Chapter 7
569words
The moment I arrived at the office, my best friend, Felix Powell, slid over to my desk, grinning like an idiot.
"So? You and Selena back together?" Felix said. "Not bad, man. Pulling something this big off without telling me. When are you treating us to dinner?"
I stared at him, completely baffled.
"Are you drunk?" I asked. "When did I ever get back together with Selena?"
Seeing how serious I was, Felix rubbed his chin, confusion written all over his face. "Then that's strange. The company received several massive contracts from Selena this morning. All paid in full. I figured you two had reconciled. Otherwise, why would she be this generous?"
Only then did I notice the stack of thick folders on my desk. Companies would kill for projects like these, with high margins and low difficulty.
And a startup like ours landing this many at once? There must be something unusual going on.
Before we could sort it out, my phone rang.
Selena's restrained voice came through. "Alexander, I'm your client now. You can't refuse a meal with a client, right?"
She had really gone this far.
No matter how uncomfortable I was, I could not risk the company's future over personal grudges.
…
When I went to meet her, I deliberately dressed down. I looked sloppy, almost careless.
The moment I walked into the restaurant, people stole glances at me. I stood out for all the wrong reasons.
But when Selena saw me, her eyes lit up. We looked completely mismatched standing side by side. One of her handbags probably cost more than everything I was wearing.
As soon as I sat down, she began serving me.
"Eat more," she urged. "You must have failed to take care of yourself abroad. Look how thin you are. I ordered everything you like. I even told them about your food restrictions. You'll like it, I promise."
I stopped her gently. "You don't have to do this. I appreciate it, but I can handle company matters myself. Our past shouldn't affect work."
I did not try to soften the message. I went straight to the point.
Her hand froze in midair. After a long pause, she forced a smile. "Alex, what happened back then was my fault. It's normal for you to resent me. I understand. But could you at least give me a chance to make it up to you? Just a little. So I can live with myself."
At that point, refusing again would have made me seem heartless. I lowered my head and kept eating, offering no reply.
Only then did she finally relax, a satisfied smile appearing on her face.
Her phone lit up on the table. It was a message from Matthew. She frowned slightly and turned the screen off.
I took another bite. "Won't not replying cause trouble?"
She clearly had not expected me to notice. She hesitated, then shook her head. "I've warned him. We're strictly superior and subordinate. Nothing else. I've already reassigned his work. I won't let him interfere with us again."
She looked at me expectantly, waiting for some kind of response.
I kept eating in silence.
Thus, she did know what a proper girlfriend was supposed to do. Back then, I simply had not mattered enough.
