Chapter 6

Iwoke up early after having some vivid dreams about the past. Filled with excitement, I got in a quick workout to burn off some of my energy. Today was the day Isadora started working for me.

We were going to be in the same room for the first time in nearly fifteen years. My stomach was doing weird things just thinking about being near her. Just seeing her yesterday had thrown me for a loop. I couldn't help but wonder if this arrangement might be a bad idea.

But there was also that part of me that hoped this could be a second chance for us. We were both older now and her father wasn't going to run me out of town a second time. This might be a chance for us to rekindle those old feelings. I wanted to know if they were still there. Were they real or had it truly been puppy love?

I walked into my closet and selected one of the suits I typically wore when I was trying to land a big client. I wanted to impress her and show her I wasn't the poor kid she knew back then. I had lifted myself up in the world.

I strode into the office building. My eyes scanned the bustling lobby as I made my way toward our usual table. Spencer was already there, sipping coffee with Jax. Jax rarely showed up early now that he had a beautiful woman warming his bed. The two of them were engrossed in animated conversation.

"Hey, guys," I greeted, sliding into a seat beside Spencer. "What's got you two early birds chirping?"

Spencer slid my coffee toward me. We typically took turns buying. Whoever got there first bought the coffee. I nodded. "Thanks."

"I was just telling Spencer about a campaign I worked on with him," Jax said. "The thing has taken off. I've been getting calls left and right to do graphic design for other companies after that one hit it big."

"Marketing?" I asked with surprise. "That's ballsy."

He chuckled. "No. It's mostly been from companies looking to get updated logos or they want some work done for presentations."

"He's not going to do it," Spencer said. "It's too much of a conflict. He's just bragging."

"You deserve to brag," I said. "Good job. Now every client is going to expect that kind of graphic work on their campaigns. You upped the bar for yourself."

Jax shrugged, the corners of his mouth twitching in a self-satisfied smile. "I'll take the compliment, but I know my limits." He paused, leaning back in his chair with a casual grace. "It's always good to keep raising the bar though, isn't it?"

Spencer nodded. "Higher the bar, the more the work is worth."

Jax snapped his fingers and pointed at me. "Hey, did I hear you've got a new assistant starting today?"

"Isadora," Spencer said, grinning. "His first, last, and only love."

"Shut your pie hole," I muttered.

"Ah, the one that got away," Jax said with a knowing smile. "What happened there? You let the best one slip through your fingers, man."

"You know what happened," I shot back.

"She figured out who you were and ran as fast as she could?" Jax joked.

I rolled my eyes at Jax's teasing. It was true that Isadora had been the one who got away, but it wasn't entirely by choice. After her father had discovered my less than stellar family background, he had made sure to keep us apart.

"And now he's hired her to be his assistant," Spencer said.

"Technically, you hired her," I reminded him.

"Shall I call her and tell her never mind?" he asked with a smug grin.

"No, dick," I growled.

"Did she remember you?" Jax asked.

"Oh yeah," Spencer answered for me. "It was a little awkward for the third wheel, AKA me. King Kong over here barreled into her in the hallway like a gorilla. But even then, there was some serious chemistry sizzling between you two."

I had thought so too, but hearing him confirm my suspicions made my heart soar. Sun shined in the dark places in my heart. If there was still a chance for something with Isadora, it would be like winning the lottery.

Of course, I refused to let my friends know how deeply infatuated I was already, so I just played it off. "It was a shock. I didn't mean to run into her."

"Well, get that shock out of your system," Jax said. "She'll be here soon, I assume."

I sipped on my coffee and scanned the bustling people, looking for her. "I'm sure it'll be fine."

The lobby was growing busier by the minute with smartly dressed professionals on their way to work. Isadora strode through the crowd with her head held high, and they parted for her as if on instinct. She wore a sleek black pencil skirt and a crisp white blouse that accentuated her figure. Her hair was pulled back in a neat ponytail, not a single strand out of place.

Jax laughed and clapped me on the shoulder. "Yeah, I'm sure everything will be just fine," he said sarcastically.

"I'll see you guys later." I got up from the table and cut through the crowd, moving toward her. She hadn't seen me. Anticipation built within me like steam in a boiling kettle. I wanted to sweep her into my arms and hug her like no time had passed, but that was a terrible idea my brain kept sending, and I forced it down.

A different part of me urged me to apologize immediately for leaving without any explanation. But ripping open that old wound at the start of her first day seemed like an even worse idea.

Unable to trust any of the wild urges clamoring in my head, I kept it simple, neutral. Boring.

"Isadora," I greeted, offering her a genuine smile, and fell into step beside her. "Ready for your first day?" Because I'm clearly not.

She returned my smile, a hint of uncertainty flickering in her eyes, but she nodded. "As ready as I'll ever be."

"Would you like to grab some coffee before we go up?" I asked. "On me."

She held up her Stanley mug. "I'm good. But thank you."

I led her over to where Jax and Spencer were chatting, pretending like they weren't watching our every move. They both grinned like little boys in class trying not to laugh.

"Isadora, you'll be working with these two chuckleheads too," I said. "You met Spencer yesterday. This is Jaxson. He's the head of the graphic design department and one of the partners. Jax, this is Isadora, my new assistant."

Jax raised an eyebrow in amusement and smiled at her. "I've heard a lot about you. Welcome to the team."

Isadora politely smiled back, her posture radiating confidence despite the subtle tension in the air. "Thank you. It's nice to meet you."

Spencer nodded at her. "I'm glad you made it. Let us know if you need anything."

"We'll see you upstairs," I said to the guys, wanting to cut the conversation short because I didn't trust them to behave.

We stepped into the elevator with several other executives.

"This week will mostly be training and getting you familiar with the way things work," I told her.

She nodded. "Okay. I'm a fast learner."

We stepped out on our floor and I led her to a small office right near mine. Opening the door, I gestured for her to step inside. "This will be your office."

"Oh," she said, head perking up. "I wasn't aware I would have my own office. Not bad."

"Feel free to decorate it however you like," I offered, gesturing around the room. "I have a budget set aside for that as well."

To my surprise, Isadora shook her head, a small smile playing at the corners of her lips. "No need," she replied simply, her voice tinged with a hint of finality. "I only need a few things, and they're all in my bag."

"This week we'll be spending a lot of time together," I told her, watching how she would react to the idea. "It'll be all about you getting to know how I work and what I'll need from you."

Isadora's gaze met mine, her expression unreadable for a moment before she nodded. "I'm looking forward to it," she replied, her voice steady.

"Great. I'll leave you to get settled. The computer should be all set up. If you could come to my office in about thirty minutes, we'll get started."

She nodded. "Of course."

I left her to settle into her new space, and once I was back in my office, I could breathe again. Our first morning back together had been way less awkward than I'd been expecting. To my intense relief, I hadn't acted like a total fool or said anything to immediately upset her. I would count it as a win.

Only time would tell if we could mend what had been broken between us, but so far, so good. I was content to take things one step at a time. It would give me a chance to peel back her layers and get to know her again.

Just having her near made me feel lighter, like a gentle breeze could send me sailing into the clouds. And she also awoke an intense possessiveness in me. She belonged with me, in my arms, and I would never let her go.

She was mine.

I took a deep breath and sat at my desk. The intensity of my feelings shocked me. Isadora could rattle me with just a smile. No other woman had ever made me feel so off balance. I had almost forgotten I could feel this way at all.

Everything is going to be fine? What was I thinking?

Trying to focus, I pulled out the list of tasks I had prepared the last time I had to hire an assistant. After reviewing her resume, I knew this position was below her. I didn't understand why she wanted to work as my assistant when she was qualified to run a department or have a more substantial role. That was one of her layers I hoped to peel back.

At the appointed time, there was a soft knock on the door. I looked up and saw Isadora with a yellow pad in hand. "Are you ready for me?"

That was a loaded question. "Yes, please. Have a seat."

It was a little awkward at first, but she seemed willing to learn. As the day progressed, Isadora and I gradually fell into a comfortable rhythm, the initial discomfort giving way to easy conversation and shared laughter. It was as if no time had passed at all. It was like we were right back to where we had been before I went back to college.

I found myself genuinely curious about her life outside of work, eager to learn more about the woman she had become in the years since we last saw each other. "Did you ever get married?" I asked.

She smiled and shook her head. "No. You?"

"Nope." I shook my head. Inside, I was practically jumping for joy. I had no right to be jealous, but I was relieved she hadn't married.

"Why not?" she asked.

"I guess I've been too busy." I shrugged. "What about you? You're a beautiful woman. I find it hard to believe you managed to stay single."

She got a strange look in her eyes. "Well, there aren't a lot of men interested in becoming instant daddies and I haven't been interested in introducing my daughter to strange men."

I almost swallowed my tongue. "Really? I had no idea," I said. "You're a single mother?"

"I am," she said, nodding.

"Her father, is he?—"

"He's not in the picture," she said simply.

By her demeanor, I could see she wasn't comfortable talking about her daughter and the situation. I was angry on her behalf, feeling a righteous indignation at the thought of someone walking away from the life I had always dreamed of. Who could walk away from Isadora and his own child?

I answered my own question. But I didn't choose to walk away. I was pushed away and warned not to come back around. I thought I was doing the right thing.

I cleared my throat. "How's your father?" I asked.

She snorted. "Stubborn. Strong-willed. Misogynistic."

I chuckled. "So, he hasn't changed a bit."

"No, he hasn't." She sighed. "I worked for him for a long time, but it became clear it was never going to change. I had to leave."

"I understand. And your mom?"

"She passed away thirteen years ago."

"I'm sorry," I said immediately.

"It's fine. It's been a long time. How are your parents? I miss your mom."

"Mom is doing great. My dad passed away twelve years ago."

"Oh no!" she gasped. "I'm sorry."

"Thank you," I said. "I guess we both went through the same thing."

"Yeah." Isadora nodded, a hint of sadness in her eyes. "It's strange how life can take unexpected turns, isn't it?"

I nodded, feeling a sense of camaraderie with Isadora over our shared experiences. I wanted to ask her more about her daughter, but it was clear she wanted to keep that part of her life to herself. I hoped as we got to know each other again, she would be comfortable sharing more.

As the day drew to a close, I found myself reluctant to say goodbye. We had accomplished a lot of work together. "I'll see you bright and early tomorrow morning," I said, a hint of flirtation creeping into my voice, and I flashed her a playful grin.

To my surprise, Isadora blushed at my words, smiling faintly, and got to her feet. "I'm looking forward to it."

I watched her go, feeling the connection that was beginning to form between us all over again. Spencer walked into my office with a stupid grin on his face.

"So, are you two engaged yet?" he asked.

I chuckled. "Not yet."

"You think there's a chance you'll get together again?"

"There's always a chance," I said with a wink.