The Distance Between Them
904 Words
Clara spent the next few days trying to understand Anthony Kingsley.
Not as a billionaire.
Not as her employer.
But as a person.
It wasn't easy.
Anthony was still quiet.
Still serious.
Still impossible to read.
But she had started noticing small things.
Things other people probably ignored.
Like how he always placed his coffee cup in the same spot every morning.
How he checked his phone whenever the hospital was mentioned.
How he stayed in his office late into the night, even when he was clearly exhausted.
He was a difficult man to understand.
But Clara was beginning to realize...
Maybe he wasn't cold.
Maybe he was simply alone.
That morning, Clara was arranging the breakfast table when Anthony entered.
He stopped when he saw her.
"Good morning, Mr. Kingsley."
"Good morning."
Again.
That small response.
A few weeks ago, Clara would never have imagined hearing those words from him.
She placed the final plate down.
"Your breakfast is ready."
Anthony sat down.
After a moment, he looked at her.
"How is your mother?"
Clara paused.
It was unexpected.
"She's stable."
"That's good."
A small smile appeared on Clara's face.
"Yes. The doctor said the treatment is helping."
Anthony nodded.
"Good."
The conversation ended there.
But somehow, it felt different.
Later that afternoon, Clara received a message from Noah.
Noah: Mom asked about you.
Clara smiled.
She immediately replied.
Clara: Tell her I'm fine.
A few seconds later, another message appeared.
Noah: You always say that.
Clara laughed quietly.
Her brother knew her too well.
At the villa, Lily noticed Clara smiling at her phone.
"You look happy."
Clara quickly put the phone away.
"I'm just talking to my brother."
Lily smiled.
"About your mysterious boss?"
Clara almost dropped the towel in her hands.
"What?"
"I've noticed."
"Noticed what?"
"That Mr. Kingsley talks to you more than he talks to anyone else."
Clara shook her head.
"That's not true."
"It is."
"He only asks about work."
Lily raised an eyebrow.
"Does he ask everyone about their sick mother?"
Clara became quiet.
She didn't know how to answer.
Because she had noticed it too.
Anthony didn't have to help her.
He didn't have to care.
Yet he did.
That evening, Anthony returned home earlier than usual.
When he entered the villa, he noticed the lights in the living room were on.
Clara was there.
She was sitting on the floor organizing old household records.
She immediately stood.
"Mr. Kingsley."
"What are you doing?"
"Organizing the old files."
"You don't need to do that tonight."
"I finished my other work."
Anthony looked at the stack of documents.
"You should rest."
Clara smiled.
"I will after this."
He looked at her.
There it was again.
That habit.
Always putting work before herself.
"Clara."
She looked up.
"Yes?"
"Why do you work so hard?"
The question surprised her.
She thought for a moment.
"Because my family needs me."
Anthony was quiet.
"That's all?"
Clara smiled softly.
"Isn't that enough?"
Something about her answer stayed with him.
To Anthony, success had always meant power.
Control.
Winning.
But to Clara...
Success meant being able to protect the people she loved.
The next day, Anthony had an important business meeting.
A major investor was visiting Kingsley Group.
Everything needed to be perfect.
But before leaving the villa, he noticed something on the table.
A small box.
He opened it.
Inside was a neatly prepared lunch.
There was a note attached.
"Mr. Kingsley, you often forget to eat when you're busy. Please take care of yourself. — Clara"
Anthony stared at the note.
A normal person might have found it unnecessary.
But Anthony wasn't used to someone noticing.
Someone caring.
He closed the box carefully.
At the office, Ethan immediately noticed the lunch.
"What is that?"
Anthony looked up.
"Food."
Ethan smiled.
"I can see that."
Anthony ignored him.
Ethan walked closer.
"Someone made that for you."
"No."
"No?"
"It was prepared by my maid."
Ethan looked amused.
"Your maid."
Anthony gave him a warning look.
"Don't start."
"I didn't say anything."
"You were thinking it."
Ethan laughed.
"Anthony, you've known this woman for barely a few weeks, and you're already carrying lunch she made."
Anthony looked away.
"It's nothing."
But even he knew that wasn't completely true.
That night, Anthony returned home later than usual.
The villa was quiet.
He expected everyone to be asleep.
But when he walked past the kitchen, he saw Clara.
She was sitting at the table with a book.
She looked tired.
Very tired.
"You should be sleeping."
Clara looked up.
"I was waiting."
Anthony stopped.
"Waiting for what?"
She smiled slightly.
"Dinner."
"I already ate."
"Oh."
A small look of disappointment crossed her face before she hid it.
Anthony noticed.
"You waited because you wanted to eat with me?"
Clara looked embarrassed.
"No. I just thought you might not have eaten."
Silence.
Then Anthony walked toward the table.
"Sit."
She blinked.
"Mr. Kingsley?"
"You're tired too."
He sat down.
"So eat."
For a moment, Clara didn't move.
Then she slowly sat across from him.
Neither of them spoke much.
But for the first time...
The silence between them didn't feel uncomfortable.
It felt peaceful.
Anthony had spent years building walls around himself.
Clara had spent years carrying burdens alone.
Neither of them knew it yet.
But little by little...
They were becoming the one place the other could finally rest.
End of Chapter 9
- Writer
