Filler
The Romance Novel Debate
The chaotic, high-stakes corporate warfare of Kavilson Steel had temporarily paused for a quiet Thursday afternoon. Inside Kniya's newly renovated, explicitly cheap-looking office, the three most powerful men in the country were doing absolutely nothing.
Salesh was lounging on the cheap synthetic sofa, deeply engrossed in a thick, bright pink paperback book.
Kniya, leaning back in his squeaky desk chair, narrowed his eyes at the cover. It featured a shirtless, muscular duke holding a fainting woman under a full moon.
"Salesh," Kniya said, his face twisting in absolute disgust. "What the actual fuck is that?"
Salesh didn't look up, casually flipping a page. "It's a romance novel. The Duke's Forbidden Desire. It has incredible narrative tension."
Kniya immediately leaned over his desk and made a loud, aggressive gagging noise. "BLEGH. HHHH-ACK." He clutched his stomach, pretending to violently dry-heave into his trash can. "Oh my god, I'm going to throw up. That is the most disgusting, pathetic trash I have ever seen in my life."
Malesh, who was sitting in the corner reviewing an oil refinery manifest, looked up. He stared at the cover of Salesh's book, his face settling into a deep, judgmental scowl.
"Kniya is right. That is literal garbage," Malesh said, his voice entirely human, blunt, and highly cynical. "It is pure delusion. Nobody actually acts like that in the real world. People don't stare into each other's eyes for ten minutes in the pouring rain. They blink, they get cold, and they go inside. It's a massive waste of time."
"You guys just don't understand emotional depth," Salesh defended, marking his page. "The Duke is willing to throw away his entire fortune just to hold her hand. It's beautiful."
"It's financial suicide!" Malesh argued, tossing his manifest onto the table. "Why would he forfeit a generation of wealth for a woman he met three days ago? He could just buy her a nice house and keep his assets intact. The plot is fundamentally flawed. It pisses me off just looking at it."
"Ugh, 'he touched her hand and the world stopped,'" Kniya mocked in a high-pitched, whiny voice, making more gagging noises. "Fuck off! The world keeps spinning and stocks keep crashing! If a guy threw away his fortune for a girl in DI, he'd be sleeping on a park bench by Tuesday! You're rotting your brain, Sallu Balu!"
"You literally read a book about a reincarnated demon lord!" Salesh yelled, pointing his pink novel at Kniya. "How is that more realistic?!"
"Because my guy crushes his enemies and takes their land!" Kniya shot back. "Your guy cries in a courtyard! There's a difference!"
Kniya rolled his eyes and checked his heavy gold watch, officially bored with the debate. "Whatever. I don't have time to argue about your smut. I have to meet a new client who is waiting for me over in Filoska's office. Word on the floor is that the guy looks really good. Like, genuinely hot. We are doing a massive supply deal with him."
Kniya stood up, adjusting his simple blue shirt. "Salesh, since you are the fucking President, put the romance book down and actually manage the paperwork for the next hour."
Malesh stood up instantly. "I am coming with you. If I stay in this room and watch him read one more page of that absolute trash, I am going to set the sofa on fire again."
The Hallway Eavesdrop
Kniya and Malesh walked down the long, carpeted hallway toward the Vice President's executive suite.
As they approached Filoska's office, Kniya suddenly stopped. He threw his hand back, hitting Malesh in the chest to halt him.
The heavy mahogany door to Filoska's office was cracked open just a few inches.
Kniya crept forward, pressing his back against the wall next to the doorframe. Malesh rolled his eyes, but his natural curiosity got the better of him, and he leaned in right next to Kniya to eavesdrop.
Inside, they could hear Filoska's sharp, professional voice, followed by the nervous, slightly stammering voice of the new client, Antues Doate.
"So, as you can see, Mr. Doate," Filoska was saying, shuffling papers, "the freight margins for the next quarter will require a twenty percent deposit upfront."
"Right, right. The deposit. Absolutely," Antues replied. There was a painfully long, awkward pause. "You know, Miss Vinten... I was looking at these numbers, but I keep getting distracted."
"Is there an error in the ledger?" Filoska asked sharply.
"No, no error," Antues stammered, his voice dropping an octave as he desperately tried to sound smooth. "It's just... sitting across from you. I mean, your eyes. They are... wow. They are like deep, highly efficient ocean freight routes. Wait, no. That sounds stupid. They're like sapphires. Beautiful, intimidating sapphires."
Outside the door, Kniya silently clamped both hands over his mouth to stop himself from bursting into hysterical laughter. Malesh physically cringed, rubbing the bridge of his nose at the sheer awkwardness of the line.
"Mr. Doate," Filoska said, her tone dropping into absolute ice. "This is a strictly professional environment. I am the Vice President of this conglomerate. Please keep your comments focused on the steel exports."
"I know, I know, I'm sorry," Antues scrambled, clearly panicking but refusing to give up. "I just... I had to ask. Would you ever consider letting me take you out? Just one date. We don't have to talk about steel. Or we can talk about steel! Whatever you want."
"I do not mix business with my personal life," Filoska rejected him flatly. "The answer is no."
The Silent Wrestling Match
Outside the door, Kniya's eyes went wide. He grabbed Malesh's shoulder and aggressively whispered right into his ear.
"She is fumbling the bag!" Kniya hissed furiously. "This guy is a massive client! If she goes on a date with him, we can upcharge his freight costs by thirty percent! I'm going in there to make her say yes!"
Kniya took a step toward the cracked door, but Malesh instantly grabbed the back of Kniya's collar and violently yanked him backward.
"No, you idiot!" Malesh whispered harshly, glaring at him. "You cannot force a woman to date a client for a thirty percent markup! That is an HR nightmare and highly illegal! Leave it alone!"
"Let go of me, you oil-gargling freak!" Kniya mouthed silently, trying to pry Malesh's fingers off his collar.
"Stop moving!" Malesh hissed, wrapping his arm around Kniya's waist and physically dragging him away from the door.
A completely silent, intense wrestling match broke out in the hallway. Kniya kicked backward, trying to break free. Malesh planted his feet, putting Kniya into a tight headlock to keep him from barging into the room. They thrashed against the wall, pulling and shoving each other like two stray dogs.
Kniya reached back and grabbed a handful of Malesh's shirt, yanking it hard.
RIIIIIP.
The sound of tearing fabric echoed sharply in the quiet hallway. Kniya had completely torn the side pocket off Malesh's trousers, taking a chunk of his shirt with it. A scrap of blue fabric fluttered to the floor.
Both billionaires froze, panting silently, staring at each other in absolute panic.
Inside the room, the tearing sound seemed to have broken the tension. Filoska let out a long, deeply exhausted sigh.
"Fine," Filoska relented, sounding like she was agreeing to a root canal rather than a romantic outing. "One date. But if you talk about my eyes being shipping routes again, I am leaving. Meet me at the Seistain Grand Park. Evening. Eight o'clock sharp."
"Yes! Absolutely! Eight o'clock! Thank you, Filoska!" Antues cheered, the sound of his chair scraping against the floor indicating he was standing up. "I need to go meet Mr. Anderson for the final signatures now!"
"Oh shit, he's coming out!" Kniya panicked, shoving Malesh off him. "Run!"
The Postponed Deal
Kniya and Malesh scrambled down the hall like terrified teenagers. They dove through the first open door they could find—a vacant janitorial closet—and slammed the door shut just as Filoska's office door opened.
Antues Doate stepped out into the hallway, a massive, goofy grin plastered across his handsome face. He took a deep breath, fixing his tie, feeling like the absolute king of the world.
He took two steps down the hall and paused.
Lying right in the middle of the expensive carpet was a violently torn piece of blue fabric and a ripped trouser pocket.
Antues blinked, staring at it. "Why the fuck is there a piece of a pant leg on the floor?" he muttered to himself. He shook his head, too high on his romantic victory to care about corporate vandalism, and stepped right over it, heading toward Kniya's office.
Two minutes later, Antues walked into the executive suite.
Kniya was sitting behind his desk, breathing slightly heavier than usual. Malesh was standing in the corner, holding his arm awkwardly over his side to hide the massive tear in his clothes. Salesh was still on the couch, entirely oblivious, reading his pink romance novel.
"Mr. Anderson!" Antues smiled brightly, walking up to the desk. "I am ready to finalize the supply deal."
Kniya looked at the lovesick client. He glanced over at Malesh, who gave a subtle, confirming nod.
"Actually, Mr. Antues," Kniya said smoothly, leaning back in his chair and tapping his gold pen against his chin. "We are currently reviewing some supply chain metrics. We are not going to be able to finalize this deal today. Can you please come back and see us another day? Say... tomorrow morning?"
Antues's eyes instantly lit up. If the deal was postponed, it meant he had a legitimate, legally binding excuse to come right back to this building and see Filoska again tomorrow.
"Yes!" Antues agreed immediately, barely containing his excitement. "Absolutely! Take your time, Mr. Anderson! I am more than happy to come back tomorrow! Or the next day! Whatever you need!"
"Perfect," Kniya smirked, recognizing an easy mark when he saw one. "Have a great evening at the park, Antues."
Antues beamed, turned around, and practically skipped out of the office.
Kniya waited until the door clicked shut. He slowly turned his head to look at Salesh, who was crying over chapter twelve.
"Okay," Kniya admitted grudgingly. "Maybe there is some financial leverage in romance after all."