IN LOVE WITH MY BOSS

Fresh start …2

The morning sunlight streamed through the sheer curtains, painting golden stripes across my bedroom floor. It was the kind of light that made everything feel new — a fresh page, a clean slate. And that’s exactly what this was for me.

A year. That’s how long it had been since I walked out of the Finns’ house and never looked back. Since the betrayal. Since the heartbreak. Since I finally chose me.

Now I was in a new city — one far away from the ghosts of that past life. The air here felt different, freer, like it didn’t know who I used to be. And maybe that was the best part.

I rolled out of bed, stretched, and inhaled deeply. Today felt good. Really good.

It had been two weeks since I sent out my application to The Aurelius Group, one of the biggest names in fashion and lifestyle branding. A multibillion-dollar company, the kind that felt like a distant dream — yet, somehow, I’d gotten shortlisted. Just knowing they’d seen my portfolio made me feel like I was finally being seen for the right reasons.

Still, I hadn’t heard back. And I’d applied to other companies, too. Smaller ones, more realistic ones. But I couldn’t shake the hope that something big was coming. Maybe even today.

I threw on my joggers, tied my curls into a loose puff, and laced up my sneakers. My phone was charged, my music playlist was queued, and my energy was strangely high for 6:45 a.m.

The city was quiet but not asleep as I stepped outside. A few early risers walked dogs or sipped coffee outside cafes. The scent of baked bread and wet grass hung in the air. I slipped in my earbuds and began to jog, feeling the cool breeze against my skin, the rhythm of my breath syncing with my pace.

Halfway through my usual route, I heard someone call out behind me.

“Claire?”

I slowed, turning to see a tall figure jogging toward me.

I blinked. “Ryan?”

He grinned as he caught up. “Wow. I thought that was you.”

Ryan Mason. I hadn’t seen him in almost four years. We went to college together. He was charming, athletic, always surrounded by friends — and for a while, he’d been pretty persistent about wanting to date me. But back then, I’d been guarded. Focused. Afraid. I’d turned him down gently, more than once.

“You live around here?” I asked, genuinely surprised.

“A few blocks over,” he said, jogging lightly beside me now. “Just moved in a few months ago. And you?”

“Same. Been here almost a year now.”

He looked me over for a beat, a curious smile playing on his lips. “You look… good. Like, peaceful.”

“Thanks,” I said, smiling despite myself. “It’s been a long road.”

We jogged side by side for a few blocks. The conversation flowed easily — about work, life, the city, and little things in between. I noticed how he kept sneaking glances at me, like he was trying to read something in my face.

“So…” he said after a pause, “any lucky guy around here?”

I laughed softly. “Nope. Just me. Trying to keep it that way for a while.”

He grinned. “Good to know.”

I raised an eyebrow but said nothing. I wasn’t naive. I knew that look. The old spark was still there in his eyes. Maybe he thought time had changed my answer.

My phone buzzed in my pocket. I slowed to a stop near a quiet patch of sidewalk and pulled it out.

Unknown Number.

I unlocked my screen. It was a message.

Dear Claire, we’re excited to offer you the Junior Creative Designer position at The Aurelius Group. We were incredibly impressed by your portfolio and look forward to having you join our team. An official offer letter and next steps will follow shortly. Congratulations!

My heart jumped — literally. My knees wobbled for a second as I read the message again just to be sure.

“Holy—”

“What is it?” Ryan asked, leaning in.

“I got the job,” I breathed, laughing, half in shock. “The Aurelius Group — the one I really wanted.”

Ryan’s eyes widened. “No way! That’s huge, Claire!”

“I know!” I jumped once, then twice, unable to hold back my excitement. People walking past gave me odd looks, but I didn’t care. After everything I’d been through — all the hurt, the rejection, the rebuilding — this felt like the universe finally saying, You made it.

“I have to go,” I said quickly, grinning. “I need to call my sister — well, my real sister, not the Finns. She’s going to freak.”

Ryan laughed. “Go, go. We’ll catch up soon?”

“Yeah, definitely,” I said as I started jogging backward. “Coffee sometime maybe!”

“Or dinner!” he called.

I gave a small wave, smiling to myself.

As I turned the corner toward home, I glanced up at the sky. It was the same sky, technically, but it looked different from here — brighter, wider, full of possibility.

This was the beginning of something new.

And this time, it was mine.