Chapter 2 The Unexpected Reunion

JULIETTE POV

I saw Grace, Harrison's elder sister, standing beside a black Benz wearing a long red gown. She was the last person I expected to see today.

For a moment, I stood still watching her from a distance. She was on her phone, her expression serious but there was an elegance that made her look calm despite whatever conversation she was having. The sight of her brought back memories I tried so hard to hide as my eyes became teary but I controlled it.

"Mom, why are you crying?" Lily said, holding my hands.

"No, sweetheart I'm not crying"

Then I continued, "Come on! Let's go" I said as I assisted her into the taxi.

Throughout the ride, I couldn't stop thinking about different things.

A part of me wanted to hug Grace tightly but I couldn't bring myself to do so. Grace had always been nice to me, she was the older sister I'd never had. I remembered how she welcomed me into the family as her junior sister even when I started dating Harrison. She has always stood by me during my darkest moments. Even when Harrison stood me up at the altar, she was there to render a shoulder to cry on.

Seeing her now after all these years, filled me with an unexpected wave of guilt. I had disappeared from her life with a word or goodbye, nothing. After the whole wedding drama, I couldn't face the embarrassment and betrayal I felt so I fled to Europe without looking back. I didn't tell anyone where I was going or why I left. I just vanished with the need to desperately escape the pain that nearly destroyed me.

I never reached out to Grace, I didn't tell her about my life in Europe, or Lily. And now that I was back, I just couldn't bring myself to face her. "What would she think? She would be so disappointed and angry at me".

Lily's small hands slipped into mine, and I looked down at her, her brown bright eyes wide open with wonder as she took in the chaos around us. She was my pillar, my strength, my everything. The reason I had been to rebuild my life after Harrison abandoned me at the altar. She had no idea about the tangled web of pain and betrayal that occurred in this same city. But I intended to keep it that way and be strong for her sake.

"Mom, are we going to see your work now?" She asked, her voice filled with excitement.

"Not now! We need to check into our hotel then rest. Aren't you tired?" I asked with a big smile on my face.

"No I'm not! I want to go to Times Square. I heard that the place is filled with a lot of people and it's fun".

"I guess my little angel has been doing some research", I said as I tickled her.

"Don't worry, after I'm done with work tomorrow I promise to take you there but for now let's go home and unpack our things".

"Okay mom".

I couldn't let her see how anxious I was about everything, the looming meeting I had with the CEO of the company I'd be working with and the chances of me running into Harrison Carter. I could hear a voice whisper to me that I should have turned down the offer and it wasn't worth the risk of running into him. I am not a coward and I can't keep running from my past forever or letting it get in the way of my success. I have moved on!

The next morning, after dropping Lily off with the nanny. I found myself standing out a sleek glass building in Midtown, the headquarters of Carter Enterprises. The name reminded me of him but I tried to push the thought away. He is not the only one bearing Carter, I've seen a lot of enterprises bearing the same name here in New York and I am here to see Mr Drey the CEO.

I adjusted my bag and walked in elegantly with the sound of my heels clicking against the marble floor echoed through the expensive space as I approached the receptionist who spread a warm smile across her face.

"I'm here for a meeting with Mr Drey", I said, handing over my ID to her.

She typed my name into the computer, "Of course Ms. Harper. Please take a seat, he will be with you shortly!"

I nodded and sat down with my heart pounding heavily. I had been preparing for this meeting for weeks now and I knew my proposal in and out. I was fully prepared to answer any question thrown at me. But as the minutes ticked by, I couldn't help but feel uneasy.

Then the elevator doors opened and my heart stopped as the sight before me.

Harrison Carter.

I thought to myself, "How? Why is he here? What is he doing here?"

He was taller than I remembered, broader in his shoulders and more handsome. He scanned the lobby before his eyes landed on me and the moment our eyes met, it felt like time had stopped ticking and the world seemed to stop spinning.

"No. This can't be happening!" I exclaimed.

He walked towards me, "Juliette".

I swallowed hard, forcing myself to meet his gaze or speak to me. I haven't spoken to him in years and I haven't thought of the possibility of seeing him here at this time. But here he was standing right in front of me looking every bit of the powerful billionaire he had become.

"Harrison" I managed to say despite my shaky voice.

His eyes were still fixed on me but it looked different, cold, no warmth and no hint of the man I once loved. Instead there was a cool detachment as if the years we spent from each other had erased any form of connection we once had.

"Long time! I didn't expect to see you here" I said as I stood up, my hands gripping my bag tightly.

"I could say the same for you" he replied in a low tone.

I could feel the weight of his gaze and I struggled not to crumble or appear weak in front of him. The last I saw him, he shattered my heart into a million pieces without looking back and I wasn't about to let him do that again!

Then the receptionist walked towards us, "Ms. Harper, your meeting with Mr. Carter will begin in a few minutes".

I was confused. "What is going on? I'm supposed to have the meeting with Mr Drey and not him".