The elevator doors slid open with a gentle chime, and there he stood—Ryan Matthews, ten years younger and without the wedding band she'd previously placed on his finger. As their eyes met, the air thickened, and popularity flickered in his gaze, though he probably didn't understand why.
Elena straightened and stepped forward with planned calm. The clicking of her heels was the only sound they heard as she extended her hand, a little grin softly caressing her lips. "I'm Elena Zhang."
He clasped her hand, his grip solid, his expression a mix of polite curiosity and something else—interest, perhaps? "Ryan Matthews," he said calmly, his gaze narrowing slightly. "Have we met earlier than?"
She allowed a little smirk, her heart beating normally. "now not in this lifetime."
His eyes widened in surprise, but he just nodded and let go of her hand. She watched as he regained his composure and maintained the same cool front he'd always had. He hadn't just been beaten down by years of marriage, fatherhood, or his own ambition. Ryan Matthews remained unshaped by the memories that filled her mind.
They stood in silence as the elevator continued higher, the soothing hum of the equipment the most effective noise in relieving their worry. He was about to speak when the doors opened with a smooth ding, and the corridor unfolded before them.
They stepped out together, their steps synchronized as they proceeded toward the convention room. She could tell he was interested because of the way he looked at her. There was a time when she enthusiastically embraced his interest and desired his admiration. However, she now walked beside him as an identical, rather than the girl who would sacrifice herself to make him happy.
As they approached the convention room, Ryan finally broke the stillness. "What brings you to Zhang Industries, Ms. Zhang?"
She looked at him, feeling proud that she met his inquiring gaze without faltering. "Ambition," she said in reality. "i have goals that I trust align well with what Zhang Industries is doing."
A grin tugged at his lips, even yet she saw a hint of wonder in his countenance. "I recognize self assurance in someone inclined to step into an aggressive surroundings like this."
She maintained his stare, a small smirk forming. "Self-assurance is essential. Without it, one is easy to overlook."
They walked into the convention room, where the interview panel sat waiting. The HR director motioned her to seat, and the questioning began. She responded to each one with crisp precision, feeling as if the years of enjoyment had settled her nerves and improved her reflexes. Ryan listened closely, occasionally nodding and furrowing his brow. His questions were hard, subtly complex, and intended to uncover the reality underneath her rehearsed answers.
Nonetheless, she felt herself settling into a comfortable rhythm, with each answer and brushstroke at the portrait painting a picture of someone prepared, strategic, and relentless.
While the interview concluded, Ryan closed his pocket book and returned to his chair with a contemplative expression. "Thank you, Ms Zhang. We'll be in touch.
She met his stare, allowing the stillness to linger a little longer than necessary. "I look forward to it," she said, her voice steady as her heart accelerated.
She exited the conference room and walked back to the lobby, feeling the weight of his gaze on her until she disappeared down the hallway. Her fist grasped the strap of her purse, and her pace quickened as she approached the elevator and hit the button. The doors opened, and he or she went inside, allowing an extended, controlled breath to escape before they closed, cutting her off from the stress she had left behind.
As the elevator began its descent, her phone buzzed with a new message. She looked at the screen, where an unexpected range flashed across it. She frowned and opened the message:
"Be vigilant, Elena. "The beyond can reach farther than you realize."
Her heart lurched, and an incredible sensation spread throughout her chest. The text became unsigned, but it had an unsettling tone, a reminder that this second chance could have strings she hadn't noticed.
The elevator doors opened, and she entered the foyer, her gaze sweeping across the room. She couldn't shake the feeling that someone was watching her and expecting her to make a move. But there has been no one, only the calm hum of the building around her.
She walked down the street to the café, intending to take a breather and clear her mind of the stressful conversation. The heavy fragrance of coffee and clean pastries greeted her, and she took a seat by the window, ordered her favorite blend. She looked out the window, observing the continual flow of passersby going about their business, unconscious to the burden on her shoulders.
Her thoughts turned to the enigmatic message, Ryan's lingering glance, and the unspoken reminder that this world had become a delicate balance, swaying between what was and what might be. She'd entered Zhang Industries intending to recover a destiny for herself, but now she felt the pull of her previous existence, snaking through this second peril like an invisible thread.
Elena rose instantly as the café door slid open. She froze over. Ryan had entered, his gaze traveling over the room before settling on her. A spark of popularity passed his face, accompanied by a kind smile. He traversed the room, his stride effortless and confident, stopping just ahead of her table.
"mind if I join you?" He inquired, his tone courteous but curious.
Elena hesitated, considering the irony of the question. She used to jump at the chance, her heart fluttering in her eyes. However, with the memories of grief seared into her mind, she viewed him differently.
"Not at all," she said, nodding toward the unoccupied seat.
He took a seat across from her, laid his cup on the table, and read her with that familiar attention. "I wanted to say that you are an amazing applicant. Sharp and articulate. It's no longer clean to find."
She met his stare unflinchingly. "thanks. "I believe in being direct."
His eyes shone with intrigue, and he leaned forward. "That an awful lot is obvious." He pondered briefly before saying, "There's something about you that feels familiar."
The seemingly risk-free sentences hit her like a thunderbolt. Her hold on the cup tightened. "We simply met," she explained, keeping her voice cool and controlled.
"Real," he answered, his gaze fixed on her. "however now and again, things aren't always as they appear."
The cryptic assertion made her relax. Did he realize more than he was letting on? Or has it become merely idle curiosity? She couldn't be certain, and the uncertainty gnawed at her.
"Possibly familiarity is simply an illusion," she said quietly, her eyes meeting his with cautious intensity. "Or perhaps it's a reminder to maintain one's guard up."
He cocked his head, a gentle smile curling his lips. "An honest point. I believe that ambition has the ability to unite like-minded people."
Her heartbeat thudded, but she forced herself to remain calm, to shape his stare with a steely one of her own. He had no idea how deeply involved they'd been, how his choices had ruined her life. But while she observed him, she sensed an uncomfortable change, as if the lines between beyond and present had become blurred.
"So," he said last, his voice low and practically impossible, "if Zhang Industries isn't just a stepping stone for you, what is it?"
She glanced at him, feeling a strange surge of strength as she held back her intents. "I'm here to create my own legacy," she stated candidly.
A spark lit in his eyes, and he or she sensed respect, possibly even admiration. "Then it appears we're no longer so distinctive in spite of everything."
Her pulse accelerated as she realized how distinctive they were, yet perhaps he was correct. Perhaps they were simply daring individuals looking for a foothold in the corporate world. However, she couldn't shake the idea that something deeper was at work, an invisible force bringing them together and testing her solution.
Ryan rose, his gaze still lingering on her, as if he wanted to say more but held himself back. "i hope to peer you around, Ms. Zhang."
"Likewise, Mr. Matthews," she said, keeping her voice steady.
As he went, a shudder ran down her spine. The sport had only just begun, and she could feel it in the air, a suspenseful dread growing with each step she made closer to this new path.
And as she sipped her cappuccino, she had a sudden and obvious revelation. Something she thought she should be able to handle, the past may have spoken. But this time, she might be prepared to confront it head on, whatever it brings.
She glanced after him, her mind racing with unanswered questions, her heart trapped between the allure of familiarity and the possibility of repetition.
As she left the café, she couldn't help but feel as if she was walking not only into her destiny, but into the tangled web of her particular fate, one that was determined to check her until the very end.