After All

Riho meets Marie again

The low hum of voices and the rhythmic tapping of keyboards filled the open floor of the Innovare Center. Fluorescent lights cast a cool glow over rows of sleek desks, and the faint scent of brewed coffee lingered in the recycled air. The occasional ring of a desk phone or murmur of a printer added to the white noise of corporate life.

Marie sat at her workstation, posture taut, fingers dancing across the keyboard with brisk efficiency. But her mind was elsewhere—looping through rumors, press leaks, boardroom whispers. Innovare's identity was shifting beneath their feet. Soon, they would be swallowed up into the newly minted entity: The CD&L Titan Group of Companies.

"Have you heard?" Amy's voice pierced Marie's thoughts, teasing and conspiratorial. She leaned across the gap between their cubicles, her elbow resting on Brian's divider. "They're seriously doing it. CD&L Titan Group. Doesn't that sound like a Bond villain's umbrella company?"

Brian snorted without looking up, rolling his sleeves to his elbows with deliberate calm. "That's a hell of a name. Very... Wall Street apocalypse. You think they're gunning for some kind of global takeover?"

Marie let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding and rubbed her temples. "Whatever it is, it's going to blow a hole straight through the culture here."

Brian finally glanced over, arching a brow. "You say that like it's a bad thing."

Before she could reply, the mood in the office shifted. Heads turned. Conversations slowed. The door opened.

Riho and Emi walked in like they owned the air around them.

Riho moved like silk on marble—every step balanced and deliberate, every glance precise. Her tailored cream blazer seemed to glow under the overhead lights. Behind her, Emi followed with subtle intensity. Her expression unreadable, eyes scanning the room with quick, clinical precision. If Riho was the monarch, Emi was the sword at her side.

Marie felt her breath catch as Riho's eyes found hers. They held for just a second—but it felt longer. A slow, familiar smile pulled at Riho's lips as she veered gracefully toward her.

"Marie," Riho said, voice low and warm, like the hush before a concert. "It's been a while."

Marie jolted upright, hastily smoothing her blouse and brushing an invisible wrinkle from her skirt. "Madam Riho—"

Riho waved a hand with a soft laugh. "No titles. Just Riho. We're far beyond that now."

Marie offered a hesitant smile. "Likewise, Riho. It's... been a long time. Since Nueva Vizcaya."

Brian blinked, caught mid-coffee sip. Amy's eyebrows practically touched her bangs. "Wait, you know each other?" Brian asked, his tone pivoting between interest and suspicion.

Riho turned her attention to him with a knowing smile. "Oh yes. Marie and I go back."

Marie shifted her weight, half-expecting the floor to give way under the sudden spotlight. "We have... shared history."

"I'd love to catch up properly," Riho said, her voice like a gentle challenge. "I know a place. Just us. Tea?"

Marie hesitated for a beat, then nodded. "I'd like that."

The tea house was a tucked-away gem on a quiet side street, its windows fogged with steam and its wood interior glowing gold in the afternoon light. Dried herbs hung from the rafters in neatly tied bundles. The aroma of toasted oolong and raw honey clung to the air.

Marie sat across from Riho at a low table, her palms pressed against the smooth ceramic teacup. A plate of warm scones sat untouched between them.

Riho sipped slowly, her eyes never leaving Marie. "So," she said finally, setting the cup down with a soft clink. "How's life been treating you since... all that?"