Chapter 2 Professional Lilian.

I woke to the harsh buzz of my alarm, my eyes swollen and puffy. For one blissful moment, I'd forgotten about Derek's betrayal. Then reality crashed back as I reached for my phone and saw the unanswered texts from him, plus twelve notifications from social media I didn't dare check.

"Professional Lillian," I reminded myself, stumbling to the shower. "Today is about Everett Enterprises, the Northstar campaign, and securing that promotion. Not about Derek the cheater and his new girlfriend."

The hot water helped wash away the worst of last night's emotional hangover. As I went through my morning routine-blow-drying my hair into soft waves, applying makeup that concealed the evidence of my sleepless night, choosing my navy blue power suit. I focused on my presentation. The Northstar Hotels account was worth millions to Everett, and I'd spent weeks analyzing their market positioning and developing a strategy that would revitalize their brand.

This was my chance to prove myself to the executive team, especially after the whispers following my latest breakup. I knew some people thought I was too emotional, too unstable for leadership. Today would shut those rumors down for good.

I was reviewing my notes over coffee when my phone buzzed with a text from Talia:

*Sending you warrior goddess energy today. You're going to kill that presentation. Call me after! (And don't check your social media. Nothing good there.)*

With a sigh, I put my phone on Do Not Disturb and slipped it into my purse. Whatever the office rumor mill was churning out about me and Derek, I didn't want to know. Not until after my presentation.

The morning commute to downtown was its usual chaos of packed trains and hurried pedestrians. I kept my shoulders back and chin up, projecting confidence I didn't entirely feel. By the time I walked through the glass doors of Everett Enterprises, I'd mentally rehearsed my presentation three more times and pushed Derek to the furthest corner of my mind.

"Morning, Lillian," our receptionist called cheerfully. "Big day today, right?"

"Morning, Jen," I replied with a smile that felt only slightly forced. "Yes, just finalizing some numbers before the Northstar meeting."

I made it to my office without running into Derek or Amber, which felt like a minor victory. As I settled at my desk and booted up my computer, Emily from the creative team poked her head in.

"Hey," she said, her expression sympathetic. "You okay? I heard about... you know."

So much for keeping my personal life separate from work. "I'm fine," I said, more curtly than I'd intended. Softening my tone, I added, "Thanks for asking. Just focused on the presentation today."

Emily nodded, hovering awkwardly. "Well, if you need anything... And for what it's worth, Derek's an idiot. Everyone knows Amber has been trying to get her claws into him for months."

Great. So everyone knew except me. "Thanks, Em. I really need to prepare now."

Once she left, I took a deep breath and pulled up my presentation slides. Two hours until the meeting. I could do this. I would do this, and I would be brilliant, and no one would remember Lillian Vale as the girl who got dumped by text message today.

At exactly 11:30, I gathered my materials and headed for the conference room. I arrived early to set up, testing the projector and arranging handouts at each seat. People began filing in-the creative team, the account managers, and finally, the executive team led by Caroline Everette herself, the managing director and secretary to the firm's founder and CEO.

I was in the middle of connecting my laptop when the door opened one more time and Derek walked in with Amber right behind him. My stomach dropped. I'd known, logically, that they would be here because Derek was on the accounts team, and Amber was the social media strategist for Northstar. But seeing them together sent a fresh wave of betrayal crashing over me.

What I hadn't expected was the chill that descended over the room. Several colleagues shifted uncomfortably in their seats, and I caught Emily shootingDerek a disgusted look. Caroline's assistant leaned over to whisper something to Jackson, who frowned deeply in Derek's direction. Even Thomas from HR, usually the picture of neutrality, was giving Derek a wide berth.

It dawned on me that while office gossip might have painted me as "cursed" in relationships, Derek wasn't exactly coming out of this unscathed. Cheating on a colleague and immediately dating another wasn't winning him any popularity contests.

Derek's eyes met mine briefly before he looked away, his confident stride faltering as he led Amber to seats as far from me as the conference table allowed. She leaned in to whisper something in his ear, but his smile looked forced, uncomfortable under the weight of silent judgment filling the room.

Caroline noticed the tension immediately. Her sharp eyes darted between us before settling on me with an evaluative gaze. "Lillian," she said, her tone professional but with a hint of concern. "Are we ready to begin?"

I straightened my spine and met her eyes. "Yes, Ms. Everett. I'm ready."

For the next forty-five minutes, I was no longer heartbroken Lillian Vale. I became the marketing analyst who could recite demographics and engagement metrics, explain complex market trends in accessible language, one who had crafted a strategy that made Caroline Everett nod with approval.

I didn't look at Derek once, anddidn't falter when Amber asked pointed questions about my social media projections. I owned that room, and with each slide, each data point, each confident answer, I felt a little more of my power returning.

"In conclusion," I said, advancing to my final slide, "the Northstar brand has tremendous potential for growth in the luxury weekend getaway market. With our proposed repositioning strategy, we project a 22% increase in bookings from our target demographic within the first six months, and a 15% increase in overall revenue by year-end."

Caroline tapped her pen against her notepad, the gesture I'd learned meant she was impressed. "Very thorough analysis, Lillian. I particularly appreciate the attention to the millennial market segment. It's an angle we haven't fully exploited."

"Thank you, Ms. Everett."

"I'd like you to lead the implementation team for this project," she continued, causing several heads to turn in surprise. Implementation leads were typically senior managers, not analysts like me. "Your understanding of the strategy makes you the natural choice."

From the corner of my eye, I saw Derek shift uncomfortably in his seat. He'd been angling for more leadership responsibilities for months.

"Thank you for the opportunity," I said, maintaining my professional composure even as triumph surged through me. "I'd be honored to lead the implementation."

As the meeting wrapped up, people gathered their materials and began filing out. I busied myself disconnecting my laptop, avoiding Derek and Amber as they left together. I couldn't help but notice how conversations stopped when they approached groups of colleagues, how people suddenly needed to be elsewhere.

"Disgusting," Emily muttered, pausing by my side of the table. "The way he struts around with her after what he did to you."

"It's fine," I said automatically, though it was anything but.

"It's not," she insisted. "And it's not just me who thinks so. Jackson pulled him aside earlier about 'unprofessional conduct.' Apparently three other women from accounting have come forward about how he's been flirting with them while you two were together."

I looked up in surprise. "Really?"

Emily nodded. "Office relationships happen, but nobody respects a cheater. His reputation is tanking faster than our stock did last quarter." She replied before leaving, glaring at Derek who was sitting

As if to confirm her words, I glanced toward the door where Derek stood awkwardly alone, Amber having already left. No one was making eye contact with him, several colleagues deliberately taking the long way around to avoid passing near him.

For a brief moment, our eyes met across the room. And he immediately looked away first. I shouldn't, but I found myself walking up to him.

"It's not my fault that you cheated on me." I started.

"OK" "I never said it was." He replied, more natural, in a more relaxed tone, making me instantly regret my action. I shouldn't have confronted him but my emotions I thought was in control of got the better of me.

"Maybe you didn't say it," I continued. "but you made it seem like it was."

"How?"

"By saying, how hard everything was. How I make everything hard like that's some kind of excuse for what you did. "

He let out a deep breath "Why are you doing this?" "Lilian, why are you over here dragging all of this?" He asked, more calmer than I expected.

I could feel the emotions brewing inside me, I shouldn't act like I'm forcing myself, because that's how it seemed now.

"Because I needed to say it." I bit my lip, trying to hold back the sadness. "and... I needed this to be over."

He scoffed. "Like you ever care. I know your types Lilian, pretending to play along and just want things... needing things to be seen in your light."

"What..?"

"Yes. You think you own the favor here now, don't just irritate me more." He said, then turned and walked away. leaving me standing there. A tear slipped down my cheek. I wiped it away quickly before anyone could notice, cleared my throat, and forced myself to breathe.

I thought he... perhaps he'd wanted to apologize. his eyes had looked like they were calling out to me. But... he's still the same jerk.

I went back, arranging my stuffs after i was done with the disconnections, I was almost finished when Caroline approached my end of the table.

"Lillian, do you have a minute?"

"Of course, Ms. Everett."

She waited until we were alone in the conference room before speaking again. "That was an excellent presentation. One of the best analyses I've seen for Northstar."

"Thank you," I said, genuinely pleased by her praise.

"I also appreciate your professionalism today, given the... circumstances." Her gaze was penetrating, and I realized with a sinking feeling that she knew about Derek and me. Of course she did-office gossip traveled at light speed.

"My personal life doesn't affect my work," I said, perhaps too defensively.

Caroline's expression softened slightly. "I didn't suggest it would. I'm simply acknowledging that maintaining composure under personal stress is a valuable quality. One I look for in leadership candidates."

Was she implying what I thought she was? "The director position?" I asked, referring to the marketing director role that would open when Jackson retired next month.

"You're a strong contender," she confirmed. "But I should warn you, there's still some concern about your... stability."

The word hit like a slap. "Stability?"

Caroline held my gaze steadily. "Everett Enterprises requires leaders who can commit long-term. There's been some talk about your pattern of personal disruptions."

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. My relationships were being held against me professionally? "With all due respect, Ms. Everett, my personal life has never interfered with my work performance."

"Perhaps not," she conceded. "But perception matters in leadership roles. The director position would have you representing Everett to major clients. We need someone whose personal brand aligns with our corporate values of stability and reliability."

I felt heat rising to my face but kept my voice level. "I understand. And I can assure you, my commitment to Everett is unwavering."

Caroline nodded, gathering her papers. "Good. Prove it with the Northstar implementation. Show me-show everyone-that you're more than capable of sustained focus and leadership."

As she left, her words echoed in my head. My dating history wasn't just fodder for office gossip but was potentially holding back my career. The thought made my earlier resolution even stronger. Just work and success and proving everyone wrong about Lillian Vale.

A week later, I was preparing to get home when a text from an unknown number:

*This is Sullivan James. Caroline mentioned you're leading the Northstar implementation. I've been hired as the external consultant on this project. Can we meet tomorrow to discuss strategy?*

Sullivan. The name sounded vaguely familiar, but I couldn't place it. I typed a quick reply:

*Hello Mr. Sullivan. I can meet tomorrow at 2 PM in the 4th floor conference room at Everett Enterprises. Looking forward to discussing the Northstar project.*

His response came immediately:

*Please, call me James. And actually, I was thinking we could meet at the Atrium Café at 1? Less formal, better coffee, and we can talk freely about the project without office politics interfering.*

I hesitated. Meeting outside the office seemed slightly unprofessional, but he had a point about office politics. And I could use some distance from Everett's walls.

*The Atrium at 1 works. How will I recognize you?*

*I'll be the guy with the battered leather portfolio and the Northstar file. But don't worry, I'll recognize you from your photo on the Everett website. See you tomorrow, Lillian.*

Gathering my things, I felt a strange mix of emotions crash through me.

The lingering sting of Derek's betrayal. Something I should've been over by now, but for some reason, I wasn't.

And then, unexpectedly, a flicker of curiosity about this unknown consultant I'd be meeting tomorrow.

"Sullivan James..." who could he be?

The next day by 12:30PM, I took my leave, anticipating on this new guy, practicing my demeanor. Now I have to present myself well to earn respect from this person, perhaps he doesn't know about my personal life like others. And it's also about work, which I must maintain my perseverance.

I hailed a cab and boarded in, checking through my text messages again to be sure of the location.

"how many minutes ride?" curious, I asked the driver as I glance at my wristwatch to check time. it's already 12:45.

"it's twenty minutes ride ma'am." he replied.

"um, twenty minutes... I will be five minutes late then." I sighed after realizing.

"If we can make it there earlier than the usual time? like five minutes..." I asked.

'Don't worry, just maintain your ride." I replied immediately before the driver could. I shouldn't get myself hurt while striving to survive. There was histories of accident in this very road.

"It's just five minutes late" I said, inwardly.

Soon, I arrived at the giving location, trying to figure out where he is. I stretched my neck, my eyes darting around the place.

"It's just five minutes, did he leave already?" I thought.

Lost in my thoughts, I began second-guessing myself, wondering if I should just leave.

It was already past 1 PM.

Still, I waited ten more minutes. 1:16 PM.

"Tch. Just wasted my time coming here," I muttered under my breath, turning to leave... when I accidentally hit my leg against a stone. I stumbled, about to fall-and then someone caught me from behind.

He was handsome. His eyes were unnaturally bright, and his intense stare felt like it reached straight into me.

My heart skipped a beat.

And then, a whisper, "Hallo.."

* * *