Charlotte's P.O.V.
I can't believe it. Nate. After all these years, I see him again. The boy that stole my heart. To top it all, he is my new boss.
As I was leaving he received a phone call. It was a woman, I heard him call her Alyse. She was asking him about flowers. I don't know who she was to him, but I assumed they were in some kind of a relationship. He had mentioned he would be there in a bit.
When I heard him say that I felt like I had been punched in my stomach. He had moved on. I should have expected that. I couldn't expect a fourteen year old boy to keep the promise to an twelve year old girl to marry her. People grow up, they grow apart, especially if they don't see each other for a long period of time. Of course they move on.
I asked him not to hire me based on our past and he assured me it was because I was qualified for the position. I know he was shocked at first when he realized who I was, just like I was with him. We were close once.
Bringing myself out of my thoughts I chased down a cab and headed back to my apartment. I needed to call my mom, and Ally. They were both waiting to hear how the interview went.
I dialed my mom's number and waited for her to pick up.
"So how'd it go?"
I paused for dramatic effect trying to make my voice sound sad. "I didn't get it."
"What? You are so over qualified for that job they should have been begging you to work for them!"
"Mom, calm down, I am only joking I got the job!" I laughed hearing her reaction.
Her voice instantly changed from pity to excitement. "Oh my honey, congratulations!"
"It's only temporary, a five month contract. It will give me time to hopefully find a job at a magazine company."
"That's ok hun, it is a start."
I paused before speaking. "Mom, my boss is Nathan Woods."
I heard silence on the other end of the line. "Mom are you there."
After a moment she finally responds, "Charlotte you need to get another job. You can not work for him." Her voice was bitter and strict.
I was shocked and confused by her reaction. "Mom, it's Nate, what's the problem?"
"Charlotte Gracelyn Reece, no daughter of mine will ever work for a Woods! We moved so that I could keep you away from that dreadful family! You are to call them and tell them to find someone else!"
"Mom, this is ridiculous! It's Nate! YOU raised him for twelve years!"
"I don't care Charlotte, I went through a lot to make sure we would never be found by them, I will NOT let you mess it up or put yourself in danger."
What? Danger? With Nate? I couldn't believe what I was hearing. I was not going to pass up a job with good pay. Plus, Nate was my closest friend for eleven years, he wouldn't hurt me.
"What do you mean danger Mom? Nate would never hurt me."
"You don't know that family like I do, Nate was a good kid, but he's grown now, he's a Woods. You can't trust any of them. I'm serious Charlotte, you're not to work there or communicate with Nathan!"
Listening to her was beginning to anger me. She may be my mother but I am an adult. She tried stopping me from moving here, she will not stop me from working at a good paying job, or talking to Nathan.
"I'm twenty-two years old mom. I am not a child that needs protecting. I can make decisions on my own. I am going to go now I will talk to you later. Love you." And with that I hung up.
Still fuming over the conversation with my mom, I dial Ally. It rang twice before she answered.
"So how'd it go? Are you a big shot PA now?"
"Well.... Yes! I got the job!"
"YES! I knew you had it in ya!"
"Yeah. I'm excited!"
"You're mom must be excited."
I was silent for a moment remembering the conversation we had only a few minutes ago.
"Char? You did tell her right?"
I rolled my eyes as if she could see me, "yeah I told her but it didn't go well."
"What do you mean it didn't go well, in the ten years we have been friends your mother has always had your back."
"Yeah well not this time. She got really mad once I told her who my boss was. She yelled at me, telling me I had to resign."
"What?!" I could hear the shock and confusion in Ally's voice. My mom has always been supportive of me, she also never raises her voice. This was a new one, even for me.
"Why? Who's your boss?"
"As for why I don't know, but my boss is Nathan Woods."
"Nathan Woods? As is the Nathan Woods from your past? Your Nate?"
Ally knew all about Nathan. She knew my feelings for him and even helped me try to move on when I first moved to town. I was heartbroken and she was there for me.
"Yes, the very same."
I could hear the shock in her voice, " Oh! My! God! What did you say?! What did he say?!"
"Woah Ally, calm down. We didn't say much, we were both shocked once we realized who the other was.
Man Ally, he is even more gorgeous now than he was at fourteen. I didn't even think it was possible."
"Jeeze girl you have it bad. You're still in love with him aren't you."
I sighed. "Just seeing him brought all those emotions I was trying to forget right back. I pause, thinking about his phone conversation, the name Alyse appearing on his phone. "I think he's in a relationship though."
"What? How do you know?"
" When I was leaving he received a phone call from a woman named Alyse, she was asking him about flowers for a church. At the end he said he would be there soon."
"Oh wow. I'm so sorry Char."
"It's fine. I guess that means it just wasn't meant to be. He's moved on I need to try to as well."
"Speaking of moving on, Brandon keeps bugging me about you. I guess he just doesn't want to take the hint."
I sigh. Brandon was my 'high school sweetheart' I guess is what you would say. We met freshman year. There are two elementary and middle schools in our city and they combine together at a regional high school. Brandon went to the other middle school.
We started dating three months into our freshman year. He was a great guy, sensitive, sweet, I really cared about him. I never did truly love him though. We stayed together all throughout high school, he was the captain of the basketball team.
We slept together a few times. It was good, don't get me wrong, it was really good, but never left me wanting more. Everyone thought we were the "it" couple. Everyone but me. My heart was Nathan's. I tried giving Brandon even a piece of it, but I couldn't. It always belonged to him, and always will.
I ended things with Brandon this past summer. We had graduated five years ago and I had just finished my degree for journalism. I started taking college courses my senior year of high school.
Brandon has been asking me for the past two years to move in with him. I didn't want to, I never saw myself staying with him after high school. The only reason I didn't end things sooner was because I didn't want to hurt him. He was a sweet guy, but he wasn't Nathan.
I told him I was moving to NYC. He wanted to drop everything and come with me but I wouldn't let him. I wanted to do this on my own. I know I broke his heart, but I didn't want to be in a relationship coming here. I didn't know I would see Nathan, or even think about the possibility of him being here. I just didn't want to have strings coming to the Big Apple.
I pull myself out of my thoughts remembering I was still on the phone with Ally. "Just tell him I am doing fine and I am happy."
"Okay babe. You got it."
I heard a grumble from the other side of the phone and a man's voice, "Come back to bed baby I'm not done with you."
"Well Ally I guess that's your cue to go," I laugh. "Hey Mark!" I yelled through the phone.
"What's up Charlotte!"
"Ally call me back when you are, um, less busy." I laughed.
"Okay babe, I will talk to you soon! Muah!"
I hang up the phone, letting them get back to their business.