Chapter Five

Monday morning, and the city outside my office feels impossibly bright, almost cruel in its cheerfulness. I sip my coffee, letting the warmth ground me, my mind still on the weekend. I have now fully moved into Emily’s apartment till I find one for myself. I went back to Tristan’s house to get my stuff. I had gone on Saturday morning, that way I made sure we didn’t have any unnecessary encounters. He always plays golf with his friends and has brunch at the other side of town on Saturday mornings.

“Ma’am, the documents for today are all ready,” Felicia says, appearing at the door with her usual efficiency.

“And here’s your coffee,” she adds, placing the steaming cup on my desk.

“Thanks, Felicia,” I murmur, taking it. She nods and leaves, and the silence returns, broken only by the hum of the city.

Alone, Anastasia sipped, letting the warmth settle her. She flips through the files in front of her.

A soft knock breaks her from her flow state.

“Come in”

It’s her boss.

“Anastasia, there’s a meeting with Sterling & Co. in two hours. You’ll be leading the presentation. It’s high-stakes. This deal could change everything for the firm.”

Anastasia straightened, nodding. “Understood.”

The hours passed in a blur of prep, sketches, and careful rehearsals of her pitch. Soon, she was stepping into the boardroom.

The room smelled of polished wood and confidence. I greet the management staff, scanning the boardroom. And then… my eyes meets his.

The CEO of Sterling & Co., sharp suit, sharp eyes—impossibly familiar.

My chest tightens, heat rises and for a moment, I think I might stumble over my own words.

The Hot Stranger from the club.

He winks at me and I almost choke.

I steady myself, clenching my papers. Flustered, yes—but not defeated. I step forward, voice clear, posture firm. The presentation begins. Designs, layouts, floor plans—I speak with precision, confidence growing with each slide. I notice him watching, yet I don’t falter.

By the time I finish, polite applause fills the room. The clients and most of the staff rise, murmuring compliments, shaking hands.

“We like the approach you’ve taken. This aligns well with what we were envisioning. We will be getting back to you”

one of them says, and the boardroom starts clearing out, leaving only my boss, a few management staff, and the Sterling team behind.

“Mr Sterling, meet  Anastasia Kingsley, Our lead architect. Anastasia, Alexander Sterling, CEO of Sterling and co.”

Alexander Sterling.

The name hits me like a whisper across time. Why does it feel… familiar?

Then it hits, like a spark.

Something stirs—a fragment of memory, brushing my mind.

I can see it in his eyes now—he knows I’ve recognized him.

He walks towards me with measured calm. I straighten instinctively, gripping my papers like a shield.

When he reaches me, he leans in slightly, voice low, teasing, just above a whisper:

“Hey, sweetheart.”

Time tilts sideways. The office, the people, the city outside the window.

They all disappear.

And in that moment, I know this isn’t the last time we’ll meet.