KAI

Kai never thought that the type of happiness he experienced with Cinder could happen to him. He had fallen for her so hard that he wasn't sure if he would ever be able to pull himself up again. He prided himself on taking his feelings and putting them into actions—surprising her at work (as much as her boss would let him), sending her cards and notes to remind her how much he was thinking of her (particularly whenever he had to work late), buying her chocolates and flowers (and bagels), and doing his best to be sensitive to any of her worries about their new relationship. So far, things were going great. Cinder had really opened up to him, and he in turn had begun to share more with her about his past. He had really gotten lucky that night of the snowstorm when they'd met.

Things were finally looking up for him.

He was ecstatic.

Kesley surprised him by showing up at his office while he was working late one day. It was strange to see him in an office setting, and Kai hadn't known that he'd know where to go, considering that he'd never come by before. Kesley did not look happy to be there, evidenced by the grimace he wore on his face as Kai ushered him in.

"Scarlet made me come," he said as his way of greeting. Then he sighed as he sat down in Kai's chair. "Sometimes, the things you do for love…"

Kai walked to one of the loveseats in the corner of his office and had a seat himself. "Is everything okay with you and Scarlet?"

"Oh, we're great," said Kesley. "I'm here on strict orders because of you and Thorne."

Kai grimaced in turn. "Get out of here."

Kesley folded his arms. "Scarlet is worried about the two of you not talking. Frankly, I don't care that much about your little friendship problems, but when my woman is concerned about something, it gets dragged out until we find a solution. Do you understand what I'm saying?"

"Are you here to try to force me to be friends with Thorne again? Because I've tried contacting him and he refuses to acknowledge me."

"It's understandable," said Kesley, looking him square in the eye. "He's defending his girl."

Kai could feel the misery washing over his face. "His girl? They're in a relationship now?"

"Seems like it. Scarlet is pretty convinced that Thorne practically lives at her house."

"Well that's just perfect!" said Kai.

Kesley frowned. "Why don't you just try getting to know her? She's kind of adorable." He smiled, but Kai remained firm.

"I have my reasons."

Kesley stood up. "I'll be going, then."

"That's it?" asked Kai.

"Look, if Scarlet asks, I tried, okay? I'm about as excited to be having this conversation as you are."

He began to walk out and Kai sank lower into his loveseat. Thorne didn't have girlfriends. It was practically a rule. "Hey Kesley?" he asked, looking back up again.

Kesley turned.

"Do they seem good together?"

"Well, Thorne is less guarded around her. It's not like with the other girls we've met." Kesley let out a laugh. "I'm sure you've met more than I."

Kai nodded, already forming a long list in his mind.

"I've seen him with her on a few occasions. When Cress is around, Thorne practically ignores almost everyone else and spends the whole time making lovey-dovey eyes at her."

"That doesn't sound like Thorne at all," said Kai.

"No, it doesn't. He's very attuned to her. It's like he senses how she feels and adjusts to it. He's still full of his usual antics, he just aims them at Cress."

"Poor thing," said Kai. He had seen her around the office a few times, but he hadn't bothered to say anything. It was too awkward. How could he talk to her without feeling like he was going behind Thorne's back?

"She keeps him in line though," Kesley continued. "They're a strange pair but somehow it works. She definitely likes him too. Half the time she's looking at him like she's just discovering him for the first time and the rest of the time like she could just roll her eyes all night."

"I guess that does sound like a relationship," Kai admitted.

"Whatever's wrong between the two of you, fix it. I could be spending my evenings doing something much more productive and much less painful."

Kai thanked him, though he wasn't sure why he did. He'd been trying to mend bridges with Thorne since the night that he had punched him. Thorne was the one who just didn't care anymore. And why should Kai care anyway? He had Cinder. She was his new best friend.

Why don't you double-check your facts before you open your mouth next time? Cress is amazing and you're an ass.

Kai rolled to his side and re-read the text he'd gotten from Thorne for probably the twentieth time. It wasn't the worst message or even insult that he'd gotten from Thorne since he'd known him, but it certainly wasn't a good one. It was slightly encouraging that he had finally responded after Kai's attempts to contact him over the last month.

He refreshed the screen on his phone. Did he have reception? Had Thorne received his text back? He'd written back right away, but Thorne had once again ignored him. But it was the middle of the night—maybe Thorne was sleeping. Though clearly he hadn't been sleeping when he'd texted Kai only twenty minutes ago. What was he doing up so late, anyway?

Kai wanted to be anywhere but alone with his treacherous thoughts. He'd been fine without Thorne—why did he have to go upset the balance now? Kai wanted to be with Cinder. He got out of his bed and made it to the hallway before pausing to think. Maybe he shouldn't go and complain to Cinder. After all, he'd convinced her to sleep over, hadn't he? He should just be thankful that tomorrow morning he would be able to eat breakfast with someone he cared about deeply.

Cinder hadn't offered to stay out of her own volition, and he wasn't sure if maybe he should tread carefully and not bother her while she slept. And wasn't he supposed to be pretending to be over-exhausted from working too much? He was such a liar. He had been fine today. He just hadn't wanted to say goodbye. If pretending that he was too tired to drive for just one night in their relationship meant that he got to wake up next to Cinder again, then he shouldn't feel so bad about it, right? It wasn't like he had been planning on trying anything.

He had severely underestimated Cinder's ability to exercise self-restrain, however, because she had just taken the spare bedroom. Kai hadn't factored that into his previous calculations, considering that he had basically forgotten that he even had a spare bedroom. Well, at least he was dating a woman who was clearly smarter than he was.

The door to that room was practically always shut and it'd been a long time since anyone had needed to sleep over. It wasn't like his parents had any need to stay over either since they lived in the same city, though on the outskirts, and had a sizable mansion. Kai's penthouse was a joke to them. After finding spare sheets in the room's closet and demonstrating his inability to really make a bed properly, Cinder had made fun of him and then bid him goodnight.

He stalked over to her room sheepishly and sat on the edge of the bed, feeling like the prime example of a needy and clingy boyfriend. She wasn't in her starfish position, though, so maybe she wasn't sleeping so soundly yet anyway. He stroked her cheek a few times, and sure enough, her eyes fluttered open. She looked around briefly before sitting up and running her fingers through her hair.

"Thorne hates me," he said.

Cinder crossed her arms. "Are you just trying to get in bed with me?"

"I wish," he said dejectedly.

She smiled and patted the spot next to her. He scooted up instantly. "Thorne doesn't even know about us," he said quietly.

"I've met him a few times, Kai."

Kai shook his head fervently. "I want him to really know you. You're so wonderful and funny and smart and…" He decided to stop trying to come up with adjectives and just give her as many little pecks of appreciation as she'd allow him. "The same goes for him with…with Cress. I meet Thorne's 'girls' all the time, but it's rare that I actually get to know them because it never goes any further. And now he has a girlfriend who I know nothing about?"

"You didn't want to get to know her, Kai," said Cinder slowly. "From what you've explained to me about the situation, it sounds like you jumped to conclusions and pushed him away."

He had, hadn't he? But he'd just been trying to protect him. And even now he had no clue what was really going on. He wrung his hands. "I was trying to look out for him."

"Maybe there was just a different way to approach it," she said gently.

"I have one of the city's top ranked security specialists working for me and even he wasn't convinced of her sanity. What did you want me to do?"

"Look," she said, "I don't know Thorne that well, but I know that you know him. You tried warning him and getting mad at him and it didn't work. Maybe now you should just give him the benefit of the doubt and be happy for him."

"But he won't talk to me!"

She took his face in her hands and leaned in for a kiss of her own. Kai temporarily forgot why he was frustrated. "I know you'll figure it out," she said. "We'll have plenty of time to get to know each other in the future. Speaking of, when am I going to see you again?" she asked.

"Let's see…Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday I have to work late. But maybe we can go out on Saturday?"

"Boo, you're always working late these days."

He pointed to himself. "Future CEO right here. Duty calls."

She tried to tickle him, but he nearly jumped off the bed. "Don't even try!"

Cinder laughed viciously and tried to tickle him again, but Kai was able to grab her hands before she could do any damage. He was ticklish to the point of no return, and he didn't quite think their relationship had reached the stage of him squealing and practically crying like a little kid on the floor yet.

Thankfully, Cinder yielded, but she had a glint in her eyes. "Well, Mr. Future CEO, I guess Saturday will work then. As long as it's in the evening, because I have my day shift on Saturday."

He feigned surprise. "You, working? Never."

"I don't work nearly as much as you," she protested.

"Fine, fine, we can both be workaholics. But Saturday night, you're mine." He hesitated before adding, "And I'd really like to take you somewhere nice. On me." Kai waited nervously for her response. "Please."

"I don't know," she said. "I'm fine with our cafés and drive-thrus and home-cooked meals."

"Please. I just want to wine and dine you, like you deserve. Take you to the most gorgeous restaurant ever and show off how gorgeous you are. Be the full-blown romantic I can be. Not to mention buy you over-priced drinks and food that neither of us will be able to pronounce."

She rolled her eyes. "You'll probably be able to pronounce it."

"Is that a yes?" He smiled his most charming smile, the one that he'd come to learn she loved. Tricks of the trade, he supposed, but he was glad to have at least some ammunition against those brown eyes of hers. They could make him do pretty much anything.

"If it's really fancy, then we have to dress up," she said.

"You don't have to wear a dress," he said quickly. Kai tried to think of appropriate formal wear for the particular place he had in mind. "You could just…wear something else?"

"People will stare at me."

"If you don't want anyone to see us, I can get us a private booth. Private room even."

She half-laughed. "Now you're just bragging."

"I know the owner. It'll be fine," he said. "Please?"

"No, it's okay. I don't want to hide. It's only early Spring—it probably won't be warm enough yet for me to need to take off my jacket."

Kai's grin stretched from ear to ear, and he would have picked her up and twirled her around if he hadn't been so tired. Or comfortable. "So you'll come?"

She smiled too, though he knew she was trying to hide it. "Big fancy date with the future CEO of Rikan Corp? How could I possibly turn that down? Iko will have a fit."

"In fact she already has," he said, remembering when they'd first met.

"Oh, believe me, she'll do it again. And again."

Kai puffed up. "Well I guess you're just a lucky lady, then."

"Mmhmm."

He pulled her in for a hug. "Just kidding." He kissed the top of her head and then rested his cheek against her hair. "I know I'm the lucky one," he whispered.

"You really want to sleep here tonight, don't you?" she said.

"Only desperately," he said.

She gave him a small smack in the side.

"I promise I'll be good," he said.

"I know you will be," she said. "That's one of the reasons I love…" She reddened. "I mean…"

Kai felt like the happiest man on Earth. "I love you too, Cinder," he said.

The restaurant was indeed spectacular, even for Kai. It was exactly the type of place that men took their girlfriends to propose. He hoped that Cinder didn't know that, because it could have made his motives seem suspicious and consequently freak her out. That wasn't his intention at all, anyway. He just wanted to celebrate their love, and he couldn't think of a grander place.

Cinder looked beautiful. While she still wore a sweater to hide the burn marks that he knew were underneath, she had ultimately decided to wear a long dress after all. It covered everything that made her insecure but it still managed to compliment her features. He found himself constantly grinning, as if one more look from Cinder might make him explode. She was quite smiley herself, and Kai hoped that this meant she would let him take her out more often. He didn't want her to worry about money, or the fact that he had it and she didn't—he just wanted the two of them to have a good time. And maybe enjoy treating themselves every once in awhile. Like tonight.

While they were waiting for their desserts to arrive, Kai heard some commotion by the entrance and glanced in that general direction. He reeled when he saw what was going on. The hostess was arguing with a woman who had just entered and was apparently giving the hostess quite a hard time by the look of her face. It was a look Kai knew all too well, because it was the look that Levana Blackburn had when she was about to get her way.

Kai cursed. What was Levana doing here? He had purposely checked with Nainsi to make sure that she wouldn't be anywhere near the city this week, or he wouldn't have asked Cinder out—Levana frequented this restaurant often. He had to get Cinder out of there. Levana would ruin everything if she came over.

"Everything okay?" asked Cinder.

Kai tried to look calm. "Of course, why?"

"You look angry."

"Oh, I'm fine. Just realized I forgot something at home. In fact—we should probably go." He stood up abruptly, but Cinder stared at him like he was crazy.

"We haven't even gotten our dessert yet, Kai. And you have to pay."

"I have a tab." He held out his arm to her, but she didn't take it.

"Kai, sit down, you're being ridiculous. We'll get whatever you need as soon we're done."

It was too late. Maybe he shouldn't have stood up. Maybe he should have just tried to hide behind Cinder. But it probably wouldn't have mattered. He knew where Levana's preferred table was, and she would have had to walk by them anyway. So when Levana looked up from the hostess and caught Kai's eye, he could do nothing more than wave feebily.

Cinder turned around. "Who's that?"

Levana began to walk toward them. "Her name's Levana," he said, a pit forming in his stomach.

"Kai!" said Levana, a smile brightening her already attractive features. "What are you doing here?"

"Eating," he said weakly, and sank into his chair. Maybe Levana would just keep walking, he thought. Maybe she would leave them alone.

"Hi," said Cinder brightly. "Are you one of Kai's friends?"

Kai groaned internally as Levana stiffened. She turned slowly to face her, a haughty look darkening her eyes as she surveyed the girl who had interrupted her moment with Kai. She looked Cinder up and down and pursed her lips, clearly not impressed. Cinder looked Levana up and down too, probably noting how tan and glowing her skin was, how tight her dress was, and how perfectly proportioned her body was. Kai wanted to disappear beneath the table.

"Who are you?" said Levana curtly.

"I'm Cinder. It's nice to meet you, Levana."

"Cinder?" said Levana. "What a name. And what are you doing here, honey?"

Cinder looked slightly unsure of herself. "I'm Kai's girlfriend."

Levana laughed. "That's cute." She held out her hand, a massive gleaming diamond adorned on her ring finger. "I'm his fiancée."