Glad to see you again...

Chapter 2

Here we are, sitting in the conference room at 9:30 AM. Richard has called the entire litigation department together to deliver the big news. The new associate is coming!

Mike sits next to me, and I can feel my hands starting to fidget. I shouldn’t be this nervous. This guy is no competition—I’m still the best.

“Everyone, I have some big, unexpected news. While it’s unfortunate that Ms. Kathy Leung has decided to leave our firm…”

“Leave? More like dragged out by her ears,” I overheard a junior associate whisper to their secretary, which earns a quiet giggle in return.

“…yes, it’s sad. She’ll be deeply missed. But fear not, as the head of the department, I’ve chosen someone worthy—well, someone better—to take her place.” (Richard’s never one to sugarcoat things.)

“The firm is fortunate to have secured him, something we’ve been working towards for the past five years. He’s finally had a moment of clarity and realized he was meant to be here after all. Everyone, please join me in welcoming Wesley Chase to the team!”

In that instant, I feel as though my world came crashing down, like a truck slamming into the walls of the Brooklyn Bridge. Now I know why today feels off.

My eyes blink rapidly, my heart sinks to a place where it feels like it could never escape, as I process that name. Wesley Chase.

Wesley f*****g Chase.

The nightmare of a nemesis from my days at Lincoln High School. The Draco to my Harry.

Remember when I mentioned being tied with another student for that 99.9%? Well, that student was him. He was the source of all my misery back then.

He was the reason I had to push myself twice as hard to stay on top—because, as much as I hate to admit it, he was a formidable rival.

He enters the office like he was walking onto an awards show stage, dressed in his navy Tommy Hilfiger suit as if he’d been waiting for the perfect moment for his grand entrance.

I watch him warily, and it immediately takes me back to that annoying mouthy kid who always got under my skin in classes and during debates. Back then, just hearing his voice and seeing him made me want to strangle him.

Of course, he looks different now. It’s been almost 10 years since we graduated high school. Gone were the nerdy glasses and the buzzcut brown hair. Now, his brown hair is longer, styled in a messy but controlled way, and a slight stubble covered his jawline. The awkward scrawny boy I once knew had transformed into a man.

A very good-looking man. A very tall, very good-looking man.

It seems like Mr. Chase had gone through a serious growth spurt and glow up after high school. His eyes are the kind that always make me take a second look—somewhere between hazel and brown. And now, without his glasses, I can see them clearly.

I quickly snap myself out of those thoughts, my head spinning with a flood of horrible “what-ifs.” What if this guy steals my spotlight again? What if he’s the one who ruins my chance at making partner?

Everyone’s eyes turn to Wesley as he walks in, his posture radiating confidence, like he knows he owns the room.

He flashes a cocky, self-assured smile, and I quickly look down, avoiding any eye contact with the Lucifer incarnate, just in case he recognizes me.

I am pretty sure he won’t though—I mean, like him, I look nothing like I did in high school. The unruly, badly permed curls that haunted my teenage years are long gone, replaced by a haircut I can finally afford. The loud, colorful clothes I used to wear just to get noticed were a thing of the past. And, thankfully, so were the oversized Austin Powers-style glasses I once wore religiously.

“Hi. Call me Wes,” he said, and even his voice had changed. Deeper, smoother—more mature. Just like the rest of him.

Richard goes on and on, practically gushing over Wes’ accomplishments. Apparently, his specialties include construction, employment, corporate law, and even a bit of criminal.

Richard can’t stop talking about how Wes secured a $50 million win for one of his clients. I can’t help but roll my eyes. Not because I’m jealous or anything… but seriously, Richard sounds like he has a full-blown crush.

“Having Wes on board is a huge asset to our firm. He’s currently one of the top lawyers to watch in New York, according to Forbes,” Richard beams.

Big deal. I made Forbes too—30 Under 30.

I can’t help feeling a bit irritated—my practice also focuses on construction and corporate law, and it’s taken me years to build my client base. Clients only started trusting and turning to me instinctively when problems arose in their business and lives after countless business meetings, late-night emails, and corporate dinners.

I work my way into the inner circle of white, male, power-player privilege—no small feat, especially as an Asian woman.

Wes seems to enjoy the attention, though I caught a flicker of discomfort in his eyes as he looked at Richard, silently pleading for him to wrap it up.

“Thank you, Richard,” he finally said, cutting him off before he could launch into a list of awards and accolades. “Let’s not set the bar too high,” he added, then turned to the rest of us. “I’d rather be judged by what I do here—not by what I’ve done elsewhere.” Well, look at that—he does have a humility bone somewhere in that hollow shell he calls a body.

His eyes sweep across the room, and I instinctively lower my head even further. If I could, I would’ve crawl under the table, throw my arms over my head, and beg the universe to wake me up from this nightmare—a nightmare clearly triggered by that ill-advised midnight ice cream binge.

Ugh, I desperately need a Girls’ Night. I’ll text Winnie and Tia to meet me at Little Coffee, our favorite spot just around the corner. I have so much to unload—like how my old high school nemesis just rose from the ashes to sabotage my life… all over again.

*

The meeting wraps up thirty minutes later, and everyone is buzzing over charming, handsome Wesley. I can’t really blame them. I hear him laughing and shaking hands with them, as if he’s a celebrity at a meet and greet. Sure, we have male lawyers here—but none with his charm and good looks. Just looking at him makes me physically sick. Jaw tight, I make my way back to my office. I pass by the pantry and some of the junior associates are giggling, musing about how hot the new associate is. I roll my eyes and just keep walking.

As I approach my office, I glance at the one next door—Kathy’s old space. But something makes me stop. Her nameplate is gone, replaced with a new one: Wesley Chase, Associate. Great. He’s right next to me.

My office has floor-to-ceiling windows with a great view of the city—but unfortunately, the door and front wall are glass too. Not ideal for a private meltdown. I sink into my chair and stare at my laptop, scrolling aimlessly through emails. I try to focus, but my heart won’t slow down. Every time someone walks by, my eyes flick up, half-expecting it to be him. He’s like a Dementor, sucking every happiness out of me.

Maybe if I just avoid him for the rest of my career, everything will be fine. Yes—totally fine. My fists tighten, blood pulsing with a familiar intensity. It’s the same surge I used to feel back in high school. I need to keep it together. A sharp knock on the glass snaps me out of my thoughts. I look up—and freeze and my breath hitches. Standing just outside my office door, perfectly framed in his tailored suit, is the last person I wanted to see.

Wesley Chase.

What the hell does he want?

Before I can even move, his hand reaches for the door handle—

and then he opens it.