An eight year old Rachel explored the Andersons huge mansion while her mother was occupied with the family's son in the study room. Although her mother had warned her not to wander, she was utterly bored with nothing else to do. Before long, Rachel found herself in a hallway admiring a familiar lamp she had seen in her cartoons. It was heavier than she thought but her small fingers held firmly on to it
'Would the genie come out?' she thought to herself and she was ready to find out when-
"What are you doing?"
Startled by the voice, the lamp slipped off Rachel's hands, shattering loudly on impact with the ground. Her head snapped in the direction of the voice where the boy, around her age stood, staring at her with calculating green eyes. "I-I just-"
"You broke it" he said bluntly, cutting her off "Mother will be pissed"
"You scared me!" She defended, her eyes turning frantic at the big trouble she was in.
"You shouldn't have been holding it in the first place. Who even are you?" The boy asked, annoyance seeping into his tone.
Ignoring him, Rachel crouched to the ground, trying to pick up the pieces with trembling fingers "I was only trying to summon the genie" she sniffed. Her mother would severely scold her.
"The genie? What are you, five?" Kohen asked tauntingly.
"I'm eight!" she argued "Now help me pick it up"
"I don't even know you and this isn't my problem, I didn't break it" he said, stuffing his hands into his pocket.
"Please" she begged on the verge of crying. Just then, Grace - Kohen's direct caretaker who had also warned her not to wander - and another housekeeper appeared at the scene.
"Oh no no no" Grace groaned, picking Rachel off the floor before she could hurt herself "What did you do?! I asked you to wait in the room, didn't I?"
"I'm s-sorry" Rachel choked on a sob.
"Don't cry now. You'd only look guilty when mother comes" Kohen scoffed.
As if on cue, Mrs Anderson emerged with Nicole in tow, "What happened here?!" The woman shrieked over her expensive ornament.
Grace made to explain but the young boy beat her to it, "Sorry mother" he said, his gaze downcast "I didn't mean to break it".
~~~
That was the first time Kohen had helped her out. He was always there to save her, except when she really needed him. She slammed the cupboard close in annoyance. Just then, Greta's head peeked into the office.
"It's almost time for the meeting," the woman said and Rachel's eyes flicked to the watch around her wrist.
"Thank you, Greta" she said before hurrying off to change into the shirt.
Rachel returned just in time for the meeting to commence. Kohen's shirt fit loosely on her and the hem disappeared into her skirt. She had expected some snarky comment from Kohen but he didn't so much as glance her way. Soon after, the guests arrived into the boardroom and the meeting commenced. Rachel watched Kohen slip into his CEO role as he drew out motions and conversed strategies with the other members while she carefully jotted key points. The meeting stretched for three hours before coming to an end. They exchanged handshakes and soon, she was alone in the boardroom with Kohen.. again.
She was about to speak when Kohen abruptly stood and walked out. Rachel followed after him, letting herself into his elevator. "I just wanted to hand you these notes" she scowled "You shouldn't let your personal feelings fuel your work life".
Kohen scanned the notepad in her outstretched hand before hitting the emergency stop on the elevator, trapping them in.
"W-what are you doing?" Rachel stuttered when Kohen cornered her, leaving only a centimeter of space as he towered her.
"Good to know I still have some effect on you, Raye" he said in an almost-whisper and Rachel's eyes narrowed.
"What is this, Kohen?"
"I don't know, you tell me" He said, eyes raking her down. "Because from where I stand, all I see is the girl who stole my heart, stomped on it and fled without so much as a goodbye. Years later, she's back and giving me a shit load of attitude like I'm the villain of her story"
Rachel's heart did a flip, "This is neither the time, or the place"
"When!" his composure slipped, that boyish irritation Rachel so well recognised settling in his gaze. "When is it going to be the time and place? I waited for you Rachel, you know that? When I got home and found you gone, I waited all night. And several nights after that"
"I waited for you too!" Rachel snapped.
Kohen stood temporarily stunned, "What?"
"Before I left, I waited too. Where were you that night?"
'He was in my bed the night you left' Enola's words replayed devilishly in her head. "Where were you, Kohen?" She asked again, more silently as if pleading to not hear Enola's name from his lips. Kohen swallowed hard, averting his eyes.
"Exactly" she whispered when he said nothing, "I'm here to do a job" she released a tired sigh, "Please, don't ruin this for me"
Hurt passed his gaze, quickly replaced by resignation and he took a step back, releasing her. "You're right" he sucked in a breath "Maybe it's time I let go of.. the past" and with that he hit the button to resume their ride up.
The elevator opened to their floor, the tension between both almost physical. Greta observed a flushed Rachel and an angry Kohen without a word. Kohen took the first step out, heading to his office.
"It's very obvious you two have history" Greta said to an approaching Rachel.
Rachel's footsteps halted, "It's not what you think" she said, too exhausted to pretend.
"I knew you'd say that" Greta offered a comforting smile "I'm not going to probe because it's none of my business but I do hope it all works out. And, I think a familiar face would cheer you up" Greta added, gesturing to Rachel's office.
Rachel followed Greta's line of sight to find Kohen at a standstill, looking the direction of her office door. It wasn't until she got closer that her second favourite person from Atlas entered into view.
"Liam!" she squealed and ran towards him, meeting him in the middle as he enveloped her in a hug. "How are you here?"
"Steph pulled some strings with James" Liam chuckled "She said you needed an ally in this trying time" he whispered for her ears only and Rachel giggled.
"She's always dramatic," Rachel shook her head.
Kohen cleared his throat, reminding them of his presence "And why wasn't I informed of your arrival?" He said coldly, his gaze falling on the part where Liam's hand connected with her skin.