Charlotte's P.O.V.
I didn't know what to say or even how to respond. I felt his arms around me as he held me tightly to him; it was if nothing else in the world mattered. It only lasted a few minutes before we parted, I wanted it to last forever.
I don't know how I didn't recognize him before. I knew he looked familiar, I just couldn't place him. Maybe it was because I wasn't expecting him. I mean it's been ten years, we were kids the last time we were together. His dark hair is shorter now, more professional looking. He is taller, and muscular now. More defined than the fourteen year old boy I remembered. But his eyes. His icy blue eyes still bore into my soul like I was the only person in the world.
"I can't believe it's really you." I finally managed to say after we parted. "I was not expecting this when I came for my interview this morning."
"I could say the same," he replied. He guided me over to the desk. "Please sit down." As I sit, he pulls his chair from around the desk so that he is sitting next to me, as if he didn't want to get to far away from me.
"Kate called me to tell me she found her replacement for the next few months, but I never imagined it would be you." He ran his fingers through his hair in disbelief that I was sitting in front of him.
I couldn't read his expression. I could tell he was shocked, so was I. What I didn't know is if he was happy to see me or wanted me to leave. "I can leave if you feel me applying for this job may not be a good idea, or a conflict of interest." I twined my hands together uncomfortably and looked down.
"No! I mean, no, not at all. You have every right to apply for this position." He reaches over and pulls my file off the desk and begins to thumb through it again.
"I see you have experience as an assistant through the Public Relations department at University of South Florida. Tell me about that."
He looks into my eyes as I begin to speak, listening intently.
"Well, I answered phones, kept messages, assisted each person in the department with their particular work, we had the school recruiter, I helped her organize events, the catalog editor, I helped him edit edit and correct mistakes before it went to be printed, the journalist, I helped her by taking notes at events and pictures, and anything else that was needed to be done."
I paused and looked at him sincerely before continuing, "honestly, I really enjoyed it." He watched me as I answered his questions, looking away only to write things down in my folder.
He closed the folder and looked at me. "Alright," he pauses. "I agree with Kate, I think you will be a great choice for filling in until she comes back."
Shock and excitement came over me before realization hit. "You aren't hiring me because of our history are you Nate? I don't want special favors from an old friend. I want to know I got the job because of my skills."
"Charlie, I honestly feel like you fit the criteria for the job. You have experience, and these reference letters show me that you were a hard worker and well liked by your superiors and co-workers. That is exactly the type of people we like to have here. If hiring you means we get to catch up on lost time, then that is just a perk that comes with hiring you."
I smiled. I was so excited to get the job. It wasn't my dream job, but I had five months to try and get a magazine company to hire me. At least I wouldn't have to leave NYC. But, I think more than anything, I was excited to be working with Nate. I never thought that walking in today would reconnect me with the boy that stole my heart all those years ago.
"Thank you for the opportunity, Mr. Woods." Nate scrunched his face when I called him that. "No, call me Nate behind closed doors. Around other people it is okay to keep it professional, but when it is just us it is Nate."
"Okay Nate."
He smiled hearing me call him by his name. "Well, you can start on Monday. Kate will be here all week to help get you trained before she starts her leave."
I get up to leave as his phone rings. He rolls his eyes at the name on the screen before he answers. Alyse. I felt my heart crumble and fall out of my chest. I hear part of the conversation as I get up to leave.
"I don't care what kind of flowers for the church Alyse, whatever you want." He huffed, irritated. "No, I will not be there, just pick out what you want."
Not wanting to listen in on his conversation I enter the elevator and leave to head back to my apartment.
*******************
Nathan's P.O.V.
I finished my conversation with Alyse as I watched Charlotte walk out the doors and into the elevator. My heart clenched. It felt like she was walking out of my life all over again. No. I threw that thought out of my head. She will be back on Monday. She is my new assistant after all.
I can't believe Alyse called me to ask about flowers. I mean flowers. She knows to never bother me while I am at work. She interrupted my interview with Charlie. Yeah, we were finished, but maybe I could have convinced her to go to lunch with me and catch up. It has been ten years.
I never did get over her leaving so abruptly that night. Her mom was my nanny and raised me most of my life. She's the the closest thing to a mother figure I had. My mother never really cared about me, or at least never acted like it. All she did was run around and spend my dad's money. Lydia Reece cared though. I know it was her job, but she never treated me any different than she treated Charlotte.
Then there was Charlotte. My Charlie. My heart shattered the night we were separated. Though we were raised together, I never looked at her as a sister figure. My mother wouldn't let me anyway. She tried to make me see her as hired help. I never could though. She was my best friend. My soulmate. Now that she was back in my life, I had to make sure it stayed that way.