Chapter 4: Meeting and Reunion

Laurel was taken aback upon seeing the unexpected person that called out her name. In shock, she struggled to comprehend why this person, whom she never wanted to meet again, was sitting beside her.

“Laurel, meet Rhett Simon from the Opulentia Group. He’s the CEO of Opulentia Fashion and is here as a representative of the whole Group,” Shirley intervened, snapping Laurel back to reality.

“Oh. Hello,” Laurel greeted, masking her surprise with a fake smile.

Facing forward and getting ready for the meeting, memories of her painful past suddenly flooded back. She didn’t want to ever encounter anyone from her history, yet here was Rhett, sitting beside her. She wiped the tears forming in her eyes as she sensed Rhett's gaze on her and deliberated on how to react—whether to feign ignorance or acknowledge their shared history.

"Isn't he good-looking?" Shirley whispered to Laurel with a giggle.

Laurel forced a smile.

"Remember, he's our main focus today. Convince him to invest in our company. It's not just for me, but for you and everyone working here. If you bring in other investors, that's even better," Shirley added in a more serious tone and adjusted her seat.

It was time for the presentation. The company where Laurel worked was a clothing company, so there were many investment companies and a few clothing companies, Rhett’s company included.

Laurel began,

“Mode Maven is not like any other small brand out there. We work with the finest fabrics and have a goal of becoming a luxury brand with one of the finest designs in the clothing industry…”

Throughout her presentation, Laurel's eyes frequently met with Rhett's, leaving her wondering about the emotions behind his gaze. Was it longing, pity, or simply surprise to see her in a better place? It was hard for her to read.

After finishing her presentation, Laurel received a round of applause from everyone in the room. Rhett had a proud look on his face, which was a great sign. The companies present engaged in discussions with Laurel's boss, promising to provide feedback within a week.

As the guests were leaving, Laurel excused herself to go to the restroom when she suddenly heard a familiar voice behind her.

"Laurel," Rhett called out softly.

Laurel halted. She hesitated, recognizing the voice. She wasn't sure if she wanted to turn around and face the person who had called her. After a moment of deliberation, she finally turned.

"Hello," she greeted, bowing her head slightly and giving Rhett a confused look as if to say, "Do I know you?"

“How have you been?” Rhett asked in a soft tone with a little smile on his face, tucking his hands into his pockets.

“I’m sorry, do I know you?” Laurel responded, pretending not to recognize him.

“Come on, Laurel. Really? Rhett exclaimed in amazement.

Laurel heaved a heavy sigh, remaining silent.

"Anita and I searched for you around the city. You vanished without a word, and she struggled a lot after you left. I know I don't deserve to know, but at least Anita deserved an explanation," Rhett continued.

“Please do not let anyone know you saw me here,” Laurel said, ignoring his words and walking away.

“Can’t I at least tell Anita? She'll be relieved to know you’re okay.” Rhett pleaded after her as she walked away.

“Fine!” She yelled back, not stopping in her tracks.

Laurel arrived back at her office, finding it empty as all the guests had left. Shirley decided to celebrate their upcoming victory by organizing a team dinner that evening. Laurel spread the word to all her other coworkers, and they had an amazing night together.

Feeling exhausted and sleepy, Laurel embarked on her journey back home. She hailed a cab and finally arrived at her place. After freshening up and having dinner, she finally had a chance to relax.

Suddenly, her phone chimed with a message. It was from Anita, and the text read,

"Laurel! It's me, Anita! How have you been?" accompanied by a crying emoji.

Laurel wondered how Anita got her number, but she couldn't help but giggle at the text and immediately called Anita. Asking Anita about how she got her number, she spilt that she got it from her brother, Rhett. Laurel couldn’t help but wonder how Rhett came to have her number, but she didn’t think much about it. They were both overjoyed to hear from each other, and they spoke for hours, catching up on everything. Laurel apologized for leaving Anita that way and opened up about where she had been and shared details about her new journey.

The weekend passed and it was a new week. Laurel set out to work as usual on a Monday morning, and on her way, she got unusual stares from a few people. She just waved the stares off as they weren’t that serious—or so she thought.

When she arrived at the office, she was greeted by the presence of her boss, Shirley.

“Good morning, Laurel. Are you okay?” Shirley asked immediately.

“Good morning ma’am, I’m okay,” Laurel responded, with a confused look on her face.

“Don’t tell me you haven’t seen the articles?” Shirley inquired, pulling out her phone to show Laurel what she was referring to.

“Articles?” Laurel asked, now even more confused as she took the phone and looked through the article on her boss’s phone.

“THE LOST BRIDE OF THE CADDEL FAMILY IS BACK.”

“AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO FIND HER PROVED FUTILE, THE CADDEL’S CHAOTIC WEDDING BRIDE WAS SPOTTED AT A RESTAURANT LAST WEEK.”

Laurel's confusion deepened as she read the headlines, trying to make sense of what she was seeing.

Her heart sank as she scrolled down the article and saw the picture.

"I guess this was taken the night we went for our dinner," Shirley remarked, pointing at the picture.

In disbelief, Laurel let out a scoff. She took her seat and couldn't help but ponder how this had happened. The one thing she had been trying to avoid was now unfolding right before her eyes. The knowledge of her presence in Los Angeles had reached her family and her past, and she no longer felt safe.

However, she found comfort in the fact that the article didn't disclose where she worked or where she lived. That information was still private, and it brought her some relief.

Shirley didn’t understand the situation but comforted Laurel, assuring her that everything would be okay. The day went by, and Laurel returned home, wearing a mask and a cap to remain unnoticed by anyone on her way.

Once home, she sighed with relief, hoping no one recognized her. Putting down her work files and bag, she was about to freshen up when her phone suddenly rang.

“Hello Laurel, it’s Rhett. Can we meet briefly right now?” came his deep soft voice, causing Laurel’s heart to skip a beat.