It was the early hours of the morning when Rufus finally closed the notebook Senna had been writing in with a soft sigh. She might have objected if she hadn't been yawning. He didn't give her a chance to say anything before he said, "Enough. There is no profit to either of us continuing when it is obvious you are not at peak capacity. Get some sleep, and we can clean this up when we wake."
Senna wanted to get aggravated that he had only pointed out her brain fog and not admitted that he was just as tired, but she was too exhausted to care. Instead, she stood and stretched out the kink in her lower back before she nodded and said, "I won't complain. Besides, I think we have most of what we need. We can go over it before we type it up."
Rufus stood to join her and nodded but didn't comment on her statement. Instead, he pointed toward the room she was using as he said, "Set an alarm for 09:00."
A grimace crossed Senna's features, but she didn't argue and headed for the room without another word. She knew well enough that it was more than just a tight deadline. At least they had made quite a bit of progress. A solid plan had been set up to subtly shift Rufus's public image, which had been the bulk of what they put down, as they decided it would be prudent not to put too much emphasis on the possibility of Shinra Sr. being ousted. That might backfire and bring scrutiny they didn't need.
Even with that being the case, they had added a few contingency plans; they just emphasized they were only for the worst-case scenarios. The rest was just a few things that could improve Rufus's influence in the day-to-day operations of the company to better prepare him to take the reins in the future. Granted, most of what they put down was utter BS, as they both knew he had different plans, but that was something they had ignored for the moment. It wasn't like he hadn't made himself clear before they started.
Senna wasn't thrilled with his obstinate refusal to see the possibilities, but she knew a losing battle when she saw one. Eventually, she would have enough proof to prove her stance, but that would take time. She had to have patience. At least it was a process she was familiar with already, although she had never thought her experience compiling evidence and formulating arguments would be put to use as a PR agent. That thought had her chuckling wryly as she climbed in between the sheets. She barely had enough presence of mind to set the alarm before her head dropped to the pillow and she passed out.
Senna's brain was so foggy when the alarm went off a few hours later that she was halfway to being dressed before she realized there had been no strange dreams. Not that she was complaining. It had been well established, in her own mind anyway, that she already spent too much time with Rufus. Any skipped dreams would count as a blessing.
Since she planned to go back to sleep as soon as he declared their efforts complete, Senna didn't do more than the basics. She couldn't manage to find a single care to give if her host was offended that her hair was in a messy bun and she wore no makeup. It was even better in her books that he had agreed to some additions to her wardrobe and had one of the Turks bring a couple of bags the night before. She hadn't been given a chance to go through everything before she slept, but that morning she found at least one pair of casual slacks and a soft cardigan. That combo almost counted as heaven under the circumstances.
She wore a pleased smile that turned into a smirk when she walked into the living room and didn't see any traces of Rufus. It didn't really matter, but she gleaned an inordinate amount of pleasure from knowing she was up and ready before her host. Her glee lessened when she remembered it was one of the very few things she could one-up him on.
Those thoughts had her good mood fading swiftly, so she tried to ignore them and instead headed to the kitchen to see if there was at least coffee. God, she hoped so. She managed to get through three cabinets and had closed the last with more force than necessary when she saw it was empty. However, before she could reach for the fourth, a familiar voice stopped her with her hand halfway up.
There was a hint of humor in Rufus's tone as he said, "And what exactly has my kitchen done to offend you today?"
Senna whipped around with a glare that she had difficulty maintaining when she saw Rufus was actually smiling at her. It wasn't more than a slight upturn of the corners of his lips, but it wasn't his typical smirk either. The sight of it completely flustered her, but she ignored that as she crossed her arms, looked away from him, and said, "Why is there not at least some coffee? How do you function?"
His resultant chuckle was short-lived, but it was enough for Senna to eye Rufus warily. He either didn't see the expression or ignored it as he turned back to the living room and said, "Breakfast will be here shortly." A resigned sigh escaped Senna's lips as she gave up and followed him.
Once they were in the other room, Rufus grabbed the notebook and took a seat. He didn't bother saying anything before he started reading through what they had written the night before. Since Senna was in no mood to fight with the man, she held her tongue and waited to see what he would say. The silence stretched for almost fifteen minutes while he read. It wasn't broken until there was a knock on the door.
Much to her surprise, Rufus didn't even look up as he reached over to the table beside him and hit a button on a remote she hadn't seen before. She gave him a curious look as the door slid open to reveal Reno standing with a man in a chef's uniform. The Turk waited until Rufus absently waved for them to enter before he moved out of the way and let the other man set up the meal on the coffee table.
Senna watched with growing curiosity as Rufus's attention never left the notebook. The only sound was the clinking of the dishes as they were laid out, which happened in record time. She was impressed with how good everything looked with how fast it had been set up.
Not even Reno said a word, though he did shoot her a grin and wink before he escorted the chef out and the door clicked closed behind them. Once they were gone, Senna waited a few more minutes to see if Rufus would say anything. When she realized it didn't seem like he planned to stop reading anytime soon, she finally said, "Will you be eating breakfast?"
He barely paused long enough for his eyes to flick over to hers, but they were back on the pages again as he said, "A black coffee is all I need." There was a slight pause before his eyes flicked over once again, and he said, "Please."
Senna blinked several times owlishly before she managed to find her voice. She didn't yell, but there was a bite to her tone as she said, "I don't care what the circumstances are. I am not one of your servants, and I don't appreciate you treating me like one."
A soft sigh was barely heard as Rufus finally let the notebook fall to his lap as he turned to fully face Senna. He wasn't frowning, but there was a furrow between his brows as he said, "I thought you were well aware that your life could be drastically affected by the outcome of my meeting with my father later? I need to make sure this plan is foolproof. We were both exhausted last night, and I cannot afford any mistakes. Is it too much to ask that you assist while I ensure we have no potential problems?"
An uncomfortable mix of guilt and consternation filled Senna's gut. She still didn't like the way he talked to her, but he had a point. Plus, she grudgingly admitted to herself that perhaps her irritation stemmed more from their previous interactions and not his request. Still, she wasn't one to give up that easily. Her voice was softer when she said, "You could have at least made it sound like a request and not an order."
One of his brows lifted as he said, "I did say please."
Senna had to shut her eyes for a moment just to block out the image of his expectant face. When she opened them a moment later, she didn't bother saying anything before she poured a cup of steaming coffee and handed it over. Rufus's signature smirk was in place as he said, "Thank you."
The smugness in his expression was enough to make Senna nearly want to bump the cup in his hands, but she ignored the urge and instead focused on the food. Thankfully, Rufus's attention was already back on the notebook, so she was able to eat in peace.
She had not quite finished her breakfast when Rufus stood and took the notebook with him. His eyes looked distant as he said, "Everything seems to be covered. I will have this typed up before the meeting with my father. I suggest you get some rest after you eat. This evening will likely be a late one."
Curiosity filled Senna's eyes as she looked up and said, "You already have an idea of what will happen?"
Rufus's grip on the notebook tightened, but that was the only indication that he was bothered in the least as he said, "It will either be mocked, which could be problematic for the both of us, or it will be accepted. If that is the case, I have no doubt that my father will expect both of us to attend the quarterly dinner this evening."
Neither of those options sounded pleasant, and Senna could barely stop a grimace as she said, "Lovely."
Her obvious disgust at the prospect must have finally garnered Rufus's full attention. He chuckled. "Someone will be by this afternoon to prepare you for whichever eventuality." He didn't bother to see if she had anything to add before he turned to leave.
As much as Senna was irritated at his high-handedness, she had to admit that she didn't want to yell at the man for the first time since she arrived. She would never admit it out loud, but it had been nice to have a relatively normal interaction with him. Hopefully, it was a good sign of what was to come. Whether Shinra Sr. bought into their plan or not, Rufus's role in her life was far from over. It would be nice not to be angry or worried every waking moment.
After Rufus left, Senna opted to go back to sleep and forego the coffee. It was a tough decision, but she figured that if Rufus was right, she was going to need sleep more than caffeine. Thankfully, it did not take her long to crash after she climbed back into bed.
Senna had no idea how long she had been asleep, but she was disoriented and groggy when she sat up. It took her a few moments to realize she was woken by the sound of knocking on the bedroom door. A frown formed at the offending noise, but she threw the covers back to get up and see who it was. It was doubtful that Rufus would bother knocking, so she figured it was a Turk.
Since that was her line of thinking, it was no surprise when she opened the door to a familiar face—one that she had yet to be introduced to. She managed to hide her knowledge as the young woman smirked and said, "I was sent to help you get ready for this evening."
That news instantly cleared the last of Senna's brain fog, but before she could ask anything, the young woman slipped past her and headed straight for the closet. It wasn't until she opened the door and hung the bag she had been holding on the back that she turned to Senna and continued, "The name is Cissnei, by the way."
It took a moment for Senna to organize her thoughts after that abrupt introduction. The bag that looked suspiciously like it held a dress wasn't helping. Finally, she crossed her arms and lifted one brow as she said, "Nice to meet you. And I suppose the dress means I'll be attending a party tonight? That's good news, I suppose—even if I'd rather not go."
Instead of answering the question, Cissnei grinned and said, "I can see why Reno likes you." The statement was unexpected, but the girl kept going as if she hadn't just thrown Senna for a loop. "I doubt you need help getting dressed, but I was told to tell you this is the dress you'll be wearing. Be ready in an hour. If you need anything. I'll be in the next room."
All thoughts of what was being said about her flew out the window as Cissnei headed toward the door. Senna didn't try and stop her, but she was frowning at the still-to-be-exposed dress. Knowing Rufus, she probably wouldn't like it. Still, there was no point in delaying. She had a feeling he would expect her to be ready in an hour whether she was or not. Plus, this was a simple thing. She knew how to hide what she really felt well enough and was sure she would be getting plenty of practice in the coming days—especially if she was to attend a party with the Shinra elite.
Senna planned to put the dress on last, but she still needed to know what it looked like so she could coordinate her makeup and accessories. Much to her surprise, she actually liked what she saw when she pulled the zipper down. She finished pulling the cover off and tossed it onto the nearest shelf before she ran her hands down the dark-green silk of the gown. It was an asymmetrical halter dress. There was a sheer panel at the top of the chest and another that covered the back when she looked, but the part that wasn't sheer would cover the essentials well enough. It might not have been something she picked for herself, but she could admit in her head that at least Rufus had taste—even if she had no plans to say it out loud.
Once she had an idea of what she was working with, it took her no time at all to create a look that would complement the dress. Her hair was pulled back into a soft bun with several braids wrapped around the back to make the look stand out. Once that was finished, she went straight for the closet. She hadn't looked at the time but knew she had to be close to the limit and had no desire for anyone to walk in on her changing.
Thankfully, the dress was easier to get into than it seemed, and she only had to do minimal damage control on her updo before she grabbed some silver earrings and bracelets to match. It took her a few minutes to find a pair of shoes since green wasn't a common color, but she finally saw a silver pair of open-toed heels with an ankle strap that would work well enough.
As soon as she had everything ready, Senna stepped in front of the full-length mirror to ensure everything was still in place. Once she was sure she was ready, she paused long enough to take a deep breath and close her eyes. She had to remind herself that she could do this—she had to. It wasn't just a job or a client on the line, but her life. At least she was relatively sure that the dress meant Shinra Sr. was willing to let go of his concern—or at least table it for the moment.
She took one more deep breath to bolster her nerves before she turned to leave. Although, what she found when she walked into the living room had her frozen. It was expected for Rufus to be waiting for her. She had even anticipated he would be dressed up. However, with everything that had happened in the last few days, she had forgotten how absolutely delectable the man could look.
He was wearing a cream-colored three-piece suit with a dark green shirt and black tie. His hair was slicked back with just a few tendrils falling softly around his face, accenting his high cheekbones and sharp eyes. As if it wasn't bad enough that she thought he was fine on a regular day, his smirk when he looked at her was enough to make her mouth run dry. It took more effort than was acceptable to pull her eyes away and pretend she hadn't just been staring.
At least she was given a reminder of why she had to ignore such a passing physical attraction as soon as he said, "I see I chose well; the color suits you. Though I am glad you had enough sense to match, so I won't have to worry about you looking garish."
Senna desperately wanted to roll her eyes at the man. Instead, she gave him a flat look as she said, "When have I ever given the impression that I am prone to looking garish?"
Rufus didn't bother to answer. Instead, he picked up a small box from the table and handed it to her."Make sure you do not leave this apartment without those on."
Senna wasn't sure what she expected it to be, but certainly not a pair of glasses. She looked over at Rufus curiously as she pulled them out. "Why?"
His smirk fell and a furrow formed between his eyes. "I have no doubt that my father already noticed the slight glow in your eyes, but he never mentioned it. It is safe to assume it is because he was uncertain whether it was a trick of the light or not. Those are designed to reflect the light so that the glow will not be noticeable. I doubt you need an explanation as to why."
A sudden and uncomfortable lump formed in Senna's chest that made it difficult to breathe for a moment. She hadn't forgotten what could happen to her, but her focus had been elsewhere. Plus, the voices she heard regularly were all but inaudible most of the time. The glasses served as a timely reminder that even if she could convince Rufus to keep her alive, it didn't mean she wasn't still in danger. If what she was came to light, not even he would be able to keep her out of Hojo's labs. The thought caused her stomach to roil.
Still, with Shinra Sr. getting involved, she couldn't get away with hiding in Rufus's apartment either and had a feeling her presence there was likely to change soon. Instead of arguing about it or verbally lamenting her circumstances, Senna unfolded the glasses and slipped them on as she said, "Thank you."
Once the glasses were in place, Rufus held one hand toward her and gestured to the door with the other. "We are expected shortly."
Senna had to clasp her hands together to hide their shaking as she fell into step beside Rufus after they walked out. It wasn't until they were nearly to the elevators that she realized the color of his shirt was almost the same as her dress. There was no way she would ask him why, nor did the sight of it erase her worry, but it was enough to have a genuine smile gracing her lips as they headed up to where the part was being held.
A/N: I really love their interactions, even if they are still not comfortable with each other. Rufus is mostly preoccupied for now, but at least the cram session seems to have shown him that she isn't worthless and is willing to work with him. I doubt we have seen the last of his distrust, but this was a nice chapter before we get back to that. I am actually super excited to get to the next one...for reasons 😅 Don't worry, though, I have a feeling you will be just as excited about it as I am. In the meantime, thank you for reading, and cheers!