Love is in the Past: My Ex is my Present

First Day At Work

Leon re-entered the conference room, his gaze sweeping across the assembled branch managers. It was going to be tough for him to convince them to come over to his side at all considering they think he’s still a bird that has yet to leave his nest.

But Leon was aware of this and had prepared himself for this very situation.

"Thank you all, I apologise for the sudden disruption of the room. Now, where were we?" His tone was smooth and authoritative as he glanced down at his notes.

Leon proceeded to outline his bold vision for Lumiere Cosmetics, detailing his plans for sustainability, global expansion, and a revamped digital strategy. The branch managers listened intently, some nodding in agreement while others exchanged thoughtful looks.

As he spoke, Leon's eyes never once drifted towards Emilia, who sat quietly at the far end of the table. He maintained a laser-like focus, determined not to let any personal distractions derail the meeting.

"I understand that some of these changes may seem sudden," Leon said, his gaze fixing each executive in turn. "But I believe they are necessary to ensure Lumiere’s continued success in an evolving marketplace. We must be willing to adapt and innovate if we want to stay ahead of the curve."

One of the older managers, a gruff-looking man named John, cleared his throat. "Those are certainly ambitious goals, Mr. Blackwood. But how do you propose we implement them across all of our locations? Some of our branch managers may be resistant to such drastic shifts."

Leon nodded, unsurprised by the pushback. "I understand your concerns, John. That's why I'll be relying heavily on all of you to be champions of this transformation within your respective teams." He paused, his gaze shifting from person to person present in the room. "I know change can be bit bittersweet, but I have every confidence that with your leadership and expertise, we can navigate this transition seamlessly."

The executives exchanged uncertain glances, but Leon could see the wheels turning in their minds. Sensing an opportunity to drive his point home, he leaned forward slightly.

"I'm well aware that I'm a newcomer to this company, but I assure you, I have a deep respect for the legacy my grandfather built. However, the world is changing, and Lumiere must change with it. I'm counting on all of you to help me steer this ship in the right direction."

The branch managers seemed to consider his words, some nodding slowly. Satisfied, Leon straightened in his chair.

"Alright, I think that's enough for now. Olivia, if you could please dismiss the group and schedule a follow-up meeting in the next few days?"

"Of course, Mr. Blackwood." Olivia stepped forward, her gaze sweeping the room. "Thank you all for your time. Please feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions or concerns."

As the executives filed out of the room, Leon remained seated, his expression contemplative. He knew the road ahead would not be an easy one, but he was determined to put his own mark on the company and lead Lumiere Cosmetics into a bold new era.

With a deep breath, Leon rose from his chair and headed towards the door, Olivia falling into step beside him.

"Well, that went better than expected," he murmured, his gaze fixed straight ahead.

Olivia nodded, a small smile playing on her lips. "I'd say so, sir. The branch managers seemed receptive to your vision, despite the... initial disruption."

"Yes, well, I have no intention of allowing personal matters to interfere with the business at hand. Lumiere’s future is my top priority." He says to Olivia.

"Understood, Mr. Blackwood." Olivia paused, then added, "I'll make sure to schedule that follow-up meeting as soon as possible."

"Excellent. Thank you, Olivia." Leon offered her a brief nod, then stepped out into the hallway, his mind already racing ahead to the next item on his agenda.

-Emilia’s Pov-

Emilia Sinclair hurried through the gleaming lobby of Lumiere Cosmetics, messy hair and a coffee unfinished. She had received an urgent call from one of her team members just that morning, informing her of a shipment mix-up at the downtown branch she oversaw.

"Of course, the one day I can't be there to oversee things," Emilia had muttered under her breath, already mentally rearranging her schedule. She had barely had time to grab a cup of coffee before rushing out the door.

Now, as she walked through the bustling corporate headquarters, Emilia couldn't shake the uneasy feeling that had been gnawing at her since she arrived. “Urgh- To hell with this CEO, I had to look out for this mess right before the meeting and became late.”

Emilia quickened her pace, her heels clicking against the pristine marble floors. She needed to get to the branch, assess the situation, and ensure her team had the support they needed to resolve the issue. The last thing she wanted was for this problem to spiral out of control and reflect poorly on her management.

As Emilia approached the conference room, she could hear the muffled voices of the other branch managers. Pausing briefly, she took a deep breath, mentally preparing herself for the meeting. She knew her being late would not be well-received, but the situation at the downtown location had required her immediate attention too.

Squaring her shoulders, Emilia pushed open the door and stepped inside, offering the assembled executives an apologetic fake smile.

"Sorry, I'm late," she said, her tone calm and out of breath. "There was an issue at the branch I oversee that required my attention, I'm so sorry-"

Emilia's words trailed off as her gaze landed on the man seated at the head of the table. Her heart lurched in her chest, and for a moment, she felt as if the air had been knocked from her lungs.

"Leon..." The name escaped her lips in a barely audible whisper, her eyes widening in shock.

There he was, Leon Blackwood, the man she had once loved with every fiber of her being. The man whose betrayal had shattered her heart into a million pieces. And now, here he was, seated as the new CEO of the company she worked for.

Emilia felt a familiar ache blossom in her chest, memories of their past flooding her mind. She had never expected their paths to cross again, let alone in this professional setting. The tension in the room was worth noticing and Emilia could feel the curious gazes of the other executives glaring into her.

Forcing herself to regain her composure, Emilia straightened her spine, her expression carefully neutral. This was her job, her career - she couldn't afford to let her personal history with Leon derail her focus.

As Leon dismissed the meeting, Emilia remained seated, her gaze fixed straight ahead. She could feel his eyes on her, could sense the unspoken questions hanging in the air between them. But she refused to meet his gaze, unwilling to give in to the flood of emotions threatening to overwhelm her.

When the room had finally cleared, with Leon and his secretary entering the room again. She couldn't help but steal a glance in Leon's direction, noting the way his jaw tightened and his gaze remained steadfastly forward.

It was as if he was purposefully avoiding her, refusing to acknowledge the history that lay between them. Emilia felt a pang of bitterness at the realisation, but she quickly pushed it aside. This was no time for personal grievances - she had a job to do, and she was determined to do it with the same professionalism she had always brought to her work.

As Leon and his assistant slipped out of the conference room, Emilia let out a shaky breath, running a hand through her hair. She couldn't believe that after all these years, Leon Blackwood had reentered her life in such an unexpected way.

"Of all the people to be the new CEO..." Emilia murmured to herself, shaking her head in disbelief. She had always known that the Blackwood family was behind Lumiere Cosmetics, but the idea that Leon was related to them in any way was truly not what she had expected.

Emilia stood there for a moment, her mind whirling with a million thoughts and emotions. Part of her wanted to confront Leon, to demand an explanation for the way things had ended between them all those years ago. But another, more disturbed part of her knew that would be a foolish and unprofessional course of action.

This was her career, her livelihood, and she couldn't afford to let her personal history with Leon jeopardise that. She had worked too hard to get where she was, and she wasn't about to let some long-buried romantic entanglement derail her now.

Straightening her shoulders, Emilia took a deep, steadying breath. She needed to focus on the task at hand - the shipment issue back at the downtown branch. That was her priority right now, not the unexpected reappearance of her former lover.

"Get it together, Emilia," she murmured under her breath, heading towards the door. "Leon Blackwood is your boss now, nothing more. Keep it professional, keep it together."

As Emilia stepped out into the hallway, she caught a glimpse of Leon and his assistant, Olivia, heading in the opposite direction. For a moment, their eyes met, and Emilia felt a jolt of electricity run through her. But just as quickly, Leon's gaze slid away, his expression cold.

Emilia watched as he disappeared around the corner. There was no hint of the uncertainty or vulnerability she had seen in his eyes all those years ago. He was in control now, the master of his own domain.

A small smile tugged at the corners of Emilia's lips. "So that's how it's going to be, huh, Leon?" she murmured to herself. "Well, we can play that game then."

Emilia picked up her things and left the conference room without looking back. She has now promised herself to handle this situation with the same level of professionalism that had always defined her work.

And when it came to Leon Blackwood, well, Emilia was more than ready to put her personal history aside and focus on the task at hand. After all, she was a professional, and she had a job to do.