Khai's POV
One Friday morning. Ugh, Fridays. They're supposed to feel lighter, closer to freedom, but for me? Fridays are hell. Meetings after meetings, endless site visits, stacks of paperwork taller than me, and the cherry on top: stockholder meetings.
It's in these moments, these godforsaken Fridays, that I question every decision I've ever made. Why did I ever agree to carry this weight? To step into these polished shoes, ones that pinched more than they fit?
Here I am, chained to this life. Power? Sure, I have it. But freedom? Not so much. Sometimes I wonder, is this what greatness looks like? Or am I just a puppet dancing on strings I never agreed to hold?
I glanced at my phone and sighed. Another meeting in ten minutes. Fridays. Just another day in the life of Khai Stanton.
Khai's POV
Three hours. Three agonizing hours in that boardroom meeting. By the time I finally escaped, my stomach was practically screaming in protest. I slumped into my chair, barely able to savor the temporary silence when-of course-Tanaka bolted into my office like a whirlwind.
"Khai, profit margin meeting in 15 minutes," she announced, clipboard in hand and her usual efficiency plastered across her face.
I groaned, dropping my head against the back of my chair. Of course. Another one. Fridays just never stop giving. "Ugh, yes, I'll be there in 10," I grumbled, waving her off weakly. "And Tanaka, would you mind grabbing a sandwich for me from the pantry? It's already 4:45 PM, and I haven't even had lunch yet."
She nodded, a flicker of sympathy flashing in her eyes, and closed the door behind her.
I let out a long sigh, rubbing my temples. This day was relentless. My stomach growled again, reminding me of its rebellion, but I could only chuckle bitterly to myself. Running an empire was glamorous on paper, but in reality? It was 4:45 PM sandwiches and meetings that never ended.
"Great power, huh?" I muttered under my breath, pulling out the profit margin report. Time to prep for yet another round of figures and corporate jargon. Fridays. What a joke.
Rain's POV
The Marketing team was in overdrive today, and I could feel my brain slowly raising the white flag. Meetings after meetings, proposals that needed to be polished to a shine, marketing plans that somehow all sounded the same by the end of the day-it was enough to make anyone reconsider their career choices.
While I was mid-spiral, half-dreaming of running away to open a quiet bookstore somewhere, a stack of documents landed in front of me with an unapologetic thud. Of course, my curiosity kicked in before my frustration could, and my eyes caught the name plastered on the top: Khalia H. Stanton.
VP of Finance. VP of Marketing. VP of Everything That Matters, apparently.
I blinked. Hold on a second...
"Wait, what?!" I whispered to myself, scanning the paper as if it would suddenly start singing Broadway show tunes to explain itself. The daughter of the CEO-yes, that CEO-was over my department?
Somehow, I had missed this tiny, insignificant detail when I took the job. How had nobody mentioned I was working under corporate royalty? The name sounded like it belonged to someone who walked into boardrooms with lightning in her veins and crushed dissent with a single arched brow.
"Well," I muttered, leaning back in my chair and crossing my arms. "Whoever this Khalia H. Stanton is, she's clearly a force to be reckoned with."
The papers stared back at me, daring me to comment further. But instead, I smirked. Challenge accepted, oh Queen of Everything Important. Let's see if you're all bark or bite.
Rain's POV
My stomach growled loud enough to remind me that it had been neglected all day. I glanced at the clock: 4:45 PM. Super late lunch? At this point, it was practically dinner. I leaned back in my chair, rubbing my temples.
"Kroft, Therese," I called out to my equally famished teammates. "Pantry. Now. Let's get some food before we collapse."
Kroft rolled his chair over with an exaggerated groan. "Rain, if I don't eat in the next five minutes, I might start chewing on this desk."
Therese joined us, still clutching a stack of papers as if she couldn't let go even for food. "Do you think there's anything left in the pantry? Or are we going to have to fight the Finance team for scraps?"
"Therese, if I have to wrestle a Finance guy for a stale sandwich, I will. Don't test me," I quipped, grabbing my wallet and leading the charge.
The three of us shuffled toward the pantry like a trio of overworked zombies. The only motivation keeping us upright was the promise of food. Hopefully, there was something-anything-edible left at this ungodly hour.
Rain's POV
Thank God there was still food left at the pantry. Kroft, Therese, and I hurriedly made our way to the counter, already eyeing the remaining sandwiches and snacks like they were the last treasures on Earth.
As I joined the line, I noticed someone familiar ahead of me-Ms. Tanaka, the well-known assistant of the infamous Khalia Stanton. Her presence radiated the kind of confidence that only someone constantly in proximity to power could have.
She turned slightly, catching my eye. "Rain, right? From the Marketing team?"
Surprised she knew my name, I quickly nodded and smiled. "Yes, that's me."
Her expression softened into something that resembled approval. "Your presentation earlier? It was amazing. The concept clearly got Mr. Stanton thinking."
My cheeks flushed, and I laughed nervously. "Oh, I just hope it was in a good way. He's a hard man to impress."
Ms. Tanaka chuckled knowingly. "Trust me, you did more than that. If he wasn't impressed, I wouldn't have heard him mention it twice during his meetings today."
I blinked, stunned. Twice? That was... unexpected. "Wow, um, thank you for telling me that. It means a lot."
She gave me a small smile before turning back to the line. "Keep it up. People like you don't go unnoticed for long around here."
As she stepped forward to place her order, I couldn't help but feel a surge of pride. Maybe, just maybe, I was making my mark after all.
Rain's POV
As we finally sat down to eat, I could feel my body sighing in relief. The first bite of my sandwich tasted like heaven after a day of endless meetings. Across from me, Kroft and Therese had already launched into their usual playful banter.
"Rain," Kroft said between bites, "you think the mysterious Daughter of the CEO actually exists? Or is she just some corporate myth to keep us in line?"
Therese snorted, almost choking on her food. "Oh, she exists. I heard she's this cold, calculating type. Like, 'don't-even-breathe-in-my-direction' kind of scary."
Kroft leaned back dramatically, waving his sandwich. "If she's anything like that, I'm staying far away. I've had enough terrifying bosses to last a lifetime."
I rolled my eyes. "Kroft, you barely interact with upper management as it is. How exactly would she terrify you from the top floor?"
He grinned, unbothered. "Hey, you never know! Maybe she's got secret cameras watching us."
Therese laughed, shaking her head. "She probably doesn't have time for that. Someone with her reputation is probably buried in numbers and charts. I heard she's the VP of Finance and Marketing. Can you imagine the stress of running two departments?"
I stayed quiet, listening to their exchange. My mind wandered back to Ms. Tanaka's words about Mr. Stanton mentioning my presentation. Was it possible that she had seen it too?
Therese interrupted my thoughts. "What do you think, Rain? Do you think she's as terrifying as everyone says?"
I shrugged, trying to hide my growing curiosity. "I don't know. Maybe she's just a normal person doing her job. People love to exaggerate when it comes to power."
Kroft scoffed. "Normal? Nah, she's probably some untouchable queen in a designer suit. I bet she doesn't even know we exist."
Therese smirked. "Or maybe she's secretly watching us right now, deciding who to fire next."
Kroft dramatically clutched his chest. "Don't say that! Now I'm going to have nightmares about mysterious boardroom assassins."
We all burst into laughter, the stress of the day momentarily forgotten. Still, as the banter continued, I couldn't shake the thought: who was Khalia Stanton, and why did she feel like such a looming presence even though we'd never met her?
Rain's POV
As we continued our lunch, the topic naturally shifted from the mysterious Daughter of the CEO to something closer to home-or closer to Therese's obsession, at least.
"So," Therese began, leaning forward with a mischievous gleam in her eyes, "I've decided today's the day I finally corner Khai and convince her to host a BBQ party at her house this weekend."
Kroft nearly choked on his drink. "You're planning to ambush Khai? Are you insane? She'll shut you down before you can even finish saying 'BBQ.'"
Therese waved him off, grinning. "Nonsense. Khai's got a soft spot for me. I can be very persuasive when I want to be."
I rolled my eyes, but the corner of my lips lifted. "Therese, I'm not sure 'ambush' and 'soft spot' belong in the same sentence."
She winked. "Watch and learn, Rain. Watch and learn."
Their conversation buzzed in the background as my thoughts drifted again. Khai had been surprisingly absent all day. No random appearances in meetings, no sarcastic remarks in the hallway, not even her usual power-walk past my desk with that ridiculously commanding aura of hers.
"Where is she, anyway?" I found myself muttering.
Therese glanced at me, raising an eyebrow. "Who, Khai? Probably locked in some boardroom wrestling with spreadsheets. Why?"
I shook my head, playing it off. "No reason. Just feels a little... off not seeing her around today."
But in the back of my mind, a different thought crept in. Khai had always been enigmatic, commanding attention without even trying. But who was she, really? Sure, she carried herself like royalty, but there was something else-a depth that wasn't immediately visible.
The thought lingered as I finished my sandwich. The more I thought about her, the more questions I had. And if Therese had her way with the BBQ plan, maybe I'd finally get a few answers this weekend.
Khai's POV
By the time the meeting wrapped up, it was already 8:30 PM. My head throbbed from all the numbers and projections, but instead of heading straight home, my thoughts drifted to her-Rain.
"She's probably home by now," I murmured to myself, but a tug of curiosity made me pause as I passed the 16th-floor lobby. The faint glow from the marketing department caught my attention.
Curious, I approached the door and peeked inside. To my surprise, the room was far from empty. Rain, Therese, and Kroft were still hard at work, their desks buried in documents. Their tired faces lit up when they noticed me, though the sudden burst of energy that followed caught me completely off guard.
The room turned into chaos.
"Let's ask her now!" Therese whispered excitedly to the others, but not quietly enough.
"Ask me what?" I said, raising an eyebrow as I stepped into the room.
Therese, ever the fearless one, grinned like a kid with a plan too big for their own good. "We were just talking about how perfect it'd be to have a BBQ party this weekend... at your place!"
I froze. My place? Wait-what?
Images of them wandering through my house flashed before my eyes-of family portraits, awards, and memorabilia that screamed "Stanton." My carefully guarded identity would unravel in seconds.
"No," I muttered under my breath, the reality of the situation hitting me like a bucket of ice water.
I pulled my phone out in a panic and dialed Manuel, pacing toward the corner of the room as the three of them returned to their work, thankfully too distracted to notice my freak-out.
"Manuel," I hissed when he picked up. "I need your help. They want to have a BBQ party at my house this weekend. My house!"
"...At the house?" Manuel clarified cautiously.
"Yes, that house," I said impatiently. "Listen, call Jessica and tell her to head over there tomorrow. I need her to clean everything. Hide anything with the name Stanton on it-photos, trophies, even my initials on the wine glasses. I mean everything."
Manuel chuckled softly on the other end. "Khai, you know this was bound to happen. You can't hide forever."
"I'm not hiding," I snapped, though we both knew that wasn't entirely true. "Just-can you make it happen or not?"
"Consider it done," he said with a sigh. "But you might want to start thinking about what happens when they inevitably figure it out."
I hung up without answering, my heart racing as I turned back to face them. Therese was still chattering about grilling techniques, Kroft was cracking jokes about cooking disasters, and Rain was quietly smiling, her eyes soft and thoughtful.
What happens when they figure it out? Manuel's words lingered in my mind as I forced a neutral expression. I wasn't ready for them to see the whole picture-not yet.
Khai's POV
As I returned to the room, the lively chatter about BBQ techniques hadn't stopped. Therese was enthusiastically gesturing about marinades, while Kroft chimed in with a ridiculous story about nearly setting a grill on fire. Rain, ever the quieter one, simply nodded along, her smile faint but genuine.
I cleared my throat, making all three of them turn their heads toward me.
"Hey," I said casually, trying not to let my inner panic show. "BBQ on Sunday. My house."
For a moment, silence fell. Then, the room erupted in cheers.
"Yes!" Therese exclaimed, practically jumping out of her seat. "I knew you'd say yes! You're the best, Khai!"
Kroft clapped his hands together. "Finally, I can show off my famous grilling skills. Prepare to be amazed!"
Rain's smile widened, but her expression was more curious than anything else. "Are you sure?" she asked softly.
"Absolutely," I lied smoothly, waving off her concern. "It'll be fun."
Inside, my mind was racing. Manuel better pull through. If even a shred of my true identity slipped out during this BBQ, I didn't know how I'd handle it. But for now, I forced a smile and pretended like nothing was wrong.
"Just don't burn my house down," I added with a smirk, trying to redirect the focus.
"Don't worry," Kroft said with mock seriousness. "We'll only set the backyard on fire."
Everyone laughed, and for a brief moment, I managed to push the anxiety aside. If I played this right, maybe-just maybe-I could pull this off.
Khai's POV
"I'd better get going," I said, glancing at my watch. It was almost 9 PM, and the day had drained every ounce of energy from me. "This day drained the hell out of me," I added, rubbing the back of my neck for effect.
All three of them looked up, nodding in agreement.
"Take care, boss," Therese said, grinning. "Don't dream about BBQs too much."
Kroft gave a playful salute. "Rest up, Khai. You're going to need the energy to keep up with us on Sunday."
Rain, ever the composed one, simply smiled and said, "Goodnight, Khai."
I waved at them and headed out, the sound of their chatter fading as I walked toward the elevator. Once the doors closed, I leaned against the wall, exhaling deeply.
Sunday. At my house. What was I thinking?
I pulled out my phone and texted Manuel again.
Me: Any updates? Make sure everything is handled. I don't want any surprises.
His reply came almost immediately.
Manuel: All set, Khai. You just focus on showing up and being the perfect host.
Perfect host. Right. I chuckled humorlessly as I slipped my phone back into my pocket.
As the elevator descended, I couldn't help but wonder what kind of chaos this BBQ would bring. Something told me it was going to be more than just grilled food and small talk.
Rain's POV
I watched through the glass wall as Khai walked toward the elevator, her shoulders slightly slumped. Even from a distance, I could see the exhaustion etched into her every step. She really needs to take care of herself more often, I muttered under my breath.
Therese and Kroft, on the other hand, seemed oblivious to any serious thoughts as their endless banter about the upcoming BBQ continued. They were like kids planning for a party, arguing over which dish would be best and who would "accidentally" burn the food on the grill. Their energy was amusing, even if it made me roll my eyes.
Finally, we managed to wrap up at the office and head home. By the time we reached the parking lot, all three of us were dragging our feet like a trio of zombies. The day's work had taken its toll, leaving us drained and utterly exhausted.
Therese groaned as she fumbled with her keys. "I swear, if this BBQ doesn't involve me just sitting and eating, I'm not coming."
Kroft smirked. "You? Sitting quietly? I'll believe that when I see it."
I shook my head, too tired to join in their banter. My thoughts drifted back to Khai. There was something about her presence today-a quiet strength, but also a vulnerability.
As we finally reached our apartment doors, I sighed. Sunday's BBQ would be a welcome distraction, but part of me couldn't shake the feeling that it might also bring more questions than answers.
Rain's POV
Saturday morning rolled in with its usual chaos, and Therese's voice cut through it. "Are we going to the groceries today?" she asked, already looking for any excuse to avoid more work.
Kroft, as always, couldn't resist chiming in. "What for?"
Therese shot him a sarcastic look. "To watch all customers and ask how much they paid for their groceries? Duh, of course, to buy some meat and drinks for tomorrow's BBQ!"
I smirked at their back-and-forth, shaking my head. I swear, these two are like an old married couple sometimes.
As we parked in the grocery store lot, my eyes immediately landed on a white Cadillac Escalade parked right beside Kroft's car. My mind instantly connected it to the ride from the other night when Khai had booked a for us.
The tinted windows made it hard to see inside, but the engine was running, and it felt like someone was watching us from behind the glass. I shook it off, though. Maybe I was just being paranoid.
What really caught my attention, however, was the license plate. "JXN-V1P." It was a VIP customized plate, one I'd seen only on cars that belonged to people of influence or wealth around here in Jackson, Mississippi. It made my curiosity peak.
I muttered to myself, "That was something."
Khai's POV
Manuel and I had just pulled into the grocery store parking lot when a car slid right beside us. I immediately recognized the driver-Kroft. Of course, he had to show up now. I stayed still in my seat, watching as Rain got out of the car with her usual curiosity on her face. I could see her eyes briefly linger on our car. She seemed to be connecting the dots, probably remembering it from the other day.
Manuel noticed the same thing. "Khai, it seems the universe is making fun of you today," he smirked, giving a nod toward Kroft's car and Rain, who was now stepping onto the sidewalk.
I tried to play it cool. "Yeah, I figured," I muttered. Then I turned to Manuel, about to ask him to handle the situation, but he cut me off before I could finish my sentence.
"Yup, I'll do the groceries then," he said with a knowing look. "Stay here."
I gave him a short nod as he stepped out of the car. I stayed put, watching as he casually walked toward the store entrance, leaving me with nothing but time to wonder just how much longer I could keep my identity hidden.
Rain's POV
Kroft and Therese didn't stop their banter, even as we stood in the middle of the grocery store surrounded by people. We were at the meat station, sorting through cuts for our BBQ when my eyes caught a large, bald guy pushing a cart filled to the brim with meats, snacks, and a ton of drinks. It looked like he was gearing up for the grandest BBQ of the year.
I nudged Therese, leaning in slightly to whisper, "Look at that guy. He's about to throw the grandest BBQ party ever. I bet he's going to party like there's no tomorrow."
Kroft, never one to miss an opportunity, added, "He'll be having a party because their divorce papers are finally approved."
Therese couldn't resist joining in, her eyes gleaming with mischief. "Yeah, he's probably celebrating freedom with a side of ribs and beer."
The three of us burst out laughing, drawing a few curious stares from nearby shoppers. But that didn't stop us. It was just another one of those ridiculous moments that made the day bearable.
Rain's POV
We continued standing in line, our eyes widening as the big guy's total flashed across the screen: $2789. The amount seemed almost unreal for a grocery bill, and we couldn't help but stare.
Kroft almost choked on his own spit, his eyes going wide, while Therese's jaw dropped so low it looked like it might touch the counter. Our total was just over $700, and honestly, we felt like we were the ones underprepared.
Then, as if he could sense the attention he was getting, the big guy turned to us, a slight smile on his face.
"Sorry," he said casually, "big day tomorrow with my boss and colleagues."
We all stood there, dumbstruck for a moment, unsure how to respond. The sheer magnitude of his grocery haul made ours look laughably small, but we just nodded in acknowledgment, silently admitting defeat to his BBQ plans.
Kroft recovered first, his voice laced with sarcasm, "Well, guess we better step up our game, huh?"
Rain's POV
As we made our way toward the parking lot, our attention was drawn back to the big guy, who was still unloading his groceries into the back of the white Escalade parked right next to us. The trunk was practically overflowing with bags of food and drinks. His grand BBQ plans seemed to be growing by the second.
We finished unloading our own groceries into the car, and he was still at it-shuffling items from his cart to the back of the Escalade, like he was preparing for a small army. I couldn't help but watch in awe. It was impressive, in a way, though I wondered how much of it was just for show.
Kroft, ever the curious one, couldn't help but mutter, "What kind of party is this guy throwing? He must be feeding an entire city."
Therese, eyes wide, added, "Seriously, what's he doing with all that food? He can't possibly eat it all."
We all paused for a moment, staring at the massive amount of supplies, and then I noticed something that made me freeze.
The license plate of the Escalade: JXN-V1P.
That custom plate. I'd seen it before, and the realization hit me like a ton of bricks. It couldn't be a coincidence. This was no random guy.
"Guys... I think this is the same car we saw last time," I said, voice barely above a whisper.
Kroft raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"
I just pointed at the license plate. JXN-V1P.
His eyes followed my finger, and his face turned from confusion to realization. "Wait a minute... is that the same car Khai booked for us the last time?"
Before I could answer, the big guy slammed the trunk closed, his face still unreadable. I quickly turned away, heart racing. This wasn't just a coincidence. There was something off about all of this, but I couldn't put my finger on it.
As we piled into the car, the sense that we were tangled in something bigger than ourselves lingered in the air. The white Escalade and the mystery behind it were just the beginning.
As we drove away from the grocery store, the hum of the engine was the only sound filling the air, but my mind was racing. The sight of that white Escalade, the big guy with his overflowing cart, and the unmistakable custom license plate still lingered like an unshakable shadow. The pieces of the puzzle weren't fitting together, but I had a sinking feeling that we were about to uncover more than we bargained for.
The BBQ party was just around the corner, but so was the truth. And I couldn't help but wonder-what exactly had we gotten ourselves into?
With every turn, every conversation, the lines between ordinary and extraordinary blurred more and more. And as much as I wanted to ignore it, the questions kept growing. What was Khai hiding? And more importantly, why did I feel like we were standing on the edge of something far bigger than any of us could handle?
The weekend was about to begin, but this was no ordinary Saturday.