The Memory Keeper: Twisted Roots

Rain's POV

Ikaris was the first to notice Khai approaching our table. Even without looking, I could feel the shift in the air, the subtle pull of her presence drawing everyone's attention. It was something about the way she carried herself-composed, effortless, and yet, distant.

"Hey, cous, where have you been?" Ikaris asked, leaning back with an easy smile.

Khai slid into the seat beside me, and the faint scent of her cologne washed over me. Familiar, grounding-dangerous.

"Sorry," she murmured, her voice calm, collected. "Had to drop something off at the office."

Ikaris exhaled dramatically. "Him again?"

A muscle in Khai's jaw tightened, but she nodded. "Yeah. He needed my signature for a shipment from Chicago."

"Always something with that guy," Kroft muttered, rolling his eyes.

"How's Berlin?" Ikaris asked, his curiosity genuine.

Khai let out a soft sigh, her shoulders slumping just a fraction. "Stressful."

Louise smirked. "You? Stressed? I thought you thrived on jet-setting across the globe."

Khai gave a small, dry laugh. "Even Berlin loses its charm when you're stuck in meetings the entire time."

I glanced at her from the corner of my eye, searching her face. She looked tired. More than that-worn. What had changed? What weight was she carrying beneath that carefully constructed exterior?

Therese leaned in, resting her chin in her palm. "Well, at least you're here now. Tonight, no work talk. Just food, drinks, and wedding gossip."

Khai's lips lifted slightly. "I can get behind that."

And yet, as she spoke, her gaze flickered to me for the briefest moment. It lasted only a second, but it was enough to send my pulse racing.

Ikaris, ever the peacemaker, lifted his glass. "Alright, then. Here's to a night free of stress and surprises."

Kroft snorted. "Good luck with that."

We laughed, clinking our glasses together, the sound soft in the intimate space. But even as the evening carried on-conversation flowing easily, laughter spilling between us-I couldn't shake the weight that lingered between Khai and me. An unspoken something neither of us seemed ready to address.

Then, as expected, Kroft, the ever-curious instigator, turned his attention to Khai.

"So, Khai," he started, casually twirling his fork. "How's life treating you?"

Khai took a slow sip of her drink before responding. "It's been... eventful."

Kroft raised a brow. "That's vague. Come on, throw us a bone. We all know you don't just sit in boardrooms all day."

Khai exhaled a soft chuckle, shaking her head. "I travel, I work, I make deals. That's pretty much my life now."

Ikaris leaned in. "And outside of work?"

Khai met his gaze briefly before focusing on her plate. "What about it?"

Kroft, of course, pushed further. "Is there someone keeping you grounded? You know, someone special?"

The table quieted, and I found myself gripping my glass a little too tightly.

Khai didn't hesitate. "If by 'someone' you mean my assistant who keeps my schedule from falling apart, then sure, I have someone keeping me grounded."