Leveling Up the Billionaire

01| Paranoia

Xaviero Daguise was froze in silence even though the sunlight had broken into his room through the gap in the towering thick curtains. He did not even care about the knocking on the door and the voice that kept asking him to wake up.

Wake up? Xavier hadn't even slept all night.

He just sat leaning against the back of the bed, staring blankly ahead while hugging his knees. Xavier had tried to close his eyes, he had even taken sleeping pills, but to no avail.

Every time his eyes closed, the image of the accident that happened two years ago haunted his mind. The screams of his younger brother who was hit in front of his eyes made Xavier feel guilty.

The bad memories made his heart beat chaotically and sweat poured out even though he had turned on the air conditioner. Xavier had to face hard days and scary nights, but there was no one out there who knew his helplessness. Why? Because Xavier realized that there were people who were happy to see him suffer. He doesn't know who that person is, but Xavier must remain vigilant.

Knock.

Knock.

"Young master? Are you awake?" The question came back from outside.

Xavier took a deep breath, then exhaled slowly. After mustering the confidence to go through another strenuous life he stumbled down from the bed that was too big to be filled alone. But, it was the solitude that made Xavier feel safe.

That's why Xavier prefers the pavilion as his place to rest, sleep and spend his free time. The main house was occupied by Grandpa, who was often seen being visited by employees and other important people.

"Sir?"

Damn.

They're so impatient, Xavier muttered as he walked towards the door. For safety reasons, Xavier had deliberately used a smart lock so that no one could enter his room secretly to take things or possibly strangle him at that time. That was how trusting Xavier was of the people around him.

With just a touch of a fingerprint, the door to the room opened and revealed three women wearing neat ash-colored clothes, typical of the maid's attire in the Daguise family home.

"Good morning, young master." Greeted one of the representatives.

"Would you like to clean my room?" Xavier asked, while looking at the three servants one by one. The same servants, all three of them, were the ones who cleaned the room yesterday.

The servants nodded.

"Alright. Like yesterday, only one person can go inside," Xavier said.

The three maids seemed to look at each other to decide who would go in and work on cleaning the room. They looked reluctant because the room Xavier occupied was too large, it would take a long time to do everything alone.

But what could Xavier do? He couldn't observe three people at once, right? Yeah, Xavier usually watches every move of those working in his personal environment, let alone his room. The servants were the only people who could sneak something dangerous in from out there. Xavier couldn't take any chances.

"You're not going in?"

"I... I will clean Master's room today." Said the short-haired maid with a small pinch above her ear.

Xavier nodded, then he held out his hand. "Gimme that."

The maid with the name Nelly on the name-tag attached to her chest looked confused. She had no idea what her Master was asking for, although the monster title for Xavier was familiar, wasn't it too evil to make someone guess what he wanted? The girl swallowed with difficulty.

"What is that supposed to mean?" Nelly asked as she mimicked Xavier's gesture, showing her palm.

Xavier pointed at his own head, "Hairpin, don't wear that into my room. Leave it with these two."

Ah... It turned out to be a hairpin. Why didn't you say so earlier? That's just confusing. Nelly grumbled inwardly, because only secretly could they complain.

"Okay." The hairpin removed, she could now go inside and start cleaning up her master's room, which was actually not too messy.

It was just that there were many mementos from Xavier's childhood that had to be carefully and properly cleaned so that no dust could make their young master sick.

It started with opening the curtains with the remote because they were too tall and wide for the servant's small hands to slide. Then, the bed. Right on the wall behind the bed was a family painting. Xavier's father, mother, and younger brother who passed away just 3 months after their parents' passing. The past 2 years were the darkest years for the Daguise family, especially for Xavier.

Losing his parents and younger brother was like losing his home, Xavier couldn't even mourn the sadness of being so angry at himself as well as at the fate that he thought was unfair. He went straight back to work brutally, as if he didn't want a single second that could make him think about the loss. The office was like his new home as he spent most of his time there.

During the cleaning, Xavier was completely silent and watched every movement of Nelly the waitress. Although it felt awkward and uncomfortable, the work had to be done. It was not uncommon for Xavier to correct the way she worked.

---||---

Xavier stood firmly at the center of the dining table, considering that tomorrow was an important day for him and the entire company family, it was no wonder that there were already visitors early in the morning. So, inevitably Xavier had to say hello and have breakfast together. It was all because of Grandfather~Mr. Jostein Daguise's request. Otherwise, Xavier would find excuses to avoid the unscheduled visit.

"Sorry, I came late." Xavier said as he sat on the far seat, taking the place of his Grandfather who would soon be handing over all the assets and wealth to him.

It was a big responsibility. Xavier had refused, but remembering all the bad things that had happened to his family made him think not to make the deaths of his parents and sister in vain. Xavier would not let his loss become a weakness. He also felt it would be easier to take a revenge if he had full power.

Yes, revenge. Although the deaths of his parents and little brother were recorded as accidents, Xavier had many near misses in his life. It was enough to make him wary and suspicious of those around him.

"Alright, please enjoy your breakfast." Xavier said.

"Bon appétit," said the others.

While the others ate, Xavier was silent as he stared at the food in front of him. Everything was perfectly presented, the shapes and aromas were tantalizing. However, it actually felt dangerous to him. For Xavier, who had been poisoned as a child, eating food that had been presented perfectly was very difficult. Xavier would rather cook it himself or buy instant food at the convenience store, so far no outsiders knew about the tragedy.

Xavier circulated his gaze to everyone at the dining table, there was Zion Parwes there, still a relative and also the best friend that he grew up with. Zion was one of the three people Xavier trusted, the other two being his fiancée Livy Ainsley and Mr. Liam who was his grandfather's personal assistant. Other than Zion, there was no one Xavier personally recognized at the dining table at the moment.

"Sir, why don't you eat with us?" Asked one of his guests.

Xavier swallowed hard, not knowing what reason to give.

"What is it, sir? The chef at your residence makes good food, you should try it," added another.

Xavier looked to Zion for help.

Zion understood, "Gentlemen, Xavier had breakfast earlier."

Xavier let out a sigh of relief, but it only lasted for a moment.

"But, he will eat his dessert. Please, Mr. Xavier." Zion said, without hesitation, as if he did not know that Xavier had a past trauma related to food.

What?! Xavier gasped. Now what was he supposed to do? Why would Zion say that when he knew exactly what Xavier's difficulties were?

The guest's gaze now turned to him, smiling as they waited for him to pick up the spoon next to the plate of small cheesecake. Xavier completely froze, his hand couldn't lift the spoon, it felt so hard.

Nausea. No, now the urge to vomit was creeping in. Xavier couldn't force himself. The image of him in pain on the floor with his mouth foaming until he almost lost his life came back to fill his head.

"We're waiting, sir." Someone said. Xavier didn't know who, everything suddenly blurred in his vision, there was only fear.

Xavier's hands were clenched tightly, he must not show fear. The future heir to the Daguise family must not show the slightest crack, not in front of those he did not trust.

Xavier was silent as he stared at the small spoon in his hand. Now, there was only eating or not eating.

"What should I do?"