Chapter 16

Chapter 16
She ran off

Amelia couldn't shake off the feeling that Derek had something to do with her promotion. She kept thinking about it, wondering if he had pulled some strings to make it happen.

As she sat at her desk, lost in thought, she was suddenly transported back to the good old days. She was in high school, and Derek was the star quarterback who had swept her off her feet.

They had met in the most unexpected way. Amelia was getting bullied by some of their classmates, and Derek had stepped in, fistfighting everyone to defend her.

"I'll never forget that day," Amelia said, a smile spreading across her face as she reminisced.

"Why's that?" Joy asked, walking into the room and noticing Amelia's far-off expression.

Amelia sighed, feeling a pang of nostalgia. "I was just thinking about Derek. We met in high school, and he... he changed everything for me."

Joy's eyes sparkled with curiosity. "Tell me more."

Amelia leaned back in her chair, a dreamy look on her face. "He was the star quarterback, and I was just a nerdy kid who got bullied all the time. But then he stepped in, and... and everything changed."

Joy's eyes widened. "He fought for you?"

Amelia nodded. "Yeah. He took on the whole crew of bullies and won. And after that... well, let's just say we became inseparable."

Joy grinned. "I can see why you're still hung up on him."

Amelia blushed, feeling a flutter in her chest. "I'm not hung up on him," she protested.

But Joy just laughed. "Save it, girl. I know you too well."

Amelia smiled, feeling a warmth in her heart. She had been in love with Derek back then, and he had felt the same way. But life had taken them in different directions, and now... well, now she wasn't sure what the future held.

As she returned to work, Amelia couldn't shake off the feeling that Derek was still out there, watching over her. And she couldn't help but wonder... what if?

As Amelia thought deeper into her memories, she began to notice a subtle connection between her past and present. The feeling of being protected and cared for by Derek was eerily similar to the sense of security she felt when Dominic showed up at the event even though he had not protected her.

She hoped Derek would not be here for too long because it was so easy for her to get caught up in his charms and she cannot afford to let that happen now and ruin things for her.

Maybe she should come out clean to Dominic about this thing first so that he would know exactly what is going on.

She decided to message Joy, "Joy, can I ask you something?" Amelia said, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Shoot," Joy replied, her eyes sparkling with curiosity from her end. She loves a good gist amd Amelia deems to have premium ones lately.

"Do you think it's possible for someone to embody the same qualities as someone from your past?" Amelia asked, her brow furrowed in contemplation.

Joy's expression turned thoughtful. "I think it's possible for someone to remind us of someone from our past, but embodying the same qualities? That's a tough one."

"What I really want to know is if it is possible to avoid someone even when yoi used to be very close and now they show up out of nowhere with maybe or maybe no ulterior motives?"

"Sure but that conversation is a deep one, can we have it later?"

Amelia nodded, "sure." her mind racing with possibilities. Was it possible that Dominic was somehow filling the void left by Derek? Or was she just reading too much into things?

As she pondered these questions, Amelia's phone buzzed with an incoming text from Dominic. Her heart skipped a beat as she read the message.

"Meet me at the conference room at 2 PM. We need to discuss something."

Amelia's mind began to whirl with possibilities. What did Dominic want to discuss? And why did she get the feeling that her life was about to take another dramatic turn?

Her heart began to beat the closer she got to the conference room. Is this about how she had left awkwardly wjen she met Derek with him or about whatever lies Derek had told him?

She really wished she knew why she was going before she could gwt there sothat she could prepare for whatever wouod happen.

She grabbed the door handle then took a deep breath before pushing the door open.

She saw that a lot of the staffs were sitting in thearge conference room.

“Nice of you to join us, Miss Black.” Dominic said and gestured to an empty seat beside Derek.

“
She looked at the faces of everyone as she hurriedly to the seat being offered her while she wondered what exactly qualifies her to sit with this people when she had only just used her high school certificates to apply for a job in order to conceal her real.identity.

Maybe she was really qualified to be here but they did not know that and neither do they need to know.

The meeting continued for a long time but all she could think of was why exactly she was there and after the meeting, Dominic asked her to stay back with Derek.

Her heart began tk beat even faster because this looked like it means trouble. There was no teasing for her to be in the same room as these men bit she new that she had to calm down because I'd she didn't, she might end up running off again like she did earlier.

“Derek here is our new partner for the plans we have just discussed and he seemed to be very comfortable working with you so if you don't mind, can uou represent my assistant and work with him while he is here?”

She desperately wanted to scream no from the inside. He was throwing her to the enemy and he had no idea because he was smiling at Derek and her. What exactly did Derek tell him?

“What do you say?”

“I agree.”