Losing Control
**Kael**
My initial plan was simple: fulfill my desires with Sarah for thirty days and then close everything between us. However, things didn't go as planned. The more time we spent together, the more attracted I felt to her. The time had come to close that chapter and not allow these thoughts to distract me.
Sarah left my apartment, and our affair came to an end, just as it should be and as I had planned from the beginning. There was no reason to spend a single minute thinking about her, as we no longer had any connection.
However, I had made a promise to Ryan to help Sarah in some way. According to my assistant, she wanted to find a new job, something very different from her sister, who seemed to want to maintain her lifestyle without working.
Although I no longer wanted to consider Sarah or everything she represented, I felt it was my responsibility to help her in this initial moment. I gave Ryan permission to find a position for her in one of my companies, except at the headquarters, to avoid any encounter or reminder of her. I hoped he was taking care of the matter, as I couldn't afford to waste time thinking about it.
But our view of things doesn't always materialize in reality, and I was starting to realize this now, as I prepared to enter a crucial meeting, and all that occupied my mind was Sarah. How could I answer the questions of the investors invited to my new project in the automotive sector when I felt so distracted?
I couldn't allow a woman to interfere with my performance as a businessman. I tried to clear my mind and leave behind the fact that Sarah had once been part of my life. But deciding what to do is the easy part; now, I need to put into practice what I had planned. For that, I relied on support in today's meeting. After all, that's what I pay my assistant for.
*Kael: I need you to come to my office now.
Ryan: On my way.*
I was about to send a message complaining about him saying he was on his way when suddenly, the door to my office opened, and Ryan walked in.
"The meeting with the investors is in just ten minutes, and you're still in such a bad mood?" Ryan complained, looking at me reproachfully. "How can we secure financial support like this, boss? My answer: We can't!"
“I can fund this project on my own without the need for so many people meddling in the decisions," I said rudely, looking towards the computer.
"I see we're really not having a good day," Ryan commented ironically. "Would you prefer to postpone the meeting?"
Ryan was right; the day really wasn't going well, but I couldn't just cancel professional commitments because of something as trivial as thinking about a woman with whom I had a brief affair.
"I need you to join me in the meeting. After all, that's why you receive such a generous salary, to advise me."
*******
If I thought my mood couldn't get worse, with each passing day, I realized I was mistaken. I could barely stand myself in this state. However, as a successful man, I had the responsibility to be prepared for all situations. Even though I wouldn't admit it to anyone but myself, there was a reason Rachel's apartment was in the same building as mine. Knowing that Sarah was strategically within my reach was something that crossed my mind.
However, I needed to find out where she was working and what her position was. I was thinking of a way to encounter her without revealing how much her absence was affecting me and how much I missed her in my bed.
I called Ryan into my office to discuss some matters. As soon as we finished, I started to think about how to broach the subject of Sarah in a way that wouldn't make it too obvious how much I wanted her back.
"I hope you managed to resolve all the items on the list I gave you at the beginning of the week," I probed without directly addressing the issue.
"Only one item couldn't be resolved as you intended, but it's done."
I swiveled my chair as the CEO and crossed my arms over my chest, looking him directly in the eye and waiting for him to reveal what hadn't been done.
"I know you must be thinking that I should have informed you right away," Ryan seemed nonchalant, but something told me that the item in question was precisely about Sarah.
"A keen reading of my thoughts. And then?"
"I was merely following your order," was his justification, and I quickly deduced that I wouldn't like what he had to tell me. "You made it clear that I should handle Sarah's situation and that you didn't want to hear her name anymore."
I thought I would explode in anger, just knowing that something wasn't going the way I wanted it to, but I held on to find out to what extent things had slipped from my control.
"I still don't want you to update me on every step Sarah might take," that for the sake of my sanity. "But if things aren't going the way I want them to, then I need to be informed."
"A delicate situation for this poor assistant," Ryan used a dramatic tone.
"Stop beating around the bush and tell me what I want to know, Ryan!" I lost even more control now. "Is Sarah working in one of my companies or not?"
"No."
I brought my hand to my forehead, already feeling a headache approaching.
"I imagine she got another job then?" I suggested, hoping she wasn't going down the same path as her sister.
"Sarah is indeed working, don't worry," Ryan managed to reassure me now. "A great job, actually."
I sighed in relief. The situation wasn't as bad as I was starting to believe. I ran my hand through my hair, trying to straighten the strands that I had messed up moments before.
I needed to see her, no matter the reasons I had to stay away from Sarah. I couldn't stay away from her anymore, especially after we had parted in such a foolish way. It didn't matter if I believed a month would be enough to get over her; I wanted her in my arms that night, and I wouldn't wait another minute. I would go to the apartment where she was living with her sister and demand a conversation between us.
"You're dismissed for today," I told Ryan, already getting up from my chair and grabbing my folder.
"Sarah is not in the apartment located in your building," the information came when I was already with my hand on the doorknob.
I let go of it and stared at Ryan, irritation returning to take over, as it seemed he wasn't cooperating with me.
I glanced at the watch on my wrist, and it was already a bit past six in the evening.
"Is she still working at this hour?"
I wouldn't pretend that he was wrong and that I wasn't planning to look for her, as that was precisely what I intended to do. I didn't owe him explanations for my actions.
"Sarah doesn't know, but Rachel leased the apartment with a six-month contract," Ryan only managed to make me even more confused now.
"And where is Sarah, Ryan?"
"England."
"What do you mean, she's in England?" I asked, letting all my fury show.
"She's working for a Formula One team, and I believe the United States won't be on her itinerary for the next few months."
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