"No, that's too much oil for fried rice!"

"Fine Kyo, then we'll just add some peas to balance it out."

He wraps his arms around my waist and whispers in my ear using his seductive pop-star voice "Hiba, what are you up to?"

Innocently, I answer "Just trying to keep your stamina up for your busy schedule."

He kisses my shoulder, "But I thought that I didn't have anything on my schedule tomorrow?"

"As your assistant manager, I think I know your schedule better than you."

"As your boss, I think that I should be concerned that you are scheduling things without consulting me." He let's go and goes off to check his updated schedule.

I smile to myself and pull out several bowls of green vegetables that I prepped earlier.

He comes back with a genuine smile, "Hiba, I think that you might be abusing your double position at Rikudoh Productions."

"Hmm, I have no idea what you mean?"

"Song-writing inspiration session scheduled for 24 solid hours? I don't remember authorizing such an extravagant time commitment."

"You know it's your favorite appointment, Kyo, and you could always cancel it if you prefer that I get inspiration without you."

"Hiba, you're not getting away with that."

As he pushes my hair back behind my ear, I scold him, "You're forgetting that you have several additional appointments first. Now it is time to make dinner."

He looks over my shoulder at all the different variety of peas and groans. "Are you trying to wear me out or build up my stamina? Make up your mind, Hiba."

"Well, Kyo, I thought that you could practice feeding my ego a little for a change."

With a sparkle in his eyes, he answers "Well, this sounds interesting."

"For each bowl, you have to convince me that I shouldn't toss it in the wok. With a compliment from the heart, of course."

"You're heartless."

I toss in the first bowl.

"Hey, I didn't know we had started!"

"Kyo, you are a professional, and should be prepared for anything. That was a completely unacceptable performance. Apologizing after the fact is useless."

He smirks, "That was a pretty good impression of me, Hiba."

I toss the second bowl into the trash.

"I love how you are so earnest in everything, even when it's forcing me to eat peas."

I toss the third bowl into the trash.

He runs his finger up my side, "You pay attention to everything around you and use it to grow as a writer and lyricist."

I shudder and throw the fourth bowl into the trash.

"I like how you moan when I touch you."

I toss the fifth bowl into the wok.

"Hey, that was heartfelt!"

"It was more like you were complimenting yourself."

He kisses the nape of my neck, "Good point. Well, I love when you tease me with your tongue before you…"

"Enough!" and I toss the sixth bowl into the trash.

"How many more of those do you have?"

My hand hovers above the wok.

"I mean you have impressive skills at finding a wide variety of garden produce!"

I laugh and say "I'll give you a pass on the heartfelt for your desperation" and throw the seventh in the trash.

"That was pretty good, Kyo. Five for seven, I thought I might only wrangle out two or three good compliments."

"Why seven bowls?"

"To celebrate my official position as the seventh member of Revance of course. Even if it's a shadow position, I'm so happy that it is official."

I go to the refrigeration and bring out fresh ingredients. "That batch is for the rest of them. We'll make a new batch without any peas."

"Nope. We're amending the schedule, Hiba, inspiration time first, dinner later."

He envelops me in his strong arms and carries me off to his room, nibbling on my sensitive earlobe as we go.