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Cassy felt it the moment she stepped into the office. Something was different. Not just the usual tension. Not just the quiet glances. This felt… heavier. Like something had entered the room that didn't belong.
—
"Miss Williams."
She turned. Adrian walked toward her, looking unusually serious.
"That's new," Cassy said softly. "You look like bad news."
He didn't smile. "Someone's here to see him."
Cassy frowned slightly. "That happens every day."
Adrian shook his head. "…Not like this."
—
Before she could ask more— The elevator doors opened. And everything stopped.
—
A woman stepped out. Elegant. Confident. Beautiful in a way that didn't try too hard. She wore familiarity like it belonged there. Like she had every right to walk into this place.
—
And the moment Caleb stepped out of his office— His entire expression changed.
—
"…Veronica."
Cassy froze. That name. The way he said it— Not cold. Not distant. Just… known.
—
The woman smiled. "Hello, Caleb." Her voice was calm. Controlled. But there was history in it. Deep history.
—
Cassy didn't move. Didn't speak. But something in her chest tightened slightly.
—
"Why are you here?" Caleb asked. Straight. Direct. But not dismissive.
—
Veronica tilted her head slightly. "Is that how you greet someone you haven't seen in years?" A pause. Then softer— "Or did you forget me already?"
—
Cassy looked away. Because suddenly— She felt like she was seeing something she wasn't supposed to.
—
"I don't forget things," Caleb replied.
And Cassy knew that was true. Because he didn't. Especially not people who mattered.
—
Veronica's gaze shifted. And landed on Cassy.
—
"…And who is this?" she asked.
Caleb didn't answer immediately. That alone felt strange.
—
"This is Miss Williams," he said finally. "My secretary."
—
Secretary. The word felt heavier than usual.
—
Veronica smiled. But it didn't fully reach her eyes. "I see." A pause. Then— "She seems important."
Silence.
—
Cassy felt it. That shift. That tension. That subtle challenge hidden behind polite words.
—
"She does her job," Caleb said. Simple. Controlled. Professional.
—
But it didn't feel enough. Not after everything.
—
Veronica studied him for a second. Then smiled again. "That's not what I meant."
—
Cassy looked down at her tablet. Pretending to focus. Pretending not to hear. Pretending not to feel.
—
But she felt it. Of course she did.
—
"Come to my office," Caleb said. To Veronica.
—
And just like that— They walked past Cassy. Side by side. Like they had done it before. Like it was natural. Like it was familiar.
—
And that— That was what hurt more than anything else.
—
Inside the office, the door closed. And the entire floor seemed to hold its breath.
—
Adrian leaned closer. "…You okay?"
Cassy nodded. Too quickly. "I'm fine." There it was again. That word.
—
But this time— It didn't feel true at all.
—
Inside his office— Caleb stood across from Veronica. Silent. Still.
—
"You look the same," she said softly.
"I'm not," he replied.
A pause. Then— "I can see that," she said. Her eyes softened slightly. "But some things don't change."
—
Caleb didn't respond. Because he wasn't sure if that was true anymore.
—
"Why are you here, Veronica?" he asked again. This time— More controlled. More distant.
—
She walked closer. Slow. Confident.
—
"I came back," she said. A pause. Then— "For you."
Silence.
—
Back outside— Cassy sat at her desk. Staring at the same screen. Not reading anything. Not typing anything.
—
Because for the first time— She felt something she hadn't before.
—
Not confusion. Not hesitation.
—
But something sharp. Something quiet. Something painful.
—
Jealousy.
—
And inside the office— Caleb Garcia was facing a past he thought he had already left behind.
—
But the problem was— The past doesn't stay gone.
—
Especially when the present is just starting to matter.