CHAPTER 3:First Day Jitters

Year 2024/Amelia's POV

The shrill chirping of the alarm clock seemed to mock me.Sleep,that glorious visitor I usually embraced with open arms,had eluded me completely.Every time I squeezed my eyes shut,visions of how everything could go wrong assaulted me in different dimensions.It was my first day at my new job,and a relentless knot of nerves had taken root in my stomach,refusing to budge.

Dragging myself out of bed,I felt like a zombie straight out of a horror movie.The dark circles under my eyes were practically begging for concealer,and my usually messy bun looked like a disaster zone on the verge of complete collapse.Stumbling into the kitchen,I went on autopilot,pulling out cereal and milk.The routine offered a mask of normalcy despite the chaos stirring inside me.

Just as I poured the milk,a notification buzzed on my phone.It was Kaylee,my best friend and partner-in-crime since childhood."Good luck on your first day,Ames!Crush it!P.S.Won't be back till tomorrow night.Got a location shoot out of town.I'm only one call away,roomie."

I snorted,a tiny flicker of amusement breaking through the fog of nerves.Kaylee.Always the adventurer,always leaving me to fend for myself.I typed a quick reply,thanking her for the well wishes.Truth be told,the thought of facing a completely new environment alone was terrifying,but with Kaylee miles away,there was no turning back now.

Taking a fortifying sip of coffee,I surveyed the disaster that was my reflection in the toaster oven.This wouldn't do.A first impression was key,and right now,I looked like I'd wrestled a rabid dog and lost.A quick mental inventory of my wardrobe and I settled on a crisp black dress and a blazer that managed to look both professional and stylish.A touch of makeup and a more polished bun later,I felt a sliver of confidence returning.

The bus was my usual mode of transportation,but today,the thought of rush hour and potential delays sent a chill down my spine.Being late on my first day wasn't an option,so I splurged on a cab.Navigating the bus felt like a risk I couldn't afford,especially today.

The city whizzed by in a blur of noise and lights as I clutched my seat,the weight of anticipation pressing on my chest.When we finally pulled up in front of Kane Corp,I swallowed hard.The building was a giant,its glass doors gleaming in the sunlight,promising both power and intimidation.

I stepped out of the cab,fighting the familiar knot of anxiety in my stomach as I walked toward the entrance,each step forward was a reminder that this was real.I pushed open the door,greeted by a crystal sculpture at the center of the massive waiting area that almost made me forget to breathe.

For a moment,I felt tiny—out of place.Brushing my worry aside,I took a step forward and that was when disaster struck.

As I hurried towards the reception desk,nervous energy propelled me forward,and the heel of my favorite pump caught on a barely-there seam lining the edge of the plush carpet.There was a sickening yank,followed by a feeling of being yanked backward.My heart lurched.Looking down,my worst fear was confirmed.My dress,the one I'd agonized over for weeks,was firmly snagged on a small metal cuff cleverly disguised within the carpet design.

Panic clawed at my throat.The cuff was practically invisible,blending seamlessly with the surrounding carpet.There was no way anyone wouldn't notice the gaping hole in the back of my dress if I tried to walk,and the thought of freeing myself by wriggling around on the pristine marble floor was equally horrifying.I was stuck,a fashion victim in the most glamorous prison ever designed.

A strangled sound escaped my lips,a mix of a gasp and a whimper.This was just fantastic.First-day jitters had officially morphed into full-blown meltdown territory.Just then,the automatic doors whooshed open,announcing the arrival of another visitor.My cheeks burned with the heat of a thousand suns.Please don't let it be someone important,I pleaded silently,squeezing my eyes shut.

A suffocating silence stretched on,punctuated only by the faint hum of the air conditioning.Each second felt like an eternity,the image of a gaping hole in my dress replaying on a loop in my mind.Just as I was about to abandon all hope and resign myself to crawling to the nearest restroom,a pair of polished shoes materialized in my field of vision.

I peeked up cautiously,ready to unload a string of apologies on whoever had just come to my rescue.But the words caught in my throat,and instead,a strangled gasp escaped.Standing before me,looking every bit the CEO,was Adrian Kane.

This wasn't the Adrian I remembered—the boy who had wormed his way into my heart faster than I had anticipated.Gone was the boy-next-door with the lazy smile and the careless charm.In his place stood a man who oozed authority,his buzz cut sharp and his suit even sharper.Those hazel eyes,the ones I used to get lost in,now had an unsettling,distant look.

I'd spent a long time convincing myself that I would be just fine working here,but seeing him again—this version of him—brought everything rushing back.The pain,the betrayal.I hated him.And yet,I couldn't help but remember the boy who had once made me believe in love.That of course had been a lie.The same way he'd made me believe had been the same way he'd ripped that belief to shreds without a second thought.Fast and hard.

It was like staring at a photograph,a faded snapshot of a happier time.I'd imagined what it would be like when I finally saw him again,but now,standing in front of him,all the things I wanted to say seemed to die on my tongue.

For a moment,neither of us moved.His eyes—those familiar hazel eyes that had haunted me for years—locked with mine,but there was no warmth there,no surprise,just cold indifference.I should've known he would look like this—distant,untouchable.After all,it had been a decade since he'd shattered my heart without a second thought.But I wasn't prepared for the way his cold stare would make me feel.Like I was a ghost from his past that didn't deserve his attention.

A woman's voice broke through the heavy silence,her perfectly manicured brow furrowing in concern."Is everything alright,Ms.?"

I blinked,realizing I had been staring for far too long and hadn't even noticed that she was standing beside him.A rush of heat spread across my cheeks,mortified by my own reaction.The lady moved swiftly,reaching out a hand to steady me.She helped me up,her voice a little more insistent now."Are you sure you're alright?"

I didn't even look at her as I straightened myself,my eyes still locked on Adrian as if I could find some answer in those cold,unreadable eyes."Yes,I'm fine,"I said,my voice a little shaky,but I made no move to break the stare.It felt like if I looked away first,he would win.

Finally,after convincing myself that it didn't matter,I turned away.My chest felt tight as I walked towards the reception desk,trying to keep my stride steady,and my back straight.I refused to look back,refused to wonder if he was still standing there,still watching me,the intensity of his gaze burning into my back.

As I spoke with the receptionist,I felt an unsettling mix of emotions—anger,confusion,embarrassment—but most of all,a strange sense of disbelief.After all these years,here we were.The past had never felt so present,so heavy.

I thought I was prepared for this.I had expected a few awkward moments,sure,but I hadn't expected to feel like I was standing on the edge of a cliff just from looking at him.There was something about being around him again that shattered the illusion of control I had carefully constructed for myself.

The weight of that realization pressed on my chest as I reached the elevator.The doors slid open with a soft whoosh,and I stepped inside,my reflection staring back at me in the mirrored walls.I looked at the woman in the glass,the one who had walked into this building with high hopes,plans,and expectations,and I couldn't help but feel a pang of uncertainty.

Maybe I had overestimated how easy this would be.Maybe I had been naïve,thinking I could compartmentalize my past with Adrian and move forward without it affecting me.Maybe this was going to be harder than I thought.But one thing was clear;I was no longer the same woman who had fallen for him all those years ago.I had rebuilt myself,piece by painful piece,and I wasn't going to let him—or his presence here—bring me down.

I would survive this.I had to.