Meant To Miss, Destined To Meet

Chapter 3

Jack’s POV

I still can’t believe I just met the woman I’ve been searching for the past six months.

“Was that her?” Ben asked as he walked over to me.

“Yes,” I replied, still too stunned to say more—too stunned to even sit.

“Well, I guess today’s your lucky day,” he said, smiling.

It really is. After all this time… she’s real. She’s here.

“Did you at least get her number?” Ben asked.

Shit.

I didn’t. How could I not get her number? I was so caught up in the moment that I completely blew it. I only got her name.

“I got just her name,” I muttered.

Ben gave me a look that screamed i***t.

“And how do you plan on finding her again?”

“I don’t know... but I will. I’ve waited this long. I’ll do whatever it takes.”

He patted me on the back. “I hope you do, boy.”

Ben walked off, leaving me standing there like a man who just saw a ghost—or maybe something even more rare.

I finally sat back down, eyes fixed on the chair she had just been in. Gina. That name echoed in my head like a whisper I couldn’t shake.

There was something off about her. Beyond the coffee spill and the awkwardness—her eyes. I’ve never seen anyone look that sad and still smile.

I pulled out my laptop and started digging. Social media. Forums. LinkedIn. Gina + recently unemployed. Nothing. Just a million Ginas and none of them were her.

After nearly an hour, I gave up and reached for my phone.

Just as I picked it up, it buzzed.

Quan. Perfect timing.

I answered. “Just the person I needed. I need you to help me find someone.”

“Well hello to you too, boss,” Quan replied, all sarcasm and sass.

For context: Quan is my assistant, my best friend, and probably the only IT genius who’d ever pick up my call after work hours.

“Come on, man, I’m serious.”

“Send me the details,” he said. “But by the way, you’re needed in the office. Like… now.”

“I don’t really have details,” I admitted. “Just her first name. Gina. She said she recently lost her job.”

There was a long pause. “So… you want me to track someone down with just a name and vague job status?”

“Don’t act like you haven’t done worse.”

“Is this about Mrs. Mysterious?” he asked.

“Who else would it be?”

He groaned. “You really are obsessed.”

“Find her, Quan. Please.”

“After you come to the office,” he said, and hung up.

I stood up, grabbed my laptop, and looked back at the door where she’d walked out. One encounter wasn’t enough.

I found her once.

I can find her again.