Chapter Two
713 Words
ELENA’S POV
I was called up to present.
Taking a steady breath, I walked toward the podium, my heels echoing faintly against the floor. I kept my posture straight, my expression composed.
Professional.
In control.
But inside… it wasn’t that simple.
Because I could feel it.
His gaze.
Ace Damon.
It lingered—steady, unwavering—like he was watching every step I took.
I swallowed lightly and began.
As I explained the project, my voice remained calm and precise, each word delivered with practiced confidence. I focused on the data, the structure, the logic behind LULU.
Anything but him.
But my eyes betrayed me.
They drifted.
Just for a second.
And every single time—
He was already looking at me.
Not casually.
Not politely.
Intently.
Like he was searching for something… or trying to confirm something he wasn’t sure of.
My fingers tightened slightly against the podium.
Focus, Elena.
I forced my attention back to the presentation, grounding myself in familiar territory—facts, numbers, systems.
Safe.
By the time I finished, the room erupted into applause.
“Thank you,” I said, stepping down, keeping my composure intact.
But my heartbeat hadn’t slowed.
Not even a little.
“Thank you all. The meeting is adjourned,” my boss announced.
Chairs scraped softly as people began to rise and leave.
“Elena,” Michelle called, catching up with me outside. “I think the investor was impressed.”
I raised a brow slightly. “Really?”
“Yes,” she nodded. “The way you explained LULU—it was clear, confident. You had them hooked.”
“Maybe,” I replied.
But my thoughts were nowhere near the presentation.
They were still inside that room.
Still caught in that moment.
Still… on him.
Later that day, curiosity won.
I typed his name into the search bar.
Ace Damon.
The results appeared almost instantly.
“27-year-old Ace Damon takes over Damon Group after completing his studies in London and Harvard.”
Harvard.
I leaned back slightly, staring at his picture on the screen.
So it really was him.
The same Ace.
But not the same at all.
Sharper.
Colder.
Untouchable.
A faint frown crept onto my face.
Did he really forget me…?
Or was he pretending?
Because that look earlier—
That wasn’t the look of someone who didn’t remember.
I exhaled slowly, closing the tab.
Why did it even matter?
It shouldn’t.
And yet…
It did.
***
ACE’S POV
“Black coffee. Your favorite.”
Daniella’s voice pulled me back as she placed the cup in front of me.
“Thank you,” I replied, flipping through the presentation file.
“What do you think about the robot—LULU?” she asked. “Did Elena’s explanation match what you described back in London?”
I paused.
Then nodded slightly.
“It’s… more interesting than I expected.”
Daniella leaned closer, studying my expression.
“Interesting?” she repeated, clearly unsatisfied with my answer.
But I wasn’t really listening anymore.
Because I had turned to the page listing the project team.
And there she was.
Elena Cooper.
Her name.
Her face.
Unmistakable.
For a moment, everything else faded.
Years passed in silence… and yet—
She hadn’t changed.
Or maybe…
She had.
More composed.
More refined.
More… captivating.
A faint smirk tugged at my lips.
So it really is you.
“I’ll be hosting a celebration party this weekend,” Daniella continued. “LULU passed its first stage. You’ll come, right?”
“Send me the details,” I said calmly.
“I will. I’m also meeting some board members tonight at 8 p.m. You should join—to promote LULU.”
“Alright.”
She hesitated, then added carefully, “Your cousin has been getting close to some of the directors.”
I didn’t look up.
“It’s business,” I said flatly. “What she does is none of my concern.”
Daniella studied me for a moment before standing.
“I’ll prepare for tonight’s meeting.”
I gave a slight nod.
The door closed behind her.
Silence settled in the room.
Slowly, I closed the file.
But not before my eyes lingered on one page.
On one name.
On one face.
This time…
I didn’t look away.
- Writer
