This Was Personal

Susan

I hadn't intended to stay up late that night, but sleep wouldn't come. The weight of the day lingered in my chest like an unwelcome guest, replaying itself over and over in my mind: Elliot's piercing gaze, his composed demeanor, and the haunting way he looked at me like he was still trying to figure me out.

It didn't matter that a decade had passed since we last stood face-to-face. He still had that unnerving ability to make me feel seen...seen in a way that no one else could.

My apartment was quiet except for the faint hum of the city outside. I sank into the couch, clutching a cup of tea I didn't plan to drink. My laptop sat on the coffee table, glowing faintly. I should've been preparing for follow-ups on the proposal, but my mind kept drifting to the past...to the first time Elliot and I weren't just strangers on a campus.

****

Flashback – Ten Years Ago

It had been almost a year since our first meeting. By then, Elliot Prescott was no longer just the cocky guy who'd helped me find my way to class the second time we met. He was Elliot, the guy who'd randomly show up at the coffee shop where I worked, claiming it was the best on campus. The guy who'd saved me a seat in the library when it was packed during midterms. The guy whose laughter I could hear from across the quad and whose charm could light up the darkest room.

He was also the guy who had a way of breaking down my walls without even trying.

It was a cold evening in early November. The campus was quiet as students huddled inside, trying to escape the chill. I was walking back to my dorm after a late shift at the coffee shop when I heard his voice behind me.

"You're out late."

I turned to see him jogging up, his breath visible in the cold air. He was wearing a jacket over his usual hoodie, his hands shoved deep into his pockets.

"So are you," I replied, trying to keep my voice neutral.

He smirked. "Couldn't sleep. Thought I'd go for a walk. Lucky me, running into you."

I rolled my eyes but couldn't hide the small smile tugging at my lips. "What do you want, Elliot?"

"To make sure you don't freeze to death before you make it back to your dorm," he said easily, falling into step beside me.

We walked in silence for a while, the sound of our footsteps crunching against the gravel. There was something comforting about his presence, even if I'd never admit it out loud.

"You know," he said suddenly, breaking the quiet, "you don't have to work so hard."

I glanced at him, startled. "What are you talking about?"

He shrugged. "You're always working, always studying. It's like you're carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders."

"That's because I am," I said, half-joking.

He stopped walking, forcing me to stop too. His blue eyes were serious now, studying me in a way that made me want to squirm.

"You don't have to do it alone, Susan," he said quietly.

The sincerity in his voice caught me off guard. I opened my mouth to respond, but the words wouldn't come.

Instead, I turned and kept walking.

****

Present Day – Elliot

It had been hours since the meeting ended, but I still couldn't get her out of my head.

Susan Hart.

She had always been a force of nature...determined, unrelenting, and impossible to ignore. Seeing her again, standing in my boardroom like she belonged there, had thrown me off in ways I hadn't expected.

I leaned back in my chair, staring at the ceiling of my office. The city lights cast a faint glow through the windows, but I barely noticed. My mind was stuck in the past, in the years we spent together before everything fell apart.

****

Flashback – Ten Years Ago

We were sitting on the steps outside the library, sharing a bag of chips. The campus was quiet, most students already gone for the holidays.

"What are your plans for Christmas?" she asked, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear.

I shrugged. "Family stuff, I guess. My mom throws these big, over-the-top dinners every year. You?"

She hesitated, her fingers tightening around the chip bag. "I'll probably just stay here. Maybe pick up a few extra shifts at the coffee shop."

"You're not going home?"

She shook her head, avoiding my gaze. "It's complicated."

I didn't press her. Susan didn't talk about her family much, and I'd learned not to push.

Instead, I leaned back, stretching my legs out in front of me. "Well, if you get bored, you can crash my mom's party. She'd love you."

She laughed, the sound soft and melodic. "Yeah, right. Your mom wouldn't even notice me with all her fancy guests around."

"You'd stand out," I said without thinking.

Her laughter faded, and she looked at me, her expression unreadable. For a moment, neither of us spoke. Then she reached over and took the bag of chips from my hand.

"Stop being cheesy," she said, but there was a hint of a smile on her lips.

****

Present Day – Susan

The sound of my phone buzzing on the coffee table snapped me out of my thoughts. I picked it up, my stomach sinking when I saw the name on the screen.

"Hello?"

"Ms. Hart, this is Gerald from Prescott Enterprises," the voice on the other end said.

"Yes, Mr. Gerald. How can I help you?"

"Mr. Prescott has a few follow-up questions regarding your proposal. Are you available for a meeting tomorrow morning?"

I froze, my mind racing. Another meeting. With Elliot.

"Of course," I said finally, forcing my voice to remain steady. "I'll be there."

As I hung up, I let out a shaky breath.

Ten years apart, and now it felt like the universe was determined to throw us together at every turn.

This wasn't just business anymore.

This was personal.