I first saw her across the conference room and froze.
It couldn’t be. Could it? The air around her seemed to thrum with calm authority, a presence that demanded attention without even trying. Her hair was pulled back, her posture perfect, every movement deliberate. And yet, there was something familiar about the way she tilted her head when she smiled the way her eyes caught the light.
It had to be her.
Jade?
No, that didn’t make sense. She looked… different. Not in a bad way, not flashy or overdone. In fact, she seemed… simple. Elegant without trying too hard. I’d remember that face anywhere, though. Could she not remember me?
I leaned back slightly, studying her. Not popular, not screaming for attention, yet somehow the room bent around her. People deferred, smiled politely, hung on
