Chapter 4: Fractures in Silence
The air was tense as Leo stormed out of the meeting room, his footsteps echoing through the marble corridor. His chest heaved with a mix of rage and desperation as he clenched his fists. His mind raced, a whirlwind of unspoken words and unresolved feelings fueling his steps.
Kai's figure was already retreating toward the elevator at the far end of the hall. Leo's gaze locked onto him, and before he could think twice, he quickened his pace.
"Kai!" he called, his voice sharp and commanding.
Kai didn't stop. He didn't even glance back.
Leo's frustration boiled over. He broke into a run, his long strides quickly closing the distance. Just as Kai reached for the elevator button, Leo grabbed his wrist, yanking him back with enough force to turn him around.
"We need to talk," Leo growled, his grip firm.
Kai's face remained calm, his expression betraying nothing. "There's nothing to talk about, Leo," he said, his tone cold and detached. He tried to pull his wrist free, but Leo's grip only tightened.
"There's everything to talk about!" Leo snapped, his voice rising. "You can't just walk away like this, like none of it ever mattered!"
Kai's eyes flickered, but his composure didn't waver. "It's over, Leo. Whatever you think we have to say, it's done. Let go." He tugged again, his movements deliberate but restrained.
Leo's chest tightened at Kai's indifference, the pain of it cutting deeper than any insult. His voice dropped, trembling with barely contained emotion. "You think you can just dismiss me? After everything—"
"I have dismissed it," Kai interrupted, his voice sharp. "There's nothing left. Move on."
That was the breaking point. Leo's fist clenched, and before he could stop himself, he swung. His punch landed hard against Kai's jaw, the sound reverberating through the corridor.
Kai staggered back slightly, his head snapping to the side. Yet, when he straightened, his expression was eerily calm. His hand moved to his jaw, but his eyes didn't meet Leo's.
The office fell into stunned silence as employees stopped in their tracks, their gazes darting between the two men.
Kai exhaled slowly, his voice low and deliberate. "Is this what you've become, Leo? A man who solves his problems with violence?"
Leo's breathing was ragged, his emotions spiraling out of control. "You pushed me to this!" he shouted. "You don't even care, do you? About anything? About us?"
Kai's gaze finally locked with Leo's, cold and piercing. "There is no 'us,' Leo." With that, he turned and walked away, leaving Leo standing in the middle of the hallway, trembling with rage and heartbreak.
Before Leo could go after him, Kim appeared, rushing to his side. He grabbed Leo's arm, his tone urgent yet soothing. "Boss, that's enough. Let's go."
Leo resisted at first, his eyes still fixed on Kai's retreating figure. But Kim tightened his grip, pulling him back. "Leo. Let it go. You're making a scene."
Reluctantly, Leo allowed Kim to steer him away from the crowd.
---
They ended up in a quiet coffee shop, far from the chaos of the office. Leo sat slumped in his chair, his head in his hands. Kim placed a steaming cup of coffee in front of him and sat down across the table.
"Drink," Kim said softly, his tone more comforting than commanding.
Leo didn't move at first, his thoughts too tangled to focus. But Kim gave him a pointed look, and with a sigh, Leo picked up the cup, the warmth of it grounding him slightly.
"You need to calm down," Kim said after a moment, his voice gentle but firm. "I know he got under your skin, but this isn't the way."
Leo's lips tightened. "You don't understand, Kim. It's not just about today. It's… everything."
Kim leaned forward, his eyes kind yet serious. "I've been with you for five years, Leo. I know you better than you think. And I know that holding onto this anger won't help you."
Leo looked away, his jaw clenched. "I don't know how to let it go."
Kim placed a reassuring hand on Leo's arm. "You don't have to figure it all out right now. Just take it one step at a time. And remember, you're not alone in this."
For the first time in hours, Leo felt a small sense of relief. Kim had always been more than an assistant to him; he was family. And in that moment, Leo realized he needed to lean on tha
t support if he was ever going to face the storm inside him.