CHAPTER 3: GETTING CLOSER TO THE CEO

The news arrives on an otherwise normal Thursday morning: Mr. Greene's longtime particular motorist, Frank, has passed away suddenly from a heart attack. Katherine's own heart sinks when she hears it. She knows how important Frank was to Mr. Greene after so numerous times of pious service, driving him to endless meetings and events. Her quiet, stern master will be devastated, though he doesn't show it intimately.

Katherine had met Frank numerous times when he'd pull Mr. Greene's satiny black city auto over to check on their structure. He was continually polite with a gentle address, frequently holding the door for her as she slid into the back next to Mr. Greene. She could tell Frank was more than just a motorist to her reticent master. He was a trusted confidant and friend through long days and late nights. His loss leaves a penetrating hole.

At Frank's small, solemn burial that weekend, Katherine substantiated her master's stoic facade, which eventually slipped. As the casket is lowered into the ground, Mr. Greene's generally hard face looks stricken with grief, his eyes shining wet indeed as he keeps the gashes from falling in front of his workers. Katherine pangs deeply, seeing his raw pain lay bare in this unguarded moment.

After the graveside service concludes, Mr. Greene still approaches Katherine. In a choked voice, he tells her stories about Frank she has never heard—how the gregarious motorist assured Mr. Greene after his bitter divorce, counseling him through those dark days. How Frank allocated wisdom during long auto rides guided Mr. Greene as a leader and a man. Katherine sees this as no ordinary hand from her enigmatic master. This loss has shaken him to the core.

Back at the office the following week, most workers slid cautiously around the glowering CEO, unnerved by Mr. Greene's indeed surlier mood since Frank's end. But Katherine makes trouble to check on her grieving master, bringing him coffee and small snacks and reminding him vocally that it's normal to feel sadness and that she's there to hear. Mr. Greene's eyes coruscate with further unshed gashes as he nods, implied gratefulness passing between them.

In the painful days that follow, Mr. Greene throws himself into work more lifelessly than usual, frequently not leaving the office until 9 or 10 at night. Katherine knows he's avoiding going home alone, so she makes a point to stay late as well, furnishing her floundering master with some small measure of invisible company during this dark time. They don't talk, but she hopes her quiet presence can be of some comfort.

Eventually, one delicate evening, as they're the only two left in the silent, darkened administrative services, Mr. Greene haltingly opens up. He shares with Katherine his deep remorse, saying that he in no way completely expressed to Frank how important he was. He took it for granted that Frank would always be there, and he wished he could have more time with his trusted friend. Katherine listens with care, assuring Mr. Greene that Frank surely knew through all the times how important he was appreciated, indeed, if the words were implied. This seems to ease some of the fermentation in Mr. Greene's worried heart.

Bit by bit in the preceding months, Katherine substantiates further the true man arising from behind her master's usual guarded facade. At work, he's still curt and impersonal, but in their long gloamings together, Mr. Greene lets down his guard. He fondly recalls funny recollections of Frank and Regale as they worked. Katherine can see that participating in these stories provides an outlet for his grief. The cold CEO's armor falls more each time they talk.

The first night Mr. Greene directly calls Katherine a friend, her heart swells with a nearly painful wholeness. She promises earnestly to always be there when he needs someone to trust and find solace with; no judgment or pretense is needed. She can see her steady presence and empathy are helping heal this wounded soul. She wants nothing further than to shelter and nurture the real man Katherine now knows exists beneath the stern public mask.

Each night, as they eventually walk out together into the rain or snow, Katherine notices Mr. Greene's face looks lighter and less burdened than when he arrived hours prior. The arising man is more mortal, more vulnerable. But stronger for having allowed his true tone to be seen. Katherine feels recognized, and he trusts her enough now to remove the heavy mask once the doors are near. She hopes he knows her fellowship comes with no limits or conditions.

Katherine is gently proving to Mr. Greene that she wants to know all of him—not just the crisp CEO, but the man beneath, still coming to terms with old injuries and grief, now opened up and exposed like a whim-whams. She still vows to keep appreciating each new piece of him he feels safe with, meaning to sanctum this tender soul arising from the armor he has worn for so long.

Inescapably, there are still lapses on the path forward. With some gloamings, Mr. Greene retreats behind the icy facade; maybe stewing that he has participated is too important. But Katherine tries not to feel discouraged, fastening on trust and tolerance. She must remain his gemstone through good days and bad. Their trip has numerous chapters still left to be written together.

So Katherine makes sure to always pick up his late-night calls, harkening for as long as he needs when loneliness keeps him awake and pacing. The sound of her kind voice soothes him until he finds enough peace to eventually sleep. Their bond is erecting steadily on a foundation of care and true fellowship. She has in no way been more devoted to anyone's good. His happiness and continued growth now feel like her purpose.

Yet Katherine cannot ignore troubling enterprises because outside forces or adversaries may try to undo all the progress they've made. Those want the old-hard CEO back for their purposes. She knows there are always troubles when trust is extended past fortified walls. But she refuses to let fear stop what has begun between them. She'll stand by his side whatever comes, helping cover the gentle, feeling man who has tentatively surfaced. Their future together matters most now.