Chapter 5: Seeing Him Again

Ariana’s POV 

I didn't mean for him to touch me.

I didn't even expect him to come that close. 

But the moment Alex’s hands closed around my waist, air rushed out of my lungs. I stood there, shocked. 

Three months.

Three whole months of trying to bury him, bury the resort, bury what happened….and in one second, all of it came clawing back. 

The second our eyes met, everything inside me unraveled. 

He dropped his hands as I burned him. 

Maybe I had.

My skin was tingling where he had touched me. It felt like someone had hit the rewind on everything I had worked so hard to move past. 

He cleared his throat, his face snapping into a cold, unreadable mask I had only seen in movies. “Follow me.”

I hesitated, but he didn't slow down. He didn't even look back.

Of course, he didn’t.

I tightened my grip on my bag and followed, my heart beating faster than it should. 

He pushed open a conference room door and stepped aside stiffly. “Inside.”

I walked in, feeling like I stepped into an awkward interview. I clutched my bag tighter, my only shield. The door shut behind us with a click that made my stomach twist. 

He looked…..different. Or maybe it was me who changed. But his eyes, God, his eyes–I looked to see if I could get back the man I had known at the resort.

“What happened out there….” I started, my voice softer than I intended. “She hit me, and I didn’t even…” 

“You’re fine,” he cut in, cold and precise. “It’s settled.” 

My mouth parted. 

The way he dismissed it—the way he dismissed me, it stung more than the slap. 

“This is a professional environment,” he continued, his voice clipped. “Whatever happened between us before…” 

He stopped. 

He couldn't even say the word. 

I exhaled, “Alex…..are we really just going to….” 

“Yes….” 

He didn't even hesitate. “We are strangers here. Nothing more.” 

I flinched before I could stop myself. Strangers? After everything? 

He seemed satisfied with my reaction. I guess that’s what he wants. 

“For the duration of your employment, you will address me as Mr Sterling.” He said, sharp and cold. “I expect professionalism. No familiarity. No reminder of….anything else.”

I forced my shoulders back, straightening even though my chest felt tight. “Understood.”

I sounded professional and a little bit cold. But I don't care. This was what he wanted. 

He walked to the door, ready to send me back out like none of this had ever happened.

But when he opened the door….he stopped.

There was someone there, standing with a stern look.

And it was directed at me. 

It was a woman. She was tall, looked elegant, had sharp cheekbones and even shaper eyes. Her blazer cost more than the rent I had shared with David. 

The way she looked at me made my stomach drop. 

Her eyes slid from Alex…to me…to my bag which I held tightly to my chest. I didn’t know her, but God, she looked like she knew Alex. 

“Ariana,” Alex said stiffly, “you may go.” 

I was dismissed. Just like that. 

I nodded, even though it was like a knot had been tied around my throat. I walked past her, refusing to lower my gaze. If she expected me to look timid, I was sorry to disappoint her. 

I was scared but my chin stayed up. 

Her eyes sized me up, judging me and maybe wondering what I was doing in a place like this. 

I didn't stop. I walked straight out.

The second I was in the hallway, I finally exhaled. It came out shaky, like I had been holding my breath since the moment I saw him. 

Stupid…that's what I was. 

I am stupid that a single accidental touch could unravel three months of trying to forget him. 

I kept walking, ignoring the curious glances from the staff passing by. 

The office was buzzing again, like nothing had happened. Phones rang, heels clicked, conversation was had and I felt completely out of place. 

I made it to the lobby, the glass door reflecting a version of me I barely recognized. 

My hair was slightly messy from the chaos outside, my face flushed and my thoughts were everywhere. 

What the hell am I doing here?

I sucked in a deep breath and stepped outside, the cold air hitting me. I wrapped my arms around myself and headed for the little bench near the street. 

The city moved on completely oblivious while I sat there, feeling like my entire world was tilting sideways. 

This wasn’t the plan.

I joined the company because I needed a fresh start. Because I wanted to rebuild myself. Because I promised I would never let a man dictate the direction of my life again. 

But the universe clearly had other plans.

I leaned back against the bench, staring up at the tall building towering above me. 

I remembered the resort. 

The way he looked at me like I was the only woman in the world. 

The way he whispered my name while his dick stroked my inside, slowly. 

The way he held me like he wasn’t ever letting go. 

And now? 

“Stangers” the word echoed in my ears. He said it so easily and firmly. 

Like that night meant nothing. I knew I meant nothing, but was I the only one who felt the way I did? 

Maybe that's what made my chest ache the most. It wasn't the awkwardness, it wasn't the slap from that woman, it wasn't even how cold he was towards me. 

It was the realization that I was the only one who had struggled these past months. 

He had moved on. 

And I…..apparnetly hadn’t. 

I rubbed my hands over my face. 

“God, Ariana. What were you thinking?” 

Maybe coming here was a mistake.

Maybe accepting this job without researching who owned the damn company was the stupidest thing I have done all year. 

I should quit now, before things get worse–before I embarrass myself again or get caught between his coldness and my own unresolved feelings. 

I hated that I even had any sort of feelings. I hated that three months later a single look was all it took to make me crack. 

My phone buzzed, snapping me back to reality.

It was a text from mom. 

I sighed. “What does she want?”

Mom: Don't forget to bring the rice when coming back.

I rolled my eyes at the text. As if my life wasn't already in shambles. 

I didn’t reply. Instead, I shoved the phone back into my bag and exhaled. My chest heavy. 

I looked back at the building again. “should I go back inside?”

What if I see him again? 

Every instinct in me screamed ‘leave, run, quit.’ 

But quitting meant going back home and telling mum that she was right, it meant facing Maya and her mocking me, it meant seeing the disappointed look on dad’s face, the constant question from all of them.

No. I didn't want that. 

I wanted to move forward. I needed to. But could I do that here? Under his roof? With him pretending I didn't exist beyond these walls. 

My finger shook as I played with them nervously. 

This was supposed to be my clean slate and new beginning. 

But what new beginning starts with your past standing right there. I sighed and stood up, my legs were stiff. 

Walking away felt too dramatic, going back inside felt too painful. So I walked a few steps down the sidewalk, just far enough that the doors were out of sight. 

“Breathe, Ariana. Think.” 

I forced myself to sit on a different bench, letting the city noise swallow me. I watched people passing by, all with purpose and direction, like they belong somewhere.

I wanted that feeling again. 

Three months ago, I thought leaving David, blocking Jessica and all our mutual friends, starting fresh would fix me. 

But now I wondered if I had simply jumped from one wrong place to another.