Chapter: The First Time Kiefer Chose Himself
A few days passed after Kiefer's birthday.
Life at the company returned to normal.
Meetings.
Projects.
Deadlines.
The usual busy schedule.
But there was one small difference.
Kiefer's new notebook was always with him.
Employees noticed.
Lily noticed.
And of course...
Rose noticed the most.
One morning, Rose walked into Kiefer's office.
She saw him writing something in the notebook.
She smiled.
"Writing another billion-dollar plan?"
Kiefer closed the notebook.
"No."
Rose raised an eyebrow.
"Then what?"
Kiefer looked at her.
"Just thoughts."
Rose became quiet for a second.
Because she knew something.
Kiefer Waston did not usually write his thoughts.
He wrote plans.
Strategies.
Solutions.
But not feelings.
"Interesting," Rose said.
Kiefer looked suspicious.
"Why are you smiling?"
"Because something impossible happened."
"What?"
"You became a little more human."
Kiefer stared at her.
"I was always human."
Rose laughed.
"Yes, but you forgot sometimes."
Later that day, Lily came into the office.
She placed a file on his desk.
"The new project report."
Kiefer nodded.
"Thank you."
Lily looked at him.
"Can I ask something?"
"Sure."
"Are you happy?"
The question surprised him.
"Why are you asking?"
"Because for years, you worked harder than anyone."
She looked around the office.
"You built everything."
Kiefer stayed silent.
"But you never stopped to ask if you were enjoying it."
Kiefer looked outside the window.
The city was below them.
Thousands of people.
Thousands of lives connected to the company.
"I always thought..."
He paused.
"What?"
"That if everyone else was happy, that was enough."
Lily smiled softly.
"That sounds exactly like you."
Then she added:
"But you are also part of this family."
That afternoon, Jay visited the company again.
This time, she wasn't there for a meeting.
She was there because Rose invited her.
Which usually meant trouble.
She found Rose and Lily waiting.
"Why do I feel like you two have planned something?"
Rose looked offended.
"Why does everyone think that?"
Lily answered immediately.
"Because it is usually true."
Jay laughed.
"So what is it?"
Rose smiled.
"We are taking Kiefer out."
Jay looked confused.
"Taking him out?"
"Yes."
"For what?"
"To relax."
Jay smiled.
"Will he agree?"
Rose and Lily looked at each other.
Then laughed.
They found Kiefer in his office.
Rose walked in confidently.
"Kiefer."
He looked up.
"Yes?"
"You are leaving."
"No."
Rose blinked.
"You didn't even ask where."
"I know you."
Lily laughed.
Jay tried not to laugh.
Kiefer noticed her.
"You agree with them?"
Jay smiled.
"Maybe."
Kiefer looked betrayed.
"Even you?"
Jay laughed.
"Sorry."
For some reason...
Hearing Jay laugh made it impossible for him to stay serious.
He closed his laptop.
"Fine."
Rose and Lily celebrated.
"Victory!"
They went to a quiet place outside the city.
No cameras.
No meetings.
No business.
Just the four of them.
They walked.
They talked.
They enjoyed simple things.
Jay noticed something.
Kiefer was different here.
Without the pressure of being a CEO...
He seemed lighter.
More relaxed.
More like himself.
They sat near a small lake.
Rose and Lily were taking pictures.
Jay looked at Kiefer.
"You know something?"
"What?"
"I think this is the happiest I have seen you."
Kiefer looked at the water.
"Maybe it is."
"Why?"
He thought for a moment.
Then answered honestly.
"Because today I am not thinking about what I need to do."
He looked at his friends.
"I am just enjoying what I already have."
Jay smiled.
She liked that answer.
Behind them, Rose whispered to Lily:
"Did he just admit he is happy?"
Lily nodded.
"Yes."
"Should we record this historical moment?"
Lily laughed.
"Maybe."
Rose smiled.
"I think Jay changed him."
Lily looked at Kiefer and Jay.
"No."
Rose looked confused.
"What then?"
Lily smiled.
"Maybe Jay just helped him remember who he always was."
As the sun set, Kiefer looked at the people beside him.
His childhood friends.
And someone new who had slowly become important.
For years, he thought success meant reaching the top.
But now he understood...
The top was not a place.
It was the people standing beside you when you reached it.