Mr. Nobody: Owns It All

A real man

"Let it go, Blake," Shane-Leo sighed, waving a dismissive hand. 

"There's no point in causing a scene. Besides, the Mirano family wouldn't allow someone to run around their building with no clothes on. They wouldn't take kindly to a man parading around in his birthday suit. They have a reputation to uphold, after all."

Blake hesitated; his brow furrowed in concern. "Still, Mr. Quinn's behaviour was unacceptable. I should report it to security."

Shane-Leo shook his head with a forced smile. "No need, Blake. You’ve handled it. Just another bump in the road, that's all." He shot a pointed look at Anderson, who remained rooted to the spot, his face ashen. "Isn't that right, Mr. Quinn?"

Anderson, his bravado completely shattered, could only stutter a weak apology. Blake, his gaze lingering on Anderson for a moment longer, finally nodded curtly.

Blake still hesitated; his brow furrowed in concern. "Perhaps, Mr. Shane-Leo," he conceded, using the more formal address. He then turned to Anderson, his voice firm. 

"You, sir, would do well to remember that this is a private event. Any disruption will not be tolerated."

Turning back to Shane-Leo, he cleared his throat, his voice firm. "Mr. Shane-Leo," he began, addressing him with a formality that sent a jolt through Norah, "Let’s head inside, the ceremony is about to begin."

Norah's eyes widened in disbelief. Why was he so respectful to him? Why did he refer to him with such formality? 

A slow blush crept up her neck as her thoughts began to cloud her mind. ‘It was not possible that Shane-Leo’s status was higher than Anderson’s so what the hell was going on?’ Shane-Leo's confident demeanor made her wonder.

Anderson, too, seemed to have been thinking. His bluster completely vanished, replaced by a sickly pallor that drained the color from his face.

Shane-Leo, savoring their stunned silence for a moment, turned back to Blake. "Lead the way, Blake," he said, a hint of triumph in his voice.

"Indeed," he said, his voice laced with a hint of disapproval. "Now, if you'll excuse me,"

"Wait," she began, her voice barely a whisper, "about the invitation…"

Shane-Leo, however, cut her off with a dismissive wave of his hand. "Let's just say," he said, his voice laced with a hint of satisfaction, "there may have been a slight misunderstanding."

He wasn't about to reveal his true identity, not to her, not yet. He wanted to savour this moment, to see the surprise and confusion etched on her face. It was a small victory, but a sweet one nonetheless.

With that, Blake and Shane-Leo turned and went into the mansion, 

Turning away from them, he walked towards the grand entrance, leaving the stunned duo standing awkwardly at the entrance. Both of them speechless in his wake. 

Norah, her earlier hostility replaced by a growing sense of unease, stole a glance at Shane-Leo’s retreating figure.

As he stepped inside, the opulent decor and the throng of well-dressed guests momentarily overwhelmed him. The air buzzed with conversation and the clinking of glasses, a contrast to the tense silence outside.

A wave of nostalgia washed over him as he recognized some faces from his childhood – distant relatives, family friends – their expressions a mixture of curiosity and cautious delight. He offered polite smiles and curt nods, not yet ready for a full-blown reunion.

He spotted Blake discreetly scanning the room, a worried crease marring his forehead. Catching his eye, Blake hurried over, relief flooding his features.

"Master Shane-Leo," he began, his voice low. "I apologize for the earlier incident. Security has been informed about Anderson Quinn, and they will be monitoring the situation."

Shane-Leo nodded curtly. "Don't worry about it, Blake. I can handle myself."

Blake hesitated, then cleared his throat. "Perhaps you would like me to introduce you to some of the guests?"

Shane-Leo considered the offer. He wasn't particularly keen on small talk, but he knew it was part of the game. "Maybe later, Blake," he said. "Right now, I just need a moment to…take it all in."

"Perhaps you'd like a drink, Master?" Blake suggested, sensing his mood. "A chance to relax before the ceremony?"

Blake nodded with understanding. "Of course, Young Master. Whenever you're ready, or you need anything you just let me know."

“Thanks.”

With a final nod, Blake melted back into the crowd, leaving Shane-Leo alone amidst the sea of unfamiliar faces. 

He excused himself and drifted further into the room, seeking solace in the anonymity of the crowd. His gaze fell on an empty seat tucked away in a secluded alcove, and he made his way towards it.

As he sat down, a wave of exhaustion washed over him. The events of the past few days had taken their toll, both emotionally and physically. He closed his eyes, the din of the party a dull roar in his ears.

Suddenly, a voice pierced through the fog of his thoughts. "Shane-Leo?"

He opened his eyes to see Norah standing in front of him, her expression a mixture of curiosity and something he couldn't quite decipher. He frowned, a hint of annoyance flickering within him.

"Norah," he acknowledged curtly. "What can I do for you?"

"You work here, don’t you?" She asked, her voice laced with accusation.

Shane-Leo blinked, taken aback by her question. "Work here?" he echoed, confusion clouding his features. "What are you talking about?"

Norah's frown deepened. "Typical you, Shane-Leo," she huffed. "Always relying on others. Don't you ever think about getting a job?"

A surge of anger coursed through him. "A job?" he scoffed. 

"Yes, a job," she pressed, a tiny bit of worry in her eyes. "You wouldn't expect them to just…hand you something here, would you? You need to prove yourself, work your way up from the bottom, just like everyone else."

The irony of her words wasn't lost on him. Here she was, the one who had coldly turned her back to him, now suddenly concerned about his lack of employment. He felt a surge of anger, a bitter reminder of her past criticisms.

Shane-Leo sneered; he was tired of explaining. She never believed him anyway. She saw and thought of him as a ‘gigolo’. He chuckled when he remembered the word she used to describe him.

Norah frowned, wondering what he found funny. “Take a look at Anderson, he’s an accomplished business man, that’s why-” She continued, but he cut her off. “So that’s why you divorced me?” 

Norah opened her mouth to retort, but the words seemed to die in her throat. She looked as though he'd slapped her. She seemed genuinely shocked by his outburst.

For a fleeting moment, he wondered if he'd misjudged her. But then, a wave of cynicism washed over him.

“What are you even talking about Shane-Leo!”

"You stood there and watched him insult me, you watched and allowed him to call me names," he said, his voice laced with bitterness. "You even went ahead as to defend him Norah, and now you come here to further disturb my peace!” 

“What more do you want from me? I loved you will my all, but what did you do instead? You went to focus on your social climbing. Clearly, you’re not the woman I thought you were."

Shane-Leo, realizing the harshness of his words, felt a pang of regret. But before he could apologize, she retorted with harsh and angry words. 

“If you were a real man Shane-Leo, you would have either fought back, or accepted his offer. How could you rely on a woman for help?” 

Shane-Leo clenched his jaw, but remained silent.