his own folder.
"Investment expansion project."
Victor nodded.
"Yes."
Lucas frowned.
"Isn't this too early?"
Victor looked at him.
"You handled yesterday's crisis well."
Lucas sighed internally.
That backfired.
Victor continued,
"It's time for both of you to gain real experience."
Lucas leaned back slightly.
"I see."
Victor stood up.
"You will start today."
Lucas blinked.
"Today?"
Victor nodded.
"Yes."
Lucas sighed.
"Of course."
Victor left the office shortly after, leaving Lucas and Adrian alone.
The room became quiet.
Lucas stared at the project file.
"This is bad."
Adrian glanced at him.
"You don't look happy."
Lucas laughed softly.
"I just got promoted into stress."
Adrian almost smiled.
Lucas closed the file.
"I preferred observing."
Adrian spoke calmly.
"You did well yesterday."
Lucas looked at him.
"That doesn't mean I want responsibility."
Adrian tilted his head slightly.
"You're afraid of responsibility?"
Lucas smirked.
"I'm afraid of unnecessary trouble."
Adrian studied him.
"You're avoiding power."
Lucas shrugged.
"Power brings problems."
Adrian stood up and walked toward the window.
Lucas watched him.
Adrian spoke quietly.
"You think power is dangerous."
Lucas nodded.
"Very."
Adrian turned back toward him.
"I think power is necessary."
Lucas crossed his arms.
"Of course you do."
Adrian walked closer.
"If you don't control power, someone else will."
Lucas sighed.
"And that's fine."
Adrian stopped in front of him.
"No."
Lucas frowned.
"Why not?"
Adrian's voice became firm.
"Because people will use that power against you."
Lucas froze slightly.
That sounded too close to the original story again.
Lucas Carter had lost power and was eventually destroyed by his enemies.
Lucas forced a casual tone.
"I'm not planning to lose anything."
Adrian watched him carefully.
Lucas smiled faintly.
"I just want to live peacefully."
Adrian spoke quietly.
"That won't happen."
Lucas sighed.
"Again with this."
Adrian continued,
"You're part of the Carter family."
Lucas leaned back.
"And?"
Adrian's eyes softened slightly.
"You can't run from this world."
Lucas looked away.
Maybe Adrian was right.
Even if he didn't want power, the world around him would still push him toward it.
Lucas tapped the file lightly.
"So what project did you get?"
Adrian sat down again.
"Investment expansion."
Lucas nodded.
"Sounds serious."
Adrian glanced at his file.
"What about you?"
Lucas looked at his folder.
"Media partnership project."
Adrian raised an eyebrow.
"That suits you."
Lucas smirked.
"Because I talk too much?"
Adrian didn't deny it.
Lucas laughed softly.
"Fair enough."
For a moment, the atmosphere became lighter.
Then Adrian suddenly asked,
"Are you nervous?"
Lucas blinked.
"…About what?"
"The project."
Lucas thought for a moment.
Then he answered honestly.
"A little."
Adrian nodded slightly.
"That's normal."
Lucas raised an eyebrow.
"You get nervous too?"
Adrian looked at him calmly.
"Yes."
Lucas laughed.
"That's surprising."
Adrian didn't react.
Lucas smiled slightly.
"Nice to know you're human."
Adrian almost smiled again.
Lucas stood up and stretched.
"Well, time to work."
Adrian stood up as well.
They walked out of the office together.
As they stepped into the hallway, several employees greeted them.
"Good morning, Mr. Adrian."
"Good morning, Young Master."
Lucas nodded casually.
But he noticed something again.
People were watching them.
Not just watching individually.
Watching both of them together.
Lucas frowned slightly.
"…This feels weird."
Adrian glanced at him.
"What?"
Lucas gestured toward the employees.
"They're staring."
Adrian looked around calmly.
"They're observing."
Lucas sighed.
"Same thing."
As they walked toward the elevator, two employees whispered quietly.
"They look like a strong team."
"Future leaders of Carter Group."
Lucas almost tripped.
"…What?"
Adrian looked at him.
Lucas shook his head.
"Nothing."
Inside the elevator, Lucas sighed deeply.
"This is getting out of hand."
Adrian crossed his arms.
"What is?"
Lucas looked at him.
"People think we're partners now."
Adrian's expression remained calm.
"That's not wrong."
Lucas stared at him.
"…What?"
Adrian spoke quietly.
"We worked together yesterday."
Lucas shook his head.
"That doesn't make us partners."
Adrian looked directly at him.
"Doesn't it?"
Lucas felt slightly flustered.
He quickly looked away.
"We just handled a crisis."
Adrian didn't respond.
The elevator doors opened.
They stepped out.
Lucas walked ahead quickly.
But Adrian followed calmly behind him.
And for some reason…
The distance between them kept getting smaller.
Whether Lucas liked it or not.