My CEO Boss Is A Masked Internet Sensation
Chapter 88: The World Is Happier When She Smiles

Chapter 88: The World Is Happier When She Smiles

(Karsten)

Caysir’s call had me rushing out of the house like the Flash. I could imagine her feeling vulnerable and maybe freaking out. I wanted to be there with her as soon as possible. Olphi drove me as fast as he could and Caysir let me in the building as he was a resident there as well.

Caysir was waiting for me outside her apartment.

"What happened? How did a dead bird end up in her purse?" I annoyedly asked, unable to contain my anger. My hands balled up at my sides.

Caysir was supposed to keep her safe, and yet she faced another threat.

"I was by Miss Arata’s side at all times. A man bumped into her at the mall; I think that man somehow slipped the bird into her bag," he explained, seeming guilty and ashamed of himself; he could hardly keep eye contact with me.

"No one, and I repeat, no one, can come in her proximity. You have one responsibility, Caysir, take it seriously," I reprimanded, keeping my tone hard and glare in my eyes.

"I apologise, it won’t be repeated." Caysir still kept his head low in shame.

"Show me the damn bird." I was getting irritable, and Caysir held out the ziplock bag he had been holding.

I snatched it from his hand and inspected the bird and the carving on it. Someone sick seemed to have taken his damn time to mutilate the poor bird. The eyes had been scooped out and the feathers had been meticulously removed to leave the warning embedded into the poor bird’s body.

"Sick. Send it over to Matio and tell him to report the findings as soon as possible."

Caysir quickly nodded, his gaze lifting towards Olphi.

"Go, I will speak with you later." I wanted to see Arata. Both of them hurried away.

Opening the door, I entered her apartment and locked it behind me.

She was sitting on her lounger when I entered her place, so lost and alone. An ache started in my heart seeing her like that.

"Arata!"

For a split second she just sat motionless and then finally turned to face me. Tears shimmered in her eyes like pearls and her lips quivered. Leaving the lounger, she rushed towards me.

Instantly, I opened my arms to receive her.

She broke down into tears and despair while clinging to me like a lost and fragile kitten.

I hated tears, and yet here she was, crying into my arms, and I could do nothing to stop them. I just held her for now, rubbing her back to calm her down.

The weight of her tears felt heavy, pressing against my chest as if they were not mere salty water but boulders being pressed on my heart.

Somehow, I felt responsible. I had failed her, failed to keep her safe. She was my responsibility, especially knowing that her family wasn’t even here and she lived alone.

But I promised it was the last time this was happening. I was going to hire a private detective and get to the bottom of this.

"It’s going to be alright. I am here now," I calmly said so as not to rattle her.

"Sta...y with m..e," she hiccuped between her tears, her hand tightly clutching my shirt, not wanting to let go.

"I am not going anywhere." My hand rested against her head and I pressed it into my chest further, providing her with calming assurance.

It took her a while to calm down and I guided her towards the sofa so we could sit and talk. She settled beside me and I kept my arm around her so she could lean into me.

"We can call the police if you want," I asked, in case she wished to get them involved because this was getting out of control.

She sniffled, grabbing a tissue from the box and wiping her eyes and nose. Both were red from her crying.

Vehemently shaking her head she answered in a small voice. "I can’t. The news will spread instantly and reach my parents. They will call me back no matter what I say. That’s not what I want."

She had a point, although she seemed so broken and afraid— all my instincts wished to just protect her.

"I am hiring a private detective then. He will find out who is trying to hurt you." I took both of her soft hands in mine and emphasised. "Remember, he won’t succeed. I will not let anyone hurt you."

She stared at me and offered a small, wounded smile, but the sadness and fear in her eyes didn’t dissipate.

"I know. Something like this has never happened before and I felt so alone."

"You are not alone, I am right here." I gently squeezed her hands.

She only nodded at me and I could only imagine what must be going through her mind. There were so many aspects we overlooked as men. But as a woman, I knew she saw the world from a different perspective. So many predators out there.

"If you need to extend your leave, I can do that. Spend as much time with your family as you want, and you can always return when you are ready," I offered, but an unknown pain erupted in my heart at these words. I realised I didn’t want her to go; I was getting used to seeing her daily.

She shook her head again, still wearing the wig. "No, they will get suspicious. I will be back on Monday."

"Then take my private jet," I offered. "I am not comfortable with you flying alone."

Her mouth parted, and her eyes enlarged at my offer, but she calmly declined it.

"I can’t. My family will be so suspicious. They are overprotective of me and I don’t want them asking a million questions."

Valid, I knew overprotective families.

"Then Caysir will accompany you. And once someone is there to pick you up, he will return quietly. No one has to know he is your bodyguard." I offered another solution. No way was I going to let her travel alone.

To this, she finally agreed and answered in a quiet voice.

"Okay!"

This was so unlike her. I loved it when she was all bubbly and challenging—her eyes shining in mischief, and she had some quirk ready to be thrown at me.

"Arata, don’t be sad. I don’t like it when you cry. The world is happier when you smile."

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