The glass doors of Saint Company Headquarters slid open behind Kashi as she stepped out into the evening air.
The city was shifting into night, golden lights flickering awake, traffic humming low, executives filtering out in polished exhaustion.
She handed the final contract file to Zach moments earlier.
Three years.
Saint Company and X Holdings.
A deal powerful enough to redraw industry lines.
Her heels clicked softly against the marble driveway as she waited near the entrance, arms folded loosely while waiting for the valet.
Then, An engine purred close, Low. Smooth. Expensive.
A white Camaro rolled to a slow stop in front of her.
Kashi barely glanced at first, Until the tinted window slid down.
Black gloves rested casually on the steering wheel.
Dark suit. Perfectly tailored. Tie slightly loosened like the day had fought him and lost.
Chaos turned his head toward her, flashing a smile so unexpectedly harmless it almost looked illegal on him.
Not the Syndicate leader smile nor the feared strategist.
Just… a man seeing someone he wanted to see.
"Well," he said calmly, voice warm with amusement, "this explains why the entire financial district has been tense today."
Kashi arched a brow.
"You stalking corporate negotiations now?"
"Only successful ones."
His gaze lingered on her, not possessive, not demanding.
Dangerously attentive.
She crossed her arms. "What do you want, Chaos?"
He leaned slightly toward the window, sunlight catching the sharp line of his jaw.
"Dinner."
No games. No threats. No manipulation.
Just that.
Kashi blinked once, genuinely caught off guard.
"You drove here," she said slowly, "in the middle of rush hour… to ask me to dinner?"
A small shrug.
"I was nearby."
She glanced at the empty passenger seat.
"You're never nearby."
That smile deepened, quiet, knowing.
"Then consider this effort."
The valet appeared in the distance with her car, but neither of them looked away.
People passed.
Yet the moment settled strangely still between them.
Kashi studied him, the gloves still on, exhaustion hidden beneath composure, the faint crease near his eyes that only appeared after long days.
He had come straight from work.
Straight… to her.
"You don't even know if I'm free," she said.
Chaos tilted his head slightly.
"I know you haven't eaten."
Her lips parted. And somehow… that felt more dangerous.
The valet stopped beside her with her car keys.
Kashi took them, but didn't move.
Chaos waited.
Finally, she exhaled.
"One dinner," she said. "And you're not choosing the restaurant."
A soft chuckle escaped him.
He pushed the passenger door open from inside.
"Get in, Saints."
For a brief second, before she moved, his expression changed.
Relief.
Gone almost instantly.
Kashi slid into the car. And as the Camaro pulled into traffic, kashi realized This was the night the distance between both empires would quietly began to disappear.
The Camaro merged smoothly into traffic, city lights sliding across the windshield as Kashi gave calm directions.
"Next left… then pull over after the pharmacy."
Chaos followed without question. He slowed the car beside a modest roadside diner tucked between a convenience store and an aging bookstore. Warm yellow light spilled through wide glass windows, laughter drifting faintly outside.
Chaos glanced at the building as he parked.
Before he could step out fully and circle the car, the passenger door opened.
Kashi was already out.
Door shut and Walking.
He paused mid-motion, staring at her retreating figure.
"…Of course," he muttered under his breath, locking the car before following.
Inside, the restaurant buzzed with ordinary life.
Clattering plates.
Soft music from an old speaker.
Families talking too loudly.
Students laughing over shared meals.
Kashi slid comfortably into a booth like she belonged there, which she clearly did.
Chaos remained standing for a second longer, taking in the surroundings.
Plastic menus, Slightly uneven tables.
The faint scent of fried food lingering in the air.
His expression tightened almost imperceptibly.
Not disgust.
Just… unfamiliarity.
Kashi caught it immediately.
A slow smile curved her lips.
"What?" she teased, leaning back. "You've never dined with the lower ranks before?"
Chaos turned toward her, Before he could respond... A waiter approached them with a bright smile.
"Good evening, ma'am! Welcome back."
Menus were handed to both of them.
The waiter barely spared Chaos a glance before walking off again.
Chaos looked down at the menu… then slowly lifted his gaze toward her.
"I'm just surprised," he said calmly, "that the internet's most famous brat queen eats in places like this."
Kashi frowned instantly.
"I am not...."
She stopped herself, clicking her tongue before returning to the menu. Drama avoided, Barely.
She scanned the options thoughtfully before settling.
She raised her hand slightly, signaling the waiter.
Across from her, Chaos was still studying his menu like it contained encrypted intelligence data.
Her eyes narrowed.
"You're struggling."
"I'm evaluating."
"You're struggling."
His jaw flexed.
Kashi sighed dramatically, leaned forward, and plucked the menu straight from his hands. She handed both menus to the approaching waiter.
"We'll have the spaghetti and grilled turkey," she said easily. "Two."
The waiter nodded and left.
Chaos stared at her.
"You didn't ask."
"You would've taken ten business days to decide." She sighed
Chaos leaned back, studying her with quiet amusement.
"You're very comfortable controlling situations."
Kashi smirked. "Someone has to. You look traumatized."
His gaze softened slightly as he watched her settle into the booth, completely at ease, completely unaffected by status or appearances.
Just… Kashi.
And something in his chest shifted.
Dangerously.
"I'm not traumatized," he said quietly.
"Then what?"
Chaos glanced around once more, the laughter, the noise, the ordinary warmth filling the space.
Then back at her.
"…I'm realizing," he said, voice lower now, "there are parts of you the world doesn't get to see."
Kashi paused. Something unreadable flickered in her eyes before she looked away.
"Well," she murmured lightly, reaching for the water glass, "the world didn't ask."