Destiny's POV
I was awake from my sleep, but I didn't move a muscle. My eyes were fixed on the ceiling, but my thoughts were all over the place. Saturday was still fresh in my mind, and I couldn't shake it off. The weight of what had transpired was almost suffocating.
"It's Monday now, the day I start my new job," I muttered to myself. I had woken up way too early—6:30 to be exact. But it wasn't because I was excited. I couldn't sleep. Even last night, I tossed and turned in bed, my mind refusing to quiet down.
Finding out that Alex's friend was Liam was a revelation I wasn't prepared for. It left me speechless, shocked, and somewhat conflicted. Throughout the rest of the evening, we didn't exchange many words. He only asked me how I was doing. My response was honest because I've been fine or at least that's what I wanted to believe.
Except for the time when he left me.
The months that followed were some of the hardest I've ever experienced. I couldn't stop thinking about him, about us. But eventually, I managed to finish high school, pull myself together, and move on. Life had been going well since then, or so I thought. Now, I wasn't so sure.
"I don't know what's coming next," I whispered into the quiet of my room, feeling a shiver run down my spine. The thought of seeing Liam again stirred something inside me. Was it dread? Was it excitement? I wasn't sure.
"He still calls you princess," I murmured, thinking about the silly nickname he had given me years ago. It was one of those things that hadn't changed, even after all this time. He still pouted at the silliest things, still made my heart flutter with the smallest gestures.
"You find it cute, don't you?" My heart teased, intruding into my thoughts as it often did.
"Yes," I answered myself, without hesitation, my voice soft but firm.
"See, I knew it. You're still attracted to him," my heart continued, smug and relentless.
"Will you shut up? I'm trying to think," I snapped back internally.
"You're thinking about him," it shot back.
I went silent. My heart had a point, as much as I hated to admit it.
After Liam and Alex helped us clean up, they left. Alex and Ava were engrossed in conversation for the rest of the night, reminiscing about their high school days. I pretended to watch a movie, but my mind was elsewhere, reliving moments from my past with Liam.
Sunday was calmer. Ava and I spent the morning together in my apartment. She has a habit of leaving some of her clothes in my closet, or she'll borrow mine after she showers here. She left around noon when her parents called, summoning her home unexpectedly.
That's when I decided it was time to let go of my old job. I sat down and wrote my resignation letter to the hotel I had been working for, handing it to Ava before she left. She promised to deliver it and speak with the boss on my behalf, assuring me I would get paid for the work I had done up until now.
The rest of the day was uneventful. I cleaned up my apartment, made myself a simple dinner, and tried to sleep early. But here I was, wide awake, replaying every thought in my head like a broken record.
The shrill sound of my alarm snapped me out of my reverie. I reached over, fumbling to turn it off. Groaning, I dragged myself out of bed and into the bathroom for a shower. The warm water did little to calm my nerves, but it felt good to have something to focus on besides Liam.
After my shower, I wrapped myself in a towel and padded over to my closet. I needed to pick an outfit that screamed professionalism, something that would make me feel confident on my first day. After a few minutes of deliberation, I settled on a stylish yet conservative ensemble. Nothing too flashy, but enough to make me feel like I belonged.
I quickly got dressed, opting for light makeup. Just a touch of mascara and a nude lipstick to complete the look. I let my hair fall naturally after running a brush through it, then headed to the kitchen for a quick breakfast.
By the time I was finished, it was 8:05. A little later than I had hoped, but I could still make it on time if I hurried. Grabbing my bag, I slipped on my heels and left the apartment, locking the door behind me.
I hailed a cab and soon found myself standing in front of the Collins building once again. The entrance loomed large, and the familiarity of it brought a strange sense of déjà vu. I spotted the same receptionist from last time and smiled as I approached her.
"Good morning, Miss Katie," I greeted her with a warm smile, finally catching a glimpse of her name tag.
Katie beamed at me, her face lighting up with recognition. "Well, good morning! I see that smile on your face, so I assume you got the job?" she asked, her eyes twinkling.
I nodded, unable to hide my excitement. "Yes, I did! I'm Destiny Walker. You can call me Destiny."
"Congratulations, Destiny!" she exclaimed, her cheerfulness infectious. "Now don't let me hold you up. You don't want to be late on your first day, do you? Maybe we can catch up at lunch."
I smiled and nodded, feeling a little more relaxed after our brief chat. As I stepped into the elevator, I checked my watch. It was 8:45. "Not too late," I muttered, but my heart raced as the elevator slowly climbed floor after floor. Why did this building have so many levels?
The doors finally opened, and I made my way to Alexis, who was already at her desk, arranging some files. She looked up, her eyes twinkling with amusement. "Good morning, Destiny. You're one minute late," she teased, glancing at the clock.
My eyes widened. How did she know that without even looking at the time? But before I could stammer out an apology, she continued, "I won't hold it against you. It's your first day, after all. Shall we begin?"
Before I could reply, Alexis grabbed my hand and practically dragged me to a desk placed right in front of the CEO's office. The sight of it startled me. I hadn't seen it here during the interview. "How did this get here so quickly?" I thought, but Alexis was already speaking again.
"This is your desk. Your workday starts at nine and ends at six. Saturdays, you're off by three, and Sundays are your day off." She paused, giving me a moment to absorb the information before continuing. "Your boss, Mr. Collins, will be in at nine sharp, and he expects his coffee and his schedule at 9:15. If he has an important meeting, make sure you remind him a day in advance. He tends to forget," she added with a knowing smile. "And he loves his coffee, so be prepared to make it whenever he asks."
I nodded, taking in every word she said. She handed me a file. "This is today's schedule. I've already prepared it, but tomorrow, it'll be your job. The meeting rooms are downstairs, and the kitchen is next to my desk for when you need to prepare his coffee."
Alexis gave me a quick hug before rushing off to her work on the 58th floor, leaving me standing there, a bit dumbfounded. I sat at my new desk, glancing around. The reality of my new job began to sink in.
I was still going through the day's schedule when I heard footsteps approaching. Looking up, I saw Liam walking toward me, dressed in a sleek black suit that highlighted his strong frame. My heart fluttered at the sight of him, and I quickly stood as he reached my desk.
"Come to my office," he said curtly before disappearing into his office. His tone was all business, leaving no room for pleasantries.
I grabbed the file and followed him inside. He was already seated at his desk, his gaze piercing as he watched my every move. I handed him the file. "Good morning, sir. Here's your schedule for today. Alexis prepared it before she left," I said, trying to keep my voice steady.
He flipped through the file, barely acknowledging me. "Still the same arrogant jerk," I thought. He didn't even bother with a proper greeting.
After a few moments, he spoke. "Have you discussed your salary with Alexis?"
I shook my head, realizing he couldn't see me, so I quickly responded, "No, sir."
"Your salary will be $3,600 a month," he said, his tone flat and business-like.
I blinked, my jaw practically hitting the floor. That's almost what I used to make in five months at the hotel. "Your job is to arrange my schedules, remind me of meetings five minutes beforehand, and handle any paperwork I assign you," he continued, looking up at me for the first time.
I nodded, trying to mask my shock. "Yes, sir," I replied, my voice a little shaky.
"I need my coffee," he said, his gaze never leaving mine. "And there are files to your left that need to be reorganized. Alphabetically."
I glanced to the side and saw two boxes filled with paperwork. Wonderful. This was going to take forever. I picked up two of the boxes and headed toward the door, but before I could leave, I felt a presence behind me.
It was Liam.