The next day, I arrived at Sterling Enterprises the next morning with a knot of apprehension tightening in my stomach. I tried to tell myself it was just nerves about the internship, the pressure to succeed, the sheer impossibility of navigating the corporate jungle in a pair of thrift-store heels. But deep down, I knew it was Julian.
I avoided him all morning, sticking to my tasks like glue and dodging any opportunity for interaction. But it was like trying to avoid the sun. He was everywhere, a constant reminder of the bizarre encounter the night before.
During lunch, I sought refuge in the break room, microwaving my usual sad excuse for a meal. I was halfway through a lukewarm bite of pasta when Sarah burst in, her eyes wide with excitement.
"Rowan, you won't believe who's here!" she exclaimed, practically bouncing on her toes.
"Let me guess," I said, rolling my eyes. "Brad Pitt finally decided to invest in Sterling Enterprises?"
"Better!" Sarah squealed. "It's Isabella Moreau!"
My eyebrows shot up. Isabella Moreau was a legend, a former supermodel and Julian's ex-girlfriend. She was beautiful, sophisticated, and rumored to be incredibly ruthless. Her breakup with Julian had been front-page news, a messy affair involving accusations of infidelity and corporate espionage.
"What's she doing here?" I asked, a chill running down my spine.
"No one knows," Sarah said, her voice hushed. "But everyone's saying she's here to win Julian back."
The bell dinged, signaling that my pasta was ready. I pulled it out of the microwave, my appetite completely gone. The thought of Isabella Moreau, a woman who could buy and sell me a hundred times over, vying for Julian's attention made me feel…uneasy.
Later that afternoon, I was delivering a document to Julian's office when I saw them. Julian and Isabella were standing by the window, locked in intense conversation. Isabella looked stunning, her designer dress clinging to her curves, her red lipstick a stark contrast to her pale skin.
I couldn't hear what they were saying, but the tension in the air was palpable. Isabella was gesturing wildly, her eyes flashing with anger. Julian, usually so composed, looked…flustered.
They didn't notice me standing there, so I quietly placed the document on his desk and backed out of the office, my heart pounding in my chest.
The next few weeks were a whirlwind of high-stakes meetings, corporate maneuvering, and the constant, oppressive presence of Isabella Moreau. She was everywhere, charming the executives, attending board meetings, and generally making it clear that she was back in Julian's life.
Julian, for his part, seemed torn. He was polite to Isabella, but there was a distance in his eyes, a flicker of something…unsettled. He still watched me, his gaze lingering a fraction too long, his jaw tightening whenever I spoke to another man.
One evening, after a particularly grueling day at work, I was packing up my things when I received a text message. It was from an unknown number.
"Meet me at The Rusty Mug. 8 pm. - Liam"
My breath caught in my throat. Liam. My ex-boyfriend. The man who had broken my heart and left me with nothing but a mountain of debt and a deep-seated distrust of romantic relationships.
I hadn't seen or heard from him in years. Why was he contacting me now?
Curiosity and a masochistic desire to confront my past won out. I texted back, "Who is this?"
A few seconds later, my phone buzzed again. "Liam. Just wanted to catch up. I'm back in town."
I hesitated for a moment, then typed, "Fine. But I'm only staying for one drink."
The Rusty Mug was a dive bar in my neighborhood, a place where the beer was cheap and the atmosphere was even cheaper. It was the kind of place where you could disappear without being noticed, a welcome contrast to the polished world of Sterling Enterprises.
Liam was waiting for me at a corner booth, nursing a beer. He looked…different. Older, more worn down. The boyish charm that had once captivated me had been replaced by a hardened edge.
"Rowan," he said, a ghost of a smile playing on his lips. "You look good."
"Save it, Liam," I said, sliding into the booth. "What do you want?"
He sighed. "Can't we just catch up? It's been a long time."
"We have nothing to catch up on," I said, my voice cold. "You left, you broke my heart, and you left me with a pile of bills I'm still paying off. End of story."
He winced. "I know I messed up, Rowan. I was young, I was stupid…"
"You were selfish," I corrected him.
"Okay, I was selfish," he admitted. "But I've changed. I'm a different person now."
"Prove it," I challenged him.
He leaned forward, his eyes pleading. "I need your help, Rowan. I'm in trouble."
"Trouble?" I scoffed. "What kind of trouble?"
He hesitated, then lowered his voice. "I owe some people money. A lot of money. And they're not the kind of people you want to mess with."
"And you think I can help you?" I asked, incredulous. "With what money I make as an intern? You're delusional."
"I know you work at Sterling Enterprises," he said, his eyes narrowing. "Maybe you could…borrow some money. Just until I get back on my feet."
My blood ran cold. "You want me to steal from my job?" I whispered, horrified.
"Just a small amount," he pleaded. "No one would ever know."
"Get out," I said, my voice trembling with rage. "Get out of my life, Liam. I never want to see you again."
I stood up and stormed out of the bar, leaving Liam staring after me with a mixture of desperation and anger.
As I walked home, my mind was racing. Liam's reappearance, Isabella's presence at Sterling Enterprises, Julian's possessive behavior…it all felt connected, like pieces of a puzzle I couldn't quite solve.
I reached my apartment building and started climbing the stairs to my cramped little room. As I neared my floor, I noticed a figure standing in the shadows near my door.
It was Julian.
He stepped out of the darkness, his face unreadable.
"What are you doing here?" I asked, my voice trembling.
"I saw you leave The Rusty Mug," he said, his eyes fixed on mine. "Who was that man?"
"It's none of your business," I said, trying to push past him.
He blocked my path. "Tell me," he demanded, his voice low and dangerous.
"It was my ex-boyfriend," I admitted, my voice barely a whisper.
His jaw tightened. "He's trouble, isn't he?"
I didn't answer.
"Stay away from him, Rowan," Julian said, his voice softening slightly. "He'll only hurt you."
"And you won't?" I challenged him, my eyes blazing.
He hesitated, then reached out and gently touched my cheek. His touch sent a shiver down my spine.
"I don't want to hurt you, Rowan," he said, his voice barely audible. "I just want to protect you."
"Protect me from what?" I whispered, my eyes searching his.
He didn't answer. He just stared at me, his eyes filled with a longing that mirrored my own.
The silence stretched between us, thick with unspoken desires and hidden fears.
Suddenly, Liam came into my apartment building, and Liam stepped in front of Julian , his face contorted with anger.
"Rowan, who is this?" he demanded, glaring at Julian.
Julian's eyes narrowed, and his jaw tightened. "I should be asking you the same question."
Liam lunged at Julian, throwing a punch that connected with his jaw. Julian staggered back, his eyes blazing with fury.
"Liam, stop!" I screamed, trying to separate them.
Liam ignored me and continued to attack Julian, his punches landing with brutal force. Julian fought back, his movements precise and deadly.
The fight spilled out into the hallway, the two men grappling and throwing punches. I watched in horror, unable to stop them.
Suddenly, Liam pulled out a knife, its blade glinting in the dim light.
"Stop!" I screamed, my voice cracking with fear.
Julian froze, his eyes widening in horror. Liam raised the knife, ready to strike.
And then, everything went black.