Terrifying

"No! This can't be happening!" Amber screamed mentally.

How on Earth did she end up with him again? And worse, she was going to stay in the same office with him.

Xavier on the other hand, looked at the panicstricken woman in front of him. She looked quite familiar but he couldn't place his fingers on where he had seen her before.

Amber felt like the ground should open up and swallow her whole. His scrutinizing gaze was terrifying her and she was holding herself from bolting out of there.

"I'm sorry, what's your name?" He asked.

Amber opened her mouth to speak but no words came out. She cleared her throat and answered. "Amber Wilfred, Sir. My name is Amber Wilfred." She said hoarsely and he smiled.

"Have you met before?" He asked.

"No!" She answered immediately and Xavier arched his eyebrows. "I mean, no sir. We are just meeting for the first time. I've been in the States for some years now." She answered, hoping that would divert his attention away from her.

Xavier massaged his temple. "How long have you been away?" He asked

"Eight years, sir." She answered.

Xavier sighed. She was definitely not the woman he had a one night stand with. He sighed again and walked over to his seat and then faced her.

"I'm excited to work with you, Miss. Amber." He smiled and sat down.

"Same here, sir," She answered. "I'll be right back, please." She bowed and rushed out of the office.

Xavier watched her retreating figure and shook his head. "She might look familiar but I don't think she's the one I'm looking for. Besides, she had been in the States for eight years and what happened was 5 years ago." He muttered to himself and grabbed his laptop.

***

Amber rushed into the female employee's bathroom and slammed the door shut. She went to the sink and poured water on her face, cleaning her makeup in the process. She released a breath she didn't know she had been holding as she gazed into the mirror and tried hard to stop her heart from beating frantically against her chest.

Why was fate so cruel to bring her back to her past? She thought it was all over and was ready to start afresh with her children but fate had to make them cross paths again.

She sighed and ruffled her hair.

She was grateful that he didn't recognize her. That meant she could keep her job but she was going to try her possible best in avoiding him. That way, he wouldn't recognize her. She would also try her best in keeping the children away because she wouldn't want him to set his eyes on them. Jaden looked a lot like him and if by chance they met, suspicions might arise and she was going to be the one at the receiving end.

She took a towel and wiped her face dry, exhaled before coming out. On her way, she ran into the secretary, who was also heading to the female's restroom.

"Miss Amber, what happened to your face?" She asked.

Amber was confused. "What are you talking about?" She asked.

"I mean your face. Did you wash your makeup away? Did the boss say anything to you?" She asked.

Amber shook her head. "No, I just..." She trailed off.

"Come with me," She dragged Amber and took her to her own desk. She made Amber sit down, then reached into her drawer and brought out a make up kit. Amber's eyes widened.

"Miss Sandra, I don't think-"

"Shhh and let me touch your face," She took the powder and started rubbing it in Amber's face. Amber wanted to protest but she didn't let her. "I don't understand why you would come to work and the next thing you do is wash away the makeup that looked really good on you."

Amber chuckled. "Sandra, it's just makeup. Besides, I prefer looking natural. The only reason I made up was because of this job." She said and Sandra sighed.

"But still..." She trailed off and focused on what she was doing. After she was done, she stepped back to look at her creation. "Now, that's perfect." She smiled and handed over a mirror to Amber.

When Amber looked at herself, her mouth parted. This even looked better than the one she rushed to do for herself.

"Thanks," She quickly stood up. "I have to go now. The CEO might be waiting for me."

"That's fine. Go on ahead and don't forget to come for lunch. I'll be waiting for you." Sandra responded.

"I won't." Amber smiled before leaving.

She found Sandra funny and chuckled as she took the elevator to the office. Sandra was the first person she met the day she came to the office for clearance and the lady was so nice to her. While she waited, they conversed with each other and grew fond of themselves. They quickly became friends and exchanged contacts.

A smile graced Amber's lips as she remembered the time they spent together. That anxiety returned to her system as she stood in front of the office door, not knowing whether to open it or just leave. She couldn't leave and that scared her.

She heaved a deep sigh and pushed open the door but collided into him and almost fell but he wrapped his hands around her waist and broke her fall.

Amber sighed in relief and when she realized whose arms she was in, she quickly stepped back.

"I'm sorry, thank you." She muttered with her head down, not daring to look into his eyes.

Xavier just watched how she fiddled with her fingers. He couldn't understand what he felt when he held her but he knew something moved within him and a feeling of familiarity washed over him, giving him the conviction that he knew her from somewhere but the more he looked at her, the fuzzy his brain became.

Amber looked up when he said nothing and he cleared his throat.

"Come with me, we're going for a board meeting." He started walking away and Amber rushed after him.

"A... board.. meeting?" She asked.

"Yeah, don't you know what that is?" He asked.

"I do," She answered.

When they got outside, the chauffeur opened the car door and Xavier gestured for Amber to go in first. Amber couldn't believe they were going to sit close to each other.

"I should go in... there?" She stuttered.

"Yes," He answered simply.

She sighed and entered.

Xavier entered and noticed she had squeezed herself in a corner.

"Aren't you comfortable?" He asked and she quickly nodded.

"Very comfortable, sir."