Chapter 4

Mia:

“And you are?” The security asked by the door as he noticed me walking in.

“I have an appointment, a job interview.” I said, showing him the email that confirmed my date. He looked down at me for a second, like I was some sort of outsider, before taking a step back, allowing me to walk past him.

“Third elevator, nineteenth floor.” He said, and I nodded, following his direction.

But the moment I stepped into the building, something felt… off.

I couldn’t explain it, but I could tell that my instincts were telling me to run.

My wolf stirred uneasily beneath my skin, pacing, restless, like it sensed something before I did, and I frowned in confusion as I tightened my grip on my bag and forced myself to keep walking.

“You’re overthinking,” I muttered under my breath. “It’s just an interview. You are going to get through it just like the others. Whatever the results are, you are going to be able to get through it.”

I walked deeper into the building, feeling smaller than I had as I looked around the room where I knew that I was being watched.

“But it is a very important interview.” I muttered to myself as I forced myself to keep my eyes down, avoiding everyone’s eyes as I knew that they were looking at me. “It is going to change your world, and you are going to be able to give Rosalyn the life that she deserves.”

The lobby was polished, pristine, glass, marble, and power. The kind of place where people like me didn’t belong.  But I walked anyway. Head high. Shoulders back. I wasn’t going to backout.

“Hi,” I said, looking at the receptionist who raised an eyebrow when she saw mw approaching. “I have a job interview with Mr. Mathew.”

“Your name?” The receptionist asked, eyeing me up and down as if I was some kind of pest.

“Mia… Mia Romanov.” I said, looking down at my feet for a second before I met her gaze. “This is the email to confirm.”

“Take a seat. I will give you a call when it is your turn.” She said, and I nodded before walking to sit in the waiting area.

I folded my arms over my lap as I waited, my heart racing with each passing moment as it went.

Five minutes passed.

Then ten.

The unease didn’t go away.  If anything, it got worse, and for a moment, I truly debated on whether or not I should be leaving.

“Maybe this was a bad idea anyway…” I said, wanting to get up before the receptionist approached me.

“I apologize, Ms. Romanov, there has been a problem with your schedule. We are going to need to reschedule.” She said, looking me in the eye as she stood in front of me. “Something has come up,”

“Reschedule?” I repeated, forcing a calm I didn’t feel. And though I wanted to debate leaving, the fact that it was turning into something that I didn’t expect didn’t fail to break my moral. “I confirmed this yesterday. And I was told that my interview was going to be set today. I don’t understand? Did something happen? Or did someone else get the job?”

“I cannot disclose such details,” she said, not sounding like she did at all. “But something urgent came up. I truly do apologize. But we are going to call you to reschedule your interview in the next available slot.”

I nodded stiffly, swallowing the frustration clawing its way up my throat. “Very well.”

I turned before she could see how much that answer crushed me. Another job. Another chance slipping through my fingers.

“Different this time,” I had said. “You are going to be able to manage it this time. Things are going to be easier for you this time.”

Well, all that was bullshit…

I pushed through the glass doors, already reaching for my phone to call Brenda, to tell her I’d be home earlier than expected and then I stopped.

Because I walked straight into him.

The impact was solid, firm. My breath caught as I stumbled back a step, my hand instinctively shooting out to steady myself, only to meet something warm. Strong.

Familiar.

“I’m sorry… I didn’t mean…” I started automatically.

Then I looked up.

And the world… stopped.

Nathan Lockwood.

It has been four years, but I would know him anywhere.

The same sharp jaw. The same cold, calculating eyes. The same presence that swallowed the space around him like he owned it, like he owned everything.

Like he owned me.

My heart slammed against my ribs so hard it hurt.

His eyes met mine.

And for a second, just one, there was nothing there. No recognition. No memory. Just a stranger looking at another stranger.

Relief hit me first. And I took a deep breath as I allowed myself to ease my way and mind in a world that I didn’t like. A world that I knew that I shouldn’t be in.

He let me leave, taking a step back. “I am sorry…” I said, more firmly this time, forcing my composure.

He didn’t remember.

Then again, why would he? It was just another night to him… one that he paid for.

I walked past him, forcing myself not to look back at the man who was frowning as if he was trying to remember who I was before he said the one word that I didn’t want to hear coming from his lips…

My name…

“Mia.”