The days following her dinner with Stephen were a whirlwind of emotions for Alicia. She threw herself into work, avoiding unnecessary interactions with him. Still, his presence was hard to ignore. He was professional during meetings and polite in passing, but Alicia could feel his eyes on her, as though he was waiting for an opportunity to bridge the gap between them.
At home, Emma's news about Aunt Maggie's debts weighed heavily on her. The letter from the creditors had been explicit: payment was expected soon, or legal action would follow. Alicia had no idea how she would come up with the money. Her salary at Halcyon was decent, but with rent, bills, and Emma's tuition, there was little left over.
One evening, after a long day at work, Alicia sat at the kitchen table, staring at the letter. Emma was in the living room, chatting on the phone. Alicia overheard bits of her conversation and recognized the voice on the other end—it was Daniel, Stephen's younger cousin.
"Don't worry, Emma," Daniel was saying. "If you need anything, just let me know. I mean it."
Alicia frowned. She wasn't thrilled about Emma getting close to someone from Stephen's family, especially when they were already entangled in enough complications.
The next morning, Alicia arrived at work to find an email from HR asking her to meet with Stephen in his office. Her stomach knotted at the thought of being alone with him again, but she couldn't exactly refuse.
When she entered his office, Stephen was seated behind his desk, reviewing a stack of papers. He looked up and smiled when he saw her.
"Good morning, Alicia. Please, have a seat."
She sat down, clutching her notepad like a shield. "Is something wrong?"
"Not at all," he replied, leaning forward. "I wanted to discuss a potential opportunity for you."
Alicia blinked in surprise. "An opportunity?"
Stephen nodded. "You've been doing excellent work in your current role, and I believe you're capable of handling more responsibility. There's an opening on the project management team, and I think you'd be a great fit."
She was taken aback. A promotion would mean a higher salary, which could help with the debts. But it also meant working more closely with Stephen—a prospect she wasn't sure she was ready for.
"That's… unexpected," she said cautiously.
"I understand this might feel sudden," Stephen said, his tone gentle. "But I genuinely believe in your abilities, Alicia. You've shown remarkable dedication, and I think you could thrive in this role."
Alicia hesitated, her thoughts racing. "Can I have some time to think about it?"
"Of course," Stephen said with a nod. "Take all the time you need."
As she left his office, she couldn't shake the feeling that the offer was more than just a professional gesture.
---
That evening, Alicia told Emma about the promotion over dinner.
"That's amazing!" Emma said, her eyes lighting up. "You should go for it."
"I don't know," Alicia said, stirring her soup absentmindedly. "It would mean working closely with Stephen. I'm not sure I can handle that."
Emma tilted her head, her expression thoughtful. "You've been avoiding him ever since he came back, haven't you?"
"Can you blame me?" Alicia asked. "It's complicated, Emma."
"Life is complicated," Emma said with a shrug. "But this isn't just about him. It's about you and your future. If this promotion can help us get out of this mess, isn't it worth considering?"
Alicia sighed. Emma had a point, as she often did.
"I'll think about it," Alicia said finally.
Emma grinned. "That's all I ask."
---
Stephen's POV
Across town, Stephen was sitting in his office late into the night, staring at a photo of himself and Alicia from their high school days. It was one of the few things he had kept after moving abroad.
"She still doesn't trust me," he murmured to himself.
Daniel walked in, a takeout bag in hand. "Talking to yourself now? That's a new one."
Stephen gave a wry smile. "Just reflecting."
"On Alicia, I'm guessing," Daniel said, setting the bag on the desk. "How's that going?"
Stephen leaned back in his chair. "Slowly. She's still angry, and I can't blame her. But I'm not giving up."
"Good," Daniel said, plopping down in a chair. "If anyone deserves a second chance, it's you."
Stephen arched an eyebrow. "Since when are you the expert on relationships?"
Daniel smirked. "Let's just say I've been getting some advice of my own."
Stephen chuckled. "Emma?"
"Maybe," Daniel said, his tone nonchalant.
Stephen shook his head but couldn't help smiling. "Just be careful, Daniel. Emma's been through a lot, and Alicia's protective of her."
"I know," Daniel said, his expression serious. "I'll take it slow."
The next day, Alicia found herself standing outside Stephen's office, her heart pounding. She had spent most of the night weighing the pros and cons of the promotion, and Emma's words kept echoing in her mind.
When she finally entered, Stephen looked up, his expression unreadable.
"Have you made a decision?" he asked.
Alicia took a deep breath. "I'll take the promotion."
Stephen's smile was warm but not overbearing. "I'm glad to hear that. I think you'll do great, Alicia."
"Thank you," she said, her tone reserved.
As she left his office, she felt a mixture of relief and apprehension. She had taken a step forward, but the path ahead was still uncertain.
---
That evening, Stephen sent Alicia an email outlining her new responsibilities. At the bottom, he had added a personal note:
"I'm proud of you, Alicia. This is just the beginning."
Alicia stared at the message for a long time, her emotions swirling. For the first time in years, she allowed herself to wonder if reclaiming love was truly possible—or if she was destined to keep her heart guarded forever.