Chapter 3: From Sour nerds to Atomic warheads
1235 Words
Ethan's voice filled the room. Smooth, commanding, professional.
"Thank you for the warm welcome," he said, scanning the room.
His eyes passed over mine without a flicker of recognition, and it stung more than I expected.
He continued, "I'm impressed with what I've seen so far. However, I'd like to reiterate the company's stance on punctuality. Continued violations will result in disciplinary action. Let's be clear about that from the start."
My stomach twisted. It wasn't just a warning, it felt aimed at me.
The room applauded politely. Ethan gave a short nod, then returned to his seat. Just like that, the meeting rolled on, but my mind stayed frozen in place.
I wondered if there was a chance he didn't get a good look at me or couldn't recognise me without my glasses and in my work outfit. Or maybe he did, and he was just really good at pretending. Which seemed more believable than the other versions of delusion I'd talked myself into believing.
Emilia leaned in.
"Good Lord. He's so freaking hot!"
Her words went over my head almost like my brain was not processing anything I was hearing anymore.
As the meeting wrapped up, people filed out of the room. I was still stuck in my head, as we followed the crowd out the door.
"Are you okay?" Emilia asked.
I nodded, knowing fully well, that was far from the truth.
Outside the conference room, the hallway buzzed with the chatter of coworkers returning to their offices and desks. The moment we stepped into the hall, I caught a glimpse of Ethan ahead, walking beside Meghan. She was laughing, trying too hard, flipping her hair like a college sophomore.
He didn't laugh. He barely acknowledged her.
And yet, as I watched them disappear down the corridor, I couldn't help but feel like the stranger I met and shared the most heated kiss, which could have let to more last night was gone, and in his place was someone I never truly knew.
Emilia glanced over at me, noticing my distracted expression. "Are you sure you're good, Liv?" she asked again, concern in her voice.
She had this way of knowing when I wasn't being entirely honest, but I wasn't ready to tell her everything, especially not about Adam.
I shook my head, trying to shake off the unease. "You wouldn't believe it."
"What?"
"Last night, at The Dead Rabbit, I met him. Ethan. The guy from the meeting today."
Emilia stopped walking, a surprised look crossing her face. "Wait, wait—Ethan? The new CEO, ETHAN?"
I nodded, feeling a strange weight settle in my chest.
"Holy s**t, Liv. What happened last night?"
"Nothing," I said quickly. "We talked for a bit, had a drink..... and kissed."
"Wait... wait, Hold up. What? " Her eyes widened.
"I know," I groaned. "I don't know what I was thinking. And then, seeing him now, he's just so different, so not the guy I met last night."
"Oh my God, that's... intense."
"I know and insanely stupid."
"I mean.... I would have definitely made out with that hot face too girl, I can't even lie," she teased.
"Em! be serious ."
"I am being serious," she responded, chuckling.
I laughed slightly, rolling my eyes. "You're impossible."
"I know. Jeez, this sound like a soap opera. The mystery man you meet at a bar and end up exchanging saliva with, turns out to be the handsome new CEO... "
I shot her a glare, fighting the growing knot in my stomach. "Emilia f*****g Laurent."
She burst out in laughter. "Fine. I'm letting this go, for now. To think that I was supposed to be there with you both but then I end up buried in work while you two are off having all the fun and meeting hot dude? I demand a recount."
I laughed. "The only kind of heat I was craving last night was from Chinese takeout."
"Could you get any more interesting than this," she playful mocked.
"I just wanted to spend the night relaxing. Reflecting, you know? On the past few years, and what I want for the future. I mean, three years away from thirty, I need to reevaluate some things."
"Girl, what you need is to get laid. That will untie all the knots. Afterwards, your brain will be so sharp, you'll plan the next decade like a pro."
"And I suppose your boozy one-night stands have given you divine revelations?"
"Well maybe if you hadn't passed on your chance to get down and dirty with Mr. Hot face CEO, I could let you in on one or two that I've gotten from my "divine revelations". Truly life changing."
We both burst out in laughter.
Emilia was a feisty being at barely 4'9, her curves were as striking as her personality, with an hourglass figure that turned heads without her even trying.
Her dark brunette waves fell past her shoulders, with bangs that she was constantly brushing away from her face. Her features were sharp but soft, a perfect balance of pretty and fierce.
As we walked down the hallway, I tried to push the unsettling thought of Ethan and Adam out of my mind, suddenly feeling my phone buzz in my pocket.
I pulled it out quickly, half-expecting a message from Sophia because I hadn't reached out to her like I'd promised. Instead, I froze when I looked at the screen to find a text message from the number I recognized to be the one Adam called me from yesterday night.
My pulse quickened as I unlocked the phone and read the message.
"Hey, Liv. I know this is a little sudden, but would you be interested in grabbing dinner sometime? Just to talk, no pressure. Let me know when you're free."
I stared at the screen, my mind racing. Why now? After everything that had happened?
I couldn't help but question his motives. He was being so nice, so casual.
Too casual for someone who had hurt me so badly.
Why would he want to see me after he'd walked away from me, after he'd hurt me in ways I'd never fully understood?
I glanced at Emilia, who was now chatting with someone else, completely oblivious to the war raging inside me. I wanted to tell her, but I couldn't. Not yet. Not until I knew what this meant.
I took a deep breath and stared at the message again.
A part of me wanted to say yes. The thought of seeing Adam again, hearing his voice, even just catching up, it was almost too much to resist. I thought back to those years ago, how we'd been inseparable, how our connection had felt so perfect, until it all fell apart in a mess of confusion and hurt.
I bit my lip, holding the phone tightly, not sure what to do. I didn't have an answer yet, but I knew one thing: I would have to face whatever this was.
Without thinking further, I typed out a quick response:
"I'd like that. Dinner sounds good. Let me know when you're free."
Before I could second-guess myself, I hit send, shoving the phone back into my pocket.
I had enough on my plate today and the last thing I needed was to give both Adam and Ethan, the power to derail everything I thought I had figured out.
- Writer
