First Time Again
1111 Words
I stepped out from the backseat of my car and walked towards the Scott building as my driver drove off to park properly.
The sound of my heels echoed across the tiled floor as I made my way to the receptionist.
This building looked very different from how I remembered it. The sliding doors were now replaced by circular revolving ones. The marble floor had been swapped for tiles. The entire place had been repainted white now, compared to the ugly grey from before. There were more paintings on the wall, making the lobby look like a gallery.
It was no longer Scott Global Trade but Scott Industries—a real estate and infrastructure development firm. I’d heard they had done a total upgrade and business overhaul after his marriage to his wife.
“Good morning, ma'am. Welcome to Scott Industries,” the receptionist greeted politely.
“I’m here to see Adam Scott,” I replied, getting straight to the point.
“Do you have an appointment, ma'am?”
“Yes, I do. It should be under the name Nathaniel Rowland.”
“Okay, ma'am. Let me check,” she said, turning to her laptop while I stood, trying not to look bored.
After a moment, she frowned. “I’m sorry, ma'am. I can't find any appointment under Nathaniel Rowland.”
“Check again. It was made last week.”
“My apologies, ma'am, but Mr Scott couldn’t have made the appointment because he was away last week. Is there anything else I can help you with?”
“No, thank you,” I replied, turning away.
I pulled out my phone and called Nathan.
“Hey, baby,” his charming voice rang through the speaker after the first ring.
“Hi, mi casa. How’s it going over there?” I asked.
“You know babysitting Mia is always fun,” he replied.
I couldn’t see him, but I could already picture him grinning ear to ear.
After being away from New Zealand for years and giving birth to Mia in Costa Rica with no family around, Nathan had naturally become my home—my constant.
“Is there a problem?” he asked, pulling me out of my thoughts.
“Yes, there is, mi casa. The appointment you made with Adam Scott wasn’t in their system. Could you call him and let him know?”
“I didn’t make an appointment with him. His wife scheduled it in his name.”
“Oh! Can you please call her and have it sorted out, mi casa nova?” I asked playfully.
“Sure, bae. I’ll do that now,” he said sweetly before hanging up.
Less than a minute later, the receptionist called me back and told me I could go up to Mr Scott’s office. A guide was assigned to escort me.
As I walked through the hallway, I noticed just how much had changed. This was where Adam used to spend most of his time. Back in the day, if he wasn’t in school or at my place, he was here, at his father’s company. And I have been here often.
“Ma’am, we’re here,” the guide said and gestured to the secretary sitting outside Adam’s office to take over.
I took two deep breaths. It had been years since I last saw Adam Scott. But I wasn’t going to let that stop me. I put on my game face. Ruthlessness was necessary.
“Come in,” a familiar baritone voice called out after the secretary knocked.
I forced a smile and walked in behind her.
“Sir, Mr Nathaniel Rowland’s representative is here.”
“Hmmm,” he murmured, then raised his head from the files he was reading.
“Addison!” he said in shock as he stood up.
No more Addy’s daughter, I thought to myself.
“Good day, Mr Adam Scott. I’m Addison Storm, the representative for Mr Nathaniel Rowland.”
“Come on, have a seat,” he said, still smiling. Then he turned to his secretary. “You can leave us.”
As soon as the door shut, he moved quickly, like a cheetah, to sit on the edge of the table in front of me.
He was smiling as if nothing had happened. As if I were an old friend returning from vacation. Not the ex-lover he took the virginity of, got pregnant, then ghosted completely.
And it infuriated me. It fuelled my desire to make him pay for everything I’d endured all these years.
“Where have you been?” he asked finally, studying my features.
“Mr Scott, I’m here as Mr Rowland’s representative for business,” I replied coldly.
He flinched slightly, leaning back.
I didn’t know whether it was my words, my tone, or my expression, but something struck home.
“Oh! That’s right,” he said, standing and walking back to his chair.
“I’d like to present my pitch for the new project—the shopping mall. I’ve got my proposal ready, but I’m open to negotiations,” I offered professionally.
“Huh,” he muttered, looking everywhere but at me while rubbing the back of his neck.
His nervous tic.
“You don’t want me to invest?” I asked, narrowing my eyes at him, my professionalism slipping.
“No, no, of course I do. It’s just... I wasn’t informed about this meeting. I only found out when you walked into the company. My wife forgot to—well, to remind me..."
Wife.
I flinched. The word hit me like a punch to the gut.
"...I didn’t prepare anything. It’s my fault, really, because I…”
He kept talking, but I stopped listening. His voice faded into a distant hum.
“Addison!”
“Yes?” I replied, snapping out of it.
“Are you alright?” he asked, concern written all over his face. For a moment, he looked like the Adam I used to know.
I was stunned but quickly recovered. “Yes, I’m fine. What were you saying?”
“I was suggesting we move the meeting to another date so I can prepare properly.”
“That’s fine by me,” I said, rising from my seat before he could say more.
“Your contact, please,” he requested with an awkward smile.
I took out my business card and placed it on the table. “You can contact me for business,” I emphasised.
He nodded with a small smile.
I walked out and somehow made it to my car. The moment the driver shut the door, the tears came.
I wasn’t as strong as everyone thought.
- Writer
