Chapter 4: Is our CEO an idiot?

Emma had been quietly observing the mysterious gifts for days, but after the table tennis setup appeared, she had to say something.

She leaned toward her desk neighbor, Jake, and whispered, “Be honest… does our CEO seem a little dumb to you?”

Jake nearly choked on his coffee. “What?”

“I mean, look at the pattern,” she gestured vaguely around the office. “First, it was gaming consoles. Then high-tech chairs. Then gourmet chocolate and a table tennis setup?”

Jake blinked. “Yeah… and?”

Emma leaned in conspiratorially. “So what’s the grand plan here? Are we supposed to game in our comfy chairs, while eating chocolates and playing table tennis during breaks? Is that our work culture now?”

Jake considered this. “That does sound pretty nice.”

Emma groaned. “It’s like someone rich is throwing money at random ideas without thinking it through.”

Jake shrugged. “Well, if it is the CEO, they must have a reason.”

Emma rolled her eyes. “Or they just don’t know how to run a company. What’s next? A company-wide nap room?”

Jake laughed. “Honestly? I wouldn’t be surprised at this point.”

Neither of them noticed that, just a few desks away, Lena—who had stopped by to check something—had overheard the entire conversation.

She slowly turned and left, her expression unreadable.

The CEO’s Spending Problem

Emma rarely went out with coworkers, but somehow, she found herself sitting at a lively rooftop bar, sipping on a cheap cocktail while the others ordered fancy drinks.

“Come on, Emma, loosen up! You’re always so careful with money,” Jake teased.

Emma smirked. “I am loose. That’s why I’m drinking the two-for-one special.”

Karen laughed. “You’re hopeless.”

Emma wasn’t antisocial—just selective about where she spent her energy. Big crowds drained her, and small talk exhausted her, but tonight, she felt okay. Maybe it was the music, maybe it was the city lights, or maybe she just wanted to enjoy something after a week of mysterious office chaos.

Then, her phone buzzed.

A work chat. Someone had just sent a blurry photo of a brand-new office massage chair.

Emma groaned. “Oh god, again?”

Karen peered at her screen. “What now?”

Emma turned her phone around. “The CEO strikes again.”

Jake whistled. “Okay, I really like this one.”

Emma sighed dramatically. “At this rate, we’ll get company-sponsored spa retreats.”

Karen clinked her glass against Emma’s. “I hope so. I need a break.”

Emma laughed, shaking her head. She had joined this company for the salary, but honestly? She was kind of enjoying the madness.

Jake leaned in, lowering his voice like he was about to share a deep corporate secret. “Guys… I think our CEO has a spending addiction.”

Emma nearly spit out her drink. “What?”

Karen nodded solemnly. “Think about it. Gaming consoles, ergonomic chairs, gourmet chocolate, a massage chair, and now a table tennis setup? This isn’t normal.”

Jake tapped his fingers on the table. “What if… the CEO is just a bored rich kid throwing money at random things?”

Emma snorted. “Great, we work for a trust fund baby with impulse control issues.”

Karen gasped. “Or—or what if they have a luxury shopping addiction?”

Jake’s eyes widened. “And instead of keeping everything, they just dump their shopping guilt on us?”

Emma paused, considering it. “You mean… all these gifts aren’t for us, they’re just a way for the CEO to justify buying more stuff?”

Karen nodded. “Exactly! Like, ‘Oh no, I bought another ridiculous luxury item… guess I’ll generously donate it to my employees so I can go buy more!’”

Jake shuddered. “It’s like we’re part of her therapy process.”

Emma burst out laughing. “So the CEO isn’t a genius or an idiot… she’s just a compulsive shopper.”

Karen sighed dramatically. “At least we get good chairs.”

Emma clinked her glass with hers. “To our mysterious, questionably sane CEO, who buys things to satisfy her shopping addiction and uses us as storage.”

They all laughed, completely unaware that the CEO in question was none other than the shy woman Emma had casually chatted with in the elevator.

Emma’s Quiet Evenings (ft. Mimi & Nana)

Emma waved goodbye to her coworkers as she left the rooftop bar. The night air was cool, and she pulled her jacket tighter around herself.

It was nice hanging out, but she had a limit for socializing—any longer, and she’d feel drained. Besides, she had two very important creatures waiting for her at home.

By the time she reached her apartment, the moment she opened the door, a fluffy white cat and a chubby gray one were already trotting toward her.

“Mimi, Nana, I’m back,” she murmured, bending down to scratch behind their ears. Mimi let out a tiny meow of greeting, while Nana just flopped onto her back, demanding belly rubs.

Emma stepped inside, slipping off her shoes and stretching her arms. Her apartment was small but comfortable, practical yet lived-in.

A secondhand but well-maintained couch sat in the living room, covered with a soft throw blanket that Nana had claimed as her own. A wooden coffee table held a scented candle she barely used, a few unopened magazines she kept meaning to read, and a random decorative bowl that had somehow become a cat toy storage.

Against the wall, a nearly empty shelf stood. The only things on it? A couple of plants struggling to survive under her care, a Bluetooth speaker she actually used, and a few untouched books that were either gifted to her or bought during a brief “I should read more” phase.

But on the corner of the shelf, standing alone, was a framed picture of her and her mom. It wasn’t a fancy one—just a simple photo from a casual day, taken years ago. Emma wasn’t the sentimental type, but this was one of the few things she always kept with her, no matter where she moved.

The kitchen was minimalist, mostly out of necessity. Cooking wasn’t her strong suit, and her fridge reflected that—basic ingredients, some takeout leftovers, and an embarrassing amount of instant meals. The only premium item? A high-quality coffee machine, because she refused to drink bad coffee.

After putting down her bag, she went to the kitchen, feeling a bit hungry. Maybe I’ll make something quick.

A few minutes later, she stood in front of the stove, staring at a pan of half-burned scrambled eggs that were somehow still raw in the middle.

Mimi and Nana sat by her feet, watching silently—judging.

Emma groaned. “Don’t look at me like that. I never said I was a good cook.”

She sighed and went for her usual backup plan: takeout. While waiting for her food, she flopped onto the couch, scrolling through her phone.

Her work chat was on fire.

Jake: “GUYS. THERE’S A MASSAGE CHAIR IN THE OFFICE. A WHOLE CHAIR.”

Karen: “CEO’s shopping addiction strikes again??”

Jake: “At this point, I want to meet them just to see what kind of person does this.”

Emma: “The kind that impulse buys a table tennis setup for the office?”

Karen: “STOP I CAN’T BREATHE.”

Emma chuckled, shaking her head. This company was insane. But at least… it wasn’t boring.