Chapter 3

I looked at Zachary intently.

He smiled and met my eyes.

"Jocelyn, you're… full of surprises," he remarked.

The negotiation went on for three hours before we finally came to an agreement. With a two-million-dollar investment for a 15% equity stake, I retained full ownership of the patent and a seat on the board as an observer.

When I left, Zachary walked me to the building entrance.

"Just so you know, I don't usually invest in student startups," he said.

"So why make an exception?" I asked.

I was genuinely curious why he'd sought me out.

"You've got an edge I don't usually see in students," he said, giving me a look I couldn't quite read. "Like you're pushing yourself harder than someone your age normally would."

My stomach dropped. He saw straight through me, as if he could tell that behind this young face was someone who had already lived a lifetime and come back from the edge.

"I'll try not to disappoint you," I replied.

I turned to leave without telling him the truth that the drive he saw in me came from another life, and from the regret of dying alone at 35.

…

Three years after graduation, our company was valued at over 100 million dollars.

I bought an apartment at Silverveil and moved my parents from Elmshore to Stonewick.

Yvonne became my marketing director, and Zachary… There was always something between us I couldn't quite name.

"Jocelyn, the acquisition documents are ready," she said, walking into my office with a big grin.

"What made you so cheerful?" I asked, glancing up from my desk before returning to the file I was reviewing.

"Guess who our new CFO is?" she asked.

I didn't look up from the contract I was reviewing. "Who?"

"Maxwell Sutton," she replied.

My fingers tightened around the contract until the paper creased.

"Surprise, right? What are the odds? We're going to be working together. Talk about fate." Yvonne was still buzzing from the coincidence, unaware of the changes in my expression.

"Are you sure it's the same guy from our high school?" I stared at her, desperately hoping for a different answer.

"Yes. He was transferred from Elmshore last week. I heard Mr. Cole personally recruited him…" Yvonne's smile faded as she finally registered my expression.

"Hey, are you okay? You look awful," she said.

I stood and walked to the window, taking a deep breath. It had been six years, and I'd gone out of my way to avoid any chance of running into Maxwell. I'd even made excuses to skip going home for the holidays. Unexpectedly, fate had shoved him right back into my life.

"I'm fine," I said, turning around and keeping my voice steady in a way that felt almost unnatural. "Let's get ready for the meeting."

In the conference room, Maxwell stood by the projector in a sharp suit, introducing himself.

At 25, he had grown more mature than in high school and carried himself with the effortless poise of someone used to being in charge.

"And I'm excited to join such a dynamic team."

His eyes swept across the room, landing on each person in turn. It paused for a beat when it reached me before he pulled himself back together.

I kept my face blank as I flipped through my documents, even as my heart hammered against my ribs.

By this point in my previous life, I was already his wife. I'd given up my career to stay home and raise Rebecca, the daughter we'd adopted together. Just thinking about dying alone in that hospital bed made cold sweat break out across my skin.

"Ms. Leigh, any thoughts on the budget?" Zachary's voice cut through my thoughts.

Everyone turned to look at me. I lifted my head and met Maxwell's curious stare.

"No," I replied, setting down the pen I'd been gripping so hard that its metal was now slick and damp in my hand.

"But I do have something to announce."

The room went silent.

"I want to resign."