Chapter 02: Consequences

For a split second, time held its breath.

Bryce's brow furrowed slightly. There was something oddly familiar about her. The curve of her jaw, the eyes, the way she stared at him like she’d seen a ghost.

Kimberly’s heart pounded. She could barely breathe.

It was him! The same man from that night, six years ago.

Her daughter’s facial resemblance was unmistakable.

Kimberly's hands became damp and trembly, the portfolio she held tempted to fall, her heart racing faster than it ever had.

She thought she had escaped the past....that night that carried memories — heart-aching memories she always tried not to think about.

Still locked at that moment, Bryce suddenly cleared his throat, blinking hard as if snapping out of a trance.

He dragged his gaze away from Kimberly and stepped forward, regaining his usual composure. But the way he stared at Kimberly, and he....was that a smirk on his face?

Kimberly blinked, brows curved in disbelief.

The air in the hall shifted back to normal as if something hadn't happened just a few seconds ago.

"Ladies and gentlemen," Bryce's voice rang out, calm and collected. "Welcome to Harrington Elite Modeling."

Smiles were plastered on everyone's faces, but Kimberly’s world was anything but calm.

Her knees felt weak. Her heart thundered in her chest loudly. So loud she could swear that those near her heard its beats.

*********

The interview came to an end with polite smiles and scattered applause. One by one, the applicants began filing out of the hall, heels clicking against the marble floor as low murmurs buzzed in the air.

Outside, near the parking lot, a small group of ladies had already gathered, their voices hushed but sharp.

"Did you see that look he gave her?" one whispered, glancing back toward the building. "She only just got here, and she’s already seducing Mr. Harrington? Crazy!"

"Please," another scoffed, crossing her arms. It was like the whole room had disappeared. I swear, they were just standing there, staring at each other like some cheesy romance movie."

"Well, maybe she planned it," a third chimed in. "Pretty face, slim waist, maybe she thought she could sleep her way in."

Laughter followed, jealousy and spite evident in their voices.

Another girl named Vivian quickly joined them, clutching her phone and squinting her eyes as she zoomed in on a blurry picture from the hallway. "Wait a second… I knew she looked familiar!" she said, her voice rising with a mix of surprise and glee. "That’s Kimberly Owens. She used to be one of the top faces at La Belle Agency seven years ago."

"No way!" the first girl blinked, snatching the phone from her. "That Kimberly? The one who vanished overnight?"

"Yep," Vivian affirmed, scrolling through her feed. She was everywhere. Magazines, runways, even landed a fragrance deal with Deveraux. And then poof—radio silence. No one ever said why she quit." She said, and everyone began to murmur, shaking their heads.

Not far from them, Kimberly walked alone, her arms folded tightly over her chest, trying to block out the sting of the words she was starting to hear.

She kept her head down, forcing her feet to keep moving, even as her mind spun with the intensity of what had just happened inside.

She hadn’t come to be noticed.

But Bryce Harrington had noticed her.

And now, everyone else has too.

But they weren't wrong about one thing though.

Kimberly was once a top model at La Belle Agency. Her face had graced billboards and landed many deals. But she had walked away from it all — for Ryan, her ex.

Back then, Ryan had fallen gravely ill, and Kimberly, blinded by love, had sacrificed her rising career to care for him. She'd thought she was doing the right thing. The noble thing.

Now, looking back, that choice stood as one of her deepest regrets, one that clung to her like a scar.

*********

Back in Bryce's office, he stood by his window, staring blankly out at the city skyline, his hands shoved in his pockets.

But he didn't see any of it.

His mind was still stuck in that room. On her. That woman.

Her presence brought back memories from the past.

He had spent the past six years trying to forget that night. Trying to forget that woman.

That night had been nothing but a complete blur. A reckless decision fueled by too much whiskey and a desperate need to forget the troubles... the inner demons tormenting him.

His phone buzzed on his desk, jolting him out of his thoughts.

He walked over to the desk, glanced at the caller ID, and picked up the phone.

It was his PA, Marcus.

"Yeah?" Bryce answered gruffly in a low, impatient voice.

"Sir, it’s Marcus. I, uh… I ran the background check you requested earlier." Marcus stuttered from his end.

Bryce straightened slightly, his grip tightening around the phone.

That was it. Time to confirm if she was the woman or not. Maybe he was wrong. She probably just looked like her!

"And?" Bryce asked, leaning against the desk, his other hand still shoved in his pocket.

There was a pause from Marcus's end as he took a hesitant breath before continuing.

"She's the one, Mr. Bryce." Marcus said carefully. "The woman from six years ago. The one from the penthouse hotel that night. Name matches. Face... I double-checked. It's definitely her."

Bryce’s jaw clenched. A dark smirk suddenly plastered on his face as he pushed off the desk, ending the call.

*********

Kimberly had just finished signing some documents which were required of her to do so before leaving. She picked up her handbag to leave, when a sharply dressed assistant suddenly intercepted her.

"Miss Owens?" The woman asked with a polite but tight smile.

Kimberly stopped, clutching the handbag she had just picked up, tightly. "Yes?"

"Mr. Harrington wants to see you in his office," the woman told her.

A cold chill ran down Kimberly's spine on hearing that.

"N....now?" She stammered, her eyes darting around. She could already see the looks on the faces of the few models that were inside the hall too.

Gossips!

The assistant gave a crisp nod, gesturing toward Bryce's office. "Yes. Right this way."

The walk to his office felt like a walk to hell. Her heels echoed like gunshots against the tiled floors, each step reminding her that she wasn't ready for this. Not yet.

Her heart couldn't stop thumping hard within her ribcage.

What was it now?

Did he.....recognize her?

Kimberly adjusted the collar of her blouse, pressing her fingers to her chest to calm her racing heartbeat.

"Get it together, Kimberly," she whispered to herself. He didn't recognize you. You're just overthinking it."

She breathed out, and smoothened her hair, trying to regain the poise she'd practiced in front of the mirror so many times over the years.

The sound of the door opening jolted her out of her thoughts as the assistant opened it and motioned her in.

"Thank you," Kimberly murmured, barely recognizing her own voice.

Get yourself together, Kim!

As she stepped inside, she saw Bryce at the window. His back turned to her, one hand tucked into his pocket, the other nursing a glass of whiskey he probably didn't need.

"Close the door," he told her, but didn't turn around.

Again, Kimberly's heart hammered in her chest, ready to fly out.

His voice was so smooth and hypnotizing that it made her swallow.

She hesitated, then obeyed, the soft click of the latch sounding louder than it should've.

A heavy silence settled for a moment.

Then Bryce finally turned to face her, and Kimberly held her breath.

Gosh! He looked more handsome than the few hours ago she saw him.

Did he go for a quick makeup or what?

"Quite the reunion, Kimberly Owens." Bryce spoke, getting Kimberly out of her silly thoughts. The smirk on his lips didn't reach his eyes.

Her breath caught again. He just called her by her full name!

Bryce stepped forward, slow and deliberate, acting like a man who'd been waiting six long years for this exact moment. Kimberly stood still, chin lifted, her heart thundering like a war drum.

"No disguise. No name change." His gaze swept over her."

"W.....what are you talking about, Mr. Bryce?" Kimberly stammered, her pulse jumped as Bryce was now just few inches away from her.

He was so close she could smell the expensive cologne, so familiar it made her sick. Or it was just the memory of what they did in that penthouse suite.

"I wasn't sure at first," he murmured. I told myself it couldn't be you. Not after all this time. But..." He paused and leaned in slightly.

Kimberly blinked and swallowed hard.

He recognized her?! Oh no!

Bryce tilted his head, studying her like a puzzle he couldn't quite solve. "Tell me something," he said, his voice dipped in menace. "You thought I'd forget?"

Kimberly swallowed another lump she didn't know was stuck in her throat, her hands slightly trembling as she took steps backwards, but soon hit the wall and was trapped.

"This is a mistake, Mr. Bryce. I think you're mistaking me for someone else," Kimberly said quickly, grasping for calm, but it slipped through her fingers as Bryce cut her off, his voice sending cold chills down her spine.

"Did you really think you could run from me forever.....after the way I touched you that night?" he growled, his hands pinning her wrists above her head, eyes dark with intensity as they drank her in. "You were mine from the second I touched you....and no amount of time or distance will change that. And I will make you understand the consequences of crossing paths and messing with me."

Kimberly's eyes flew wide, her breath catching as the truth crashed over her. He did recognize her.....and he was angry. Furious, even.

Why?!