The cool evening air hit Kaia's face, a welcome balm to the burning energy that still thrummed beneath her skin. For a few glorious seconds, she felt invincible, the queen of the moment, the victor. She waved down a taxi and walked toward it with a steady gait, but as she sank into the back seat of the cab, the adrenaline in her system began its slow descent. She felt exhaustion settle deep in her bones, a heavy weight that seemed to pull at her muscles. The triumph was still there, but it was now laced with a bitter hollowness. Had she won? Yes. Had they deserved it? Also yes. Then why did she feel worse for it? It felt as though she had become the very thing she hated, a bully.
Back at the restaurant, the silent destruction Kaia had left in her wake shattered almost immediately.
"We can't let her get away with that. Who does she think she is?" Penni shrieked, her picture perfect face now a blotchy crimson. Her earlier humiliation had thickened into pure fury, and she spat her venom without any care for the curious patrons around them. "She just walked all over us, and you're all just sitting there like statues. You've all gone soft."
Turning to Kyran, she hissed, "She totally undermined your importance to your father and the company." Then she swung her gaze toward Chase. "And what's all that talk about an acquisition, Chase? How come we're just hearing about it?"
Kyran's face was a mask of violent anger. He looked at Chase, his voice low and tight. "Is it true, Chase? What she said about my father's company?"
Chase's jaw was still clenched, his eyes dark and unreadable. He cut Kyran off with a curt, "Not now. We'll discuss that later." The dismissal was absolute, just as it had always been, leaving Kyran no choice but to simmer in his own rage. His fists balled painfully at his sides, useless against the walls Chase built.
Lin suddenly pushed his chair back, the sound of wood scraping on marble sharp and jarring. "I'm leaving," he stated. His voice was a cool, detached hum. The tremors in his hands were barely perceptible now, but they were there. Kaia had cracked open his carefully constructed shell, leaving him feeling raw and exposed, and yet he felt an unsettling curiosity stir within him. She truly had changed. But his feelings had not. If anything, the obsession burned hotter now. This was going to be fun.
Chase watched Lin's retreating back as he exited the building, his gaze lingering. He wondered what the faint smirk on the other man's face was about. He had not seen that look on Lin since high school. His attention was drawn back as Penni continued her angry complaints, while Kyran's seething glare never left him. He would deal with Kyran later. Right now, he had something far more interesting to address. Kaia had not only played her hand brilliantly, but he had not seen it coming either. A flicker of something akin to admiration crossed his features, but he masked it as fast as it came.
Penni caught the look anyway. She stared at him with an annoyed glare. He had always been such a fool for Kaia, she thought. She saw it then, and apparently it was still the same now. She would have to deal with that bitch herself, and she knew just where to start.
Chase picked up his phone, sending a quick, cryptic text. His interest was not just piqued; it was ablaze. He found himself wanting to unravel every single dangerous layer of the new Kaia. She wanted him to leave her alone? That was too bad, because he wanted the exact opposite. And he always got whatever he wanted.
Kaia lay in her bed, freshly clean from the forty minute shower she had taken in an attempt to thaw out the tension in her bones. She had made an impulsive decision to head home rather than to the office, needing to avoid the chance of seeing Chase while she felt so drained and raw. It was long after closing time anyway. She had settled most of her urgent affairs for the day, and the rest she could handle tomorrow.
She had felt strangely cold and hollow upon getting home, so she took a hot shower to feel better. Thankfully, Melo had called immediately after, and the conversation had done more for her spirit than the water had. Now she lay in bed, feeling almost lethargic, staring at the ceiling. The events of the evening played back in her mind. She remembered each and every one of their reactions to her venomous taunts.
Chase's reaction in particular stayed with her. She could swear that for a second she had caught his usual icy glare turn warm with sadness, but it was gone before she could be sure.
"Ugh." She groaned out loud, clutching her head. "I'm doing it again. Chase's feelings are not your problem, Kaia," she chided herself.
A few minutes later, she fell asleep. Her last thoughts were of Chase's eyes.
The next morning, fortified by an extra strong coffee sweetened to perfection, Kaia made her way toward the office building. Her usual armor of cool confidence was back in place. She was determined to bury last night's emotional residue under a mountain of work, even if her mind still tried to pull her back into the nightmare of the past. Her overly sweetened coffee was going to have to do the heavy lifting today.
She turned a corner onto the main street. She started to cross toward the other side when she felt the soft thrum of her phone in her purse. Reaching in to grab it, she failed to pay attention to the road. A sleek black car came to a screeching halt just inches from striking her.
She stumbled from the shock, the contents of her purse spilling out onto the pavement along with her coffee. A man emerged hurriedly from the back seat, running to her side. His eyes, a dark honey brown that reminded her of aged whiskey under lamplight, warm and deep with a hint of something intoxicating, stared down at her. Obvious worry was etched across his forehead.
"Are you okay?" his deep voice asked. "I'm so sorry. My driver lost control for a second."
Her head was still swimming from the sudden shock and the fall. He reached out to hold her hand, helping her up. "Can you stand?" he asked, his eyes scanning her for any visible injuries.
"Save for the shock, I'm fine, I assure you. I'm just a little shaken up," she breathed. She looked down at the dark stain spreading across the asphalt. "I'd only had one sip of that cup of coffee, though," she whined, staring longingly at her lost drink.
A slow, appreciative smile spread across his face as he met her gaze, an obvious spark of attraction in his eyes. "Let me buy you another cup then, as an apology for all this, Miss...?" he offered, his voice trailing off as he waited for her name.
"Manetti. Kaia Manetti." She held out her hand.
His warm gaze never left her eyes as he took her hand, his grip firm and strong. "It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Miss Manetti," he replied in that deep tone.
"Nash. Nash Kruel of Kruel Pharmaceuticals." He smiled, the expression reaching his eyes.