That one person from the past.

Brielle's mind was racing. She gathered her courage and asked the question that was on her mind. "What are you doing here?" she asked.

"As you can see, I am the CEO which means, you're my secretary as of today"

Brielle was dazed at this new revelation. Xavier was the CEO of the company all along. On the one hand, she was flattered to be chosen as the secretary to the CEO. It was a prestigious position, and she was grateful for the opportunity. But on the other hand, she was nervous about working so closely with Xavier. After all, they had shared a brief but intense encounter in the past. She wasn't sure how to handle the situation, or how to act around him.

"What made you choose me?" Brielle questioned. "I mean I flopped at the interview and....and I still got the job"

Xavier smiled striding towards her. "As for why I chose you, I'll be honest - I was impressed by our interaction when we met at the hotel."

Xavier's smile was mischievous, almost sly. "I like to believe in fate," he said, "and I think the stars aligned to bring us together again. I know it's probably a little cheesy to say, but I feel like there's something special about our connection. Don't you?"

Brielle was taken aback. She hadn't expected him to be so open and honest about his feelings. She wasn't sure how to respond. "I... I don't know what to say," she stammered. "I'm just so surprised."

"Well then," Xavier said with a grin, "if you're going to be my secretary, you'd better start by getting me some morning coffee." He was obviously teasing, but Brielle felt a twinge of annoyance. Was he making light of her job? Or was he just trying to put her at ease? She wasn't sure. But she knew she had to say something, so she forced a smile and replied, "I'd be happy to get you some coffee, Mr. Fernandez"

"The pretty lady can call me Xavier," he said with a wink. Brielle felt her cheeks flush, and she wasn't sure if it was from embarrassment or something else. Xavier's playful banter was making her feel flustered, and she wasn't sure how to handle it.

"I'll keep that in mind," she said, trying to keep her tone light and professional. But inside, she was a jumble of emotions.

Feeling the need to get some space from Xavier, Brielle said,

"I'll go get that coffee for you now." Xavier nodded and smiled. "Take your time," he said back.

Brielle walked out of the office and headed to the break room. She felt a mix of relief and nervousness as she tried to gather her thoughts. She knew she had to be professional and keep things platonic, but she couldn't deny that there was something about Xavier that made her feel a little flustered.

After what felt like an eternity, Brielle returned to Xavier's office with a cup of coffee. She took a deep breath as she knocked on the door.

"Come in," she heard Xavier call out. She opened the door and entered the office, holding out the cup of coffee.

"Here you go, Xavier," she said. He smiled and took the cup from her. "Thank you, Brielle," he said.

Brielle was about to leave the office, but before she could, Xavier spoke again.

"One more thing," he said. "I hope you don't mind, but I can't drink lukewarm coffee. Get me another cup" he added.

"Of course" Brielle smiled trying to hide how pissed she was about to get at his request. She made for the door but, before she could leave, Xavier had called her back.

This time, Xavier's voice took on a slightly different tone. He sounded a bit more intense, a bit more... seductive, even.

"And Brielle," he said, his voice lower than before, "make sure it's piping hot." Brielle's heart skipped a beat. She wasn't sure if she was imagining the change in his tone, or if it was really happening. But either way, it was making her feel a little uneasy.

"Of course," she said again her voice shaking slightly. "I'll be right back."

Brielle practically sprinted to the break room, her heart pounding in her chest. She quickly grabbed a new cup of coffee and poured it from the machine. She could feel her hands shaking as she added the cream and sugar. She didn't want to keep Xavier waiting, but she also didn't want to show up with anything less than perfectly hot coffee. She took a deep breath and headed back to his office.

Brielle knocked on the door and entered the office, coffee in hand.

"Here you go," she said, handing him the cup. "Is it hot enough?"

Xavier took the cup from her and took a sip. "It's perfect," he said, his eyes meeting hers. "Thank you, Brielle." Brielle felt a bit flustered, but she tried to maintain her composure.

"You're welcome," she said. "Is there anything else I can get you?"

"Actually," Xavier said, "we'll be leaving for an external meeting in a few minutes. I'd like you to come along."

Brielle's eyes widened. "Me?" she asked, a bit taken aback. "I'm not sure I'm the right person to bring along to a meeting like that."

Xavier smiled. "I think you're exactly the right person," he said. "Trust me, you'll do great." Brielle hesitated for a moment, but then she nodded. "Okay," she said. "I'll be ready."

Brielle gathered her things and followed Xavier out of the office when it was time to leave. As they headed down the hall, she felt a wave of anxiety wash over her. She wasn't sure what to expect from the meeting, but she knew she had to be prepared for anything.

"You'll be fine," Xavier said, as if sensing her nerves. "Just be yourself and you'll do great." Brielle took a deep breath and nodded. "I'll try" she said.

Brielle couldn't help but sneak glances at Xavier as they walked. He was tall and well-dressed, and he walked with a confident, purposeful stride. She found herself feeling a bit intimidated by his presence, but also intrigued by his air of authority.

As they stepped into the elevator, Brielle couldn't help but think back to the night they had met at the hotel. He had seemed so charming and friendly then, but now he was all business. Had she misjudged him? Or was he just putting on a different persona for the meeting? She wasn't sure what to think, but she knew she had to focus on the task at hand. The elevator doors opened and they stepped out into the lobby.

Brielle's gaze landed on a familiar face across the room. It was Clara, the woman who had eloped with fiance years ago. Brielle felt her stomach drop as she saw her. They had never spoken after that fateful night, and Brielle had assumed she would never see her again. But here she was, standing in the lobby of the building where Brielle now worked. She felt a mix of anger and confusion.

As Brielle watched, Clara walked over to Xavier and gave him a hug. "It's so good to see you!" she said, a smile on her face. Xavier smiled back and said, "It's great to see you too, Clara. How have you been?" Brielle felt like she was in a surreal dream. Clara was acting as if nothing had ever happened, as if she and Brielle had never been rivals. But Brielle couldn't forget the past, and she couldn't believe that Clara was just pretending it never happened.