I slumped over the steering wheel, my mind swirling with a thousand thoughts. The desolation from my previous life was something I couldn’t let myself dwell on anymore. I treated it as if it belonged to another version of me, enduring trials in a parallel world.

Now, I had stopped trying to please everyone, and begging for love was no longer my routine. The morning sun rose as always, and life went on. Before I knew it, it was time for the board meeting. Jared asked if he should pick me up. I decided to drive myself and declined his offer.

As I walked into the company lobby, I spotted Nathan standing there, chatting with one of the board members. The moment I entered, he saw me. He nodded politely to the person he was talking to and then walked over to me. For some reason, seeing him always made me feel guilty. The last time he came to the United Kingdom to find me, he was so well-prepared, like someone heading into a bittersweet romance that was doomed from the start. I hadn’t noticed his efforts, just treated it like any other casual meeting, not realizing how much it meant to him. At that moment, I couldn’t even look him in the eye anymore.

“Victoria, the meeting is in the first office on the tenth floor. You go ahead, I’m still waiting for someone,” Nathan said. His eyes lingered on my face, but the moment I met his gaze, he looked away.

“Alright, I’ll head up first,” I said, slipping past him and making my way to the elevator. I swiped my badge at the security gate and stepped into the elevator. As I turned around, I saw Nathan still standing where he was, his tall figure seeming frozen and alone. I let out a quiet sigh, wishing the red string of fate could just tie two people together – so they’d fall for each other, and no one else would get tangled up or end up hurt.

Jared showed up not long after I did. He slouched into the seat next to me, lazily spinning his pen so fast it looked like a wheel. I never knew he had a talent for little tricks like that. Jared seemed to be in a pretty good mood. When he glanced at me, there was something complicated in his eyes I couldn’t figure out.

Nathan walked in next, introduced the new shareholder director, and then the meeting officially got underway. During the meeting, all the data and reports showed the company’s profits were climbing, and the momentum was building fast – they were aiming to go public in the United States by next year at the latest. When I heard the words “going public,” my mind was filled with dollar signs. Am I about to get even richer? I wondered. Sure, talking about money might sound a little tacky, but honestly, I’m just your average, money-minded person.

The meeting dragged on, and everyone was paying close attention. I could feel Nathan’s eyes on me from across the table, his gaze lingering on me every so often. But I didn’t dare look up. Instead, I just kept doodling random farm animals and little circles all over my notebook, covering the page in messy sketches. Jared, sitting right next to me, saw what I was up to and nearly lost it laughing. I shot him a sharp look, and he managed to hold it in. Nathan’s face got even more tense. He must’ve thought I was messing around with Jared. Honestly, it’s a mess, and I wouldn’t even know where to start explaining.

After the meeting ended, someone suggested we all go out for lunch. Flustered, I hurriedly came up with an excuse about having urgent work to handle and said I couldn’t join them for lunch. Nathan caught up with me in the hallway and asked in a gentle voice, “Have you been working yourself to the bone lately? You look like you’ve lost quite a bit of weight.”

I smiled. “Yeah, it’s been pretty hectic. Still learning the ropes, you know.”

“Doesn’t Jared ever help you out?” Nathan teased, giving me a look. “He is your boss, after all.”

I laughed too. “Yeah, but bosses always want their people to be good at everything. If I actually asked him to teach me, he’d probably just give me a hard time.”

“If he ever gives you a hard time, I’ll give him a piece of my mind for you,” Nathan laughed along.

Just then, Jared appeared out of nowhere. “Talking smack about me behind my back again, huh?”

I glanced at these two tall, handsome guys and couldn’t help thinking, ‘Honestly, if gender didn’t matter, they’d make a great couple. Both of them have razor-sharp tongues and could bicker for hours.’