As I entered the upscale lounge where I was meeting David and Julian, the atmosphere buzzed with energy. The soft glow of ambient lighting reflected off polished surfaces, and laughter mingled with clinking glasses. I had been looking forward to a night out with my friends, a chance to unwind after a long week.
But the moment I stepped inside, my heart sank. In the far corner of the room, seated with a group of acquaintances, was someone I had never wanted to see again—Mia, my ex. I could feel a wave of annoyance wash over me, but I forced myself to shake it off. I had worked hard to build a life that I was proud of, and I wouldn't let her ruin my night.
"Hey, Alex!" David called, waving me over. I forced a smile and joined them at the bar, trying to focus on the conversation.
"Looking sharp, man!" Julian said, clapping me on the back. I appreciated the sentiment, but my mind was still flickering back to the sight of Mia.
As we settled into our drinks and caught up on each other's lives, I could feel her presence lurking at the back of my mind. I didn't care about her anymore, or the memories we had shared. Our relationship had been tumultuous, filled with drama and betrayal. I had left that chapter behind me, but seeing her again reminded me of how far I had come and how much I had grown since then.
"Did you hear about the merger? It's going to be huge for the company," David said, his eyes sparkling with excitement.
"Yeah, I did. It's impressive what you've accomplished," I replied, trying to focus on the conversation. But no matter how hard I tried, I could feel Mia's gaze on me from across the room. It was irritating, and I refused to let it affect my mood.
"Speaking of accomplishments, Alex, any new romantic interests?" Julian teased, wiggling his eyebrows.
I chuckled, grateful for the distraction. "Actually, there's someone I've been seeing," I said, my thoughts drifting to Emma and the chemistry we had developed. "But it's still early days."
"Nice! Who is she?" David pressed, leaning in with curiosity.
"Just someone I met through work," I replied, keeping it vague. I wasn't ready to share too much about Emma yet, especially not when I was still figuring things out myself.
As we laughed and shared stories, I felt a shift in the atmosphere. I glanced back toward Mia, and to my annoyance, she was walking over with a confident stride, her friends trailing behind her.
"Alex," she said, a smirk playing on her lips as she reached our group. "Long time no see."
I raised an eyebrow, refusing to engage. "Mia." My voice was flat, devoid of any emotion.
"Still hanging out with the same crowd, I see," she remarked, her tone dripping with sarcasm.
"Yeah, and still not interested in small talk with you," I replied, cutting her off before she could say anything more. My friends glanced at me, surprised by my bluntness.
"Oh, come on. Can't we be civil?" she pushed, a faux innocence in her expression.
"I don't have time for this, Mia. I'm here with my friends," I stated, my tone firm.
Her eyes narrowed slightly, and I could see the irritation brewing beneath her calm facade. But I didn't care. I had no interest in rekindling any old emotions or drama. I had moved on, and I intended to keep it that way.
"Fine. Just thought I'd say hi," she huffed, clearly annoyed at my response. With that, she turned and walked away, her friends trailing behind her, laughter echoing faintly as they rejoined their group.
I exhaled slowly, a mix of relief and irritation flooding over me. David and Julian exchanged glances, clearly taken aback by my reaction.
"Wow, that was… intense," Julian remarked, a grin breaking out on his face. "I didn't know you had it in you, man."
"Yeah, well, she brings out the worst in me," I admitted, shaking my head. "But honestly, I don't care about her anymore. I'm focused on what's ahead, not what's behind."
"Good for you," David said, raising his glass. "Here's to new beginnings and leaving the past where it belongs."
"Cheers to that," I replied, clinking my glass against theirs. As we resumed our conversation, the earlier tension faded, and I felt more at ease.
I had no intention of letting Mia disrupt my night or my life. I was building something new with Emma, and that was where my focus needed to be. No more lingering shadows from my past. It was time to embrace the future.