Chapter 5: A Past.

Adeline's cheeks flushed at the memory of that unusual afternoon lunch. "Anthony Spencer," she thought while remembering the way he had looked at her, the burning fire in those light blue eyes.

It had been a while since she had felt that fluttering in her stomach. It was nerves mixed with something else: anticipation, desire, the hope of looking attractive in a man's eyes.

"Impossible," she told herself while shaking her head.

She was no longer a child to be deluding herself with things like that. She had to accept that she was a divorced woman with three children and no hope of rebuilding her love life. After all, who would want her with her looks?

Adeline forced herself to keep the memory of the stranger far from her mind. The only thing that interested her about Anthony Spencer was that he would accept her deal and they would begin the imports as soon as possible.

However, fate had completely different plans. Adeline knew it that Monday morning when she found Anthony comfortably ensconced in her office after a full week without any news from him. "How did he get in?" she wondered while staring at him with her mouth half-open. She had no idea.

"Mr. Spencer," she stammered stupefiedly.

"Mrs. Cooper," he nodded in her direction with a sly smile. "Forgive me for dropping in unannounced, but this morning, after a restful sleep, the answer to our business finally came to me."

"Oh, that sounds great."

Adeline could not help but notice the peculiar way he spoke. He always used a cool, easy tone, as if he owned the world, as if he feared absolutely nothing. It was the kind of confidence very few people possessed.

He was also a handsome man, with short blond hair, deep blue eyes, and skin as white as porcelain. His face was completely manly, full of angles and square lines.

"Well, you see," Anthony began, adjusting himself more comfortably in his chair. "I feel this is a generous deal you're offering me, and in terms of business, there's no problem. However, I do have one problem, and I'm sorry to say it's personal."

"What?"

She could not help but be startled by his words. What was this man talking about?

"I'm really hurt for you, Mrs. Cooper." He stared at her and that made her tremble.

"Hurt?" Her voice trembled. "I don't know what you're talking about, Mr. Spencer, but if I've done something you didn't like, please allow me to apologize. The last thing I want is for you to feel bad about me."

"Oh, yes, Mrs. Cooper, I feel so bad about your attitude. You have no idea how much." His tone suddenly became harsher.

"I'm sorry," Adeline whispered and apologized for something she had no idea about.

"I don't think a simple 'I'm sorry' will fix it,". He cut her off harshly. "You've hurt my pride."

"Mr. Spencer..."

"Adeline," he called her after setting aside formalities. Her name sounded strange on his lips, just like something forbidden that should not be said, "I think we trust each other enough to use the familiar form. After all, I can't forget that you were my girlfriend in the past."

The statement made Adeline's eyes and mouth widen dramatically. Her expression far beyond shock and disbelief. "Did he say 'his girlfriend'?" she wondered and convinced she would have heard him wrong.

"I don't understand what..."

"Oh, of course you do." Anthony stood up and walked in her direction. With each step he took, Adeline's breath caught. "Or have you forgotten that sad boy you said, 'Thank you for your time, but this was just a bet with my friends,'?". He repeated and did a poor imitation of her voice. “Because if you forgot, I'm sorry to say I didn't”.

At that moment, Adeline's mind lit up with a memory: it was a sunny day at her school, a boy with huge glasses was waiting for her with a broad smile in the backyard.

"Ade," the young man called her with that nickname. Affection overflew from that simple word.

"Antonio," she replied after looking back where her friends were signaling for her to finish this.

"It's Anthony," he corrected her calmly.

"Yes, well, Anthony, you see..." She twisted her fingers, not knowing how to tell him that the kiss they had shared a week ago was fake and that they were not actually dating.

"What's wrong? I've been waiting for you all morning."

"It's just..."

"What?"

"Thanks for your time, Antonio, but this was just a bet with my friends." "I'm sorry," with that, she turned and ran away from the scene.

Anthony, who until now had been the institution's renegade, watched as the girl he would have fallen in love with walked away after breaking his heart. He was a year older than her, but he would have never been the popular type, much less had he ever expected someone as sweet as Adeline to stab his heart in the past

After that, he transferred to another institution, and exactly seventeen years had passed since then. For him, the wound had healed. He was never again the same fragile boy who had been mocked. His personality had changed. He had become a cold man. But just when he thought his life was going well, that he was one step away from marriage, Adeline burst into his life, and all he wanted now was revenge.

"I'm sorry," whispered the present-day Adeline, visibly remorseful.

"Believe me, I am too," Anthony replied coldly. You have no idea how much I cried for you back then. I was a fool, really. However, look at you now—the contemptuous look he gave her made Adeline feel uncomfortable in her own skin.

“I never imagined you would become this”. He completely made her low self-esteem plummet even further.

Adeline realized with horror that every one of his words was true, and although he had explicitly told her he could not stand the sight of her, he accepted the deal with her company. Now, she simply could not imagine what their relationship would be like from that moment on…