To ruin a friendship

To ruin a friendship
NOLAN POV

Maybe it was the alcohol rushing to my head, but she looked more radiant than ever, and my gaze lingered a little longer.
She swallowed hard and began to pick up the scattered papers, which were now all over the floor.
I offered to help, and once we were done, our eyes locked again.
“Sorry, sir.”
Mr. Rebel cleared his throat, and I turned to look at him.
“This is Rosie. She recently joined us, and she’ll be working as a new personal assistant since Kayleigh decided to have kids instead of doing her job,” he muttered coldly.
I forced a smile, extending my hand to Rosie.
“My name is Nolan, but you can call me Mr. Esteban.”
She grasped my hand.
It still fit in mine just like I remembered from years ago.
She smiled and pulled away, excusing herself.
Once she was gone, Mr. Rebel gave me a knowing look.
“You know how I feel about work relationships… but I want you to pursue whatever is going on between you and Rosie.”
I choked in disbelief.
“That’s against company policy, and she could lose her job.”
He narrowed his eyes at me.
“A rebound will be good for you, and besides, Rosie is a pretty girl, and this will help you get over Benedykta.”
I groaned deeply.
“Rosie is more than a rebound…” The words left my lips before I could stop them.
He grinned and led me to his office.
What have I gotten myself into?
By the time I was going back to myself, I had sobered up and had to compose myself.
I found Rosie in my office.
She spun around, meeting my gaze.
“These are the daily reports for the Morgan’s summer project. Mr. Rebel said they need your approval.”
I nodded quietly and sat down.
She was still standing.
I looked up, meeting her gaze.
“Anything else I can help you with?”
She sighed softly.
“I don’t mean to be out of context, Mr. Esteban, but are we going to pretend like we never met ten years ago? We had sex in your house.”
I cocked a brow at her.
“What do you want to say? I’m the boss now, and I don’t want to let our past mistakes ruin our professional relationship.”
She frowned.
“You think us hooking up was a mistake?” she asked curiously.
I opened one of the reports.
“You and your little college friends made a fool out of me…”
I stared at her in disbelief.
“You were studying law, right? Why is the vice president’s daughter working as a mere assistant?”
She rolled her eyes at me, crossing her arms over her chest.
“Maybe because I don’t want to be under my father’s control…” she replied firmly.
I raised my hands in defense.
“That was ten years ago. It really doesn’t matter; I moved on.”
Her gaze lingered on the silver band on my finger.
“I can see that you got married too.”
She sat down, making herself comfortable.
“I used to be married.”
Her eyes widened in surprise.
“Care to share?”
I gave her a knowing look.
“You know that I’m still your boss, right? Let’s just keep things professional between us.”
She looked amused.
She was so unserious.
How did she even get hired by Mr. Rebel?
“Just hear me out… Nolan, I know what I did to you was very wrong. I shouldn’t have used you just to get into a girls' sorority club. I really liked you, and I know that you were heartbroken about some woman who didn’t deserve you, but I know deep down that you felt the same way.”
I remained silent.
“Mariana, I have nothing against you, and frankly, I’m glad that you’re happy and doing your thing right now. I know that we have history, but let’s just keep it in the past so that it doesn’t affect the present.”
She nodded quietly.
“You can go back to your desk; I’ll let you know once I’m done reviewing the reports.”
She gave me a stern nod and left.
When she was finally gone, I released the breath I was holding, running my fingers through my messy blonde hair that seemed to have turned darker from the stress of my divorce.
For the first time in my life, I felt stuck, and I didn’t know where to turn… a part of me wished that my mother was still alive.
I had a father who I chose to abandon because I didn’t want to lose the woman I’m in love with, but despite all attempts to keep her close to me, she still left.
Then there was Rose.
Rosie sounds better.
We got together for the wrong reasons, and a part of me still keeps the memories we shared.
Was there still a chance?
I pushed the lucid thoughts away and continued checking out the documents.
At this point, I could barely concentrate.
It took me two hours to complete the task, but eventually, I was done and made my way out of the building, and right there outside, I met Rose.
She looked like she was waiting for a cab.
“Need a ride?”
She turned to look at me.
“I thought you said that we should keep things professional, Mr. Esteban,” she taunted, crossing her arms over her chest.
I shrugged carelessly.
“It’s just the two of us out here; I don’t think anyone will notice.”
She looked conflicted for a few minutes.
“Okay, fine.”
We walked together as she told me about her father’s dismissal and how she was over the moon that he was getting kicked out of the political race.
It felt like we hadn’t lost touch at all.
I didn’t drop her off at home.
We ended up going to a bar where we were currently having drinks and bar nuts.
Wait, that sounded wrong.
Gross.
“My dad used to feel like he was going to be vice president forever, but now that old age is catching up to him, he just doesn’t have that wow factor, and I’m glad people finally see his true colors because he doesn’t even care about the so-called community he was preaching about.”
I couldn’t help but laugh.
She frowned at me.
“What’s so funny?”
I took a sip of my beer.
“That you should have been a lawyer instead of working for me… I know for certain that you would have dominated that industry, keeping all the men on their toes.”
She grinned.
“You’re right, but I was only studying law because my father made me… I had other aspirations, and he wasn’t really invested in my dreams or happiness.”
I hummed in response.
“What are your aspirations or dreams?” I asked curiously.
She took a sip of her beer.
“I wanted to become an artist because I enjoyed painting… and I want to travel around the world and see all kinds of art.”
Her eyes lit up like a Christmas tree, and it was amazing.
I smiled.
“I don’t think you’ll find any art by working with us…” I muttered quietly.
Our eyes locked in a frenzy.
“Maybe I decided to work here because I wanted to be close to you.”
We both remained silent, but her gaze didn’t seem to shy away from me.
I chuckled softly.
“Come on, Rosie…”
She shrugged.
“I’m a 29-year-old woman who knows what she wants, Mr. Esteban, and right now, I have my eyes set on you.”
I smirked.
“I think you’re only getting this bold and cocky because you’re at a bar having a drink with your boss.”
She rolled her eyes at me.
“I’m just finishing what I started.”
Maybe I was getting too drunk, but the mere thought of finally being wanted by someone made my heart race.
“Don’t worry; I’ll keep things very professional between us at work.”
I stared at her in disbelief as she offered me her hand.
“Let’s go dance; this is my favorite song.”
They were playing "False God" by Taylor Swift.
Rosie swayed to the music, shutting her eyes as if the outside world didn’t even exist.