Chapter 2 He is... Your Boss

I stood on the balcony, my heart pounding hard in my chest. I pressed my hands against the cool railing, trying to calm my breathing. Idiot. You absolute idiot, Evelyn Sharpe.

Running away was the most unprofessional thing I could have done. Ten years. It had been ten years. I should have been able to smile, shake his hand, and say, “Long time no see.” Instead, I’d run off like a scared kid.

What was I going to do now? I couldn’t hide out here forever. I took a deep, shaky breath and wiped the last of the tears from my cheeks. I had to go back. I had to face him. This was my dream job, and I wouldn’t let a ghost from my past ruin it before it even began.

My phone buzzed in my pocket. I pulled it out to see Victoria Sterling’s name on the screen. I took one more deep breath and answered.

“Evelyn Sharpe? Where did you go?” Her voice was short and confused.

“Ms. Sterling! I am so sorry. I… I had a sudden stomachache. I needed to use the restroom right away.” The lie came out easily. I even made my voice sound a little pained.

There was a short, doubtful pause on the other end.

“I see. Well, are you… better now? The CEO is waiting in his office. It’s time for your introduction.”

“Yes! Much better. I’ll be right there.” I ended the call and hurried to the restroom.

I splashed cold water on my face, put on more lipstick, and practiced a professional smile in the mirror. You can do this. He’s just a man. A man who doesn’t remember you. It’s fine.

A few minutes later, I was standing outside the CEO’s office, my heart racing again. Victoria gave me a quick look.

“Are you sure you’re alright? You look pale.”

“I’m perfect,” I said, my voice a little too high.

She knocked on the heavy wooden door.

“Come in.” The voice from the other side was deep, serious, and sent a shiver down my spine. It was him.

Victoria opened the door and led me inside. The office was huge, with dark wood, big windows, and expensive furniture. And there, behind a large desk, sat the CEO. He was looking over a document, his face focused and blank.

I was shocked all over again. Now that the first panic was gone, I could see the differences. His hair was styled more strictly. His shoulders were broader, his posture stiff with authority. The feeling he gave off wasn't Liam's warm, friendly cheer; it was a cold, heavy seriousness. But that face… that face hit me hard every time.

I took a deep breath, put on my best professional smile, and gave a polite bow.

“My name is Evelyn Sharpe. It’s nice to meet you, sir.” My voice only shook a little.

He finally looked up from his papers, his eyes landing on me. They were cool and judging, and showed no sign of knowing me. He pointed to the chair opposite his desk for me to sit.

“Can you tell me your name again?” he asked formally, picking up my resume.

I flinched. Was he serious? He was going to pretend this was our first meeting? After I’d just made a huge fool of myself in front of him? Annoyance began to rise, pushing my nerves aside.

“Evelyn Sharpe,” I repeated, my tone a little sharper.

He looked over the document.

“You went to Aethelburg University? In 2011?”

“Yes,” I replied, trying to sound polite.

Was that not a big enough hint? We graduated the same year, from the same university. Surely that would make him remember something, even if I was just a fuzzy face from the past.

“I see…” he said, putting the resume down.

He just said that. After all of that, he just said ‘I see’? His act was starting to wear on my last nerve.

He then started explaining my duties, which were mainly to help Victoria. He said it was her idea to get an assistant because there was too much work, and he’d agreed. He even made a mean comment about Victoria’s skills, which made me frown. He was cold, arrogant, and dismissive.

“That’s it. You can go,” he said, finally dismissing me and picking up another paper.

I’d had enough.

“Hei—” The informal, almost rude word slipped out before I could stop it.

His head shot up, his eyes widening a little. He fixed that intense, blank stare on me. I was too angry to care.

“Is it really necessary for you to pretend you don’t know who I am?” The words burst out of me, all professional act gone.

He just stared, looking truly confused.

“Hei—?” he repeated, his confusion only making me angrier.

“Hei!” I said, my voice rising. “I can’t pretend I don’t know you just because you shamelessly rejected me!” I let out all my anger.

“Rejected? By me?” Now he looked completely bewildered, which was the last straw.

“That’s right! You! You stupid jerk! It’s really stupid of me; why should I keep loving someone like you after you rejected me for ten years? Why should my heart feel broken again when you can forget me so easily? When I treasure every memory of you!” I was fully angry now, all the pain and shame of the last ten years pouring out.

He actually found it funny. A slight, annoying smirk touched his lips.

“You love me?”

I gasped, realizing what I’d just said. Seeing my stupidity once again.

“No! Absolutely not! Never!” I yelled, as if being loud could hide that I’d just shouted my biggest secret.

“But I heard you clearly. Listen… I’m not sure how we met or how I rejected you. But I don’t remember you.” His calm, logical tone was like adding fuel to my fire. He was making my hurt worse.

“Liam Thorne, you idiot! I really want to chew you up and crush you!” I shouted.

My words shut him up immediately. He froze, and I could almost see him thinking hard. He was trying to understand what was happening. And then, he did something totally unexpected. He smirked at me again, making me frown.

“Liam Thorne? Have you mistaken me for my brother?” His question made my mind go blank.

What was he saying? Liam has a brother? My mind raced through the memories. He did! He’d talked about an older brother once or twice, but I’d never met him. He never said he had a twin!

“He never said he had a twin!” I argued, trying to hold onto something real.

“We are not identical twins… He's five years younger…” he explained, as if that made it all clear.

For a few seconds, there was only silence. I stared at him, really looking at him now. Compared to Liam, he had a totally different feeling. He was serious and cold, while Liam was cheerful and warm. They looked different too; he was more sharply good-looking and commanding, while Liam was more boyishly cute.

I laughed a dry laugh, realizing the huge, terrible scale of my mistake.

“Hehe…. So... who are you?” I finally asked, my voice small.

“Aethelgard Corporation CEO, Julian Thorne…” he introduced himself with his unique deep voice that can drowned people in.

My eyes jumped to the nameplate on his desk. “Julian Thorne - CEO.” Why hadn’t I seen it sooner?

“That’s right…. Haha...Hello…. It’s nice to meet you,” I tried to smile. It was a weak, fake thing. I wanted to cry from pure shame.

He tilted his head, unable to make sense of these strange events.

“I’m not sure I feel the same,” he said, and that annoying almost-smile came back. What a terrible first impression I had made.