The CEO's Kept Secret

CURIOSITY KILLS THE CAT

Kao arrived early.

It wasn’t because he wanted to impress. It was because he couldn’t sleep. Not after last night, after seeing the man playing piano the night before, covered in blood and holding a gun…did he kill someone? What exactly happened? he couldn’t get answers, but he wanted them. His brain was busy all night and wouldn't let him sleep.

Remembering how Mr. Nine was playing the piano like he was mourning someone who could never return.

Like the notes were an apology for things he couldn't say out loud.

Nine didn’t speak.

Not even when he noticed Kao watching from the dark.

He had just played... and stared at the night.

This morning, Kao stood outside the penthouse office again. Folder in his hand and lips chewed raw with nerves. He wasn’t sure if he was allowed to mention last night or if he’d imagined it all. Was it a dream? A hallucination? He decided not to talk about it; he would pretend it didn’t happen, and he didn’t see any of those photos, he said to himself.

The elevator dinged. The moment the elevator opened, Kao went stiff.

Nine stepped out.

He looked very sharp, like a Mafia boss in the office. He was wearing a Black suit, no tie. Sleeves rolled up to the elbows. No emotion or expression on his face.

He passed Kao without a word, but as he reached for the office door, he said,

“If you’re going to stare at me again, at least make it worth something.”

Kao was left dumbfounded.

Was that... teasing?

Or a warning, or was he trying to c***k a joke?

He followed Nine into the office and got to work like nothing happened, sending and replying to Email messages, schedules, and press releases. But he could feel Nine’s gaze on him every time he reached for a paperclip or adjusted his tie.

There was an intensity to it. It looked quite addictive. It made him uneasy as he could not fathom why this cold was stealing glances at him. Many thoughts went through his head. Did he know I saw those photos? Is he planning on killing me? What is going through Mr. Nine's mind... these questions and more ran through his head in split seconds. Kao decided to keep his cool and watch everything unfold.

Midday

They had a meeting with the Board. Nine was his usual self, sharp, distant, but brilliant, but Kao noticed how the executives either feared or envied him. Their smiles didn’t reach their eyes. He observed them very closely and could even tell their smiles and laughter were completely fake; they were all pretending, pretending like they were cool with Mr. Nine, but underneath those marks, he could see the real them.

When the meeting ended, one of them leaned close to Kao and whispered, “Watch your back. He burns everything he touches; don’t let him burn you, or you will regret it.

Kao was confused, but he wasn't shocked like he was expecting something like that to happen.

Kao didn’t reply.

But he felt like he was being watched. He was curious, very curious.

Curiosity, they say, kills the cat. But in this case, he didn't care about being the cat.

Kao was trying to get familiar with the system, opening drawers and sorting documents in the CEO’s office, when he knocked over a drawer from the filing cabinet. A single photograph fell to the ground.

It wasn’t corporate-looking.

It wasn’t even recent.

It was a picture of a boy. Maybe sixteen. He had a Wide smile. His Eyes were like Nine’s. But warmer. He saw the resemblance to Mr. Nine and wondered who that was. And just then, from the hallway, he heard footsteps, slowly, the footsteps were getting closer and closer.

It was Mr.Nine.

Kao froze; he stood still holding the photo in his hands.

Nine stood in the doorway, eyes on the photo in Kao’s hand.

He was silent

Then, softly:

“Put that back.”

Kao obeyed. Quietly and gently put the photo down.

Nine turned to leave, but Kao couldn’t help himself.

“You guys look so much alike. " Is that your brother?” he asked

Nine’s shoulders dropped.

He gave a long pause.

“He’s dead.”

And you should learn to mind your business. He didn't wait for a reply

And then he walked away.

Kao stood alone in the office, replaying the moment. The boy in the picture. The bitterness in Nine’s voice.

A dead brother? And just then, the image of that picture of Mr. Nine holding a gun flashed before him. Did he kill his brother? Did he have a hand in his brother's death, or did he avenge his brother's death?

Was that why Nine was so hollow? So unreachable? Was that why he built such a high wall around him?

His chest ached, and he didn’t know why. He had so many questions waiting to be answered. He barely knew the man, but why does he seem to care about how he feels?

But that night, as he left the building, he glanced up at the top-floor lounge window.

The lights were on.

And through the glass, silhouetted in moonlight, Mr. Nine was at the piano again.

Only this time...

The sound was more sorrowful, like an open wound, as if his heart was aching and he couldn't talk about it.

He was crying, not literally, but he was crying with his voice.