Alex's life was perfect. He had finally found the love of his life in Emily, and his career was taking off. He was on top of the world, and nothing could bring him down.
Or so he thought.
As he walked into his office, he was greeted by his assistant with a surprised look on her face. "Alex, you have a visitor," she said, nodding towards the waiting area.
Alex's eyes followed her gaze, and his heart sank. Standing by the window, sipping a cup of coffee, was Rachel, his childhood friend and the girl who had been crushing on him for ages.
Rachel was a stunning woman, with piercing green eyes and long, curly blonde hair. She had been Alex's best friend growing up, and he had always valued her opinion. But he had never seen her as more than a friend, and he had made it clear to her on numerous occasions.
But Rachel had never given up hope. She had always believed that one day, Alex would see her in a different light, and she would become more than just a friend.
Alex's eyes met Rachel's, and he could see the excitement in them. She walked towards him, a bright smile on her face, and hugged him tightly. "Alex, it's been ages!" she exclaimed, her voice dripping with excitement.
Alex hugged her back, trying to hide his unease. "Rachel, what are you doing here?" he asked, trying to sound casual.
"I just got back from overseas," she replied, her eyes scanning the room. "I heard about your success and wanted to congratulate you in person."
Alex smiled, feeling a sense of obligation. "Thanks, Rach. It's great to see you."
As they chatted, Alex couldn't help but notice the way Rachel's eyes kept drifting towards Emily's picture on his desk. He felt a pang of guilt, realizing that he had never told Rachel about Emily.
Just then, Emily walked into the office, and Rachel's eyes narrowed. Alex's heart sank as he watched her take in the scene before her.
"Emily, this is Rachel, an old friend," Alex said, trying to sound casual. "Rachel, this is Emily, my girlfriend."
Rachel's eyes widened, and she forced a smile onto her face. "Nice to meet you, Emily," she said, extending her hand.
Emily shook it, her eyes flicking between Alex and Rachel. "Nice to meet you too," she replied, her voice friendly but cautious.
As the two women chatted, Alex could sense the tension in the air. Rachel was trying to be friendly, but he could see the wheels turning in her head. She was not going to give up easily.
As the meeting came to an end, Rachel turned to Alex and whispered, "Can I talk to you for a minute?"
Alex hesitated, but Rachel's determined look made him nod. "Excuse us, Emily," he said, following Rachel into his office.
As the door closed behind them, Rachel turned to him, her eyes flashing with determination. "You're dating her?" she asked, her voice low and urgent.
Alex sighed, knowing that this conversation was inevitable. "Yes, I am," he replied, trying to sound firm.
Rachel's face fell, but she quickly recovered. "Alex, don't be ridiculous," she said, her voice dripping with persuasion. "You and I are meant to be together. She's just a phase, a fleeting infatuation."
Alex's eyes widened in shock. "Rachel, I think you're misunderstanding," he said, trying to keep his voice calm. "Emily is not a phase. I love her, and I'm happy with her."
Rachel's face darkened, and for a moment, Alex saw a glimpse of the old Rachel, the one who had always been a little too possessive, a little too intense. "You don't mean that, Alex," she said, her voice cold. "You can't mean that."
Alex felt a shiver run down his spine. He had never seen Rachel like this before, and it scared him. "Rachel, I think you need to leave," he said, trying to sound firm.
Rachel's eyes flashed with anger, but she turned and walked out of the office, leaving Alex feeling uneasy and unsure of what was to come.
As he watched her go, Alex couldn't shake off the feeling that Rachel was not going to give up easily. She was going to fight for him, and he was not sure if he could stop her.