The office was too sleek. That was the first red flag. The second was how eerily quiet it was, despite the fact that it was a Monday morning in a high-powered law firm.
Hana stood by the reception desk, clutching the strap of her bag and subtly scanning the space, half-expecting to find some sort of corporate cult initiation ceremony tucked between the marble columns.
Everything gleamed-the floors, the walls, the glass partitions separating each pristine, minimally decorated office. It smelled expensive, like leather and old money, with a faint undercurrent of blood, sweat, and probably the souls of former employees.
Had she made a mistake? Possibly.
Did she have rent to pay? Absolutely.
Would she rather die than admit to herself that she was nervous? Without question.
Her knee bounced slightly as she checked her phone for the third time in the past two minutes. No messages. No last-minute reprieve. No Oops, sorry, we found someone even crazier than you, so you're off the hook! Just pure, unfiltered reality: she was officially employed by Hasegawa and Sato Law, the terrifying legal beast that had somehow deemed her qualified.
Which, if she thought about it too long, was even more alarming.
"You actually came," a voice drawled.
Hana turned sharply, almost elbowing the potted plant next to her.
Kai Sato.
He had the kind of presence that made you instinctively check if your wallet was still in your pocket, but instead of petty theft, he was probably robbing people of their willpower and legal defenses.
"Ready for your first day?" He smiled, all teeth and amusement, like he was already enjoying some private joke at her expense.
Hana tilted her head, giving him her best saccharine smile. "Ready to find out if this was a terrible decision? Absolutely."
Kai laughed, a smooth, effortless sound.
Most people hesitated when speaking to him, either out of intimidation or an unspoken instinct to not get played. But Hana wasn't most people.
He gave her a once-over, taking in the wild mess of auburn curls she'd clearly tried (and failed) to tame, the sharp intelligence in her brown eyes, and the way she held herself-not quite stiff, but ready. Like someone who had walked into too many battles unarmed and learned how to compensate.
Perfect.
"Your boss is on a call," Kai said smoothly, gesturing for her to follow. "Let's do a quick tour before he gets a chance to scare you off."
He watched her reaction closely. No flicker of fear, no nervous gulp-just the slight twitch of her lips as if she were holding back a comment.
_________
The firm was... a lot.
Hana's brain was already skipping between thoughts at breakneck speed as she followed Kai through the pristine hallways of Hasegawa & Sato Law. Everything about this place screamed power, wealth, and the kind of energy that probably required human sacrifices.
Not a single loose paper. Not a single frazzled intern running for their life. Even the air conditioning felt intentional. Were law firms supposed to be this sterile?
"And this is the conference wing," Kai was saying as they passed a row of sleek, glass-walled rooms that looked like the settings of high-stakes negotiations or boardroom betrayals.
Hana glanced inside one. Yeah, definitely a cult.
They continued down the hall, passing by a corner office where a poised woman in a perfectly tailored blazer was on a call, her expression the kind that could fire someone through sheer vocal intonation.
"That's Naomi," Kai murmured, barely glancing inside. "She runs the firm."
"I thought you and Hasegawa ran the firm."
Kai just smiled. "Technically, yes. In reality? You'll see. You'll meet her later."
They moved on, stopping by IT, where a small team of overworked tech geniuses monitored multiple screens, looking like they were either fixing the world's most complex cybersecurity breach or playing an elite-level game of Minesweeper.
"These guys, and reception, are the only non-law personnel," Kai explained. "Everything else-HR, payroll, admin support-it's all outsourced. You should have already received an email from them."
Hana just nodded, filing that away under corporate decisions that felt vaguely ominous but were none of her business.
Then came the break room, which was more of a fully stocked luxury lounge with an en suite shower. She did a double take at the espresso machine, which looked like it cost more than her entire college tuition.
Kai gestured around casually. "Sometimes we do all-nighters. Feel free to use the shower if you ever need it."
"I should be concerned about that, shouldn't I?"
He just grinned. Which meant yes.
But her brain completely short-circuited when Kai, in that same easy tone, said, "Katsuki and I started this firm five years ago."
She blinked. Stared at him. Did a quick mental calculation. Five years ago.
"Wait. How old were you five years ago?"
Kai barely paused. "Twenty-seven. I'm thirty-two now."
Hana's brain broke.
Twenty-seven.
He and Hasegawa had started a law firm at twenty-seven.
Her grip on her bag tightened as a deep, bone-crushing sense of personal inadequacy settled over her.
Twenty-seven. He had co-founded a high-powered firm. At twenty-five, she struggled to make rice without a tutorial.
Kai must have caught the sheer existential crisis on her face because he smirked. "Why?"
"I'm already twenty-five and I can't even cook a decent meal for myself."
Kai laughed, the kind of rich, amused sound that said he'd heard far worse mid-life crises from people much older than her. "You still have two years, Sukehiro." He gestured lazily around the office, then he continued, "and in five years, we've built this. A boutique law firm handling M&A, litigation, and international business law."
Hana asked "Are you okay?"
Kai tilted his head slightly. "Am I-?"
"No, seriously." She gestured vaguely. "This-all of this-isn't normal. You're thirty-two. This firm is five years old. This level of success should not be happening yet. You and Hasegawa are either monsters, aliens, or this really is a cult."
Kai chuckled, but there was a flicker of something knowing in his eyes. Like he was used to this observation. Like he had heard it before.
Interesting.
They moved on, stepping into his office-unsurprisingly, just as sleek and controlled as the rest of the firm, though there was something distinctly more lived-in about it.
Kai leaned against his desk, crossing his arms. "This is your safe space."
"I don't believe that for a second."
He grinned. "You can walk in here to cry or rant if you need to. I have my own shower and coffee machine. If I'm not around, Naomi has a key-just ask her."
Hana folded her arms. "Why do I feel like you're about to collect a favor later?"
Kai's smile was all charm. "I don't have my own assistant. It's easier to keep my own schedule."
Hana arched an eyebrow. Right.
"So, officially, I answer to Hasegawa."
Kai's grin widened.
"Unofficially, I answer to both of you."
"See?" He pushed off the desk. "You're catching on fast."
This was a mistake.
__________
By the time they made it to her designated desk, Hana was 90% sure she had sold her soul without reading the fine print.
Her desk was positioned right outside a closed office door with a sleek, engraved plaque that read:
Katsuki Hasegawa
Managing Partner
Kai gestured. "So this is yours.".
The desk was already set up-a brand-new laptop and a firm-issued phone neatly arranged on the surface. A crisp piece of paper sat next to them, listing her login credentials.
Okay. Okay. No need to panic.
Except-
This was happening.
She was here.
And, based on what she'd already seen, she was absolutely going to suffer.
_____
"So," Kai said, leaning lazily on the edge of her desk, arms crossed like this was a casual conversation and not the potential signing of her soul away to corporate servitude. "Let's talk about your job."
Hana eyed him, trying to ignore the polished, too-expensive scent of whatever cologne he was wearing and focus on the fact that she was, indeed, getting an explanation-something that had been suspiciously lacking up until now.
Kai continued smoothly. "Officially, your job description includes but is not limited to: managing Hasegawa's schedule, handling all client communications before they reach his desk, drafting and reviewing minor legal documents, coordinating between external counsel and internal teams, ensuring filings are completed ahead of deadlines, and generally making sure he doesn't commit any crimes before nine in the morning."
Hana nodded, absorbing the information like the high-functioning chaos engine she was. It sounded... normal? Maybe a bit demanding, but-
"On paper."
"On paper." Hana repeated.
Kai gave her a slow, knowing smile. "Yes. And unofficially, you'll be his babysitter."
Hana's brain stalled. "Define babysitter."
Kai held up a hand and started ticking off fingers. "You will ensure he eats at least one meal a day that is not coffee. You will filter his emails so he doesn't fire clients on impulse. You will remind him of social norms when necessary-like greeting people instead of scowling at them until they leave."
Hana blinked. "That's... concerning."
Kai wasn't done. "You will track his moods to determine when it is safe for others to approach. You will hide his cigarettes when he is stressed but not enough to make him actively search for them-find a balance."
What the fuck.
"You will prepare exit strategies at formal events in case he gets bored, irritated, or-on one memorable occasion-both."
Hana stared. "Did I just get hired as a legal secretary or a handler?"
Kai shrugged, all ease, like he hadn't just described something that should come with hazard pay. "Little of both."
Hana exhaled sharply. Okay. Okay. This is fine. She's had worse jobs. Probably.
"But there are perks," Kai added, the glint in his eyes telling her that this was the real sell.
"Okay, now I'm listening."
Kai reached into his pocket, pulled out a sleek company credit card, and set it on her desk. "This is for your gas and meals if you're working late."
Hana slid it closer, inspecting it like it might self-destruct. "Can I buy a house with this?"
"Yes, but I will personally sue you."
"Wow," Hana mused, slipping the card into her pocket. "Not even an hour in, and you're already threatening me. Should I be flattered?"
Kai grinned, delighted. Most people hesitated when dealing with him. She? Did not. He liked that.
"You'll also be traveling internationally with Hasegawa," he continued, "so I hope you have a passport."
"Wait-"
"And," Kai added, as if he hadn't just dropped an actual bomb on her, "the best perk of all? You get to work with me."
Hana let that sit for a moment before deadpanning, "Somehow, that does not feel like a perk."
Kai laughed, a deep, genuine sound that made it clear he wasn't offended in the slightest. "Give it time."
Hana folded her arms. "Okay, but how much time are we talking here? Days? Weeks? The inevitable heat death of the universe?"
Kai smirked. "Depends on how long it takes for you to realize I'm your best ally here."
Hana rolled her eyes but didn't argue. She had enough survival instincts to recognize when someone was offering her a lifeline, even if it came in the form of a smooth-talking partner who was clearly partially responsible for the terrifying machine that was this law firm.
"Any other surprises?" she asked, adjusting the strap of her bag.
Kai pushed off the desk and gestured to the closed office door beside her desk.
"Time to meet your boss," he said simply, reaching for the handle.
Hana inhaled, bracing herself. This is fine. She's fine.
Kai swung the door open and motioned for her to step inside.
And then-
Holy fuck.