Kashi's office smelled faintly of coffee, leather and the expensive floral arrangement someone had replaced that morning without asking her.
Late-afternoon sunlight poured through the windows, turning the city beyond them gold.
Kashi sat behind her desk, one heel abandoned beneath it, several documents spread before her.
Across from her, Zarri occupied one of the armchairs with her legs crossed, sunglasses pushed into her hair and a cup of coffee balanced against one knee.
Ivar had rejected the chairs entirely.
The Crown Prince stood by the windows, eating strawberries from a bowl he had apparently stolen from Kashi's private lounge.
Kashi looked at him. "Ivar."
He bit into another strawberry. "Mm?"
"Are you listening?"
"Perfectly."
Zarri glanced at him. Kashi waited.
Ivar swallowed. "Vross is an old bastard."
Zarri snorted into her coffee.
"That," Ivar continued, selecting another strawberry, "was the central argument."
"The central argument," Kashi said slowly, "is that Senator Vross has spent years using his political influence to protect specific channels used by X Holdings. He's now interfering with those channels because he wants more money."
"Yes." Ivar pointed the strawberry at her. "Old bastard."
Kashi rubbed her temple.
Why did every man in her life insist on being irritating?
Zarri leaned forward. "The immediate supply problem is manageable. I can move enough through our existing distribution network to keep things stable."
"For how long?"
"A few months comfortably. Longer if I restructure certain routes."
"And customs?"
Zarri's mouth curved. "Sweetheart, customs has been staring at my products for years."
Ivar turned from the window. "That sounded incredibly criminal."
Zarri looked offended. "Your Highness, I am a respectable businesswoman."
Kashi closed her eyes.
Idiots. Rich idiots. Unfortunately, useful rich idiots. She pulled one of the documents towards her. "Zarri can replace the commercial route. That still leaves Vross's institutional network."
Ivar finally abandoned the strawberries and approached the desk. Something in his manner shifted. The humour didn't disappear entirely, it simply receded enough for the man beneath the title to show.
"Which institutions?"
Kashi slid the document towards him. "Ports. Customs. Several regulatory bodies. Border access in three countries that we know of. Xavier is still determining how many relationships actually belong to Vross and how many he simply takes credit for."
Ivar skimmed the page. "And you want me to…?"
"Nothing illegal."
Zarri coughed. Kashi glanced at her. Zarri became deeply interested in her coffee.
Kashi returned her attention to Ivar. "I need access. Not favours. Not orders. Access. The people Vross can't intimidate." Ivar's gaze returned to the page.
"If his influence only works because everyone beneath him believes he controls the door," Kashi continued, "I want to speak to whoever owns the building."
That earned her a slow look from Ivar as he lowered the document. "And if the people who own the building happen to be ministers?"
Kashi smiled. "I know a prince."
"Crown Prince," Ivar corrected haughtily. Zarri laughed.
Ivar placed a hand over his chest. "Do you have any idea how offensive it is to be used for my political connections?"
Kashi stared at him. "You literally exist because of political connections."
His mouth dropped open. "I am a person."
"You're a constitutional networking event."
"Kashi!"
She reached for her coffee.
Ivar turned to Zarri. "Are you hearing how she speaks to royalty?"
Zarri lifted her cup. "I once watched her throw a shoe at you."
"That was different."
"It was a Louboutin."
"It hurt." Ivar rubbed the back of his neck as though years old trauma had suddenly returned. "I was fourteen!"
"You put a frog in my bath." Kashi's expression hardened at the memory. "It touched my leg."
"It was more frightened than you were."
Zarri nearly lost her coffee.
Ivar waved them both off, then glanced back at the document. His expression settled. "So, hypothetically, if I arrange introductions with the relevant ministries and border authorities—"
Kashi's attention sharpened.
"—and, hypothetically, certain officials become aware that the Crown has taken a personal interest in maintaining smooth, legitimate commercial movement through those regions…"
Zarri slowly lowered her cup. Kashi leaned back and Ivar smiled.
Not an idiot after all. Occasionally.
"You wouldn't need to ask them for anything," Kashi said.
"Exactly. I don't interfere with another government's regulatory processes." Ivar reclaimed a strawberry. "That would be terribly inappropriate."
Zarri stared at him. "While making sure they know you're watching."
Ivar bit into the strawberry. "I have beautiful eyes."
Kashi reached for her pen with murderous intent when a knock saved him.
Zach entered. "Ma'am. You have a visitor."
Kashi's first thought arrived immediately.
Chaos? At this hour? Her brows drew together. Did that man not work?
Seriously, how many times did she have to tell him that appearing whenever he felt like—
"Mrs Grey."
The thought died and silence settled over the office.
Kashi looked at Zach. Zarri's coffee stopped halfway to her mouth. Their eyes met.
Neither woman spoke.
Ivar looked between them.
The temperature in the room appeared to have dropped several degrees, and he had absolutely no idea why. "Who the fuck is that?"
Zach visibly flinched. "Y-Your Highness, Mrs Grey is—"
"Bring her in," Kashi said.
Zach stopped. "Yes, ma'am."
He left.
Ivar looked at Kashi. "That did not answer my question."
Zarri set down her coffee. "Cinderella."
Ivar stared at her. "What?"
"You know. Poor girl. Rich man. True love. Glass slipper. Happily ever after."
His eyes narrowed thoughtfully. "I feel as though several chapters are missing."
"They are," Kashi said.
The door opened and Zach entered first. "Mrs Grey."
Natalie stepped into the office behind him.
The room stilled.
She wore a pale cream dress beneath a fitted coat, understated jewellery at her throat and ears. Her hair fell neatly over her shoulders, every detail carefully composed.
Zarri's expression hardened on sight.
Natalie saw it, she simply didn't care. Her attention went directly to Kashi.
Kashi settled further into her chair. "Mrs Grey." Her voice was perfectly cordial. "To what do I owe the honour?"
Natalie drew breath. "Miss Saints, I—"
Kashi raised one finger. "Wait." Natalie stopped. Kashi studied her. "Don't tell me." She leaned forward slightly. "Are you here for a job?"
Natalie went completely still. "I beg your pardon?"
Kashi clicked her tongue. "Oh, dear. You should have said so downstairs. Hiring is handled by Human Resources." She gestured towards Zach. "He can take you. If you hurry, someone might still be available."
Natalie's composure suffered a visible fracture.
Kashi smiled pleasantly. "Having Mrs Grey working for Saints would be quite something, wouldn't it?" She tilted her head. "Is Grey Enterprises facing difficulties?"
A strangled sound escaped Zarri. She disguised it badly as a cough.
"That is not why I'm here." The words burst out before Natalie could smooth them over.
Zach blinked. Zarri looked up. Even Ivar appeared mildly interested now.
Kashi regarded Natalie for another moment. "Ah." She waved one hand. "Everyone out."
Zarri rose reluctantly.
Her stare remained fixed on Natalie with enough hostility to blister paint as she collected her handbag and muttered something beneath her breath.
Zach followed. Ivar pushed away from the desk. He had said almost nothing since Natalie entered.
Natalie only became aware of that when he approached the door. Everyone else had looked at her. Zarri with open hostility. Zach with uncomfortable curiosity and Kashi with that maddening amusement.
But him? Nothing. He hadn't studied her. Hadn't reacted to her name.
Hadn't offered even the polite curiosity strangers usually did.
As Ivar passed her, something shifted.
Natalie's breath caught, for one strange second, the office seemed smaller. The air heavier. Something instinctive tightened beneath her ribs.
Her head turned.
The man was already walking through the doorway, one hand tucked casually into his pocket. He never looked back as the doors closed behind him.
Natalie stared after him.
What— What was that?
"Mrs Grey." Kashi's voice cut cleanly through the thought.
Natalie turned.
Kashi sat behind her desk, one arm resting against the chair. The humour had vanished.
She gestured towards the seat opposite her. "Sit. Unless you intend to stand through this, I'd prefer the second option, though."
Natalie hesitated, then crossed the room. Her heels clicked softly against the polished floor.
Kashi waited until she sat. Outside the windows, the city continued moving far below them. Inside, the office had become very quiet.
Kashi folded her hands. "I haven't got all day, Mrs Grey." Her gaze settled on Natalie. "Be quick."