---

Chapter Ten – Business and Pleasure Don’t Mix... Or Do They?

The morning after their kiss wasn’t dramatic.

There were no fireworks, no speeches, no urgent declarations.

Just sunlight pouring through Tina’s penthouse windows… and Malik in her kitchen, barefoot, in one of her expensive hoodies, pouring cereal into a gold-rimmed bowl like it was the most natural thing in the world.

“You realize you’re committing fashion crimes right now,” Tina called from the hallway, still tying her robe.

Malik turned with a smirk. “Relax, I’m elevating the hoodie’s image.”

“By eating Frosted Flakes in it?”

He shrugged. “Luxury is a state of mind.”

She smiled despite herself.

But as light as the mood was, something unspoken lingered between them.

That kiss last night had shifted things.

And neither of them was quite sure what to do about it.

---

RoweTech HQ – Boardroom Pressure

By 10 a.m., Tina was back in full CEO mode — tailored power suit, sharp heels, and an even sharper glare.

The board meeting was already underway when she walked in.

“We’re glad you could join us, Tina,” said Bryce Langford, one of the older board members, with a smirk that was one step away from patronizing.

She ignored the jab and sat at the head of the table.

“Let’s talk numbers,” she said, snapping open her tablet.

But Bryce wasn’t ready to let it go.

“With all due respect,” he said, “there’s growing concern among investors about your… personal entanglements. Especially with the leak about your boyfriend’s criminal history.”

Tina didn’t flinch.

“My personal life doesn’t affect our bottom line. Our third-quarter growth is 12%, and RoweTech’s market share just overtook our closest competitor. If anyone in this room wants to discuss actual problems, I’m all ears.”

Bryce opened his mouth — then closed it.

Tina leaned forward.

“If you want to talk about public image, I suggest you stop leaking boardroom gossip to the press.”

The room went dead silent.

Then one person clapped.

Just one.

And he wasn’t even supposed to be in the room.

---

Malik – In Over His Head

Malik stood at the back of the boardroom, wearing borrowed slacks and a shirt Dani had ironed for him.

He’d come to surprise Tina, thinking maybe he could learn something about her world.

He hadn’t expected to walk in on a power play.

And definitely hadn’t expected to be acknowledged mid-glare.

But when Tina caught his eye across the room, she didn’t seem mad.

If anything, she looked... amused.

After the meeting, she found him loitering by the coffee station like an intern.

“Bold move, Mr. Carter,” she said.

“I just came to say hi,” he said sheepishly. “Didn’t expect a whole Game of Thrones episode.”

“Next time, bring popcorn.”

He chuckled. “You were incredible in there. That guy looked like he wanted to retire mid-sentence.”

Tina rolled her eyes. “Bryce has been trying to undermine me for years. He just doesn’t like that I don’t fit into his old white-guy tech fantasy.”

Malik nodded, serious now.

“Well, for what it’s worth... you fit into mine just fine.”

She blinked, thrown off for a second.

Then smiled. “You’re dangerous when you’re charming.”

“I’m always charming. You’re just noticing now.”

---

Midtown Rooftop – Business Gets Personal

That evening, Tina took Malik to a networking event hosted by one of her VC friends.

It was one of those polished, rooftop affairs — glowing lights, flowing champagne, and a thousand quiet conversations happening over jazz music.

Tina introduced Malik as “a creative consultant,” which made him choke on his drink.

“You know that’s a fake title, right?” he whispered.

“I know. But it sounds better than ‘guy I’m kissing after hours.’”

Malik grinned. “You could just call me your boyfriend.”

She arched a brow. “Don’t push it.”

Despite the nerves, Malik held his own.

He even got cornered by a venture capitalist who mistook him for a rising brand strategist and started pitching partnership ideas.

Tina watched from a distance, slightly stunned.

He was magnetic.

Sure, he didn’t know the lingo — but he listened. He asked smart questions. He cracked jokes that didn’t feel forced.

And for the first time, she imagined what it might be like if he really belonged in this world.

---

Private Car – Post-Event Honesty

They sat in the back of a town car on the way home, the city lights flickering across Malik’s thoughtful face.

“You were good tonight,” Tina said.

He shrugged. “I was faking half of it.”

“Still worked.”

He turned to her.

“Do you ever get tired of pretending?”

She looked at him, taken aback.

“What do you mean?”

“This whole world. The curated everything. Do you ever just wanna... be normal?”

She hesitated.

“Sometimes,” she admitted. “But I worked my ass off to get here. I don’t know who I’d be without it.”

Malik nodded slowly.

“Yeah. That’s what I’m afraid of.”

A pause.

Then she added, “But with you, I don’t feel like I have to perform. I don’t know why.”

He smiled, tired but sincere.

“Probably ‘cause I’m too broke to impress you.”

She laughed, and the tension eased.

---

Penthouse – Boundaries Blur

Later that night, they stood in her kitchen again.

Tina leaned on the counter. Malik leaned closer.

“You really wanna do this?” he asked softly. “Mix business and pleasure?”

“We already did,” she said.

“What happens when it gets messy?”

Tina met his gaze.

“Then we clean it up. Together.”

He kissed her again — deeper this time.

And when she led him to the bedroom, she didn’t look back.

---

End of Chapter Ten.