Chaos leaned back against the booth, one arm resting along the seat as his gaze settled on her again.
His eyes traced the curve of her lips… lingered briefly… then drifted downward along the elegant line of her neck before continuing....
Kashi set her glass down deliberately.
"Are you done checking me out?"
Chaos didn't even pretend innocence.
A quiet chuckle escaped him.
"No."
She rolled her eyes, though the faint lift at the corner of her mouth betrayed her amusement.
Unbelievable man.
She leaned forward slightly, folding her arms on the table.
"Why did you actually invite me to dinner?"
For a moment, Chaos said nothing.
The restaurant noise filled the pause, cutlery clinking, distant laughter, a child arguing somewhere near the counter.
Then he answered simply.
"I haven't eaten all day."
Kashi raised a brow.
He continued, tone casual.
"I was passing by my newest partner company…" His gaze held hers meaningfully. "…and I dislike eating alone."
The honesty landed softer than she expected.
She tilted her head.
"So this," she gestured around the modest diner, "was desperation?"
Chaos's lips curved faintly.
"This," he corrected, eyes warm with quiet intent, "was efficiency."
Kashi huffed a small laugh despite herself.
The waiter arrived with their food, placing identical plates before them. Steam rose between them, carrying the comforting scent of tomato sauce and grilled turkey.
Chaos looked down at the plate.
Then at her.
Then back at the plate again.
"You trust this place?"
"I've been coming here since university with zarri." she replied, already twirling spaghetti onto her fork. "Relax. You're not going to die."
He watched her take the first bite.
Only then did he pick up his fork.
A cautious taste.
He paused.
Blinking once.
Kashi noticed immediately. "What?"
Chaos swallowed slowly.
"…It's good."
Her grin widened triumphantly.
"Welcome to normal life, Riegrow."
He shook his head lightly, but something softer settled in his expression as he watched her eat, comfortable, unguarded, completely removed from boardrooms and power plays.
Here, she wasn't Saint Company's formidable CEO. Just a woman enjoying dinner.
"You laugh more here," he said suddenly.
Kashi glanced up. "What?"
"In places where no one expects anything from you."
The observation caught her off guard.
She looked away, pretending interest in her food.
"You observe too much."
Chaos leaned forward slightly. "It's my profession."
Kashi's fork slowed midway to her plate.
Her brows pulled together as she tilted her head, studying him carefully now.
Suspicion replacing ease.
"First you helped me," she began slowly. "Then you announced to the entire world that I was your woman."
Chaos continued eating, unfazed.
"You agreed to partner with Saint Company after rejecting firms twice our size." She leaned forward slightly, eyes narrowing. "Companies offering better terms than mine. And now..." she finished, gesturing lightly between them, "you invite me to dinner."
Her gaze sharpened.
"What's the catch, Chaos?"
The question lingered between them.
Chaos was in between another bite of food, but stopped halfway. Then said bluntly
"I also kissed you."
Silence.
Absolute silence.
Kashi froze.
Her fingers tightened slightly around her fork as the memory hit instantly.
Her ears flushed red before she could stop it.
She looked away quickly, jaw tightening as she fought. very unsuccessfully,to suppress the rising warmth in her cheeks.
Chaos watched the reaction carefully.
Every detail.
The flinch.
The composure cracking.
The blush she clearly refused to acknowledge.
A slow smile tugged at his mouth.
He leaned back slightly, completely satisfied with himself.
Then added, voice calm… almost gentle
"No catch, Kashi. I like you."
His gaze softened in a way few people ever witnessed.
The words landed heavier than any negotiation they had ever shared.
Kashi stared at him now, searching his face for sarcasm… strategy… hidden motive.
There was none.
Just certainty.
And somehow That was far more unsettling to her.
She cleared her throat, reaching for her water again purely to buy time.
"You," she muttered, refusing eye contact, "have a very strange way of showing interest."
Chaos chuckled quietly.
"You noticed."
Her lips twitched despite herself.
Outside, traffic moved. Inside, plates clattered. But at their table...
Something shifted.
Not business.
Not rivalry.
Something quieter.
Something far more dangerous.
Kashi inhaled slowly her control returning piece by piece.
Her shoulders straightened, posture resetting into the composed executive the world knew.
"That," she said evenly, "was a mistake."
Chaos watched her without interrupting.
"It won't happen again."
A small smile appeared on his lips.
"Oh… really?"
He leaned back, elbow resting against the table, hand coming up to support his chin as he studied her openly.
Then he lifted a finger, pointing lightly toward her face.
"I don't think so."
Kashi frowned. "Excuse me?"
His gaze flicked meaningfully toward her ears, still faintly red despite her effort to recover.
Understanding dawned instantly.
She coughed, grabbing her glass of water and taking a long drink.
When she set the glass down again, her expression was calm.
Controlled.
"I'm willing to let it go," she said. "We can pretend it never happened and just do business."
Chaos's smile didn't fade.
"I don't think I want to."
Her brows drew together. "Why not?"
"Because," he said, voice low with quiet certainty, "I haven't put you in chains yet, Saints."