Chapter One

Harper

“Watch where you’re going!” I yelled at him as he bumped into me. Dressed in form-fitting black training pants that suited his muscular frame, he exuded confidence and focus as he spoke on the phone. Ignoring my presence, he arrogantly raised a finger to silence me, as if I were an interruption. 

“You ran into me, raised your finger to hush me, and now you don’t even have the decency to apologize?” I said angrily. 

“But you were standing in my way,” he replied, dripping with arrogance and contempt. His tone was hostile as if I had done something wrong. “I understand that everyone needs rest during their workout, but placing yourself between the equipment is inconvenient for others who are trying to use it. It's best to find a designated area for resting instead of telling me to apologize for what is your fault,” he ranted before walking away to continue his conversation.

I was livid at this point. Without thinking, I swiftly pulled him back by his clothing, forcing him to face me. “Hold on! You knocked me over, and you don’t even have the decency to apologize,” I exclaimed, frustration boiling over. As he attempted to move away again, I dragged him back, insisting that he should at least have the courtesy to apologize rather than shifting the blame onto me.

“I wasn’t blaming you. I’m only saying that if you hadn’t been standing in the way, I wouldn’t have bumped into you. Madam, I don’t have time for this,” he retorted, his arrogance palpable.

“Please, spare me the patronizing attitude! What an arrogant jerk. Who does he think he is?” I thought, seething with anger. At that moment, one of the gym instructors intervened in our argument. The next words out of that arrogant jerk’s mouth were, “Throw her out of this premises.”

And just like that, I was forcefully expelled from the gym. Fuming and pissed, I got into my car. Tears streamed down my face as I asked myself, “What was I even doing at the gym today, of all days?” It had been two weeks since I’d been able to drag myself out of bed. I was tired of guilt and regret, drained of all emotions. The one good man I thought I had left me. I had opened myself completely, surrendering my heart to him with unwavering love, believing he was the best man for me.

Questions troubled my mind, relentlessly mocking me. Why did he leave? Was I not enough? I had cried my eyes out, and with each tear, I vowed to heal, to rediscover myself, and to reclaim my happiness. With hope and determination, I ignited the engine of my car and made my way home, eager to prepare for the day.

Exhausted yet satisfied from an intense workout at the gym, I tried to push the thought of what had happened there behind me. I stepped into the shower, letting the warm water cascade over my fatigued muscles. Today was my first day back at work after my leave. I opted for a tailored black blazer, paired with a crisp white blouse and a deep navy blue pencil skirt that hinted at sophistication.

As I casually entered the office building, my only friend Amelia forcefully pulled me into another room. A swell of fear rushed through me, and I exclaimed in shock as her icy gaze fixed on me. In a single breath, she unleashed her frustration. “Harper, what’s wrong with you? I’ve repeatedly talked about this issue. You ignore my calls and disregard my emails. How do you expect to keep your job if you continue like this?”

“Well, hello to you too,” I replied with a touch of sarcasm. Amelia, clearly irritated, informed me, “The boss is laying off staff.” 

“Is the boss upset again?” I asked. 

“Which boss?” Amelia shot back. “Harper, you failed to read your mail. This is the same issue I’ve been complaining about.”

With a sigh of relief, she pulled me into a bone-crushing hug. “It’s a good thing you’re here today. How are you doing?” she asked with concern. 

“I’m fine,” I replied. 

“We have a meeting with our new boss,” she said, gripping my hand as she ushered me towards the conference room. Upon arriving, I noticed the tense atmosphere among the staff members, and to my surprise, Sophia was also present.

Sophia was the type of person who consistently blocked progress in the office—a difficult colleague to deal with. In a mocking tone, she addressed me, “Harper, darling, you seem quite presentable today.”

Rolling my eyes, I replied, “Thank you.”

“Anyway, what do you know about our new boss?” Sophia asked. 

“I heard he’s the boss’s son,” Amelia replied. She always seemed to be well-informed about office gossip. As I glanced around, I noticed one of my colleagues was absent.

Curiosity piqued, I inquired, “Where’s Sandra?”

Amelia responded somberly, “She was laid off.” Sophia expressed her strong resentment towards Sandra.

After a few minutes, the conference room doors swung open, and a wave of energy filled the air. With a confident stride, our new boss made his way to the front of the room without a smile. My heart skipped a beat when I saw him. A knot tightened in my stomach—a mixture of embarrassment, and anger. Taking a deep breath, I tried to compose myself, willing my emotions to settle. I reminded myself that this was a professional setting and that I needed to handle the situation with grace.

As our new boss delivered his speech, his eyes briefly locked with mine. My heart skipped another beat as I detected a hint of recognition in his gaze, but it was quickly replaced with a professional demeanor. Amelia nudged me, sensing something was off, and asked, “What’s going on?”

Annoyed, I responded by rolling my eyes at our new boss.