His thought
1006 Words
Ruth stood outside the CEO's office with her palms pressed tightly against the file in her hands.
Mr. Ben offered her an encouraging smile.
"Relax," he said with a whisper. "He's not as scary as everyone thinks."
Ruth managed a weak smile.
"I hope so."
"You can go in."
Ruth drew in a slow breath.
One step, then another.
The office was larger than she had imagined. Floor-to-ceiling windows overlooked the city, flooding the room with afternoon light. Everything inside was neat, from the bookshelf against the wall to the files arranged with precision.
Her eyes instinctively moved to the man seated behind the desk.
The moment she saw his face...
She stopped walking.
Her heart raced so fast that she thought she was going to have a panic attack.
Scott Rowland. Her new boss...
...was Scott.
For a second, her mind went completely blank.
Of all the companies in California and of all the CEOs, why did it have to be him? And to think she didn't even do a thorough research on the company she was about working for made her feel stupid.
Scott looked up from the document in front of him.
His expression barely changed, Almost like he knew.
"Miss Bennett."
His deep voice pulled her back to reality.
She swallowed.
"Mr... Mr. Rowland."
For a brief moment, silence settled between them.
Scott studied her quietly.
He remembered the woman who had abruptly left the club the previous night, all the colour draining from her face after reading something on her phone.
Each time he met her...
She seemed to be running from something.
"Please."
He gestured toward the chair opposite him.
"Sit."
Ruth slowly lowered herself into the seat.
She placed the employment documents on the desk, trying to ignore how fast her heart was still beating.
Scott closed the file he had been reading.
"I was informed you requested a week before resuming work."
"Yes, sir."
He leaned back slightly.
"May I know why?"
Ruth's fingers tightened around each other.
"I... have a personal matter I need to settle."
"What kind of personal matter?"
She hesitated.
"I'm sorry, sir."
"I'd rather not discuss it."
Scott watched her for a long moment.
Most people sitting in front of him tried too hard to impress him.
She wasn't, if anything...
She looked like she wished she were somewhere else.
He tapped a finger lightly against the desk.
"When you came for the assessment yesterday..."
"You stayed until evening solving a problem most applicants couldn't."
"You were determined."
His eyes remained on hers.
"So I'm curious."
"What changed overnight?"
The question landed harder than Ruth expected.
Nothing had changed.
Everything had simply caught up with her.
She lowered her eyes.
"I still want the job."
"I just..."
The words refused to come.
Scott noticed the slight tremble in her hands.
"You don't have to tell me if you're uncomfortable."
Ruth looked up in surprise.
For someone, people described as a cold human, his tone wasn't.
It wasn't warm either, just... respectful.
She managed a grateful nod.
"Thank you."
Scott reached for the employment documents.
"If this leave is important enough for you to risk your first impression..."
"I'll assume it matters."
Relief flickered across Ruth's face.
"Thank you, sir."
He signed one of the papers before sliding the file back toward her.
"You'll still need to complete the remaining employment formalities."
"I understand."
Ruth quickly reached for the file in her bag.
Perhaps too quickly.
The bag fell and papers slipped from it.
They scattered across the polished floor.
"Oh..."
"I'm sorry."
She immediately bent to gather them.
Scott did the same from the other side of the desk.
As he picked up the last sheet, his eyes couldn't catch what was on it.
But when he looked at her, there was real panic on her face. She quickly snatched the document from his hands.
Scott's eyes lingered on her a little longer than before.
There it was again, that same fear.
The same expression she'd worn the night before in the club.
Whatever burden she was carrying...
It was getting heavier.
He handed her the papers without saying a word.
"Thank you."
She took them quickly, avoiding his gaze.
"If..."
She paused before forcing out a small smile.
"If that's all, sir..."
"I'll take my leave."
Scott gave a small nod.
"Take care of your personal matters."
Ruth stood immediately.
"Thank you."
She turned and hurried toward the door.
The office fell silent the moment it closed behind her.
Scott took his seat. His eyes stayed fixed on the closed door.
For several seconds, he didn't move.
Something about her bothered him.
Not because she was beautiful.
He'd met beautiful women all his life.
Not because she'd thanked him.
People thanked him every day.
It was the fear and she wore it too naturally as though she'd been living with it for a long time.
A soft knock interrupted his thoughts.
Mr. Ben stepped inside.
"You wanted to see me, sir?"
Scott looked away from the door.
"Did Miss Bennett tell you why she wanted two weeks?"
Mr. Ben shook his head.
"No, sir."
"I asked.. She only said it was a personal issue."
Scott remained silent.
Mr. Ben waited.
After a moment, curiosity got the better of him.
"Should I... look into it?"
Scott didn't answer immediately.
He wasn't in the habit of interfering in his employees private lives.
He hated when people invaded his own.
Yet the image of Ruth's trembling hands returned to him followed by the look on her face when she'd read that message at the club.
He frowned almost imperceptibly.
"No."
He picked up another file.
Then, almost absentmindedly, he added,
"If she needs the time..."
"Give it to her."
Mr. Ben nodded.
"Yes, sir."
As the door closed again, Scott stared at the document in front of him.
He read the same line three times.
None of the words registered.
For reasons he couldn't explain...
His thoughts had already followed Ruth out of the office.
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