“Alias,” Kane spoke softly behind me.
I jumped, not realizing he had been standing in the kitchen watching me.
“Shit, Kane, you definitely could have said something sooner!” I almost yelled at him.
“You seemed to be thinking about something important, I didn’t want to interrupt,” he smirked cheekily.
I walked over to the kitchen and Kane offered me a glass of wine- to which I graciously accepted. The wonderful aroma of the food floated into my nose reminding me I hadn’t eaten a single thing all day. My stomach rumbled so loudly, it echoed off the walls of the enormous penthouse. I blushed at the loudness, causing Kane to chuckle at me.
“It will be ready soon, Alias,” he smiled, “Take a seat.”
I hopped up on the counter of the island in the kitchen and started to watch him cook.
“I meant on the sofa, but I suppose that’s alright,” he raised an eyebrow at me.
Of course, sitting on the counters was probably against his rules. Quite frankly, I didn’t care. My mind would flood with thoughts if I sat on the sofa alone.
“I didn’t know you could cook,” I questioned, ignoring his previous statement.
“I dabble,” he tried to hide his smugness with a smile.
“Who taught you?” I tried small talking to avoid acknowledging the real elephant in the room.
“My mother,” his composure stiffened. Yikes, I’ll avoid asking about family for sure. I get it though, I don’t think anyone truly had a perfect family- I definitely don’t.
Kane turned around with a wooden spoon in hand. He blew on it, cooling the steaming food he just scooped from the pan where it was cooking. He put the spoon to my face, “Taste,” he almost demanded. Instinctively, I obliged. The roast chicken melted in my mouth while flavors of the herbs danced on my tastebuds. I couldn’t hold back a moan, food was a weakness of mine.
“Mmm, Kane, that’s fucking delicious!”
He chuckled lightly, turning back to finish up with whatever he was doing. He plated the food as if he were a professional chef and carefully scooped up the plates in each hand. He motioned his head for me to follow him to the dining area. I jumped off the counter, scurrying behind him, eager to devour the amazing food he just cooked for us.
We small talked over dinner, discussing work, clients, the weather, and any other boring shit to prevent us from actually talking. All too quickly, our plates were empty and there was nothing more to talk about other than what I was really here for. Kane took the plates to the sink, and I went over to the living room, taking my seat in the corner of the sofa. He sat on the other end, turning towards me. He had a panicked look on his face, his adam’s apple bobbed up and down as he swallowed hard before beginning.
“So, Alias,” he started, “About last night.”
The word vomit began. “Kane, I was a bit drunk and I was overly excited and I’ve never experienced anything like that before and I just wanted to-”
“Alias,” he said softly.
“Yes?” I asked, knowing he meant for me to shut up.
“You don’t have to explain yourself, we can just talk, you know?” He explained genuinely. I felt myself relax at his words, considering maybe I could just open up and talk through everything with him.
“Okay, I don’t know how to talk about things like this,” I was honest about my ignorance. No one had ever asked me to talk through my feelings and desires, especially in a sexual sense.
“That’s okay, Alias. Tell me, what did you think of last night?” He asked thoughtfully. I didn’t expect Kane to be so cautious and considerate, this was definitely a different side of him than I’ve ever seen.
“I thought it was… interesting, I suppose,” I honestly didn’t know how to describe how I felt.
“Interesting as in you enjoyed watching?” He raised an eyebrow.
“Yes and no,” I debated his words.
“Why no?” He asked.
“I enjoyed watching, but I think I would enjoy it more if it were me,” I hesitated as I spoke, unsure of the right words.
“You would enjoy being apart of the demonstration?”
“No, well, not anytime soon. I would enjoy it privately maybe,” I blushed considering what it might feel like to be on display for anyone to see.
“Okay, and you asked me to teach you,” he trailed off, waiting for me to respond. I felt my throat close up and all words I know drain from my memory. I did ask him, but did I really want him to teach me? I have to be sure before agreeing to anything.
“Kane, why did you take me there?” I asked bluntly. If I was going to get the answers I wanted, I would have to be more direct.
“I wanted to show you why I don’t allow anyone to refer to me as Sir,” he responded carefully.
“And you show all of your employees?” I asked, knowing the answer. Of course he didn’t, so why me?
“No, I definitely don’t,” he almost laughed at the thought, “Most don’t continue to call me Sir after I tell them not to the first time.”
I considered his words, “Yeah, okay. But why not just tell me why?”
“Would you have believed me? Rather, would it have made you stop if I just told you?” He questioned intently.
“Probably not, fair point,” I agreed. “Why not just fire me then?” Seems as if that would have been easier than showing me his second life outside of the office.
“You do damn good work, Alias. There’s not another marketing company with an approach like yours,” he explained. I was a bit sadden by his words, though I’m not sure what I wanted him to say.
“I also, for some unknown reason, have taken a liking to you,” he smirked, “No one has come along and challenged my rules or disrupted my office the way you have before. Funny enough, I typically despise that, but I guess there’s just something about you, Alias. I’d like to know you outside of work, but I didn’t take you to the club to seduce you or suggest anything to you at all. I hope you didn’t take it that way, though I see why you would.” He seemed genuine in every single word. I felt a little more at ease realizing he felt exactly how I felt. Someone I would normally despise, yet I still enjoy being around.
“It did sort of seem as if you brought me to seduce me, but I guess I wouldn’t have slept on the sofa if that were the case,” I laughed at the realization. He truly did just want to show me that side of him, and he didn’t take advantage of me when I was intoxicated. He laughed with me a bit before continuing.
“Alias, I would like to get to know you, but I don’t think we should just jump into anything before you’re even sure of what you want. I hope that’s alright,” he seemed nervous as he spoke.
I exhaled a sigh of relief I didn’t realize I was holding in, “Yes, yes! You read my mind,” I grinned realizing I had no more reason to be anxious.
“So, you’d like to get to know me too?” He asked with a smirk.
“I would love to get to know the real Kane Rhodes,” I beamed at him from the other side of the sofa. He smiled back at me, seemingly as relieved as I was.
“Another glass of wine?” He nodded to my empty glass. A mischievous idea came to mind.
“Another for both of us, let’s play a game!”
“A game?” He hesitated.
“Yeah, let’s play Truths, it’s like Truth or Dare without the dares,” I explained. This game was always the best to learn more about people without having to have awkward conversations. He seemed to want to decline at first, but then poured two very full glasses of wine and made his way back to the sofa. He handed me the glass and I began to explain the rules.