Love chasers

Who’s the boss?

*Lena*

“Elena,” my grandfather calls, his voice heavy with emotion as he stands to greet me. “Is it really you, my darling girl?”

“Yes, it’s me, Gramps,” I reply, the words barely escaping through a tight throat as tears threaten to spill over. “Teddy told me it was okay to come.”

He steps closer, his gaze searching my face as if trying to confirm my presence. “Okay? Of course it is okay! This is your home, sweetie, despite what your mother might have said… we have all missed you so much.”

Unable to hold back the flood of emotion, I rush into his waiting arms. His embrace envelops me, and I feel a rush of warmth that whisks me back to my childhood, a time when everything felt safe and familiar. It’s home… pure and simple.

After a moment, I pull back slightly, glancing up at him. “Mother said that you didn’t want to see me, that you were disappointed in my choices,” I murmur, my voice trembling.

“Disappointed? Yes,” he admits, his brow furrowing. “I’ve seen enough of your James at the company to know he isn’t right for you. But I will always respect your choice and I support you no matter what.”

I nestle against him, comforted by his unwavering love. “I should have known. I’m so sorry I trusted her… and that I became so stubborn.”

“See? I told you, sis, you should listen to me more often,” Teddy chimes in, his cheeky grin breaking the moment’s intensity.

Gramps hugs me tighter, a protective shield against the world. “Let’s not dwell on that right now… I do hope I haven’t missed out on your wedding while you were gone.”

My heart sinks at the mention of my wedding, and I swallow hard to stave off fresh tears. “No, it was supposed to be in a month, but… well, you were right. I made a bad choice… He was not the right one for me.”

Teddy jumps in, a mischievous glint in his eye. “She caught him making out with a waitress at the party she planned for him.” I had shared the details on our drive over, the sting still fresh in my mind.

“I’m so sorry, sweetie. I truly hope you’ll consider moving back in with us,” Gramps says, his voice sincere. “Do you want me to fire him? Because I’ll be happy to do so.”

I shake my head, a small smile creeping onto my face despite the circumstances. “No, but thank you for the offer… maybe I can get moved to another department, though, so I won’t have to work with him.”

“Consider it done,” he replies, a twinkle of mischief in his eyes. “Actually, I have an idea.”

One Week Later:

*James*

As I step into the bustling office of the country’s leading tech company, a swell of pride courses through me. I’ve just been promoted to junior marketing director… finally, I’m on my way to the top.

While chatting with a couple of my female colleagues, the conversation inevitably shifts to my recent breakup with Lena.

“James, you’re better off without her,” one of the girls says sympathetically. “She was foolish to let you slip away. You’re going places, and she’s just an intern.”

I chuckle, a spark of confidence igniting within me. Sure, it stung when she ended things… mostly because my mother had been furious over the wedding plans that now lay in ruins… but perhaps my mother was right. I can do better.

“Well, some people just can’t handle a guy with big ambitions,” I reply, flashing my trademark charming smile. “But hey, I’m surrounded by plenty of smart and beautiful women like you to keep me company, right?”

The women giggle at my playful banter, and I bask in the attention, relishing the opportunities my new position… and sudden single status… afford me.

Just then, Lena walks into the office, and my heart skips a beat. She looks striking, dressed in a sharp suit jacket and pencil skirt… so different from her usual attire.

The women beside me shoot her icy glares, their disapproval palpable.

“How dare you show your face here?” one of them sneers, her voice laced with venom. “After what you did to poor James.”

“Now, now… Lena surely didn’t mean to hurt me,” I interject, smiling at the woman, weighing whether she’s worth my attention. “And she’s here to do her… job.”

Before she can retort, Howard, a coworker, strides over. “Have you heard? We’re getting a new CCO today.”

“What?” My stomach drops; I hate not being in the loop.

“Yeah, apparently it’s the grandkid of the old man… I hope he doesn’t fire any of us. We’re all supposed to head to the conference room.”

“I’m sure he won’t,” I mutter, trying to convince myself. I mean, I just got promoted… there’s no way I could be fired now.

Still, anxiety coils in my stomach as I join my colleagues in the conference room where the current CCO is waiting. I’ve known about his impending retirement, but I had hoped he would wait long enough for me to earn a shot at his position.

The old man begins his speech, reminiscing about his time here and how he looks forward to tending to his garden with his wife and grandkids. But I barely hear him, my mind racing with thoughts of how this change will impact my life. I can only hope the new CCO is a spoiled brat who doesn’t know what he’s doing, so we can keep slacking off when the mood strikes us.

“And now, I ask you all to welcome your new CCO…” He scans the room, his smile growing. “Oh, there you are, Elena Rosenkrantz.”

My jaw drops as Lena strides confidently toward him. Lena Rose is Elena Rosenkrantz. I can’t believe I messed up so badly when I let her go.

*Lena*

I revel in the shock on James’s face, his jaw literally dropping as I take the stage for my brief speech. My grandfather’s plan has worked perfectly. I had wanted to climb the corporate ladder, which is why I initially started as an intern under a false name. But once I began dating James, I felt invisible to the higher-ups, overlooked for promotions I had once aspired to. I had no cared too much as I thought I’d found love, but how naïve I was.

After my heartfelt discussions with Gramps and Teddy, I feel liberated. I no longer care if people think I got a leg up; I’m determined to prove myself worthy of this position. The journey ahead will be challenging, but I’m ready to rise to the occasion, no longer bound by the shadows of my past.