Chapter 8_ Cosmic Douche

On a typical Monday morning, Arya went through her usual routine of getting ready for work before making her way to Maranello’s Enterprise. As she entered the office designated for her and Kane, she couldn't help but notice that it was empty and there was no sign of Kane. Internally, she scoffed, ‘I knew he wasn't serious about me. He probably requested to be assigned to this office just to hit on me, and now it's all over.’ Without a second thought, Arya headed to her desk and placed her bag on it, only to spot a note waiting for her.

‘Wait... what's this? I've never received a personal note since I started working here. Is this related to work?’ Arya silently mused as she picked up the note and read its contents. "I always get what I want. You will be mine soon, Baby, and begging me to have you. K."

‘What the hell does this mean? Does he actually think being good-looking makes up for being such an ass?’ fumed Arya inwardly as she crumpled up the note and tossed it into the trash. ‘The kiss was pretty good, but he won't be getting anything more from me!’ She continued to ruminate on the situation as she turned on her computer to focus on work. Just then, Kane walked into the office with a smug smile and remarked, "Did you get my note, Sunshine?"

‘Hello to you too, asshole,’ Arya replied in her head, deciding to give Kane the silent treatment. However, Kane carried on with his speech, seemingly unfazed by Arya's behavior.

"I've decided to pursue you, but why don't we skip the formalities and get right to the finish line?" Kane continued, and Arya, stationed behind her monitor and pretending that Kane was not in the office with her, felt a surge of anger brewing in her chest at his words.

‘God, if only I could wipe that smirk off his stupid face, I would,’ she thought to herself, her frustration reaching a boiling point. With a silent sigh, she grabbed the headphones she had brought and drowned out her anger with music, realizing that getting angry with Kane was a fruitless endeavor that only drained her energy.

As Kane made his way to his desk, Arya couldn't help but steal a glance at him, surprised to see him completely focused on his work. She couldn't deny how attractive he looked with that serious expression on his face, but quickly pushed those thoughts aside and turned back to her own computer.

The office was quiet, save for the sound of keyboards clicking and papers rustling. Just as Arya was relieved that her expectations of Kane being responsible and serious were being met, a paper airplane flew across the room and landed on her desk, hitting her on the nose.

Giving Kane a stern glare, she crumpled the paper in her hand and tossed it into the trash before snapping at him, "This is not a kindergarten! This is a place of work, MY work! You may not care since your name is on the building, but I have things to do and you are in my way. Know your limits, Mr. Maranello!" Despite her outburst, Kane simply smiled at her and returned to his computer.

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That evening, after work, Arya met up with Chloe at a cafe instead of their usual bar.

"Remind me again...why did I let you convince me to come here?" Chloe asked as they settled into their seats.

"Because it's Monday and we agreed to save our drinking nights for the weekend," Arya replied with a sweet smile.

"I am well aware… However, I cannot deny the allure of alcohol over coffee," Chloe remarked with a hint of longing.

"Ah, but the consequences it brings are not as appealing. Do you really want to age prematurely and gain weight?" Arya asked, raising a skeptical eyebrow at Chloe.

"Can we not worry about that for future Chloe and just have some fun?" Chloe countered, giving Arya a lighthearted smile.

"What's bothering you?" Chloe inquired, concerned by Arya's evident fatigue. "Is it the king, Kane?" she prodded.

"Yes, the king of causing me stress. He may be attractive, but his behavior is that of a bratty teenager. Always teasing and playing mindless pranks," Arya grumbled, her annoyance palpable.

"Oh, he's definitely into you. I suggest not confronting him head-on. After all, he may not be best pals with the CEO but he's still the boss's son," Chloe advised, nodding sagely.

"Okay, but what should I do instead?" Arya implored, desperate for a solution.

"Just ignore him. He's a spoiled child with a new toy. If you don't give him the satisfaction he craves, he'll move on to something else," Chloe advised, trying to reassure Arya.

"But I'm tired of his pranks, Chloe. And it's my work he's messing with. I might actually lose my mind because of him," Arya complained, her expression turning sour.

"I understand, but don't blow it out of proportion. Sure, he's a prankster, but his stunts seem harmless enough," Chloe remarked, trying to calm Arya's irritation.

"Then what? Should I just let him continue with his pranks?" Arya questioned, still not satisfied with Chloe's suggestion.

"No, you should prank him back! Have some fun for a change. And don't worry, just be subtle and don't get caught. It might even be enjoyable for you," Chloe proposed.

"Why can't we just handle this like adults?" Arya groaned, exasperated.

"Who knows? Clearly, the guy has some issues. I think he has a crush on you but doesn't know how to express it properly," Chloe mused.

"I highly doubt that. He's just a rude jerk," Arya retorted, taking a sip of her coffee in frustration.

"Even jerks can develop feelings for others," Chloe said with a sly wink.

Perhaps... But I have no fondness for jerks, so... unfortunate for him." Arya stated nonchalantly as Chloe narrowed her gaze at her.

"Are you truly certain you have no inclination towards jerks? Because I distinctly recall a few names from our past that—" Chloe's words trailed off as Arya scowled at her.

"Don't—" Arya interrupted, "It's unjust for my best friend to use my past against me!"

"Alright, relax. I am not putting you on trial, but it's plausible that some jerks possess hidden potential. This particular jerk could turn out to be your dream man, the one you've been fantasizing about." Chloe remarked playfully.

"Ugh... All I want is a genuine man. Is that too much to ask?" Arya groaned, causing both her and Chloe to erupt into laughter.

"Seriously, though. If he acts like such a cosmic douche... he's definitely interested in you." Chloe pointed out.

"Who knows? He leaves me notes on my desk at work, like back in school." Arya mentioned, prompting a whistle from Chloe.

"Oh, isn't that adorable?" Chloe exclaimed.

"It would be more endearing if the notes weren't constant reminders that he's ready and willing to engage in sexual intercourse with me at any moment." Chloe laughed along with Arya's response, and they spent the rest of their time scheming against Kane and his vexatious demeanor.