MY EX-LOVER IS NOW A BILLIONAIRE CEO

Episode2

Isabel's POV

I had never been ready for this kind of opportunity if not for Pricilla, still I had to wear what I had no matter how cheap and old they were. I was making a first impression and the only thing that mattered was that I appeared neat and confident.

“Hi,” I greeted the lady from yesterday when she answered the call. “I'm at the entrance as you described. Where can I meet you?”

“Don't worry. I'll be there soon, just hold on and keep the call going, I'll find—”

“Good morning, ma'am ” I greeted, waving my hand towards the lady in a pale coloured suit.

“Is that you waving in a white shirt?” She asked over the phone to confirm before heading towards my direction.

“Good morning, Miss Isabel,” she smiled, putting her phone away and extending her hand for me to shake. I did, almost immediately with all the politeness I learned. “It's good to finally meet you. Pricilla described you as though you were a rare gem, and I can say she was right.”

“Thank you,” the smile I had on my face only grew as I fought the urge not to cry.

“I'm so sorry about the position you have to take up now, but know that if a chance for something better comes up, you'll be up for it if you want it,” she assured me before gesturing for me to follow her.

As I did, I couldn't help but appreciate how she blended professionalism with being so friendly. With how she showed me around so casually, it was so easy to forget that she was definitely my senior.

“We can stop by to grab a coffee for you if you want that,” she offered, taking a break to look at me.

I shook my head at the sound of it. Who in the world offered a mere cleaner coffee on her first day of work? I didn't have the answer, but just then it hit me that Nathaniel had always said he would. He said just like water, coffee would be a free refreshment to anyone who walks into his company in the future.

As the thought of it settled, other things I hadn't noticed before began to stand out in my head. The company had three large aisles just as he always imagined it would. Each time he talked about his dream company, he would grin and look up to the ceiling or the sky, depending on where we were, then he'd say, ‘you just need to find the center, and after you do, look straight up. It'll be so high and pointy that you'd almost swear that a bright star sat at the roof top, but it will only be the shape of the small opening it'll have.’

With the chills the memory brought, I stopped in my tracks, and began to look up so slowly as though what I'd see would make or mar those memories. Just then, I saw it. I felt glued to the spot as I lifted my gaze, and all too soon, even the noise around me began to fade. Then again, how was it even possible?

“Miss Isabel?”

Not only did she look worried now, her hands were carefully wrapped around my shoulders while I blinked away the numbness in my entire body.

“Are you okay?” Her voice sounded genuinely concerned, but I couldn't bring myself to answer.

How could I when everyone present was looking at me as if I were a ghost? I felt my cheeks burn from embarrassment and turned my gaze to the marble floor beneath my feet.

“I'm so sorry.”

She just rubbed my back and led me to her office without either of us saying anything on our way.

“If you feel like you still have the coffee, I can get it for you,” she tilted her head to the side after taking a seat in front of me.

“It's fine,” I nodded, putting on my best smile.

“Alright,” she exhaled. “I'll need a few credentials just to update the database. Personal info here,” she pointed her neatly polished nails to the folder she opened before me. “Work experience and qualifications just as listed here,” she paused to watch me.

I swallowed hard as I took the folder from her and went through everything on the list.

“It's just to update the database,” she reminded me when she noticed my unease. “You're already hired for the job.”

“I know, I just… it just still feels like it's…” I struggled to find the right words but her lips moved before I could find them.

“It's okay,” she smiled.

“When can I resume?” I broke the awkward silence that had been stretching between us for a while now.

“Anytime as long as it's ‘soon’. Tomorrow or next works fine, just make sure it's within the week.”

“Alright, then. Can I fill in the information or do I need to bring proof of each requirement?”

“You can fill it now and bring the proof when you resume. The right person will document everything as it should.”

“Thank you for this opportunity. Pricilla might not have told you, but I appreciate it.”

“Honestly,” she smirked. “You should be grateful to the CEO. He has made securing a job here less hideous as people would think, especially because it ranks top five in the whole of New York.”

“Oh,” I felt the next question get caught in my throat as I remembered the familiarity of everything Nathaniel used to dream of and its striking resemblance to this new reality. “May I know who it is?”

“Who doesn't?” She laughed although it was because there was no other way for her to express her surprise. “It's Nathaniel Walton, CEO and founder of the Walton's group.”

The name kept echoing in my head as I instinctively took a few steps backwards. Nathaniel? My Nathaniel?

“Are you okay?” She furrowed her brows.

There was no one my Nathaniel would get to the top without Rebecca letting me know. It had to be a coincidence.

Again, I gave a smile although not even I believed it was real especially with the way I was struggling to breathe.

“It was nice meeting you again. Thanks for everything, and I mean every single thing,” I pressed my palms together so she could see them. “I think I have to surprise my former boss with my resignation and that's the only thing that has me a bit tense,” I lied, though not completely. Imagining the look on the grumpy man's face did frighten me as much as him deciding to withhold my salary for a fault only he was good at finding.

“It's fine. All the best.”

I shut the door behind me as I left her office, catching my breath as quickly as I could before I began to walk towards the elevator. Then again blue light.

‘A lot of people who move towards an exit are either tensed or overwhelmed even while some are happy and in their best mood. Regardless, blue lights have a way of inducing calmness,’ I remembered his exact words as I stared at the blue lights in the hallway that led to the elevator. ‘There'd be a few around each exit so that everyone can find calmness.’

At that point, I wasn't sure if it was the blue lights or his words that brought the sudden calmness, but I was certain it didn't last. Not when I'd been told that the CEO of the company I was working in belonged to Nathaniel Walton. My Nath.