The Girl He couldn’t Forget

Episode 1 I had exactly three minutes to make the biggest mistake of my life. At least, that’s what my best friend, Jayden, had called it after I told him I’d landed an interview with Allen Holdings. “You know the CEO has the personality of an unpaid electricity bill, right?” he’d said over breakfast, stealing a fry from my plate before I could stop him. I rolled my eyes. “You’re so dramatic.” “I’m serious. The man is impossible to work with.” “And yet thousands of people do.” “They don’t have a choice.” I laughed despite myself. Now, standing in front of the tallest glass building I’d ever seen, Jayden’s words echoed in my head. Allen Holdings wasn’t just another company. It was the company. The kind of place people dreamed of working for. The kind of place where careers were made—or destroyed. I adjusted my blazer and looked at my reflection in the revolving glass door. “You’ve got this, Anna,” I whispered. Even if I didn’t believe it. Inside, the lobby looked more like a five-star hotel than an office. Marble floors reflected the sunlight pouring through floor-to-ceiling windows. Employees walked with purpose, each one dressed like they belonged on the cover of a business magazine. I suddenly became very aware of my slightly trembling hands. “Can I help you?” The receptionist smiled politely. “Yes. I’m Anna Carter. I’m here for the interview.” She typed something into her computer before nodding. “Twenty-eighth floor. Someone will meet you there.” I thanked her and stepped into the elevator. As the doors closed, my stomach twisted itself into knots. Why was I so nervous? I’d interviewed before. I’d been rejected before too. But this… This felt different. Maybe because getting this job would finally prove to myself that every sleepless night in college had been worth it. Or maybe because I needed a fresh start more than I cared to admit. The elevator chimed. Twenty-eighth floor. Here goes nothing. ⸻ The waiting area overlooked almost the entire city. I barely had time to admire the view before a man in his thirties approached me. “You must be Anna.” “That’s me.” He smiled warmly and held out his hand. “I’m Joe.” So this was Joe. Unlike everyone else I’d seen so far, he looked… relaxed. “I’m guessing first interview?” he asked. “Is it that obvious?” “You’ve checked your watch six times.” I blinked. “I have?” “You just did it again.” Heat rushed to my cheeks. “Great. Now I sound nervous too.” Joe laughed. “Relax. You’ll be fine.” Easy for him to say. He wasn’t the one interviewing for a job that could change his entire life. A woman stepped out of a nearby office. “Mr. Allen will see you now.” My heartbeat doubled. Joe gave me an encouraging nod. “Good luck.” I inhaled once before walking toward the large black doors. The office beyond them was enormous. Bookshelves lined one wall. Another was made entirely of glass, overlooking Manhattan. Behind an oak desk sat a man reading through a file. He didn’t look up immediately. The silence stretched long enough for me to wonder if he’d forgotten I was standing there. Then… “Have a seat, Miss Carter.” His voice was calm. Deep. Controlled. I sat. Only then did he raise his head. Blue eyes. Sharp jawline. Dark hair perfectly styled. He looked exactly like the business magazines described him. Confident. Unreadable. Dangerously handsome. For a second, I forgot why I was there. His gaze met mine. It lingered. Not in an inappropriate way. More like… Recognition. Something flickered across his face before disappearing so quickly I wondered if I’d imagined it. “You graduated top of your class,” he said, glancing back at my résumé. “Yes.” “You’ve worked for two companies in three years.” “The first one downsized.” “And the second?” “I resigned.” “Why?” Because my former manager believed yelling solved everything. Because I was tired of being treated like I didn’t matter. Because every morning I dreaded going to work. Instead I smiled politely. “I was looking for new challenges.” One corner of his mouth almost lifted. Almost. “A diplomatic answer.” “I’ve been told honesty isn’t always appreciated during interviews.” “Who told you that?” “Experience.” That earned the smallest reaction yet. Not quite a smile. Close enough. He leaned back slightly. “You applied for the position of personal secretary.” “Yes.” “Why this company?” Because I needed the job. Because my savings wouldn’t last forever. Because opportunities like this didn’t come twice. “I want to build a career somewhere I can grow.” He studied me. Not my résumé. Me. The silence became almost uncomfortable. Finally he asked, “Do I intimidate you?” The question caught me completely off guard. I blinked. “Should you?” Another almost-smile. “You tell me.” I shrugged. “I’ve met worse.” The words escaped before my brain approved them. My eyes widened. Did I seriously just say that to the CEO? I waited for security to escort me out. Instead… He laughed. It was quiet. Brief. But unmistakably real. “I see.” Relief washed over me. Maybe I hadn’t ruined everything. Yet. The interview continued for another twenty minutes. He asked practical questions. I answered honestly. No tricks. No impossible scenarios. Just conversation. Strangely… The more we spoke, the less nervous I became. By the end, it almost felt… Comfortable. He closed the folder. “Thank you for coming.” Was that it? I stood. “So… you’ll let me know?” “You’ll hear from us.” Corporate language for don’t call us, we’ll call you. I forced a smile. “It was nice meeting you, Mr. Allen.” “You as well, Miss Carter.” I turned and walked toward the door. My hand had barely reached the handle when his voice stopped me. “Anna.” I froze. He hadn’t looked at my résumé. Not once since I’d sat down. So how… Slowly, I turned back. “Yes?” For the first time since I’d entered his office… Michael Allen looked genuinely unsettled. As if he’d almost said something he wasn’t supposed to. After a long pause, he simply shook his head. “…Nothing.” Confused, I left. ⸻ By the time I reached the street, my phone rang. Jayden. “Well?” he answered before I could even say hello. “I’m alive.” “So he didn’t eat you?” “No.” “Did he smile?” “…Once.” The line went silent. “Anna.” “What?” “Are you sure it was the CEO?” I laughed. “I think so.” “You made Michael Allen smile?” “It wasn’t a big smile.” “I don’t care if it was half a smile. That’s headline news.” I shook my head, smiling as I started walking. “I probably didn’t get the job anyway.” “You don’t know that.” “No… but I have a feeling.” “Good or bad?” “I honestly can’t tell.” After hanging up, I continued toward the subway station. I never noticed the black luxury SUV parked across the street. Or the man sitting inside it. Watching me. Inside the vehicle, Adam glanced at his best friend. “You’ve been staring for five minutes.” Michael didn’t answer. Adam frowned. “You know her?” A long silence followed. Then Michael looked through the window one last time as Anna disappeared into the crowd. His voice was barely above a whisper. “I’ve been looking for her…” He swallowed. “…for five years.”