MY EX RETURED AS A BILLIONAIRE

CHAPTER ONE Sophie’s POV I stared at myself in the mirror for the third time that morning. Everything looked perfect. My cream blouse was neatly tucked into my black skirt, my hair was carefully styled, and my handbag was resting on my shoulder. Still, I couldn't shake the nervous feeling in my stomach. Today was my first day at Brightstone Holdings. A new job. A new environment. A new beginning. At least, that was what I kept telling myself. I picked up my phone from the table. A message from Daniel was waiting for me. Daniel: Good luck on your first day. You'll do amazing. I smiled. Daniel had always been supportive. Kind. Patient. Dependable. Everything I had learned to appreciate after spending years trying to forget someone who had once meant everything to me. Ryan. I quickly pushed the thought away. There was no reason to think about him today. That part of my life was over. Three years ago, Ryan Black walked out of my life without giving me a single explanation. I had cried. I had waited. I had begged myself to believe that he would come back. Eventually, I stopped waiting. I moved on. At least, I thought I had. I grabbed my handbag. “New job. New life.” I repeated the words quietly before walking out of my apartment. I had no idea that by the end of the day, the past I had worked so hard to bury would be standing directly in front of me. Brightstone Holdings was even more impressive than I had imagined. The huge glass building stood in the middle of the city, surrounded by expensive cars and busy professionals. I stepped through the entrance and immediately felt nervous. Everyone looked confident. Everyone seemed to know exactly where they were going. I took a deep breath. “You can do this, Sophie.” I walked toward the reception desk. “Good morning. I'm Sophie Carter. I'm starting today in the marketing department.” The receptionist smiled politely. “Welcome, Miss Carter. One moment, please.” She typed something into her computer before looking up. “Someone from Human Resources will come for you.” “Thank you.” I stepped away from the desk. While I waited, I looked around the building. Everything looked expensive. The furniture. The decorations. Even the people walking around looked like they belonged in a business magazine. A few minutes later, a woman approached me. “Miss Carter?” I turned. “Yes?” “I'm Olivia from Human Resources. I'll take you to your department.” “Okay.” I followed her toward the elevators. As we walked, Olivia explained some of the company's rules and showed me around. Then she casually said something that made me stop. “Oh, and you'll be meeting the CEO today.” “The CEO?” I looked at her. She nodded. “Yes.” “Why?” “I wasn't told.” I gave a nervous laugh. “That's comforting.” She laughed. “Don't worry. He's not going to eat you.” I smiled. But for some reason, the thought of meeting the CEO made me uneasy. We entered the elevator. As the doors closed, I looked at my reflection in the mirrored wall. I had spent three years building a new life. I wasn't going to let anything ruin it. Not today. Not ever. The elevator doors opened. Olivia led me through a quiet hallway before stopping in front of a large office. “Wait here.” I nodded. She knocked. A deep voice came from inside. “Come in.” I froze. My heart skipped. That voice. No. It couldn't be. I told myself I was imagining things. Olivia opened the door. “Sir, Miss Carter is here.” “Leave us.” Olivia nodded and walked away. I slowly stepped into the office. The door closed behind me. Silence filled the room. Then the man behind the large desk slowly lifted his head. I stopped breathing. My heart seemed to forget how to beat. The expensive black suit. The sharp jaw. Those dark eyes. That face. I knew that face. Ryan Black. The man I had loved. The man who had disappeared from my life three years ago. The man I had spent years trying to forget. Except he wasn't the same Ryan anymore. He was now one of the most powerful billionaires in the country. And somehow... He was my new boss. For several seconds, neither of us spoke. I couldn't move. I couldn't even blink. Ryan stared at me. Then his expression changed. Not shock. Not surprise. Nothing. His face became cold and professional. Almost unfamiliar. “Miss Carter,” he said. My lips parted. “Ryan...” His eyes hardened. “Mr. Black.” The correction hit me harder than I expected. I swallowed. “Yes, Mr. Black.” He leaned back in his chair. “If you're going to work here, you'll address me professionally.” I stared at him. After three years. After all the tears. After all the unanswered questions. That was all he had to say? I forced myself to nod. “Yes, Mr. Black.” “Take a seat.” I slowly sat down. My hands were trembling, so I placed them in my lap and tried to hide it. Ryan picked up a document from his desk. “Welcome to Brightstone Holdings.” His voice was calm. Cold. As if we had never met before. As if he hadn't once held my hand and promised he would never leave me. I stared at him. One question screamed inside my mind. Why did you leave me? But I couldn't bring myself to ask. Ryan looked at the document again. “That's all.” I stood up. I walked toward the door, trying my best to keep my emotions under control. My hand had barely touched the handle when I heard his voice. “Sophie.” I froze. Slowly, I turned around. Ryan was staring directly at me. For the first time since I entered the room, his cold expression cracked. There was something in his eyes. Something painful. Something I couldn't understand. Then it disappeared. He looked away. “Welcome back.” I frowned. Back? I had never worked at Brightstone Holdings before. So why did Ryan speak as if I had returned to a place I once belonged? I walked out of his office with one thought running through my mind. What happened to Ryan Black three years ago?