As the evening wore on and James failed to appear, Victoria felt disappointment settling over her like a heavy blanket. She had known it was possible he wouldn't come, had tried to prepare herself for that outcome, but the reality of it still hit her like a physical blow. She held her practiced smile in place, nodding and responding to conversations on autopilot, but inside she was already crying. The champagne tasted like ash in her mouth, and the laughter around her sounded hollow and distant.
A commotion near the entrance caught her attention as some of her employees suddenly moved toward the door with obvious excitement and joy. Victoria followed them, curious despite her disappointment, and her heart did a complete somersault when she saw who had arrived.
He was here. James stood in the entrance, looking more handsome and sinful than she remembered. His smile was easy and genuine as he greeted her employees, his dark hair perfectly styled, his charcoal suit fitting him like it had been made specifically for his body. His presence seemed to fill the room, his aura and temperament commanding attention without effort. He was the definition of perfection, and Victoria felt suddenly rejuvenated, as if someone had plugged her back into a power source she hadn't realized she needed.
Everyone was surprised to see James again, now that he had made it big in the industry. The murmur of excitement rippled through the crowd as people recognized him and began gravitating toward their former colleague who had become something of a legend in their field.
Marcus was among the first to reach him, and Victoria watched as her creative director hugged James genuinely, his face bright with happiness. "James! Man, it's so good to see you," Marcus said, his voice carrying across the space. "I'm so happy for your success. I've been wanting to contact you for months, but I wasn't sure if you'd want to keep connections with your old colleagues. You know how it is when people make it big."
James chuckled, the sound sending shivers down Victoria's spine. "Your worries were unfounded," he replied warmly. "You can reach out anytime, just like always. Success doesn't change friendships."
Soon, everyone who had once worked closely with James surrounded him, asking questions about his company and his rapid rise in the industry, but still congratulating him warmly. Victoria could see the genuine affection and respect in their faces, could hear the pride in their voices as they celebrated his achievements. It was exactly the kind of reception James deserved, and despite her own heartache, Victoria felt a fierce pride in his success.
She watched from afar, giving her staff time to catch up with their former colleague, though she found herself stealing glances at him constantly. Every gesture, every smile, every laugh was imprinted in her memory like precious photographs. When she noticed James standing alone for a moment, she began moving toward him, her heart hammering with nervous anticipation.
But somehow, every time she tried to approach, someone would intercept her or walk up to James to start what seemed to her like unimportant small talk. It was as if the universe was conspiring to keep them apart, and Victoria began to feel increasingly frustrated and desperate as the evening wore on.
This pattern continued for over an hour until Victoria saw a woman walk up to James, whisper something in his ear, and then watch as the two of them moved toward the exit together. Victoria's blood ran cold as she recognized the woman's profile.
Gaia. His secretary was here, looking stunning in a simple black dress that emphasized her youth and natural beauty.
Panic flooded Victoria's system like ice water. Had James brought Gaia as his date? Had their relationship progressed beyond professional boundaries? The thought made her feel physically ill, and she abandoned whoever she had been talking to mid-conversation, walking quickly toward the exit with single-minded determination.
James had accepted the invitation because he wanted to see her, right? Or was it just because he wanted to network and expand his connections? The latter seemed more likely, but Victoria didn't care about his reasons for coming. He was here, and that was all that mattered. She couldn't let him leave without at least saying hello, without showing him that she could be professional and respectful while still acknowledging what they had once meant to each other.
She walked confidently with clear purpose, but missed her mark completely when Diane, her HR director, popped out of nowhere and physically dragged her toward the photographer.
"Victoria! Perfect timing," Diane said, her grip on Victoria's arm surprisingly strong. "The photographer needs shots of all the key partners together. This will only take a minute."
Victoria looked back desperately, but James was already gone, disappeared into the night with Gaia at his side. He didn't return that evening, and Victoria spent the rest of the party feeling like she was slowly dying inside while maintaining her professional smile.
As the year drew to its end, Victoria decided to visit her parents to spend the Christmas holidays. She didn't even pretend to be okay, knowing that Fabian and Samantha would see through any pitiful act she might attempt. Her parents had always been able to read her like an open book, and she was too emotionally exhausted to maintain pretenses.
The family home felt like a sanctuary after months of pretending to be fine for the sake of her employees and business partners. Her mother took one look at her when she walked through the door and immediately pulled her into a warm hug that smelled of home and unconditional love.
Her parents didn't ask what was wrong, but she could see the concern in their eyes, the way they watched her carefully during meals and made sure she was eating enough. They seemed to intuitively understand that whatever was troubling their daughter probably involved James, given how happy she had been when talking about him in previous visits.
Despite her own heartbreak, Victoria didn't forget to send gifts to James's parents and his sister for the holidays. She chose the presents carefully, remembering conversations James had shared about his family's interests and preferences. For his mother, a beautiful silk scarf from a designer she had mentioned admiring. For his father, a rare book about aviation history that James had once said his dad would love. For his sister, a piece of jewelry that was elegant but not too expensive, appropriate for their relationship.
She called them too, forcing brightness into her voice as she wished them happy holidays and asked about their plans for Christmas. They were thankful and genuinely happy to hear from her, clearly believing she was still together with their son.
"Oh Victoria, you're so thoughtful," James's mother had said warmly over the phone. "James is so lucky to have you. We're so happy you two found each other again."
"Thank you, Mrs. Mitchell," Victoria had replied, her throat tight with unshed tears. "James is... he's wonderful. You raised an incredible man."
If only they knew the truth. If only they knew that their son could barely stand the sight of her, that she had destroyed the best thing that had ever happened to either of them. Victoria hung up the phone and cried quietly in her childhood bedroom, mourning not just her lost love but the family connections that would inevitably be severed when the truth finally came to light.
The holidays passed in a blur of forced smiles and quiet desperation, with Victoria counting down the days until she could return to the distraction of work and the small hope that maybe, somehow, the new year would bring a chance at redemption.