C.E.O x C.E.O

Ch. 1 - Fuck Parties

Katherine wants to go home.

She's never really been a party person, or a people person in general. Never liked being surrounded by unfamiliar faces. What if a serial killer stood among them? Then she wouldn't want to be the first with a bullet in her shoulder. It's one of her biggest irrational fears, the reason why she skipped so many parties, from prom to her own brother's wedding. Her sister-in-law doesn't like her all that much anyway.

But she needed to come along for this party in particular. It's a business trip. The real estate company she works for, Artino Holdings, had recently come across a huge deal. And she wasn't about to pass it up just because she didn't like people.

Plus, her boss insisted she accompany him. He's never been too keen on going anywhere alone. For a guy who wears a stone-cold face most of the time, he sure gets frightened by crowds easily. Not that she could blame him, for she doesn't enjoy crowds either, except it's more of boredom than fear.

Speaking of her boss, where is he? Whilst standing in a crowd of other wealthy entrepreneurs, she lifts her head up and darts her eyes around the busy, bustling hall. Amongst everyone laughing and gawking and whispering, her boss is nowhere to be found. He shouldn't be that hard to find. He's a man with a pretty built frame, always standing with a perfect posture like a sentient statue, hair he bleached black and white always slicked back, and that silver tie he pairs with every single suit he dawns for some reason.

Finally, she sees him. He's standing beside the feast table that stretched out from one end of the hall to another, but he isn't looking at the food. Instead, his eyes are frantic, glancing around the room like he's looking out for someone. They are sharp, almost emotionless, accompanied by practically permanent furrowed brows and lips that only curve into a smile in private. He's holding a wine glass, but by the way it's filled nearly to the brim, it seems he has barely paid attention to it.

She sighs. It's almost like she just found her lost child at the supermarket lingering by the toys aisle. She forces her way through the crowd to get to him, tight squeezes and 'sorry's and 'excuse me's thrown here and there.

At last, she reaches him. She almost tumbles when she escapes the crowd.

Her boss - James Artino his name - jumps at her sudden entry. "Katherine," He starts, deep voice in a slight concern. "Are you alright?"

"Never been better," She replies sarcastically, though there is a truth to it, for she's quite glad to have not lost him in the crowd. "Now, what are you doing here all by yourself?"

He turns away as if there'd be an emotion in his face to hide, when there rarely ever is. "I simply wanted to be alone."

"At a business party full of rich people ready to flaunt their wealth at you?" Katherine perks her hands on her hips. "Yeah, good luck with that."

He remains turned away, and silent, but she can see the slight red on his ears.

Katherine sometimes wonders how James had been able to obtain the title of C.E.O. He's a quiet man who would rather observe from afar than socialize, and socializing is a pretty big thing when it comes to business. It wasn't family inheritance, for he's mentioned he came from the poorer side of the country and climbed his way up. But how exactly did he climb? Even Katherine had to force herself to be a social butterfly in order to get where she is now.

It could probably be the forced friendly demeanor he puts on for the public. Or the good looks.

Or maybe it's the quietness that got him to the top to begin with. One thing she's noticed about quiet people is that they watch. A lot. And they can gather a lot by just watching.