Olivia's mind was a whirlwind of emotions as she left the boardroom. She clutched her tablet tighter, willing her legs to keep moving and her face to remain unreadable. The moment Ryan Carter had spoken her name, the walls she'd built around her heart had cracked just a little.
The bustling office floor seemed oddly quiet as she returned to her desk, a small corner of order amid the chaos of Carter Global's fast-paced environment. Olivia placed her tablet down and sat, taking a moment to breathe. But before she could even gather her thoughts, her phone buzzed.
Meeting in my office in 10. Don't be late.
The message was from Ryan.
Her chest tightened. She was no stranger to high-pressure situations, but this was different. Working with him meant facing the past she had carefully avoided for years.
Ten minutes later, Olivia stood outside Ryan's office. The frosted glass door bore his name in bold letters: Ryan Carter, CEO. She took a deep breath and knocked.
"Come in," his deep voice called.
Pushing the door open, she stepped into a space that was both intimidating and breathtaking. Floor-to-ceiling windows offered a panoramic view of Los Angeles, while the sleek, modern decor exuded power. Ryan sat behind a massive black desk, his focus on the laptop in front of him.
"You're early" he said without looking up.
"I try to be," she replied, her voice steady despite the tension in the room.
Finally, he glanced up, his sharp green eyes locking onto hers. "Take a seat."
Olivia obeyed, placing her tablet on the desk and sitting with her back straight, her professional mask firmly in place.
Ryan leaned back in his chair, studying her with an intensity that made her skin prickle. "You've done impressive work since joining the company," he said, his tone neutral.
"Thank you, Mr. Carter," she replied.
His lips twitched at the formality. "Ryan is fine. No need for that."
She hesitated, then nodded. "All right... Ryan."
There was a beat of silence before he continued. "I wanted to talk to you about the Delmar Tech merger. It's a massive opportunity for us, and I'll need someone I can trust to handle the finer details."
Trust. The word lingered in the air, heavy with irony. Olivia's gaze didn't falter. "I'm up for the challenge."
"I know you are." His voice softened slightly, and for a moment, the corporate mask he wore seemed to slip. "We've both come a long way since the last time we worked together."
Her breath hitched. The last time they worked together? He was clearly referring to their high school years, when they'd teamed up on everything from class projects to planning their futures. Futures that never panned out the way they'd imagined.
"I guess we have," she replied cautiously.
Ryan leaned forward, resting his elbows on the desk. "I need to know if you're comfortable working this closely with me. I don't want the past interfering with the present."
Olivia's jaw tightened. "The past is exactly that—the past. I'm here to do my job."
He nodded, but the way his eyes lingered on her made her wonder if he believed her. "Good. Because this deal won't be easy, and I need your full focus."
"You'll have it," she assured him, rising from her seat.
As she turned to leave, his voice stopped her. "Olivia."
She froze, her hand on the door handle.
"For what it's worth... it's good to see you again."
Her heart clenched at the words, but she didn't turn around. "You too," she said softly before walking out.
Later that evening.
Olivia sat at her small apartment's dining table, her laptop open as she reviewed documents for the merger. Her mind kept drifting back to Ryan's office, to the way he looked at her, the way his voice softened when he spoke her name.
Shaking her head, she refocused on the task at hand. She didn't have time to get tangled in old emotions, not when her career was on the line.
But as much as she tried to push him out of her mind, one thought remained: Ryan Carter was no longer just her ex. He was her boss.