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.

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

nearly imperceptible amount, his cheeks

"Sir.." She

desk and hesitantly stood from her seat. Slow, deliberately, she walked to him.

up at her, his eyes dull and his frown

His voice even sounded tired,

down and adjusted his tic, allowing her fingertips to graze the silk of his shim for a moment. Kylan watched her, his eyes narrowed and trained on

and dropped her hand to her side immediately. For a second. Katrina and Kylan only

Katrina," Kylan finally spoke so quietly, she only heard him because she was

you okay?" she couldn't stop herself from asking him, though she knew

am I noit Perhaps we can focus on work and

shook her head, walking back to her seat and gathering the tablet once

too for your liking." She didn't

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do you even know what seasoning is?" Katrina giggled, bumping her hip against her friend while

at her "Of course, I do. Don't question my methods, Katrina Morgan, he chastised her, tapping an alarmingly small amount of salt into the bowl of stuffing he

would actually like to enjoy Christmas Eve dinner for once, and not have to order pancakes from the diner down the road because we screwed

again." She

I've got this, okay? And you, Ma'am, you make the fruit salad and stop looking so damn smug, Aaron grumbled

laughed, raising her hands in surrender before maneuvering

heart feeling warmer

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

her. It hurt her because she knew he was hurting. It

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

wasn't lost on her that 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

the pineapple like that, Maine." Aaron groaned

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 Rylan calling

He likely needed to ask her to do something work-related for him, and she was

cheek, already knowing she would

over a burner, please?" She looked over

he and Maine staring at her with worried

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

had gone to voicemail before she could answer it, but Kylan was already calling her again. She took a deep breath, licked her lips, and then finally answered

soon