Chapter Four His Childhood Crush He Saw

Josephine slept fitfully in the chair until morning. Her stomach growled in protest, reminding her of the emptiness in her life—and in her cupboards.

She grabbed her purse and left the apartment, the weight of her situation pressing down on her. She had only a few dollars left, so she stopped at a nearby restaurant, eating what she could afford before heading back out into the city.

Desperation fueled her as she drove around, hoping to find any bank hiring. It was a long shot, but she had to try. The world seemed to close in on her with every passing minute.

When she finally spotted a bank that appeared open, she parked quickly and walked inside. The fluorescent lights buzzed overhead as she made her way to the HR desk. Before she could even speak, the woman behind the desk looked up and called her name.

 “Mrs. Walter?” The HR manager’s voice was cool, almost disdainful.

 Josephine froze. “How do you know me?” Her heart skipped, a nervous laugh escaping her lips.

The woman’s gaze hardened. “We know about your... misconduct at your last job. You think people don’t talk?”

Josephine’s stomach dropped. “What are you talking about? I—”

“Your little affair with every male staff member at your last bank,” the HR woman cut her off, her voice dripping with venom. “This is a respectable place. We protect our families.”

Josephine’s breath caught. The rumors had spread this far? Had Marcus made sure of it? She opened her mouth to defend herself, but the woman’s smirk told her it was no use.

“You’re not welcome here, Ms. Walter,” the HR manager said, her tone final.

Stunned, Josephine turned and left, the door swinging behind her with a sharp thud. She didn’t know whether to scream or cry. What had she done to deserve this? Was she truly a monster in the eyes of everyone? She needed answers, but they weren’t coming.

Back in her apartment, she collapsed onto the couch, the words of the HR manager echoing in her head. She had been living a nightmare for days, but now it felt real. Marcus had destroyed her reputation. He had made sure she couldn’t find work anywhere.

She pressed her hand to her stomach, her eyes squeezed shut. “Baby, what do we do now?” The weight of the world felt unbearable, but tears wouldn’t help. She had to find a way out.

A sudden decision jolted her upright. She couldn’t stay here. She needed to get out of this city before the rumors swallowed her whole.

Grabbing her phone, she searched for a place far away, somewhere she could escape Marcus and start over.

Her heart pounded as she scrolled, her eyes landing on a familiar name—Riversideloco. The small town where she’d grown up. It wasn’t ideal, but it was far enough.

She grabbed a suitcase and started packing hastily—clothes she hadn’t taken to Marcus’s place. She didn’t care if it was neat; she just needed to leave. Within an hour, she was driving out of the city, not looking back.

The drive felt like a blur, her thoughts spinning. When the familiar sights of Riversideloco came into view, nostalgia hit her like a wave. The old park, the small grocery store where her mother shopped—everything felt like a memory she had tried to bury.

She pulled into the driveway of her mother’s house, the pink house where she had grown up. Her breath hitched in her chest, her hands shaking as she stepped out of the car.

“Mum?” Her voice was a whisper, fragile as glass. 

The door creaked open, and her mother, Cecilia, gasped. “Josephine?” She rushed down the steps, wrapping her daughter in a tight hug. “What are you doing here?”

Josephine's lip trembled. “I… I needed to come home.”

Inside, with cups of tea in hand, Josephine poured out everything—her job rejections, the rumors, the fears about her unborn child. Her mother’s expression softened with concern, her voice thick with worry.

“That Marcus sounds like a vile man,” Cecilia murmured. “But you’re stronger than this, Josie. You’ve always been strong.”

Josephine nodded, a weak smile breaking through the tension. “I’ll find a way, Mum. I just need a fresh start.”

The next morning, Josephine woke in her old room, the walls adorned with pink curtains and childhood posters. It was comforting, but at the same time, out of place. She dressed quickly, determined to find work.

She wandered the town and stumbled upon Becky’s Tea Shop. Hesitant at first, she pushed open the door, the bell above jingling softly.

Becky, a plump woman with a warm smile, looked up. “Josephine? Is that you? Goodness, it’s been years!”

Josephine gave a faint smile. “It’s me. I was wondering… are you hiring?”

Becky tilted her head, considering. “Well, there’s a cleaner position, but with your qualifications—”

“I’ll take it,” Josephine interrupted. She needed to do something. Anything.

Becky blinked in surprise. “Are you sure?”

“Yes. When can I start?”

Before Becky could respond, a commotion outside caught their attention. “You nearly hit me, you young fool!” an old man shouted, waving his fist.

Josephine turned to see a sleek black Mercedes-Benz parked outside, and a tall man emerged from it. He looked composed, impeccably dressed in a tailored suit. He handed the old man a wad of cash, his expression calm but apologetic.

“Is that…?” Josephine’s voice trailed off as the man approached.

Becky leaned in, whispering. “That’s Julian Highlander, the richest man in town. Owns half the businesses here.”

Josephine’s heart skipped a beat. Julian. The name stirred memories.

 “Wait. Julian? From high school?” she asked, disbelief coloring her tone.

 Becky shrugged. “Could be. But I’ll tell you this—if he asked me out, I wouldn’t say no.”

As if on cue, Julian stepped into the tea shop. The energy in the room shifted, the hum of conversation halting. His eyes swept over the crowd before landing on Josephine. A slow smile spread across his face.

“Josephine?” he said, his voice warm with recognition.

Stunned, Josephine blinked. “Julian?”

He walked toward her, his expression lighting up. “It’s been so long.”

 “I didn’t expect to see you here,” she stammered.

 Julian chuckled. “And I didn’t expect to find you working in a tea shop. Life’s full of surprises.”

 Without warning, he pulled her into a hug. The room fell silent. Josephine’s cheeks flushed as she pulled away, awkward but trying to compose herself.

 “Good to see you, Julian. You look… different,” she said, still catching her breath.

 Julian laughed softly. “I’d hope so. High school was ages ago. You still look beautiful.”

 Becky’s jaw dropped. “You know him?” she whispered in disbelief.

 Josephine nodded, still processing the unexpected reunion. Julian’s eyes softened, his voice dropping to a quieter tone.

 “We should catch up. How about lunch? My treat.”

 Josephine hesitated, glancing at Becky. What did Julian want? Why was he so eager to reconnect?

 Becky waved her off with a grin. “Go on. We can sort out the job later.”

Josephine nodded. “Okay,” she said, her heart racing. What was Julian’s angle?

 Julian grinned. “Great. Let’s go.”

 As they left, whispers followed them. Josephine’s mind was a whirlwind. What did this unexpected encounter mean for her future?