WebNovels

Chapter 3 - Pretty Face, Ugly Memory

"Yes! I knew it!" Elira practically shouted, punching the air like she'd just won the lottery. A wide grin spread across her face, and her feet almost moved into what could only be described as the beginning of a celebratory Hawaiian dance. She twisted her hips just slightly before freezing in place, stiffening like a deer caught in headlights.

She glanced around quickly.

Thank God the tiny space was empty. Embarrassment flushed her cheeks as she cleared her throat and looked back down at the pregnancy test still in her hand. One single line stared back at her.

Negative.

Relief washed over her like a tidal wave.

"I'm not pregnant. Not pregnant!" she whispered to herself with a smile, doing a mini fist pump that she kept closer to her chest this time. Then, with a dramatic sigh, she tossed the test into the small metal trash bin like it was cursed and gave it a salute. "Rest in peace, terrifying possibility."

Adjusting her blouse and giving herself a quick look in the cracked mirror, Elira checked her makeup in the mirror, dabbing at smudges and fussing with her face whenever something didn't sit right. Her stomach grumbled. She remembered the sandwich and milk she had picked up, still untouched in her bag.

Moments later, she was seated at the back of the city bus, chewing quietly on her breakfast. It was cold and a bit soggy, but she didn't care. Nothing could ruin her mood now.

She wasn't pregnant.

That in itself was a win.

An hour later, Elira found herself in KX Industries' waiting room. The place screamed luxury here and there. Marble floors gleamed like they'd been polished by angels. The walls were decorated with tasteful modern art, and the receptionist at the desk wore a suit that probably cost more than Elira's monthly rent.

She adjusted her blouse nervously, trying not to fidget too much as she sat among the other job candidates. Her resume sat neatly in a folder on her lap, and she gave herself a small pep talk in her head.

You got this. It's just a job. You need it. She'd applied for an admin staff role and please God, she hoped she got it. Truth was, she'd take whatever they offered. Hell, she'd clean toilets again if it meant having food on her table.

She glanced at the coffee table in front of her, where a stack of magazines lay fanned out. One of them had a glossy cover featuring a strikingly handsome man in a charcoal gray suit, his jawline sharp enough to wound. He had that aura—charming and cold at the same time.

The headline read: The Man Behind KX Industries, Inside the Mind of Kalix Ashford: Billionaire. Innovator. Enigma.

Elira raised a brow. "What a pretty name," she mumbled to herself as she picked up the magazine. Her thumb ran across the edge of the page, but she didn't bother opening it. Her eyes were locked on the man's face.

God, he was stupidly attractive. And rich. The top two boxes checked off every woman's imaginary list.

She tilted her head. There was something about his face. Something weirdly familiar.

Her brows furrowed.

Out of nowhere, a memory slammed into her like a thunderclap.

"Yes… right there. Don't stop—"

A low, hungry groan.

"Shit… you're so damn tight."

Her voice, breathless and shaking—

"Yes, sir…"

A pause. His voice dropped, gravel-rich—

"No. Say my name."

A gasp. A whisper.

"What… what's your name?"

He leaned closer, lips brushing her ear.

"Kalix," he growled. "It's Kalix."

Elira gasped—loudly.

Several heads turned. Another candidate gave her a side glance, while a woman near the corner outright frowned.

Elira slapped a hand over her mouth.

Oh my God.

Her hands trembled as she looked down at the cover again. Her heart was pounding in her chest, drumming like a warning siren.

This man—Kalix Ashford—was the man she had slept with.

The same stranger she couldn't remember the face of.

Until now.

She swallowed hard. Her throat felt dry, her lips suddenly parched. Her gaze flicked nervously around the waiting area, almost as if someone had overheard her mental breakdown.

The receptionist called her name.

"Elira Quinn?"

She jumped. "Y-Yes!" she squeaked.

Clutching her resume tighter than her dignity, she walked stiffly into the interview room. Her knees felt wobbly. Her stomach was suddenly uneasy again, and her mind? Completely shot.

The interview itself was a blur. She couldn't remember what she answered, only that she had mumbled something about "teamwork" and "dedicated work ethic," and at one point she might have referred to a fax machine as her "old friend."

When it was over, she gave a limp handshake, muttered a polite thank-you, and left with the kind of dazed expression people had when they realized they left the stove on at home.

"Worst interview ever," she muttered to herself as she made her way back to the elevator. "Well done, Elira. Maybe next time add a backflip to really impress them."

Her head felt light, and her feet barely kept up with her thoughts. She hit the elevator button and waited, eyes glazed over. When the doors finally opened, she stepped inside without looking… and smacked directly into someone.

Someone solid.

Someone expensive-smelling.

She stumbled slightly, only to be caught by a firm hand around her arm. Her eyes trailed up slowly, following the dark fabric of a perfectly tailored suit, a broad chest, a strong jawline… and then straight into the cool, piercing gaze of Kalix Ashford.

The same man on the magazine cover.

The same man from that night.

Her breath caught. Her pulse jumped.

Kalix looked down at her, his expression calm but his hand still steadying her.

She opened her mouth to speak.

A cold wave rolled through her limbs, and her vision began to blur at the edges. Her stomach churned as if something inside her flipped over. Elira tried to blink it away, but the soft overhead lighting suddenly felt too bright, and the air too thin. Her legs wobbled beneath her like jelly.. She tried to take a step back, but the floor seemed to shift beneath her feet. A high-pitched ringing filled her ears, drowning out the noise around her.

"Shit," she whispered.

And then the world tilted.

Everything went black.

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