Work Text:
Cinder felt like a doll. No, she was more like a puppet holstered with silk strings. All dressed up in expensive clothing, her face painted with layers of makeup, and her body heavy with jewelry. She didn’t feel like herself at all.
In fact, she was Selene Blackburn tonight. Level-headed, quiet, and a pathetic marionette to Levana’s whims.
She sat with her hands folded in her lap; her ankles adorned with silver heels and crossed like a princess; curled hair fell perfectly around her face.
The heated spirals surprised her today with their good behavior. Usually, Iko had to ruthlessly drag a hairbrush across her scalp six or seven times, but today it took only one round of yanking. The curling process was fast and easy, too. The hair actually remained in its formed state. There were less pins and layers of hairspray in her hair than usual as well. A few strands on each side were joined together by a small black rubber band in the back of her head. In short, her hair looked quite elegant from the behind.
As for the front, her usual messy bangs were neatly brushed across to the side. Two curls tickled her cheeks whenever she nodded or turned to the side.
Selene looked graceful, radiant, and some might even say beautiful. Cinder was trying to resist the urge to slouch in uncomfortable plastic chairs. Her hands couldn’t stay still for long either and began to play around with her sage silk dress.
The conference room she was trapped in was large and spacious with hundreds of gray chairs in front of her, though most of them were empty. She was seated at a long table on the wooden stage. Everyone, including the press who had been there hours earlier, was seated, save for a few late stragglers. She’d been announced only a few moments before. The press assaulted her with questions, none of which she was allowed to answer until later.
She clapped politely for the other important guests while disassociating her mind a little bit. She was waiting for the name of the person who was to take their seat next to her.
To be Selene Blackburn is to live out a Blackburn mindset. That is to be cunning, prideful, and have a strong hatred for their rival family.
These people, their rivals, beautiful, kind, and open-minded men and women share an equally strong distaste for the Blackburns. One of the great pillars in the corporate world, their company employs thousands of workers and is generally admired, whereas her family is widely hated.
The Prince family reigns above all, truly living up to the royal aspect of their name. Yet, without fail, each generation continues to possess a hero complex that makes life difficult for the scheming Blackburns.
They love to be loved and will often fake their kindness in order to gain admiration. Not that the Blackburns are any different; they are well-known for being frauds. Yet, everyone seems to fall for the shiny Prince act.
Finally, she heard his name. Cinder was expecting him to come tonight. It was originally supposed to be Rikan, the current Patriarch of the Princes, and her aunt Levana at this event. She was sent instead of her aunt at the last minute, so she assumed it was the same case here. They always were sending the next generation to deal with light business.
“Kaito Prince.” The press roared back to life. They forgot all about the former guests and asked hundreds of questions to the young Prince. He only smiled and waved.
You are Selene Blackburn; she chanted to herself, act like it. She grimaced as he sat next to her in the middle and gave him three short claps.
Cinder felt him lean towards her. She assumed he was still smiling at the crowd. “Always a pleasure to see you, Miss Blackburn.”
Her lips thinned into a straight line. “I wish I could return the sentiment, yet my stomach turns every time we meet, Mister Prince.”
Two quiet short laughs. “In a good way, I hope.”
She immediately shot him a glare, stomping on his shiny black shoe underneath the table. Fortunately, there was a cloth in front of their kegs. He looked at her with betrayed wide eyes, to which she responded with a mere tilt of her head, as if to say “what?”
They straightened up when the announcer began to introduce the topics worth discussing. It was only a press conference about some decision their families made together. All they had to do was explain it. Yet, put a Blackburn and a Prince together in near proximity; you should also expect a fight.
“Miss Selene,” Kai started around twenty minutes into the conference. “Why couldn’t your beloved aunt attend this meeting to tell the people herself anyway? Whatever you’re trying to convey for her would have come across more clearly if she were here in person.”
She rolled her eyes. Visibly. The people need to know how much she hated this man. In dumber terms, he noted how she wasn’t adequate enough to be here. “My aunt, Ms. Blackburn, is busy handling other problems in the company that take higher priority. In this specific scenario, the decision is already made; it only needs to be announced to the public. Where exactly is your father, Mr. Prince, if this meeting is so important?”
His eyes grew soft, placing a hand to his heart. He faced the press. “As many of you know, my father has been dealing with several health problems and has left me in charge of the family business. Though I believe I am nowhere near his expertise, I follow his orders because I trust his decision to make me a leader. These past few weeks have been rough, but the Prince family still stands tall.”
She covered her eyes with a gloved hand. Kai. Was. So. Dramatic. Rikan is doing fine. Her aunt has eyes everywhere, including the mini palace where the men reside in. Why did she bother asking? She knew what he was going to say.
“Know that the Blackburns pray for a quick recovery.” She said curtly.
He glanced at her out of the corner of his eye, disgust evident in his look. “We’re glad to hear it.”
“What, do you think I am a liar?” She taunted. Her family’s image was already torn beyond repair, so she could afford to be a little careless with the press. She loved teasing Kai and watching him struggle to keep his composure. Obviously, he wanted to say yes, but he straightened up a little instead.
“Yes, actually, your reputation precedes you- “
“My family’s reputation-” She corrected.
He went on. “-and not once have you legitimately spread concern about my family’s wellbeing.”
He was facing her completely now with smirking lips and eyes wide that said, “I accept your challenge.”
She narrowed her eyes. “At the end of the day, you’ll go bananas, like the rest of your lot.”
Her jaw went slack. She wasn’t sure if the press had caught his insult, but one small glance told her they were getting uncomfortable. These were professional journalists, not gossip writers. The tension was palpable throughout the room.
She stuck her nose in his face, raising her chin in intimidation. “As if you’re any better, your highness. Or do you prefer your majesty?”
He raised both eyebrows, still smiling, mocking her earlier shock.
She stood up quickly, almost falling forwards and cleared her throat. She noticed him flinch slightly at her misbalance. “I think that covers everything we needed to get through today. I have nothing more to say, and I assume neither does Mr. Prince.”
Kai slowly arose from his chair, exuberating the grace she did not possess. He straightened his blazer, closing the buttons in the middle. “Ms. Blackburn is correct; this conference is adjourned.” He stated with a smile. He looked at her one last time. A rebel piece of his gelled hair fell between his intense copper eyes. She stared right back. They shared a private conversation she didn’t want to decode until later.
With a small dip of the head, she spun away from him and walked away, ignoring the thousands of questions the press was shooting at her. He stayed a little after.
Liam Kinney, her bodyguard, met up with her once she exited the conference room into the bright hallway. “Miss, do you want me to call the car?”
Cinder stretched her arms forward, finally relaxing. Her whole body slumped in relaxation. She smiled. “Nah, I got a ride.”
He caught the hidden meaning. “Stay safe, Miss.”
She waved him away. “You won’t lose your job, I promise. Go home and take a nap. Or see Iko.”
He looked at the painted white brick wall, hiding his blush. “Goodbye.”
“Bye.” She laughed.
Now, where did this man tell her to go?Thankful for Iko choosing a dress that had pockets, she pulled out her phone and scrolled through her messages.
Follow the exits signs that lead towards the back of the conference room. That was what she gathered by the map he so generously provided. He even took the time to draw a red circle on the exit he would be waiting at. Cornball.
Taking one last look to make sure no one was following her, she slipped off her heels and turned the corner.
Once outside, she pondered if she got lost. She leaned on the wall for almost five minutes. The uncomfortable gravel on her bare feet made her colder than she would have been with shoes on. She took out her phone with the intention of calling him when a shiny black Porsche pulled in front of her.
After a small moment, the car door on the driver’s side opened and she caught sight of his now slightly messed up black hair.
She tried to keep an annoyed face to tease him but could not stop her smile when his copper eyes met her.
Kai shut the door and leaned on the roof of his car. “Wait long?”
“You said five minutes, tops.” She waved her phone to show the time. “You’re pushing six.”
He sputtered, rolling his eyes. “Don’t be dramatic.”
She scoffed as he shrugged off his blazer and walked around the car towards her. “I’m not, I just don’t like being lied to.”
Once he reached her, he wrapped his blazer around her shoulders. She loved how she didn’t need to tell him she was cold. He knew.
He rubbed her shoulders lovingly and examined her face. “What?” She murmured.
He smiled softly. “Nothing. Let’s go.”
They didn’t move. Cinder placed her hands on his waist and traveled down until she reached his pockets. He raised an eyebrow suggestively as she bit her lip to keep her from smiling.
She hooked her finger through the hoop of his keys inside his left pocket and waved it around in celebration. “I’ll drive!”
Kai took the heels from her hand before she ran to the driver’s side. It was a little hard to do so, due the pain the gravel inflicted on her bare feet.
The driver's seat was already adjusted to her setting, which is why she now realized he took a couple seconds to get out. He knew.
She took her time buckling up while he settled down into the passenger seat.
The smell of his air freshener welcomed her senses, and the leather of the wheel made her excited. She had a similar feeling whenever she hopped in a go-kart. Stars, Cinder loved anything with an engine.
“Where are we going?” Kai asked, pulling up the map in his dashboard.
“Yours, definitely.”
He chuckled. “We always go to mine.”
“Yeah, because it’s nicer and closer and not randomly visited by your psychotic mother.”
Laughing, he typed in the address as she found a way out of the parking lot. Once on the street, her stomach began to rumble.
Kai’s head perked. “You hungry?” He teased.
She blushed. “Yeah, the only thing I ate today were those stale cookies at the snack table.”
“Not even breakfast?!” He huffed in concern. “Let’s stop for something.”
Two glorious golden yellow arches appeared on the side of the road high up in the air. Underneath was a red sign that read ‘McDonald’s” and the latest deal. The five-dollar McChicken bag. She licked her lips, feeling her appetite grow.
“Ooh- How about some fast food?” Kai suggested as if Cinder wasn’t already speeding towards the sign.
She made a left and curled around the store until she was in line for the Drive-Thru. It wasn’t busy tonight, thank the stars, and soon enough they were ordering.
“HELLO, YOU GOT MCDONALD’S APP?” asked the order taker.
Cinder had to take a moment to adjust. Who had this much energy at nine PM? “Um, no-”
“WHAT YOU LIKE?”
Kai smothered a laugh. “Yeah, could I get the five-dollar McChicken meal deal?” She ordered.
“WHAT SAUCE?”
“Buffalo- and some ranch.”
“WHAT DRINK?”
“A small coke.”
“OK, ANYTHING ELSE?”
She looked at Kai. “Just a six-piece nugget, with ranch and sweet and sour.” He said.
“A six piece with ranch and sweet and sour?” She repeated.
“YOU WANT THE MEAL?”
“No, just the nuggets, please.”
“IS THAT ALL?”
She bit her lip. “I kind of want a cone.” She murmured, glancing at him.
“Then get one.” He was already looking at her with a smile. “When’s the last time you had ice cream?”
“You’re right.” She turned back to the speaker. “Could I also get an ice cream cone?”
“OF COURSE! WOULD THAT BE ALL?”
“Uh- yeah-”
“FIRST WINDOW!”
“Thanks.” She pulled around.
The woman who took their money seemed to be the same one who took their order. Cinder noticed the half empty cup of ice coffee near the card reader and, based on the crazed look on the woman’s face, that was not her first. “THANK YOU, HAVE A GOOD DAY, BABYDOLL!”
Before reaching the second window, Cinder mumbled somewhat to herself. “Damn, I could never work at a fast-food place.”
“The people who work here have a will of steel.” They laughed together.
The lady who handed out their food looked much more worn and tired. “Have a good one.” She mumbled after handing out their cone.
“Thanks, you too.”
Kai took the cone and food from her hands to let her focus on driving. “We should pull over.”
“Yeah, good idea.” She was out of the McDonald’s parking lot at this point and parked in the corner of a shopping center. It looked abandoned at this time of night since there was no one else there.
Kai handed her the cone back. It would have made sense to eat it first before it melted.
It was already dripping over her hands. She quickly licked the sides of the cone before any of it fell on the car. “Stars, this tastes good.” She murmured, not regretting her decision. Before she realized, most of it was already gone.
Some of it started to drip down her hands cursing. Cursing, she wiped her fingers off with the napkin wrapped around the cone, and licked whatever spots she missed That was when she noticed him staring. She raised an eyebrow at him. “Want some?”
He was so zoned in that it took him a beat to register the question. “Uh- what? I mean- I’m okay.” He responded with half-lidded eyes.
A light blush coated her cheeks. Kai continued to stare. “You sure?” She asked.
Only a lump of vanilla was left inside the waffle. “If you insist.” He said, voice getting lower.
He took the cone from her and slowly took a big bite of the cone. “Jeez, I didn’t say you could have the rest.” This fatass.
He giggled, soft and deep, continuing to munch on the cone. He looked so infatuated with it… oh, stars. She knew that look. The small glint of his eye along with the slight tilt of his lips? It made her stomach tingle with butterflies every time. This man was so attractive, it should be illegal. No, what should be illegal is her having him all to herself. She was caught on the way his jawline moved as he bit the cone. The singular drop of white custard on his cheek made her fingers tighten. She wanted to wipe it off, fantasizing every way she could. Did he think of her like this? Is that why he was staring so hard? Good, beautiful, awe-inducing stars above. He locked eyes with her and smiled. “Could I have the rest?” He asked innocently.
The mirth in his eyes betrayed his deceiving intention. “Good stars, Kai.” She whined, exhaling loudly. “I’m coming, hold on.”
He laughed, finishing the rest of the cone as she unbuckled and climbed over the seats into his lap. The untouched food magically relocated to the driver's seat in time for her to wipe the crumbs of his face. “You were hoping for this since you offered to drive me home, huh?”
“Well, yes, but I always hope for this. Every man fantasizes making out with their girl in their car.”
“Every man fantasizes about having a Porsche- and we’ve done this before. You’re getting a little greedy, Kai.”
His hands slowly roamed up and down her torso. “What can I say? This is the American Dream.”
She giggled, the feeling of him messing with the chemicals in her brain. They leaned in so close that their lips were practically touching. She could feel his breath, getting annoyed as she waited for him to make the first move. “You better start kissing me or I’m going to walk out of this car.”
His eyebrows scrunched together, eyes twinkling. “Yeah? I think I like this position.” Obviously, he liked something different more as slowly shifted, his gaze getting caught on her lips. Cinder felt herself getting a little nervous, even though they’ve done this more times than she could count.
He leaned forward with an intensity that made her freeze for a moment. Then, closing her eyes, she pushed him back into the leather chair. He grunted softly, groping her back with one hand. She raked his black hair until it was unrecognizably messy, tearing through the gel that kept it in place. He took her upper lip and deepened the kiss even further. She tasted vanilla. Gasping for air, she felt his lips trace a line from the corner of her mouth, down her cheek, and stop comfortably on her neck. She smiled, turning her head to the right so he had more space to do what he needed to do. He picked up the pace, daring to go even further. She kept her eyes shut, her fingers teasing to go down his collar while the other hand continued to hold a fistful of his hair. “Kai, I think you’re the hungry one.”
No response. Obviously, she was right. She opened her eyes for a split second and took notice of the brown bag on the driver’s side, neglected. She thought of the stale cookies and the ice cream and the overwhelming hunger she had to push down during the conference. “Kai…” She whispered. He thought she was moaning his name, which, to give him credit, she did often. Cinder continued. “The food’s going to get cold.”
He growled --something he only did while in this zone-- too preoccupied with her collarbone. “So?” He said, muffled by her skin.
“I want to eat it while it’s fresh.” The hand in her scalp softened its grip while his other arm continued to grip her waist, hard. After a long exhale, he let go of her side and opened the passenger door. “Should I drive while you eat?”
Moving her hands to caress his face, she nodded, kissing him on the lips. “Yes, please.” She then pecked his face all over. He looked annoyed. “The faster you go, the quicker we’ll get home.” She whispered into his ear.
Cinder finished her meal around ten minutes into the drive. Kai, the freak, was speeding. She sighed contently, rubbing her full belly. “I think you won today.”
He snorted. “Of course I did, no debate.”
She shot him a glare. “Okay, I was too worried about not choking on those dry-ass cookies than coming up with ways to get back at you.”
“You didn’t even give me a nasty look. You just stood there in shock. All you could say was ‘your highness’. Come on, what I said was not that creative.” He laughed. Bitch. “If I didn’t know any better, I would’ve thought I actually insulted you.”
“Maybe you did. You know my crazy mother is a sensitive spot.”
“I… did?” His grip on the wheel tightened. “Surely, you’re messing with me. Right?”
They stopped at a red light. He looked like a kicked puppy, the harsh red making the scene even more dramatic. She stared back, trying to keep her gaze unreadable, until the light turned green. He didn’t go.
Cinder smirked. “I am. You know how little I care about Channary, and I know that you love me.”
He relaxed and finally hit the gas pedal. The two of them have been secretly meeting up for almost six months now. In private, they would act like any normal couple; holding hands, going on dates, and kissing during the long hours of the night. The public, however, thought they were mortal enemies who would do anything to bring the other down.
She remembered forcing herself to be full of this hate, yelling at him for something that was insignificant now. Her fingers were in his face, and she was spitting out curses left and right. His gaze gradually intensified and eventually he backed her into a wall. Her breath caught, and her arguments wavered. Soon, she was mumbling, and his face was hovering over her. “I’ve never wanted to kill anyone as much as I wanted to now.” His hands gently grabbed her shoulders.
Cinder’s eyes widened, yet she felt no fear. They’ve been this close before, even almost kissed, but the air was different this time.“Kill?” She murmured.
His hands tightened their grip. She gasped involuntarily. “Yes.”
She looked at him dead in the eye. “Then do it. Kill me, Mr. Prince. Finish what my aunt could not.” Surely, he was bluffing.
Moments pause. Then he kissed her with the same fierceness he held in his eyes. His hands cradled her jaw. She moaned almost immediately, that kiss easily becoming the best one she’d ever had, and the next thing she knew she was waking up in his arms in a foreign room.
After many conversations, and much convincing, they established their secret relationship and have fallen deeply in love. At least, she was.
In the car, Cinder played with his hand on her lap. She traced his fingers and caressed his palms. Raising it up to her face, she lightly pressed her lips to his knuckles. He responded by threading and squeezing their hands and fingers together. The short eye-contact they exchanged in that second was enough to reassure her of any lingering doubts either might have.
They didn’t even close the door to his apartment before she was unbuttoning his shirt. Smiling, he resumed the course he was rudely interrupted from earlier in the parking lot. He picked her up, hands sliding below her hips. She laughed, wrapping her legs around him.
Once the pair took care of ‘business’, they were both lying in his big white bed. Her back was to his chest, and his finger curled around her run-through hair.
“Kai?” She murmured, her voice croaking with exhaustion.
“Hmm?”
Cinder hesitated, unsure of how he’ll take her suggestion. “What if-“ No, it was too soon. “Actually, never mind.”
“What if what?” He inquired.
She bit her upper lip, debating. She stared at the beige walls of his apartment until she made up her mind. Just say it, Cinder. “What if we went public.”
His fingers paused. “About the merger? Or about…?”
“Yes, about us.” She affirmed what he did not say aloud.
He sighed. “Cinder, darling-“
She sat up straight, twisting her body to face him. He followed. “-we talked about this, and, from what I remember, you were adamant about keeping this hidden for as long as possible.”
Cinder flipped her hair back with her scarred hand. “Yeah, but that was when I thought I could handle it. It's too much now, I hate pretending.”
His eyes tightened with sympathy as he caressed her fingers. “I do too. I don’t think, however, now is a good time to drop a bomb like this on the public. It’s too close to the deal announcement and people will think our relationship is fake-”
“To hell with public opinion! I can’t live the rest of my life being constantly judged by other people!” She confessed, pointing a finger at the imaginary crowd of gossipers.
He looked at her with bashful eyes. “You get used to it.” he said softly.
Cinder cocked her head, cooling down. While Cinder was only recently introduced to this life, Kai had spent his whole twenty-three years being scrutinized by society. While could barely hold her head high under all the pressure, people had even higher expectations of her lover. He’s never cracked, not once.
As an apology, she caressed the side of his cheek. He smiled. Her reputation was already tarnished due to all the scandals the Blackburn family had been involved with. So, in a sense, she didn’t need to be as particular as he did. Kai had to maintain an image that was generationally made perfect by his ancestors.
It didn’t take much for him to get good press; all he had to do was flash the pearly whites, and he’d be on the front page for weeks. Men genuinely do have it easier in this area, and, along with his looks and last name, he was beloved by all. Selene Blackburn, a completely new female member of one of the most hated families in the world, had to bend over backwards to get people to like her. She liked to think she was a generally likeable person, once you got to know her. Kai reassured her time and time again of that fact.
She remembered pointing out how easy life seemed for him—before they were dating—and he had whirled around with a twitching eyelid, negating her point. He argued that he spent his whole life creating a fake persona for the press that sometimes he forgot who he actually was sometimes. The reason it was ‘so easy’ to be likeable was because of years of hard work and proving he really was the man he said he was. Though he did contradict himself in those two sentences, she understood what he meant. He was the most honest man alive and a fraud at the same time. That ought to drive someone crazy. In her opinion, Kai was not the fraud he believed he was, but an empath who truly yearned for everyone’s trust. Whenever he lied, even for the sake of his own safety, he saw it as betrayal.
From then on, she held even more respect for him. Not many people can live under the presence of eyes constantly watching his every move and not fold. She also realized that, even though their struggles are different, it doesn’t make the other any less difficult.
Now, she was proud of him.
Before she was in the picture, Kai was handling it all alone and internalizing it. That’s why he lashed out on her whenever she picked on him. He was projecting his depression and anger caused by his loneliness out on her. In a sea of people who claim to adore him, he had no true friends to give him real affirmations. Granted, she was in the same boat. She had no one by her side.
Rumors, jealousy, and pent-up rage caused them to fight so often, but once the dust settled, they realized they weren’t actually enemies but people who resonated deeply with each other. After confiding all of their emotions to each other months ago, they helped each other heal from past scars and trauma. It was so nice to have a friend, and even better to have a lover.
Perhaps it was selfish of her to destroy a reputation that he and his ancestors spent their lives building. Then again, would he do that for her? Not in a ‘prove your love to me’ kind of way, but she was genuinely curious
“Cinder, my love, I swear that I want to scream from the tallest tower in the world that you’re the one I love, but I’m worried about the repercussions. What if they go after you? Some people are insane and will find out where you live, and hurt you- or they’ll make up fake rumors and destroy your career-?”
She stopped him by grabbing both of his cheeks. “You’re getting ahead of yourself, babe. If things do get that far, I promise we can handle it. Besides, I can’t ask you to do that to yourself. I know how important your image is to your family.”
He chuckled dryly. “Most of my family is dead.”
“You know what I mean.”
She softened her grip on his cheeks. A brief pause. “I agree with you though.” He murmured, staring at her. His fingers found the ends of her hair again and fiddled with them. “I don’t want to feel like I’m hiding you. The whole world deserves to know how marvelous you are. Our relationship shouldn’t be a secret either; our love is the best thing that has ever happened to me.”
He pressed a light kiss to her collarbone. It was soft and sweet but lingered for a moment. She could feel the sincerity behind his lips. Her fingers tensed around his face as her eyes slipped shut. “I want- I need you to understand that.” He murmured to her neck.
Kai lifted his head up, his chin resting on the top of her chest. The light of his eyes reminded her of the stars. She wondered how many galaxies he kept hidden there. She wanted to touch them, be enveloped by them, analyze them. His eyebrows squeezed together. “Do you understand that, Cinder.”
She took a shaky breath at the sound of her name. The way he said it at that moment, down to every syllable, made her feel so appreciated, so loved. She nodded slowly. Once her heart rate slowed a little, she nodded. “I do.”
His head slightly tilted to the side. “Good.” He whispered. “I love you.”
Her finger slowly rubbed a circle on his cheek. “I love you too.”
Kai smiled and laid her down on the bed, so they were both facing each other on their sides. “My Cinder.” He teased, bumping his nose on hers.
She giggled, rolling her eyes. “I forget how corny you are sometimes.”
“You are laughing, so you have to admit you like my corniness.”
“Yes, yes I do.” She paused before adding: “My Kai.”
They laughed until they fell asleep, feeling complete in each other's warmth.
THREE WEEKS LATER
Cinder jumped when she felt two familiar hands fall on her waist and a warm kiss on her neck. “Kai, someone could see us!” She exclaimed, twisting out of his grasp. They were alone at yet another snack bar minutes before they were supposed to be live. Though it was rare for a room like this one to be empty, her aunt did provide a convenient distraction everyone was flocking to. She was relieved for the moment alone with Kai.
He laughed. “So, what? I’ll just say I was teasing you or something if you’re worried.”
She frowned. “Really? No insults?” She turned away from him. “You’ve lost your edge, Prince.”
He groaned. “Can a man not want to roast his girlfriend at least once?”
“I’m afraid not. If you stop, I’ll just assume you lost your balls, or something.”
She started to walk away but he grabbed her hand and spun her back to him. She threw her hands around his neck while laughing. “What’s up, Kai?”
“I had an idea actually-”
“Mm- Taco Bell tonight? Glad we’re on the same wavelength.” She rested her head on his shoulder and swayed to imaginary music.
“Um, yes, I agree, but I was thinking about something completely unrelated.”
She stepped back to look at him, a smile still clad on her face. “What?”
“We go public, today.”
They stared at each other in silence. He looked anxious, but she wasn’t sure why. “Yes, that was the plan-”
“No, not our deal. About us.”
Her eyes widened. “I thought we agreed to wait.”
“Yes, but you convinced me-”
“No, you convinced me. I just complained the whole time!”
“-and, if we went public about both at the same time, it would make sense as to why our proposal is coming out. We’re merging because we’re in love, not because we’re greedy and want money!” She started to look away, but he held her face reassuringly. “That way people can see a more human side of us, especially you. Once you reveal this vulnerable side of yourself, people will start to view you differently. They can see the real you, a beautiful woman capable of beautiful things. They’ll see that you’re brilliant, and intelligent, and wonderful, and-”
Stars above, this man is full of shit. Though he was saying lots of nice things, she felt like he was trying to hide something from her. It honestly felt like she was being manipulated into believing in something, even though he’s said similar things before. She could see right through him, did he forget that? “Kai, what is your point.”
He faltered. “Wh-what do you mean.” Gotcha.
“What’s going on? You don’t have to lie to me.”
“I’m not lying to you. I mean things I say, you’re an amazing person Cinder-”
“Yes, but you also told me I can achieve good press by myself due to my ‘brilliance’. And I have. Knowledge of our relationship could either boost it or ruin it. We’ve talked about this several times, Kai. So, stop the ‘everything will be okay’ optimistic bullshit and tell me what is going on.”
His hands were still cupping her face with a fake smile. He wouldn’t do something like this unless he was trying to protect her. From what, she didn’t know, but she could handle herself pretty well. She stared him into submission.
He sighed, avoiding her eyes in defeat. Then, his tone grew serious. “Levana knows.”
Panic shot through her head and to every nerve in her body. Okay, maybe he was right. Ignorance is bliss. Yadda yadda. Her face immediately morphed into shock. “What?! No, that can’t be! We were so- I was so careful!”
Shit. Shit. Shit shit shit. She dragged her hands all over her face. “Oh stars, how does she know? Jeez, Kai, it’s probably my fault. I’m so sorry.”
She dropped down to a squat, holding her forehead in worry. Who knows what Levana will do with this information. She could use Kai as blackmail, or worse, actually hurt him. She could lie to the public as a way to push his career down the drain and elevate hers.
Breathe, Cinder, breathe; she told herself, think of a solution. Could she convince Levana that it was fake? That she was somehow using him and did not actually care about him at all. That he was unimportant?
Kai met her on the floor. He took the hands that were groping her face and enveloped them with kindness and love. “Hey, it’s okay, it’s not your fault at all.”
She stared at the smooth concrete. Maybe she could double down or run away. Or-
“Cinder?”
She looked at him immediately. His eyes were full of concern. “What exactly did she say to you? How do you know?”
He grimaced. “She cornered me and handed me pictures of us kissing in an alleyway.”
“An alleyway? When were we-?”
“I know, but they’re real. She said, ‘do with this information as you please’ and walked away with that evil smirk she always does. You know, the one that goes to the side.” He tried recreating it and failed. “Anyways, I’ve already thought of a solution.”
She sighed. “Kai, there’s no way out of this. We’re doomed no matter what.”
“Exactly, so we should just make it official to the press.”
“Seriously? That’s probably what she’s going to do!” She whined, pointing to the door.
“So what? We fight back. It’s Prince and Blackburn versus Blackburn. Truth against forgery. Good over evil.”
“Now’s not the time to be melodramatic.”
He chuckled. “I won’t let her win this one. Cinder, we will prevail.” He kissed the crown of her head. “So, do you agree? Should we announce our secret relationship?”
She thought about his proposal for a second time. If they could reveal the truth before Levana, they would have more control over their public perception. If it’s positive, that could be used as a leverage to fight against her. If it’s negative, it could all come crashing down. Paired with their merger announcement, making their relationship public would be an ‘all or nothing’ stake. The question is if she’s willing to take that risk.
She glanced at Kai. He looked so assured that everything would work out. She had to admit; his optimism was infectious. If everything fails and their careers go to shit, they’d have each other. Maybe that was all they needed.
Stars above, Kai’s corny logic was infecting her mind as well. That just goes to prove how much of an influence he had on her. She copied his small smile. He offered a hand to pull her up again. Fuck it. “Let’s do it, Kai.” She decided and took his hand.
He grinned. “Good. Do you want to tell them, or should I?”
“I assume you’re better prepared than me, so I’ll let you take this one, buddy.” She dusted herself off and patted his back.
“Okay, see you on the other side.”
He winked back and they went their separate ways. Cinder kept to herself until the press conference. She watched the break room slowly fill up again, while keeping note of the time. At 2:45, Levana entered the room. Uncomfortable sparks gathered in the palms of her hands. To keep herself from having a panic attack, she took in deep breaths and closed her fists together. Levana spotted her and immediately headed in her direction.
She took a few deep breaths and prepared herself. “Selene.” Levana greeted softly, yet Cinder could tell the woman was full of deception. “I was wondering where you were.”
Selene smiled, not falling for her concern. “The waiting room was getting stuffy. It’s much more open in here.”
“Oh, yes, I happen to agree.” She laughed. “I suppose I’ll get right to the point.”
“And that is?”
“I assume Mr. Prince had the chance to consult with you?” Levana asked, feigning innocence.
At Kai’s surname, Selene’s anger flared, and she chose to embody her mother’s vixen-like smile, something she absolutely despised doing. “Yes, he did. I’m happy you know about our relationship, we were worried about your opinion. Well, do you accept our friendship?”
Levana’s fake smile tilted slightly to the side. “I do not. I hope his bed is warm tonight, though. The weather is getting colder.” With that mysterious, yet corny, line, she walked away.
Cinder sighed, massaging her eyebrows. “Ms. Blackburn!” Called out a nasal voice. She recognized one of the managers waving at her. She smiled, gearing back into Selene mode. “We are almost ready to go. Do you need any touch ups on your makeup, last minute tech issues-?”
“No, I’m okay, I’m ready.”
He nodded. “All right, follow me miss.”
As she followed the short man, she made eye contact with Kai negotiating with a worker. He stopped talking for a second and gave her a sweet reassuring look. The annoying tiny sparks that were igniting her nerves calmed for a second. With his look, she knew that, at the very least, he had her back.
She ended up sitting right in the middle of the table, between Kai and her aunt. It would have been nice if she was at the end and had the option of making a run for it. The first few moments passed on slowly, per usual. ‘What are your plans for the future?’, ‘How do you go on achieving that?’. Cinder responded with scripted answers. The conference went back and forth like this before Kai cleared his throat.
“If I could have everybody’s attention for a moment?” Kai’s clear voice quieted down the crowd. Cinder tensed as she felt Levana’s curious gaze land on the pair. “I wanted to take this special oppurtunity to announce something personal before it gets all over the news.” He chuckled. The reporters leaned in, hungry for information.
“Usually, I like to keep this side of my life private, but since it’s related to the topic at hand, I figured I’d mention it now before rumors start to spread.” Another chuckle. One might perceive it as a nervous habit, but Cinder knew he was mentally preparing the onslaught of questions to come. “Selene and I are officially in a romantic relationship.”
There were gasps and shouts heard throughout the room. Cinder smiled, nodding in confirmation. A quick glance to her right allowed to her subtly analyze her aunt’s reaction. Levana appeared to be calm and collected, as always, yet there was a practiced look of shock aimed at the cameras. Acting, then? What is the wicked witch of the west planning, exactly?
Sighing internally, she looked up at Kai who was offering his hands. Smiling, she took it. She felt eerily calm rather than anxious. Maybe it was Kai’s presence, or maybe it was the fact that, no matter what intentions Levan may have, they will weather the storm together.
They’ll be okay.
Kai ignored the questions and continued on. “I said this would be relevant to our announcement. Negotiations regarding a potential merger between Blackburn Corps and Prince Institutions been taken very seriously recently. While there is not a definite answer quite yet, the probability of this deal truly happening is likely. We’ll let you all know about further details as soon as possible. For now, we’ll not be taking and further questions. Thank you for your time.”
Kai, turned to Cinder and offered her a hand. She accepted. Noticing her slight tremors, he squeezed lightly and helped her up.
The lights and yelling were getting harder to tune out. “Selene! Selene! Selene!” They seemed to only chant her name. She focused on the heat of his hand guiding her out of the room.
Once finding privacy, Cinder hunched over and allowed her five senses to re-adjust.
“Hey, how are you feeling?” Kai asked, brushing her elbows with concern.
“I’m fine, just a little dizzy.” She blinked, letting his face come into focus. “That was a lot.”
His lips pinched to the side. “Yeah. I was also getting flustered. I couldn’t answer any questions.”
“I didn’t see Levana’s reaction to the merger.”
“Neither did I. I’m pretty sure she’s unhappy about it though.”
“You think?” Cinder responded, giggling. Kai joined in. He linked their hands together and touched her forehead with his.
“Well, we did it.” He smiled. “Now it’s time for the hard part.”
She rolled her eyes. “I was going to say something really corny.”
“Say it.”
She looked down, bashful. “At least we got each other.”
He laughed. “I really am rubbing off on you, am I?”
“Yes, yes you are.” He kissed her in response.
“Good.”
Yeah, they’ll be okay.