Chapter Four: People Who Watch
1347 Words
Summer decided by midday that international summits were just professionally organized exhaustion.
Everywhere she turned there were conversations happening in three languages, people exchanging business cards like survival depended on it, assistants speed-walking through corridors, and journalists appearing out of nowhere with microphones.
The Geneva summit somehow managed to feel important, beautiful, and deeply sleep-deprived all at once.
“You’re slouching,” Amara whispered beside her.
Summer straightened immediately.
“I’m surviving.”
“You’re representing an organization.”
“I’m representing fatigue.”
Amara ignored her and adjusted Summer’s conference badge slightly before the next panel session began.
The morning discussions had focused on youth policy integration, climate financing, and international sustainability partnerships.
Summer had spoken briefly during one segment regarding community-led development programs.
Only briefly. And somehow people still kept approaching her afterward.
A diplomat from Norway. A youth representative from Kenya. A university policy researcher from South Korea.
Summer handled each interaction naturally, smiling warmly through growing exhaustion.
That was the thing about her.
Even when tired, she made people feel listened to.
Across the room, Levi Fernandez noticed that immediately.
***
Levi disliked conferences. Correction: he disliked rooms full of powerful people pretending performance was the same thing as sincerity. Unfortunately, conferences were now part of his job.
He stood near the back of the summit lounge with one hand in his pocket while executives discussed investment partnerships nearby.
Levi wasn’t listening.
Instead, his attention kept drifting toward the same person across the room.
Summer Knightly.
She moved constantly; greeting people, laughing softly, speaking with animated hands, checking notes, helping nervous junior delegates feel comfortable.
And somehow none of it looked performative.
That was unusual.
Most people changed when they entered rooms like this. They became careful, strategic, artificial.
Summer looked exactly the same talking to ambassadors, interns, hotel staff, and security personnel.
Levi found that strangely distracting.
“You’re staring.”
Levi didn’t look away from his glass.
“I’m observing.”
Lione snorted beside him.
“Which sounds significantly less concerning in your head.”
Levi finally glanced sideways.
His brother leaned casually against the table wearing an expensive navy suit and the expression of someone who enjoyed provoking people recreationally.
“You caused a scene at the airport,” Levi said flatly.
Lione looked offended. “I caused a scene?”
“You argued with two exhausted women in an international terminal.”
“One of them insulted my emotional range.”
Levi took a slow sip of coffee.
“You barely have one.”
Lione gasped dramatically. “You’re supposed to support family.”
“You were rude.”
Lione narrowed his eyes slightly.
Then his gaze flicked toward Summer across the room.
“…That one’s interesting.”
Levi’s expression remained unchanged.
“Which one?”
“The sunshine one.”
Levi said nothing.
Lione immediately smirked.
“Oh, you know exactly which one.”
Levi looked away calmly.
Unfortunately, that silence alone was enough to interest Lione further.
“Don’t tell me you actually noticed her.”
“She’s difficult not to notice.”
Lione stared at him for two full seconds.
Then burst into laughter.
“Oh, this is fascinating.”
Levi already regretted speaking.
***
Summer was halfway through explaining a youth-led agriculture initiative to a policy advisor when she realized someone familiar was approaching.
Lione Fernandez.
She recognized the arrogance first.
Amara noticed him immediately too.
“Oh no,” she muttered.
Summer whispered urgently, “Behave.”
“I am behaving.”
“That tone says otherwise.”
Lione stopped in front of them smoothly.
“I believe we started badly yesterday.”
Amara crossed her arms.
“That’s a very diplomatic way to say you were insufferable.”
Summer closed her eyes briefly.
Lione, however, looked almost entertained now.
“You’re very aggressive for someone attending a sustainability summit.”
“And you’re very confident for someone who still owes us a proper apology.”
Summer quickly stepped in before the situation escalated internationally.
“We’re fine,” she said quickly. “Really.”
Lione’s attention shifted toward her.
Up close, he looked less cold than Levi.
Sharper. More expressive. Dangerously charming.
The type of man who probably enjoyed winning arguments far too much.
“You’re Summer Knightly,” he said.
It wasn’t a question.
Summer blinked slightly. “You know who I am?”
“You’re delivering the closing remarks.”
Amara muttered under her breath, “And he still acted like that at the airport.”
Lione ignored her expertly.
“I’m Lione Fernandez.”
Summer smiled politely despite everything.
“Officially this time.”
Something amused flickered across his face.
Then another presence approached beside him quietly.
Summer looked up.
Levi.
Unlike Lione, Levi didn’t seem naturally suited for crowds.
He wore another dark suit today, tie loosened slightly as though formal clothing annoyed him on principle.
People moved subtly around him without realizing they were doing it.
Summer noticed that immediately.
So did Amara. And based on her expression, she disliked it.
Levi stopped beside his brother.
For a brief second his eyes met Summer’s again. Calm. Unreadable. Tired. Always tired.
“This feels familiar,” Amara said suspiciously.
Lione looked delighted. “You started it last time too.”
“You insulted her walking.”
“You walked into me.”
“You survived.”
Summer wanted to disappear.
Instead, Levi sighed quietly beside them.
Not irritated. More like exhausted by predictable behavior.
Then, to Summer’s surprise,
“I believe we owe you both a proper apology,” he said calmly.
Lione looked personally betrayed.
Summer blinked.
Amara narrowed her eyes suspiciously.
Levi continued evenly, “My brother lacks restraint.”
“Excuse you,” Lione muttered.
“And tact,” Levi added.
Summer bit the inside of her cheek to stop herself from laughing.
A very brief silence followed.
Then Amara said, “…That’s actually acceptable.”
Lione looked horrified.
“You accept his apology?”
“He sounds emotionally literate.”
“I regret approaching you.”
Summer finally laughed softly.
The sound escaped before she could stop it.
And for the first time Levi looked directly at her with something slightly warmer than neutrality. Not a smile. Not fully. But something close enough that Summer noticed immediately.
Which annoyed her slightly for reasons she couldn’t explain.
***
Later that evening, Summer stood alone on one of the hotel balconies overlooking the lake.
The networking reception inside had become overwhelming hours ago.
Too many conversations. Too much noise. Too many important people pretending not to compete with each other.
She exhaled slowly into the cold evening air.
“You disappeared.”
Summer turned slightly.
Levi stood near the balcony entrance.
No jacket this time. Sleeves rolled slightly. Tie gone completely.
He looked less intimidating without the full executive uniform. Still intimidating. But more human.
“Amazing observational skills,” Summer replied lightly.
Something almost amused flickered briefly across his face again.
He stepped beside her, leaving a respectful amount of distance between them.
For several quiet seconds, neither spoke.
The lake shimmered below them.
Inside, soft music drifted faintly through the glass doors.
Summer glanced sideways eventually.
“You really don’t like crowds, do you?”
Levi looked ahead calmly.
“I tolerate them professionally.”
“That sounds miserable.”
“It usually is.”
Summer smiled faintly.
There it was again. That strange feeling that talking to him felt unexpectedly easy despite how guarded he was.
Like trying to understand someone standing behind heavily tinted glass.
“You’re different from what I expected,” she admitted before thinking.
Levi finally looked at her fully.
“And what did you expect?”
Summer hesitated.
“A very intimidating corporate military executive.”
“And instead?”
She looked at him carefully for a moment.
“…You just seem tired.”
The silence that followed changed slightly. Subtly. Like something unseen had shifted between them.
Levi looked away first.
And for the first time since meeting him, Summer realized she might have accidentally said something true.
- Writer
