Chapter 2- Meeting Harry

Anna grabbed her coat from the rack, took a bit of cash from the petty cash drawer, and headed for the elevator. Mr. Faiz's coffee was a priority, but she was in desperate need of a break, too.

The coffee shop, once small and cramped, had transformed into an open-air patio. The tables were now spaced out, providing a sense of calm amidst the bustling street. The winter chill had draped everything in its frosty embrace, but inside, the atmosphere was warm and cozy, with the scent of fresh coffee, baked goods, and the hum of light jazz filling the air. It was Anna’s happy place—a moment of calm before the chaos of the day began. Patrons huddled over mugs of coffee, their breath forming little clouds in the cold air as they sipped their drinks and nibbled on sweetbreads and pastries. The DRI building loomed just a few yards away, its glass facade reflecting the morning sky.

Anna walked down the street, cradling a cup of coffee in both hands, the warm ceramic a welcome contrast to the chill. She was so lost in thought that she barely noticed the bustling crowds around her. Her gaze drifted upward as a man stepped into her path. Her feet stumbled over his, and before she could react, her coffee spilled onto the pavement in a sticky mess.

“Bloody hell,” Anna muttered under her breath, frustration bubbling up as she looked at the ruined coffee.

The man, a stranger, immediately apologized, his hand shooting out to steady her as she teetered on the edge of falling. He had a smooth, confident air about him, and as their eyes met, Anna was struck by something about him—something familiar, yet elusive. Her cheeks flushed as she quickly looked away.

“Sorry, I didn’t see you there,” the man said, his voice deep, apologetic, yet strangely amused. His hand still rested on her waist, steadying her as she collected herself.

“Dammit, my coffee!” Anna muttered, her embarrassment thickening. She could smell his cologne—a blend of wildflowers and a hint of ocean breeze. The contrast was unusual, yet oddly appealing.

“Whoa, Miss. You were the one walking without paying attention. Maybe I should be the one to apologize?” he teased, raising an eyebrow as he looked down at her.

Anna’s lips parted in disbelief. “I was clearly visible. You didn’t see me—”

“Oh, I see. Now you’re blaming me for not being in your line of sight? Nice,” he smirked, his gaze unyielding.

“Whatever,” Anna muttered under her breath, picking up the remnants of her spilled coffee. “I have to go back now. What a jerk.”

“Hey, it’s not my fault,” he called after her, but Anna just waved him off, frustrated and embarrassed.

As she walked away, she couldn’t help but notice his parting glance—a knowing smile that made her blood boil.

Running back to the coffee shop, Anna smiled despite herself, her cheeks still flushed. She could still smell his cologne—wildflowers and ocean breeze. It was oddly comforting. She tried to ignore it, but the familiarity gnawed at her, like a distant memory she couldn’t quite place.

She reached the coffee shop, but the lingering thoughts of the encounter wouldn’t leave her. The scent was somehow comforting, like it belonged to someone she knew.

But before she could think too much on it, she reminded herself: she wasn’t the type to dwell on things, especially not on strangers.

As she hurried back toward the DRI building, she found herself slipping on the icy cobblestones, her boots barely keeping her steady. The cold air stung her face, and her thoughts wandered to her ever-persistent tasks at work. Mr. Faiz’s demands, the endless paperwork, the board meeting, the pressure—it all felt like it was closing in on her. The DRI, once a place of fascination, now seemed like a maze she couldn’t escape. Even though her body was in motion, her mind felt like it was stuck on an autopilot setting.

As Anna entered the building, she quickly made her way to Mr. Faiz’s office, coffee in hand. She wasn’t looking forward to another round of his critical eye, but it was part of the job.

When she reached the boardroom, she froze. There, standing at the table, was the man from earlier. Her heart skipped a beat. The jerk from the street. How had he ended up here?

She kept her face neutral as she entered, but his piercing gaze locked onto hers, and he gave her a knowing smile that made her blood run cold.

“Why the hell are you here?” he asked, his voice low, almost growling.

Anna blinked, taken aback by his sudden question. She opened her mouth to respond but found herself stumbling over her words. He was clearly expecting an answer. But before she could gather her thoughts, he grinned, the expression almost predatory.

“Blimey, you work here?” he said, raising an eyebrow as she handed him the manila envelope she had forgotten earlier. “I didn’t take you for one of Faiz’s minions.”

Anna tried to remain professional, but something in his tone, something in his presence, made her uneasy. She tugged her palms from his grasp and took a step back.

“Yes, I work here. And if you don’t mind, could you let go of me?” she asked firmly, though her voice wavered ever so slightly.

He didn’t immediately release her, and she felt a strange, unsettling sensation in her stomach. But the moment was broken when he leaned in close, his lips brushing against her ear as he whispered, “You know, now that I’ve made you uncomfortable, I have to ask...do you plan on writing your resignation letter, Miss Brown?”

Her heart hammered in her chest as she pulled away, her face heating up again.

“Such a dick,” she muttered under her breath, but the words felt hollow.

She didn’t have time to dwell on him. She was still reeling from the unexpected encounter when she left the room. The rest of the day blurred into an exhausting haze of tasks, meetings, and paperwork. Mr. Camilton’s presence lingered in her thoughts like a shadow, and the more she thought about him, the more she realized how much she had failed to recognize him earlier.

His name hit her like a lightning bolt. Harry Camilton. The CEO of DRI, the billionaire businessman with a reputation as cold as ice. The man she had bumped into on the street was none other than the very man who owned the Institute.

Her mind spun as she tried to reconcile the man she had just met with the image of the powerful CEO she had seen in articles. How had she not recognized him sooner?

The rest of the day passed in a blur. By the time Anna finally left work, she was exhausted—physically and mentally. The cab ride home felt endless, and as she drifted off to sleep, her dreams swirled with visions of Harry Camilton. His eyes. His scent. The way he had held her.

But what unsettled her most was how familiar he felt. As if he had been a part of her life long before that morning. But why? Why couldn’t she remember?

Anna’s dreams, as always, were shrouded in mystery—full of faces and places she couldn’t place. But in the corner of her mind, she felt his presence, a constant shadow. And in that moment, she realized: something was drawing her toward him.

But what?