Chapter 179 Brand new
Chapter 179: Brand new
Golden stepped out of her room dressed in a tailored coat, her hair neatly pulled back, her expression composed in a way that masked the unrest beneath.
She adjusted her bag on her shoulder and walked toward the elevator, her steps steady, measured. The hallway was quiet, the thick carpet muting the sound of movement, the soft lighting casting a muted glow along the walls.
When the elevator doors slid open, she stepped inside without thinking.
And then she froze.
Allan stood at the far end of the elevator.
For a brief second, neither of them moved.
The silence between them felt heavier than the confined space itself.
Golden’s fingers tightened slightly around the strap of her bag as she stepped fully inside. The doors closed behind her with a soft chime, sealing them into the moment.
Allan looked at her, not fully but enough to acknowledge her presence.
Golden let out a small scoff, shaking her head slightly as she pressed the button for the ground floor.
“Funny,” she said, her voice cutting through the silence. “I should be the one acting like I don’t know you. Not the other way around.”
“Good morning, ma’am.”
Golden blinked. Exactly how he would speak to any other guest.
Her lips parted slightly before she let out a quiet, disbelieving laugh.
“Ma’am?” she repeated, turning to face him fully. “I should be the one holding grudges and acting foreign.”
Allan kept his gaze forward, his posture straight. “How may I assist you today?”
Golden stared at him, her disbelief shifting into irritation.
“Acting brand new like we’ve never met?”
He didn’t respond.
She took a step closer, lowering her voice slightly. “Or is this part of the job?”
She let out a breath, her frustration rising. “Wow,” she muttered. “So this is what it’s come to.”
Her eyes scanned him briefly, taking in the uniform, the controlled posture, the complete absence of the boy she once knew.
“So now you’ve reduced yourself to this?” she said quietly, but there was no softness in it. “A stripper. An escort.”
He said nothing. The elevator slowed, then stopped. The doors slid open.
Allan stepped out first.
Golden stood there for a second, her chest rising and falling slightly.
Then she stepped out after him.
He walked ahead without looking back.
Golden watched him for a moment, something bitter settling in her chest.
“Unbelievable,” she muttered under her breath.
She turned sharply and walked toward the entrance, her heels striking the polished floor with controlled force.
Outside, the city was already awake. Cars moved along the street, people hurried along the sidewalks, and the faint scent of morning coffee drifted from a nearby café.
Her cab was waiting.
The driver stepped out briefly to open the door for her, but Golden was already sliding into the back seat, her movements quick, her expression closed off.
“Where to?” he asked.
She gave him the address of the research facility, her voice steady.
As the car pulled away, she leaned back against the seat, staring out the window.
But she didn’t see the city. She saw him. Again and again.
Her fingers curled slightly against her lap.
What happened to you?
The question lingered, heavy and persistent.
The research facility was everything she had expected.
The building stood tall against the London skyline, its glass exterior reflecting the muted grey of the morning sky.
Golden stepped into the lab, greeted by the quiet hum of equipment and the low murmur of conversation.
She slipped into her role seamlessly.
At least, that was what it looked like.
She reviewed data, contributed to discussions, moved between stations. Her colleagues engaged with her, recognizing her competence, her insight.
But her mind was elsewhere.
Fragments of the morning kept slipping through.
She stared at the screen in front of her, numbers blurring slightly before she forced herself to refocus.
“Golden?”
She blinked, turning toward the voice.
One of the senior researchers was looking at her expectantly.
“Your input?”
She nodded quickly, straightening slightly. “Yes. I think we should revisit the initial parameters. The variables might be influencing the outcome more than we anticipated.”
He considered it, then nodded. “Good point.”
The conversation moved on.
Golden exhaled slowly, her fingers pressing lightly against the edge of the table.
No matter how hard she tried, her thoughts kept drifting back.
By midday, the strain was beginning to show. She excused herself briefly, stepping out into the corridor.
She leaned against the wall for a moment, closing her eyes briefly.
What happened to you, Allan? And why won’t you tell me?
Miles away, Xander sat behind his desk, reviewing patient files. A knock sounded at the door.
“Come in,” he said without looking up.
The door opened.
“Dr. Mendez?”
Xander glanced up. For a moment, he didn’t recognize her. Then his brows lifted slightly.
“Hannah?”
She smiled, stepping into the room. “Wow. It really is you.”
Xander leaned back slightly, a surprised laugh escaping him. “What are you doing here?”
“I should be asking you the same thing,” she replied, crossing her arms lightly. “Last I heard, you disappeared into med school and never looked back.”
“I didn’t disappear,” he said with a small smile. “Just… got busy.”
“Clearly,” she said, glancing around the office. “You’ve done well for yourself.”
They studied each other for a moment, the years between them settling into something almost tangible.
“You look good,” Hannah added.
“You look better than good,” Xander replied.
There was a brief pause before he gestured to the chair. “Sit.”
She did, relaxing into the seat as if the time between them had never fully erased the familiarity.
“So,” he said, folding his hands lightly. “What brings you here?”
“I moved back recently,” she explained. “I heard your name from someone at the hospital and thought… why not see if it’s the same Xander.”
“And it is,” he said lightly.
They fell into easy conversation, catching up on the years that had passed. It wasn’t deep, not yet, but it was comfortable in a way that surprised both of them.
At some point, Hannah leaned back slightly, studying him.
“We should have dinner sometime,” she said casually. “My place.”
Xander smiled, but there was a firmness beneath it. “I can’t.”
She raised a brow. “Busy?”
“I’m married,” he said simply.
There was a flicker of surprise, then a slow nod.
“Wow,” she said. “Okay. That’s… new.”
He smiled slightly. “It is.”
She let out a small laugh. “Well, for what it’s worth, I got married last year.”
“Congratulations.”
“Divorced this year,” she added with a shrug.
Xander blinked, then let out a quiet chuckle. “That was fast.”
“You have no idea,” she said.
There was a brief pause before she reached for her bag.
“Still,” she added, “it was good seeing you again.”
“Same here.”
They exchanged contacts quickly, a simple gesture, nothing more.
Hannah stood, adjusting her jacket. “Take care, Dr. Mendez.”
“You too, Hannah.”
She left the office quietly.
Xander watched the door for a moment before returning his attention to the files on his desk.