The CEO Who Forgot How to Love

Chapter 4: The Confidential File

Chapter 4: The Confidential File

The executive floor was almost empty.

The once-busy office had fallen silent, with only the soft hum of the air conditioner filling the space.

Sofia glanced at the clock.

7:48 P.M.

"...I didn't realize it was this late."

She rubbed her tired eyes before looking back at the thick black envelope in her hands.

CONFIDENTIAL

CEO ADRIAN MONTENEGRO

AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY

She frowned.

"I don't remember this being here."

Just as she was about to place it on Adrian's desk the next morning—

The office door opened.

"Miss Reyes."

Sofia nearly jumped.

The envelope slipped from her hands.

Luckily, she caught it before it hit the floor.

Adrian stepped out of his office, his expression as unreadable as ever.

His gaze immediately landed on the envelope.

Neither of them spoke.

"I-I'm sorry, sir!" Sofia blurted out. "It was mixed in with the reports. I wasn't trying to look at it."

Adrian walked toward her.

His polished shoes echoed across the quiet office.

Sofia instinctively held the envelope out with both hands.

"I didn't open it."

"I promise."

Adrian accepted it.

Without checking the seal, he looked at her.

"You didn't."

"...Sir?"

"If you had opened it..."

"You would've tried to explain yourself before I even asked."

Sofia blinked.

He... believed her?

"Thank you for returning it."

His voice remained calm.

But somehow...

It sounded less cold than before.

"You may go home."

"...That's it?"

Adrian raised an eyebrow.

"Were you expecting a lecture?"

"N-No, sir!"

She shook her head so quickly that Adrian almost sighed.

Almost.

----------------

The elevator doors closed.

Sofia finally let out the breath she'd been holding.

"I survived another day..."

A familiar voice laughed beside her.

"Congratulations."

She turned to see Ethan Cruz leaning casually against the elevator wall.

Sofia gasped.

"Oh! You scared me."

"My apologies."

He offered his hand.

"I'm Ethan."

"Ethan Cruz."

"Sofia Reyes."

They shook hands.

"I've heard a lot about you."

Sofia looked confused.

"You have?"

"The girl who spilled coffee on the CEO."

Her face turned bright red.

"...News travels fast."

"It spread through the company in less than ten minutes."

Sofia covered her face.

"I'll never recover from this."

Ethan laughed.

"You know..."

"I've known Adrian for over fifteen years."

"And?"

"I've never seen him give someone a second chance after a mistake."

Sofia stared at him.

"...Really?"

He nodded.

"So..."

"What exactly did you say to him?"

"I... don't know."

"I just apologized."

"Hmm."

Ethan smiled to himself.

Interesting.

---------------

The next morning...

Sofia arrived thirty minutes early.

"If I get here before everyone else..."

"I can't possibly be late."

As she stepped into the executive office, she noticed Adrian already working.

She looked at the clock.

7:00 A.M.

"...Sir?"

Adrian didn't look up.

"You're early."

"So are you."

"I live to work."

Sofia couldn't help smiling.

"I don't think anyone should live just to work."

Silence.

She immediately regretted saying it.

"I'm sorry."

"I was just thinking out loud."

To her surprise, Adrian simply returned to reading his documents.

No lecture.

No warning.

Just silence.

------------------

Around noon...

The office suddenly became chaotic.

A client had unexpectedly arrived an hour ahead of schedule.

"Where's the presentation?"

"The conference room isn't ready!"

"We're missing the signed contract!"

Employees rushed in every direction.

Sofia quickly noticed a folder sitting on the reception desk.

"The contract!"

She grabbed it and hurried toward the conference room.

Just as she reached the entrance, she collided with someone.

"Oh!"

The folder slipped.

Papers flew everywhere.

The client bent down to help.

"It's alright."

"No one got hurt."

"I'm so sorry!"

As Sofia hurriedly gathered the papers, Adrian appeared.

Everyone froze.

The room fell silent.

One employee whispered,

"She's done for."

Adrian looked at the scattered documents.

Then at Sofia.

Instead of raising his voice...

He calmly crouched down.

He picked up one sheet.

Then another.

The entire office stared in disbelief.

The CEO...

Was helping his assistant pick up papers.

Even Sofia forgot to breathe.

Adrian stood and handed her the completed file.

"Next time..."

"Hold it with both hands."

"...Yes, sir."

The client chuckled.

"Mr. Montenegro."

"I think your assistant works very hard."

Adrian glanced at Sofia for a brief moment before answering.

"She does."

Three simple words.

But they caught everyone off guard.

Including Sofia.

------------

That afternoon...

The whispers spread through every department.

"The CEO complimented someone."

"He helped pick up papers."

"Did you hear him?"

"He actually said she works hard."

"No way..."

Even Jenny looked stunned.

"I'm telling you..."

"The Ice King is melting."

----------------

Inside his office...

Adrian stood by the window overlooking the city.

Ethan entered without knocking.

"You praised her."

"I stated a fact."

"You helped her."

"I picked up paper."

Ethan laughed.

"You keep making excuses."

Adrian remained silent.

His phone buzzed.

A message from his father.

Chairman Victor Montenegro

"Come home tonight. We need to discuss your engagement."

Adrian's expression darkened.

He slowly locked his phone.

Outside his office...

Sofia accidentally looked through the glass wall.

For the first time...

She didn't see the cold CEO everyone feared.

She saw a man...

Who looked completely alone.

----------------

That evening, Adrian arrived at the Montenegro mansion.

The grand dining room was already prepared.

His father sat at the head of the table.

Across from him sat a beautiful woman in an elegant red satin dress.

She stood and smiled warmly.

"It's been a long time, Adrian."

Adrian's expression hardened.

"...Chloe."

The woman who once broke his heart...

...had returned.