Chapter 2

Christine’s POV

“Christine! Christine!”

I heard my name being called as if from the edge of a dream. My body stirred under the silky bedsheets as the sunlight shone through the curtains, warming my face as I groaned, stretching lazily before blinking awake against the blinding light.

“Christine!” the voice called again, more urgent now.

My lashes finally fluttered open fully as I rubbed my eyes groggily with my fingers. Immediately I opened my eyes, the large face hovering above me came into view as I jerked up off the bed.

“Grandma?” I croaked, sitting up too fast. My head spun slightly suddenly, but I didn’t care.

Standing beside my bed, with her warm brown eyes and kind smile, was my grandmother, Eleanor Harrington.

I gaped at her. She looked… alive, very much alive. Her old silver hair was neatly wrapped in a scarf like she always used to do, and her pearl earrings glimmered under the soft morning light.

This couldn’t be real. Nothing was making sense to me. My brain… There seemed to stop working at this moment. Is this some afterlife? Yes, it looks like it.

My heart pounded. “Grandma?” I called again, blinking rapidly. “What… What day is it today?”

She raised an eyebrow, amused. “Why do you sound so surprised, child? Have you forgotten so soon?” She chuckled gently. “It’s Tuesday, of course. June 23rd, 2020.”

The blood drained from my face. June 23rd, 2020?

This was the same day my grandmother had died. The day her car had exploded from a fuel leak on a very big fuel tanker alongside the expressway leading home. The day I lost the only person who ever truly loved me unconditionally.

“Christy, my child.” She called as her voice drifted me out of my dazed state.

I looked around the room, it was my old room. The soft lavender walls, the books stacked by the window, the antique dresser. It was all here.

This wasn’t a dream. This was… a second chance. I am living my life the second time!

“What’s wrong, Christine?” Grandma Eleanor asked gently, touching my cheek. “Are you feeling unwell?”

I shook my head slowly, still dazed. “I… just had a strange dream.” I muttered a lie.

“Well, you better get dressed quickly,” she said, stepping toward my wardrobe. “You’re going to be late for the meeting. Or have you forgotten what today is?”

My brows furrowed.

“Meeting?” I asked, forcing myself out of bed.

She looked at me with disbelief. “Christine, today’s the day HarringtonInternational Tech company, your company meets with Whitlock Industries, one of the biggest tech conglomerates in the U.S., remember? The proposal you worked so hard on?”

I gasped. Of course.

In my past life, this deal was the breakthrough for our company, Harrington Tech. It was the merger that would’ve placed us in the global spotlight, but things spiraled so badly that I never got to see it through. I was proposed to a year after my grandmother’s death, and everything snowballed from there, manipulation, betrayal, and eventually my downfall.

This deal today was worth over $500 million. We were supposed to present the prototype for our new AI-integrated system, NOVA. If sealed, Whitlock Industries would partner with us for expansion and research development for the next 10 years.

This meeting was crucial.

“Christine, my child, come get ready. You don’t want to be getting there late,” Grandma Eleanor said firmly, already pulling open my dressing room door.

She bustled into my dressing room, chattering away. “Now, what do you feel like wearing? I want you to look strong, confident. Maybe this navy-blue pantsuit? Or perhaps the emerald dress with the gold buttons?”

I trailed behind her, staring at her, still processing everything.

She waved a silky red dress in front of me. “This?”

I wrinkled my nose. “Too bold.”

“What about this soft lilac one with the pearl belt?”

“No.”

She huffed. “Well, you’re difficult this morning. You know what? How about the black velvet one with the gold chain details?”

I gave it a long look and finally nodded. “Okay. But on one condition.”

She raised a brow. “And what’s that?”

“You have to come with me to the company today and will return back home with me tomorrow. I want to take you on a vacation.”

She blinked.

I nodded slowly. “I… I want you there.”

Her eyes softened as she cupped my cheek. “Of course, my darling. Anything for you.”

An hour later, we arrived at Harrington Tech’s boardroom.

The long, mahogany table was already half-filled with familiar faces. My grandfather, Frederick Harrington, sat at the head, stern and regal in his navy pinstripe suit. Beside him were my mother, Lilith, and her husband, Gregory, both with sour expressions as I walked in while grandma waited for me in my office.

“Christine,” Grandfather said, eyes narrowed. “You’re late.”

“Apologies,” I replied coolly, taking my seat. “Had a… slow start.”

Across the table sat the team from Whitlock Industries, led by their head of operations, Mr. Cade Whitlock, a man known for his sharp instincts and zero tolerance for incompetence.

I watched him scan our proposal, then glance up. “Miss Harrington, your pitch was bold, but we’d like some clarity on your projected integration numbers. Can you walk us through that?”

My hands trembled slightly as my previous life memories flashed across my thoughts on how I have built this company but was kicked out. Pushing away that feeling, I straightened feeling confident.

But as I opened my mouth to speak, something shifted in me as my eyes landed on the clock. It was 11:56 AM. In my previous life, the explosion had happened at 12:00PM. 4 minutes to this time, my heart was beating fast but I decided to stay calm since grandma was at the company with me already.

“Miss Christine.” Mr. Cade Whitlock called as I snapped out of my dazed state.

“I am really happy to work with you but please I’ll get back to you on my decision. I said. “I’m sorry,” I added suddenly, standing.

Everyone paused.

“Excuse me?” My father, Gregory asked sharply. “What are you doing?”

I looked at Cade Whitlock and gave him a small, apologetic smile. “I’m afraid I can’t go through with this today. We’re pulling out of the deal.”

The room erupted into chaos as my grandfather, mother and father, including the board directors, threw words at me.

“Thanks, Miss Christine. Feel free to reach out incase you change your mind.” Mr. Cade Whitlock said as I watched him leave alongside his members.

“What is wrong with you?!” Lilith’s eyes blazed with fury. “Do you have any idea what you just did?!”

My grandfather slammed his hand on the table. “Christine! You’ve just sabotaged the company!”

While they continued to rant, I walked out, heading to my office to meet with grandma but unfortunately, she wasn’t there. My heart skipped. “Grandma?” I called as I began to look for her. Shortly, my phone alarm rang. I looked at my phone screen as 12:00 PM. Was glaring at me.

My heart stopped.

And just then, my phone rang.

Grandma’s name flashed across the screen.

I snatched it up. “Grandma? Where are you?”

Her voice was warm and sweet. “I’m heading home.”

Heading home? Oh my God.

“How’s the meeting going, my child? I’m going home to make you lunch. Thought we’d have a quiet meal, just the two of us.”

“Grandma, come back to the office,” I said, voice trembling. “Please, we’ll eat out, okay? Just come back…”

BOOM!

Suddenly there was a loud, deafening sound as it echoed through the line.

My scream ripped from my throat. “Grandma? Grandma!” There was only silence.