Chapter 16 An Interview with an Old Friend
“Do you remember Alex Smith? My old classmate?” Chloe asked, organizing the papers in her folder. “He started a media agency and needs staff. It’s a perfect fit for my major. I’m going to check it out.”
Nathan leaned against the doorframe, his expression instantly cooling. “You won’t let me get you a job, but you’ll go running to some college friend?”
“It’s different,” Chloe shot back, refusing to look at him.
“How is it different?” Nathan’s voice dropped, the question hanging heavy and dangerous in the air.
“It just is!” Chloe stubbornly raised her voice, snatched up her bag, and stormed toward the door.
As she brushed past him, Nathan reached out and caught the strap of her bag. “I’ll drive you.”
“No!” Chloe pulled hard, trying to free it. “I’ll go by myself.”
“Do you even know the address? Chicago isn’t the city you remember. What happens if you get lost again?”
Chloe froze. The fight drained out of her instantly.
Nathan’s grip on her bag loosened. “Let me drive you,” he said, his tone softening into something much more gentle. “You don’t want to be late for your interview.”
She could fight him all day when he was cold and authoritative. But the second he was gentle with her, she lost every ounce of resistance.
Reluctantly, she followed him out to the car.
Alex’s company was located in a sleek, sprawling business park on the outskirts of the city.
He and Chloe had been classmates at university. They hadn’t been particularly close at first, but they had joined the debate club together and bonded over a few brutal tournaments. During their sophomore year, Alex had tried to pursue Chloe’s roommate, and Chloe had helped him out.
After waking up in 2025, none of the numbers in her old contacts had worked—except Nathan’s. But when she finally logged into her long-dormant social media account, she had miraculously seen Alex’s profile online.
When Alex first got her message, he thought her account had been hacked. Her disappearance had been massive news on campus. He never imagined she had actually returned, completely unaged. When she mentioned she was desperate for work, he immediately invited her to his office.
In truth, he didn’t harbour any deep feelings for her. She was just a ghost from twenty-three years ago, someone vaguely remembered at alumni reunions when people wanted to sound tragic and profound. But the novelty of her situation was too bizarre to pass up.
When Chloe stepped out of the Bentley and looked up at the towering glass facade of the business park, her jaw dropped. “Wow. Alex has done incredibly well. This place is huge.”
Nathan glanced up at the building. “At his age, it would be embarrassing not to have achieved something.” His tone was perfectly flat, laced with pure, unadulterated dismissal.
Chloe glared at him. “Oh, listen to that tone. Does that mean your company is bigger than his?”
“I don’t own a company,” Nathan replied smoothly.
“Then what are you acting so arrogant for?” she snapped.
Nathan didn’t even blink. He adjusted his cuff, looking down at her with calm, unshakable confidence. “I may not run a media agency, Chloe, but I promise you, my accomplishments are far more impressive than his.”
“Fine! You’re both amazing, powerful men, and I’m the only one who’s a useless relic. Great!” Chloe kicked at the pavement, suddenly feeling very small.
“You’ll get there too,” Nathan said, his voice instantly softening as he stepped closer.
Chloe glanced up at him, then quickly looked away, incredibly annoyed. Why does he have to be so nice to me?
“Miss Frost?” A young man in a sharp suit approached them near the lobby doors. “I’m Anthony, Alex’s assistant. He’s waiting for you in his office. Please follow me.”
Chloe turned to Nathan. “Just wait for me downstairs,” she whispered.
“Alright.” Nathan gestured toward the plush leather chairs in the lobby lounge. “I’ll be right here.”
“Okay.”
Chloe followed the assistant into the elevator. As the glass doors slid shut, she watched Nathan walk to the lounge, his tall, tailored figure standing out effortlessly among the rushing crowds of businessmen.
Suddenly, a memory hit her so hard it knocked the breath out of her lungs.
When she had been fresh out of university, blindly navigating her first job interviews, Nathan had always made time to go with her.
Back then, they were completely broke. They always took the subway. The morning trains were packed, bodies pressed tightly together. Nathan would always guide her into the corner, bracing one hand against the wall and gripping the overhead rail with the other, using his own body as a shield so no one would bump into her.
She used to lean her head lightly against his chest, her hands resting on his waist, staring up at him in the dim carriage light.
How can a person’s jawline be that perfect? she would think.
Sometimes, she would tiptoe up and press a quick kiss to his chin. Nathan would look down, his ears turning red, his eyes sparkling with a bright, brilliant heat she had never been able to forget.
When they reached her stop, he would grip her hand tightly, pulling her through the crowd, walking her all the way to the building doors before finally letting go.
He was always more nervous than she was. He would smooth her hair, adjust her collar, clench his fist, and tell her she was brilliant.
Knowing he was waiting downstairs had made her invincible. She had walked into those interviews fearless, landing offers from half the agencies in the city.
Standing in the elevator now, Chloe lowered her head. A small, painful smile touched her lips. The memory felt as vivid as yesterday.
The elevator dinged at the fourth floor. Anthony led her down a long corridor and opened the door to a massive corner office.
A middle-aged man with a severely receding hairline and a noticeable paunch stood up from behind the desk.
He stared at her, his eyes bugging out. “Chloe? Is it really you?”
Chloe stared back, desperately trying to find the familiar features buried beneath his plump face. “Alex?”
“You haven’t changed a bit!” Alex practically lunged across the room, grabbing her hand and shaking it vigorously. “You look exactly the same! Still a college kid!”
“You’ve… changed quite a bit,” Chloe managed a polite, slightly horrified smile as she discreetly pulled her hand away. “I almost didn’t recognize you.”
The Alex she remembered had been a tall, lean, athletic guy who spent half his time on the basketball court. How had he turned into this?
She instantly thought of Nathan sitting downstairs. At least time had been incredibly, unfairly kind to him.
“I don’t know if your situation is a blessing or a nightmare, Chloe, but my god—to stay that young! It’s enviable,” Alex sighed, patting his stomach.
“You had twenty-three years to live your life, build a career, and be with your loved ones,” Chloe murmured softly. “I lost all of it in a single second. There’s nothing to envy.”
“Right, right, of course. Sit down! Let’s catch up.” Alex quickly waved her toward the sofa.
They spent the first twenty minutes making small talk. Alex proudly listed off which of their classmates had become directors, CEOs, and senior partners. Chloe listened with a sinking heart. They were all masters of the universe now. She was the only one still starting from zero.
Eventually, the conversation turned to work.
Chloe had majored in Advertising and Media. Alex’s firm handled digital PR and influencer marketing.
She had thought her degree would make her a perfect fit. But as Alex started throwing around terms like SEO optimization, algorithm metrics, TikTok engagement, and viral funneling, Chloe realised with a cold sweep of dread that she didn't understand a single word.
Her expensive university degree was essentially a worthless piece of paper.
“I’m sorry,” Chloe said, her face burning with humiliation. “I think I might be completely out of touch.”
“Honestly, Chloe? Everything we learned in college is dead now anyway,” Alex laughed, leaning back and puffing on a sleek, metallic e-cigarette. “Tell you what. I’ll assign someone to show you the ropes and get you familiar with the modern landscape first.”
“Yes! I’ll learn! The salary doesn’t even matter right now,” Chloe nodded eagerly, desperate just for a foot in the door.
“Don’t be silly, of course I’ll pay you,” Alex smiled generously. “How about $1,500 a month for your internship period? We’ll discuss a full salary once you’re officially hired.”
$1,500?
Chloe’s eyes lit up. Her last job right out of college had only paid $800 a month. This was nearly double! And it was just for an internship!
Alex really was looking out for her.
Half an hour later, Chloe practically bounced into the lobby, her eyes shining as she ran up to Nathan and excitedly explained the offer.
Nathan stood up slowly. He looked down at her bright, beaming face.
Fifteen hundred dollars a month.
In modern Chicago, that wasn’t a salary. It was practically illegal, below-minimum-wage volunteer work. This "old friend" was exploiting her absolute ignorance of the modern economy to get cheap labor.
Nathan’s jaw tightened. He opened his mouth to tell her exactly how badly she was being scammed.
But then he looked at the genuine, radiant hope in her eyes—the first real spark of life he had seen in her since she found out about her parents.
He swallowed his anger.
Fine, he thought, slipping his hands into his pockets. Let her play at working. I’ll make up the difference anyway.