Chapter Four

Nicole

For a moment, I think I'm dreaming. This can't be happening. But when I dig my thumb into the soft flesh of my palm and feel the small jolt of pain, I realize it's not a dream after all. 

He looks the same, yet so different. He still stands tall at 6'2, but he looks slightly bigger. He has definitely started hitting the gym more constantly. Six years ago, he was bare faced, but now he sports a dark, well carved beard. He has also lost the short ponytail I used to love so much, now he has a fuzzy undercut and his remaining thick mass of hair has been styled to taste. Somehow, his physique isn't even the most different thing about him. Something bigger has changed. His confidence. He has turned into a man whose presence commands attention and respect when he enters a room. By a mere look at him, I can tell.

Alex is finally the man I've always wanted him to be. I should be impressed by this, but after my initial shock, all I feel now is a roiling anger in the pit of my belly. I clench my fists by my sides but continue to stare forward at him, my face devoid of emotions.

"Miss Webster…..". The chairman rises from his seat and gestures towards Alex, a wide grin on his face. "....Mr. Van Lewis wanted to meet you personally. He was very impressed with the presentation".

"Oh...I see". I whisper. I want to force a smile but my face feels like parchment paper. Alex's eyes are actively assessing me and it's just like many years ago when it used to feel like he could see right through me. He finally tears his eyes off me and turns to the chairman.

"I would like to have a private word with Nicole if you don't mind". He's not asking. He's demanding for space. 

"Of course, sir". My mouth nearly drops open in surprise when from the corner of my eyes, I see the chairman nod enthusiastically and scramble to leave the office. Exactly how powerful has Alex become? The door shuts behind him and I feel my body go even more rigid than it already was. I'm now alone in the room with Alex. My jaw clenches in anger as I continue to stare him down.

"Hello, Nicole". He says dryly.

It takes all I have not to punch him in the face. After everything that has happened between us, after how things ended between us, after all these years, all he's going to tell me is "Hello"? I don't reply him. His eyes rake me slowly from head to toe and when he looks up again, he still wears the same empty expression.

"You look good. When I saw you out there, I almost didn't believe it. What are the chances?".

I need to get out of here. Keeping quiet is not going to help me achieve that. "What are you doing here?". My voice comes out low and angry but he pretends not to notice. Instead, he looks around the office casually and thrusts his hands into the pockets of his suit pants. Even with the relaxed posture, he still manages to command attention.

"Doing business…..as you must have noticed". I hate that he's pretending not to understand what I'm talking about. I want to punch and cry and rave. I want to ask him why he betrayed me so horribly. What had I done to deserve it? I want to ask him why he never even bothered to reach out to me. I want to ask if he even loved me in the first place. But even as I think of it, I know I don't need any more confirmation. Alexander Van Lewis never loved me. Every action proved that. I don't need him to hear him say it again.

"Good for you". I say dryly. "Now if you don't mind, I'll take my lea….".

"I do mind". He says, leaning on the backrest of the settee.

"Well I couldn't give two fucks, Alexander". I snap angrily. Back then, I only ever called him his full name whenever we were having a fight. I hate the flood of memories and the wave of emotions that saying his name has caused me again.

He cocks his head to the side. "My name still feels sexy coming from your mouth".

At this point, I know I can't stand to be in the same room with him anymore. I don't ask for his permission before turning around to go.

"About what happened years ago…..". I don't want to hear one more word from him again. Angrily, I spin back around to face him.

"Nothing ever happened between us years ago, sir". I emphasize the mocking inflection in the title. "I don't know what you are talking about".

He straightens up from his seat. "Nicole". My name is a warning from his lips. But I don't care. If he wants to disregard our history only to bring it up so nonchalantly now, I'm not going to entertain him. 

"I'll take my leave now. I'm glad you enjoyed the presentation". 

"You won't walk out on me, Nicole". His voice is stern and I can tell this is the CEO voice. Good for me, I don't work for him.

I stare him down coldly. "Watch me". And with that, I turn around and storm out of the office.

•••••••••••••••••••

My team members are waiting for me in the office, all four of them. They all jump up as I walk in and I can tell that they've been anxious about the results.

"How did it go?". Aurora asks as I close the door behind me. I shrug.

"Just okay. The company's CEO liked the presentation and just wanted to have a word with me". I walk to my desk, my mind already whirring as I reflect on the events of the last hour of my life. It takes a moment for me to realize that my team members still haven't said anything. I turn back to them questioningly. They are all staring at me blankly.

"What?". I ask.

"There's more to this…. right?". Dave, our brainbox asks.

I wave a dismissive hand and try to chuckle in the hopes of easing away the tension in the room. "What are you talking about? Of course not". They continue to stare at me suspiciously. "I'm serious guys!!!!!".

"You are sure he liked it? You are being weird". Aurora asks, her voice laden with skepticism.

I drop the pile of documents I had carried absentmindedly from my desk. "Why don't you believe me? He really liked it". 

"Fine fine fine". Aurora says. "There better not be more to this, Nicole. I'll squeeze the life out of you if there is". 

I laugh lightly and turn back to my desk as Dave, Asia and Vanessa file out to the adjoining office they all share. 

"I'll be inside, Nic". Aurora calls as her door shuts behind her. I mumble an alright and it's only when I'm the only one left in my office that I drop the documents I had been pretending to arrange. I sigh heavily and rub my eyes as a headache sets in. This is not how I imagined my week starting at all.