Chapter 6

The next morning, Kai was nowhere to be seen. Ellyse woke up by herself, alone in his bed. It has always been like this whenever they would sleep together, nothing was new to her.

Ellyse yawned before standing up to go downstairs. As she descended from the stairs, she heard Claire’s high-pitched voice from the dining area.

“And we made stars too, grandma! I painted mine blue, because blue is my favorite color!” She chuckled.

Her daughter loved Victoria so much, she always looked forward to her grandmother visiting their house.

It was really nice to have Victoria around, her presence makes the house feel less tense and lonely.

“Goodmorning, Ellyse,” Victoria stood up to greet Ellyse by planting a kiss on her cheek.

“Mommy!” Claire jumped from her seat, hugging her legs.

“Goodmorning everyone,” Ellyse greets Victoria and carries Claire to give her a kiss on the cheek. She had already finished bathing and is in her school uniform.

“Mom, can you braid my hair like last time? Please! Please!” She chuckled once more.

“Okay, Claire. After you finish eating,” She puts her down and joins them to eat.

There were pancakes, bacons, eggs, chicken and sausages on the table. The aroma made her stomach gurgle, specifically looking at those juicy bacons.

She’d been craving for bacons lately, God they looked so delectable.

“How are you feeling, Ellyse?” Victoria asks her while cutting the bacon with her fork and knife.

“Good, Mom. I’ll go to work later after dropping Claire off,” She glances at her daughter after saying that.

“Alright, well, don’t forget to take care of yourself,” Her gaze was very telling, as if Victoria was telling her to be cautious since she was growing a little human inside her belly.

“I will Mom, don’t worry,” She reassures her.

After breakfast, Ellyse took a warm bath before changing into her work clothes. Like usual, she dropped Claire off to her school before going to Laurent Estates.

Today, she was wearing a black tube velvet dress with a scarf around her neck along with a black coat that sat on both of her shoulders.

Her workloads were a bit much today but she was able to finish half of it before lunch came around. However, just as she finished her salad, her phone started ringing.

It was Tyrone.

She accepted the call, “Hello?”

“The CEO has scheduled an emergency meeting today, he’s in the building,” Ellyse’ eyes widened in shock. Kai rarely visits the building, let alone schedule a meeting! What could’ve possibly happened?

“What? Alright, I’ll go there as soon as possible,” She took her laptop, placing it insider her bag. She then took her coat, hooking them on her left arm as she leaves her office to go to the meeting room.

This was so last minute! The last time she had a meeting with Kai was 6 months ago when they were developing a new floor plan for a house design. And that meeting was scheduled ahead, this wasn’t!

As she entered the elevator, she carefully placed her coat over her again.

Arriving at the meeting room felt nerve-wracking for Ellyse for some odd reason. All the department heads were seated together. When she saw a vacant seat at the very edge of the table, she immediately sat there beside Ms. Candice, the head of the accounting department.

“This is so unlike him…” Candice commented, she was Ellyse’ senior who’s been working at the company for over 20 years.

“Did something happened?” She asks her but Candice only clicked her tongue and shook her head.

“Goodmorning everyone,” Kai entered the meeting room in haste, unbuttoning his coat.

Everyone in the meeting room including Ellyse stood up to greet him, which Kai responded to with a brief nod. He than sat down gracefully, opening his laptop. Beside Kai was his secretary, Kevin. Kevin was the only one who knew that Kai and Ellyse were married.

To her disadvantage, Ellyse was seated so closely to Kai. She was at the very edge of the table, and Kai was at the end.

She gulps as she watched Kai type on his laptop with eyes fixed on the screen. He was wearing his usual scowl along with his reading glasses. Ellyse had noticed long before how Kai liked to play with his lips whenever he was doing something. Back then, it amused her. But now, she doesn’t care anymore.

“Alright everyone, let’s begin the meeting,” Everyone shifted on their seat while Ellyse took her laptop out of her bag.

“Who’s that? Is that your daughter or niece?” Candice had noticed Claire’s picture as her wallpaper.

Ellyse only smiled, “She’s my daughter, she’s six years old.”

“Cute girl,” Candice complimented which Ellyse responded with a nod.

Kai stood up from where he was seated, calling the attention of everyone in the meeting room.

“Firstly, I would like to apologize to everyone for the abrupt meeting. However, the construction for the new designs are currently underway. I’ve been notified earlier by the engineering team that the floor plan submitted by the architecture department wasn’t feasible and they are requesting for revisions,” Kai’s eyes moved to Ellyse who’s now trying to locate the files of the floor plan.

“Ms. Kennedy, is that possible?” Ellyse licked her lips and looked over to Tyrone who’s sitting across her, asking for help.

“U-Uh, Sir…I’m afraid Ms. Kennedy has resigned already. We’ve been trying to find a replacement for her,” Murmurs reverberated, making Ellyse uncomfortable.

“Don’t worry, Sir. I’ll be finishing all the remaining workloads and projects before I formally leave the company-“

“You’re resigning?” Kai shifted his stance, now his full attention was on her.

Ellyse licked her lips, looking at everyone in the room. “Yes…sir. As I was saying, I am willing to finish everything before they find a replacement. However, I don’t think I’ll be able to handle revising the floor plan and design of the new estates,” She tried to maintain her composure while speaking in front of everyone.

She didn’t expect this. She didn’t want her resignation from the company to be broadcasted in front of everyone, including Kai.

Kevin, who’s seated far back looked even shocked than everyone else. Knowing that they’re married, he’s probably thinking that they’re going through some marital issues.

Kai, licked his lips before breathing out. “Has Tyrone approved your resignation?” He then asks without tearing his scalding gaze off of her.

“Yes, sir-“

Kai cut Tyrone off, “What cause did she indicate in her letter?” He now moved his eyes from her to Tyrone.

“Personal reasons, sir,” Kai’s fingertips drummed on the surface of the wooden table.

“Well then, I won’t approve of it,” He renewed his vision to Ellyse who’s no in shock.

Is he trying to get on her nerves or what? She couldn’t understand him! He’s never like this, ever. He never cared if whether of not she was resigning. In fact, he wouldn’t even go as far as talking to her in front of everyone like this!

“I’m sorry sir, but-“

“Please, present the floor plan, Ms. Kennedy,” Ellyse had no choice but to do exactly what Kai said.

She stood up, took her laptop before walking to the opposite end of the table. She connected her laptop to the projector before taking in a deep breath.

She proceeded to talk in front of everyone regarding the floor plan. And amidst all that, Kai was pointing out the things that needed to be changed such as the bathroom, where the stairs were, the flooring and the likes.

After the meeting, she quickly packed her things. She planned to speak to Kai about her resigning and possibly convince him.

Why would he want her to stay anyway? She could easily train her replacement and tell them the things that needed to be done! What was his problem?

“Kai-Sir,” Kai was walking out of the meeting room while talking to the Vincent, the engineering head.

“Sir, I’m sorry but need to talk to you,” Ellyse contained herself from touching Kai’s arm to stop him from walking so fast.

Vincent thankfully heard her and paused their conversation, Kai then looked back to where she was standing. He didn’t seem like he wanted to entertain her, but he muttered a few words before Vincent left.

Ellyse felt relieved, she feared he wouldn’t entertain her. So she immediately walked towards him.

“I am willing to train the replacement and tell her everything that’s needed for the revisions. I just really need to resign, Kai,” She tried remaining as professional as possible, she didn’t want him to feel like she was trying to force him, although she technically is.

“You can leave the company as soon as the project is done,” Ellyse’ jaw dropped at his statement.

No way she was gonna wait for over two years before resigning! They’d be divorced by then! She didn’t want to be associated with him anymore!

“That’s a very long time, Kai,” Is all she said despite wanting to say more.

Kai, whose eyes are fixed on the road only scoffed. “I’m not asking you to wait until the new estates have been built,” He says, pushing the button of the elevator while Ellyse stood beside him like a dog.

“You’re asking me to stay until the newly revised floor plan is finished?” She asked him.

“Yes,” The elevator dinged, Kai entered and Ellyse followed him.

Ellyse was eager to leave the company, however Kai did have a point. Ellyse was the one who formulated the new designs, although she had her associates collaborate with her, it was mostly her idea.

“If I finished the new floor plan within a week, am I free to go?” She looked up at Kai who now had his hands intertwined behind him.

Kai always exuded this kind of confidence no one had. He carried himself so well, he was the CEO but he also looked the part. His hair was always kept, he was also prim and proper. Almost like a robot.

“Sure,” Is what he only said.

That was their only exchange before the elevator dinged. Ellyse realized that it was already past lunchtime and she had to fetch Claire.

She thought about asking Kai to accompany her so he would see their daughter but in the end, she stayed silent.