CEO And Secretary

The Fall At Seven Thirty

The meeting room was silent except for the sound of typing fingers and the faint hum of the projector hanging from the ceiling.

At exactly seven thirty in the evening, the weekly executive meeting finally ended.

The directors around the long black table looked exhausted. Some loosened their ties while others hurried to gather their files, eager to escape the suffocating atmosphere that always followed meetings chaired by Jordan Rodriguez.

Jordan sat at the head of the table like a statue carved from ice.

Cold.

Unreadable.

Untouchable.

The silver watch around his wrist reflected the dim lights above him as he closed the file in front of him with a sharp snap.

“No mistakes on tomorrow’s reports,” he said flatly.

Nobody answered immediately.

The tension in the room thickened.

Jordan slowly lifted his eyes.

“I dislike repeating myself.”

“We understand, Mr. Rodriguez,” one of the managers quickly replied.

Jordan stood from his seat, buttoning his dark suit jacket. His sharp gaze swept across the room briefly before he walked out without another word.

The moment the door closed behind him, several people finally breathed.

“He’s even worse today,” one whispered.

“Did you see his face during the sales presentation?”

“I thought he was going to fire someone.”

Maureen Green quietly packed the remaining documents into her arms. Unlike the others, she did not join their conversation.

Her head hurt badly.

The lights above seemed too bright.

She blinked slowly and pressed her fingers against her temple.

“You okay?” Clara asked softly beside her.

Clara Bennett was one of the few people in the company who genuinely cared about Maureen. The two women had become close over the past months despite the exhausting workload.

“I’m fine,” Maureen lied.

Clara frowned. “You look pale.”

“I just need sleep.”

“You’ve been saying that for days.”

Maureen forced a weak smile. “I still have to take the contract to Mr. Rodriguez for his signature.”

“At this hour?”

“He said he wanted it tonight.”

Clara rolled her eyes. “Of course he did.”

Maureen quickly arranged the papers together before standing from her seat.

The movement made her dizzy.

For a second, the room tilted dangerously.

She grabbed the edge of the table.

Clara immediately held her arm. “Maureen.”

“I’m okay.”

“You don’t look okay.”

“I’ll just give him the file and go home.”

Clara hesitated before sighing. “Call me if anything happens.”

Maureen nodded.

She walked out of the conference room slowly, trying to ignore the painful throbbing in her head.

The office building was quieter now. Most employees had already left for the night, leaving only a few lights on across the massive floor.

Her heels clicked softly against the marble tiles as she approached the private elevator leading to Jordan’s office.

Her hands tightened around the documents.

Working under Jordan Rodriguez was not easy.

The man was impossible to read.

He rarely smiled.

Rarely praised anyone.

And even when speaking, his voice carried a cold sharpness that made people nervous.

Sometimes Maureen wondered if he ever got tired.

If he ever felt anything at all.

The elevator doors opened.

She stepped inside.

By the time she reached the top floor, her vision had already started blurring again.

The receptionist outside Jordan’s office had gone home, leaving the entire floor eerily silent.

Maureen inhaled slowly before knocking on the large black door.

“Come in.”

His voice was calm.

Cold as always.

She pushed the door open.

Jordan sat behind his desk, reviewing something on his laptop. The office lights cast shadows against his sharp features, making him appear even more intimidating.

He did not look up immediately.

“Leave the file and go.”

Maureen walked toward the desk carefully.

“I need your signature first, sir.”

Jordan finally lifted his eyes toward her.

His expression remained indifferent.

“Bring it here.”

She placed the documents in front of him.

Jordan scanned through the pages quickly before signing the final sheet with a smooth movement.

“You made three corrections in section four,” he said suddenly.

Maureen stiffened slightly. “Yes, sir.”

“You should have done it earlier.”

“I apologize.”

Jordan slid the file back toward her without emotion.

“Don’t repeat it.”

Maureen nodded quietly and reached for the papers.

But the moment she touched them, the dizziness returned violently.

The room spun.

Her breathing became uneven.

She tried to steady herself.

Jordan noticed immediately.

His eyes narrowed slightly.

“What’s wrong with you?”

“I’m fi—”

Before she could finish speaking, her body lost balance.

The documents slipped from her hands, scattering across the floor.

Then she collapsed.

Jordan moved instantly.

He caught her before her head could hit the ground.

The sudden warmth of her unconscious body against him made his expression harden slightly.

“Maureen.”

No response.

Her face had gone pale.

Jordan frowned deeply.

He carried her carefully toward the black leather couch near the window before reaching for his phone.

His voice remained calm when the call connected.

“Come to my office.”

Clara blinked in confusion from the other side. “Mr. Rodriguez?”

“Now.”

The call ended immediately.

Jordan looked down at Maureen again.

She looked fragile.

Too fragile.

Strands of hair covered part of her face while her breathing remained shallow.

Jordan grabbed a glass of water from the table nearby and sprinkled a little against her cheek.

No reaction.

His jaw tightened.

A few minutes later, hurried footsteps approached outside.

The office door burst open.

Clara rushed inside anxiously. “What happened?!”

Her eyes widened the moment she saw Maureen lying unconscious on the couch.

“Oh my God!”

“She fainted.”

Clara quickly moved toward her friend. “I told her she didn’t look well.”

Jordan stepped aside silently.

Clara touched Maureen’s forehead and frowned. “She’s burning up.”

Jordan’s gaze sharpened slightly. “Fever?”

“She probably overworked herself again.” Clara sighed angrily. “She barely eats properly these days.”

Jordan said nothing.

Clara glanced at him briefly before carefully helping Maureen sit upright.

“Maureen,” she whispered. “Can you hear me?”

Maureen slowly opened her eyes.

Everything looked blurry at first.

Then she realized where she was.

Jordan’s office.

Clara beside her.

And Jordan himself standing nearby watching silently.

Embarrassment flooded her face instantly.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered weakly.

Jordan’s expression did not change.

“You fainted.”

“I know.”

“You should know your limits.”

His tone was cold.

Not concerned.

Just factual.

Clara looked irritated. “She’s been working nonstop because of all the extra files from the meeting.”

Jordan ignored her completely.

Maureen slowly tried to stand.

The moment her feet touched the floor, she nearly collapsed again.

Jordan caught her arm firmly before she could fall.

His grip was strong.

Steady.

Maureen froze slightly.

Jordan released her almost immediately once she regained balance.

“You’re not leaving alone in that condition,” he said.

“I can manage.”

“You can barely stand.”

The bluntness in his voice silenced her.

Clara crossed her arms. “Exactly.”

Maureen looked down quietly.

Jordan walked back toward his desk and picked up his car keys.

“I’ll drop both of you.”

Clara looked shocked.

Even Maureen stared at him.

Jordan noticed their expressions and frowned slightly.

“Don’t misunderstand,” he said coldly. “I don’t need an employee collapsing tomorrow because she ignored her health.”

There it was again.

That cold distance.

Every word sounded detached.

Professional.

Maureen lowered her eyes quickly. “You don’t have to trouble yourself, sir.”

Jordan walked toward the door.

“That wasn’t a request.”

Clara mouthed a silent wow behind him.

Maureen pretended not to notice.

A few minutes later, the three entered the underground parking lot.

Jordan’s black car waited near the elevator.

The atmosphere was painfully awkward.

Jordan unlocked the vehicle and entered the driver’s seat without another word.

Clara quietly helped Maureen into the back seat before sitting beside her.

The drive through the city remained silent except for the soft sound of rain beginning outside.

Streetlights reflected against the wet roads.

Jordan drove with one hand resting against the steering wheel, his expression unreadable.

Clara leaned closer to Maureen and whispered softly, “I never thought he’d personally drive anyone home.”

Maureen sighed tiredly. “Please stop talking.”

“But seriously—”

“Clara.”

“Fine.”

Jordan’s eyes briefly met the rearview mirror.

He heard them.

But he said nothing.

After several minutes, the car stopped in front of Clara’s apartment building first.

Clara opened the door slowly before looking toward Jordan.

“Thank you, Mr. Rodriguez.”

Jordan gave a short nod.

Clara then looked at Maureen worriedly. “Call me once you get inside.”

“I will.”

Clara stepped out before the car drove away again.

Now only silence remained.

Maureen stared outside the window quietly while rain continued falling against the glass.

Her head still hurt.

But what unsettled her more was the strange tension filling the car.

Jordan suddenly spoke.

“You work too much.”

Maureen looked slightly surprised.

“I’m only doing my job.”

“Your condition says otherwise.”

She stayed silent.

Jordan’s eyes remained fixed on the road.

“You fainting inside the company creates unnecessary problems.”

His tone remained emotionless.

Maureen almost laughed bitterly.

Of course.

For him, even concern sounded like a business statement.

“I understand, sir.”

“You should.”

The car finally stopped outside her apartment building.

Jordan turned off the engine.

Maureen slowly reached for the door handle.

“Thank you for bringing me home.”

Jordan gave a short nod.

She stepped out into the rain carefully.

But before she could close the door, Jordan spoke again.

“Tomorrow is your day off.”

Maureen blinked.

“What?”

“That’s an order.”

She stared at him in surprise.

Jordan’s face remained cold.

“No arguments.”

Then he pulled the door shut electronically from inside.

A second later, the black car disappeared into the rainy night.

Maureen stood there silently under the streetlight.

Confused.

Exhausted.

And unable to understand Jordan Rodriguez at all.