I Can't Fall For Peter Again!
1322 Words
Kate stood outside the café, her heart pounding as she observed the three girls sitting at a table near the window. They were already deep in conversation, laughter bubbling between them oblivious to the woman standing outside who was about to step into their world. She recognized each of them instantly from the photos and messages she’d studied over the past week
You can do this, she told herself, taking a deep breath. Squaring her shoulders, she pushed the door open and walked inside.
“Hey, girls!” she called out, striding toward their table.
The reaction was instantaneous. The three women screamed in excitement, jumping up to greet her with enthusiastic hugs.
“Girl! You’re glowing!”
“You look amazing!”
“Thanks!” Kate said, her smile bright but carefully measured.
She quickly placed their names. The dark-haired beauty with the enormous, expressive eyes was Willow Fox—stunning and effortlessly humble. Then there was Mia Smith, the short-haired intellectual with glasses, who radiated bookish charm. Finally, Daisy Harlow, with her pink-and-blue-tinted hair styled in half-up space buns, exuded spoiled-but-sweet energy. She had "pampered daddy’s girl" written all over her.
So these are Anna’s friends, Kate thought, taking them all in.
As the girls launched into animated chatter, catching up on their lives, Kate felt an unfamiliar pang of envy. In her previous life, she’d never had friends like this. Growing up as an orphan, her only focus had been survival and success. There was no room for late-night gossip sessions or joyful reunions like this.
But even as jealousy flickered within her, she couldn’t deny how much she enjoyed the moment. The warmth, the camaraderie—it was foreign yet comforting.
The conversation soon shifted to work, and the girls began sharing their job updates. Seizing the opportunity, Kate chimed in.
“Well, I’m interning at Gilmore Empire now,” she said casually.
The table fell silent for a beat before all three girls erupted.
“Really?” they chorused in disbelief.
“Why would I lie about that?” Kate teased.
Their excitement was palpable.
“Girl, you hit the jackpot!” Daisy exclaimed, practically bouncing in her seat. “That’s, like, the biggest company in New York!”
“I know, right?”
“This calls for a celebration!” Willow declared, springing to her feet.
“Yes!”
The others agreed enthusiastically, and before Kate knew it, they were piling into a cab that barely contained their giddy energy and then headed for a club.
The club was alive with music and energy. Lights pulsed in time with the bass and the dance floor was packed with people letting loose.
The four of them danced, drank, and celebrated with abandon.
For Kate, the experience was surreal. She’d never indulged in anything like this in her past life. The closest she’d come to joy was the satisfaction of a well-executed deal… and, of course, Peter. But here she was, laughing, dancing, and letting loose in a way she never thought possible.
Maybe dying was a blessing in disguise, she mused bitterly.
For a fleeting moment, she allowed herself to bask in the happiness of having friends, a family, and a life she’d never known. But the thought quickly soured.
This isn’t my life, she reminded herself, guilt tightening her chest. This is Anna’s life and I’m not her.
The night wound down as the clock approached midnight. After agreeing to stay in touch, the girls parted ways. Kate hailed a cab home, her head buzzing from the alcohol and the plethora of emotions.
For the first time since her death, she felt genuinely happy.
---
The next morning, Kate woke up with a pounding headache and the unforgiving realization that she was late.
Showering as quickly as she could, she threw on her clothes in a hurry, grabbed her bag, and ran downstairs.
“Morning Mom! Morning Dad!”
“Aren’t you going to eat today, too?” Megan called after her.
“Sorry, Mom!” Kate shouted over her shoulder. “I’ll grab something on the way!”
Bursting out the door, she flagged down a cab and climbed in, barking at the driver to hurry to Gilmore Empire.
When she arrived, Kate sprinted into the building, only to have disaster strike. As she passed through the revolving doors, the heel of her shoe snapped. She tumbled to the floor with a loud thud, landing hard on her backside.
A yelp escaped her lips, and before she could collect herself, she heard that voice.
“Are you okay?”
The voice made her freeze. Slowly, she looked up—and there he was.
Peter.
His towering frame loomed over her, all polished confidence and practiced charm. His face, impossibly handsome, was marred only by the memories it brought back.
And behind him was his assistant, Eric Dante.
Kate’s heart pounded. Not from fear, but from the memory of who he used to be to her. The practiced charm, the perfect demeanor—it was everything that had drawn her to him in the first place. And everything that had blinded her to the monster he truly was.
She hated it. She hated him.
But she hated herself more for the flicker of doubt that still lingered.
Peter extended a hand toward her, his expression unreadable.
For a moment, Kate hesitated. She wasn’t afraid of him. She was afraid of herself—afraid of the feelings she thought she’d buried long ago.
Finally, she took his hand, and he helped her to her feet.
“Thank you,” she murmured.
“No problem,” he said smoothly, his voice warm and disarming. “You should be more careful in those heels.”
Kate glanced down at her broken shoe, frowning. “My heels…”
“Let me get you a new pair,” Peter offered.
“You really don’t have to—”
Before she could finish, he was already striding toward the building’s store. Moments later, he returned with a pair of sleek, heelless shoes.
Peter knelt before her, holding out the shoes.
“I can put them on myself,” Kate protested, her pulse quickening.
“Let me,” he said firmly, leaving no room for argument.
Reluctantly, Kate allowed him to slide the shoes onto her feet. Every eye in the lobby seemed to be on them—the dashing new CEO and the flustered intern. It was a scene straight out of a storybook, and Kate hated it.
“There,” Peter said, standing and giving her an appraising look. “They look comfortable.”
“Thanks,” Kate muttered, feeling cornered.
“You’re welcome. What’s your name again?”
“Anna,” she replied quickly.
“Anna,” he repeated as if tasting the name. “Nice to meet you. I’m Peter—”
“Thank you for the kind gesture, Mr. Gilmore,” Kate interrupted, her tone polite but clipped. “I already know who you are. I work here, and I’m running late.”
Peter raised his hands in mock surrender his lips twitching into a faint smile. “Of course. I’m sorry for holding you up.”
“It’s fine,” Kate nodded and made her way toward the elevators, silently willing her heart to stop pounding.
To her horror, Peter, along with Eric, stepped into the elevator with her.
The ride-up was pure agony. The confined space magnified every awkward second and made her skin crawl, his presence suffocating and Kate could feel his eyes on her.
When the elevator finally stopped, she practically bolted out, muttering another hurried “Thank you” as she disappeared down the hallway.
Kate paused outside, leaning against the wall to catch her breath. Her heart was racing for all the wrong reasons.
This is bad! She thought. Really bad! I can’t fall for Peter again! Not after what he did!
- Writer
