C.E.O x C.E.O

Ch. 17 - Guilt Trip. Pun Intended

Throughout the entire time they're next to each other on the train, James wouldn't stop shifting in his seat, attempting to find the right position to shut his eyes and nap. Katherine had been told by Dmitri that James slept soundly at his place last night, no sudden waking jumps from nightmares or anything, and he'd slept for at least six hours. That's average for him. Then why is he still sleepy?

Perhaps it's a side effect of the drug. She still couldn't believe it happened. Thankfully, Dmitri had been there to save him.

It's blatant now that someone's out to get James. James himself doesn't seem to be aware he's being hunted, and Katherine would hate to break that to him, especially when other things should be on his mind.

Still, Katherine tries to keep positive. They have a lead in the case this time, and she hopes Tamara solves it soon. Katherine wouldn't be able to assist her whilst she's away for the week. All she could do now is make sure James isn't targeted during the trip, at the very least.

In an effort to avoid her mind from being too clouded with the near-assassination attempts on her boss's head, Katherine taps on James' shoulder. His head - otherwise bobbing sleepily - flinches upward. "Hm? Yes, Kath?"

"So, Jamie," She starts with a smile. "How are things with Reen?"

She only realizes how dumb the question is after she said it, and when her boss's face changes into a mild surprise, a face that displays how unaware he is about the fact she knows what's really going on between him and his 'rival'. Maybe she should've been more vague, or not bring it up entirely, but the truth is that Katherine has been wondering whether they are actually an item or what happens between them is merely transactional.

Or maybe she heard wrong, misunderstood the situation, imagined everything.

Even so, there's no denying that James and Dmitri have been in close proximity with each other very often these past few days, from privately seeing each other after meetings to spending nights together.

And everything had begun when she walked into the two of them all up in each other's faces in a dusty storage room at an otherwise fancy party. It's been quite a while since then yet she still couldn't wrap her head around it.

"Pardon?" James then questions, a very faint hint of panic in his voice, though his calm expression stays. "Things with... Reen?"

"I mean," Her shrewishness maintains its position. "You two have been spending an awful lot of time together."

James then brings his sleeve up to brush over his lips, for some reason. There had been nothing to wipe beforehand. Did he think he had drooled?

Or did he do something else with that mouth of his.

'Argh!' Katherine shook her head hard, to shake away that thought, and brought her attention back to James, acting like nothing had happened in her head.

"I could say the same about you and his own secretary, Tamara Santander," He then says.

Katherine's eyes widen when James smirks at her. She wouldn't deny she's been hanging with Tamara a lot. It's mainly to solve the case, but she feels the more prominent answer would be because she wants a friend.

James doesn't need to know about the 'solve the case' part. Not yet.

"And to answer your question, about me and Reen," James clears his throat, and Katherine is surprised he's actually willing to answer it, thinking he'd instead try changing the topic. "We still hate each other. Nothing more to it than that."

"Really?" To lighten up the mood, she takes this opportunity to tease him. "You spent at least two nights with the man. Two nights! Overnight! I'm just wondering what you two have been up to."