My CEO Boss Is A Masked Internet Sensation-Chapter 38: Stealing His Bland Cookie

(Arata)

All preparations for the meeting were completed. Heads of all the departments in the company were to gather and provide the monthly report to the CEO.

Miranda and I ordered refreshments and coffee for the staff apart from Karsten. I prepared his coffee and brought the flaxseed sugarless cookies from the Keto diet store he loved.

They were bland and unappetising to even look at and I wondered how he even ate that stuff.

But they surely were healthy and I tried to take a bite and chew one while I fixed his plate.

It felt like dry sand in my mouth, and I had to gulp it down with a glass of water.

Nope... I would stick to my chocolate chip and mint ones.

I loved sugary stuff. A girl loves what a girl loves.

Everything was in place and Karsten was the first one to arrive while I was adjusting the projector.

Of course, the man measured the time by microseconds. Everyone was going to be in trouble. The thought was not comforting.

The door opened, and he glided forward like the devil in a suit. His stormy eyes found mine, and they travelled down to my buttoned-up creamy blouse.

Apprehensive and confused, I wondered what he was staring at.

Right hand in his pocket he furthered a step and asked, almost humiliating me.

"Did you like my cookies?"

Ohh—no, I must have dropped a crumb on my blouse, and Mr Glacier’s DSLR camera-styled eyes, which seemed to have a high-definition microvision, didn’t miss it. freeωebnovēl.c૦m

Some dumb luck I had.

My ears boiled over, but I wasn’t going to admit that I tried to eat one of his stupid, tasteless cookies.

"It wasn’t your cookie," I quickly answered, trying to hold his gaze. The right side of his lips twitched as if he was trying to hold back a snicker and could see through my lie.

Emotions deepened in his eyes, emotions I didn’t understand.

He took two bold steps closer to me and I refused to step back, stubbornly staying where I was.

Chin up, my lips pressed together.

His head tilted slightly low.

So close, he was so close that I could see the red veins in his whites. The blackness swirled in them trying to suck away any happiness the others possessed.

Reaching with his hand he picked up the fine crumb of the size of a mere ant that had dropped on my collar.

My breath dislodged in my chest at his action but I refused to budge.

Keeping his intense peepers focused on me he lifted his head, opened his mouth and dropped the tiny piece into his mouth. Chewing purposely and rather slowly.

I gulped seeing his actions, heat rising to my face and neck, warming it.

"Didn’t take you for a liar, girlfriend..." he sarcastically replied, twisting his heart-shaped lips.

They say curiosity killed the cat, here it killed Arata Zyair.

Should have stepped back but I didn’t want to give him the satisfaction.

I was saved from further humiliation when the door to the conference room opened and the other staff members began arriving.

My chest fell as I exhaled in relief. Karsten took a step away but I could see his lips hiking up. The broody man was back to his ways with an unneeded haughtiness.

"Good afternoon, Sir!" They all chorused as they flooded inside and stood beside their seats, waiting for Karsten to be seated first.

His huge frame settled in his executive seat, tilting it he gestured with his hand for everyone to be seated. I stood right beside him, adjusting my annoying glasses and keeping the tablet stable in my hands so I could take notes.

The meeting was a monthly report on the company’s performance where all the heads presented the monthly performance of their respective departments.

Miranda helped with the projector setting while everyone presented their reports. Karsten sat very still with his hands clasped together and resting under his chin, listening attentively.

Chan smiled at me, and I could sense the mischief bubbling underneath his lopsided smile.

I pursed my lips and nodded at him, but his smile soon vanished, and he lowered his head. Tilting my head I observed Karsten giving him a death stare.

That man won’t smile and won’t even let others do it.

"Why are sales down by one per cent?" Karsten grilled Chan, his voice harsh. The poor guy was going to pay for cracking a smile.

"We always experience the lowest sales in the month of October. It’s due to the transition period from Summer to winter. They are 5 per cent higher than last year’s October, so we are on the right track," Chan added with a comforting smile.

"I want the sales to be raised by ten per cent at the end of November. Don’t slack or waste your time by flirting around," Karsten almost reprimanded the poor guy and his face fell. The atmosphere got chillier followed by an awkward silence.

He didn’t need to embarrass him like that. A personal attack was not needed. I jotted it down, a word with him later would do him good. I knew he wouldn’t like my intervention, but I was going to do it anyway.

Everyone chose to remain silent and keep their eyes lowered or glued to the documents they had brought along except Ranold. He chose to laugh like a maniac, banging his hand on the onyx-coloured table.

My brows furrowed at Ranold’s actions while Chan went red in embarrassment.

Thankfully rest of the meeting went smoothly without any more incidents.

I learnt how the dynamics in this company went. Karsten’s word was the law and there weren’t many people who could challenge him or change his perspective.

As the meeting concluded the heads began to help themselves with refreshments and poured coffee from the coffee machine Miranda and I had set up.

I brought coffee for Karsten along with those bland cookies. I had just placed down the plates while he went through the reports the marketing department had presented to him.

"Arata, will you be a darling and fetch me coffee too?" Ranold asked in his super sweet voice, making my head sharply turn in his direction.

Ranold had an arrogant smile plastered on his lips as he casually leaned back in his chair. His eyes held a tease but were directed towards Karsten.

Before I could speak, Mr Cold, the CEO, beat me to it as he thumped the file closed.

"Listen up. I have an important announcement to make," his voice rang out clearly and attention-demanding. Everyone froze in their spots, their heads turning in his direction as they held their coffees and refreshments.

Ranold smugly relaxed even more.

Standing up Karsten placed his brawny arm around my shoulder without any warning, pulled me into his warm embrace. Startled, I stared at him sideways as he spoke without a wrinkle on his face.

"Arata is not only my secretary but also my girlfriend. Therefore, she is off limits and not bound to run anyone’s errands but mine." His eyes dangerously flashed as they swept past the shocked faces in the room and finally focused on Ranold.

"Get your own damn coffee."