Chapter 19: Power Plays and Quiet Promises
Reese's POV: Getting to Work
The following week, life resumed its usual pace, but there was an energy to everything now—one that hadn't been there before. I'd barely had time to soak in the gravity of graduation when I was thrust into the next chapter of my life: running my company and managing a whole new level of responsibility.
It was a little surreal—like I'd spent so much time focused on my personal drama that the business side of things had been placed on the back burner. Now that I was CEO of a company that had grown far beyond what I'd initially anticipated, there was no room for distractions. But, surprisingly, Raiden had become my anchor in all of it.
He'd been at my side every day for the last week, helping me navigate contracts, negotiate partnerships, and solidify business deals. I could have done it alone—probably—but with Raiden around, everything felt more manageable, and less overwhelming.
"Are you sure you're not just doing this because I'm your girlfriend?" I teased him one morning, leaning back in my office chair and staring at the stack of papers in front of me. "I mean, I could just as easily handle this without your overbearing presence."
Raiden was lounging casually on the edge of my desk, one leg crossed over the other, looking like he belonged in a magazine shoot rather than in a tense business meeting. "I help you because I'm good at this stuff. And because I like the idea of our companies working together."
I raised an eyebrow. "So, you're saying this is all business?"
He smirked. "Mostly. But it's also kind of fun to see you work. You've got this fire in you, Reese. It's kind of... contagious."
I couldn't help but smile at that, feeling the familiar warmth spread in my chest. He'd seen me in so many different situations—angry, frustrated, stressed—but he also knew how to make me feel capable, even when things got overwhelming. He wasn't just helping me with the business side of things; he was helping me be better, be more confident.
"Fine," I said, turning my attention to the paperwork in front of me. "But don't expect me to get all sappy about it."
"I'm fine with that," Raiden replied with a wink. "Sappy's not really my style either."
Later That Day: Signing the Contract
The contract with Raiden's company had been months in the making—endless rounds of meetings, emails, and back-and-forths with legal teams. But today was the day it was finally going to be signed. We'd reached an agreement, and everything was in place.
Raiden and I walked into the conference room together, the air filled with anticipation. His hand brushed against mine as we sat down at the long table, the tension almost palpable. I could feel the weight of the moment—the significance of this contract wasn't just about business; it was about us, working together, making something real, building a future beyond what either of us could have imagined alone.
Raiden sat beside me, giving me a reassuring glance. His calm demeanor was the perfect counter to the whirlwind of excitement in my chest.
The other executives, the partners from both sides, were already seated, the final draft of the contract in front of them. I glanced over at Raiden before I picked up the pen.
"Ready?" I asked, the words sounding more like a promise than a question.
Raiden nodded, his eyes fixed on me, full of quiet confidence. "I've got your back, Reese. Always."
With that, we both signed our names. The moment the ink dried, the weight of the deal settled between us, but it was a weight that felt like opportunity rather than pressure.
"Done," I said, exhaling, feeling a mix of relief and exhilaration.
Raiden leaned back in his chair, a satisfied smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "I told you we'd do it."
I turned to him, surprised at the pride in his voice. "You knew we'd pull it off?"
"Of course." He said it with such conviction that I almost believed him. "You and me together? We're unstoppable."
His words hit me harder than I expected, and I couldn't stop the smile that spread across my face.
In that moment, it wasn't just about the contract or the deal we'd signed—it was about how much we'd grown together. How much I was learning to trust not just him, but myself too.
As the meeting came to an end and the others filed out, Raiden and I shared a quiet look, a moment of acknowledgment for everything we'd accomplished. But in my heart, I knew this was just the beginning.
Reese's POV: The Early Days
After the contract was signed, Raiden and I found ourselves caught in the whirlwind of running two businesses simultaneously, but even in the chaos, there was a certain calmness that had settled between us. Gone were the days of uncertainty, of wondering if what we had was real. We had crossed a line—professionally, emotionally—and there was no turning back.
At first, the transition to having him in my office every day felt a little strange. There was something almost too... comfortable about it. Too intimate. But it wasn't just about us being together; it was about how we worked together. We were a team now—partners in every sense of the word. The more I saw him in action, the more I realized that Raiden's laid-back, almost lazy confidence wasn't just for show. The man knew how to run a business. He knew how to build, how to convince, and—above all—how to make even the most high-stress situations seem manageable.
But there were moments—tiny, fleeting ones—that would remind me we were more than just colleagues.
The Elevator Moment:
One Friday afternoon, I was making my way down to the parking garage to wrap up a few loose ends at home. Raiden was on his way out as well. As we stepped into the elevator, the moment was normal—until the doors closed.
"Big plans tonight?" I asked, casually leaning against the wall as the elevator hummed downward.
Raiden turned to look at me, a glint of something unreadable in his eyes. "Actually, I was thinking of getting takeout and watching some Netflix. Nothing too extravagant."
"Sounds boring," I teased.
He smirked. "You'd be surprised. You don't always need fancy plans to have a good time."
The elevator stopped on another floor, and I watched as a few people got on. They greeted us politely, but there was an awkward tension when they noticed Raiden and I standing close together. I noticed it too—how we were standing too close, the faint brush of his arm against mine.
I shifted uncomfortably, suddenly hyper-aware of our proximity. Raiden, ever the tease, caught my eye, his lips curling into a knowing smile. He didn't move away, though. He was close enough that I could feel the heat from his body.
Just as the elevator reached the ground floor, Raiden leaned in, his lips brushing against my ear. "Dinner's on me, by the way. I'll even let you pick the movie."
I could barely hide the smile that spread across my face, and as I stepped out of the elevator, I turned to look at him one last time. The moment felt almost too real, too... domestic.
The Office Dynamic:
As we settled into our routine, our professional roles became more defined, but it wasn't always smooth sailing. It was one thing to have him working on business proposals, negotiations, and strategic plans with me. But it was another thing entirely to have him beside me, making decisions that affected the company we were both leading.
We had our fair share of disagreements—no doubt about that. Sometimes, we butted heads over direction, over minor details that, to outsiders, might seem trivial. But to us? They were everything.
One afternoon, we were sitting in a conference room, reviewing our latest marketing campaign. Raiden was tapping his pen against the table, looking bored. I was scribbling down notes, already mentally piecing together how we could adjust the strategy.
"This is all wrong," Raiden said, pushing the paper aside.
I stared at him, incredulous. "What do you mean it's wrong? We've spent weeks developing this."
He leaned back in his chair, exhaling sharply. "It's too safe. You're playing it too safe. We need something bold. Something that'll grab attention, not just look pretty."
I crossed my arms. "Bold? You think I don't know that? But there's a fine line between bold and reckless. We need to stay practical."
Raiden smirked, clearly enjoying the back-and-forth. "Practical doesn't win awards, Reese. Remember that."
I felt a flicker of frustration flare up. "Not everything has to be an award-winning campaign, Raiden. I'm not looking to make a splash for the sake of making a splash."
He raised an eyebrow, his voice dropping to something lower, almost like a challenge. "And what if making a splash is exactly what we need?"
I met his gaze, a spark of competition in my eyes. "Then we'll just have to agree to disagree."
We spent the next hour hashing it out, both of us passionately defending our points, but somewhere in the middle of it, something shifted. I could see that his boldness wasn't about being reckless; it was about pushing boundaries. And maybe, just maybe, I could learn a thing or two about stepping outside my comfort zone.
After Hours:
It wasn't all heated discussions and professional debates. In fact, some of my favorite moments with Raiden happened after office hours.
Like the night we stayed late at the office, finishing up paperwork. The lights were dim, and the office was nearly empty, the faint hum of the air conditioning the only sound.
Raiden was leaning against the desk, watching me work as I typed away at my computer. "You're really going to stay here all night, huh?"
I didn't look up. "I have to finish these financial reports by tomorrow morning."
"You're insane," he laughed, pushing himself off the desk. "I swear, you never stop."
I gave him a pointed look, though a smile tugged at my lips. "I don't know how you could function without all that confidence. I'll stick to my work."
"Confidence?" he asked, grinning. "Is that what you call it? I thought I was just charming."
"Charming," I muttered, rolling my eyes. "Sure."
He walked over and sat beside me on the desk, his knee brushing against mine. It was such a simple gesture, but it felt almost too intimate in the quiet of the office. I glanced up at him, meeting his eyes.
"Still, I think you need to take a break, Reese," he said, voice softer than usual. "You can't run the company if you burn out."
"Thanks, mom," I said, my tone dry.
But when Raiden grinned, that devil-may-care smile of his, it didn't feel like a joke. It felt like he truly cared. And I realized, maybe I didn't mind him taking care of me, even in the most subtle ways.
As he walked me to my car that night, the city lights casting a soft glow around us, I couldn't help but feel a rush of contentment. The office romance was no longer just a professional relationship with a few flirtations here and there. It was real. And it was ours.
The future was uncertain, but with Raiden by my side, I knew I could handle anything that came my way.
"In business, I'd learned to be sharp. With him, I was learning to be soft. Somehow, I was better at both because of it."