The office was quiet when Kai arrived the next morning, sunlight spilling across the polished floor like a spotlight he hadn't asked for. He spotted Ren immediately, seated at his desk, fingers poised over the keyboard, hair slightly mussed from sleep, eyes sharp despite the early hour.
Kai slowed, letting the moment stretch. There was something almost dangerous about the way Ren concentrated, the slight tilt of his head, the subtle rise and fall of his shoulders.
"Good morning, Ren," Kai said, voice low and smooth.
Ren looked up, startled, and smiled — small, hesitant, but enough to make Kai pause. That smile had been in the corner of Kai's mind ever since the day before. In the background of every thought, every memory, every dream. It was something too..distracting.
Kai's eyes roamed over his form. the way the sunlight catches on his hair perfectly. His fantasies are then interrupted by another worker bringing over some files.
"Sir? I have your data ready to go."
Kai glanced over at the worker and nodded distractedly.
"Yeah, yeah. Just...leave it on my desk, or..somewhere."
Ren smirked slightly behind his computer screen where Kai couldn't quite see.
'So gullible..you'll be mine soon enough.' Ren thought. His mysterious, but manipulative intentions overpower his thoughts completely. He then stands up, and leaves the room. Kai is completely befuddled, but he can't stop himself from the desire that pushes him to want more.
Later, roughly about noon according to Kai's calculations, Ren hears his name being announced on the speakers.
"Um..could I have Ren to my office please?...Now?!"
Confused, Ren heads to the door. Hearing Kai's panicked tone over the speaker, he speeds up his pace without meaning to, concern dawning upon his face.
"Kai?! Kai?..Are you okay?! Why did you call me here so panicked?!"
And there Kai stands. Papers everywhere, a few blood drops on the ground, sheepish expression on his face.
"Hey..don't call me Kai. I'm your boss." He says.
Ren stammers, shocked and overwhelmed.
"Uh..yes, of course!"
He bends down to pick up the papers. Kai watches him like a mother watching her child proudly, his mind drifting off to who knows where.
"So, wheres the blood coming from?
-Theres no answer-
"Uh..Sir?"
Kai snaps back into reality. He stutters and looks around.
"Uh..right, uh..just my finger. A pair of scissors fell and I cut my finger.
Ren nods. Standing up with a messily stacked pile of scattered papers
"I'll treat it for you."
They head down to a little park to buy some bandages and supplies. They then sit down, and Ren treats Kai's cut for him. Kai can't help but smirk. The proximity between them is almost unbearable, and the peaceful silence is filled by the calming sound of birds, and the soft breeze whispering all around them. Kai tries to speak, but nothing comes out. Instead, his voice drops to a soft whisper.
"Thank you..."
Ren looks up and smiles. That same, charming, hypnotic look. Eyes big, and perfectly sparkly.
"Come on! We have to get back to work."
And just like that, Ren gets up and bounces off. Kai can't help but scoff and smile to himself. "My new secretary..it's unbelievable."
By the time the clock hit six, the rest of the office had cleared out. Only the soft buzz of the lights and the tapping of Ren's pen against a notebook broke the silence. The city outside glowed faintly through the blinds — streaks of orange and blue stretching across the windows like watercolor.
Kai sat across from him, reviewing the proposal one last time. His focus was usually razor-sharp, but tonight it kept slipping — drifting to the little sounds Ren made while working. The quiet humming, the occasional muttered "aha," the light tap of his fingers when he figured something out. It was distracting in the strangest way.
"You're staring," Ren said suddenly, without looking up.
Kai blinked, caught off guard. "No, I'm not."
"You totally are," Ren teased, still scribbling notes. "If you're gonna judge my handwriting, at least be obvious about it."
Kai leaned back in his chair, trying to hide the faint warmth rising in his cheeks. "I was making sure you're not rewriting the entire report again."
Ren grinned and finally looked up. "You're worried I'll make it better than yours?"
Kai scoffed. "Please."
Ren chuckled quietly and stood, stretching his arms above his head. His shirt rode up just slightly, revealing a hint of skin before he tugged it down again. Kai's eyes darted away, a little too quickly.
"Coffee break?" Ren asked. "We've earned it."
Kai hesitated, but nodded. "Fine. One cup."
They walked to the small kitchenette down the hall. Ren filled the kettle while Kai leaned against the counter, arms crossed. The air between them felt different now — quieter, but charged somehow.
"Do you ever stop smiling?" Kai asked after a moment.
Ren looked over his shoulder, a small laugh escaping. "You'd miss it if I did."
Kai wanted to deny that — to say something sharp or distant — but the words didn't come. Ren turned back to him, his expression softer now. No teasing. Just a calm, curious look.
"You know," Ren said gently, "you're not as scary as everyone says."
Kai raised an eyebrow. "Everyone?"
Ren nodded, pouring the hot water into two mugs. "They said you were all work, no warmth. But I think you just hide it really well."
He handed Kai a cup, their fingers brushing for the briefest second — warm skin against skin. It shouldn't have meant anything. But it did. Kai froze for half a heartbeat before taking the mug, his chest feeling oddly tight.
Ren didn't seem to notice, or maybe he did — his smile turned smaller, almost shy.
"Thanks," Kai murmured.
Ren tilted his head, his voice dropping just a bit. "See? You can be polite."
Kai smirked faintly, sipping his coffee. "Don't get used to it."
They stood there for a moment, side by side, sipping quietly as the city lights blinked awake outside. The office was silent, but the air between them wasn't. It buzzed softly — something new, fragile, and unspoken.
Ren looked up at him one last time, eyes catching the dim glow of the overhead light. "You know," he said with a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes, "you're kind of nice when you're tired."
Kai glanced at him, caught between amusement and something else entirely. "Careful," he said quietly. "You'll ruin my reputation."
Ren's laugh was light, but his gaze lingered. "Maybe that's not such a bad thing."
And for the first time that night, Kai didn't look away. He let his eyes wander. Wondering if his new secretary will be the start of something he had never wanted to experience before. But was it all really that bad?.