7. Nakul

Nakul

I step out of the car the next morning and look up at the towering glass and steel structure of Riocen Chemicals. The sun bounces off the windows, making the building seem more imposing than it probably is. My stomach churns. Maybe I should’ve mentioned this to Judd yesterday during lunch. Working here—at his mother’s company, of all places—feels like the kind of thing you give someone a heads-up about.

But how do you casually drop something like that? Oh, by the way, I’m going to be at your family's company soon. Hope that’s cool.

It’s already strange enough that I keep running into him. First the café—although that was planned, then the grocery store, and now this. If I’d said anything, it might’ve come across as creepy, like I’m following him around. And I’m not. I’m not . It’s just… a series of coincidences, right?

Yeah, that’s what I’ll keep telling myself.

I close the car door with more force than necessary and let out a deep breath. My mind won’t stop replaying yesterday. Judd’s shy blush as he ate the sandwich I offered him and then invited me to dinner, the way he fumbled over his words—it’s been circling in my head.

I keep telling myself it’s no big deal, that I just want to help him because I owe him that much. After everything Ava did to him— to us —offering support feels like the least I can do—especially during the holidays.

But why am I so obsessed with this? Why does it feel like there’s something more I need to figure out? Maybe it’s guilt. Maybe it’s wanting to set things right. Or maybe… maybe it’s something I’m not ready to name yet.

I check my watch. Fifteen minutes early. Time to pull myself together before heading inside.

My phone buzzes in my pocket, and when I see Ava’s name on the screen, my stomach twists again—but this time, it’s with anger. I answer with a clipped, “What is it, Ava?”

Her voice is syrupy sweet, the kind of tone she uses when she’s trying to manipulate someone. “Nakul, I don’t understand why you’re so mad. We could still make this work. I mean, even if you can’t have kids, I still have Stevie—”

My hand tightens around the phone. “ Stevie ? The daughter you abandoned?” My voice is low, a growl on the edge of my words. This isn’t even the first time she’s mentioned it but it still pisses me off every time. “Don’t even start with me again, Ava. You don’t get to pretend now that you care.”

“Don’t be so dramatic,” she snaps, the sweetness gone. “I needed that time to find myself. You don’t understand what I was going through—”

“I understand perfectly,” I cut her off. “You didn’t want the responsibility. You dumped her on Judd’s doorstep and walked away without a second thought. And now you want her back? Are you kidding me?” We've already had this conversation but apparently Ava didn't understand the first time.

“She’s my daughter ,” Ava insists, but there’s a whine in her voice, a crack in her confidence.

“She’s Judd’s daughter,” I fire back, barely holding back the fury bubbling inside me. “And she’s happy. I won’t let you ruin that for her—or for him.”

She tries to respond, but I’ve had enough. I end the call and turn my phone off, shoving it into my pocket. My hands are shaking and I take a moment to breathe, to calm myself. I can’t let her get to me, not today. This won’t be the last time she calls but it will be the last time she tries to hurt Judd and Stevie.

Maybe this is just some selfish vendetta where I protect them from the pain I wasn’t spared.

When I finally step through the glass doors of Riocen Chemicals, the sleek interior of the lobby feels like another world entirely. Polished floors, minimalist furniture, everything clean and professional. It’s intimidating, but I square my shoulders and head toward the elevators, following the directions I was given.

On the third floor, Mrs. Stathis is waiting for me. She’s tall and imposing, with an air of authority that commands attention. She shakes my hand firmly and smiles—a polite smile that shows off true beauty. She’s old enough to be my mother but her shine hasn’t dulled one bit.

“Mr. Hawthorne,” she states. “Thank you for coming. Let me show you the space.”

I nod, following her down the corridor. She talks about the company, the importance of this project, but her words blur together as I focus on staying composed. My mind is still spinning from the call with Ava.

Mrs. Stathis leads me into a large, open room with high ceilings and plenty of natural light. “This is the space we’re considering for the lab,” she explains. “We’ll need your expertise to determine if it’s suitable for the type of construction we have in mind.”

I nod, already scanning the room, my mind shifting into work mode. This part, at least, I know how to handle. Before I can respond, she turns toward someone entering the room.

“Ah, Athena, there you are,” she says. “This is Mr. Hawthorne from Hanson Contracting. He’ll be assessing the space. Mr. Hawthorne—”

“Nakul, please,” I offer, embarrassed.

Mrs. Stathis just smiles. “Of course. Nakul, this is my daughter Athena who will be helping you with what the vision is. My other daughter, Jessica, will be around as well.”

Athena strides in confidently and shakes my hand firmly, her gaze sharp and evaluating. It’s easy to see where she got her looks, embodying that bold look that I assume is a Stathis trait. Even Judd embodies some of that spark. “Pleasure to meet you,” she says. “I’ll be overseeing the project on our end. The lab needs to meet specific requirements and we’ll rely on your expertise to guide us. Let me walk you through the details.”

She dives into the technical aspects, not wasting any time. I nod along, asking questions where needed. I’m just starting to feel like I have a handle on things when the air shifts. It’s subtle—a drop in temperature, a sudden awareness that we’re no longer alone.

I turn and see him. Judd.

He’s standing in the doorway, wide-eyed, his gaze flicking between me, his mother, and Athena. He looks amazing—dressed in a sharp suit that fits him perfectly, his tight curls a little looser than when I last saw him. There’s a confidence about him—the Stathis charm, I assume, but it’s undercut by the surprise on his face.

I step forward and stick out my hand, forcing a neutral expression. “Hi, I’m Nakul from Hanson Contracting. Mrs. Stathis had me look at this place.” I want to make it obvious that I didn’t plan this, that I didn’t worm my way into this company because of him. That it’s part of my job. Hopefully, Judd has heard of Hanson Contracting before in their talks so this isn’t a total surprise.

Judd hesitates for a moment before shaking my hand. “I’m Judd,” he says, an edge to his voice that tells me he’s slowly putting up walls. “I’m the accountant. All purchases will go through me to make sure we stay on budget.”

Athena laughs, glancing between us. “You probably already know Judd,” she says. “You were in school together, right? I was a year or so behind you, Nakul. Small world.” She gives us a knowing smile before excusing herself. “I’ll let you two catch up.”

And just like that, it’s the two of us. The room feels too quiet, the air thick with unspoken questions. Judd crosses his arms, his gaze narrowing. “Why are you really here, Nakul?” he asks. There’s an edge of accusation to his tone but I can’t blame him. “This is the third time in a few days. It’s starting to feel… intentional.”

I shake my head quickly. “I swear, it’s not. Riocen reached out months ago. This job has been in the works for a while. It didn’t click until recently that this was your family’s company.”

Judd looks at me for a long moment, as if trying to gauge whether I’m telling the truth. He finally sighs, running a hand through his hair. “Mom put out a few bids earlier this year. I remember Hanson being one of the contenders but it’s… weird,” he admits. “Seeing you here. Seeing you at all, honestly. I didn’t think—” He cuts himself off, shaking his head. “Never mind.”

“I get it,” I say quietly. “It’s a lot. If it helps, I’ll keep things professional. This is just a job for me.”

He nods, but the awkwardness lingers. I can’t blame him. After everything that’s happened, after all the tangled history between us, this situation feels like a cosmic joke. But as much as I want to explain myself, to reassure him, I don’t know how to say what I’m feeling. Because even I don’t fully understand it yet.