C.E.O x C.E.O

Ch. 3 - What Just Happened?

Katherine went home by herself that night. She knows it's rude to have left her boss behind, with the business they're about to handle as per coming to the party in the first place cast aside and all, but she couldn't comprehended what her eyes had met tonight. She needs a moment. Or well, a few moments. She needs a whole week off.

And focusing on the streetlights and signs and other upcoming cars as she turns her steering wheel does manage to distract her a tad bit.

Even if that scene keeps replaying itself in her head. She's never seen her boss in such a vulnerable, submissive position, in all her years working for him.

And with the man he's hated throughout those years even? What the hell is happening?

Katherine is in the boss's office now, empty and tidy as it had been when they left for the event, besides the desk, which James never cleans. She would've drove straight home, but she knows she wouldn't be able to sleep. She thought finishing it up on work in the office would set her mind elsewhere, anywhere besides where it currently is.

Luckily, James is a mess. And so his desk is a mess. She hurries to tidy it up. Yes, that would get her mind off things.

She starts with the paperwork, disorganized and scattered on every corner of the desk. She realizes midway that some of the papers are of entirely different purposes. She sighs, remembering very vividly putting these papers in files and binders and held together with clips. Why did James take them out and mess it up? Either he was very closely inspecting the papers (which would make her feel gratified, since it was her hard work) or he really had nothing better to do.

Then, between the paper she'd told him to sign but still has yet to, and the one containing the statistics of their stocks, she finds another piece of paper that causes her to pause, her interest piqued.

It's a filled-in paper containing the biodata of a certain person. Katherine's heart becomes somewhat uneasy. Why does her boss need the information of his worst enemy?

Despite James never missing a chance to say he hates Dmitri, he would never actually do anything to sabotage him. No, that isn't like James. He prefers succession over them than sabotage. So why would we have this?

Her eyes fall on Dmitri's profile picture. A light scowl. It's as if a scowl is a permanent feat on his face. His hair is still very much unkempt and the blue background surprisingly compliments his deep blue eyes. It's a normal photo. It's not like the man has scars on his face from ruthless fights or a scar from a tragic backstory or anything. Regardless, Katherine feels uneasy just looking at him.

Obviously, it's because she caught him playing tonsil hockey with his boss just a moment ago.

She groans under her breath. It doesn't make sense. What would James even see in a man like him? She didn't even know he liked men! Well, she had a hunch, since he's only ever had one girlfriend, and never plans to again. Still, if he is going for a man, did it have to be Dmitri of all people? Someone he'd butt heads with every chance he got. Someone whom he openly admitted resentment for. It doesn't make sense at all.

She huffs closed-mouthed, taking a seat at her boss's desk. Surely he wouldn't mind. The weight of her head resting on her hand, she continues to scan the sheet of biodata. Maybe James just... came to a realization? For whatever reason. Maybe Dmitri said something to win him over? What if they've actually had this affair for a long time and she just didn't know? And they kept it hidden by seeming like enemies to the public?

"Ugh," A shiver runs down her spine thinking of the possibilities. Even if they were... an item, they'd never be able to truly be together, she attempts to rationalize it. Not with Dmitri's gaudy attitude. But mainly because the public would be on fire. James and Dmitri are two popular entrepreneurs at the top of the food chain. Both are young and handsome (Not to her, maybe. They're just not her type.) and single and have built a reputation for themselves as big-time self-made philanthropists. And playboys. Well, on Dmitri's part at least, though the title of C.E.O just kind of gives you that assumption.