/Leo/
I was a little surprised to see him standing in front of me, presenting the report for his department.
Who would've thought we'd meet again—like this?
He went on, explaining timelines, deliverables, goals...
But I couldn't focus.
Not really.
I just stood there, eyes on his face, trying to hear his words through the strange buzz in my mind.
There was something off.
Normally, when things don't go exactly the way I want them to, I get irritated.
Annoyed.
But this?
Seeing him again? Knowing we'd be crossing paths regularly from now on?
It didn't annoy me.
It... intrigued me.
"That's all," he said, and began walking toward the door.
My office is massive—floor-to-ceiling windows, a wall of bookshelves in the corner, enough space to think clearly. Usually.
But not today.
"Wait."
My voice came out firmer than I expected.
He froze, one hand already on the door handle.
"I have a question," I added.
He turned slowly, uncertainty flickering in his expression. He looked like he was bracing for something serious—maybe even terrifying.
"Yes...?"
I stepped forward slightly, curious.
"Why..."
His brows pulled together.
"Why did you run out of the store like that yesterday after seeing me?" I took a step toward him, eyes steady.
"I..."
His voice came out fuzzy, unsure. Like the words were there, but stuck somewhere between his heart and his mouth.
It was clear—he wasn't entirely comfortable answering.
I didn't want to pressure him.
"You don't have to answer if it makes you uncomfortable," I said gently. "I just asked because... I was curious. That's all."
He paused, then shook his head slightly.
"No. I'll answer," he said, a little firmer this time. "I don't want you to misunderstand me. Since we're going to be working together now, I'd rather be honest."
I nodded, waiting.
"While I was collecting my things from the counter, I realized I dropped my candy. I went back inside to grab it, and that's when I saw you."
He hesitated, then looked me in the eye.
"And I remembered what you said. That maybe it was better if we didn't see each other again."
He gave a small, dry laugh.
"So I panicked. Grabbed the candy and ran."
I raised an eyebrow, lips twitching.
"So you ran... because of that?" I questioned him.
"To a point… yes, I did," he admitted.
"It was just... awkward. Seeing you again like that. After everything that happened."
His eyes met mine—searching, almost apologetic. Like he hoped I'd understand and quietly let the whole candy-store panic incident be buried in the past.
I held his gaze and gave a small, calm nod.
"What's in the past should stay in the past," I said, my voice even and steady.
"Let's move forward. No more awkwardness. No baggage. Just… professionalism."
I extended my hand, palm open, waiting at waist level.
A handshake.
A symbol.
A quiet deal between two very confused people trying to act like they weren't.
Jake hesitated for only a second. Then he reached out and clasped my hand in his.
His grip was warm. Steady.
And maybe… just maybe… lingering a second longer than necessary.
Just then, a ringtone shattered the silence.
It echoed through the office like a misplaced alarm in a quiet museum.
Jake's phone.
It vibrated aggressively in his pocket, practically begging for attention.
He pulled it out, disconnected our handshake without a word, and walked out of the office.
And just like that, he was gone.
My office was quiet again—quieter than before.
Too quiet.
Like all the emotions I'd tried to bury were now echoing off the walls.
I walked back to my workstation and dropped into my chair, staring blankly at the screen. The silence sat heavy on my chest. To break it, I reached for my phone, opened my contacts, and dialed the one person who always answered when I needed chaos or comfort.
"Hey, where are you?" I asked, trying to sound casual.
"Working..."
Raven's tone made it clear he was already over the day.
"What do you want?"
"Let's go out. Drinks."
"Seriously?" he groaned. "It's your first day and you already need alcohol?"
"So… are you in or not?"
He sighed dramatically, but I could hear the grin behind it.
"Fine. I need a break too."
"Cool. I'll pick you up."
I finished my work with record speed. Desperation is apparently an excellent motivator when tequila is the prize.
After scooping Raven up from his office and surviving a few minutes of traffic, we pulled into our place.
It wasn't fancy.
Not even close.
But it was ours.
This bar had seen our most chaotic teenage nights—singing for pocket change, laughing over heartbreaks, and surviving college one shot at a time.
It was more than a bar. It was home.
The guard at the door gave us a knowing smile and pushed it open, revealing the dim, warm glow inside—the small, sacred world we used to escape to.
We stepped in together, letting the nostalgia hit like a soft punch to the chest, and waited at the entrance for a waiter to lead us to our table. A host smiled and approached, ready to guide us to our usual table.
But then—
I stopped.
Mid-step.
My eyes scanned the crowd, just casually, out of habit.
And that's when I saw him.
A familiar face.
Out of place.
Out of context.
But unmistakable.