Chapter 4

ANNALISE'S POV

"Five years had passed, and it was still the same," I muttered, glancing at the hotel.

The grand entrance of the Delight Hotel loomed before me, as magnificent as I remembered. 

It was still one of the most prestigious establishments in Sterling City, and now that I had the means, I demanded nothing but the best.

But no matter how much I tried to convince myself that I belonged here, I couldn’t shake the unease gnawing at me.

"Have a nice day, ma'am," the receptionist said brightly, handing me the key card with a warm smile.

I managed a stiff nod, glancing over at Jenny as she took the card from my hand and thanked the receptionist.

"Right this way, Miss," Jenny said, leading me toward the elevators.

It had been five years since I walked away from Sterling City, but just being here again made it feel like yesterday. 

The weight of the past still tethered me, pulling me back into the depths of memories I had buried for so long, but I tried my best not to dwell on it.

Once we reached my suite, Jenny unlocked the door and motioned for me to enter. I paused, taking a deep breath before stepping inside.

"Miss, are you pleased with your room?" Jenny asked, feeling very concerned for me because she noticed I was zoning out.

I swept my eyes over the room and couldn't help but appreciate its luxury. The room had high ceilings, elegant furniture, and floor-to-ceiling windows showcasing the breathtaking skyline of Sterling City.

"It's good," I replied, forcing a smile, but it couldn't distract me from the pit in my stomach.

"Let me help you get settled, Miss," Jenny offered, moving ahead as she set down my bags.

Jenny was such a sweet soul who excelled at her job, but now all I wanted was to be alone, so I waved her off.

"Thank you, Jenny. That won’t be necessary. I just need a moment to myself."

Jenny's eyes were heightened with hesitation, but she nodded and backed toward the door.

"Call me if you need anything."

As the door closed behind her, I exhaled deeply, feeling the suffocating air lift slightly.

"Alone at last," I let out an exhausted sigh.

"Well, well, well, look who's back in Sterling City!" Caroline's voice chimed through the speaker, teasing me.

"Don’t remind me," I muttered, collapsing onto the edge of the bed. "I just got in."

"How was the trip? Is everything alright?" she asked, her tone softening.

"I’m here, aren’t I?" I replied, unable to hide the edge of nervousness in my voice. 

"But I’m still uneasy. What if I run into him?" I muttered, biting my lip in an attempt to calm myself.

"You'll be fine, Annalise," Caroline reassured me. 

"This is just another business trip. You’re not the same person who left all those years ago. Besides, Sterling City is too big for you guys to even run into each other."

"Yeah, you're probably right," I admitted in defeat.

"That's my girl." Caroline chuckled. 

"Hope’s here with me, sound asleep like the angel she is. So stop worrying, okay?"

I smiled, picturing my little girl. She was my anchor, the one constant source of light in my life—my hope.

"Thanks, Caroline. I don’t know what I’d do without you."

"You wouldn't survive a week." She teased, and we both burst into laughter.

"But seriously, take it easy tonight. Get some rest, and we'll talk tomorrow."

"Will do," I said, ending the call.

With a heavy sigh, I stood and walked to the en suite bathroom, hoping a hot shower would help wash away the tension clinging to me.

After drying off, I slipped into a soft, luxurious robe and made myself a cocktail from the minibar.

With a glass of wine in my hand, I strolled over to the balcony, pushing open the glass doors and stepping out into the cool night air.

But no matter how beautiful the city looked, it couldn’t erase the memories I had buried.

Why had I agreed to this? Why had I let Caroline talk me into coming back?

I leaned on the balcony railing, closing my eyes as the cool breeze brushed against my skin, trying to find solace in the quiet of the night.

"You’re stronger now," I whispered to myself. "You’ve faced worse. You’ll survive this too."

The next morning, Jenny and I hurried over to Jab's Enterprise. Our heels clicked loudly against the marble floors as we made our way to the lobby of the company.

The receptionist at the front desk was expecting me, her smile friendly but professional.

"Good morning, Miss Romero. Mr. Jab will be expecting you in the conference room on the fifteenth floor. I'm sorry, but it seems you're running a little late. Shall I notify him?"

 "No need. I’ll be right up." I replied quickly waving her off. 

She pointed me toward the elevators, and we hurried across the lobby.

 I silently cursing the alarm that had failed me this morning.

Finally, with a ding, the doors slid open to reveal a sleek, modern hallway.

 A young assistant, no more than twenty-five, stood at the end, her tablet clutched in her hand.

"Ms. Sinclair, right this way. Mr. Jab is waiting for you," she motioned for us to follow her.

I stole a glance at my watch and exhaled with relief. 

Thankfully, I was only five minutes late, but given Mr. Jab's stern reputation, he might not be too pleased;he was a perfectionist. 

They said he was a self-made billionaire at only twenty, and now it was time to see what all the fuss was about.

The assistant led me to a large set of double doors, which she pushed open, revealing the conference room. Sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows, casting long shadows across the room’s long table.

Even though his face was buried in his work, his frame was incredibly appealing and somewhat familiar.

"Mr. Jab, Miss Annalise Romero is here," she announced before she left.

Jenny stood by my side protectively as we waited, my irritation growing with each passing second. 

He kept me standing, acting as though I didn’t exist. Finally, he set his pen down and looked up at me.

“Miss Annalise,” he greeted with a smile.

My eyes widened, and I felt my body tense. This couldn’t be happening. The man sitting before me was the same guy I had a one-night stand with.

My palms began to sweat, and I forced a smile, struggling to maintain eye contact.

"Mr. Jabs, it's an honor to finally meet you."

Calm down, Annalise. There’s no way he’d remember a one-night stand from five years ago, I reassured myself.

He smiled again and rose from his seat, walking toward me. He hadn’t changed much, but his sexual appeal was off the charts.

The way his shirt clung to his body made him look both tempting and impossible to ignore. I could only imagine the torment the female staff must endure seeing him every day.

I pinched myself to stay focused. He stopped in front of me, his full lips curved into a knowing smile, eyes locked on mine.

“Please, this isn’t our first time meeting,” he said smoothly. 

“The last time we met, you weren’t so formal. Call me Jackson.”

Oh God, he remembered.

I swallowed hard, my brain scrambling to form a coherent sentence, but I was too rattled to think straight. 

Just then, the door swung open, and someone else walked in. I barely registered it, still trying to figure out what to say.

"Oh, you’re here," Jackson remarked. "Annalise, meet my cousin, Diego Lopez."

Cousin? 

At that moment, I had to wonder what I had done to deserve this. 

Slowly, I turned, heart pounding, praying it was a different Diego. But deep down, I knew. When my eyes met his, I froze.

Standing before me was my ex-husband.

I couldn’t tell if I should be sad, angry, or something else entirely. My emotions went numb.

After a long, silent stare, he finally stepped closer, though not too close, his expression softening.

“Annalise, is that really you?”

I blinked rapidly, trying to process everything.

What the hell was going on?