Rebirth: I Died as a Nobody, Came Back as a Legend

I stepped outside and was met with the sight of Damien leaning casually against his sleek black sports car, waiting for me. He looked particularly good today—his designer suit tailored to perfection in striking black and red, the fabric shimmering subtly in the sunlight. The jacket was sharp, hugging his frame in all the right places, while the red accents popped against the black. He wore a crisp white shirt underneath, adding a classic touch to his modern ensemble.

"What, no flowers?" I quipped sarcastically as I walked past him, noting how he seemed almost too pristine for a casual outing.

"You told me not to be disingenuous, didn't you?" he replied, speeding ahead of me to open the car door.

"Then what's this fancy car?" I gestured toward the car, its glossy finish reflecting the sun.

"Good etiquette my mother taught me. You look nice tonight," he said, rolling his eyes, but a hint of sincerity lingered in his tone.

"What a good boy," I teased, playfully patting his cheek like he was a pet. I couldn't help but smirk as I noticed his smile falter.

"One of these days, I'll teach you a lesson for being so antagonistic, Jack," he warned, slamming the door shut once I was inside.

I settled into the luxurious interior, the smell of leather filling the air, and glanced at him as he started the engine. "I was right about my mail getting intercepted by my sister," I told him, feeling the tension rise again. "So we'll probably be seeing her there. Just a heads up."

"Damn it, I wanted to avoid her at all costs," Damien cursed, his grip tightening on the steering wheel.

"Really?" I raised an eyebrow, intrigued by his reaction.

"Yeah, I'm a pretty good judge of character, and that girl is impossible to figure out. That kind of shit makes me uncomfortable," he shivered slightly, a look of genuine distaste crossing his face.

Ha! Now that's what I want to hear! He sure knew how to butter someone up. I just wished Debbie was there to hear him say that; she'd probably lose her mind.

As we pulled up to the luxurious hotel, my breath caught in my throat. The place was opulent, its grand entrance adorned with towering marble columns and sparkling chandeliers. The driveway was lined with perfectly manicured hedges and exotic flowers, while valets in crisp uniforms stood ready to assist guests. The air was fragrant with the subtle scent of fresh roses, and the hotel's gleaming glass windows reflected the grandeur of the city skyline.

I couldn't help but think: I really missed out on this for Eli?

Damien handed the keys to the valet with a warning. "Here you go. And listen, don't mess this up. I'll know if you so much as scratch it."

The valet nodded respectfully. "Yes, sir. We'll take good care of it."

Once we exited the car and made our way through the grand entrance, the magnificence of the lobby struck me. High ceilings, elegant crystal chandeliers, and plush furnishings surrounded us. The marble floors gleamed like a polished mirror, and a large, intricate floral arrangement served as the centerpiece. Guests in designer clothes and polished shoes bustled around, while the staff moved with professional precision.

"Wow," I said, taking in the surroundings. "This place is incredible. I've never seen anything like it."

Damien smirked, his eyes scanning the crowd. "Aston only likes the best. Let's get this done."

We approached the reception desk, where a well-dressed receptionist greeted us with a warm smile. "Good evening, gentlemen. How may I assist you today?"

"Good afternoon, I'm looking for Mr. Jacobs' office," Damien said confidently.

The woman, her hair tied back in a slick bun, glanced at us and asked, "Which Mr. Jacobs?"

"The younger?"

The receptionist rolled her eyes slightly, already anticipating the usual confusion. She began typing away at her computer. "Let me check with Secretary Lee." She picked up the phone and dialed a couple of numbers. We waited anxiously as the phone rang twice before she spoke again. "Hello, Secretary Lee, we have a guest here who is looking to meet Aston Jacobs Jr. Can I confirm that I can send him up?"

I couldn't hear the reply, but the receptionist spoke again, "His name? He says he is..."

Her eyes met Damien's, and he hurriedly replied, "Damien Anderson."

She continued, "Damien Anderson, sir. Okay. No problem. Thank you very much, Secretary Lee."

She hung up and smiled at us. "Secretary Lee just confirmed that Mr. Jacobs has been expecting you. Go to the last elevator towards your right and select the topmost floor; it should get you up there the fastest."

Once we were far enough away, I decided to start asking questions. "How do you know the Jacobs family?"

"Our dads have always done business with each other, and I've saved that little shit's life a few times. Basically, he thinks of me as his big brother even though he's older than me," Damien explained, his tone casual.

"Why?"

"We're cousins. He's not quite normal, but he's a good and loyal friend to have. I can't guarantee anything, so once you're there, you have to charm him. That won't be an issue, right?"

"Not at all."

"Good, after that we can have our little date," Damien chuckled. "I've still got to knock your socks off."

The elevator moved so fast that it made me jolt when it first started moving. I eyed the changing numbers and gulped as they crept toward the top floor.

DING!

The door opened, and we were greeted by a mysterious man. I assumed this must be Secretary Lee, the person the receptionist was speaking to a moment ago.

"Mr. Anderson, Mr. Spencer, we've been expecting you. Let me just let Mr. Jacobs know you've arrived; he's wrapping up a call now. Feel free to take a seat in the meantime," Secretary Lee gestured to one of the black leather couches.

I followed Damien and took a seat, taking a moment to absorb the surroundings. The area seemed to be more like a waiting room branching into a smaller office that belonged to Secretary Lee, and a large set of mahogany doors that I assumed led into Aston Jacobs' office. Secretary Lee organized some papers on his desk before returning to our side. "Is there anything I can offer you to drink?"

"No. I'm good," I replied.

Secretary Lee stuck his head in between the doors and then turned around to call out to Damien and me, "You can come in now."

I wiped my sweaty palms on my pants one last time and rose, following Damien as we approached the imposing doors. Once inside, I struggled to contain my gasp at the large and luxurious office. The decoration was minimalistic yet tasteful, with warm wooden furniture creating a cozy yet chic feel. Some artwork hung on the walls from artists even I recognized. The room was even bigger than I had imagined, and the vast desk that sat close to the edge of the room felt like a horizon away.

Seated at that desk was a stoic guy with a stone-cold expression. He wore a well-fitted suit that could easily have been worth more than three people's entire existence, leaning back leisurely on his dark leather chair. His caramel tan skin contrasted sharply with his black hair, slicked back casually with gel. He had small but piercing dark eyes and thick lips, his skin spotless.

Damn, he kind of looks like a model or a mixed-race Damien.

I stood a respectful distance from the desk. "Hello, I'm Jack Spencer. It's nice to meet you." Aston looked at me coldly, and I refused to react to the tension in the room. "I've been working on a few things to try and expand faster down south. I just need five minutes of your time. If I—"

"Turn around for me," Aston cut me off abruptly.

"What?" I asked, dumbfounded by the interruption.

Aston clicked his tongue. "I said, turn around."

Confused but feeling compelled to obey, I pivoted to face Damien, who looked as amused as I felt. "Turn back around," Aston commanded curtly.

Annoyance bubbled within me at being treated like livestock.

"Have you ever had a male lover before?" Aston asked, his tone blunt.

"Pardon?" My jaw dropped at the invasive question.

"Alright! That's enough, Aston. I'll still kick your ass, you know! Stop messing with him," Damien hissed.

"My cousin talks about the fox that grabbed his full attention a lot. Who knew it would be like you?" Aston's entire demeanor shifted from angry to playful, like a child. "It must be worth it. What do you want?"

Excuse me? That easily? In my past life, this guy was known for his extreme temper tantrums and domineering ways. I remembered hearing that no one had anything nice to say about him—just that if you were close to him, you were bound to become the next big thing. Are you telling me there was actually no stick up his ass?

"I want to expand business down south," I said, regaining my composure.

"Fine. I've got the contacts you'll need ready. In return, come to my wedding with Damien. My dad told me to make nice with the Spencer heir while I'm here anyway. He thinks your dad is more impressive than your grandfather—"

"And I'm more impressive than both of them," I interjected immediately.

"Looks like we both want the old-timers out of the way. I like him," Aston said, patting my shoulder.

"Told you he was interesting," Damien remarked, his tone teasing.

"You're really just going to give me what I'm asking for?" I asked, trying to process how easily this was going.

"Yeah, you helped my aunt and uncle repair their reputation. My contacts are all yours," Aston said with a smile. "Why aren't you happy?"

"I am. I'm just relieved I can skip the presentation and keep some ideas to myself," I sighed, feeling the weight of pressure evaporate from my shoulders. I just saved another multimillion-dollar project for the future!

"You have more ideas like the one you gave my aunt and uncle?" Aston suddenly looked interested.

"I've got five right now, guaranteed to make a profit if done right. I just don't have the power to do much since I was only just named the heir," I explained.

"Got it. I'm on your side."

"You don't even know me!"

"Do I need to? If Damien vouches for you, it's legit," Aston replied, shrugging. "You're the first one, so I have to help you."

Looks like I really caught the bigger fish this time. Even though Eli attended this party with Debbie in the last life, they failed to gain Aston and his father's interests but were still favored for even getting invited to this party. But I got it in less than two minutes because Damien is this guy's cousin.

Oh my god! Is this the fruit of my labor?

"Fuck," I muttered, almost in disbelief.

To my surprise, Aston burst out laughing, his amusement echoing through the room. "He's brave enough to speak freely in front of me too! How great!"

I turned to Damien, bewildered. "Am I amusing?"

"No, just adorable. You've got the contacts; now let's go join the party and start our date," Damien said, putting his arm around me. "Remember Aston—"

"Yeah, yeah, don't pull any shit!" Aston called after us, giving me an assuring thumbs-up. "We'll have a real party without the buzzkills soon, Jack Spencer! I'll be keeping an eye on your career! We'll be family soon after all, if you survive."

"Shut up!" Damien snapped, rushing me out of Aston's office.

"You told him?" I asked, bewildered by the whirlwind of events.

"Yeah, but he's making fun of me because I theorized that you can see the future," Damien replied, not letting me look back. "Don't mind him. It's almost date time."