Morning came earlier than expected. Annie hardly slept. The night kept replaying itself like a movie inside her head, like broken pieces of a film she could not pause. Roman's face flashed back. She remembered the way his voice dropped when he said Adrian's name, the way his hands held her down as if she belonged to him.
Every memory made her stomach twist, like her intestine wanted to cut.For a moment she thought of calling in sick.
She sat on the edge of her bed, staring at the pale morning light leaking through the curtains. Her phone rested in her palm. She could easily send a message to the office, say she had malaria, or just say anything.
But then another thought crept in. If she stayed home, she would only sit there and think about him, about any possible thing that might happen. She would think he might just barge in uninvited again, and that made her felt worse. She shook her head slowly...
" No". So she forced herself to stand.
She went to her bathroom to take a quick shower. The shower water ran over her skin, hot enough to sting. She stayed there longer than usual, as if the water could rinse away the memory of Roman's touch, but it did not. The thought of it always made her cringe.
Still, when she stepped out, she decided something... She would not let him ruin this for her.
Not her new job. Not even her life.
By the time Annie left her apartment she had put herself together carefully. She wore a fitted cream blouse, dark trousers, soft makeup that made her look calm even though she was anything but.
From the outside she looked perfectly fine. Inside was a different story.
The building that housed A&R looked the same as always. It's tall shiny glass walls, polished marble floors that reflected the morning light. People walked in and out with the quiet confidence of people who believed they belonged there.
Annie inhaled slowly before stepping inside. She belonged there already, so she carried herself with high esteem.
The moment she entered, the familiar glances followed her again.
Some were curious as usual, others admiring.
She was already getting used to it.
But today, she noticed she felt slightly tense. Someone walking too close behind her, a voice suddenly calling out, even the sound of footsteps echoing across the floor.
Her nerves were stretched thin and her breath halted. She hated that Roman still had this much control over her mind.
"Annie." he called.
She turned.
Mr. Leighton stood a few steps away, his usual confident smile already in place.
He looked exactly the same as he always did, sharply dressed, a relaxed posture, eyes that seemed to study people a little too carefully.
Yet today Annie noticed something she had ignored before. He looked at her like a man who enjoyed the effect he had on women.
"Good morning," he said casually.
"Morning Sir."
She tried to sound normal as possible, while his eyes lingered on her for a moment longer than necessary.
"You look… different today."
Annie raised an eyebrow. "Different?"
"In a good way," he replied quickly, his smile widening. "Actually, you always look good. Today just feels like you are trying harder."
Her cheeks warmed slightly. Mr. Leighton had never been subtle, always open. She gave him a small laugh, simply because she did not know what else to do.
"Well, it is work." she replied avoiding his eyes.
"Work deserves effort," he said, stepping closer. "But I like the effort."
Annie shook her head lightly and started walking toward her office. Honestly, she just want the conversation to end
He followed beside her without hesitation.
"How are you settling in?" he asked.
"Still learning," she answered. "Still trying not to look confused every five minutes."
"You hide it well."
That made her smile a little. For a brief moment the tension inside her chest eased. Maybe today could still be normal, who knows.
Inside her office she set her bag down and opened her laptop. The familiar routine helped calm her thoughts. Emails, schedules, small tasks that needed urgent attention.
Work was simple, yea work really did made sense.
Mr. Leighton leaned against the doorframe instead of leaving.
"You know," he said after a moment, "you have been here long enough for me to say this."
Annie looked up.
"Say what?"
He crossed his arms, still watching her.
"I have been trying to figure you out."
That caught her attention.
"Figure me out?"
"Yes." His tone was thoughtful, almost amused. "You walk into a room and people notice. You try to act like you do not see it, but you do and that's spectacular."
Annie closed her laptop slowly.
"I do not know what you mean."
He chuckled softly.
"See? That right there." he snapped.
For a second neither of them spoke. Then he pushed himself off the doorframe and stepped fully into the room.
"Let me be direct," he said.
Annie suddenly had a feeling she knew what he was going to say.
Mr. Leighton rested his hands casually in his pockets.
"Have dinner with me."
She blinked, not expecting him to be so blunt. It wasn't even a question, sounded like a command
"That was… direct." Annie said, stuttering a little.
"I warned you."
His confidence almost made it funny.
Still, Annie hesitated. After everything that had happened recently, the idea of going out with anyone just felt strange. Her mind instantly jumped to Roman, to the way he had spoken Adrian's name like a threat. What if he finds out about Leighton? For a second fear tried to creep back in. She pushed it away. This was a normal moment, a normal man asking her out. Nothing more.
Mr. Leighton seemed to notice her hesitation.
"It is just dinner," he said gently. "Not a contract. Not a lifetime commitment. Just food."
She laughed softly. "You make a very convincing argument."
"That is part of my charm." he said proudly.
He waited.
Finally Annie shrugged.
"Fine. Dinner."
His smile widened instantly.
"Good decision."
"But," she added quickly, "I pick the day."
"Of course."
"And if it is terrible, I get to say I told you so."
"Fair enough."
The conversation felt surprisingly easy. For the first time since that night, Annie felt something close to normal again.
Mr. Leighton glanced at his watch.
"I will let you work before you change your mind."
"Smart move." she chuckled. That was her boss, she wasn't supposed to act all friendly with him, she thought inwardly.
He paused at the door.
"Oh, and Annie."
She looked up.
"You really do look beautiful today."
Then he left.
Annie wanted to blush hard but she didn't just blush. She needed time to blush.
The room suddenly felt quiet. Annie leaned back in her chair and exhaled slowly. Her life had taken such strange turns recently that even a simple conversation like that felt unreal.
She tried to focus on work again.
Hours passed.
Meetings, paperwork, conversations with coworkers. Little by little the day began to move forward like any other.
But one thing remained the same.
Adrian still had not shown up.
Not once.
She noticed it more today. Every time the elevator doors opened she found herself glancing up without thinking. Every time footsteps passed outside the hallway her attention shifted for a second.
It annoyed her.Why did she even care? Same guy that almost made her coming in A&R miserable. Yet something about his absence felt strange.
Late in the afternoon Annie shut down her computer and arranged her things in her bag carefully. Her shoulders ached slightly from sitting too long.
As she stepped out of the building the evening air felt cool and refreshing. The parking lot was quieter than usual. A few cars remained, their surfaces reflecting the fading sunlight.
Annie walked toward her car, digging into her bag for her keys.
"Annie?"
The voice caught her off guard.
She turned quickly to see who it was.
A woman stood a few feet away, staring at her with wide eyes, as if she could not believe what she was seeing. For a second Annie just looked at her, confused.
Then recognition slowly settled in.
"Wait… Lara?"
The woman laughed in surprise and rushed forward, pulling Annie into a quick tight hug.
"Oh my God, it really is you," Lara said, stepping back to look at her properly. "I almost walked past but I kept thinking, that face looks too familiar."
Annie blinked, still a little shocked.
Lara had been in her class in Grade 7, that was years ago. They were not best friends, but they had shared enough memories to recognize each other instantly.
"I cannot believe this," Annie said. "What are you doing here?"
"I work in the building across the street," Lara replied. "I just finished late and came to move my car."
She tilted her head, studying Annie with curiosity.
"But you… you look different girl."
"Different good or different bad?" Annie asked.
"Different successful," Lara said with a grin. "Last time I saw you we were both stressing about final exams."
That made Annie laugh.
For a moment the conversation felt easy, light, almost comforting.
It reminded her of a time when life had been simpler.
Lara folded her arms.
"So what are you doing here exactly?"
"I just started working at A&R," Annie said.
Lara's eyebrows shot up.
"Seriously? That place?"
"Yeah."
"Wow," Lara said slowly. "That is impressive."
She glanced toward the building behind Annie, then back at her.
"You must be working with some very interesting people in there, I envy you."
"Something like that," Annie said.
Lara hesitated for a second, as if debating whether to say something.
Then she shrugged.
"Well, I should not keep you. But Annie…"
"Yeah?"
Lara's expression turned slightly thoughtful.
"This might sound strange, but I swear I saw you a few days ago."
Annie frowned.
"A few days ago?"
"Yeah," Lara said. "Near the convenience store close to my apartment."
"That cannot be right. I have not been around that area."
Lara blinked.
"Really?"
Annie shook her head slowly.
"I am sure."
For a moment Lara looked genuinely confused.
"Huh. That is weird."
"Why?"
"Because the girl I saw looked exactly like you," she said. "Same hair, same face."
Annie felt a small chill crawl up her spine.
Lara continued casually, unaware of the effect her words had.
"She was arguing with a guy outside the store. It looked pretty intense actually."
Annie's heart skipped.
"Arguing?"
"Yeah," Lara said. "I did not hear what they were saying though. I just remember thinking I was glad it was not my business."
Annie forced a small smile.
"Well… that definitely was not me."
Lara nodded slowly.
"Guess I was mistaken then."
They said their goodbyes a moment later.
Annie finally got into her car and shut the door.
But as she started the engine, Lara's words kept replaying in her mind.
A girl who looked exactly like you.
Arguing with a guy.
Annie gripped the steering wheel a little tighter.
Because she knew something Lara did not.
Roman had been watching her.
And now she could not stop wondering.
If it was not her Lara saw that night…
Then who was it?