REJECTED AND FOUND PART 2: A New Beginning

The meeting lasted almost an hour.Adrian explained the project while Isabella took notes. She tried her best to concentrate, but she couldn't ignore the feeling that he was watching her.Finally, her manager left the room.Isabella gathered her papers."I think that's everything.""Not quite."She looked at Adrian."What?""You've been quiet throughout the meeting.""I'm usually quiet.""Why?"She smiled slightly."Do you always ask so many questions?""Only when I'm curious.""Curious about what?""You."Isabella froze for a moment.Adrian leaned back in his chair."You seem different from everyone else here.""Different how?""I haven't figured that out yet."She laughed softly."Maybe you should stop trying.""Maybe I should."There was an awkward silence.Isabella quickly stood."I should get back to work."As she turned to leave, Adrian spoke again."Isabella."She looked back."Yes?""Do you always run away when someone gets too close?"Her smile disappeared.The question reminded her of Nathan.She looked away."I don't run away.""Then what do you do?""I leave when I realize I'm not wanted."Adrian studied her face.There was something behind her words.Something painful.But he didn't ask."Good night, Isabella.""Good night."She walked out.That night, Isabella sat on her balcony, looking at the city lights.Her new life was slowly becoming comfortable.She had a job she loved.She had her own apartment.She was making friends.And she hadn't cried over Nathan in weeks.She smiled to herself.Maybe she really was moving on.Her phone suddenly rang.She looked at the screen.Nathan.Her smile disappeared.She let it ring.A few seconds later, a message appeared.Nathan: Why haven't you answered my calls?Another message followed.Nathan: I heard you moved to another city.Isabella stared at the screen.How had he found out?Before she could respond, another message appeared.Nathan: Can we talk?She locked her phone."No."She whispered the word to herself.She had already given Nathan enough of her heart.She wasn't going to give him another piece.The next morning, Isabella arrived at work early.As she entered the building, she noticed Adrian standing near the reception desk.He looked at her."Good morning.""Good morning.""You look tired.""I didn't sleep much.""Everything okay?""Yes."Adrian looked at her for a moment."You're lying again."Isabella laughed."You really notice everything.""Not everything.""What don't you notice?"

He smiled."Things I haven't been given permission to know."For some reason, that answer made her smile.They walked toward the elevator together.When the doors opened, Isabella stepped inside.Adrian followed.The elevator began moving.Neither of them spoke.Then Adrian suddenly said,

"Have dinner with me."Isabella looked at him."What?""Dinner."She laughed nervously."Why?""Because I want to get to know you."Isabella shook her head."I don't think that's a good idea.""Why?""Because we're colleagues.""We're working together. That's all.""And?""And dinner isn't a crime."She smiled."You're very persistent.""I've been told that."The elevator doors opened.Isabella stepped out.She turned toward him."I'll think about it."Adrian smiled."I'll take that as a maybe."She walked away, smiling despite herself.For the first time since Nathan's rejection, Isabella felt something she thought she had forgotten.Excitement.But she didn't know that Nathan had already decided to come looking for her.And when the past finally meets the present, Isabella's new beginning may not be as peaceful as she hoped.She felt a strange sense of excitement.It had been a long time since someone had made her smile without making her feel hurt.But Isabella reminded herself not to get carried away.She had learned the hard way that not every feeling should be trusted.As she returned to her desk, her phone suddenly vibrated.She looked at the screen.Nathan: I’m coming to see you.Isabella's smile disappeared.Nathan was coming to her city.And suddenly, the peaceful new life she had built didn't feel so peaceful anymore.The excitement stayed with her as she walked back to her desk. She couldn't stop thinking about Adrian and the way he had looked at her.Maybe she was finally ready to open her heart again.But just as she began to smile, her phone vibrated.She looked at the screen.Nathan: I'm coming to see you.Her smile disappeared.Nathan was coming to her city.She stared at the message, unsure of what to feel.She had worked so hard to leave the past behind.Now, the past was coming back for her.And this time, Isabella knew things would be different.She wasn't the same woman who had left months ago.She was stronger now.She had built a new life, met new people, and maybe even found someone who could make her heart smile again.But Nathan's return threatened to reopen a chapter she had worked so hard to close.She took a deep breath and whispered, “This time, I’ll choose myself.”

Then she put her phone down and turned toward the window.

A new city, a new job, and a new beginning were waiting for her .