Chapter Five: Shadows of Yesterday

- Five years ago -

Kat beamed with smiles as they walked hand in hand. It was a date with Levi and she couldn't wait to give him the bracelet she had stayed up all night to weave.

The clear blue sky was designed with clouds, making it look as if it was a painting. Levi's free hand locked with hers as they walked towards a shade.

“What?” Kat asked, her cheeks flushing red and heart fluttering as he looked at her.

“Why do you look so beautiful?” he pulled her cheek gently.

“I don't know, maybe it's because I'm the most beautiful in the world.” Kat put her hands behind her back, swaying her body back and forth.

Levi Grey. The one that captured her heart.

How they met was funny. She was a new graduate and working as an intern in HaloTech, a top rated tech company.

“Hi,” She waved. “Is that seat taken?”

“Hi!” He smiled, his fine dentition accentuating the beauty of his face. “Not at all.”

Kat smiled back and went in to sit by the window seat. She hadn't been interested in going on the trip as it was the same old thing every time there were new interns.

Rosa had forced her to go. Not that she couldn't say no, but Rosa was so good at persuading that you would almost feel guilty for not going with her.

Plugging her earphones to block out the noise, Kat dived her attention into the novel in her hand.

“You know Brennan didn't die, did you?” He says simply, his voice cutting through her focus as he peeked into her book.

Kat removed her earphones and stared at him in horror. Of all the things she hated, spoilers had to be the number three, after people who cut you in line and those that chew loudly.

“You–”

“Oh, I'm sorry. I thought you were far gone…” his expression softened.

As much as she wanted to get angry, his face made it hard to.

“No I’m not. I’m barely halfway through.” she said, trying to hide her frustration

“I can borrow you the rest of the series.” he offered and folded his arms. “If you want.” He added.

“Are you for real?” Kat asked in enthusiasm. “I had to wait forever to get this one.”

“I'm Levi, by the way.” He said, offering a handshake.

“Kathleen.” She accepted his handshake.

Kat bubbled with smiles as they sat under the shade. A lot had changed since that day and she was glad to be spending each day with him.

“There's something I'd like to tell you.” Levi started, his expression growing serious.

The firmness in his voice made her heart skip a beat “What is it?” she asked, tilting her head.

He hesitated, his eyes searching hers, as if weighing the words he was about to say. “I'll tell you tomorrow. Meet me by the bridge by seven.”

“What's wrong?” Kat asked, worry laced in her voice.

“It's a surprise.” Levi gave her a small, reassuring smile and kissed her forehead.

As he pulled back, she caught his gaze, trying to read the unspoken words behind those familiar eyes. “Levi,” she whispered, her hand reaching for his, “you know I hate surprises.”

His laughter was warm, breaking the tension in the air. “Trust me,” he replied, squeezing her hand gently. “This one’s worth the wait.”

And she waited. She waited five years ago like an idiot. She waited by the bridge for five hours, clutching the bracelet she had poured her heart into making for him, and he never came. She waited until the cold seeped into her bones, until her body started shivering uncontrollably, until the last bus left the bus stop and the streets were empty—but he never came.

She was over it now. He couldn't just show up out of the blue and act as if everything was alright—as if they were still friends.

“Stop the car!” Kat ordered, her voice sharp, leaving no room for argument.

Levi immediately pulled the car to a stop, confusion and concern flickering across his face. Without a second glance, she got out, her movements quick and determined. The rain had eased, but the drizzle still clung to her, chilling her skin as she walked away, almost home.

“Kathleen.” His voice called after her, desperate, almost pleading as he closed the car door behind him.

Kat didn’t look back, didn’t slow down. He had lost the right to see her tears or to pretend like everything was okay between them.

She could feel the tears welling up, but she fought them back, her breath catching in her throat. She quickened her pace, every step a battle against the emotions threatening to overwhelm her.

“Kathleen, please wait!” Levi’s footsteps splashed in the puddles as he ran after her, his desperation growing with every step that closed the distance between them.

Kat suddenly stopped and spun around, her eyes blazing with a mix of hurt and defiance. “I’ll send you back the documents,” she said, her voice trembling but firm. “But don’t you dare act like you know me. Don’t act like we’re friends.”

Her voice cracked slightly, but she held herself together, refusing to break in front of him. She had shed enough tears over him — tears he would never see again.

Kat turned and ran down the road, her feet splashing through the rain-soaked street, leaving Levi behind.

She slammed the door shut and sank to the floor, her body trembling as the floodgates of tears finally burst open. The sobs came in waves, each one wrenching from the deep well of pain she had tried so hard to bury. Seeing him again, sitting so close, had ripped open old wounds she thought had healed. Memories of his sudden departure, of the cold, empty hours she spent waiting for him, came rushing back, overwhelming her.

Her phone buzzed in her pocket, interrupting her grief.

“You know you deserve to be punished,” Rosa's familiar voice said with a teasing lilt.

Kat sniffled, a faint smile tugging at her lips despite the tears. “I know, Your Highness,” she replied, her voice thick as she wiped her nose with the back of her hand.

“Levi’s been giving you a tough time, huh?” Rosa asked, catching on to Kat's sniffles.

“No, no,” Kat lied, forcing a laugh. “I just got caught in the rain.”

“How’s it going at GreyCorps? Are the guys truly handsome? You know you should start going on dates. You've been too rusty alone.”

“I’m not interested,” Kat sighed, trying to shake off the sadness that still clung to her.

“What are you becoming? A nun?” Rosa scoffed, clearly unimpressed.

“I guess I should think about becoming one,” Kat muttered, changing into her pajamas and crawling into bed.

“Come on, Kat. There are tons of handsome guys at GreyCorps. I heard the boys in the design department are drop-dead gorgeous,” Rosa said, practically pouting through the phone. “Or should I set you up on a blind date?”

“Blind date? I’ll pass. You’ve got horrible taste in men,” Kat teased, a genuine laugh bubbling up as a memory resurfaced. “Remember Jude?”

“Oh, please don’t remind me,” Rosa groaned. “How was I supposed to know he lived in his mother’s basement playing video games all day?”

“I got catfished, Rosa, catfished—courtesy of you!”

“That wouldn’t have happened if you weren’t so hopelessly single in the first place. When was the last time you went on a date?” Rosa shot back.

“I don’t know,” Kat admitted, the laughter fading as reality set in. Her attempts at dating had all been disasters, either with men who expected too much or those who turned out to be completely different from who they pretended to be.

“How’s everything at Valtara?” Kat asked, eager to change the subject.

“I see what you’re doing, you sly fox,” Rosa said, but she played along. “Nate’s been giving me a really hard time.”

“I think he likes you,” Kat said, a small smile playing on her lips as she twirled a lock of her hair.

“Like? What the—? Why the hell would someone like Nate like me?” Rosa scoffed, clearly taken aback.

“You should see the way he looks at you every time,” Kat said softly.

“He’s looking at me because he wants to wear out every living fiber of my being. I stayed up all night working on a stupid file that ended up not being needed at all!” Rosa fumed, her frustration obvious in her voice. “And guess what he said?”

“To take you on a date?” Kat teased, her tone light.

“No! To prepare for a charity fundraiser tomorrow! That bastard has been stressing me out, and I can’t take it anymore.”

“Aww, my poor baby,” Kat cooed, trying to comfort her friend. “I wish I was there to speak some sense to that evil prick. But on the bright side, he’s still taking you on a date.”

“Kathleen Murphy!” Rosa exclaimed, her indignation clear.

“I'm being optimistic.” Kat laughed.

“I got to go now, Kat. You still have to tell me about the hotties at GreyCorps.”

“Shut up, Rosa,” Kat said with a light chuckle as she ended the call.

She placed her phone beside her and stared up at the ceiling, the weight of Levi’s contract pressing on her mind. It was a gamble—a risk she was willing to take, if only to finish the project and catapult her career to new heights. But that didn’t mean she had to play nice.

Kat grabbed her laptop, her fingers hovering over the keyboard as she opened the last email Levi had sent. The contract details stared back at her, and she felt a pang of hesitation. She had spent so long trying to forget him, to move past the hurt, but now she had to face him again—on her terms.

Taking a deep breath, she steeled herself and signed the contract, her expression hardening as she hit send.

Almost immediately, her laptop pinged with a new message. She glanced at the screen, her heart skipping a beat before she forced herself to focus.

LeviGrey@g***l.com: Thank you very much. I'll have my driver help you move in.

Kat's jaw tightened as she typed out her reply, each word carefully chosen to keep him at arm’s length.

Kat: I’ll move in myself. Over the weekend.

She pressed send, hoping to close the conversation there. But another message from Levi appeared almost instantly.

LeviGrey@g***l.com: I understand. Let me know if you need anything. The guest house will be prepared for you.

Kat stared at the screen, her fingers twitching above the keyboard. She wanted to keep things strictly professional—detached, even—but his persistence gnawed at her. She couldn't let him think that this arrangement meant anything more than a business transaction.

Kat: I don’t need anything. The guest house is fine. I’ll handle the rest.

This time, she didn’t wait for a reply. She closed the laptop with a decisive click and pushed it away, her chest tightening with a mix of frustration and resolve.

She wasn’t going to let him in—physically or emotionally. Not again.