The cold CEO and her Musician

Chapter 2

The next morning Kaya wakes up earlier than usual and gets ready then leaves for a run. It’s a cold crisp morning with dew still hanging on the leaves. As she runs the sad like instrumental tune coming through her headphones drags her mind to thoughts of Lucas and a wave of guilt hits her heart. She comes to the pier that is close to the girl’s hotel. When she gets to the end of the pier, she stops to catch her breath and watch as the sun is about to come up over the horizon. Then thoughts of Lucas start to flood her mind again. She thinks of how she and Lucas would sit up and talk till the sun came up and then snuggle up together under a blanket on her rooftop patio in her high-rise building. He would always send her stupidly funny dad jokes that were so bad that she couldn’t help but laugh in response to his messages. A small soft smile appears on her face as she remembers how happy she was back then when she once again had faith in the world around her. She lets out a sigh and then her mind wanders to Gavin and the kiss that she shared with him the night before. She feels that pit of guilt again in her stomach over the kiss and whispers to herself, “Kai it’s been four years since Lucas, it’s time to move on.”  She shakes her head again and hears footsteps behind her which grab her attention and she turns to see a familiar face appear next to her with coffee in her hands. Kaya smirks and takes one of the hot cups, “I didn’t think that anyone noticed that I left.”

“Well, it’s hard to get past me you know. I thought you could use a coffee,” says Casey as she takes a drink of her coffee, “black just how you like it.” The girls lean on the railing and watch as the sun comes up over the water in silence for a few moments. Casey takes another drink before continuing, “what are you stressing over? The kiss, the guy, or the memories?” Kaya smirks again and looks down into the water, “you know me too well Case, I guess all of it but mostly the memories. Two years is a lot to let go of.” Casey sighs, “yeah I get it, but it’s been four years Kai. I think that it’s time to let him go. You know that Luc would never want you to live your life alone and living with the memory of a dead man.” Kaya nods slowly as she looks back out at the vast ocean, “True but I don’t know what this guy’s deal is. I can usually tell right off the bat who someone is and what they want from me.” Casey shakes her head and smirks, “you have known the poor guy for less than 24 hours and you expect to know everything. You know I have always been in awe of that side of you but to be honest you really are a suspicious ass! I’ll be shocked if he ever talks to you again.” Kaya smirks and nudges Casey, “well I guess only time will tell if I can talk to him again. I won’t let anyone hurt my family again like Lucas did but that part sucks too. I want to hate him, but I just feel bad that things worked out the way they did and guilty for being able to remember the good times that we had and not notice what was happening to him.” Casey sighs again, “that wasn’t your fault and Luc was a grown man kai you weren’t responsible for him and his actions. I’m not saying that he was a bad guy, but he made some really f****d up mistakes and nothing will ever change history. You can’t go back you can only live for the now and build towards the future.” Kaya nods, “You got me there that’s for sure. I guess it’s just been a long time since I even wanted to carry a conversation with anyone other than our people.” Casey nods, “yeah I get it. Well should we get back you Berny is going to throw a fit if he doesn’t find us.” 

Kaya smirks and turns with Casey to head back to the hotel. Once they get there the sun has come up and they are headed back up to the penthouse. They walk into Bernard yelling at Mallory for picking at the food he is laying out for them. The girls sit down to eat and then Kaya gets a phone call that Bernard hands to her on her business line. She takes the phone, “Hello. Yes of course. What did you find about the project?” She listens to the person on the other side for a while, “what about the attempts did you find anything on that?” She goes silent again then, “thank you agent Dylan. Please stay in touch and my staff will do the same if anything changes.” She hangs up the phone and hands the phone back to Bernard, “make sure that we share anything that they need and keep a close eye on them.” Bernard nods, “Of course miss. Is there anything that they will be sending over?” Kaya nods, “yes the files that they have on the death threats that the family got and the attempts. Amp up the security teams for the family and the girls. Only people in our personal security force that we can trust.” Bernard nods and then Kaya continues, “We are going to be heading to the office from here so we should be getting ready soon. Sit down and have some food Berny.” Bernard resists the urge to roll his eyes and sits down. They all eat and then get ready to leave. Once in the car Kaya starts to look over files that she needs for work as they head into downtown. Once there she hands her suitcase to Bernard and continues going through her phone. 

She stops in front of her private elevator and checks her suit in the reflection. The form fitting white Valentino suit with her lace bralette, and black McQueen heels look great and compliment her curled hair that is pulled back in a messy bun and simple make up. The doors open and she gets in followed by Bernard. Bernard hits the button and his personal code for the CEO and CFO floor at the top and goes back to his phone as well as the doors close. Once up on her floor they head straight to her office past her assistant Katie. Katie gets up and walks into Kaya’s office after them, “Good morning Ms. Grayson. I have your messages, emails, and weekly and monthly schedule already in your inbox.” As Kaya sits down behind her desk, she looks up at her assistant who has now worked for her for 5 years. She catches sight of her tummy and sees that she is finally showing which means that she will be on leave for a while starting the following month so that she is not so stressed out. Kaya turns on her computer and puts in her password and fingerprint, “that sounds good thank you Katie. Oh, and make sure that you put in the paperwork with HR that I gave you so that you can get paid for your leave. I hope to see you back with us soon?” Katie nods, “Thank you Ms. Grayson it really has helped us relax knowing that I am still going to be making my salary when I’m home with the baby and I still want to start working when the baby is 2 months so that I can help Bernard out like I said before.” Bernard clears his throat from the corner that he is now in making a cup of coffee for Kaya and himself, “that is not necessary Ms. Katie. I thank you for your offer but the more relaxed you are during your time off the sooner you can come back to work. The better. I am sure that your husband is very happy to hear that while he is away on deployment that you will be well taken care of.” Katie smiles, “yeah he was hoping that I would be able to stay home for a while, but I have still made the arrangements to come back as soon as I can since Ms. Grayson said that I can bring the baby with me, and we would have some childcare up here.” 

Kaya nods but doesn’t look away from the computer screen as she goes over her calendar, “that’s right I want you to interview the nannies now so that she can come help you at home as well and whichever ones you like we will run a full background check on them. I also add some that my sister-in-law and brother recommended. As for my brother Alex will be taking over your work for him. Is he here yet?” Katie nods, “Yes he is on a phone call with your sister-in-law something having to do with your niece not wanting to go to school with them anymore.” Kaya lets out a low chuckle, “I guess she like the morning ritual that we made up. Oh, speaking of kids, I’m sorry Katie but I just opened my email, and it looks like I will miss the baby shower cause of a meeting with the Tokyo branch, but I will send over my gift.” Katie looks through her tablet and sees the new email, “it’s okay you are so busy and really you don’t have to do anything else.” Kaya waves her hand in the air as she shakes her head, “Well since I’ll miss it then we can go out for lunch and some shopping later this week so that you can pick anything you want. I am not taking no for an answer.” Katie chuckles, “Ms. Grayson if everyone else knew the amazing boss I had I would have to beat people away with a stick.” Kaya smirks and Katie continues, “I also got the word that the board will be meeting this week to discuss the upcoming contracts with the international branches. Well, if that is all I should get back to my desk. Anything else Ms. Grayson?” Kaya shakes her head and Katie leaves the room and Bernard sits a cup of coffee next to Kaya, “Berny do you think that the board is going to pull anymore stunts?” Bernard shakes his head, “No for now I think they are under control.” Kaya lets out a sigh after sending a few responses to emails, “I know Simmons is behind all of this I just need some proof.” She rubs her right temple, “you know the worse thing about Simmons is that he unlike the rest of the world isn’t afraid of me. At least if he was afraid of me then I could keep him under control and put this deal through. The board wouldn’t fight me as hard if I could keep him under control. I want this deal to go through.” Bernard sits on the couch, “Well I did warn you that the board wouldn’t take lightly to reinvesting a high percentage in employees.” Kaya goes back to looking through her emails, “yeah I know but if we don’t have happy employees then the 300% increase in profit that my brother and I made for this last quarter will end up going down and all that hard work will go down the f*****g drain. The old geezers better get in line, or I am going to start flexing my power as a Grayson. After all no one can keep a Grayson from getting what they want.” Bernard smirks, “that line of thinking is why they call you Death the leader of the four horsemen.” Kaya shrugs and keeps working. She looks around her expansive office and stretches her arms up. She looks around her office and it is big and spacious with white walls and black marble floors, a grand wood desk with a marble top and leather chair, and a pair of black couches on the other side of the room that sit on either side of a wood coffee table. As well as the coffee station that is in the corner of the room that is surrounded on two sides by a wall of windows.

After a while she hears a ping on her personal phone and takes it out then sees a message from Final adventure: Hey there! What’s cooking good lookin’? She rolls her eyes and responds with a smirk emoji and: not much just working. The response bubble pops up for him and then disappears and then reappears well, isn’t that fun, me too. Hey, you never told me what you do? Kaya puts all her attention on her phone, and she turns in her chair to face the bay view from her office and answers: I sell donkeys for a living and you? Gavin responds well, aren’t you a jackass of all trades. Get it? ;-D  I make sweet, sweet music. Kaya rolls her eyes and smirks: you are so corny. I’m jk I’m in finance. What kind of music? Gavin responds: Ever heard of A.L.P.? Kaya thinks for a minuet then replies yeah. Gavin sends a picture of the recording studio with the other members in the background: well, hello to you too. Kaya’s mouth suddenly drops open realizing who he is: WAIT so you’re Gavin Ashford? My niece loves you. You are super popular with her little friends. Gavin replies: :D wow way to bring me down by saying I’m popular with little kids. Kaya lets out chuckle: well, someone has to bring you off that high ass jackass. Gavin sends a Gif of someone rolling their eyes. Kaya smirks: well since I know your full name, I guess it’s only fair I tell you my last name it’s Grayson. Gavin’s bubble pops up and then disappears and after a few moments it reappears: you are Kaya Grayson the leader of the four horsemen who is a financial genius? Kaya takes a picture of her view and catches a reflection of herself in the window and sends it to him. Gavin responds: my brother is a huge fan he is totally fan girling right now and just punched me for not introducing him. Kaya lets out a chuckle this time louder then replies well, he seems to have good taste much like you. Gavin replies: well of course I do I got to meet you right? Kaya sends: ;-P to which Gavin replies: alright well I have to get back to practice our momager is on the war path since we were out last night and have to get ready for a tour in a couple months, but do I get to take you out to dinner soon? 

Kaya stares at her phone and thinks about what her and Casey talked about and then hears a voice over her shoulder, “you should really say yes kiddo it would be a great way to get back into the swing of things and it looks like you two are hitting it off.” Kaya rolls her eyes, “didn’t mom and dad say that it was rude to read other people’s text messages? God sometimes you are such a big brother. Noisy and annoying.” She shoves the man, and he laughs, “well what kind of brother would I be if I didn’t annoy my little sister?”

Kaya rolls her eyes again then types out a response saying: If you play your cards right then yes. Gavin responds: how do I do that? Kaya smirks: how did you find out who I am with just my last name? Gavin replies: I told my bother you name last night and then he walked by and acted like an annoying big brother and was reading our convo over my shoulder. -_- Kaya smirks: Yes. Send me the time and place. I gotta go my big brother just walked in and is doing the same thing and trying to read our convo. Smell ya later. Gavin replies: Asta la vista. I’ll make the plans and get back to you. Stay beautiful my dear queen. Kaya smirks and she feels a blush start behind her ears: stay charming my dear princess. 

She puts her phone away and now her brother is leaning on her desk when she rolls her eyes at him, “Ty don’t you have better things to do like go fix your hair?” He shakes his head and shrugs, and she continues, “Tyler Grayson if you utter one word of this to anyone, I will make sure that Anna knows about poker nights with the guys and that you lost Lexie’s favorite horse riding spot to your friend Walter last weekend.” Tyler over exaggerates his face, “you would never!” Kaya nods and then Tyler puts his hands up in surrender, “Fine not a word from my lips.” Kaya narrows her eyes at him, and he sighs, “Fine not a word of any of this to anyone. Honestly kiddo you have to relax a little.” Kaya rolls her eyes and looks back at her computer again then pulls up an email, “did you see the email about the Tokyo branch?” Tyler nods his head, “Yeah accidents aren’t a good look for us if we want to put this deal through but can’t protect our own employees. What a f*****g mess.” He rubs his face and Kaya folds her hands in front of her chin as she leans on her desk, “We need to figure out what happened.” Tyler shakes his head, “I already had a full investigation launched that should delay the questions for now.” Kaya shakes her head, “not really the board wants to meet. I am sure that them wanting to meet isn’t a coincidence either probably Simmons work. f**k I hate that guy.” Tyler nods and lets his shoulders slump, “Yeah I’m sure you’re right but we have to meet with them now. We need to finalize this deal and regain control over them. That douche bag isn’t going to get what he wants by force. The board sways in our favor for the most part we just need a couple more of those old farts to vote for us.” Bernard brings in some food, “Sir it might help if you don’t call them old farts, they don’t like that name.” The two of them start to laugh and Kaya nudges Tyler, “Don’t worry I have already done the leg work for that I got two of the board members back on our side since they said someone was holding things on one of them. I got it all cleared up and the blackmail that this person had was incredible. They know I have it now, so they are more than willing to parle so long as they get what they want to disappear. For now, going to war with the Grayson family is looking more and more dangerous thanks to whoever pulled that stunt. And we didn’t even have to do much.” Tyler laughs, “well leave it to the leader of the four horsemen to be the evil one. Alright let’s just get some of this work done then and I think the contract is ready just give it a final look.” Kaya nods and opens her emails again. They both work from her office the rest of the day and when she finally leaves it’s late into the night. 

Her and Bernard get home and she goes straight to bed without another word. She drops on her bed and falls into a dreamless peaceful sleep.