CEO’s Romantic Affair

Keith had no idea what she was talking about. He thought she was still in shock over her grandmother’s death. Hearing her words, Keith felt like his heart was stabbed. Terrible anguish struck his heart. He felt a dreadful ache as if something was being torn inside him.

“I’m here. I’m not going anywhere. I will never leave you again,” he whispered. Keith carefully picked Cathryn up. He searched her eyes caringly. They were reddish and weak. Pain and grief showed readily. “Please don’t worry, Cathryn, Grandma, is much better now.”

Cathryn rested her head against Keith’s chest and wept softly. She lay so lifeless in his arms. ‘What would I do if something were to ever happen to her,’ Keith thought. The sounds broke the melancholy silence of Cathryn’s family. She didn’t know how to cope with the grief she felt inside.

Cathryn thought that maybe she had dreamt the whole thing, but the sound of Keith’s heart beating told her it was not so. The emptiness she felt consumed her. Cathryn’s eyes seemed to have gotten larger, and there was nothing behind them. There was no substance. There was no feeling. There was no passion. There was nothing. There was just sorrow and confusion.

Keith sighed and looked at Cathryn with a pained expression as if he were groping for the right words to say, “Cathryn,” he whispered softly.

Keith took Cathryn to lie down. He came back and noticed Clement looking at his phone. Feeling a little overwhelmed, Clement was trying to figure out what to do first for the funeral arrangements.

“Mr. Riley,” Keith said. “Is there anything I can do to help?”

“Thank you! Yes, I don’t know who to call first or where to begin to prepare for a funeral,” Clement said.

Keith tapped him on the back. “Here, let me. I’ll do it for you. First, we need to call a mortician to come and get Grandma. You can talk to him when he arrives, and he’ll tell you all you need to know.”

Clement sat down and paused for a brief moment. A sob rose up to his throat, but he fought back the tears, “Cathryn has taken her grandmother’s passing quite hard, hasn’t she?”

“Yes, but she’s incredibly strong, and I will help her every step of the way,” Keith reassured Clement.Exclusive content © by Nô(v)el/Dr/ama.Org.

Keith made the call, and shortly after, the mortician from Douglas City arrived. “Hello, I’m Fred Lark from Lark’s Mortuary.” He shook both Clement and Keith’s hands. Keith went to check on Cathryn, not long after, Keith came back and saw Clement getting ready to leave.

“Keith, if anyone is looking for me. Let them know that I’m following the hearse into town and making the memorial plans,” Keith shook his head and took out his phone to make arrangements to have Cathryn’s grandmother’s house cleaned for the funeral.

Clement got back to the house and informed Victoria of the funeral arrangements. Victoria began to think about what she would pick out for her mother’s burial clothes, “I want mom to wear something special. Her favorite color was purple. I’m going to go to town and pick a dress for her.”

Victoria looked at Nancy, “Would you mind coming with me?” Nancy nodded, and the two of them left.

Today was the day of the funeral, and the coffin was brought to the church by the undertaker in a hearse. Everyone said their farewells to grandma. The church was full of people. Many people from the town came to show their respects. Grandma was loved, and everyone respected her.

Cathryn stood there in silence. Her eyes were bloodshot. She hadn’t stopped crying since she found her grandma. The world seemed to be passing by slowly as Cathryn stared at the coffin. She watched as the coffin was being lowered to the ground. The funeral was over, and everyone started to leave.

Keith put his hand on Cathryn’s shoulder and said, “Are you ready? Everyone is going back to your grandma’s house.” Soft tears sprang to her eyes and began to trickle down her cheeks. “Just give me a minute. I’ll be right there.”

Keith went to the car and waited. Cathryn kneeled down on the ground, “Grandma, I’m going to miss you. I know you’re with grandpa. One day you will hold me in your arms again.” Cathryn laid a rose by the grave and left.

Arriving at grandma’s, Keith never left Cathryn’s side. She greeted everyone at the door and got them to sign the funeral guest book. Looking at her mother and Nancy, Cathryn said, “You two look exhausted. Go lie down for a while.”

They waved their hands and said, “Okay.”

Cathryn was exhausted and unable to keep any food down. Her mother insisted that she eat something, but every time, Cathryn threw it up.

“Keith,” Cathryn said. “I’m really worried about mom. I’ve never seen her like this before.”

Keith’s eyes radiated kindness and concern, “It’s hard for everyone, but she’ll be okay in time.”

Cathryn sat down on a mat. She was holding a candle in her hand. As if in a trance, she watched it burn little by little. It reached her fingertips, and without saying a word, Keith took it from her and put it back in the holder.

Cathryn looked at Keith and forced a smile. She reached over for another candle and was stopped when she heard someone talking in the other room. The voice was getting louder and louder. Cathryn stood up and walked towards the sound.

“What the hell is this? It’s filthy in here! I can’t believe your family invited everyone to such a dirty place.” It was Renz, Stella’s boyfriend. He walked in, patting the dust off his shirt.

“I told you that you shouldn’t have come. If it bothers you so much, leave!”

Stella was in no mood for his arrogance.

“I came here for you!” he said.

Seeing Stella getting upset, Renz decided to leave it alone and tried to comfort her, “Look at you. You’re a mess!” he said as he wiped her face with a tissue.

Stella calmed down, and the tears began to fall again, “Isn’t that your cousin, Cathryn, and Mr. Clarkson. Let’s go over and talk to them. I remember you telling me about the jewelry Cathryn was wearing. We can ask Mr. Clarkson where he got it.” Renz grabbed Stella’s arm and practically dragged her over to where Cathryn and Keith were standing.