THE DAY MY HEART CHOSE YOU

“You have thirty seconds to explain why I shouldn't fire you, Miss Williams.” Isabella Williams froze in front of the enormous office desk, her fingers tightening around the folder in her hands. The man sitting before her was Daniel Anderson, the wealthy CEO of Anderson Group. And the man who had broken her heart three years ago. She had imagined meeting him again countless times, but never like this. Never with him looking at her as though she were a complete stranger. “Are you listening to me?” Daniel asked coldly. Isabella lifted her chin. “Yes, Mr. Anderson.” “Then explain why the report you submitted contains errors.” “Because I didn't make those errors. I checked every figure before submitting the report.” Daniel leaned back in his chair. “Are you accusing someone of changing your work?” “I'm telling you what happened.” “Convenient excuse.” His words stung, but Isabella refused to show how much they hurt. She had spent three nights working on that report. She had skipped meals and stayed late because she needed this job more than anything. Her mother's hospital bills were overdue, and their landlord had already threatened to evict them. Losing this job was not an option. “Mr. Anderson, I understand that you expect excellent work from your employees,” she said. “But I won't accept blame for something I didn't do.” Daniel's eyes narrowed. “Look at me, Isabella.” Her heart skipped. He had said her name exactly as he used to say it three years ago, when he would smile at her and promise that he would always protect her. She hated that she still remembered. She forced herself to meet his gaze. “Do you have something else to say?” Daniel stood and walked toward the window. “Who recommended you for this position?” “No one. I applied for it.” “And you knew who owned this company?” “I knew it belonged to Anderson Group. I didn't know you were the CEO.” “Would you have applied if you had known?” Isabella hesitated. The truth was that she would have avoided this company at all costs. But she couldn't allow their painful history to destroy her future. “Yes,” she answered. “I'm qualified for this position, and I need the opportunity.” Daniel studied her for several seconds before returning to his desk. “You have until the end of today to correct the report and identify where the errors originated.” “And if I prove I didn't make them?” “Then we'll discuss it.” She nodded and turned toward the door. “Isabella.” She stopped. “Don't mistake your history with this company for protection. I don't tolerate incompetence.” She turned around slowly. “Our history?” Something flickered across his face. “You heard me.” A bitter smile touched her lips. He was the one who had disappeared without an explanation. He was the one who had left her with unanswered questions and a broken heart. Yet he spoke as though she were the one who had wronged him. “Don't worry, Mr. Anderson. I have no intention of asking you for favors.” She walked out. Only when she reached the elevator did she allow herself to breathe. “Three years,” she whispered. “Three whole years, and this is how we meet again.” Her phone vibrated. It was a message from her younger brother. Isabella, the hospital called again. They said we need to pay part of Mum's bill before Friday. What are we going to do? Her stomach tightened. Friday was only two days away. She checked her bank balance, but the small amount displayed on the screen offered little comfort. She had borrowed money from friends and sold the few pieces of jewelry she owned. There was almost nothing left. Still, she replied to her brother. Don't worry. I'll find a way. Just stay with Mum. She put away her phone and took a deep breath. She would find a way, even if it meant working for the one man she had spent three years trying to forget. *** By noon, Isabella was back at her desk, examining the report. The errors were strange. Several figures had been changed after she submitted the document. She opened the original file on her computer. Her heart began to beat faster. Her original report was correct. Someone had deliberately changed it. “Isabella?” She looked up at a woman standing beside her desk. “I'm Olivia, Daniel's executive assistant,” the woman said. “He asked me to check whether you've started correcting the report.” “I'm investigating the changes first.” Olivia's smile faded. “What changes?” “The figures were altered after I submitted the report.” Olivia glanced around before lowering her voice. “My advice is to correct the report and move on.” “Why should I correct something I didn't get wrong?” “Because you're new here, and you don't understand how things work.” “I understand that I shouldn't be blamed for someone else's mistake.” Olivia's expression hardened. “Sometimes, Miss Williams, keeping your job means knowing which questions not to ask.” Before Isabella could respond, Olivia walked away. Isabella watched her suspiciously. Why was Olivia so uncomfortable with her investigation? She checked the document's editing history and discovered that the report had been changed after she submitted it. She saved the evidence. She didn't know who was responsible, but she intended to find out. At three o'clock, her phone rang. It was the hospital. “Good afternoon. We're calling about your mother's outstanding bill,” the woman on the line explained. “When will you be able to make your next payment?” Isabella closed her eyes. “Please, give us until Friday. I'm doing everything I can.” “We understand, but we cannot keep extending the deadline indefinitely.” “I understand. Thank you.” When the call ended, Isabella sat quietly. Her mother had sacrificed so much for her children. Now Isabella was struggling to help the woman who had always been there for her. She wiped her eyes and returned to work. She couldn't give up. Not now. *** By five thirty, most employees had left the office. Isabella remained at her desk, comparing the original report with the altered version. Then she noticed something important. The changes had been made using login credentials associated with Daniel's executive office. Her stomach tightened. That didn't prove Daniel had done it himself, but it meant someone close to him might be involved. She printed the evidence, placed it in a folder, and walked toward his office. The lights were still on. She knocked. “Come in.” Daniel stood beside the window, speaking on the phone. “Yes,” he said quietly. “I know she has returned. Keep her away from this matter until I decide what to do.” Isabella stopped. Daniel continued speaking. “No. Isabella mustn't find out what happened three years ago.” Her fingers tightened around the folder. What had happened three years ago? Daniel ended the call and turned around. When he saw her, his expression changed. “How long have you been standing there?” “Long enough.” “What did you hear?” “You said I mustn't find out what happened three years ago.” Silence filled the office. For the first time that day, Daniel looked unsettled. “You should learn to knock before entering someone's private conversation.” “I did knock. You told me to come in.” She placed the folder on his desk. “Someone altered my report. I've brought evidence proving that I submitted the correct figures.” Daniel glanced at the folder without opening it. “I'll have someone review it.” “Someone like Olivia?” His eyes narrowed. “What does Olivia have to do with this?” “Nothing. I just find it strange that she warned me not to investigate.” Daniel's expression became unreadable. “Go home, Isabella.” “Are you even going to examine the evidence?” “I said I'll have it reviewed.” “And if I lose my job because of this?” “Then you'll have to accept the consequences.” Isabella stared at him in disbelief. “You haven't changed at all.” Daniel went still. “You think you know me?” “I used to.” His expression tightened. “And you think you know what happened three years ago?” “I know you left without explaining anything. I know you made promises you never kept. I spent months wondering what I had done wrong.” Daniel held her gaze. “You did nothing wrong.” Isabella's breath caught. “Then why did you leave?” He looked away. “You deserve answers, Isabella. But not every answer will give you the peace you think it will.” “You don't get to decide that for me.” For a moment, he looked like the man she used to love. Then his phone rang. Daniel checked the screen, and his face turned pale. “What do you mean she's here?” he demanded. He listened before speaking again. “No. She wasn't supposed to come back.” A pause followed. Then he said something that made Isabella's blood run cold. “Whatever you do, don't let Victoria near Isabella.” He ended the call. “Who is Victoria?” Isabella whispered. Daniel stared at her, and for the first time, she saw something in his eyes that looked like fear. Before he could answer, someone knocked. “Come in,” he said. The door opened. A beautiful woman wearing a red dress stepped inside. She looked at Daniel with a familiar smile before turning toward Isabella. Her smile widened. “So, this is the girl you destroyed your life for.” Isabella felt her heart pound. Daniel stepped between them. “Victoria, you shouldn't be here.” Victoria laughed softly. “Oh, Daniel. You still haven't told her?” She turned to Isabella. “Darling, before you get too comfortable around him, there's something you need to know about the man you used to love.”