FIVE
Five Years' Later
Rise and shine! It was a bright Monday morning, a happy one at that, for Lyra. She woke up with excitement brimming inside her. Today was the day she had been waiting for - her first day at her dream job. She had spent months preparing for this moment, and finally, it was here. She jumped out of bed, eager to get ready for her big day.
She walked to her dresser, her eyes lighting up as she gazed at her makeup kit. She picked up her favorite lipstick, a deep shade of red, and carefully applied it to her lips. She then moved on to her eyes, lining them with a hint of black eyeliner and finishing the look off with a subtle coat of mascara. As she looked at herself in the mirror, she felt a surge of confidence wash over her.
Lyra's thoughts drifted to the time she spent looking for a job. She had applied to countless positions, hoping to find something that would make her happy. She had gone through multiple rounds of interviews and rejections, but finally, the moment she had been waiting for had arrived. She had landed her dream job at a fashion company.
As she hummed a happy tune, she walked over to her closet, eager to pick out the perfect outfit for her first day at work. She chose a white blouse, a black pencil skirt, and a pair of black heels. She wanted to make sure she looked professional and stylish at the same time.
As she got dressed, she couldn't help but feel grateful for this opportunity. She knew that this was the start of a new chapter in her life. A chapter that would be filled with excitement, hard work, and success.
She took a deep breath as she walked through the doors of the towering skyscraper that was now her workplace. She was nervous but also excited to start her new job as a secretary for the fashion magazine section of the big company. She had worked hard to get here and she was determined to do well.
For some odd reason, she looked around cautiously, expecting to see at least one familiar person lurking around the corner. But instead, all she saw were employees…total unknown people going about their business like normal people.
As she made her way to the reception desk, Lyra’s heart began to pound in her chest as she realized that all three of them were sitting behind it. She was stunned and speechless as they each looked up at her with surprise on their faces.
As she approached the reception desk, a young woman looked up from her computer and smiled. "Can I help you?" she asked.
"I'm Lyra. I'm here for my first day as a secretary," Lyra replied, trying to keep her voice steady.
The woman checked her computer and then looked back up at Lyra. "Ah, yes. You're here to see the three Alphas. They'll be expecting you. Take the elevator to the top floor and someone will meet you there."
Lyra's heart skipped a beat as she stepped into the elevator.
The three Alphas? Could it be?
She had tried to forget about them, to put them out of her mind, but it was impossible. They had taken advantage of her, used her for their own pleasure, and then tossed her aside like a toy.
As the elevator doors opened, Lyra stepped out into a large, luxurious office. She looked around, taking in the plush leather chairs, the gleaming wood paneling, and the floor-to-ceiling windows that offered a stunning view of the city skyline. And then she saw them.
Kian, Ace, and Jared.
The three Alphas.
Oh God!
They were standing together near the far wall, deep in conversation. They looked older, more mature, and even more handsome than she remembered. Lyra felt her heart pounding in her chest as she approached them.
"Lyra!" Kian said, his voice low and commanding. "It's been a long time."
Lyra swallowed hard, trying to keep her composure. "Yes, it has," she replied, her voice barely above a whisper.
Ace stepped forward, a slight smile playing at the corners of his lips. "We're surprised to see you here," he said.
Lyra felt a surge of anger. Surprised? After everything they had done to her, they were surprised to see her?
She hadn’t seen or heard from any of them in five years, not since that fateful day when her father had taken her away from their home and paid off his debt.
She remembered that day vividly; it had been the same day they had forced themselves on her in the highschool's bathroom….or it might not necessarily be by force, but she wouldn't have gotten out of it even if she resisted.
The memory still made her shudder with revulsion but at least now she could face them without fear because she was no longer a helpless victim.
Jared simply stared at her for a moment before finally saying; “We’ve missed you.”
Lyra felt a sting in her heart as she heard the words.
Missed her? They had got to be kidding. But she doesn't show these emotions.
She finally found her voice and said; “I got a job here as a secretary… I didn’t realize you three owned this company!” Her eyes widened in rehearsed surprise as she tried to act as normal as possible. But really, it was a trauma, for her.
Kian smiled and replied; “Yeah, we pooled our resources together after college to start this business.”
“Oh, great," She nodded and gave a pursed smile. Deep down she wanted to disappear.
Such weird luck, she'd have to come across them for as long as she worked in the company.
There was an odd silence between them again.
Lyra broke the tension.
She smiled back at them before saying; “Well I can see you guys are doing well… Congratulations!” She gave each one of them a handshake, but instead Jared pulled her into a hilug that almost made her burn with electrocution.
She disengaged from the hug and smiled.
Lyra felt rage bubbling inside her as she walked home. She had never expected to see them again, and certainly not in a place of power like this. They were now successful businessmen, while she was still struggling to make ends meet. It made her blood boil just thinking about it.
She clenched her fists tightly as she thought about all the horrible things they had done to her in high school; all the bullying and humiliation that she endured at their hands for years on end. How could they have changed so much? How could they be respected by society now when back then they treated everyone with such contempt?
The injustice of it all sent waves of fury through Lyra's veins and she felt the urge to take her revenge on them. She wanted to show everyone how terrible and disrespectful they had been, and make sure that no one ever looked at them with respect again.
As she walked down the street, however, Lyra felt like there was a part of her that still needed closure from what happened back then. It felt like an itch she couldn't scratch, and the more she thought about it, the more frustrated she became.