Chapter Three – Secrets, Tension, and That Look
368 Words
Rossy tried to focus during orientation, but her mind kept flashing to the man in the suit who’d walked out of her life—and then right back into it.
Thomas Hale.
CEO.
Her boss.
The man who had touched her like she mattered and then left like she didn’t.
And now he was pretending they were strangers.
Fine.
If he wanted to act like that night never happened, so could she.
Sort of.
By mid-afternoon, her small intern group was called into a meeting with the senior team. Rossy stepped into the conference room with a folder in handand a deep breath held tight in her chest.
Then he walked in.
Thomas didn’t look at her. Not once. Not even a flicker of acknowledgment.
But his voice—cool, commanding—sent shivers down her spine.
“Let’s keep this short,” he said. “You’re here because you earned it. What happens next depends on how well you handle pressure, deadlines, and integrity.”
Integrity.
She almost laughed.
But then he said her name.
“Miss Bennett—stay behind, please.”
Every eye turned. Her pulse spiked. When the room emptied, she stood frozen as the door clicked shut behind the last intern.
Thomas didn’t move from the head of the table. His voice was low. Controlled.
“I didn’t know it was you that night.”I didn’t know it was you that night.”
Rossy blinked. “That makes it better?”
“I’m not apologizing for what happened,” he said. “Only for what’s about to.”
Her stomach dropped.
“What does that mean?”
He hesitated—then looked at her, really looked at her, for the first time since that morning.
“My family is expecting me to marry someone,” he said. “Someone… appropriate.”
“Of course,” she said, masking the sting. “And I’m not.”
He didn’t deny it.
She turned to leave.
“Rossy—” he started.
But she didn’t let him finish. “Don’t. You made your choice the second you walked away.”And this time, she walked out.
But Thomas Hale wasn't done. And neither was fate.
- Writer
