Chapter 4: The CEO's Revenge
755 Words
Kathy's POV
The moment I stepped into Luther's office, I knew something had changed.
This wasn't the same boy I remembered.
The Luther I knew used to smile easily. He was warm, patient, and always found a way to make me laugh, even on my worst days.
But the man sitting behind the large mahogany desk was different.
He was distant.
Powerful.
And his eyes held a coldness I had never seen before.
"Since you are my secretary, you should understand the responsibilities that come with this position."
His voice was calm, but every word carried authority.
I nodded.
"Yes, Mr. Ashford."
A strange expression crossed his face when I called him that.
Maybe he expected me to call him by his name.
But I couldn't.
Not anymore.
The distance between us was seven years wide.
He pushed a file toward me.
"These documents need to be organized before noon."
I picked up the file.
"Okay."
"And I want coffee."
I looked up.
"Coffee?"
"Is there a problem?"
"No, sir."
"Black coffee. No sugar."
I froze for a second.
That was exactly how he used to drink it.
I quickly looked away.
"I'll get it."
I turned toward the door.
"Kathy."
My hand stopped on the doorknob.
Hearing my name from his lips after so many years made my heart ache.
Slowly, I turned around.
"Yes, Mr. Ashford?"
His expression was unreadable.
"Don't make mistakes."
I swallowed.
"I won't."
I left the office.
The moment the door closed behind me, I released a breath I didn't know I was holding.
Working for him was going to be harder than I imagined.
I walked toward the coffee machine, my thoughts running wild.
Did he recognize me?
The way he looked at me...
The way he said my name...
It couldn't be a coincidence.
But if he knew who I was, why hadn't he said anything?
I returned with the coffee and placed it carefully on his desk.
He didn't thank me.
He simply continued reading the documents in front of him.
I turned to leave.
"Wait."
I stopped.
"There are copies that need to be printed."
He pointed toward another stack of papers.
"Twenty copies of each."
I stared at the documents.
There were several files.
"Now?"
"Is there a better time?"
His words were polite, but his tone wasn't.
"No."
I picked up the files.
"I'll do it."
As I walked away, I felt a strange mix of emotions.
Anger.
Sadness.
And guilt.
Maybe I deserved this.
Maybe this was his way of making me pay for what I did.
---
Luther's POV
I watched her leave my office.
Seven years.
Seven years and she still had the same habit.
Whenever she was nervous, she would hold her fingers together tightly.
A habit she thought no one noticed.
But I did.
I noticed everything about her.
Even after she broke my heart.
Especially after she broke my heart.
I leaned back in my chair and looked at the coffee she placed on my desk.
Black coffee.
No sugar.
She remembered.
Of course she remembered.
A bitter smile formed on my lips.
She remembered the small things, but she forgot how much she hurt me.
I had spent years building this company.
Years turning myself into someone no one could look down on.
The poor boy everyone underestimated was gone.
Now I was Luther Ashford.
CEO of Apex Technology.
And Kathy...
The girl who once walked away from me...
Was now standing in front of me, needing my approval.
But why didn't it feel like victory?
Why did seeing her again make the old pain return?
I looked at the office door.
A part of me wanted to ask her why.
Why did she lie?
Why did she leave?
Why did she pretend our love meant nothing?
But another part of me remembered the flowers falling to the ground.
The cruel words.
The humiliation.
I closed my eyes.
No.
I wouldn't let the past weaken me.
This time, I would be the one in control.
---
When Kathy returned with the printed documents, she placed them on his desk.
"Everything is done."
Luther looked through the papers.
"Good."
That was all he said.
No praise.
No smile.
Nothing.
Kathy lowered her eyes.
"Is there anything else?"
He looked at her for a long moment.
Then he answered.
"Not for now."
She nodded and left.
But neither of them noticed that while they were pretending to be strangers...
Their hearts were still holding on to the past.
- Writer
