“The CEO They Shouldn’t Have Ignored”

PART 13 — The Silence She Left Behind

The space beside me felt… empty.

Too empty.

Even after she left…

It still felt like she was here.

Standing right in front of me.

Looking at me with those conflicted eyes.

“I need space.”

Her voice kept repeating in my head.

I gave it to her.

Just like she asked.

But I didn’t expect…

It would feel like this.

Like something was missing.

No.

Not something.

Someone.

The next day—

She didn’t come.

At first, I thought she was just late.

Then an hour passed.

Then two.

Nothing.

“Where is she?” I asked.

The receptionist looked up.

“She applied for leave today.”

Leave.

Without telling me.

Of course.

That’s what “space” meant.

Distance.

Silence.

And no explanation.

I clenched my jaw slightly.

“Did she say how long?”

“No, sir.”

Of course she didn’t.

Because if she did…

It wouldn’t be her.

I went back to my office.

Everything looked the same.

But it didn’t feel the same.

Her desk—

Was empty.

No files.

No notes.

No quiet presence beside me.

Just…

Nothing.

I sat down slowly.

Trying to focus.

Trying to ignore it.

But I couldn’t.

Because every small thing…

Reminded me of her.

The way she used to organize files.

The way she corrected me without hesitation.

The way she stayed calm even when I wasn’t.

And now…

Gone.

Just like that.

“Focus,” I muttered to myself.

But it didn’t work.

Because for the first time in a long time…

I didn’t want to focus on work.

I wanted—

No.

I shouldn’t.

She asked for space.

So I gave it.

Even if it felt like I was losing her.

Again.

Meanwhile—

She sat alone.

In a quiet café.

Far from the office.

Far from him.

She wrapped her hands around the warm cup.

But it didn’t make her feel better.

Nothing did.

“I did the right thing…”

She whispered to herself.

But her voice…

Didn’t sound convincing.

Because deep down…

She knew.

Running away wasn’t the solution.

But staying…

Was even harder.

Her phone vibrated.

She froze.

For a second…

She thought it was him.

But it wasn’t.

Just a message from a friend.

Disappointment.

Why?

Why was she disappointed?

Wasn’t this what she wanted?

Space.

Distance.

Freedom from complicated feelings.

Then why did it feel so… wrong?

She closed her eyes.

Memories started flooding back.

His voice.

His eyes.

The way he said—

“Stay.”

Her chest tightened.

“Why now…” she whispered.

Why now, when she was finally trying to move on?

Why now, when she almost forgot how it felt?

Why did he come back…

At the exact moment she started healing?

Tears gathered in her eyes.

But she didn’t let them fall.

Because crying…

Would make everything feel too real.

And she wasn’t ready for that.

Back at the office—

The day felt longer than usual.

Meetings passed.

Calls ended.

Files were signed.

But nothing stayed in my mind.

Because every few minutes…

My eyes drifted.

To her desk.

Empty.

Still empty.

Annoying.

Frustrating.

Unacceptable.

I grabbed my phone.

Opened her contact.

Stared at it.

For a long time.

Call?

No.

She asked for space.

Text?

No.

Same reason.

I locked the phone.

Then unlocked it again.

This time—

I typed.

Are you okay?

Simple.

Nothing too much.

Nothing too personal.

Just enough.

I stared at the message.

Then…

Deleted it.

Annoying.

Why was this so difficult?

I’ve handled bigger problems.

Bigger risks.

Bigger decisions.

But this—

Just one message—

Felt harder than everything else.

Because this time…

I didn’t want to make the wrong move.

Not again.

Evening came.

The office slowly emptied.

One by one.

Until it was quiet.

Too quiet.

I leaned back in my chair.

Exhausted.

Not from work.

But from thinking.

Too much thinking.

And not enough answers.

Then suddenly—

My phone vibrated.

My eyes snapped to it.

Her name.

Finally.

I picked it up instantly.

“…Hello?”

Silence.

Then—

“I’m sorry.”

Her voice.

Soft.

Tired.

“I didn’t tell you about today,” she continued.

I didn’t respond immediately.

Because hearing her voice again…

Made everything feel different.

“Are you okay?” I asked.

Same question I almost sent earlier.

She paused.

“…I don’t know.”

That answer…

Was honest.

Too honest.

“Where are you?” I asked.

Silence.

Then—

“At a café.”

“Stay there.”

“What?”

“I’m coming.”

“No—”

But I already hung up.

Because this time…

I wasn’t going to stay still.

Not again.

Because giving her space doesn’t mean letting her go—and tonight… I’m going to prove that.