Chapter Three: Distance.
1104 Words
The atmosphere on the executive floor was terrifying.
Nobody laughed.
Nobody spoke above a whisper.
Even the sound of keyboards seemed quieter than usual, as though the employees feared breathing too loudly would trigger Charles Harrison's temper.
And honestly?
They had every reason to.
Because since eight-thirty that morning, the CEO had already
reduced two managers to near tears,
canceled an entire presentation halfway through,
shattered a glass paperweight,
and nearly growled at the finance director for blinking too much.
The entire office was suffering.
And strangely as it may seem,
Leo seemed completely unaffected.
Well he wasn't really unaffected,it's more like he really doesn't care.
Just… distant.
He sat quietly at his desk outside Charles's office, typing steadily despite the exhaustion visible across his face.
The dark circles beneath his eyes were impossible to miss.
His usually soft appearance looked dull today.
Fragile,he looks like he could break at any moment,
Like he hadn't slept at all,which was true.
Every time Leo closed his eyes, he heard those words again.
Just an assistant.
So instead of sleeping, he spent the entire night organizing files, updating schedules, and preparing transfer documents for whoever would replace him after his resignation became official.
Three years of work.
Three years beside Charles.
Reduced into folders and neatly labeled instructions.
"Mr. Leo…"
A nervous intern approached his desk carefully.
Leo looked up immediately, offering the poor boy a gentle smile.
"Yes?"
The intern nearly sighed in relief.
Unlike the terrifying Alpha inside the office, Leo still felt approachable.
"T-The CEO is asking for the quarterly reports…"
"I already sent them twenty minutes ago."
The intern paled.
"Oh."
Leo blinked tiredly before understanding.
Charles hadn't checked.
Again.
That made the third time this morning.
The Alpha kept demanding things Leo had already prepared.
Not because he forgot.
But because he was irritated.
And restless.
The scent leaking beneath the office doors made it obvious.
Rut season.
It was coming faster than usual.
Normally Leo would have noticed the signs weeks earlier and adjusted Charles's schedule accordingly.
More rest.
Fewer meetings.
Special suppressants.
Limited public appearances.
But today?
Leo simply handed the intern another folder.
"Take this to him."
The intern looked horrified.
"M-Me?
Leo tilted his head softly.
"Is something wrong?"
The poor intern looked moments away from fainting.
Everyone knew only Leo could survive Charles's moods.
Entering that office alone was basically volunteering for death.
Still, under Leo's gentle gaze, the intern somehow gathered courage and hurried away.
Two minutes later—
"WHERE IS LEO?"
The furious roar echoed across the entire floor.
Every employee froze instantly.
The intern stumbled out of the office looking spiritually destroyed.
"I-I tried…"
Leo closed his eyes briefly.
Right.
Of course.
Slowly, he stood from his chair and picked up the remaining documents.
The moment he entered the office, the heavy scent of Alpha pheromones hit him.
Cedarwood.
Spice.
Dangerously sharp now.
Charles sat behind his desk with a dark expression.
His sleeves were rolled carelessly to his elbows, tie loosened, gray eyes glowing faintly gold with irritation.
The moment those eyes landed on Leo, something in the Alpha visibly settled.
Only slightly.
But enough.
Charles's gaze swept over Leo's face immediately.
Eye bags.
Pale skin.
Exhaustion.
His jaw tightened.
"You look terrible."
Leo placed the files down calmly.
"The reports you requested, sir."
Sir.
Again.
Charles's irritation spiked instantly.
"You already sent these."
"Yes."
"Then why didn't you say that earlier?"
Leo met his gaze quietly.
"You didn't ask me directly, sir."
The formal tone made the office temperature feel colder somehow.
Charles leaned back slowly.
"You're angry."
"No, sir."
Lie.
Charles could smell it.
Not anger exactly.
Hurt.
Sadness.
Distance.
It irritated the Alpha more than shouting ever could.
Usually Leo softened around him instinctively.
Usually his scent wrapped warmly around Charles during stressful days like today.
But now?
Nothing.
Leo smelled emotionally closed off.
Charles hated it immediately.
His gaze drifted toward the clock.
11:47 AM.
No breakfast this morning,not at the penthouse not even here.
No coffee prepared personally by Leo.
No quiet reminder to take his medication.
Even lunch arrangements had been sent through another employee.
Wrong.
Everything felt wrong.
Charles suddenly spoke.
"Why didn't you come to the penthouse last night?"
Leo's fingers tightened slightly around the folder.
"I told you already, sir. I wasn't feeling well."
"You've stayed before even when sick."
The words slipped out before Charles could stop them.
The room fell silent.
Because both of them understood what he truly meant.
You always stay with me.
Leo lowered his eyes briefly.
"Things change."
That answer hit harder than expected.
Charles stood abruptly from his chair.
Immediately the pressure in the room intensified.
Strong Alpha pheromones spread instinctively.
Dominant.
Possessive.
Demanding.
Any other omega would have submitted automatically beneath the force of it.
But Leo remained still.
Only his face paled slightly.
Charles noticed instantly and controlled himself with visible effort.
Damn it.
His rut symptoms were worsening too quickly.
"You're avoiding me," Charles muttered.
"No, sir."
"There you go again."
Leo finally looked at him properly.
Gray met tired brown.
"Is there something else you need, Mr. Harrison?"
Mr. Harrison.
Not Charles.
The distance between those two titles felt unbearable suddenly.
Charles's chest tightened irritably.
Before he could answer, another knock interrupted them.
The door opened slightly.
"Sir," the secretary said nervously, "the board meeting starts in ten minutes."
Charles cursed under his breath.
His head already throbbed painfully.
He didn't want a board meeting.
Didn't want investors.
Didn't want anyone except—
His eyes flickered back to Leo.
The omega stood quietly waiting.
Professional.
Polite.
Untouchable.
Charles hated that most of all.
Finally, Leo bowed his head slightly.
"If there's nothing else, I'll return to work."
Charles wanted to stop him.
The instinct rose violently inside him.
Stay.
The word nearly left his mouth.
But years of emotional restraint chained it back.
So instead, he said coldly, "Close the door behind you."
Leo nodded once.
"Yes, sir."
The soft click of the door echoed loudly after he left.
Charles stared at the empty space for several long seconds.
Then suddenly grabbed the coffee cup on his desk and crushed it in his hand.
Hot liquid spilled across expensive paperwork.
Outside the office, everyone jumped at the sound.
Leo paused briefly beside the door.
His chest ached.
Three years ago, hearing Charles lose control would have sent him rushing back inside immediately.
Now?
He simply returned to his desk and continued preparing his handover files.
And for the first time since joining Harrison International…
He no longer turned back toward Charles's office.
- Writer
