MY CEO

From Games To Real Feelings

Monday

Ethan pov

The morning buzzed with the usual noise—keyboards clicking, phones ringing, people talking just loud enough to be heard and just soft enough to be ignored. Ethan sat at his desk, back straight, expression blank. He had learned over the weekend how to quiet everything: his hopes, his assumptions, even his feelings.

But what feelings, exactly?

Alex’s words repeated in his mind like a mantra: Forget it. Start on a clean slate.

So he did.

Or at least he tried.

Adrian hadn’t spoken to him since the meeting. The email from Friday still sat in Ethan’s inbox, pinned like a scar he didn’t know how to erase. But today, Ethan was determined to treat it like what it was—an instruction from a superior to a subordinate.

Nothing more.

He focused on the quarterly report due later in the day, fingers flying across the keys. He responded to emails promptly. He asked follow-up questions during the briefing. And when Adrian walked into the room—his suit sharp, his presence sharper—Ethan didn’t flinch. He didn’t blush or shift in his seat.

He didn’t even look at him.

Adrian pov

Adrian noticed.

He always noticed.

Ethan didn’t glance up when he entered. No flicker of recognition in his eyes. No bashful stammer. No warmth.

That was new.

He watched him out of the corner of his eye during the strategy meeting. Watched the way Ethan’s jaw clenched when he nodded at a colleague’s comment. Watched him take notes with that same determined hand, like he had something to prove.

And Adrian hated that he couldn’t read him.

Back in his office, he closed the blinds.

“Sir?” his assistant asked, stepping in. “Lunch menu for today?”

He waved her off. “Later.”

He wasn’t hungry. Not for food.

He opened Ethan’s profile again on the company’s internal directory. Useless. Too bare. No social media links. Just his phone number, address, and the necessary CV details: student from Grayhill University, Master’s from NYU in Strategic Communications.

And yet, Adrian couldn’t stop thinking about the sound of his voice when he said “Yes, sir”—tight, tense, different.

Adrian leaned back in his chair and sighed.

This wasn’t supposed to go like this.

Monday Evening

Alex stirred the pot on the stove with the enthusiasm of a bored chef. “You’re quiet today.”

Ethan shrugged. “Just focused.”

Alex arched a brow. “Focused doesn’t mean mute.”

Ethan didn’t reply.

“Okay,” Alex said finally, plating the pasta. “So did your emotionally constipated boss talk to you today?”

“No.”

“Did you want him to?”

“No.”

“You’re lying.”

Ethan gave him a flat look. “No, I’m not.”

Alex leaned forward. “Ethan… is this you pretending you don’t care again?”

“I’m not pretending. I don’t care.”

Alex passed him a plate. “Liar.”

Ethan: But honestly, I'm not lying.

Alex: If I didn’t know you, I would’ve believed you. So sorry—I don’t.

Ethan: Let’s just eat. I’m tired. I want to go to bed.

Alex: Fine. Avoid the truth. But okay, let’s eat.

Tuesday

Ethan pov

He’d sent in the Wescott revisions by 9:30. Jenna said the client was impressed. Still, Ethan didn’t wait around for praise. He worked through lunch and ignored the way Adrian’s door kept opening and closing.

That afternoon, Adrian stopped by his desk.

“Join me for the 3 p.m. briefing,” he said.

Ethan nodded. “Noted.”

In the conference room, Adrian sat across from him. Once or twice, their eyes met—but Ethan dropped his gaze immediately. He didn’t fidget. He didn’t smile.

He just took notes.

After the meeting, Alex met him outside the building.

“Ice man,” Alex muttered. “How do you do that without slapping someone?”

Ethan laughed. “I’m just tired.”

Alex patted his back. “We’re getting drinks on Wednesday. You need a break.”

Adrian pov

He knew what he was doing.

And it wasn’t working.

He walked past Ethan twice in the hallway just to see if the intern would flinch. Nothing. He complimented Josh’s hair and outfit in front of Ethan just to see if jealousy would flicker.

Why would he be jealous? he thought. It’s not like we’re anything to each other. So why am I doing all this, hoping he’ll get jealous?

Ethan was slipping through his fingers like smoke.

Or maybe he just hated that he wasn’t in control of Ethan’s emotions anymore.

Thorn called again.

“You’re panicking.”

“I’m not.”

“You are. You’re spiraling because you’ve finally met someone who won’t fall to their knees just because you smiled.”

“I don’t want him to fall.”

Thorn paused. “So what do you want?”

Adrian: I don’t know. I just don’t.

Thorn: First time in six years I’ve seen you lose control and get confused over a guy. Even if you won’t admit it, you have feelings for Ethan.

Adrian: You’re not helping. Just shut up. I don’t have feelings for Ethan.

Thorn: Then why are you obsessed with him not paying attention to you? You’ve gotten used to people throwing themselves at you. Ethan doesn’t, and it’s eating you alive. Admit it, Adrian. You fell for him the moment you saw him. You made a whole plan to make him chase you like your flings and exes. But he didn’t. Now you’re panicking because you know you lost your only shot. Since Charlie betrayed you, you’ve punished everyone else for it. Six years, Adrian. And all you’ve done is hide. But Ethan? You fell. From day one. And your stupid mind games pushed him away.nnAdrian: …Why’d you have to bring up Charlie? I told you never to say his name again.nnThorn: I had to. Because no matter how much you deny it—you still haven’t moved on.nnAdrian: … nnHe hung up. Then just sat in silence.

Wednesday

Ethan

The morning went by in a blur. Adrian came out during the all-hands meeting but didn’t look at him once.

Ethan told himself he didn’t care.

But when he got home that evening, he sighed loudly and dropped his bag beside the door.

Alex was already on the couch with two bottles.

“You said drinks, right?”

Ethan collapsed beside him. “Please. Pour.”

“Here’s to emotional damage,” Alex said, raising his bottle.

“To moving on,” Ethan replied.

They drank.

They laughed about old college pranks, Ethan’s failed Tinder dates, Alex’s obsession with iced coffee.

But around midnight, under the soft yellow glow of their tiny balcony, Ethan murmured:

“Do you think he’s doing it on purpose? This silence?”

Alex shrugged. “Maybe. Maybe not. But you’re winning now. He doesn’t have your attention anymore.”

Ethan looked out over the city.

If only that were true.

Adrian

He checked Ethan’s desk again before leaving.

Empty.

A part of him felt stupid for caring. Another part wanted to message Ethan something dumb like, Hope your evening’s not as bland as this office.

But he didn’t.

Instead, he called Thorn.

“He’s ignoring me.”

Thorn;“ Because you yelled at him in a room full of adults, Adrian. You gave him mixed signals, then went silent trying to play mind games. What did you expect? For him to walk in and go, ‘Boss, what did you mean by the glances and that one message? Do you like me?’ Of course not. You made it nothing. So don’t blame him.”

Thorn continued, “If you want answers—or want to know something about him—do something. I know a guy. A PI.”

Adrian:“I’m not investigating him. That’s deranged.”

Thorn:“You said you were curious. ‘Find out what makes him tick.’ And besides, it’s the only option now. You ruined the direct route with your own stupidity.”

Adrian: Fine. Send me the number after this call.

Thursday

Ethan

He arrived early, submitted a report, helped a new intern find the printer settings, and avoided Adrian like the plague.

When Jenna said Adrian wanted him in his office for campaign brainstorming, Ethan almost declined.

But he went.

Adrian was… soft-spoken. Cordial. No flirting. Just ideas. Marketing objectives. Sales conversions.

It was almost worse.

Because the ghost of last week still lingered in the silence.

That night, Alex found Ethan cleaning the kitchen.

“You okay?”

“Just scrubbing my feelings away.”

Alex: Try not to scrub your heart away.

Adrian pov

He watched Ethan in that meeting.

Not once did the intern lift his gaze beyond the projector.

When the meeting ended, Adrian lingered.

“Reyes,” he said. “Good work lately.”

Ethan nodded. “Thank you, sir.”

Nothing more.

Adrian stood by the window long after Ethan left. The silence after a war was never peaceful—it just hummed with ghosts.

He called the PI.

“I need information on Ethan Reyes. Intern. Blackwell and Co.”

Friday

Ethan pov

Adrian was being... strange. Warm. Then cold. Then warm again. Like a weather system with no pattern.

Ethan ignored it all.

He poured himself into a presentation that won praise. Jenna patted his shoulder. Even the head of PR beamed.

But when he got back to his desk, he saw a post-it.

"Great stats breakdown. – A.B."

He stared at it for too long.

Then tore it up.

Adrian pov

He knew Ethan would rip the note up.

But he left it anyway.

Thorn texted that night: "You’re bad down, man.

Adrian didn’t respond. He was too busy rereading the PI’s first report:

Ethan. Age 26. Born September 15th, 1999. Graduated top of his class. No criminal record. Lives with Alex Monroe.

Favorite café on 9th Street. Favorite color: grey.

Had three boyfriends in college.

Likes banana-flavored drinks. Loves Chinese, Korean, and Japanese food. Favorite Thai dish: salted eggs and rice.

Loves video games. Likes action shows and horror movies.

Great personality. Few friends. Loves painting, drawing, music. Hates cooking. Enjoys nature.

Favorite sports: swimming and basketball. Won three gold medals in college.

Average family background. Hospitalized twice after getting beaten by bullies.

Adrian closed the file and whispered:

“Interesting.”

Saturday

Ethan slept till noon.

Alex dragged him out for brunch.

They sat by the window of a bakery, eating too many croissants.

“Want to go out tonight?” Alex asked.

“No. Just want to sleep.”

“Liar.”

Ethan smirked.

That night, he lay in bed and replayed Adrian’s silence—and the sudden note he found on his desk. Again. And again.

He ended up dreaming about Adrian that night.

And it wasn’t just a casual dream.

Dream: After the meeting, Adrian asked Ethan to wait back.

Adrian walked up to Ethan. “You look so sexy today. It makes me want to eat you up.”

He stepped even closer, until only inches remained between them. His eyes dropped to Ethan’s lips. He gulped.

“I don’t think I can hold myself back anymore.”

He kissed Ethan like his existence depended on it. Ethan slides his hands down to Adrian’s waist. Adrian’s kiss moved from lips to neck, his hands going lower. He pulled Ethan even closer and placed him on the conference table, his mouth and hands all over Ethan's body.

Ethan: opens his eyes, sweating

WTF was that dream?

Adrian, meanwhile, drove past Ethan’s apartment building.

Didn’t stop.

Didn’t text.

Just passed, looking.

Sunday

Ethan pov

He cleaned. Did laundry. Read half a novel. Avoided every thought about his boss—especially the dream from last night.

He didn’t dare tell Alex. He knew Alex would tease him until his last breath.

But even though he didn’t want to, he kept thinking about that dream.

And wondering what Adrian’s lips would taste like.

Adrian pov

Thorn called.

“So what now?”

“I don’t know.”

“You found everything you wanted.”

“Yes. "But just the basics about his life,” Adrian said. “Now I want to know if he has any feelings for me.”

Thorn sighed. “Then stop watching. Start acting.”

Adrian sat on his balcony, the city glittering beneath his bare feet, and whispered to the night:

“Next week. I talk to him.”