Chapter Two: Secret Admirer

Rey looked out of the window of her small apartment on February 11th. It was raining. She groaned: she hated rainy days, because, for most of her childhood, rainy days mean walking to school soaked, feet wet from shoes that had been worn through. A huge part of her wanted to curl back up under her duvet and phone in sick but the hardworking would-be engineer reminded her that just because it was raining was no excuse not to go to work. Sure, the office was filled with horribly soppy friends all looking forward to Valentines and she had a mountain of work transcribing minutes from the late Board Meeting the previous night but Rose was bringing cakes in this morning for her birthday and she still had to tease the details of Finn's surprise date out of him. Wearily, she dashed into the shower and got ready for the day.

After waving at Maz, her tiny and eccentric landlady who had rapidly adopted her when she moved in, she had navigated through the masses, all jostling with umbrellas and splashing her unnecessarily. Grateful for her decision to wear boots as she splashed through the crowded streets, she made her way in-and then realised she had left her lunch on the counter in her tiny kitchen, though she had remembered to grab Rose's present and birthday card. She groaned and seriously contemplated heading back home to fetch her lunch: she didn't want to waste any money on another lunch so she was resigned to a day of surviving on the emergency cup soup packet she kept in her drawer...providing Jannah or Finn hadn't 'borrowed' it. To make things worse, three different umbrellas poked her uncomfortably as she found herself crammed into the elevator to the fifth floor: it was clearly going to be another annoying day.

Yet when she arrived at her desk, there was a surprise waiting in the form of a neat package, wrapped in white embossed paper with a large ornate silver bow. The label, written in gold calligraphy, read:

To Miss Rey...from your admirer

She looked around. Everyone was watching while trying not to obviously watch and so she shrugged out of her sopping raincoat and carefully went to hang it up, rested her bag down and quietly sat at her desk. Then she fished in her bag and handed her offerings to Rose, who grinned brilliantly and ripped the card open to read the sincere words of congratulations within. There was a selection of cards on her desk already, ranging from fun (Poe and Zorii, certainly) to one that was extremely serious and elegant (Hux, Rey confirmed by a quick peek). Her gift wasn't anything special but it was the silk scarf that Rose had been pining after for the previous month that Rey had bargained for at the boutique. They had been so shocked at her audacity that they had actually given her a generous discount, something they had never done before and which enabled her to just about afford the gift.

After a squeal of delight and a warm hug, Rose had gestured to the box of chocolate cup cakes frosted with white and pink, all decorated with chocolate curls and golden sprinkles. Rey carefully grabbed one and placed it on her desk before she sat down and took a deep breath. Studiously, she logged on and scanned the screen. There was a pause as she scanned the list of emails to the sounds of no work and lots of shuffling feet: she knew all her friends were waiting for her to attack her own present...and she was waiting for who would break first...

"FOR KRIFF'S SAKE!" Poe exclaimed, completely exasperated. Rey smiled inwardly: called it. "Will you just open the box already!"

"I've been holding him back for the last ten minutes," Finn added, eyeing his boyfriend meaningfully. Rose nodded, her lips covered in frosting.

"If you delay any longer, Zorii will be in with the letter opener," she added. Huffing, Rey turned her attention to the little parcel, secretly desperate to see what was within but more desperate to prove she wasn't so sad she fell on any present like a staving man on a burger. Delicately, she untied the bow and carefully opened the paper, frowning as she methodically deconstructed the package.

"That's it!" Poe called. "I'm coming over!" Finn grabbed him and Rose flung herself on him as well as Rey finally opened the box to reveal a small box of artisan chocolates and a voucher. There was a post-it stuck on the voucher, which was for the canteen.

You always forget your lunch on rainy days. On me- your admirer.

She blinked and then stared at the gifts. She couldn't say that she wasn't flattered because she was. In fact, this was the first time anyone had ever done anything like this for her and as she scanned the office, she had no clue who it was who had spoiled her. The chocolates were expensive and looked appetising-but the voucher was more interesting, for it implied that someone knew her habits-and had been watching her in what she felt was a slightly creepy way. Then she turned the piece of cardboard over in her hands. Surely she didn't forget her lunch on rainy days...but as she faced her mind back, her lips curled up in a smile. She usually got distracted by the rain, staring at the clouds and then scrambling to adjust her wardrobe and she often had her lunch for dinner when she returned home.

So who was watching her?

And then she smiled and rose decisively.

Someone must have purchased the voucher and the canteen staff would be able to tell her who had given her such a thoughtful gift. Nodding to herself, she set out on her mission.

-o0o-

She arrived back at her desk in a bad mood, for no one seemed to know who had purchased the voucher. Despite the fact it was numbered and validated, there had been a wall of silence. So she had done what she usually did and justified her absence from her desk with a coffee run, arriving back at the office with a tray of drinks for all her friends. But when she had handed then round, there were two left, causing Rose to frown.

"Okay-thanks so much for my coffee," she said. "Coffee and cakes-the only way to start the morning! But who are the...?" She gestured to the remaining cups. Rey smiled and gestured to the two offices.

"It's unfair they don't get a drink as well," she explained, putting her caramel latte with extra foam on her desk. Rose frowned.

"What does Armie have?" she asked interestedly.

"English leaf tea, two minutes brew time in 98C water, 10ml semi-skimmed milk, one stir," she parroted off. Rose stared.

"How do you...?" she asked as Rey shrugged.

"I'm the only one who includes them in coffee runs," she told Rose simply. "I asked."

"But that's...insanely picky," the shorter young woman said. Rey nodded with a smile.

"I know," she said conspiratorially. "I just splash boiling water on for a couple of minutes and he never notices." Rose giggled.

"And Ren?"

"Straight up black, two extra shots."

"That he drinks almost toxic levels of caffeine doesn't surprise me in the least," Rose said as Rey thrust the tea into her hand.

"Go on-you take 'Armie' his drink," Rey smirked. Rose almost dropped her cup.

"Me?"

"He's your Valentine-and you better hurry. He won't drink it if it drops below 75 degrees," she warned Rose, then grabbed the other drink and walked to the office. She could hear the other girl entering the Operations Director's office and a small smile tilted her lips. Mentally counting to three, she knocked and then waited for the invitation to enter. Ren was at the desk when she pushed the door open, walking towards the desk with a smile. He looked up, surprised.

"I brought you a coffee, sir," she said and placed it carefully on his desk in the spot she had noted he usually left his empty drinks. He looked startled and then his brows dipped.

"Thank you, Miss Smith," he said slowly. "Much appreciated." She blinked in shock and almost forgot what to do next.

"You're welcome. Anything else I can get you?" she asked him and he shook his head.

"I have a phone conference in five minutes so, no thank you," he replied. She nodded and walked out, head spinning. Rose saw her face as she emerged, clutching a small gift box.

"Are you alright?" she asked, scurrying to Rey's side. Visibly shaking herself, Rey nodded. Then her brows arched in a frown.

"Is this office bugged?" she asked quizzically. Rose laughed.

"I doubt it-or we would all have been fired about fifty times over," she reminded Rey. "Why?"

"He said thank you," Rey revealed. "Twice."

"Most normal people do," Rose reminded her.

"Not Ren," Rey insisted. "He never said it."

"I told you he liked you," Rose told her smugly.

"Oh please," Rey scoffed. "Probably just some new corporate initiative: be nice to underlings day." They both burst out laughing.

"Like that would ever happen," Rose chuckled. "Come on-you need to do some actual work and I...ought to as well..." Though she was already fumbling at the little gift box which was clearly some item of jewellery. But as she headed back to her desk, Rey stole another suspicious glance at the door. Something felt off and Rey hated mysteries. Now she was really determined to find out what was happening.

-o0o-

"Well?"

Hux had scarcely seen Kylo this tense. It was amazing. Dealing with multi-million pound deals, fighting off two hostile take-over bids and facing up to the uglier consequences of his past didn't make him break a sweat but in this venture, he looked like he was about to explode with nervous energy.

"She's handing them round but she ate the first one," he reported. Kylo visibly sagged.

"I thought..." he murmured and then sighed.

"She did close her eyes and moan when she ate it," Hux added, feeling a pang of sympathy for his friend. Kylo's head snapped up.

"Really?" Was that a hint of a smile on his usually very serious face? Hux chuckled.

"I was trying not to be seen but it sounded like it," he told his friend. Slumping back in his seat, he saw his boss fiddle with a pen and then toss it onto the desk.

"Why did she share them?" he asked, almost sulkily.

"Because she's generous and if you receive a gift like chocolates, you offer them around," Hux explained. Did Kylo really not know these things? Then the raven-haired man nodded.

"She is generous," he admitted. "She brought me coffee."

"She is the only one who includes us in her coffee runs," Hux reported. "None of the others do."

"You really do keep surveillance on them all," Kylo commented, arching an eyebrow. Hux chuckled.

"Technically I am their direct line manager as well as Ops Director," he reminded Kylo with a smile. "Besides, I hate not knowing what is going on."

"So...?"

"She doesn't have a Valentine's date, if that's what you're asking," Hux revealed. "Finn and Poe are going to Exegol-that new Michelin-starred Molecular place by the river. I believe Finn plans to propose. Rose and I are off to Amilyn's. Zorii and one of the technicians are planning on a movie and pizza while Jannah is going out with Aftab from Accounts, details to be confirmed."

"How...?"

"I listen-and keep my door ajar," Hux revealed. "Your parents are going up to the Aerodrome for some private event by the way. And you are dateless...for the thirtieth year in a row..."

"You cannot possibly be aware of my Valentine's dating history prior to my starting here..." Kylo growled. Hux chuckled smugly.

"My dear Ren-you are an open book. You were a shy boy when younger, you went to some creepy pseudo-military academy which you eventually ran away from, you worked for a construction company for an employer who was controlling and manipulative and you did time," he summarised briskly. Kylo scowled.

"Phasma!" he spat. Hux's smile grew even more smug.

"You see-it pays to be nice to people," he pointed out. "Gwen was more than happy to help me."

"By violating my privacy?" Kylo sulked.

"By helping me understand the man I need to work most closely with and who initially seemed to have some kind of expressive dysphasia," Hux retorted. "Rey was right yesterday. You barely spoke a word to anyone when you arrived. It made working very hard and I have to confess that I found myself resenting you. But I was always taught to be thorough and diligent so I had to understand if there was some underlying story or issue before I dismissed you as a total asshole."

"Thanks," Kylo muttered grudgingly. Hux leaned forward.

"You are still about 58% asshole but you clearly do have a number of issues from your past that have impacted on how you behave-none of them truly your fault," he said.

"You don't know that." The tone was quiet and contained obvious self-loathing.

"Ren-maybe one day you'll trust me with the full story but until then, I have decided to be your friend and see the man before me now, not some previous version," Hux told him. "No matter what happened in your past, you are here now. You are working for Resistance and your work has never been other than exemplary. But to my knowledge, you never socialise. You make a point to distance yourself from your colleagues. You decline all invitations to Senior get-togethers. Whatever you did, you have to forgive yourself one day."

Kylo exhaled audibly, his hands tightening and relaxing.

"Maybe one day," he murmured. "But I'm not quite ready to now."

"So why are you trying this Valentine's date?" Hux asked him, frowning.

"Honestly? Because Mom will not shut up unless I do something," he sighed.

"But everyone thinks you and Gwen..." Hux commented.

"Except Mom, Dad, you, Gwen, Luke and Chewie," he sighed. "I agreed to allow her to use me as an excuse to deflect that offer from Enric Pryde of First Order. And suddenly we're an item. I had Mom badgering me for months until I finally had to disabuse her of the notion." Hux nodded in realisation.

"So she told you that you had to make an effort?" he guessed.

"Something like that," was the reluctant confession.

"So what next?" Hux asked. Finally, Kylo actually smiled-just fleetingly.

"You're not the only one who pays attention to the talk in the office," he said.

-o0o-

Rey arrived home exhausted. After she returned to her desk, she had no chance for any research for work piled up and the minutes took forever to arrange, especially when she had to chase attachments from everyone who had presented-except Ren. His were always emailed to her in advance and he never deviated from his original version. Hux tended to be the worst, always amending his multiple times until she released the minutes.

The lunch voucher had proved a godsend for Rey was always starving by lunch and this time she could indulge in something warm, instead of her usual sandwich and chocolate bar. In fact, she had brought her lunch back to her desk and had eaten it there, flicking down her social media and planning her afternoon. But Ren had requested she type a couple of urgent letters just before clocking off and though she was keen to get home, she felt that sense of obligation to Resistance and stayed half an hour later to finish. Ren had thanked her again absently, nodding to dismiss her and she had left more intrigued than ever.

Arriving home with a brown bag of vegetables, she had changed out of her dark blue pencil skirt, cream blouse and knee high leather boots into a pair of very fluffy pyjamas and slippers before retrieving her lunch sandwich and eating it for dinner along with a can of soup and then slumping in front of the television. Her apartment was tiny with open plan kitchen living area, single bedroom and bathroom but it was cosy clean and affordable. The she heard a knock on the door and she peered through the spy hole and then opened it to let Maz in.

The little woman reached Rey's chest only, her hair concealed in a knitted hat and eyes magnified behind bottle glasses. But she bustled past Rey and placed a container on the counter, glancing around the room.

"Chicken casserole," she said. "You need to eat well." Blushing slightly, Rey smiled her thanks.

"You do too much for me," she told Maz but the little old woman was adamant.

"My family are all gone now," she said. "If I choose to treat you like a daughter, that is my choice. Allow an old woman to pay forward kindness." Throat thickening, Rey blinked and then leaned down to hug her.

"Thank you," she said.

"Child, your past is a partially blank page and your family has fled but here, you are building a future and family for yourself. Do not be afraid to take a chance and trust those who show you kindness because ultimately, what is life if not a gamble?" Rey pulled back, laughing.

"You always talk like a fortune cookie," she chuckled as Maz smiled knowingly.

"Do you have a young man for Valentine's?" she asked and Rey's smile fell.

"No," she sighed. "But that's okay. I'm binge-watching box sets on Friday night..."

"There is still time," Maz told her, heading for the door. "A person who gives out so much kindness and love will inevitably get them back tenfold in return." Rey sighed.

"Maybe one day," she sighed as the old woman vanished down the stairs. "But for now, its me and a tub of chocolate cookie dough ice cream..."

Yet as she sat on the couch, she her mind drifted back to the beautifully wrapped parcel on her desk and she gave a small smile.