Cinder-Effing-Rella

Chapter 4

Rey awoke to find Kylo sitting next to her on the bed. He had already showered and got dressed for work.

"Good morning, Sunshine, time to go shopping."

He appeared uncharacteristically chirpy as he took out his wallet and handed her a credit card.

She eyed it warily, not exactly filled with glee at the prospect of dealing with more snooty shop assistants.

"It's a Snoke Industries business expenses card," Kylo explained. "You shouldn't have any problems using it, but call me if you do." He took in her glum expression with confusion. "Why do you look as if I just handed you a death sentence?"

He assumed she would welcome another shopping spree. The kind of women he'd slept with in the past expected to receive expensive gifts. He had no doubt that if he'd handed any of them a credit card, they would have taken it without a second thought.

"I could pop back to my flat and pack enough clothes for the rest of the week," Rey suggested. "There's no need to go to any further expense."

Kylo adjusted his silk tie as he contemplated ways to explain to her why her own clothing wouldn't do. Tact wasn't exactly his forte, but he tried to be as delicate as he could. "I represent Snoke Industries and I have to look the part. My suits are custom made by the best tailors in the world. Everything from my shoes to my sunglasses speaks to the image of the company I represent. Do you see what I'm saying?"

Rey frowned, he didn't need to remind her how far above her he was in the social strata. "So you're basically saying I'm Cinderella, and you're what? My fairy godmother?"

His lips twitched in amusement as he reached for his jacket. "Buy anything you want, dresses, shoes, whatever. We may be going out to dinner again or a social event, so you'll need some more formal wear."

She sat glum-faced - taking money for the services she provided was one thing but this made her uncomfortable.

Kylo heaved a weary sigh, losing patience with her lack of enthusiasm. "I'll be in the office all day if you need to contact me."

He grabbed his briefcase and headed for the door.

Rey jumped up and chased after him, disregarding her state of nakedness. "How much can I spend? I mean, it's not as if I want a lot, it's just the kind of stuff you're talking about tends to come with a hefty price tag." It mortified her to have to ask but she didn't want to take advantage, even if he could afford it.

Kylo turned to face her, his eyes roving appreciatively over her bare slender body. "Don't worry about the money," he said twisting a lock of her hair around his index finger and reeling her in to kiss her neck. "It means nothing to me."

Hux paced back and forth across the office floor, his face redder than his hair. "You let your personal interests get in the way with Skywalker, and now the old goat is digging his heels in," he fumed.

"It won't do him any good." Kylo didn't appreciate the rebuke, but instead of getting angry, he let himself be distracted by thoughts of Rey. He pictured her radiant smile and the way sunlight danced in her hazel eyes.

"Are even you listening to me?" Hux screeched wearing a murderous expression. "SkyTech has overextended themselves and they are up to their ears in debt. Their European contracts have been keeping the U.S. end of the company afloat. But if they don't come up with an injection of capital soon, it will all be over for them. An old chum of mine from Eton is on the board over at the First Order bank, the one SkyTech is indebted to, and I'm waiting for him to return my call."

"So what's the problem?" Kylo knew he should care more about it. This deal had occupied his every waking thought for months. Indeed, the last six years had been building up to this moment. But now he stood on the verge of getting what he wanted, it had started to feel like a hollow victory.

"Skywalker won't go down without a fight, and that Dameron fellow is attempting to charm new investors as we speak." Hux scowled as he watched his associate toying idly with a water glass. If he respected anything about Ren, it was his work ethic, and now it seemed to be slipping. "What on earth is going on with you? I heard all about your tantrum in the restaurant, by the way. And as for smashing up your phone when I called to ask you how dinner went - Really, Ren, it's no way for a grown man to carry on."

Kylo bristled at Hux's condescending tone. He knew he needed to get his focus back, and fast. Perhaps it had been the message from his mother that unbalanced him so much. It made him realise how much he missed her. The previous evening, he had let himself admit he still cared about his family, once he'd calmed down enough to be rational. Seeing his uncle again, especially under such fraught circumstances, had stirred up a lot of old memories. He had found himself seeking out a piano and playing for the first time in years.

Maybe Rey had reawakened something within him. She made him feel things he hadn't felt for years, like moments of genuine happiness and contentment. Instead of being annoyed at the intrusion when he'd woken up that morning under her tangled limbs, he briefly let himself imagine what it would be like to start every day in the same way. She made him reassess his life choices.

Kylo remembered he had company. "What did you want to be when you were a kid, Armitage?"

Hux cringed at Ren's use of his Christian name. His mouth gaped open for a second unsure of how to respond. The conversation had certainly taken an odd twist, although his raven-haired colleague's temperament could be mercurial at the best of times.

"I wanted to be an ace pilot just like my grandpa," Kylo revealed with a faraway look in his eyes.

Hux never had any time to waste on the idle fancies of childhood. All he'd ever wanted to be was the best. "I do recall informing my father that, one day, I would be the richest man in Great Britain." An ambition he wasn't yet close to achieving. "My father said why not be the richest man in the world?"

Brendon Hux had always strived to teach his son second place and last place were the same things. As a consequence, his ambition had no limits. Snoke might have practically anointed Ren as his successor, but nothing was set in stone. He had been treading carefully, but the SkyTech deal was make-or-break. From the look of it, it appeared his rival didn't have the stomach to get the job done.

Phasma announced her arrival with a brisk knock at the door. She delivered Kylo the replacement phone he had requested. With a hint of a smile, she handed Hux a note. As he glanced at it, he saw a chance to outmanoeuvre his competition and he intended to seize it.

"I'll leave you to it then," Hux said as he marched swiftly to the door.

Kylo barely noticed him depart as his thoughts drifted once more to the family he'd turned his back on.

Rey stood on the street corner looking out for the arrival of her friend. After spending the morning shopping, she'd dropped her purchases back at the hotel, got changed, and then called Finn. He promised he'd be there as soon as he could get a taxi. After half-an-hour of waiting, she began to worry that arranging an impromptu rendezvous with her friend had been a bad idea. Kylo might return from work early and she should be at the hotel ready to greet him whenever he arrived. Rey had planned a little surprise for his return. Now she knew something of his family history, she hoped the gift she'd bought for him would remind him of happier times.

A cab approached and she could see her friend waving to her from the backseat.

"Finn," she shrieked, happy and relieved to see him.

The driver helped him out with his crutches and Rey handed the man a handsome tip along with the fare.

"Look at you," Finn beamed admiring her new clothes. "High society suits you, babe."

Rey hugged him and kissed his cheek. "Thanks," she said with a bashful smile as she gazed down at her outfit. After freaking out over successive price tags during her shopping trip, she'd decided not to look and simply choose things she liked. But she knew the black and white striped wool blend dress with black pumps she currently wore cost the best part of six hundred pounds. "It's easy to scrub up well when you've got money."

"Nah, you always look good," Finn argued. "What was it old Mrs. O'Leary at Jakku Place used to say? You can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear. Besides, it's what's underneath that counts and you've always been a diamond."

Rey smiled and her eyes misted over; he always said the sweetest things. She indicated towards a nearby Starbucks. "Come on, let's grab a quick coffee. I can't stay long."

Once they got seated with their drinks, she reached into her bag and pulled out an envelope before sliding it across the table to her friend. "That should tide you over until the end of the week."

"I'll manage," Finn insisted as he pushed it back.

"Don't be silly," Rey scolded. "You've got to pay the cab fare home and you need groceries. The cupboards were practically bare when I left and I know you've emptied your bank account."

"You've earned that money and you should keep it," Finn argued and frowned with concern as he checked her over for any signs of bruises. "I hope he's being gentle with you."

"It's fine, really," she insisted, sliding the money back to him. "Kylo is actually very generous, and not just with his money."

Rey wondered if she should tell Finn about the Ben Solo stuff. He would only worry, she reasoned, and she didn't know the whole story yet. Kylo hadn't wanted to talk about it and it wasn't really any of her business. She couldn't help caring though and longed for him to open his heart to her.

Finn caught something in her expression and scowled at her, disapprovingly. "I know that look," he chided. "I hope you're not falling for him."

"Of course, I'm not," Rey scoffed. "That would be a stupid thing to do."

He wasn't convinced "You haven't kissed him on the mouth have you?"

"No, not even once." She hadn't but she wanted to.

Finn reached for her hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. "You know it'll only end in heartbreak and I can't bear to see you getting hurt peanut."

Rey pulled away, irritated by his assumptions. "I like him, okay? That's all, and there's no rule that says I can't enjoy what we do together." She felt bad for snapping at her best friend when she knew he had her best interests at heart. He had been the only constant in her life and the one person she could always count on. But she'd glimpsed something in Kylo like he was a kindred spirit and he understood her on some deep unspoken level. "It's just - for all his money and everything that goes with it, I can see he knows what it is to feel lost and alone."

"Pardon me if I don't get all weepy over Trump Junior," Finn sneered.

Rey didn't want to argue with him. "I know what I'm doing, and it's only for a few more days." Her eyes silently pleaded for his understanding.

She'd seen him get in over his head with a client. It happened sometimes, although never to her, not before Kylo. He had well and truly got under her skin.

Finn understood about the money and the rest. She would always have his shoulder to cry on if she needed it. "Just be careful, that's all," he warned.

Kylo arrived back at the hotel preoccupied and feeling torn apart by his conflicting loyalties. Mr. Snoke had called him before he left the office. He wanted to talk about the SkyTech deal and his vision for the company. The confidence the old man placed in him filled him with guilt about the amount of time he'd wasted dwelling on the past. Snoke Industries deserved his full attention in the present and the future. He stomped, fists clenched, into the hotel room, forgetting for a moment he had company.

"Hi, honey, how was your day?"

Rey's voice startled him out of his reverie. He looked up to find her draped over the couch wearing nothing but a damson-coloured tie.

"Better now," Kylo drawled with hunger in his eyes his troubles evaporating.

"I got it for you," she explained, holding up the silk material so he could get a closer look. "See, it's got little aeroplanes embroidered on it."

He couldn't focus on the tie or anything else with her sitting there naked. She held out her hand to him and he pulled her into his arms. His kisses were fierce as he swept her up and carried her to the bed. He couldn't get rid of his clothes fast enough. In the end, he settled for stripping off his jacket, removing his tie, opening his shirt and leaving his pants wrapped around one leg.

"I need to be inside you," he murmured low into her ear as the tip of his cock found her welcoming wet heat.

Rey moaned with pleasure as he buried himself in her. His thrusts were hard and deep and his mouth on her skin bruising. He kept up a frantic pace, sweat dripping from his brow as he pounded into her like a jackhammer. Their orgasms hit almost simultaneously, her climax triggering his as he filled her with his cum. Kylo collapsed next to her on the bed as they both caught their breath.

"I take it you really liked the tie, then?" she teased turning to him with one of her beaming smiles.

He had forgotten all about the strip of silk around her neck. The sight of it caused him to start laughing until his whole body shook. Rey joined in and then suggested he should use it to tie her hands to the headboard when he fucked her again. Kylo liked her idea.

Later that night, she suggested they take a bath together. Her thighs were sticky from his cum and they were both sweaty from their exertions. The bathtub was huge and she'd been dying to try it out. Big as it was, Kylo still had to sit with his legs bent for it to accommodate his tall frame. He laid his head back against her chest as she ran the washcloth over his toned abs, her other hand resting over his heart. He covered it with one of his own, twining his fingers with hers.

"I've been thinking about my family today," he revealed.

He didn't speak again for a while and Rey wondered if she should say something. But then, he continued, "I've been angry at them for so long, it's become like a bad habit. When I accepted Randolph Snoke's offer to join his company it was on the condition that I renounced my family and everything associated with them, even my name. I left Ben Solo behind and became Kylo Ren. At least, that's what I told myself."

"Why would you do such a thing?" Rey blurted out before she could think better of it. She couldn't understand why anyone would turn their back on a loving family. When he fell silent, she sought to backpedal as she didn't know all the facts. "I mean, I know it's none of my business. But I'm here for you if you want to talk about it."

Kylo was hesitant at first. For some unknown reason, he trusted her and she listened as he told her all about his family history. His grandfather, Anakin Skywalker, a decorated U.S. Air Force Colonel, had started the business that would eventually become SkyTech. At the age of twenty, he'd married Padmé, his childhood sweetheart. She tragically died in childbirth after only three short years of marriage. Anakin, consumed with grief, had thrown himself into his work. Unable to care for the twins he unfairly blamed for their mother's death, he sent them away. Luke ended up being raised by his aunt and uncle on a farm while his sister Leia was adopted by an American diplomat and his wife, Bail and Breha Organa. Twenty-three years later, Anakin discovered he had terminal lung cancer. He managed to reconcile with his son before his death, but his daughter refused to see him. The company he founded he bequeathed to both his children. Luke determined to carry on the family business and restore its reputation after years of Anakin's shady dealing but Leia refused to have any part of it. She married the famous racing car driver Han Solo soon after her biological father's death. Luke took charge of Vader Incorporated and renamed it Sky-Solo Systems. His sister had fallen pregnant on her honeymoon, and Luke felt her child should have some stake in the company even if she didn't want it. Ben grew up hearing stories about his grandfather from his uncle and he began learning the business during school holidays.

"I guess I took it for granted that one day the company would be mine," Kylo confessed. "I got into Harvard and ended up serving my internship at Snoke Industries. My mother thought I should get experience outside the family business. Randolph Snoke had once been a rival of my grandfather's. With his reputation for being ruthless and hard to please, I couldn't help being flattered when he took a special interest in me. He offered me a job when I graduated but I remained determined to go and work with my uncle. Luke Skywalker is many good things, but a savvy businessman he is not. I didn't know how bad things were with the company finances until the shit had already hit the fan. Sky-Solo Systems were competing for a contract to supply the U.S. military with a new line of stealth aircraft. We practically had it in the bag and then the test flight went horribly wrong. The official report concluded the crash was down to pilot error but the damage was done. Bankruptcy loomed and Randolph Snoke offered to keep us afloat if my uncle agreed to make the three of us equal shareholders in the business. Luke refused, saying he would rather see the company go bust. I begged my parents to help, but my father wasn't interested and my mother wouldn't give me a dime. I got so angry at all of them for ruining grandfather's business and depriving me of what I saw as my birthright. When I heard Luke had a deal with Dameron Enterprises in the pipeline and intended to make Paolo Dameron a full partner in the business, I saw red. My uncle said I was too much like my grandfather, and that wasn't what the company needed. Randolph Snoke contacted me and made me an offer I couldn't refuse. It didn't seem like a hardship at the time to relinquish my family name and cut them out of my life. And Mr. Snoke promised me that SkyTech would one day be mine to do with as I pleased."

Kylo lapsed into quiet contemplation. The bathwater had cooled, although he didn't seem to have noticed.

"Come on," Rey coaxed kissing the tip of one of his ears. "Let's get dried off and go to bed."

The rest of the night, Kylo barely spoke a word. He put his mouth to other uses. Rey returned the favour and he eventually drifted off to sleep with her warm body spooning his.