Alicia's first week at Halcyon Industries felt like a whirlwind. The company operated at a pace she wasn't used to, with deadlines, presentations, and a constant flow of meetings. Her days were long and tiring, but the steady paycheck was a relief she couldn't take for granted.
Still, working in the same department as Stephen West was a challenge she hadn't anticipated. Every glance in his direction brought a flood of memories she wasn't ready to confront. The sight of him leaning over his desk, focused and sharp, stirred emotions that felt both familiar and foreign.
He hadn't approached her since their brief exchange after the meeting. Alicia was relieved, but she also felt a gnawing sense of unfinished business. There were too many unspoken words between them, too much history to ignore.
---
Late one afternoon, Alicia was on her way to the breakroom when she nearly collided with Stephen in the hallway.
"Sorry," she mumbled, stepping back.
Stephen smiled, his eyes warm despite the exhaustion etched into his features. "It's okay. Long day?"
Alicia nodded, clutching her notebook tighter. "Something like that."
"Do you have a moment?" Stephen asked, his tone tentative.
Alicia hesitated. "Sure."
He gestured toward an empty conference room, and they stepped inside. The room was quiet, the soft hum of the air conditioning the only sound.
"I wanted to talk to you," Stephen began, leaning against the edge of the table. "Seeing you here… it's unexpected, but I'm glad."
Alicia's stomach churned with a mix of emotions. "I'm surprised you even recognized me," she said, her voice tinged with bitterness.
Stephen winced. "Of course I recognized you. I could never forget you, Alicia."
"Could've fooled me," she shot back, crossing her arms. "You left without looking back, Stephen. No calls, no letters. Nothing."
His expression softened, guilt flashing in his eyes. "It wasn't that simple. My parents—"
"Your parents," Alicia interrupted, her voice rising. "It's always about what they wanted, wasn't it? Never about us."
Stephen sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I was young, and I thought I was doing the right thing. They made it clear that staying would ruin my future. I didn't know how to fight them back then."
Alicia shook her head, her emotions threatening to spill over. "You didn't even try, Stephen. You just left me to pick up the pieces."
The room fell silent, the weight of their shared pain hanging between them.
"I'm sorry," Stephen said quietly. "I know that doesn't fix anything, but I mean it. I never stopped thinking about you, Alicia."
She looked away, blinking back tears. "It's too late for apologies. We're different people now."
Stephen nodded, though his expression held a glimmer of hope. "Maybe. But that doesn't mean we can't try to understand each other again."
---
That evening, Alicia returned home feeling emotionally drained. She dropped her bag on the couch and flopped down beside Emma, who was engrossed in a book.
"Rough day?" Emma asked without looking up.
"You could say that," Alicia replied, kicking off her shoes.
Emma set her book aside, studying her sister. "Is it about that person you mentioned? The one you used to know?"
Alicia sighed. "His name is Stephen. We… we were close a long time ago."
Emma raised an eyebrow. "Close as in dating?"
Alicia nodded, her gaze fixed on the ceiling. "We were together in high school. He was my first love, but his parents didn't approve of me. They sent him abroad, and we lost touch."
Emma frowned. "And now he's your boss?"
"Technically, he's one of the department heads," Alicia clarified. "But yes, we work together."
"That's… complicated," Emma said, her tone thoughtful. "Do you still have feelings for him?"
"I don't know," Alicia admitted. "Seeing him again brought back a lot of memories, but it also reminded me of how much he hurt me."
Emma placed a comforting hand on her sister's arm. "Maybe this is your chance to get closure. Or… who knows? Maybe it's something more."
Alicia gave a weak smile. "You've been reading too many romance novels."
"Maybe," Emma said with a grin. "But sometimes life surprises you."
---
Stephen's POV
Across town, Stephen sat in his penthouse, staring at the skyline. His conversation with Alicia had left him unsettled. He had hoped for a warmer reception, but he couldn't blame her for being guarded.
Memories of their time together flooded his mind: late-night phone calls, stolen kisses under the stars, and the way she made him feel like he could conquer the world. Losing her had been his biggest regret, and now that she was back in his life, he wasn't sure how to fix what he had broken.
His younger cousin, Daniel, walked into the room, interrupting his thoughts.
"You look like you've seen a ghost," Daniel said, flopping onto the couch.
"Not a ghost," Stephen replied, his voice distant. "Just someone I didn't expect to see again."
Daniel raised an eyebrow. "An old flame?"
Stephen nodded.
"Let me guess," Daniel said, smirking. "You're wondering if you still have a chance with her."
Stephen gave him a pointed look. "It's not that simple."
"It never is," Daniel said with a shrug. "But if she's important to you, you'll find a way. Life's too short for regrets, Stephen."
Stephen's gaze drifted back to the city lights. Maybe Daniel was right.
The next day, Alicia arrived at work to find a small bouquet of daisies on her desk. Her heart skipped a beat as she picked up the note tucked inside.
"For old times' sake. – S"
She glanced around, half-expecting Stephen to appear, but the office was quiet. The gesture left her conflicted. Part of her wanted to throw the flowers away, but another part—a smaller, softer part—felt touched by the sentiment.
Her workday passed in a blur, her thoughts constantly drifting back to the daisies. By the time the office emptied for the evening, she was still at her desk, lost in thought.
"Still here?" Stephen's voice broke the silence.
Alicia looked up to see him leaning against the doorframe, his expression cautious.
"Just finishing up," she said, her tone neutral.
Stephen hesitated before stepping closer. "I hope the flowers weren't out of line. I just… wanted to remind you of something good."
Alicia studied him, her walls still firmly in place. "They were unexpected. That's all."
He nodded, his hands in his pockets. "I know I have no right to ask, but would you have dinner with me? Just to talk. No pressure."
Alicia hesitated, her instincts warning her against reopening old wounds. But there was a flicker of curiosity she couldn't ignore.
"Okay," she said finally. "But just to talk."
Stephen's smile was small but genuine. "Thank you."
As he walked away, Alicia felt a mix of apprehension and anticipation. Perhaps it was time to confront the past, once and for all.
---