Chapter 5 CHA

Did you see her performance?" Leo whispered, leaning forward as he looked at the monitor in the small control room. "I knew the moment I saw her resume that she would get the job."

One of the panelists replied in a low voice, "But Mrs. Denz completely failed the interview. It was not what we expected at all.".

Leo's pulse quickened. He'd never sat in on an interview like this one-until now. The discreet camera and microphone in the interview room had allowed him to observe every moment. Normally, he would have let the panel cut the interview short and dismiss her as a lost cause. But this was Amara Denz. None of the usual rules applied to her.

He recalled her resume clearly: intelligent, well organized, and very loyal to her previous company. Loyalty was the one quality Leo valued above all others. If her answers were ambiguous, her record spoke volumes. "I have to intervene," he said to himself.

In the interview room, Amara's voice shook as she stumbled over her answers. The panel exchanged looks of disappointment. "It seems like she shot out a whole bunch of resumes and hoped someone would give her a job," one panelist said. But Leo knew better-her work history demonstrated devotion and attention to detail that could not be ignored.

After the interview, Leo struggled with conflicting thoughts. He wanted to linger and speak with her, to offer advice or even apologize for their shared past. But he feared that any display of familiarity would spark accusations of favoritism. The specters of Lyons College-when he was Leo Pluo, the ruthless bully-still haunted him. Now, as Baze's CEO, he had strict hiring policies and a reputation to uphold. However, his heart urged him to catch a glimpse of her one last time before she exited the building.

Instead of heading directly back to his office, Leo made his way toward the waiting area near the elevators. He pretended to be on a phone call, his voice casual, even though every step weighed with anticipation. "Could it be," he wondered, "that she doesn't really remember me?" He had transformed from the rough, awkward troublemaker of Lyons College to the calm, authoritative figure he was today-but the scars of his former misbehavior still lingered.

There were footsteps from the corridor, and Leo's breath hitched, his heart skipping a beat. And then there she was: Amara, moving quietly into view. For an instant, the years melted away as the same unmistakable chemistry coursed through him. "Yeah," he said into his phone, "Catch you later," and hung up, tucking the device into his pocket. He offered her a tentative smile as she reached his floor.

Amara returned his smile with caution. Her eyes held both hesitation and something else-a flicker of uncertainty about whether to see him as her new boss or as a remnant of a painful past. "Looks like we're both on our way out," Leo remarked lightly as he walked beside her toward the elevator.

In the elevator, Leo pressed the call button before speaking, interrupting the silence, "Do you have much of a commute to get here?"

Amara shook her head. "No. It's just a ten-minute drive-fifteen minutes at most," she replied softly, her voice composed even though her eyes reflected nervousness.

Leo laughed, trying to break the tension. "No excuses for being late then."

Amara managed a small laugh-though strained. "Come on, I was only joking," Leo said, flashing her his most disarming smile. Gradually, her stiffness seemed to seep away as her smile loosened.

The elevator chimed its arrival, and when the doors slid open, they stepped in together. In a coincidence, they both reached for the floor button at the same time-their fingers brushing briefly. In that instant, Leo was struck with a shockwave of desire so intensely he nearly lost himself.

"Shit!" he cursed inwardly, immobilized in that electrified moment, as Amara jerked her hand away as if burned. She laughed awkwardly and motioned for him to press the button. Leo did, and when the doors closed, the confined area seemed to pulse with unspoken tension.

For several strained, breathless moments, the gentle hum of the elevator beginning its descent was the sole sound. Leo's mind seethed with forbidden urges-a tangled mix of passionate desire and deep regret for the cruelty he'd perpetrated in the past. He tore his eyes from Amara, yet every time his gaze wandered, it returned as though magnetized. Every fiber of his being ached to reach out, to offer the softness he now wished to impart, even as he knew he'd been a monster.

Amara's eyes were fixed on the descending floor indicator. She was taking quick shallow breaths; her hands were tightly clutching the side panel. Leo noticed her shoulders tense and her eyes blaze with fear. "Are you late for something?" he teased lightly, trying to break the silence. "I hope you don't have another job interview arranged."

Her voice was little more than a whisper. "I don't." She tucked her hands behind her back and lowered her eyes, her gaze fixed on the red numbers as they ticked away with each passing second.

In that cramped space, Leo realized with a jolt that she recognized him. Her eyes betrayed her-a combination of recognition, fear, and something he couldn't quite pinpoint. Regret churned in his head. He wanted nothing more than to reach out and show her that he had changed, that he was not the monster she had known. He longed to make a genuine apology for decades of abuse and bullying. But in the close confines of the elevator, such an admission was impossible. So instead, he clenched his fists and vowed to himself that he would deal with the tension between them as soon as they reached the lobby.

At last, the elevator doors opened with a soft chime. Standing outside was Jess from the technical department. "Mr. Joe? I was on my way up to your office with that report you asked for," she said briskly.

There was no opportunity for Leo to respond as a clear voice rang out: "See you!" It was Amara, and she practically ran away from the elevator.

Thanks, Jess, just leave it on my desk," Leo called out after her, his voice not betraying any of the conflict inside him. Jess threw him a surprised glance before dashing off.

Leo scanned the lobby, but there was no sign of Amara. She had melted into the busy crowd like a wisp of smoke. Restless and upset, he stepped out onto the busy sidewalk where the buzz of voices and the movement of people only helped to heighten the upheaval within him. He stood with his back against a wall and pulled out his phone to scroll down his list of contacts until he reached the one name, he knew he could rely on in moments like these-Amalu Ozy, his closest friend from their Lyons College years.

He dialled frantically. "What's going on, man?" Amalu answered nearly immediately, her voice friendly but with a note of curiosity.

Leo's tone was low and anguished. "You won't believe who I just hired."

Amalu's sarcastic disbelief was clear. "The Dalai Lama? Ariana Grande? Oprah?"

"Amara Denz," Leo stated levelly, letting the name dangle in the silence.

"Who?" Amalu asked, a genuine look of shock in her voice. Leo paused, letting the import of the name register. "Ohhhh," Amalu exhaled softly. "Did she take it?"

"Yup," Leo confirmed, his tone that blend of relief and fear.

"Shit, man, she must be desperate for a job. You were a fucking monster to her then," Amalu snarled bitterly.

"Yeah, thanks for reminding me," Leo said, a touch of regret creeping into his tone.

"What do you want from me?" Kid gloves?" Amalu demanded.

Leo took a deep breath. "It was a long time ago, Amalu. I've changed-I really have."

Amalu relaxed. "I believe that, Leo. And you do know it too. But does Amara? Why did she offer to work here anyway?"

Leo's tone dropped to a whisper. "I don't believe she knew it was me. She knew me as Leo Pluo when we were at Lyons College. I even went to her interview without letting on who I was. When I entered the elevator with her, I could see the terror in her eyes. She remembers me-that much is certain."

"Fucking hell, man, what did you say to her?" Amalu demanded in amazement.

"Nothing," Leo insisted quickly. "I said nothing-but she does recall me."

"Maybe it isn't such a great idea having her work for you," Amalu observed bluntly.

Leo's voice was resolute. "I have already extended an offer to her. I am not able to take it back, and I don't intend to. I still have a thing for her, and I feel as if I'm being offered a second chance. I want her to know that I am changed."

"Yeah, sure," Amalu said sceptically. "Because flirting with her at work is not going to scare her away at all, is it?

Leo grinned ironically. "I'm not going to lock her in my office and demand she perform a striptease or something-although that would be a lot more thrilling than what I normally do with my PAs."

Amalu chuckled. "I bet you would."

Then his voice turned stern. "I want her to know I value loyalty and that I regret doing what I did. I need to apologize to her and show her I'm not the same fellow who ruined her life."

"Maybe you should apologize right away," Amalu advised sternly. "Playing dumb and refusing to acknowledge her will only make it more awkward. You owe her the apology, Leo."

"You're right," Leo whispered. "At least it'll be out in the open. And if she does decide to leave after that, I'll know I tried, even if it means I lose my chance with her."

"Exactly," Amalu said. "Now I have to run, but good luck, man. Remember, the world doesn't stop turning if you step out of your office for a moment."

Leo stifled a tiny laugh. "You know it," he muttered, pushing his phone back into his pocket as he hung up.