55 - The soul in a thousand pieces

-I must admit that it worries me that you're here again," admitted the CEO, sitting back in his prized chairman's chair.

-And why is that?

-Attitudes like that girl's are unforgivable to me," he growled in annoyance.

-Don't worry, I'm used to that kind of treatment.

Sebastian felt terrible for the redhead's comment, it showed that he was a bad boss, one of those who didn't notice that his team was in crisis and that they were killing each other, he had to be more attentive, he wasn't going to allow another treatment like that from any of them with Helena.

-It's not like that, you are the presidential secretary of ALLER INDUSTRIES, you have to assert yourself," he exclaimed diplomatically, "If someone else treats you that way, you tell me.

The young woman could not help but smile at this new protective attitude on the part of her boss.

Sebastian looked into her eyes, noticing the change in Helena.

Her smile was like a ray of sunshine on a cloudy day. It was warm and radiant, lighting up her face with a contagious tenderness and joy. But what made her smile truly special was the spark of love and happiness that shone in her eyes, those sparkling eyes that he had first seen in that very room and that had seemed unique to him. Her eyes lit up with a glint of complicity, as if they knew that, in that moment, in that smile, there was a special message reserved just for him.

Sebastian couldn't help but smile too, as a mute response to Helena's message.

It was a smile full of affection and deep connection that was capable of melting hearts and dispelling any worry or sadness in Helena. It was a smile that made the redhead feel loved, cherished and assured of an unconditional love that didn't really exist, but what could she believe if only they would stay that way forever.

The redhead felt that every time she saw that smile, her heart beat faster and reminded her of the transforming power of pure and genuine love.

The atmosphere was permeated with a serene stillness, as if time itself had stopped to allow their souls to meet. As they gazed into each other's eyes, a mixture of wonder and recognition shone in their gazes, as if they had found something they had been searching for all their lives.

But that connection beyond comprehension, and one that was theirs alone and no one else's, was cut off with a cruel shrill voice that burst unceremoniously into the office.

-Sebiiiiiii! My love!

Sebastian looked toward the door and Helena turned in bewilderment.

The air became tense and charged with an uncomfortable energy as Katlyn shot accusing glances at Helena and Sebastian. Her presence seemed to tarnish the special connection the two had been experiencing, filling the atmosphere with resentment and frustration.

-What's the meaning of this?!

Helena felt her heart constrict at Katlyn's appearance. A mixture of sadness and disappointment invaded her being, as her moment of happiness was threatened by this intruder whom she had vowed never to see again, but who, even if she didn't want to admit it, she knew was married to her boss and would see her daily. He just didn't expect it to be so soon.

-This...I...- The CEO began to stammer, as if he had been caught red-handed. For the first time in his life he didn't know what to say.

Sebastian was caught in a whirlwind of emotions. He felt a mixture of guilt and frustration at seeing his wife interrupt that special moment with Helena. He knew he would have to face the consequences of his decisions and deal with the repercussions of his unhappy marriage, until just a few days ago he had thought he could handle it, but now with Helena so close he didn't know for how long.

-Katlyn, love, it's not what it seems. Helena has only come back to work for me as my secretary. I needed her experience and skills on the job, that's all," she exclaimed trying to contain her nerves.

Katlyn turned sharply to the redhead, who unconsciously stepped back, as if she had some explaining to do to her boss's wife. She slyly covered her belly with her jacket fearing that the ruthless woman would notice her baby.

-How dare you bring her back into our lives," the blonde whined, "After what she did to us at our wedding!!!!! I can't believe you would do this to me," she sobbed turning red as a tomato.

Sebastian knew that if the blonde went crazy everything was going to get out of hand.

-You have something with her, don't you? You want your cheap slut near you.

Under the astonished gaze of the redhead, the young heir got up from his seat and approached his wife.

-Katlyn, I promise you that between Helena and me there is only a strictly professional relationship. I am committed to you and I want to do everything I can to make our marriage work.

The new presidential secretary listened intently to her boss's words as she tried to calm Katlyn and promise her that she would fight for her marriage, for her love.

A knot formed in Helena's stomach, and a deep sense of disappointment came over her.

-I can't believe it... -She whispered, but neither of them heard her-.

"He's still willing to fight for his marriage to Katlyn..." she said to herself.

Sebastian hugged Katlyn, who sobbed into his chest.

-I don't know if I can go on knowing he's in our life again. It makes me feel insecure and threatened- Over her husband's shoulder, the blonde peeked her feline gaze and fixed her hard, cruel eyes on Helena, taunting her.

-I need you to trust me and our relationship- sentenced the CEO, without being able to turn to the redhead, he didn't know how she was taking all that, he was just begging her to be patient and not to change her mind after his wife's mistreatment.

"Did you really think he would trade you for Katlyn? You're just his baby's incubator."

With a lump in her throat and a broken heart, Helena left the office. She didn't want to witness him struggling to save his relationship with Katlyn, as it would only add to her pain.

Katlyn watched silently as Helena left the office. At that moment, a startling change came over Katlyn. The tears disappeared from her eyes and a mischievous smile slowly crept across her face, revealing her dark, manipulative side.

The blonde undid the embrace and kissed hard the lips of the CEO, who was not expecting that reaction from his wife.

The kiss intensified and the young millionaire's cold and slippery hands slid from her husband's chest to his pants.

-What are you doing?" asked the stunned heir, barely able to speak through the voracious kiss.

-I'm going to make sure you think only of me," he said lasciviously.

As Helena put her things down on her desk, she began to hear whispers and laughter coming from inside her boss's office. A sense of anguish came over her as she recognized Sebastian's voice mixed with the intimate sounds of Katlyn, who had no shame in screaming in pleasure for all to hear.

The redhead's heartbeat quickened as her mind tried to process what she was hearing. Every sound stabbed into her soul. The roar of her own heart pounded in her ears, competing with the passionate whispers and desire-filled moans coming from the office.

Each whisper, each moan, was a stab in his heart, reminding him that the man he was beginning to love was indulging in intimacy with his wife, while she stood on the other side of the door.

A mixture of disbelief, pain and bitterness welled up inside her and she felt strong nausea, forcing her to leave the place, running to the bathroom, releasing everything inside her stomach, even though she felt like she was vomiting her own soul.