My caring boss

Few days later ,Sarafina sat at her desk, staring blankly at the screen. Her head throbbed, her body felt weak, and no matter how hard she tried to focus on work, exhaustion weighed her down.

The stress of dealing with Caleb's possessiveness, Solana's schemes, and the constant fear of history repeating itself gnawed at her.

Tony has thought of stress dhe had passed through lately and decided to comfort her.

Just as she was about to rest her head on the table, a shadow appeared behind her.

"You don't look so good," Tony's deep voice pulled her from her thoughts.

She looked up, finding him standing beside her with his usual composed expression, but his eyes held something unexpected—concern.

"I'm fine," she muttered, forcing a smile as she waved a hand dismissively.

Tony wasn't convinced. His gaze swept over her, noting the paleness of her skin and the way she kept blinking as if trying to stay awake.

Without a word, he placed a small paper bag on her desk.

"What's this?" she asked, eyeing it suspiciously.

"Pain relievers, energy bars, and a bottle of water," he replied, crossing his arms. "Consider it a return favor for the painkillers you gave me."

Sarafina's lips parted in surprise. She hadn't expected this. Tony was always strict and professional—never one to show concern for anyone in the office.

He continued, his tone lighter. "Keep up the good work."

"I—" she started, but faltered. She couldn't bring herself to say she didn't need it because, truthfully, she did.

Tony took a step back and announced, "Make sure you submit your proposal to Mr. Yung. And don't overwork yourself."

He turned to leave but hesitated for a moment before adding, "Don't push yourself too hard."

Sarafina swallowed the lump in her throat and hesitantly reached for the water bottle. "Thank you," she murmured.

Tony nodded, watching as she took small sips. "If you keep pushing yourself like this, you'll collapse. And trust me, I don't have time to deal with an unconscious employee."

Despite herself, Sarafina let out a small chuckle. "So this is just to avoid extra work for yourself?"

"Exactly." Tony smirked. "Now eat something."

She unwrapped the energy bar and took a small bite, feeling oddly comforted by his presence. For the first time in a long time, someone had noticed she wasn't okay—without her having to say it.

Just as she was finishing the snack, movement outside her office caught her eye.

Caleb stood a few feet away, arms crossed, jaw tight, and eyes burning with anger. He had been watching them.

Sarafina stiffened, her heart skipping a beat.

Tony noticed the shift in her demeanor and turned slightly, following her gaze. When he saw Caleb glaring, his expression remained neutral, but a knowing smirk played at his lips.

Caleb stepped closer, his voice sharp. "What's going on here?"

Tony leaned back in his chair, completely unbothered. "Helping a colleague," he said smoothly. "She wasn't feeling well."

Caleb's jaw clenched. His eyes flicked to Sarafina, who quickly looked away.

"I can take care of my girlfriend," Caleb stated, his voice tense.

Tony raised an eyebrow. "Then maybe you should start doing that."

Sarafina's breath caught in her throat.

Tony's words were calm, but laced with meaning. Caleb's face darkened, his fists clenching at his sides.

"Sarafina," Caleb said, his voice lower now, trying to control his temper. "We need to talk."

Sarafina felt trapped between them, but before she could respond, Tony stood, his tall frame towering over Caleb's. "She's in the middle of something. Maybe later."

Caleb's nostrils flared, but before things could escalate, Sarafina quickly grabbed her things and stood.

"I'll see you later, Caleb," she said, her voice firm but neutral.

She didn't wait for a response before walking away, her pulse racing.

As she left, she felt both men's gazes on her—one filled with possessiveness, the other with quiet understanding.

And she had no idea which one scared her more.

The tense exchange hadn't gone unnoticed. Employees glanced at each other, murmuring under their breaths.

Everyone was wondering what was going on. But no one dared to ask—especially since Tony, the CEO, was involved.