The Way We Burn

The past had a funny way of sneaking up on you. Mira Langley had spent five years trying to forget him. Five years convincing herself that what they had was nothing more than a reckless mistake, a love that burned too hot, too fast, leaving nothing but ashes behind. And yet, the moment she stepped into the towering glass skyscraper of Calloway Media, she felt it creeping back in—the sharp sting of old memories, the ghosts of whispered promises, the way his hands used to feel on her skin. She inhaled sharply, pushing it all down. This was just a job. A career move. Nothing more. Adjusting the strap of her leather tote, she stepped into the elevator, pressing the button for the 30th floor. The ride was smooth, the soft hum of classical music doing little to calm the storm inside her. When the doors slid open, she was met with a sleek, modern office space, all steel and glass, buzzing with energy. Helix Media was one of the most powerful media companies in the country, and landing a senior editorial role here was a dream job—a chance to make a name for herself beyond the shadow of her past. She just hadn’t expected him to still be a part of that past. “Mira Langley?” She turned at the sound of her name, greeted by a polished woman in a fitted navy dress. “I’m Lauren, Mr. Calloway’s assistant. He’s asked to meet with you before you get settled.” Mira’s pulse stuttered. “Excuse me?” Lauren smiled, oblivious to the way her world was suddenly tilting. “Mr. Calloway likes to personally meet all his senior hires.” Mr. Calloway. Her stomach clenched. She had done everything she could to avoid googling him before accepting the job. She told herself it didn’t matter, that Zane Calloway was a chapter she had closed long ago. Apparently, she’d been dead wrong. And now, she had no choice but to face him. She followed Lauren through the maze of glass-walled offices, her heels clicking against the marble floors. Her heart pounded, each step drawing her closer to the one man she never wanted to see again. Lauren stopped outside a massive double-door office and knocked once before pushing it open. “Mr. Calloway, your new Senior Editor is here.” Mira braced herself. And then she saw him. Zane Calloway. Her first love. Her biggest mistake. The man who once held her heart in his hands—before crushing it without a second thought. And now? Now, he was her boss. --- He looked… exactly the same. And yet, completely different. Zane sat behind a massive black desk, a city skyline sprawling behind him, his posture relaxed yet commanding. The suit was perfectly tailored, charcoal-gray, hugging his broad shoulders like a second skin. His dark hair was slightly tousled, just enough to suggest that someone had run their hands through it. Not you, she reminded herself bitterly. But it was his eyes that hit her the hardest. Those piercing ocean-blue eyes, sharp and calculating, locked onto her with undisguised recognition. For a moment, neither of them spoke. The air stretched tight, filled with years of silence, of words left unsaid, of nights spent wondering what could have been. Then—his lips curled into something that wasn’t quite a smirk, but close. “Mira Langley,” he said smoothly, like her name was something he had practiced saying just to see how it would taste. “It’s been a while.” Her throat felt dry. “Not long enough.” Lauren, still standing by the door, shifted uncomfortably. “I’ll, um, leave you two to talk.” The door shut behind her, leaving them alone. Mira’s fingers curled around the strap of her bag, knuckles white. “You’re the CEO?” Zane leaned back in his chair, watching her with the same intense focus he always had—as if he could see right through her. “Last I checked, yeah.” Her stomach twisted. “I didn’t know.” “I figured,” he said, cool and unreadable. “If you had, you wouldn’t have accepted the job.” He wasn’t wrong. But she refused to let him see how much this rattled her. She straightened her spine. “It doesn’t change anything.” A flicker of something passed through his gaze—amusement? Challenge? “We’ll see,” he murmured. Mira hated the way his voice still had the power to send a shiver down her spine. This wasn’t college anymore. This wasn’t late-night study sessions turned into tangled sheets and stolen kisses. This was business. She lifted her chin. “If this is going to be a problem—” “It’s not,” he cut in smoothly. “As long as you do your job, I don’t see an issue.” His dismissal stung more than it should have. She forced a tight smile. “Good. Then I’ll get started.” She turned on her heel, heading for the door— “Mira.” Her breath hitched, but she didn’t turn around. His voice was softer now, almost unreadable. “You look good.” She swallowed hard. She wouldn’t let him do this. Without looking back, she walked out of his office, leaving the past exactly where it belonged. Or at least, that’s what she told herself. Because the truth was… She was already burning all over again.