Strictly business (until it wasn't) - Chapter 4: Chapter 4

Y/N's POV
It was 4:00am, I groaned as I reached for my ringing phone, slightly irritated because my alarm wasn't due to go off for another half an hour.
The name on the screen had me awake in seconds. It was Natasha.
"Good morning Miss Romanoff, is everything okay?"
"I apologise for the early morning call, but I have had something come up on the schedule overnight. I need to fly to Tokyo in a few hours, it will just be an over night trip. But I do need you to come with me. I hope that is not an issue." Natasha explained.
"No issue at all" I said as I climbed out of bed quickly, pulling my carry on suitcase out of my cupboard and started packing. "I'm just pulling up the schedule now to look at the details."
"Never mind doing that. I need you to meet me at private terminal at the airport at 6am, just bring what you need for two days of mainly travel, there and back, a night away and we will be attending a dinner and a few meetings." Natasha stated.
"I'll be there and ready by 6. Do you need me to bring you anything at all?" I asked.
"Just don't be late. This is important Y/N."
"I completely understand" I answered.
"Good to hear. See you in two hours." Natasha said and then hung up before I had the chance to answer again.
I ran around quickly grabbing what I needed. I packed my laptop and tablet along with charging cables into my handbag, I also threw in my keys, my passport, my kindle just in case and my water bottle. Next, I went back to my small suitcase. I packed Bussiness clothes, sleepwear, underwear and a nice dress for dinner. Shoes and toiletries followed.
I cleaned my apartment quickly and made the bed. Last on my to do list was to shower and get ready. I checked the time. 0450. It still seemed like plenty of time, but I still had to get to the airport after I was ready.
Just after 5, I was ready to go. I had navy blue heels on to match my favourite navy blue pant suit set paired with a white blouse. With one last look in the mirror, I grabbed my bags and headed out the door.
Traffic was a nightmare, I was going to make it, just. I hadn't expected the roads to be this busy so early. I made some calls from the back seat of the car, lining up a few things for the trip and for when we land. I hadn't had much direction from Natasha at all so I took on some of the work, hoping to impress her.
Nat's POV
I arrived at the private terminal of the airport right on 6am, my sharp black suit and signature red hair catching the early light. I checked my watch, expecting to wait for Y/N. After all, most of my assistants were notoriously late for early flights, overwhelmed before they even started. I also hadn't given her a lot of warning, I hadn't had much more myself.
But Y/N was already there, standing by the jet's steps with a calm, composed expression. She wore a fitted navy blazer, tailored slacks, and carried a sleek bag over her shoulder. She looked up from her phone as I approached, flashing her a confident smile.
"Good morning, Miss Romanoff," Y/N greeted. "Everything is ready. The itinerary has been confirmed, and I've already coordinated with the Tokyo team to ensure a smooth schedule."
I paused, mildly impressed. "Efficient. You're off to a good start for your first business trip with me."
Y/N stepped aside, gesturing toward the jet. "Shall we? I've also arranged for breakfast to be served once we're airborne. Your usual black coffee and a protein-packed option, since I noticed you skipped dinner last night."
I raised an eyebrow, stepping onto the jet. "You assume I didn't eat last night?"
"Well- I mean, you didn't when I was there. Sorry I shouldn't assume." Y/N rambled.
I smiled to myself, I don't know where the usual confident Y/N just went, but her unusually flustered state gave me great joy to watch.
"I like that you are prepared." I added
Y/N followed me inside, taking a seat across from me, a small table in between us. "I figured being unprepared wasn't an option"
I smirked, adjusting the cuffs of my blazer. "Smart. But surviving this one trip isn't enough. You'll have to keep this up."
Y/N leaned back in her seat, unbothered by the challenge. "I intend to."
As the jet took off, I kept an eye on Y/N, noting how she handled everything with poise, from coordinating calls during the flight to anticipating my needs without being overbearing.
Y/N had been correct, I opted to skip dinner last night to focus on work and I was hungry. Once we were in the air, as promised, a coffee and breakfast was placed on the table in front of me.
Y/N didn't eat, she went between her laptop doing work and flipping through a book on her kindle.
After breakfast, I pulled up the spreadsheet for the Tokyo branch numbers. Something didn't seem right, that's when noticed the date, this hadn't been updated in two weeks and now we were almost landing. I refused to go into a meeting unprepared and now it looked like that's exactly what was going to happen.
"Y/N" I said even louder than I had wanted to.
Her eyes snapped up as she looked at me. Before she could speak I spoke again. "This spreadsheet for Tokyo hasn't been updated in weeks"
Y/N's eyes widen in shock and then she opened her own laptop. She seemed to breathe a sigh of relief as she clicked in to something.
"I'm so sorry Miss Romanoff, it is currently up to date, I just forgot to save the latest version to the shared documents. I won't allow it to happen again" she explained.
I was glad for two reasons, I would be prepared going into this meeting and I had no reason to doubt Y/N.
"Thank you." I said plainly. "I trust it won't occur again."
By the time they landed in Tokyo, I found myself grudgingly impressed.
The day was relentless: back-to-back meetings, negotiations, and a high-profile dinner with potential investors. Yet Y/N remained calm and composed, managing everything seamlessly. When I glanced at her way during the dinner, I caught Y/N subtly redirecting a conversation to avoid a potential misstep with a particularly difficult investor.
Later that evening, as we returned to the hotel, I finally broke my silence. "You did well today."
Y/N glanced over at me, a small smile tugging at her lips. "Thank you, Miss Romanoff. I aim to exceed expectations."
She looked stunning in the dress she wore, I had to pretend like it wasn't making me feel things I shouldn't be feeling.
I stopped at my room door. "Don't let it go to your head. But...you've exceeded mine so far."
Y/N gave me a playful shrug. "Just doing my job."
I watched her retreat down the hall to her own room, a rare smile ghosting across my lips. I was in trouble if I couldn't get myself under control.
Y/N's POV
I sighed the moment closed the door behind me, leaning on it while my mind ran crazy. I was starting to have feelings for someone I shouldn't have feelings for, the one person I couldn't have feelings for. Natasha is my boss, it's unprofessional and I knew there was no way she would even look at me like that. I so far, really liked this job and wouldn't do anything to risk putting my position in jeopardy.
After a shower, I jumped into bed. I opened my laptop, making sure to memorise tomorrows schedule, two meetings in the morning, nothing scheduled for two hours around lunch, one last meeting on the afternoon and then the flight home. We would get home on tomorrow night, I just had to get through tomorrow with Natasha and I would then have the weekend to sort myself out and get over this little crush.
I closed my laptop and laid down the bed, turning the lamp off next to me. I was exhausted after and needed to sleep, but the only thing on my mind was how beautiful Natasha is.
———
There was a knock at the door just as I finished tying up my hair into a low bun. I picked up my bag and laptop and slipped on my heels as I went to answer the door.
Natasha stood there in the hallway. Her perfectly fitted pant suit looks amazing on her and red hair was straight and sleek and sat just below her collar bone. Her green eyes looked straight at me.
I had chosen to wear a fitted black just above the knee skirt, paired with a light blue blouse and a matching back jacket over the top. I usually preferred pant suits, but when I was packing for the trip I decided to try something new, so I chucked this set in.
Natasha looked me up and down, she swallowed and then quickly looked back at my eyes.
"Good, you're ready to go, I was not going to be happy if you were still half asleep." Natasha said as she began walking away, silently asking me to follow behind her.
I was very grateful for the fact that I had set an alarm last night before I went to sleep.
"You look different in a skirt" Natasha said as we sat in the car, her eyes never leaving the documents in front to of her.
"In a good way I hope" I chuckled.
Nat replied, again without looking up. "You look good in a skirt."
I tried my hardest not to blush. I couldn't handle words like that from her. I swallowed and focused my attention forward.
The first meeting went smoothly. I sat at the back of the meeting room in a modern building right in the middle of the city. I took notes of anything that seemed important and also confirmed everything for the next meeting via email.
On our way to the second meeting of the day, Natasha typed away on her tablet, concentration and focus was etched all over her face. I, on the other hand, looked out the window and watched the city pass us by.
The second meeting started off well, the investors seemed very interested by Natasha's pitch. The presentation I had helped with played behind Natasha as she spoke with confidence. Her eyes darted around the room as she continued her speech, and every now and then her gaze met mine. I wanted to think it meant something but I know she was just looking around the room.
As we packed up to leave and Natasha said a few goodbyes, one of the investors employees who had been in the meeting came and stood beside me.
"I've never seen you with Miss Romanoff, are you new?" He asked
I nodded politely, "I've been working for her for a few months now."
He laughed, placing a hand on my arm. I moved away slightly to get him to take his hand of me.
"Y/N, we're leaving." Natasha said from the other side of the room. I followed her out to the car that had been waiting for us.
Natasha seemed irritated and I was just hoping it wasn't something I had done.
Instead of pulling up out the front of the hotel, like I expected, we had stopped out the front of a restaurant. Natasha got out of the car without a word and I followed silently.
I had no idea what we were doing here.