Deadlines & Desires

Ch. 11

Kai

As the evening approaches, I find myself unexpectedly lost in thought. An image invades my mind—a vision of her, somehow radiating vibrancy amidst the drabness of my colorless world. When I pull up to her place, a whirlwind of clutter greets me, leaving me with the realization that her apartment embodies her personality: chaotic genius. That being said, I wouldn't trade a single pile of unmarked paper for her wit.

I'm holding the blue silk dress, the fabric shimmering under the dim light of her apartment, poised to bring a touch of elegance to this gathering of sharks. As I stand amidst a multitude of coffee cups that look like they're auditioning for a documentary on caffeine addiction, the door creaks open.

At that very moment, time stands still. There she is, Lorelai, stepping out of the bathroom like she just floated down from Mount Olympus. The blue dress hugs her slender frame in a way that seems to contradict her typical attire—a chaotic whirlwind wrapped in silk. Her straight brown hair cascades like a waterfall, framing her midnight-blue eyes that glimmer with mischief and a hint of hyperactivity. Standing at 5'7", she manages to transform into a goddess of intelligence, leaving me gaping in shock and awe, like I just saw the finale of a show that I forgot I adored.

"What?" she quips, twirling in front of me. The dress drapes perfectly, accentuating her light tan skin and somehow even enhancing that flat yet alluring physique. "Isn't this just fabulous? I look like a million bucks!"

"You look like more than a million bucks, Lorelai. You look—" I stop myself. "Are you sure you're not planning to rob the diamond district after this?"

Her laughter dances in the air, filling the chaotic room with an infectious breeze. Yet, despite my teasing remarks, I can't take my eyes off her. Maybe, just maybe, there's more beneath the surface of this impossibly lively woman than witty banter and an unquenchable appetite for coffee.

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As I navigated through the throngs of bored business associates, I noticed Lorelai had stealthily slipped away from my side, wielding that coffee cup like a sword as she effortlessly engaged with Zach Diggory. My blood boiled at the sight of that grinning menace—the bane of my existence and, thankfully, the key to my lasting misery.

"Did you hear about Archer Security's latest fiasco?" Zach smirked, probably reveling in the scent of impending doom. Lorelai, somehow oblivious to the tension looming over our trio, threw her head back and laughed, a sound that broke through my furious contemplation like a beam of sunlight through dark clouds.

"She's beautiful, isn't she?" Zach mused, glancing at me, as if the weight of my silence piqued his interest. "Almost makes you forget about the disaster your company's in."

"Almost," I replied dryly, arms crossing like a fortress around my vulnerabilities. Watching Lorelai's laughter fade into the background, I felt an inexplicable fury boiling within. Was it jealousy? Perhaps, but this was merely professional discontent. A journalist digging her claws into my company's secrets made me want to wrap my mind around blackmail tactics to prevent her from printing any of that unfounded—though mostly true—information.

"Oh, come on, Kai!" she interjected, sipping her black gold delight like it was an elixir of life. "What's the worst that could happen? Your company is tanking worse than Titanic, and here you are at a party trying not to drown in mediocrity."

I struggled to maintain my composure. Sure, I wanted to play it cool, but seeing Zach flirt with Lorelai felt like being pricked by a thousand needles. It wouldn't have killed me to pay her a compliment; maybe, "You look stunning, Lorelai," instead of fixating on every nuance of her interaction with my biggest rival.

"Oh, wow, isn't that charming?" Zach said, feigning a look of hurt. "Not much of a conversationalist, are we, Kai?"

"Zach," Lorelai chimed in with a teasing smile, "you really should let him speak for himself. It's like trying to hold a conversation with a very attractive, but very silent brick wall."

And that was it. The moment I saw her playful smile directed at Zach, everything inside me snapped. My inner grumpy exterior overpowered everything as I sauntered over, desperate to reclaim the ground I felt vanishing underfoot.

"Excuse me, but I believe I owe my date some attention," I growled, watching as her laughter faltered. Joyous mischief turned to surprise while Zach smirked.

"I didn't know you were that into her," he challenged, fully prepared to toy with my pride.

"I'm not," I snapped, tone sharper than intended. "But perhaps it's best if you leave her alone, unless you'd like me to embarrass you in front of every investor in this room."

Lorelai turned to me, her eyes sparkling with unspoken challenges. "Oh, please! Talk about a hostile takeover. Don't spoil my fun, Kai. I'm just getting to know the competition."

"Or just leading them on." My voice dripped sarcasm, making it sound like a poorly staged romance.

But for some odd reason, her laughter was infectious, and despite my roiling irritation, I felt that ridiculous warmth creeping back in. Perhaps it was the juxtaposition of our personalities—the driven journalist versus the stoic CEO. With every passing moment, the more her laughter wrapped around me like a tenacious vine, the less I could resist.

"So, Lorelai," I said, desperately attempting to reclaim both the conversation and a semblance of sanity. "Care to join me for a drink? I think I need to sample the beauty of a quality bourbon."

"Have fun at the bar, boys," Zach chuckled, sidestepping us like a wounded animal.

"You really do look like a godess" I said quietly, staring into my drink

She looked up at me, and her usual sarcastic, mischevious smile was replaced, with a more genuine one, "Thank you" she said softly

I swallowed, as the night continued, I could have sworn I felt the atmosphere change between me and Lorelai, she stayed on my arm like a proper date- I mean fake date, and helped me engage in social conversations, and in return, she got tons of gossip for her latest peice on the sinking ship that is my company...

Somehow, I think she might even manage to make me look good in this god forsaken article of hers...oh who am I kidding, I, Kai Archer want Lorelai.

I will have Lorelai Forbes, if its the last thing I fucking do.