Episode 2
1169 Words
Chapter 2 — The Man I Never Wanted to See Again
That was how long it had been since I walked out of Blackwood Hall with tears in my eyes and a broken heart.
Three years since Adrian Blackwood told me he didn't love me.
Three years since I promised myself I would never see him again.
And somehow, fate had brought me straight back to him.
I stood outside the glass doors of Blackwood Corporation, staring at the tallest building in the city.
My fingers tightened around my résumé.
“Don't panic, Elena,” I whispered to myself.
This was just a job interview.
Nothing more.
I needed this job.
After three years of working and studying, I had finally built a life I was proud of. I wasn't the shy girl who had stood in that ballroom anymore.
I had changed.
My clothes were simple but elegant. My hair was neatly tied behind my head, and I carried myself with confidence.
Most importantly, I had learned one thing:
Never allow a man to decide your worth.
I walked into the building.
The receptionist smiled.
“Good morning. How can I help you?”
“I have an interview for the marketing department.”
“Name?”
“Elena Carter.”
She typed something into her computer.
Her smile suddenly disappeared.
“Mr. Blackwood will conduct your interview personally.”
My heart skipped.
“Mr… Blackwood?”
“Yes. Adrian Blackwood.”
For a moment, I couldn't breathe.
No.
It couldn't be him.
There were thousands of companies in the city.
Why this one?
Why today?
I almost turned around.
Then I remembered my rent.
My empty savings account.
And the rejection emails from the other companies.
I couldn't leave.
“Where is his office?”
“Forty-second floor.”
I forced a smile.
“Thank you.”
The elevator doors closed.
As the numbers climbed, my heart beat faster.
20.
30.
40.
I stared at my reflection in the elevator mirror.
“It's been three years,” I whispered.
“You don't love him anymore.”
The elevator stopped.
Ding.
The doors opened.
I stepped out.
A secretary pointed toward a large black door.
“Mr. Blackwood is waiting for you.”
I took a deep breath.
Then I knocked.
“Come in.”
That voice.
Deep.
Cold.
Familiar.
My fingers froze on the door handle.
I pushed it open.
Adrian was standing beside the enormous windows overlooking the city.
He wore a black suit.
His back was toward me.
For a few seconds, he didn't turn around.
Then he did.
Our eyes met.
Everything around me disappeared.
His expression changed.
Only for a second.
But I saw it.
Shock.
He hadn't expected me.
Neither had I expected him.
His eyes moved slowly over my face.
Then my clothes.
Then back to my eyes.
“Elena?”
I smiled politely.
“Good morning, Mr. Blackwood.”
He didn't answer.
I walked toward the chair opposite his desk.
“I understand you're interviewing me for the marketing position.”
Still nothing.
He was staring at me as if he had seen a ghost.
I sat down.
He finally spoke.
“Where have you been?”
I raised an eyebrow.
“I'm sorry?”
“For the last three years.”
I smiled.
“That's not really an interview question, is it?”
His jaw tightened.
“No.”
“Then let's keep this professional.”
For the first time, I saw something I had never seen in him before.
Hurt.
His eyes softened.
But only for a moment.
He picked up my résumé.
“You're qualified.”
“Yes.”
“You worked at Carter Media for two years.”
“Yes.”
“You left six months ago.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Better opportunities.”
He looked at me.
“You could have worked anywhere.”
“I know.”
“Why did you apply here?”
I leaned back.
“Because Blackwood Corporation offered the position.”
He stared at me.
I smiled.
“Is there a problem, Mr. Blackwood?”
His fingers tightened around my résumé.
“No.”
He stood.
“The interview is over.”
I blinked.
“Already?”
“You're hired.”
I stared at him.
“Excuse me?”
“You start Monday.”
I stood slowly.
“Thank you.”
I walked toward the door.
“Elena.”
I stopped.
I didn't turn around.
His voice was different now.
Quiet.
Almost broken.
“I didn't know you would come back.”
I finally looked at him.
“I didn't come back for you.”
His eyes darkened.
“I know.”
I opened the door.
Then I heard him say something that made me freeze.
“I never stopped looking for you.”
My hand remained on the door.
For three years, I had imagined many things Adrian might say if we ever met again.
That wasn't one of them.
I turned around.
He was still standing behind his desk.
“Why?”
He looked at me.
And for the first time, the cold billionaire disappeared.
There was only the man who had once broken my heart.
“I had my reasons.”
I laughed softly.
“Everyone has reasons.”
Then I walked out.
I didn't see the way his eyes followed me until the elevator doors closed.
But inside that office, Adrian picked up his phone.
“Find out everything about Elena Carter.”
His assistant hesitated.
“Everything?”
Adrian looked toward the elevator.
“Everything.”
“Even her personal life?”
Adrian's expression became cold again.
“Especially her personal life.”
That evening, I arrived home and dropped my handbag on the sofa.
I was exhausted.
My roommate, Mia, looked up from her phone.
“How was the interview?”
I took off my shoes.
“I got the job.”
She screamed.
“You got it?!”
I laughed.
“Yes.”
She jumped up and hugged me.
Then she noticed my expression.
“What happened?”
I hesitated.
“I saw someone I didn't want to see.”
“Who?”
I looked away.
“Adrian.”
Her smile disappeared.
“The Adrian?”
I nodded.
She stared at me.
“Your Adrian?”
“He was never mine.”
Before she could respond, my phone vibrated.
Unknown Number.
I answered.
“Hello?”
Silence.
“Hello?”
A man's voice finally came through.
“Elena.”
My blood ran cold.
I knew that voice.
Adrian.
“How did you get my number?”
“I told you. I never stopped looking for you.”
I swallowed.
“What do you want?”
There was a long silence.
Then he said:
“I want to explain why I rejected you that night.”
My heart stopped.
And for the first time in three years, I wondered if everything I believed about that night…
had been a lie.
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