T's & C's (don't) Apply

28. Think Before You Quit (?)

Just over a month ago, I was hellbent on completing the contract I signed with Mr. Berkeley. If I succeeded in reforming Kai, I would've gained greater opportunities within the company and been one step closer to my dream of becoming successful.

Everything was planned out in my mind and I was confident about the near future. However, despite Kai making a little progress and getting to know him slightly better, I never would've imagined his girlfriend being the reason for quitting.

"You want to quit?" The shock was evident in Kai's tone.

I nodded. "It's what you wanted from the beginning. I expected you to be happier."

Kai took in a deep breath and remained silent for a long moment. He mastered the art of nonchalance so it was hard to know what went on in his mind. I stared at his face but got nothing out of him.

"Suddenly?"

"It's not sudden. I've given it thought since I woke up in the hospital," I replied honestly.

"Did you get a concussion?" Kai asked.

Confused by his spontaneous questions I frowned. "Pardon?"

"I was at the hospital when you were unconscious. I even had a word with the doctor and she didn't mention anything about a concussion."

"What are you on about?"

"Unless she was wrong or didn't examine you properly," Kai thought out loud to himself. "That has to be it."

I poked his shoulder which forced him to look my way. "What are you on about?"

"The Clover Wright I met a month ago was determined, ambitious, and took shit from no one," Kai said. "If you're talking about quitting there has to be something majorly wrong with you."

"There isn..."

"I'm going to step in as your boss and suggest you take the entire week off so your brain can start functioning again."

"Pardon me?" I was offended. "My brain is working just fine and I'll have you know that it works better than yours on its worst days."

Kai shook his head. "I don't buy it. That brain will never give up so soon."

For some reason, I got the impression that Kai didn't want to me quit. I wasn't too sure because he hated me just a couple of weeks ago. What could've changed his mind so soon? No, I had to have been overthinking it.

"Don't tell me that you grew fond of me and want me to stay?"

Kai rolled his eyes and leaned back against the seat. "Let's not get ahead of ourselves. Whenever I think about my father and you treating me like an incompetent fool, it makes my blood boil."

"So, why does it sound like you're against me resigning?"

"Because in the last month, I've noticed how ambitious you are. I'm beginning to understand why you took this job in the first place. Perhaps it wasn't to belittle and ridicule me but you took it as a stepping stone to fulfil bigger dreams."

Wow! Has he matured overnight or was he always kind of smart and I never gave him a chance to show me?

"You really are smarter than you let on," I teased with a tiny grin.

"I might not take a lot of interest in my father's company but I'm not stupid," Kai pointed out. "I'm also way more observant than you believe."

I believed him. He lacked motivation but when he put in effort at work, he was very good at his job. Kai was possibly one of the most meticulous people I'd met. He just chose when to let that side shine and it was a pity because he had a lot of potential.