Yandere CEO

Charlene, the Ice Queen of the boardroom, had fallen.

Hard.

Dangerously, adorably, absurdly hard.

It started harmlessly.

She'd appear at William's desk every morning with his favorite coffee from the exact café two blocks away.

"How do you always get the foam art to be a paw print?" he asked once.

"I told them it was for someone who reminds me of a loyal golden retriever," she replied without flinching.

"...I don't know if I should be flattered or mildly insulted."

Then came the late-night messages.

Charlene [10:42 PM]: Did you lock your windows tonight?

William: ...Why would I need to lock my windows?

Charlene: Just making sure. Some birds like to sneak in.

William: Charlene...

Charlene [10:43 PM]: I just worry about you, okay?

She started showing up at his apartment without warning.

"Don't mind me," she'd say casually, placing a bag of groceries on his kitchen counter. "Just checking if you're eating vegetables."

"Charlene," William blinked, "It's midnight."

She blinked back. "Midnight salad is very underrated."

He sighed, eyeing the chopped lettuce. "Did you break in?"

"No. You gave me your spare key when you asked me to water your plants once."

"That was six months ago!"

"Well, you didn't ask for it back."

He had to admit... the plant looked healthier than ever.

Then there was the convenience store incident.

William walked in to grab instant noodles. Charlene was already there, standing by the freezer.

"Oh?" she said with practiced surprise. "What a coincidence."

He looked at her basket.

Three of his favorite chocolate bars, the exact brand of shampoo he used, and a single banana.

"I came for... potassium," she said, holding up the banana.

William rubbed his temples.

The last straw came when she somehow—somehow—was the one operating the karaoke machine during a company outing.

"Charlene," William whispered, wide-eyed, "Is that my Spotify playlist?"

She smiled like a cat holding a canary hostage.

"Only the love songs. The rest were too... aggressive."

He sighed again, this time with a mix of horror and reluctant admiration.

"Let me guess. 'Can't Help Falling in Love' is next?"

"Followed by 'My Heart Will Go On.'" She nodded proudly. "With PowerPoint transitions."

But behind all the absurdity, all the playful obsession—Charlene hoped.

She knew William had someone in his life.

But he wasn't married yet.

And maybe... just maybe... as long as that door was open, she could still reach him.

She didn't mind being second—for now.

She didn't need to be his first thought in the morning or his last at night.

All she needed was that thread between them—real and alive—and she believed that if she could just keep it strong enough, maybe... one day... he'd choose her.

Not because she demanded it.

But because he wanted to.

And even if he didn't—she wanted no regrets.

She needed him to know.

Finally, one quiet evening, he sat her down in the office pantry—surrounded by employees who had long gone home.

"Charlene," he said carefully, "Why are you doing this?"

She stood frozen, her expression unreadable.

"I like you, William," she whispered, voice barely holding together. "Didn't you notice?"

He took a slow breath, speaking gently. "I did. And... it means a lot. But I already have someone. A girlfriend."

Charlene didn't flinch. Didn't cry.

She just stood there, her hands trembling slightly before she composed herself.

"...Then maybe," she said, smiling softly, "I'll wait. Not here. Not now. But in that other lifetime you promised."

William reached out and gently took her hand.

His voice was warm, steady.

"In that next lifetime, Charlene... even if I'm not born a human—

even just a cat... a dog... a bird—

as long as I can be with you,

that would make me very happy.

And I will always find ways to make you smile...

and feel loved."

Charlene's eyes shimmered.

"Then I'll look for you," she whispered, her voice trembling. "Even if you're just a bird sitting outside my window... I'll know it's you."

They stood like that for a moment—two people on opposite ends of fate.
One tethered by duty, the other by silent hope.

One last glance.

One last moment.

Then William turned and walked away, the soft echo of his footsteps leaving behind a woman who once chased him with obsessive madness...

...but now stood still, holding onto hope.

"Then I'll wait for that lifetime," she whispered.

The Final Flight

The next quarter, the company secured a chance to win a multi-million account overseas.

Charlene nominated William.

"I trust you with this," she said, walking beside him at the airport. "Take care. Win this for us."

"I will," he smiled. "I'll do it for you."

He winked.

She watched him board, a quiet prayer on her lips.

William won the contract.

But on the flight home, tragedy struck.

The plane went down.

No survivors were found.

No body recovered.

The Wake

At the funeral wake, Charlene met William's girlfriend.

They embraced without words.

Charlene whispered through tears, "I know how you feel. He was... unforgettable."

His girlfriend nodded. "He always spoke kindly about you."

Charlene smiled through her pain.

"He saved us all. Even me."

To be Continued...