— I'll have to work with Dante.
Trish stared at me with wide eyes. It seemed like I was an alien that had just landed on Earth waving a peace flag. (I even laughed at my own thoughts.)
— What are you smiling about? I'm concerned because I never imagined he was your first love.
I widened my eyes, the shot hit the mark. It must be written all over my face, it can't be!
— Wow, is it that obvious? — I asked, furrowing my brows.
— Yes, so you're the person he talks about, the one he couldn't forget. Interesting.
— Huh? Is it because of everything he did? It must be regret.
— He said he acted like a jerk, but he never told us what led him to act that way.
— You know, I really suffered a lot, got caught in a trap, and ended up hurt. — I looked away from her to avoid showing the pain of going back to the past that was written in my eyes.
— Did you know that all the women who made a move on him, all these years, were turned down? — She said, raising her eyebrows.
— Do you want me on your team so badly that you're resorting to trying to convince me to stay? — I said, challenging her.
— Absolutely, you're exactly what I need. I won't let you go so easily, especially because what I'm revealing isn't a lie.
— I still don't want to get mixed up with him again.
— Is all this fear of reliving the feelings that haunted you all these years?
— How can you assume that if I managed to move on?
— If that were true, you wouldn't mind working in the same company as him. Trust me, I know about this.
What she just said made perfect sense, especially since I relived everything again today, but she didn't need to know that. I have my pride to uphold.
— Even if you were right, which you're not, I don't want to relive it. He already gave me a taste of what working here will be like today.
— Did you run into him? — She said, wide-eyed.
— Yes, I bumped into him in the hallway when I was going to the restroom. — I said, looking tired.
— What do you mean, bumped into him? — She said, unable to hold back her laughter.
— Yes, it's funny. It was such a shock, you should have seen it; I ended up sitting on the floor. — I said, defeated.
At this moment, Trish started laughing uncontrollably, and I just looked baffled. Her laughter could be heard down the hallway; it was even louder than mine (you should hear mine, it's quite something).
After laughing, crying, crying, and laughing some more, Trish took a deep breath, composed herself, and wiped away the tears that rolled from her eyes.
— Can I go home now? — I asked, disheartened.
— I'm sorry, but honestly, your life would make a great love story.
— Oh yes, if it's a drama, right?
— You're so mean! Have you ever wondered if Dante felt the same thing you did back then but didn't know how to accept his own feelings?
— Maybe he did, but that doesn't justify him playing with my emotions.
— Do you want to tell me how things happened?
— So you can laugh again? — I said, annoyed.
— I'll try to contain myself. — She said, laughing.
— Well, I met him at a lecture he was giving at the college I had been studying at for 5 years.
— Right around the time he acquired Vadema Inc.
— Yes, I remember that time because he showed me how things were going in the company, including the fact that he had just acquired it.
— And let me guess... You forgot the company's name and didn't realize you were coming for an interview at his company today, right? — She said, crossing her arms and looking at me while holding back her laughter.
— Yes. — I said, defeated.
— Okay, continue.
— At that time, I had no interest in getting involved with anyone, especially because all the guys I had met up until that point were idiots. Then a professor introduced us, My friend thought he was handsome, but I didn't care, and he kept pursuing me until I agreed to date him.
— I remember he appeared in several magazines, websites, and gossip columns. Everyone wanted to know who the lucky girl was who had stolen the heart of one of the country's most successful and handsome businessmen.
— Exactly, but what no one knows is that he was trying to forget that damn Lola and used me as an excuse to bring her back.
— That was the rumor that they had gotten back together. Was he with you during that time? — She looked annoyed.
— Yes, let's say it was a relationship where both parties were benefiting in some way. In my case, he helped me with some subjects in college, and I helped him ward off the girls who flirted with him.
— I understand, he's quite persistent when it comes to what he wants.
— Yes, but he didn't tell me he liked Lola. It wouldn't have been so painful if he had been honest with me.
— What did he exactly say to you?
— When she showed up at the restaurant where we were, he told me he needed my help to forget her, but he always ended up running back to her when she approached me.
— How did she approach you? — She looked at me seriously.
— When he kissed me or the day he got sick, I took him to my apartment and took care of him for two days. During those two days, he ran back to her.
— The second time, as I was already in love, I kicked him out. My heart hurt so much I didn't even want to see him. I felt like a stepping stone, it's quite humiliating.
— Did you tell him you liked him?
— At the time, yes... But he couldn't handle it. Since he couldn't make up his mind about what he wanted in life, I decided for both of us.
— What excuse did he give?
— That he had never been in a relationship with one of his students before, that it wasn't right, and he needed to see Lola again to figure out if he still liked her.
— Now I want to strangle him too. You did well to kick him out. What did he say when he recognized you?
— That he wasn't with Lola anymore. — I replied bitterly.
Trish put her hand on her face as a sign of disapproval.
— How clueless Dante is at communicating! I can't believe this. Seriously, he's an excellent Administrator, wise in business, in reviving companies, but when it comes to feelings, it's pitiful.
— Well, now that you know the whole story, I'll be going because I have an appointment, but I appreciate the opportunity and for listening to me. We would get along very well since you're very straightforward.
— Okay, I'll let you go today, but know that I haven't given up on you. We'll keep in touch.
— Alright, I believe I won't change my decision, but thank you.
— I'll make you change it. Goodbye. — She said, making notes in my portfolio.
I stood up and left the room. I called a taxi and went back to my apartment, as Lucy and Nick were coming over for dinner tonight.
***********************************************
As Kyra left the room, Trish became thoughtful. She had to find a way to convince Kyra to stay. She saw a bright future for her in the company, which would bring prestige to Vadema Inc. She needed to devise a strategy and get Kyra to fall into her trap, but it wouldn't be easy, especially since she also wanted to take Dante down with her for hurting her heart and ruining her plan. She got up, left the room, and headed towards the company's leadership.
"Now he's going to listen to me!"