Contract Marriage with My CEO Boss

Chapter 72

Chapter 72

She cleared her throat, blinking away the tears that threatened to spill from her eyes. "Right. I better go give this to Kylan." She picked up the tea and smiled gratefully at Ryan.

"Kylan isn't here yet, Katrina" Ryan frowned at her, the blonde of his brows drawing together.

"It's after right o'clock, Sir." She looked at her watch for a second time that morning, her frown mirroring Ryan's

"I can call him if you would like," Ryan offered.

She shook her head firmly. "No, that's alright. I'm still has assistant right now. I'll worry about it. Thank you, Ryan." before gathering Kylan's tea and heading for his office, forcing herself to not walk too quickly. ve him one more smile

This was completely unlike Kylan. Entirely out of character for him. He was never late. He valued punctuality

Upon reaching his office, her stomach dropped when

There was nothing out of place. Nothing that would indicate that he had yet to be here today, either in above

all else.

en she realized it was indeed empty. She set down Kylan's tea, her eyes scanning across his desk.

Where was he? It was nearly eight-thirty. A sick Feeling clawed through her chest, and she pulled her phone from the pocket of her skirt, poised to call her boss

"The hell are you doing behind my desk?" Kylan's brisk voice surprised her from his doorway.

She jumped slightly, fumbling with her phone, and putting it back in her pocket at once. "Sir, where have you been? Did you have an early morning appointment I wasn't aware of?" She couldn't hide the relief from her voice at the sight of him, stepping away from his chair and standing next to his desk instead.

He didn't make eye contact with her, ignoring her questions entirely and brushing by her to reach his seat.

She frowned at him but tentatively sat down in her chair, grabbing her tablet, and settling it on her lap.

It was then that she looked at him. Really looked at him.

And damn, if he didn't break her heart.

His eyes typically carried dark circles beneath them, but these. The ones under his eyes right now! They were ghastly, Purple and blue hues contrasted strikingly against his pale skin. His hair was also a bit damp, and his tie was slightly crooked. He looked like he hadn't slept or eaten in at least two days if she had to guess.

What was he going through? This couldn't possibly be because she resigned. She wasn't so arrogant to believe she had that much sway over a man. like Kylan Ross.

tell him she was there. That she always wanted

a nearly imperceptible amount, his cheeks sullen while

"Sir.." She

from her seat. Slow, deliberately, she walked to him. She had to

paused when he looked up at her, his eyes dull and his frown

His voice even sounded tired, and she

carefully reached down and adjusted his tic, allowing her fingertips to graze the silk

her hand to her side immediately. For a second. Katrina and Kylan only stared at one another, neither of them speaking

quietly, she only heard him because she was standing right in

inappropriate of me. I just.. Are you okay?" she couldn't stop herself from

weeks, am I noit Perhaps we can focus on work and less on f*cking

her head, walking back to her seat and gathering

too for your liking." She didn't look at Kylan anymore, ignoring his huff in favor of scanning

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her hip against her friend while she

he chastised her, tapping an alarmingly

once, and not have to order pancakes from the diner down the road because we screwed it up y carried a few potatoes to a waiting cutting board, carefully picking up a nearby chef's knife and then

again." She

Kate. I've got this, okay? And you, Ma'am, you make the

maneuvering to

heart feeling warmer

over the last couple of days at work. He was on edge, never looking like he slept hardly rating, and always short with her

hurt her because she knew he was hurting. It hurt

was thankful for the respite that the holidays were going to provide her, though both Oscar and Kylan were often at the forefront of her mind She was worried about them for different reasons, and she felt like she really couldn't help either one of them right now,

tomorrow was also Kylan's thirty-third birthday. She hoped he had someone to celebrate with. To be happy with. Though. she likely knew that he didn't. That he wouldn't allow himself to indulge in

like

and waited for it to fill up enough. Her phone buzzed repeatedly in her back pocket,

was surprised, to say the least when it was Rylan calling

at his Ross Corp. CEO contact picture, debating whether or not she wanted to take his call. He likely needed to ask her to do something work-related for him, and she was off the next two days,

already knowing she would answer his

burner, please?" She looked over her

and Maine staring at her with worried expressions

take this." She waved her phone at them, gracing them with a reassuring smile, and then entered

answer it, but Kylan was already calling her again. She took a deep breath, licked

she asked as soon as her phone