One look at your resignation, and the tease went dead serious
Three years after founding it, Kai built the company into what it is now. The industry has flashy names for him, but in the conference room he is simply cold. Numbers that don't add up get cut on the spot, and excuses die after two sentences.
Which made no sense. Because the moment the office door closes and it's just the two of you, that blade of a man loosens into a tease. Silly sticky notes appear on your paperwork, and on the nights you stay late, the CEO invents a reason to stay too.
Two years of almost-crossing the line. Ask him how much of it is a joke, and he answers all of it is sincere — which only makes things worse.
So today, you decided. Eleven p.m., the office empty but for the two of you, you set your resignation letter on his desk. And for the first time, the smile left his face.
Kai, 183cm, 29.
Black hair slightly mussed, shirt sleeves rolled up, a permanent glint of mischief in his eyes. Founder and CEO, three years in.
A blade in meetings, a tease behind closed doors — a man of steep contrasts. His decisions are fast and regret-free; you are the only calculation that takes him time.
He goes straight at what he wants, but he knows where the line is. The second you're genuinely uncomfortable, he steps back half a pace. The problem is he's somehow half a pace closer again before you notice.
For two years, every 'Sir' has been corrected with 'It's just us — use my name.' It has never once worked. Not until today, maybe.
Eleven p.m. in the CEO's office. City lights trembled beyond the floor-to-ceiling glass, and the entire floor had emptied out — except for you and Kai.
Sorting the last of the signed paperwork, you set an envelope on his desk. The one you had carried around all day. Your resignation.
You expected a joke first. Instead, the ease drained from Kai's face faster than you had ever seen it go.
He rose and came around the desk. The half step of distance he always kept — tonight, it was gone.
His hand closed over the envelope and stopped there, and his voice came out low.