Alex Bolivar adjusted her blazer as she stood outside the towering glass building. Her heart thumped with that familiar mix of excitement and nerves—this was her first day at a top financial firm, and everything she had worked for was finally coming together.
She had prepared meticulously: sleek black trousers, a long-sleeve button-down tucked neatly, heels polished to a shine. Her hair was pulled into a low bun with a few loose strands framing her face, softening her sharp features. Everything screamed professional—but inside, her mind was a storm.
Asha had dropped Yuto off at her home that morning, promising to keep him occupied while Alex proved herself. Her little boy's laughter still echoed in her ears, making her smile despite the butterflies.
Alex entered the lobby, scanning the bustling office. The receptionist greeted her warmly and handed over a folder containing orientation materials. "Your manager will meet you shortly, Ms. Bolivar. Welcome."
She nodded, holding the folder close, her pulse quickening. She didn't know that the man who would ultimately oversee her work—the very person who had once shared her most intimate secret—was already somewhere inside the building.
---
Yujiro sat behind his massive oak desk in his office, reviewing quarterly reports. His sharp eyes caught every detail, his mind always two steps ahead. A subordinate had mentioned a new hire, a young financial advisor fresh out of Harvard. Yujiro filed the name in the back of his mind—Alexandria Bolivar.
He knew her.
Not personally, at least not officially—but the name, the face, the aura… all were familiar. Professional discretion meant nothing would be said, but the moment she entered his building, he would notice.
---
Alex was summoned to meet with HR first. The interview had already been conducted by someone else while Yujiro had been away attending to "family matters," though in reality, he preferred to observe from a distance until necessary. She had received the call and email confirming her employment, and Asha had celebrated with her as if it were a small victory in a battle Alex had fought alone for years.
Walking through the hallway toward her manager's office, Alex felt the weight of her responsibility. She had to make a good impression. She had to prove that her past struggles—juggling jobs, raising Yuto, and surviving her family's scrutiny—had forged someone competent and unshakable.
---
"Ms. Bolivar?" a calm, precise voice called from the direction of an office door.
Alex looked up to see Yujiro standing there, his imposing figure framed by the sleek modern interior. His dark eyes scanned her briefly, expression unreadable, and he gestured for her to follow.
She swallowed and stepped forward, heels clicking against the polished floor. Each step was measured, professional, but inside, a small pulse of recognition struck—he looked… exactly as she remembered, the same aura, the same sharpness, and yet somehow colder.
---
The elevator ride to his office was tense but quiet. Alex kept her gaze straight ahead, hands clasped neatly, fighting the instinct to fidget. She could feel his presence behind her, silent and controlled, watching. She didn't know whether he recognized her—or if he did, whether he intended to acknowledge it.
When the elevator dinged, Yujiro stepped aside and opened the office door.
"Have a seat," he said, voice calm, expression neutral, as he gestured toward the chair in front of his massive oak desk.
Alex muttered a quiet, "Thank you," and lowered herself into the chair, keeping her posture straight. Every instinct screamed caution, but she reminded herself: this is professional. Nothing else matters.
Yujiro rolled back into his swivel chair, adjusted his sleeves, and laid out the first item on the agenda: the contract she would be responsible for managing. He spoke with calm authority, every word measured, every expectation clearly stated.
"Everything in your role is important, Ms. Bolivar," he said. "I will be informed of all your actions and progress. Any discrepancies will come directly to me."
Alex nodded, keeping her composure, but inside, a flicker of recognition passed between them. The world shifted slightly—the past brushing against the present—but both were determined to keep it buried beneath professionalism.
For Alex, Yuto remained her secret, the tether to a life Yujiro had no idea existed. And for Yujiro, the pull of familiarity and curiosity was a quiet storm, contained behind the mask of a CEO.
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End of Chapter 1