CHAPTER TWO: An Unexpected Encounter
The office building stood tall and intimidating, its glass walls reflecting the bright morning sun.
Chidimma paused at the entrance, her heart beating faster than usual.
"This is it," she whispered to herself.
A new job.
A new life.
A fresh start.
She adjusted her simple dress and walked in, trying to ignore the nervousness creeping into her chest.
Everything around her screamed wealth and power—the polished floors, the neatly dressed workers, the quiet but busy atmosphere.
This world was nothing like hers.
"Excuse me, are you the new assistant?" a lady at the reception asked.
"Yes, I am," Chidimma replied politely.
"Go to the top floor. The boss is expecting you."
The boss.
Chidimma took a deep breath as she stepped into the elevator. Her reflection stared back at her from the mirror walls.
Calm down, she told herself. This is just a job.
The elevator doors opened with a soft sound.
Her heels clicked against the marble floor as she walked toward a large office door.
She knocked.
"Come in," a deep voice responded from inside.
Something about that voice felt… familiar.
Chidimma frowned slightly and pushed the door open.
And then—
She froze.
Her heart skipped.
Her breath caught in her throat.
Standing right in front of her…
Was him.
Julian.
The same man who left her in the rain.
The same man who broke her heart without looking back.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Shock filled the room.
"Y-you?" Chidimma stammered, her voice shaking despite her effort to stay strong.
Julian's expression hardened, but there was something else in his eyes—something unreadable.
"You're the new assistant?" he asked, his tone cold and controlled.
Chidimma clenched her fists.
Of all places.
Of all people.
It had to be him.
"Yes," she replied, forcing herself to stay calm. "I didn't know this was your company."
A brief silence followed.
"Now you know," Julian said simply.
The air between them felt heavy—filled with unspoken words, past memories, and buried emotions.
"I can leave," Chidimma said quickly, her pride rising. "I don't have to work here."
Julian's eyes darkened slightly.
"Do you always run away?" he asked.
That hit her hard.
Her chest tightened, but she refused to let him see her weakness.
"I'm not running," she said firmly. "I just don't want to work for someone like you."
A small, almost invisible smirk appeared on his lips.
"Too late," he replied. "You're already hired."
Chidimma stared at him in disbelief.
"You can quit," he added, leaning back in his chair. "But I wonder… can you afford to?"
Silence.
He was right.
And they both knew it.
Chidimma swallowed hard, her pride and reality clashing inside her.
This wasn't how she imagined her new beginning.
Not like this.
Not with him.
But one thing was certain—
Working under Julian again was going to be anything but easy.