Anna could hardly believe it as she glanced down at the signed contract. After everything—after Alex firing her, after the humiliation, after the mess she'd made—she'd somehow pulled it off. The one investor who had refused to sign before, Mr. Bennet, was now on board.
She'd signed the deal with him right there in the airport, the adrenaline still pumping in her veins. The weight of the contract felt like it should be heavier, more monumental, but instead, it felt like the victory of survival.
Walking out of the airport, Anna let out a long breath, half-relieved, half-exhausted. It wasn't until she reached the exit that she saw him.
Alex.
There he was, standing outside, arms crossed, his eyes cold and assessing. He watched her with the same intensity as always, but this time, something in the air felt different.
She tried to ignore the uneasy feeling creeping up her spine. She had just signed a life-changing contract. She didn't need to worry about him.
But why did the ache in her chest say otherwise?
Anna took a deep breath and stepped toward the exit, trying to walk past him as if nothing was wrong, as if she hadn't just signed the contract of a lifetime. But her heart pounded as she felt his gaze follow her every move. She was about to pass him when she heard his voice—low, almost casual.
"So, you're really going to act like nothing's changed?"
Anna stopped. Her eyes narrowed as she turned to face him. "What do you mean?"
Alex looked at her, his expression unreadable. "You think you've won, don't you?"
She felt her pulse quicken. She wasn't about to let him get under her skin again. Not now, not when everything was finally going the way it was supposed to. "I've secured the deal, Alex. I don't need your approval."
His lips curled into a smirk, but there was something cold in his eyes. "It's funny. I remember a time when you couldn't even manage to get a contract right. And now you're acting like you've done something remarkable."
Anna's grip on the contract tightened, the pride she'd felt moments ago starting to fray at the edges. But she wouldn't let him see that. Not now. "I don't need your validation, Alex. I've earned this on my own. Not because of you, not because of your pity or whatever game you're playing."
For a moment, Alex didn't respond. His gaze flickered briefly to the contract in her hand, then back to her. There was something calculating in his eyes, something that made her stomach twist.
"We'll see about that, won't we?" he finally said, his tone colder than ever.
Anna opened her mouth to respond, but he was already turning away, his broad back retreating into the crowd. Her chest tightened as she watched him walk off, and for the briefest of moments, she almost felt like she'd lost. Like the deal wasn't hers after all.
But she refused to let that happen. She had a contract, and she had earned it. She wasn't going to let him—or anyone—take that away from her.
As she pulled out her phone to check her messages, a new text from Alex appeared on the screen: "Come to the office first thing in the morning with the contract."
Her heart skipped a beat. The last thing she wanted was to face him again so soon, but she knew there was no escaping it.
The next morning, Anna walked into the company office with the signed contract clutched tightly in her hand. She wasn't sure what to expect, but she certainly wasn't prepared for the silence that greeted her as she entered Alex's office. He was already there, waiting, his expression unreadable.
She placed the contract down on the desk in front of him. "Here it is."
Alex didn't immediately respond. His fingers traced the edges of the contract, as if he were inspecting it for flaws. "You've done well. I didn't expect you to pull this off after… well, after everything."
Anna stood still, her heart pounding in her chest. It was hard to tell whether the compliment was genuine or just a jab. "I told you I could do it."
He looked up from the contract, meeting her eyes. For a moment, there was silence—awkward, uncomfortable silence.
Then, Alex broke it. "Come back to work, Anna. You've proved you can do this. I'll need you on the next project."
Anna blinked, surprised. "You're offering me my job back?"
"Not offering," he replied with a smirk. "I'm telling you. I need you here."
Anna's mind raced. She wasn't sure if she wanted to go back to a place that had kicked her out so easily. But at the same time, the idea of having a secure future—now that she'd proven herself—was tempting. Working with Alex would be a challenge, but it could also be the stepping stone she needed. She took a deep breath, trying to calm her racing thoughts.
Before she could respond, her phone buzzed. It was a message from the chairman of the company, Alex's father.
"Anna, we'd like to meet with you tonight to celebrate the successful contract. Join us for dinner."
Her stomach fluttered. She hadn't expected this kind of recognition. She glanced at Alex, who seemed unfazed.
"You're going, right?" he asked, his tone casual, but with an edge of expectation.
"I—uh, I guess I am now." Anna couldn't hide the slight hesitation in her voice. She wasn't sure what to expect, but the idea of meeting Alex's father sent a strange mix of excitement and anxiety coursing through her.
"Good," Alex said, his voice unexpectedly soft. "I'll drive you there."
Her eyes widened. "You'll drive me?"
Alex shrugged, as if it were no big deal. "It's only fair, don't you think? You'll need to make a good impression. Besides, it's my family you're celebrating with. It makes sense."
Anna nodded, still unsure of what was really going on in his mind. As she looked at him, she couldn't help but feel a strange connection between them—one that she couldn't quite understand. It was the unspoken tension, the way he always seemed to push her buttons, and yet, in some odd way, she felt like he wanted her to succeed.
As they left the office, Alex's car pulled up, and she slid into the passenger seat, the silence hanging between them. She glanced over at him. "Thanks for the ride."
"No problem," he said, his eyes briefly flicking to hers. "Let's see how tonight goes."