The CEO I Left Behind

Chapter 11: Silent Concern

Kathy's POV

The shrill sound of my alarm echoed through the small apartment.

I slowly opened my eyes, only to close them again.

My body felt heavy.

I had barely slept.

After leaving the hospital the previous night, I stayed awake for hours, thinking about the doctor's words.

"The treatment should begin as soon as possible."

Those words kept replaying in my mind.

I turned my head and looked at the clock.

6:15 a.m.

With a tired sigh, I forced myself out of bed.

This wasn't the time to feel weak.

My mother was depending on me.

After taking a quick shower, I stood in front of the mirror.

The dark circles beneath my eyes were impossible to ignore.

I dabbed on a little makeup, hoping it would hide how exhausted I looked.

It didn't.

"You'll be fine," I whispered to my reflection.

"You have to be."

---

Apex Technology was already bustling when I arrived.

Employees hurried through the lobby with steaming cups of coffee and stacks of files in their hands.

I greeted the security guard with a polite smile before heading upstairs.

"Morning, Kathy!"

Emily waved as soon as she saw me.

"Good morning."

Emily frowned almost immediately.

"You don't look okay."

"I'm fine."

"You said that yesterday."

"I'm just tired."

She folded her arms.

"You're working too hard."

I laughed softly.

"If only working hard could solve all my problems."

Emily wanted to ask more, but the ringing of the office phone interrupted her.

"I'll talk to you later," she said before rushing away.

I released a quiet breath.

The fewer people who knew about my personal life...

The better.

---

Inside his office, Luther looked up from his laptop as Kathy walked to her desk.

Something about her appearance caught his attention immediately.

She looked pale.

Her usual calm expression had been replaced with obvious exhaustion.

He watched as she quietly arranged his morning schedule before rubbing her temples.

She looked as though she hadn't slept at all.

A knock interrupted his thoughts.

"Come in."

Daniel entered with a folder.

"The board members have arrived."

Luther nodded.

"Tell Kathy to bring the revised contracts."

"Yes, sir."

---

"Kathy."

Daniel stood beside her desk.

"The CEO needs you in the conference room."

She quickly gathered the documents.

"I'll be right there."

Taking one last deep breath, she followed him.

The conference room was already filled with senior executives and investors.

As Kathy placed the files in front of each person, she could feel dozens of eyes on her.

Being the CEO's secretary meant everyone noticed her.

She carefully handed the final contract to Luther.

"Our revised agreement, Mr. Ashford."

He nodded without looking up.

"Take a seat."

She quietly sat near the end of the table, ready to take notes.

The meeting lasted almost two hours.

Numbers.

Contracts.

Investment plans.

Everything began to blur together.

Kathy blinked several times, trying to stay focused.

Her head suddenly felt light.

She hadn't eaten breakfast.

She hadn't even finished the coffee Emily bought earlier.

The room seemed to spin.

Her grip on the notebook loosened.

Just as the stack of confidential files slipped from her hands—

A firm hand caught them before they hit the floor.

The room fell silent.

Luther stood beside her, holding the documents.

For a brief second, their eyes met.

"Are you alright?"

His voice was low enough that only she could hear.

"I'm... I'm fine."

He handed the files back to her.

"Then don't make careless mistakes."

His tone returned to its usual coldness.

Several executives exchanged surprised glances.

They had expected the CEO to scold her.

Instead...

He had caught the files before they fell.

The meeting continued as if nothing had happened.

But Kathy couldn't stop thinking about it.

---

An hour later, she returned to her desk.

Her stomach growled quietly.

She ignored it.

There was still too much work to do.

A few minutes later, someone placed a paper bag on her desk.

She looked up.

There was no one there.

Inside the bag was a warm sandwich, fresh fruit, and a bottle of juice.

A small note read:

"Don't skip meals."

There was no signature.

Kathy smiled softly.

She immediately stood and walked to Emily's desk.

"Emily..."

Emily looked up.

"Yes?"

"Thank you."

"For what?"

"The breakfast."

Emily blinked.

"What breakfast?"

Kathy held up the paper bag.

"I didn't buy that."

The smile slowly disappeared from Kathy's face.

"If it wasn't you..."

Both women looked around the office.

No one seemed to be paying attention.

From behind the glass wall of his office...

Luther quietly returned his attention to the documents on his desk.

Daniel stood nearby.

"You could have given it to her yourself, sir."

Luther didn't even look up.

"I wasn't doing her a favor."

"Then why buy it?"

He signed another document before answering.

"I don't need employees collapsing during work hours."

Daniel smiled to himself.

He had worked for Luther for five years.

For the first time...

His boss had lied with a completely straight face.

Outside the office, Kathy looked once more at the handwritten note.

"Don't skip meals."

Something about those words felt strangely familiar.

Almost...

As if she had heard them before.