Chapter 5 When Eyes Remember

The elevator doors opened with a quiet chime on the top floor of Cross Empire's sleek glass headquarters.

Ethan, dressed in a perfectly pressed charcoal suit and holding a digital tablet in one hand and coffee in the other, stepped into Jace's corner office.

Sunlight spilled across the room, hitting the glass desk where Jace sat, already scanning through reports.

"Morning," Jace said without looking up.

"Good morning, sir," Ethan replied smoothly, placing the coffee down exactly two inches from the edge just how Jace liked it. "Shall I run through your schedule for today?"

Jace finally glanced up. "Let's hear it."

Ethan swiped across the tablet screen with practiced ease.

"9:30 you have a strategy call with our Singapore branch. You requested it be kept under twenty minutes. I've already flagged the points that need urgent attention."

"Good."

"10:15 department briefing with Finance. Mr. Lang is expecting your input on the restructuring pitch."

Jace raised a brow. "Change it to 2 PM and remind me to push him on the budget cuts. He has been too soft."

"Noted," Ethan said, tapping his screen. "11:00 your meeting for today is with the Cross Empire board. They're focused on the cybersecurity division especially protecting users' personal data and the security of our new health apps. It has become critical,any breach could put millions at risk."

Jace's eyes turned to stare at the cityscape beyond the glass. The weight of responsibility pressed on him in that silent moment.

"And introduction meeting with your new assistant project manager."

Jace's gaze sharpened slightly. "That's the girl Mr Cross approved?"

"Yes. Ava Fletcher. She starts today. HR forwarded her file, high GPA, top of her class, a background in Business Administration, and a few internships with mid-level firms. Fairly clean record and quiet."

"Quiet can be good," Jace muttered, sipping his coffee. "At least she won't waste my time."

Ethan allowed himself the smallest smile. "We will see. You're meeting her briefly in Conference Room B before the operations walkthrough."

"If she's another spoiled intern who thinks she can flirt her way through assignments, shut it down early."Jace said softly, looking unconcerned.

"Of course, sir," Ethan replied calmly, unfazed. "But, she doesn't strike me as the type."

Jace looked up again, curious now. "You've met her?"

"In the hallway. She thanked the janitor and asked for directions instead of pretending to know everything. It was unexpected."

Jace leaned back in his chair, tapping the edge of his cup. "We will see if she is still humble after dealing with me."

Ethan smiled faintly. "Meeting begins in fifty minutes. Shall I have the room prepped?"

"Do it."

As Ethan turned to leave, Jace added without looking up, "And Ethan, don't let HR hire anyone interesting without telling me first next time."

"Noted, sir." Ethan said and left.

Ava's heels echoed across the glass tiled floor of the Cross Empire building as she raced toward the private elevator, heart hammering in her chest. She was running a little late, but it wasn't just nerves that had her breathless,it was the weight of the opportunity ahead. Her first official day. Her first real job in New York.

She lost her direction in the big company and had to ask an old woman for the direction.

As the elevator doors began to slide shut, she rushed forward.

"Hold the elevator!" she called out, breath catching in her throat.

The doors hesitated ,then slowly opened again.

And there he was.

She froze.

He stood tall in a tailored suit, one hand still hovering over the elevator panel, the other tucked loosely into his pocket. His broad shoulders looked too familiar. But it was his eyes ,those sharp, piercing eyes that made the world tilt slightly beneath her.

No.

It couldn't be.

He looked just as stunned. His posture didn't shift, but his jaw tightened. His gaze locked with hers.

It was him.

The man from Miami.

From that night.

The dimly lit hotel room, the way his hands memorized her skin, the way her name had slipped from his lips like a prayer and a curse. That night had burned itself into her bones, and now, he was here. In this building. In this elevator. In daylight.

A week of trying to forget. A week of pretending it didn't mean anything.

And now he was real.

Standing. Waiting. Watching.

His lips parted slightly, like he wanted to say something but he didn't.

Ava's stomach twisted. She tightened her grip on her tablet.

This couldn't be happening.

Not today.

Her eyes darted to the floor indicator. This elevator was headed for the executive floor. Her destination.

And he was going there too?

Her breath hitched. Her feet refused to move.

She shook her head slightly. "I..I will take the next one."

Before he could respond, she turned away.

The doors slid shut, quietly and completely.

Inside, Jace stood frozen, his reflection staring back at him in the mirrored walls. His mind spun as he ran a hand through his hair, the image of her face, the same one he hadn't been able to see for days now staring at him in the flesh.

"What the hell..." he muttered under his breath.

Ava tightened her grip on her tablet. She couldn't fall apart. Not here. Not now. She'd worked too hard to be here. She couldn't afford to slip.

But her stomach twisted again as she approached Conference Room B.

And then she saw him.

Leaning against the wall just outside the door like nothing had happened. Like he hadn't kissed her senseless in a hotel room a week ago. Like he hadn't disappeared without a word.

Except now his stare wasn't teasing. It was sharp. Cautious. Heavy with recognition.

She looked away quickly.

A man in a crisp gray suit turned to her with a polite smile.

"Miss Fletcher," he said. "Perfect timing."

She nodded, swallowing hard. "Thank you."

The man motioned toward Jace.

"This is Mr. Jace Cross. You'll be assisting him directly in the upcoming development phase."

Ava's heart sank into her shoes.

No Way.

She turned toward him slowly.

Their eyes locked.

Jace's jaw tightened just slightly. A flicker of emotion passed across his face, shock, confusion or something unreadable.

Then extended his hand.

"Nice to meet you, Miss Fletcher," he said, voice cool, composed.

She took his hand. Firm. Warm. Way too familiar.

"Likewise," she replied with a calmness she didn't feel.

It was a lie.

Nothing about this was nice.

And certainly, nothing was new.