Things get interesting in this one…
Sunday…
"Gracias, Abuela," Rey says before she kisses Poe's mee-maw on the cheek.
"De nada," the sweet old lady coos. "Comer, comer—eat, eat! You kids are too skinny."
"We might want to be too skinny," Poe says cheekily as Abuela sets down another bowl of rice in front of him. One Sunday while still at NYU, a little after the four of them moved in together, Rose and Poe decided to cook Sunday dinner. From then on, they would take turns cooking for their little family. These days, usually, they all ended up at Poe's penthouse for Abuela's homemade Guatemalan food.
And Rey would proudly admit that she's rather eat here at Abuela's table than any five-star restaurant in all of Manhattan.
And as usual, no matter how hard they try, they always start talking about the business.
Even if Abuela scowls at them the entire time as she mutters under her breath about how much the four of them work too much.
"Are you still going to Vegas this week?" Rey asks Poe.
"Yep. I leave Wednesday and I'll be back sometime Sunday." Poe scoops another bite of the homemade pie Rose made. Before he puts the bite in his mouth, he adds, "Kaydel is coming with me so she can keep me sane."
"If she can do that, then Rey needs to steal her." Finn chuckles. "Really though, we need to find another assistant for Rey."
"Yes, please. I don't like seeing her stressed out," Rose says.
"I don't like seeing myself stressed out either," Rey adds. "Jannah will be back from maternity leave soon."
"Three months. She's taking three more months, Rey," Rose fusses. "Ahsoka suggested the other day that Beaumont would be a wonderful assistant—"
"Have I met him?" Rey asks as Finn and Poe bust out laughing.
"I have no idea—" Rose laughs.
"You have!" Finn says. "He's the guy you split coffee on, on his first day last month."
"Oh bless—" Rey chuckles as she covers up her face. She can feel her face heating up. "That was him? He might not want to help me."
"He would, he's a good guy," Rose offers. "Do you want me to email him?"
"I guess so. I need help—" Rey admits.
"I'm texting him now—" Rose says.
"Skywalker's assistant called for a meeting again," Poe says.
The room quiets, even Abuela who is listening from the kitchen stills. "Why can't he understand that I can't sell."
"But if you could—" Poe begins.
"I would give it all of you," Rey exhales without a second thought. Then she realizes that she should probably tell them. She looks around for Abuela and she doesn't see her—"I signed a contract Friday night."
"You did?" Finn asks. "With Kylo—"
"We did," she pauses and takes another drink of her beer. "Then—"
"There's more? What did you two do, run away and get married?"
"No, we didn't do that—" Rey says. "But Saturday we scened and fell asleep and after I went to Maz and Chewy's and he was there and," then she almost whispers, "we saw each other without our masks."
Her friends, her oldest friends are too quiet—then suddenly they burst into questions.
Brbrbrbrbr
"Knock knock—" Hux announces as he enters Ben's penthouse. Ben was looking out the window trying very unsucssesfuly not to think about kira.
It wasn't working.
"What are you doing here— Is Phasma coming?"
"I'm here and I have Thai," she announces as she comes in behind Hux.
"Go on into the kitchen." Since they moved with him two years ago from California, they end up eating together at least once a week. "Why tonight?"
"I'm going to Vegas this week—" Phasma offers.
"For the conference." Ben accepts the box of take out he's offered. He smiles down at his drunken noodles. "I'm in meetings all week. Hux?"
"Meetings. There's a conference call before Phas goes to Vegas with Snoke and Pryde." Hux opens his little box. "That's for the pad Thai"
"You're welcome," Phasma says. "It will be good to get back to that side of the country. You know, I've only been back that way once since we moved?"
"It's not our fault you fell in love—" Hux teases then ducks as she throws a empty box at him.
And for once, Ben joins in their laughter.
And his two oldest friends freeze. "Who are you and where is our boss?" Phasma growls while using her fork like a weapon.
"I know, it's that cute little brunette at the club, isn't it? Kira?"
He ducks his head, unwilling to meet their eyes while his face heats up. "Where's Mikita at tonight?" he asks instead.
"He's coming." Phasma says as another knock sounds through the penthouse. When he inherited the company after his mom finally retired, he turned in his notice to snoke and walked out. It didn't really surprise him when Hux and Phasma followed him out the door along with their assistants. He offered them double what they were making for Snoke and their own apartments in the same building they were working in and everyone moved to New York City the next week.
If he would have known how much happier they all would have been since moving, he would have begged Leia to retire years ago.
Well, he will be much happier after the Palpatine building belongs to him.
His vice presidents are digging into their Thai while Phas's man, Mikita sets down the chocolate cake Ben knows that he made today. His smile returns as he imagines Kira fitting right in.
Brbrbrbr Monday
"Good morning, Beaumont," Rey greets her new assistant. She feels a little guilty as he looks nervous this morning. "Did Kaydel show you around Jannah's desk?"
"Yes, thankfully Amilyn made sure everyone set their desks up the same. What do you need for me to get for you besides a coffee cup with a tight lid?" Beaumont says with a smile.
"Ha-ha—" she shakes her head with a small smile. This kid might be alright. "Ahsoka will go and get my coffee when she goes to get Rose's, I want you to go with her so you can help her do that. Then come back and we will go over my appointments for the day. It's Monday, so I'm busy all day." A new chime she's never heard before comes from her phone on her desk.
"Alright, I'll be back with your coffee," Beaumont says as she walks out of her office. It's not until she's alone that she allows herself to look down at her screen.
Still there in her notifications it says, Kylo—
Her heart speeds up and a small smile appears as she sits down in her chair. Three swipes and she reads:
Kylo: Good morning beautiful. I missed you last night.
Kira: Hey you! I missed you. How are you?
Kylo: Horny. I need you.
Kira: You do? I missed you too. Do you have a busy Monday ahead?
Even as she typed her question, she imagines him in the police station drinking coffee out of a paper cup with his gun strapped to his side. Maybe she does have a thing for cops judging from her want zinging through her veins.
Kylo: Not too bad. What about you?
Kira: Not too bad. Currently waiting on one of my minions to bring me coffee.
Kylo: I need one of those minions. Mine chose to ignore me and went to work for the enemy.
Kira: That's a bad minion. Or I could come and serve you, Master.
Her heart flips. She's not sure why—but her imagination goes into overdrive as it switches to an office situation and she's, his secretary.
Kylo: Kitten—you don't know what you do to me.
Brbrbrbrbr
Fuck why did she give him that visual? Kitten in his office in a tight pencil skirt as she brings him a perfect espresso because his kitten can't do anything bad. Then he bends her over his desk to fuck her silly.
Then her under his desk—
He has to adjust his slacks to make room for his growing hardness.
Kylo: Really though, do you need a job?
Kira: I thought we weren't going to discuss job stuff.
Kylo: I know, but I just had the vision of you walking around my office—and well I need you.
Kira: There's always Morosis. We could book the office for Friday.
Kylo: I like the way you think. I'll get in touch with Cassian?
Kira: Perfect.
Kylo: I have to go be productive, I hope you have an amazing day
Kira: Aww. I hope you have one too.
She sets her phone down the same time Beaumont comes back with her latte. "What happened?" he asks.
"Nothing—why?"
"You have the biggest smile—either you just closed on the deal of a lifetime or you're in love."
"Mhmm—" is all she replies. "Thank you for the coffee."
"Redirection, good tactic to avoid things you don't want to talk about," her new assistant quips as he sits in one of her chairs then pulls out a little notebook and a pen. "I'm ready."
"Here's my to-do list so far— and yes I know there are apps—"
"But your brain works more when you write it down."
"Yes! Thank you. Rose doesn't agree with me," she chuckles.
"Of course not, she's your technology person." They both take a sip of their coffees. Then he continues, "Now what else would you like to achieve this week?"
Brbrbrbrbr
Kira: I think I found the perfect assistant
Kylo: Can I have them?
Kira: I'll wrestle you for them ;)
Kylo: That sounds promising.
Kira: Ha-ha
Brbrbrbr
Kylo: I've tried all evening not to say this, but I need you
Kira: Aww Master, I need you too
Kylo: Want to meet me at Battery Park again?
Kira: I'm already in the bed
Kylo: Alright Kitten
Kylo: I'll go to sleep too
Kylo: Sweet dreams
Kira: Sweet dreams. Friday is only three days away!
Kylo: I'm counting the minutes
Brbrbrbr
"Rey? Is it alright if I go on home?" Beaumont asks from the doorway. "I need to pick up my little sister—"
She looks up to her clock hanging over the door. "Dang it's five thirty. Yes, have a good evening."
"Are you almost done?" he asks.
Instead of admitting that she still has three more hours of work to do, she lies. "Yes, I'll be done in a little bit. Thank you for your help today."
"See you tomorrow," Beaumont wishes. She watches through her window for him to board the elevator before she goes back to her computer.
She dials the number Rose gave her earlier and listens to it ring. "Morrison manufacturing, this is Cody."
"Just the man I was wanting to talk to! this is Rey Johnson from Palpatine industries."
"Ah yes, Rose said that you were going to call. I hate to admit it, but Ben Solo called me about a hour ago. He made me an offer that I can't refuse."
"Wait—you just sold your company to Skywalker?" Rey turns in her leather office chair to look outside and across the park to her nemesis' skyscraper.
"He offered—" she tunes out Cody's voice as he continues saying something.
He stops talking and she manages to say, "Well good luck. Bye." The click of the phone hanging up is loud in her office. "Fuck. Alright let's try Korr Sella." She quickly dials the second number.
"Sella tools," a guy answers.
"Can I speak with Korr Sella?" Rey asks.
"Yes, can you hold for just a moment?" He asks before instrumental eights music comes on.
"Yes?" She says to no one. She looks back towards the competing building. Somehow, the easy instrumentals and staring at the building puts her in a hypnotized daze. It's not until she hears, "This is Korr Sella?" That she snaps out of it.
"Hi! This is Rey Johnson from Palatine Industries—"
"I was getting ready to call you. Ben Solo called me this morning and doubled your offer. We decided to go with him—"
"He's in finance! Why does he want your company?"
"He said that he was representing investors. I'm sorry Ms. Johnson but I need to go."
"Thank you for considering us."
The phone clicks in the silent office.
She's not sure what to do—as she watches the people who work for Skywalker file out to find their way home. She's at least five blocks away, so she can't see their faces but she wonders if one of them is Mr. Solo or—she eyes shift to the upper floors—is he sitting at his desk wondering what she's doing.
"Knock, knock," Rose says from the doorway before she comes in. Rey doesn't immediately turn to look which makes Rose ask, "What happened?"
She turns to meet her best friend's gaze. "That son of a bitch over there bought Cody and Korr out."
"What?" Rose whispers. "That can't be—between me and Finn we had the deals worked out—how did he find out that's who we were buying—do we have a spy?"
"I don't know—do you think we do? Or were Cody and Korr wanting to sell that badly that they not only got our attention?"
Even as she asks that, Rose is texting Finn and Poe.
"Is anyone still here in human resources? Let's get a list of who was hired in the last six months. Rose, I don't think we have a mole."
"A mole?" Poe asks walking in with Finn right behind him.
"Let me guess? The deals fell through?"
"Worse. Ben Solo bought them out from under us." Rey sits back down. Her phone buzzes on her desk. She glances at it and sees the message from Kylo.
Kylo: Hey gorgeous! Are you still working?
She picks up her phone and quickly types: I am. I'm not sure when I'll be done.
Kylo: Oh no. I wish there was something I could do to help.
Kira: Me too. I gotta go
Kylo: alright
"And who are you texting?" Poe teases.
"Nobody. Let's get this figured out. Finn? Did you find a list?"
Brbrbrbrbr
He isn't sure why, but he sits there, watching that damned building that he hates so much. He isn't even sure what he'll do with it once it's his. Bankrupt the companies that are part of Palpatine Industries and make the entire building into apartments? A hotel?
Something strange and new stirs in him when he thinks about it.
And little Miss Palpatine. He knows that when he acquires her business, she won't be poor—far from it. But he hopes that she's as miserable as his Nonna Padme was after grandpa passed.
The sun has dropped below the skyline and the lights start coming on in the Palpatine building. He knows which floors their offices are on, and it gives him that odd feeling of being happy but very guilty as the lights flicker on. They must have talked to Morrison and Sella to find out what he did behind their backs.
As much as he'd like nothing more than to see how they are handling this—he pushes away his guilt. He looks up and wonders—
"Knock knock—what are you still doing here?" Hux asks as he enters Ben's office.
"I did a bad thing today."
"You did?" Hux asks as he claims the leather chair he usually sits in. "Do tell."
"I thought you had a date tonight?"
"It fell through. Stuff at work."
"Ah ok." Ben turns to meet his friend's eyes. Could Hux—nah. He's seeing that chick from the club, and he knows many things about Palpatine Industries and one of them, there's not a Lily working there. "I heard through the rumor mill that two businesses were looking for investors or selling. I had a hunch that they might make them an offer—"
"Who? Palpatine?" Hux asks.
"Yes. So, I after I got both Morrison and Sella to admit they it was them who was wanting to buy them out I made them an offer."
"Damn, Solo. It's been a while since you've done something like that. I'm not sure if I should be proud or a little nervous." Hux checks his phone. "Dinner?"
"Nah, I'm going to go up and see how much longer they freak out over there. Does that sound as morbid to you as it just did to me?" Ben asks.
"A little bit." Hux stands. "Come along then, I'll order pizza."
"Are you going to watch with me?"
"I don't have anything else to do. Let's go."
Brbrbrbr
"Look, why were we going to buy those businesses anyway?" Finn asks. "Were they going bankrupt, and we were going to help? Did we want to acquire them?"
"I found them online. Morrison wanted to sell, Sella needed an investor. I'm still shocked that she sold. I promised them the usual things: their tools in national stores, every state. Sella was really excited; it seems that she has patents on several of her tools. I just wonder what Solo offered her," Poe says. "I can't believe this is happening. When I see their people at Vegas this week, I'm going to let them have it."
"They'll be at Vegas? At the conference?" Rey asks not sure why, but something- "Maybe I do want to go."
"It's until Sunday," Rose adds.
"I know."
She'll miss Friday and Saturday at the club and she doesn't want to admit the pang that hums through her at the thought of missing Kylo but then she knows that she needs to go to Vegas. She needs to get ahead of Ben Solo and this game he seems to be engaging her in.
And maybe this trip will help her to feel excited about the company again.
Maybe-
At least I can text master and let him know about the change of plans.