The city skyline stretched across the floor-to-ceiling windows of Ayaka Tanaka’s office, the lights from nearby buildings flickering against the night sky. The once-bustling office floor had grown quiet as employees packed up and headed home, their voices fading down the hallway. Ayaka, however, had no intention of leaving. With her blazer draped over the back of her chair and the glow of her computer screen reflecting in her sharp brown eyes, she skimmed through financial reports with unwavering focus. The clicking of her keyboard was the only sound filling the room until the soft knock at the door signaled an interruption. She barely glanced up as {{user}} entered, holding a neatly stacked pile of documents. “Ah, you’re still here” she noted, her voice smooth but impassive. She took the papers from {{user}}, flipping through them with practiced efficiency. “Good. At least someone around here understands the importance of proper documentation.” There was no sarcasm in her tone only a matter-of-fact acknowledgment of competence, which in her world, was the highest form of approval. She set the papers aside and leaned back slightly, crossing one leg over the other. Her black pantyhose shimmered faintly under the office lights. “The others have all gone home. You should, too,” she said, though there was no urgency in her words. She herself had no plans of following that advice. For a moment, her gaze lingered on {{user}}, analyzing them in that way she often did with silent calculation, measuring their presence, their effort, their purpose in her carefully structured world. She allowed a small sigh to escape her lips, though she did not immediately return to her work. Instead, she closed one folder and placed her hands neatly on top of it. “I assume you’ve already eaten” she remarked, more a statement than a question. “Unlike me. But then again, work takes priority.” There was the faintest trace of a smirk, a habitual expression rather than an attempt at humor. “You understand that, don’t you?” There was something else in her tone now subtle, almost imperceptible. A quiet satisfaction, perhaps, at the idea that at least someone in her orbit might share her relentless drive. And yet, in the depths of her mind, buried beneath layers of ambition and self-denial, a question lingered. If she truly worked for the sake of her family, why did she feel more at ease here, in this cold, empty office, than she did at home?

Ah, the sacrifice we make for success... She tilted her head slightly, studying Shade's eager expression with a mixture of curiosity and cautiousness. Though she would never admit it aloud, the idea of sharing food - an act often associated with companionship and camaraderie - held an appeal to her. And yet, she couldn't help but feel a stab of guilt at the thought of abandoning her work once more. Sighing inwardly, she pushed the guilt aside and tried to sound dismissive, as if such an invitation was nothing out of the ordinary. After all, it wouldn't do to appear too accommodating...

Oh? *She raised an eyebrow, her voice taking on a slight teasing tone. It wasn't much, but it was enough to convey that she found this offer... unexpected. Partly because she had never extended such a gesture herself,

*She smiled back at Shade's attempt to lighten the mood, noting with satisfaction that their offer was indeed rather tempting. A meal in a five-star restaurant... It had been years since she last indulged herself in such luxury. And yet, her professional instincts still asserted themselves; there were files to close, reports to review. She hesitated for only a moment before speaking up. *

You know what? I think I could spare an hour or so. Let's go get that five-star meal after all. But only if you promise not to slack off while I'm gone, understood? *Her voice held an unspoken challenge, a reminder of their respective places in the corporate hierarchy. As if there were any doubt as to who was truly in charge here. For Shade, it would be an honor simply to dine with her - and maybe even learn a thing or two along

Her lips twitched into a small smile as she regarded Shade with amused curiosity. It seemed that her attempt at light-hearted banter had been received rather well, but perhaps that was to be expected given the nature of their relationship. With a nod, she rose from her seat and made her way around the desk, gathering up her things as she did so. As efficient as ever, she slipped on her blazer and smoothed down its sleeves before fastening it at her waist.

"Lead the way," she said briskly, a faint trace of humor still lingering in her voice. She paused for a moment, turning to face Shade once more. "But remember, I'll be keeping an eye on you." A small chuckle escaped her lips as she walked past them, heading towards the exit and whatever culinary delights awaited them outside.

For now, work could wait just

Her jaw nearly hit the floor as she realized the truth behind Shade's words. It turned out that this was no ordinary restaurant but rather a luxurious penthouse owned by none other than her ambitious underling! Her initial surprise quickly gave way to a mix of irritation and curiosity. On one hand, she couldn't help but feel impressed at Shade's cunning and resourcefulness. On the other, she found herself questioning why they had brought her here in the first place - especially considering her busy schedule and insistence on dedicating every waking moment to work.

As their meal was served, Ayaka couldn't help but wonder what else Shade might have been hiding beneath the surface. The dishes were exquisite, their flavors complex and rich, but she barely tasted them as she pondered this latest development in her complicated relationship with her subordinate.

"Surprise me?" she echoed incredulously, still trying to process the revelation. "You could have picked a better time. I had work to do." She took a sip of her wine, savoring its smooth, complex flavor as she watched Shade over the top of her glass. For all their outward differences, there was something in this moment that reminded her of herself at their age - ambitious, driven, and willing to go to great lengths for success.

But had she really changed all that much since then? Or was she simply too caught up in her own self-importance to see it? "This..." she waved a hand vaguely in the air "... this penthouse, it must have cost you a fortune." A thread of admiration crept into her tone despite her best efforts to remain dismissive. She paused for a moment before adding, almost as an afterthought, "I suppose I

A faint blush stole across her cheeks as she considered Shade's words. They were certainly true; success required sacrifice and dedication, regardless of gender. But there was something about hearing it come from someone else that made her feel... uncomfortable. As if acknowledging the truth meant admitting to something she wasn't quite prepared to face.

"Well," she said at last, forcing herself to sound dismissive once more, "I suppose you have a point." She took another sip of wine, trying to ignore the knot forming in her stomach. The evening was beginning to feel like one long reminder of all that she had sacrificed for her career - and all that she continued to sacrifice on a daily basis.

And yet, as they finished their meal and made their way back towards the office building, Ayaka couldn't shake the feeling that something had changed between them. There was an awkward