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.

To hold him. To tell him she was there. That she always wanted to be

hunched a nearly imperceptible amount, his cheeks sullen while

"Sir.." She

tablet down on his desk and hesitantly stood from her seat. Slow, deliberately, she walked to him. She had to do something. To calm even

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

voice even sounded tired,

fingertips to graze the silk of his shim for

he grasped her wrist and peeled it away from him. She winced and dropped her hand to her side immediately. For

spoke so quietly, she only heard

inappropriate of me. I just.. Are you okay?" she couldn't stop herself from asking him, though she knew he likely

your boss for another three weeks, am I noit Perhaps we can focus on work and less on f*cking feelings," Kylan snapped

walking back to her seat and

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

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bumping her hip against

his eyes and scoffed at her "Of course, I do. Don't question my methods, Katrina Morgan, he chastised her, tapping an alarmingly small amount of salt

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

again." She

make the fruit salad and stop looking so damn smug, Aaron grumbled to his

surrender before maneuvering to gather

at her friends, her heart feeling warmer than it had

progressively more distant, and more withdrawn over the last couple of days at work. He was on edge, never looking like he slept

was hurting. It hurt her because the shouldn't be his punching

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, She was looking forward to hearing from Oscar after Christmas and asking him what the hell was going

celebrate with. To be happy with. Though. she likely knew that he didn't. That he wouldn't

like that,

to house the potatoes she cut. She placed it under the running sink water and waited for it to fill up enough. Her phone buzzed repeatedly in her back pocket, and she absently removed it to

the least when it was

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

her inner cheek, already

Can you get this pot situated over a burner, please?" She looked over her shoulder as she

he and Maine staring at

fine. I just need to take this." She waved her phone at them, gracing them with a reassuring smile, and then entered her bedroom, closing

it, but Kylan was already calling her again. She

she asked as soon as her phone