MY LOVELY NEMESIS

Aiden Carter checked the time on this phone and saw that it was a little after three and his appointment with the fashion industry he was collaborating with is a little late,he hastened up and headed to his packed car in his company garage,his driver had taken a leave because his wife just put to bed,Aiden had not always fancied marriage and he didn't see himself with kids in future too,he pulled up at the express but was stuck in traffic.

He reached the hotel by around four thirty-eight and he was a little sad that he was the cause of the delay,he has always been the punctual one but today is not just his day,he woke up behind time and have not had a proper meal,waking up late is because of the party that José his friend had practically dragged him to because he has always being bent on always working,he protested and told his friend that partying is not what he wants to be doing now that he is in his thirties but was told that he sounded ancient and is a party pooper,so he went for the party so that his ego will not be bruised but he ended up bruising his schedule

***************************

Clad in her usual joggers and canvas,Sophia Chen was already feeling angry and frustrated,she has been waiting for more that two hours because she came for the appointment around two and is still there,she has ordered only water and the waiters have been casting lousy gestures her way but she still maintained her composure but was still feeling miserable inside because she feels so exposed when people look at her that way,she feels that they always she what she looks like without her clothes and has always been body conscious,she was still wallowing is self pity when she felt someone standing opposite her,she raised her head to see the last person she wants to meet on earth

"Hello,i'm Aiden Carter and you must be Sophia Chen"Aiden said bringing out his hand for a handshake

"Yeah..umm...yeah,I am she"Sophia stammered feeling so agitated,she just met the same man that made her life miserable and still miserable,and no matter how rich and accomplished she had become over the years she didn't still feel confident,she was still a freaking virgin in her early thirties and she didn't have the confidence of dating because she didn't like her body,she still felt very fat and ugly and no amount of gym and dieting could boost her morale .

Aiden looked at Sophia and found her very familiar and he knows that he has never fucked her because if he had done so,he could recognise her large boobs that were not covered even when she is wearing such large clothes,he smiled as he tried remembering where he knew her from but his memory were so fuzzy

"Do i know you or have we met before today? He decided to ask with his business smile on his face

"I don't think so,my secretary was the one that set up this appointment" Sophia answered without raising up her head

Aiden raised up his eyebrows but decided not to press further sensing the discomfort of his company

"Your spring collection sold out immediately it came out and my textile company needs a good fashion company to work with,we produce good textiles and your company creates good and tangible designs and you have never had any never remarks like plagiarism,i went through your company profile and i also discovered that you have won many awards for your company and also for yourself though you don't show yourself publicly,your assistant has always been the one and i don't want to ask the reason because it might be personal,we are just here to sign the contracts"He said bringing out the files

"My Lawyers have drafted the contacts and you should take your time to go through it,everything you need to know is there and the damage control policy is also included but i hope we won't get to use the policy because i play by the book and i also hope that you do the same"He said handling the contracts to her and she takes it and signs without going through it like he suggested

"I trust your judgment and i will do my best to meet your demands as you meet mine"

"Should we seal the contract with a nice dinner since you have not ordered anything"

"Nope,i have to start going i have been here for long and my assistant might actually file a missing person report if i stay longer"Sophia said this not to sound funny but it's actually the truth,Ruth her assistant a sixty-five years old woman has always been so protective of her,Ruth was her nanny before she employed her as her assistant so she still acts like a nanny most times.

"See you next time Miss Sophia"Aiden said with his signature smile

"Just Sophia and thanks for choosing my company" She said returning the smug of a smile eager to leave his suffocating presence

Aiden could not take his eyes off Sophia's behind as they bounced when she left in a hurry,he licked his lips and was still smiling,his phone chimed as he received a message from José

"Have you eaten"

"No,whats'up"

"Can you come to my penthouse i'm feeling so tired and hungry"

"Why?"

"You are my best man and my girl is not in town"

"Do i look like a second option"

"No,please come and bring pizza"

"Okay,i will be there in ten minutes"

Aiden left the hotel without eating and drove to the nearest pizza hut he could see,he ordered cheese and pepperoni pizza with chicken nuggets,he might be the richest CEO but he still loved his chicken nuggets,he was often made fun of for loving chicken nuggets but one can not blame a man for loving what he loves,he takes his order and leaves after paying and tipping the waitress.He always likes tipping and does that to anyone that renders their services to him even the call girls,he smiles as he remembers the ass he just saw and decides to push it to the back of his mind and drive with a sane mind and not thinking about it and having a boner.

*

*

Aiden arrived at José's penthouse, the familiar opulence of the building greeting him. He pressed the button for the top floor, the elevator whirring smoothly upwards. As the doors opened, he was met with the scent of expensive cologne and the faint aroma of something cooking. José, clad in a silk robe, was in the kitchen, stirring a pot with a bored expression.

"Hey, man," Aiden said, placing the pizza box on the counter. "You're actually cooking? I thought you'd be ordering takeout."

José chuckled, "I tried to, but the delivery guy was late, and I was famished. So, I decided to whip up something simple."

"You're making... scrambled eggs?" Aiden asked, peering at the pan.

"With truffle oil and caviar," José replied, a hint of pride in his voice. "I call it 'the millionaire's breakfast.'"

Aiden shook his head, "You're a riot. But hey, you're the one with the penthouse and the fancy ingredients."

He grabbed a slice of pizza and took a bite, the cheesy goodness melting in his mouth. José joined him, taking a large bite of his scrambled eggs, the caviar glistening on top.

"So, how was the contract signing?" José asked, between bites.

Aiden shrugged, "It was alright. It CEO was good, but the view was impressive ."Aiden said smiling to himself

"I know that smile,Did you bang the CEO?"José asked

"Not yet but soon,i know that sooner or later that i will have Sophia Chen under me begging non stop for me to bang her faster and harder"

"Sophia Chen?"José asked with raised brows

"Yes,you need to see her man she has the biggest butt i've ever seen even while she was wearing joggers" He replied licking his lips

"She has the same name with Fatty cheeks,it might just be the name and not same people"

"who's fatty cheeks" Aiden asked feeling confused

"Are you kidding me"

"No"

"Fatty cheeks from highschool,you gave her that name and made people bully her but you were her biggest bully,we both enjoyed it till she moved with her family,i heard she moved because her father's business clashed or something but i'm not so sure"

Aiden's face fell, his smile vanishing as quickly as it had appeared. "Fatty cheeks?" he repeated, a chill running down his spine. The memories of his high school days, the taunting, the laughter, the girl with the flushed cheeks and the tear-filled eyes, all came rushing back. He had been a cruel boy, fueled by a need to feel powerful, and he had used his words like weapons.

"I... I didn't know," he stammered, his voice barely a whisper. "I didn't realize it was her."

"Well, now you know," José said, his voice heavy with a mix of disappointment and understanding. "She probably still remembers you, you know. It's not easy to forget someone who made your life miserable."

Aiden slumped back in his chair, the pizza suddenly tasting like ash in his mouth. He had always been the charming one, the confident one, the one who could get what he wanted. But in that moment, he felt small, his arrogance crumbling under the weight of his past.

"What do I do?" he asked, his voice barely audible.

"You think about it," José replied, his voice softer now. "Think about what you've done, and what you want to do now."

Aiden stared at his reflection in the greasy pizza box, the image of his younger self staring back at him, a cruel smirk plastered on his face. He felt a wave of nausea rise in his throat, the realization of his past actions hitting him like a physical blow. He had been a monster, a bully, a coward who hid behind a mask of bravado.

"I... I don't know," he mumbled, his voice thick with shame. "I don't know if I can even face her."

"You don't have to," José said gently, "But you should at least try to understand why you did what you did. Maybe you can even try to make things right."

Aiden nodded slowly, his gaze fixed on the pizza box. He knew he couldn't erase his past, but he could learn from it. He could choose to be better, to be the man he wanted to be. He could start by acknowledging his mistakes, by facing the consequences of his actions.

"I need to find her," he said, his voice firming up. "I need to apologize."

"Why"José asked looking intently at his friend

"It's only a contract,it's not like you are already building a personal relationship with her and how do you approach her now that you have known who she is ,do you just walk up to her and be like hey i didn't realise that it's you Fatty cheeks will you forgive me now and let me fuck your huge ass"José voiced all at once looking at his friend in a weird but familiar way

Aiden rolled his eyes at José's bluntness, trying to shake off the discomfort. "Dude, chill! That's not how I'd do it. I just want to be honest and say I'm sorry for being a jerk back then. It's not about anything else."

José raised an eyebrow, clearly skeptical. "Yeah, but still, it's kinda awkward, right? You just show up out of nowhere after all this time?"

"Maybe," Aiden admitted, running a hand through his hair. "But I can't just ignore it. I have to at least try. Besides, I can't keep living with this guilt. It's eating me alive."

"Fair enough," José said, leaning back in his chair. "Just think it through. You don't want to make it worse."

Aiden nodded, feeling the weight of his decision settle in. "Yeah, I'll figure it out. Thanks for keeping it real, man but fuck the glow up she's even hotter than all the models i've fucked,she looks both innocent and hot at the same time,i don't think you understand what i'm saying,you need to see her"

José's eyes widened as he realized the mix of admiration and regret in his voice. "Dude, I get it! Sounds like she's really turned into someone special. But remember, it's not just about looks, right? You gotta show her you've changed, not just that you think she's hot."

Aiden smirked, "Yeah, yeah, I know. But still, it's gotta be hard to focus on that when you're thinking about how amazing she looks now."

"True," Aiden said, a hint of a grin creeping onto his face. "But I just want to make things right first. That's the priority."

************

Sophia reached her mansion,her mansion is located in the outskirts of the city,she decided to seclude herself because she didn't need friends and didn't see the need for having friends,she has had her own share of friends betrayals in the past and she didn't want to repeat such mistakes again.

she closed her eyes and recalled her encounter with Aiden,he had acted like he didn't know her or he was so good at pretending but she didn't want to think deep,Aiden is one of her painful past and she wants nothing to do with him but the collaboration is what she needs now for her fashion company to continue flourishing,the money she is enjoying now is all thanks to her sweats,her spring collections that were just sold out are the results of her sleepless nights she was still deep in thought that she didn't know when Ruth her assistant/nanny entered

"Sophia," Ruth said softly, her voice breaking through Sophia's thoughts. "Dinner is ready."

Sophia blinked, startled out of her reverie. She looked up at Ruth, her face a mask of composure. "Thank you, Ruth," she said, her voice carefully neutral.

She stood up and stretched, trying to shake off the lingering emotions that had been stirred by the memory of Aiden. She knew she had to focus on the present, on her company, on her future. The past was a closed chapter, and she was determined to keep it that way.

As she walked towards the dining room, she couldn't help but think about the upcoming collaboration with Aiden. It was a necessary evil, a strategic move to secure her company's future. But it also meant confronting the ghost of her past, the one she had tried so hard to bury.

Sophia knew that Aiden's presence in her life would stir up old wounds, but she was determined to keep her emotions in check. She had built her empire on her own, and she wasn't going to let a past relationship jeopardize her success.

She took a deep breath, reminding herself that this was a business deal, nothing more. She would be professional, she would be courteous, but she would also be cautious. She would not let Aiden back into her life, not even for a moment.

Sophia sat down at the grand dining table, the polished mahogany gleaming under the soft glow of the chandelier. Ruth placed a plate of steaming food in front of her, the aroma of roasted vegetables and herbs filling the air.

"How was the meeting with Aiden?" Ruth asked, her voice laced with concern.

Sophia took a bite of her food, savoring the rich flavors. "It went well," she replied, her tone carefully measured. "We discussed the details of the collaboration. He seems eager to work together."

Ruth raised an eyebrow, her eyes twinkling with curiosity. "And what about you, Sophia? Are you excited about this collaboration?"

Sophia paused, her gaze drifting to the window overlooking the sprawling gardens. "It's a necessary partnership, Ruth," she said, her voice a whisper. "My company needs this, and Aiden's talent is undeniable. But..."

She hesitated, her thoughts swirling. "But what?" Ruth prompted gently.

"But Aiden is a part of my past, Ruth," Sophia said, her voice barely above a breath. "He's a ghost I thought I had buried. I'm not sure I'm ready to face him again."

Ruth's expression softened. "I understand, Sophia. It's a lot to handle."

"I know," Sophia sighed, taking another bite of her food. "But I have to do this. For my company, for myself."

Ruth reached across the table, her hand resting on Sophia's arm in a gesture of comfort. "You're strong, Sophia. You've overcome so much already. You'll be fine."

Sophia squeezed Ruth's hand, a flicker of gratitude in her eyes. She knew that Ruth was right. She had faced her share of challenges, from the tragic loss of her parents to the relentless pursuit of success in a male-dominated world.

The memory of her parents' untimely death, a car accident that had taken them both in a flash, still haunted her. It had been a defining moment in her life, a moment that had forever changed her perspective. She had vowed to honor their memory by achieving greatness, by building a legacy that would make them proud.

"I just hope I can keep my emotions in check," Sophia said, her voice barely a whisper. "I don't want to let the past interfere with the present."

Ruth nodded, understanding the weight of Sophia's burden. "You'll find your way, Sophia. You always do."

Sophia smiled faintly, a glimmer of hope flickering in her eyes. She knew that Ruth was right. She had always found a way, and she would find a way again.

Sophia took a deep breath, trying to push the anxieties about Aiden to the back of her mind. "Thank you, Ruth. I need that reminder."

"You're welcome, darling," Ruth said, her voice warm and reassuring. "But speaking of finding your way, don't forget about the President's wife's charity event. You're designing the centerpiece, remember?"

Sophia's smile faltered, the weight of the responsibility settling on her shoulders. "Oh, right," she said, her voice laced with a hint of panic. "I haven't even started sketching yet."

Ruth chuckled, her eyes twinkling with amusement. "Don't worry, you'll pull it off. You always do. Just remember to take it one step at a time."

Sophia nodded, her mind racing. She had been so focused on the Aiden situation that she had completely forgotten about the upcoming event. It was a huge honor to be chosen for the project, but it also came with a great deal of pressure. The President's wife was known for her impeccable taste and her keen eye for detail.

"I'll get started right away," Sophia said, her voice regaining its usual confidence. "Thank you for reminding me, Ruth."

Ruth smiled, her expression radiating warmth and understanding. "Of course, darling. And remember, I'm always here for you."

Sophia knew that Ruth's support was invaluable. She was more than just her business partner; she was her confidante, her rock. With Ruth by her side, Sophia felt a surge of renewed confidence. She could face any challenge, overcome any obstacle.