CHAPTER 7: THE MONSTER RETURNS

Nathan closed his eyes for a brief second, letting the cold silence wrap around him after Noah spoke his name. His mind spun with a thousand frantic questions.

What did Noah want to talk about?

What cruel game was this now?

How was he even supposed to look at him, let alone speak? He forced the words out anyway, voice weak and trembling, barely above a whisper. “Good morning, Mr. Grayson.”

The title hung between them like a shield. Noah’s brow twitched—Mr.? Part of him wanted to laugh at the distance it created, part of him felt a sharp, unexpected sting. He wasn’t sure if he should be pleased by the formality or furious that Nathan still saw him as the enemy.

Maybe both.

Noah stood slowly, the chair scraping softly against the polished floor. He took measured steps forward, not rushing, keeping his posture relaxed, hands loose at his sides. When he reached the edge of the conference table, he half-sat on it, one hip resting casually against the surface, arms crossed lightly over his chest. “You look good,” he said quietly, the words slipping out almost like an observation he hadn’t planned to voice.

Nathan’s shoulders hunched further. He stared at his shoes, the shine already scuffed from the morning commute. “Thanks,” he muttered, the single word barely audible.

Noah exhaled through his nose, a small, almost fond sound. “Never thought I’d see you here.”

Nathan’s breath hitched. He risked a glance up, searching Noah’s face for the trap, for the wicked grin he remembered so well. But Noah looked… calm. Too calm. The same handsome features, the same sharp eyes, but the arrogance was tempered now, held back. Nathan knew better. He’d seen this mask before—the quiet before the storm, the softness right before the shove, the punch, the humiliation. “I… I wasn’t…” he started, then faltered, words dying in his throat.

“This is one of my dad’s companies,” Noah said simply, picking up a pen from the table and rolling it absently between his fingers. A small smile touched his lips, not mocking, just there—as he watched Nathan shift uncomfortably.

He already knew this wouldn’t be easy. Off course , he hadn’t expected Nathan to throw his arms around him or smile back. Not after everything.

“Okay,” Nathan managed, swallowing hard against the lump in his throat.

Noah studied him for a long beat, seeing the tension in every line of Nathan’s body—the way his hands gripped the chair back like a lifeline, the faint tremor in his legs. He realized the gentle approach was only making things worse. He stood up straight again, voice softening further. “See, Nate. About that night—”

The words hit Nathan like a physical blow. The world tilted, and all the memmory float back in. That night, the forced kiss. The money burning in his pocket. The empty apartment he’d fled with Annabelle clinging to him. Memories surged forward so fast his vision blurred at the edges. He shook his head violently, stepping back instinctively.

Noah tried to move closer, concern flickering across his face. “Nate, are you—”

Nathan threw up a hand, palm out, stopping him cold. “Please don’t come close to me!” The plea cracked out of him, raw and desperate.

Noah froze mid-step. He watched Nathan retreat another pace, eyes wide with pure fear, chest rising and falling too fast. Something twisted hard in Noah’s gut—disbelief, regret, frustration all at once. He let out a short, quiet scoff and eased back onto the edge of the table, hands raised slightly in surrender. “You haven’t changed one bit,” he murmured, almost to himself, but loud enough for Nathan to hear.

Nathan’s gaze snapped up, meeting Noah’s for the first time without flinching away. “And you too.”

The words landed sharp,as Silence stretched again, thick and painful.

Noah rubbed a hand over his jaw, exhaling slowly. He kept his voice low, careful, trying one last time to sound harmless. “Look… I’m not here to hurt you. I swear. I just wanted to talk.... I wasn't expecting to see you here.” He paused, searching Nathan’s face, but all he saw was just him still scared of him and nothing more.. “If this is too much—if you’re not comfortable—you can leave. No consequences nor retaliation. I won’t stop you.”

Nathan stared at him, his heart hammering so loud it drowned out everything else.

Leave.

The word echoed in his head like freedom and trap at the same time. Was this another test?

Another way to make him beg, to make him stay just so Noah could watch him break again?

His legs trembled harder; the familiar warning tingle started in his fingers. He couldn’t breathe properly. Couldn’t think.

Without another word, Nathan turned and bolted.

He shoved through the conference room door, nearly stumbling into the hallway. The corridor blurred as he half-ran, half-limped toward the elevators, ignoring the curious stares from lingering employees. He didn’t stop until he reached his department floor. The moment the doors opened, he felt the weight of every pair of eyes turning toward him—whispers already starting, heads tilting, questions hanging unspoken.

He couldn’t take it.

He pushed past his cubicle, past the curious faces, and headed straight for the bathroom at the end of the hall. The door swung shut behind him with a soft thud. He made it to the sink just in time, gripping the cold porcelain edges as his knees threatened to buckle. Hot tears burned behind his eyes; he turned on the faucet full blast, splashing water over his face, trying to wash away the panic, the memories, the sight of Noah’s calm, almost gentle expression.

Almost immediately, the door opened behind him, and he jolted back, but was calm when he saw it was actually Elle.

He is one real friend in the department, the only one who’d ever asked real questions and listened. He stepped inside quietly, then he hesitated, then moved closer, voice soft. “Nathan? Hey…are you good?"

He didn’t answer at first, just kept splashing water, breathing in short, shaky bursts.

Elle leaned against the wall nearby, his arms folded loosely. “I actually came late, and..and I..I heard everyone Everyone’s talking, about a new CEO or something."She tried not to add more chaos to it.

Nathan stopped splashing, as he bought his gaze down, water dripping from his face, as he held on to the faucet. "Yeah....a new CEO had being bought in"He muttred, blowing into a tissue.

Elle couldn't take it anymore, as she took two short stores towards him, her heels clacking on the floors, then her palms clamps his shoulder. "I want you to be calm, Nathan. I don't want you to keep doing this. If you continue like this everyone would definitely pick on you always." She said.

Nathan turned around, as he faced Elle fully, his eyes still reddened with tears, as he tried to keep calm, but his body says otherwise. He sniffed, as he dug his fingers into his hair roughly. "Okay... okay, Elle am calm."He sniffed, as small tears alongside the water on his face met again.

Elle Shaked her head in disagreement, as she used her fingers to wipe his tears. "They said the new CEO called you out by name. They said he probably know you from before." She paused. “Do you know him? Who is he to you?”

He sniffed, as he tried to stop himself from trembling his hands to his sides. Then he nodded. "Yeah, I fucking know him. "

Elle nodded. "Okay. So.... what happened, why did he asked you to wait behind. Is he threatening you with your job?"

Nathan looked at Elle, because it was obvious she didn't know what was going on now . “It’s him.”He whispered.

Elle frowned, as she held his arm. “Him who?. I want you to talk to me Nathan ”

Nathan’s voice cracked. “The one from before. The one I told you about… back in Calgary. The bully. The reason...the reason I ran with Anabelle.”

Elle’s eyes widened slowly as understanding sank in. As she stepped back. “You mean...Noah Grayson? The new CEO is… that Noah?”

Nathan nodded once, a jerky motion. Fresh tears mixed with the water on his face. “He’s here. He’s my boss. And ....and Elle am scared....i know that beast, and I know what he is capable of doing. What if he fire me on the spot?."

Mali exhaled slowly, as she hked his arm. “What did he say? Did he threaten you?”

“He fucking siad he's not here to harm me.” Nathan laughed, a broken, bitter sound. “I know better, Elle. Like I can just sit there and pretend he didn’t—” He cut himself off, pressing the heels of his hands to his eyes. “I can’t do this, Elle. I can’t work here, comfortably . Not with him watching me every day.He's going to make my stay here misrable”

She stayed quiet for a moment, then spoke gently. “You don’t have to decide right now. Breathe. One minute at a time. You’ve survived worse. You’ll figure this out.”

Nathan leaned his forehead against the cool mirror, closing his eyes. “I thought I was safe here. I thought I’d finally left him behind.”

Elle touched his shoulder lightly—just a brief squeeze. “You’re not alone in this. Whatever happens next, you’ve got me. Okay?”

He nodded faintly, still shaking.

But deep down, he knew the truth.

Noah wasn’t gone.

He was everywhere now.

And Nathan wasn’t sure he could outrun him a second time.