3

Natalie stood just outside the S&S Consultancy building, the afternoon sun casting long shadows across the sidewalk.

She checked the time on her wristwatch.

3:17 PM.

Jas was taking longer than expected.

"She probably got distracted again," Natalie muttered, shaking her head with a small smile.

Knowing Jas, she'd stop to gossip with the receptionist, raid the pantry for snacks, or somehow end up in Trina's cubicle discussing office drama.

Natalie shifted the strap of her shoulder bag and waited patiently near the entrance.

Employees came and went.

Cars pulled up before driving away.

For the first time in years...

She wasn't in a rush.

No client to meet.

No contract to review.

No wedding to prepare for.

No divorce hearing on tomorrow's calendar.

It felt...

Strange.

Peaceful.

Her thoughts were interrupted by the low, luxurious purr of an engine.

A sleek black Rolls-Royce Phantom slowly entered the driveway, gliding toward the building's main entrance.

Natalie's eyes instinctively followed it.

The polished hood.

The familiar custom license plate.

The silver emblem standing proudly at the front.

Her smile slowly disappeared.

"...No way."

She knew that car.

She had seen it countless times years ago.

Not this exact model.

But the plate...

The family crest...

The way the driver stopped with perfect precision...

Those never changed.

Her heartbeat quickened.

It can't be...

The chauffeur stepped out first, walking to the rear passenger door.

Natalie immediately looked away.

"No..."

She took an unconscious step backward.

Please... not today.

The rear door opened.

A pair of polished black leather shoes touched the pavement.

Then long legs.

A tailored charcoal suit.

Broad shoulders.

Even without seeing his face...

She knew.

Her breathing caught.

Luca...

Instinct took over.

Natalie turned her back before the man could fully step out of the vehicle.

She lowered her head, pretending to search through her handbag.

Don't look.

Don't recognize me.

Just walk inside.

Footsteps echoed behind her.

Steady.

Measured.

Drawing closer to the building entrance.

Every step made her heart pound harder.

After seven years...

She wasn't ready.

Not like this.

Not by accident.

Not after everything.

The revolving glass doors opened.

She heard several employees greet the newcomer.

"Good afternoon, Mr. Hernaez."

"Welcome, sir."

"It's an honor to have you here."

She closed her eyes.

He's here.

He actually came.

At that exact moment, the lobby doors burst open.

"Nat!"

Jas hurried outside, holding a medium-sized storage box in both hands.

"There you are! Sorry, I got delayed. Trina kept talking and then Ma'am Pat asked me to—"

She stopped mid-sentence.

"...Nat?"

Natalie's eyes remained fixed on the ground.

"Let's go."

Jas frowned.

"Huh?"

"Now."

Confused, Jas followed Natalie's gaze toward the driveway.

Her eyes widened.

"Oh."

The Rolls-Royce.

The entourage.

The unmistakable figure walking toward the entrance.

Jas looked back at Natalie.

"...Is that...?"

Natalie answered quietly.

"Yes."

Jas's expression softened.

Without another word, she handed Natalie the forgotten box.

"We can leave through the basement parking."

Natalie gave her a grateful smile.

"Thanks."

The two women quickly turned toward the side pathway leading to the basement exit.

Neither of them noticed that just as the revolving doors spun closed...

Luca paused.

He frowned ever so slightly.

Something...

Or rather someone...

Had just brushed past the edge of his memory.

He glanced over his shoulder toward the sidewalk.

But all he caught was the fleeting glimpse of long crimson hair disappearing around the corner.

For reasons he couldn't explain...

His eyes lingered there a second longer.

"...Sir?"

Sebastian's voice brought him back.

"The elevator is ready."

Luca looked away.

"...Right."

He stepped inside the building, unaware that only a few meters away, the woman he'd unknowingly been searching for had just walked in the opposite direction.

And Natalie...

Still clutching the box against her chest...

Didn't dare look back.

Some memories were too precious to revisit.

Others...

Too painful.

The elevator doors closed behind Luca with a soft chime.

The moment they did, Natalie finally released the breath she'd been holding.

She didn't realize she'd stopped walking until Jas gently nudged her shoulder.

"Nat."

"...Hmm?"

"We're already at the basement."

Natalie blinked.

She looked around.

Rows of parked vehicles.

Concrete pillars.

The faint hum of fluorescent lights.

She had walked the entire way on instinct.

Jas studied her face.

"You okay?"

Natalie forced a smile.

"I'm fine."

"You don't look fine."

"I'm just... surprised."

Jas tilted her head.

"You knew he was coming?"

"No."

"You looked like you saw a ghost."

Natalie let out a quiet laugh.

"I kind of did."

They continued walking toward Natalie's sedan.

For a while, neither of them spoke.

Finally, Jas broke the silence.

"Is he really your childhood best friend?"

Natalie unlocked her car with a click.

"He was."

"Was?"

She placed the box in the backseat before closing the door.

"We haven't seen each other in seven years."

"Didn't he recognize you?"

Natalie shook her head.

"I don't think he even saw me."

"And you?"

"I saw enough."

Jas leaned against the car.

"I've always wanted to ask..."

Natalie looked at her.

"...Why did you never tell us it was that Luca Hernaez?"

Natalie smiled faintly.

"Because it didn't matter."

"The Luca Hernaez?"

"The billionaire?"

"The one who's always on magazine covers?"

"The same one."

Natalie nodded.

"To me..."

"...he was just Luca."

The boy who stole mangoes from their neighbor's tree.

The teenager who always carried an umbrella because he knew she'd forget hers.

The best friend who never let her walk home alone.

Not the billionaire everyone admired.

Just...

Luca.

Jas watched the distant parking exit.

"So..."

"...did you ever like him?"

Natalie didn't answer immediately.

Instead, she looked at the friendship bracelet hidden beneath the sleeve of her blouse.

A small smile appeared on her lips.

"When we were kids..."

"I thought we'd always be friends."

Jas noticed she hadn't answered the question.

"But that's not what I asked."

Natalie looked away.

"Some questions don't need answers."

Jas sighed.

"That's a yes."

Natalie laughed softly.

"You really should've been a detective."

"I would've been."

Jas grinned.

"If HR hadn't hired me first."

The two women shared a laugh.

Then Natalie's phone vibrated.

The caller ID made her smile.

Sha ❤️

She answered almost immediately.

"Hey."

"Where are you?"

"The basement."

"Good."

"I have your box."

"I know."

"...Actually..."

Natalie frowned.

"What?"

"I have another one."

"What did I forget this time?"

"My friendship."

Natalie laughed.

"You already have that."

"I'm serious."

"So am I."

There was a brief pause before Sasha spoke again.

"...Did you see him?"

Natalie's smile disappeared.

"...Yeah."

"You two talked?"

"No."

"He saw you?"

"I don't think so."

Sasha let out a breath of relief.

"Good."

Natalie raised an eyebrow.

"You're acting like you're hiding me from the government."

"I'm hiding you from a billionaire."

"There's a difference?"

"A huge one."

Natalie couldn't help smiling.

Sasha had always been overprotective.

Even back in college.

Especially when it came to Luca.

"Listen carefully," Sasha continued.

"I rejected him."

"I know."

"He appealed."

Natalie's smile faded.

"...He what?"

"He appealed."

Natalie frowned.

"Why?"

"He specifically wants you."

"I already resigned."

"I told him."

"I declined."

"I told him that too."

"So?"

Sasha sighed dramatically.

"He apparently believes the word 'no' is... negotiable."

Natalie pinched the bridge of her nose.

"Of course he does."

"He even implied your resignation doesn't matter."

Natalie stared blankly ahead.

"What?"

"Don't worry. I shut that down immediately."

"I appreciate it."

"I meant what I said, Nat."

Sasha's voice became gentler.

"I won't let work drag you back into something you've spent years trying to leave behind."

Natalie's eyes softened.

"I know."

"And this isn't just about the agency anymore."

"I know."

"It's about you."

A comfortable silence settled between them.

Finally, Natalie smiled.

"Thank you, Sha."

"Always."

After ending the call, Natalie remained standing beside her car.

Jas quietly slipped into the passenger seat, sensing her friend needed a moment alone.

Upstairs...

Inside the executive office...

Luca stood before the floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the city.

Sebastian entered with a folder in hand.

"Sir."

Luca didn't turn around.

"Well?"

Sebastian hesitated.

"...Attorney So declined again."

Silence.

"And?"

"Attorney Natalie Ariana De Dios has officially resigned from S&S Consultancy."

Luca slowly turned to face him.

"Today?"

"Yes, sir."

"What timing."

Sebastian nodded carefully.

"It appears she intended to leave even before we contacted the firm."

Luca remained expressionless.

Then, after a long pause, he said calmly—

"Find out where she's going next."

Sebastian blinked.

"...Sir?"

"If she no longer works for S&S..."

"...then S&S no longer decides for her."

His voice was as composed as ever.

But behind that calm expression was something unfamiliar.

Determination.

Because for the first time in years...

Luca Elios Hernaez wasn't chasing a business deal.

He was chasing the only answer he had been denied.