Let's Love Again

Today is unlike any other day. I have to wake up at 5:30 a.m. to prepare for work. While the other employees start at 7:00 a.m., Mr. Mario insists that I arrive by 6:30 a.m. every day because I am his personal assistant. I have worked for him for over three years, but unfortunately, today is my last day in this position. During our last general meeting with all the employees, he announced that he would be retiring to spend more time with his family. While I completely understood his reasoning, it broke my heart. Of all the men I've encountered in my life, besides my loving dad, Mr. Mario is the only one I felt truly comfortable with. He was the only person I could confide in and share my problems with, without fear of being judged or criticized. To me, he represented a loving figure, and the thought of losing him made me feel sick; I couldn't bear it. I knew I wasn't the only one who didn't want to let him go. Most of the employees would miss him so much. I met with Clara Mike, the head of the event planning and organization team in the office, and suggested that we throw him a surprise party to congratulate him on his retirement. No doubt, she loved the idea. BEEP BEEP BEEP!!!! "Uhhh," my alarm goes off—it's already 5:30 AM. Sometimes I wonder why I even got this job in the first place; it’s so stressful. I go to bed late and wake up very early. My neighbors envy my seemingly luxurious life. I remember the last rumor that circulated—they claimed I was making money illegitimately because I was too young to own such a nice house and car. It annoyed me. If only they knew how hard I struggled since I was 14. My mom left my dad when I was 13, and I had to start working as a cleaner in a bakery. After six months, I had to quit because I was wrongfully accused of stealing a customer's money. I remember how my dad had to take on three jobs just to ensure my siblings and I could live a comfortable life. Many people, except those who grew up with me, don't know my story. Mr. Mario and my dad were classmates in junior high school. When my dad called him to ask for a loan, Mr. Mario didn’t hesitate to help; he even told my dad not to worry about paying it back. My siblings and I were very grateful to him. That was when I began to see him as a genuinely good person. Later, my dad asked me to do my internship at Mr. Mario’s company. Mr. Mario deserves so much more on his last day in the office. Although it wasn’t much, I managed to prepare a special gift for him. I wrapped a small box that contained a silver wristwatch and a pair of cufflinks from his favorite brand, The Designer's Porsche. The wristwatch was particularly special to me because it was the same model he was wearing on the first day of my internship. I heard him say, "Oh... that was my favorite wristwatch," after it fell to the ground and got damaged when I accidentally bumped into him. He forgave me, but I had it in mind all those years to get him a replica of the original one. Yes, I know it’s very thoughtful of me. No need to make me blush! "Here he comes, Miss Alessia," a coworker said, drawing my attention to Mr. Mario, who had just stepped out of his luxurious car. Is it just me, or did he look particularly handsome today? I smiled as I walked to the main entrance to greet him. "Take your places, everyone! Don’t mess this up!" "SURPRISE!" Everyone jumped out as he entered the building. He quickly held his chest, smiling broadly. "Aww, this is so thoughtful of you all. Thank you!" He then looked at me, saying, "Miss Cesar, you know I'm getting old; you should be careful with surprises. What if I—" I hugged him tightly before he could finish. Honestly, I couldn’t wait to congratulate him. I took my gift from my bag and handed it to him. "No, Miss Cesar. You didn’t have to. It isn’t necessary," he replied. "I insist, Mr. Walker," I said. I handed him the small box and watched as he opened it. He gasped at the sight. "Where did you get this? How did you manage to find it? I mean, it’s really expensive and rare!" "Sir, you talk a lot. This is just a token of appreciation, and I hope you like it. On behalf of Alpha Zero Logistics, we are gathered here today to thank you for everything you’ve done for us." I signaled to Daisy to bring the cake forward. "I truly appreciate everyone’s acknowledgment. Now, before I cut the cake... Oh, it looks so delicious!" We all laughed. "I'd like to welcome the young man who will be in charge while I'm gone. I present to you your new CEO and head manager, Mr. Kevin Walker. Let's give him a warm welcome as he comes forward." I gasped in shock. No! It can't be. I watched him walk toward the right side of his father. It was Kevin—Kevin Walker, my ex-boyfriend—the one who had shattered my heart into a million pieces with his betrayal. The very sight of him sent a tidal wave of emotions crashing over me, reigniting memories I had desperately tried to bury. As the laughter and chatter of the crowd swirled around me, I felt the walls of the room closing in. I couldn't stand it any longer. With a shaky breath, I excused myself and hurried into my office, shutting the door behind me. Inside, I sank into my chair, gripping the edge of the desk as disbelief washed over me. How could he just appear out of nowhere after everything that had happened? My mind raced with questions—what did he want? Did he think he could just stroll back into my life as if nothing had ever happened? The hurt surged within me, mingling with a sense of anger and betrayal that had long simmered beneath the surface. It’s strange how quickly life can feel like a cruel joke, pulling you back into a painful past when you least expect it. I stared blankly at the walls, trying to regain my composure, but the memories kept flooding back—snippets of laughter, shared dreams, and the moment my world unraveled. How could one person invoke so much pain in my heart? Every nerve in my body screamed that I was not ready to face him or the ghosts of our love that still haunted me.