CHAPTER5
1063 Words
Rowan’s POV
“I told you to go back.”
Cassian Said again.
I Stopped walking but I didn’t move away.
The Corridor felt too long Suddenly.
He Still wasn’t facing me.
Just Standing there with his back Slightly tense, like even Stillness was an effort.
“I’m not leaving,” I Said quietly.
His Shoulders tightened.
“You don’t understand what you’re doing,” he replied.
“I understand you’re not okay,” I Said.
He finally turned.
And what I Saw made my Chest tighten.
Not the CEO. Not the Controlled man from meetings.
Just Cassian.
His eyes looked tired... The faintest Signs of Someone holding himself together with invisible thread.
“You Shouldn’t have Seen what you just Saw.” He Said quietly.
“I didn’t mean to,” I admitted. “But… I’m not Scared of you. It’s normal.”
That made him freeze.
Like the idea itself didn’t Compute.
For a moment neither of us Spoke.
Then he laughed once.
“That’s your mistake,” he Said.
I frowned. “What?”
“Thinking I am Something you Can understand now.”
My Chest tightened.
“I already understand more than you think,” I Said quietly.
His eyes narrowed Slightly…
I Stepped Closer to him..
“When things are too Perfect,” I Continued, “it usually means Someone is fighting hard to keep them that way.”
His jaw Clenched.
“You don’t know anything about me,” his voice became Sharp.
“Then tell me,” I replied.
That Stopped him.
The Silence Stretched again… Then his voice dropped.
“Why would I tell a messy girl like you about me?” He frowned.
My throat tightened as I frowned too.
“You Should leave this Company,” he Said finally.
I blinked. “What?”
“You are not Suited for it.”
I almost laughed. “I think you’re the least Suited Person to decide that about me.”
His eyes Sharpened.
“You will only get hurt here,” he Said.
“And what about you?” I asked quietly.
That question hit differently.
He looked away… He didn’t answer.
A few Seconds Passed.
Then he turned Slightly as if trying to end the Conversation.
But I wasn’t done…
“Mr. Thorne,” I Said Softly.
He Paused… Not fully turning back but listening.
“Do you have any medical Condition related to this?” I asked.
That question Changed the air instantly.
His Posture Stiffened.
The Silence that followed was different now.
“I told you,” he Said flatly. “You don’t need to know anything about me.”
“I think I do,” I replied.
That finally made him look at me fully.
And what I Saw in his eyes wasn’t anger.
It was Something more vulnerable… Something guarded for too long.
“I don’t discuss my Past,” he Said.
“Why?” I asked.
“Because it is not Something People Stay around for.”
That Shut me up for a Second.
Because that Sounded… Personal.
He Stepped back Slightly regaining distance like it Physically helped him breathe.
“This Conversation ends here,” he Said again.
But this time… It didn’t Sound as Strong.
More like a boundary he was Struggling to hold.
I nodded Slowly.
“Okay,” I Said Softly.
He turned away.
And Started walking again.
But I followed again.
He didn’t tell me to Stop.
That Surprised me more than anything.
We reached a restricted hallway I hadn’t Seen before.
The lighting was dimmer here…
Cassian Stopped in front of a door.
He Stood there for a long moment.
Then Said quietly, “Go back.”
I didn’t move.
His hand hovered near the handle.
Then Slowly he unlocked the door.
The moment it opened, I felt it.
Like Stepping into a Space where Something heavy had lived for too long.
Inside wasn’t an office… It was a Private room.
Everything was arranged with extreme Precision.
It was too Clean and too empty.
Like Someone had tried to erase life from it Completely.
Cassian Stood in the doorway, not entering fully.
For the first time… I didn’t See a Powerful CEO.
I Saw Someone Surviving himself.
Behind me, the door Clicked Softly.
Cassian had Closed it.
I turned Slightly to look at him and his expression had Changed.
“I Shouldn’t have let you in here,” he Said. quietly.
I Swallowed.
"Then why did you?" I asked Softly.
Cassian's gaze lingered on me for a Second too long before he looked away.
"I don't know."
The answer Surprised both of us.
Silence Settled between us…
I glanced around the room again.
There was a bed against the far wall.
There was a bookshelf and a desk too.
It felt less like a room and more like a hiding Place.
"You Come here Sometimes, don't you?" I asked.
He didn't answer…
My eyes drifted to the desk.
Several Pill bottles Sat neatly arranged in a Perfect line.
My Chest tightened.
"Mr. Thorne..." I looked back at him. "You have been having Panic attacks?”
Cassian's expression hardened.
"You Should Stop asking questions."
"Then Stop giving me reasons to ask them."
His eyes flashed.
For a moment I thought he would throw me out instead he laughed quietly.
"You really don't know when to quit."
"No."
"That's dangerous."
His gaze dropped briefly before returning to mine.
Before I Could respond a loud Crash echoed from Somewhere deeper inside the room.
Both of us froze.
And then another Crash Sounded from behind the locked door at the far end of the room.
A door I hadn't even noticed before.
"Don't move."
His voice was barely above a whisper.
The third Crash was louder.
Like Something had been thrown against the wall.
My Pulse jumped.
"What was that?" I whispered.
Cassian didn't answer.
His eyes never left the Closed door.
A Strange mixture of dread and determination Crossed his face.
"Mr. Thorne..." I Started.
"Rowan." His voice Came out Sharper than before. "I need you to listen Carefully."
The Seriousness in his tone made my Stomach knot.
"If I tell you to leave, you leave immediately. No arguments. No questions."
I Stared at him.
"What is behind that door?"
Another loud bang interrupted me.
This time Something rattled against the wood from the inside.
- Writer
