Emily Carter stopped in front of the glass building and tightened her grip on her bag.
This is it, she thought.
A new job. A new beginning.
She had promised herself she wouldn't let fear control her life anymore.
The elevator ride to the top floor felt endless. The numbers climbed higher, her heartbeat matching every quiet ding.
"Please wait here," the assistant said kindly, opening the conference room door.
Emily stepped inside.
And her world shattered.
At the head of the table stood a man in a perfectly tailored dark suit. Tall. Confident. Untouchable. His presence alone commanded silence.
Then his eyes lifted.
And met hers.
Her breath caught.
No… this isn't real.
Those eyes—cold, sharp, familiar in a way that hurt.
"Good morning," he said, his voice calm and controlled.
She knew that voice.
Ethan Miller.
Her first love.
Her first heartbreak.
The man who disappeared from her life without a goodbye.
For just a second, something flickered in his expression—shock, pain, regret. But it vanished instantly, replaced by a professional mask.
"Ms. Carter," he continued, as if they were strangers. "Welcome to Miller Group."
Emily forced herself to breathe.
Years ago, this was the man who held her hand and promised never to leave.
Now he couldn't even look at her without building walls.
"Thank you, Mr. Miller," she replied, her voice steady despite the storm inside her.
Their eyes locked again—too long to be polite, too intense to be meaningless.
The past hadn't stayed buried.
It was standing right in front of her.
And this time… he was her CEO.