My Ex-Lover, My Boss

Liana stood frozen at the entrance of Vaughn Enterprises, her fingers tightening around the strap of her handbag as she stared up at the towering skyscraper. The polished glass reflected the dull gray of the overcast sky, mirroring the unease that settled deep in her chest. Five years. It had been five years since she last saw him-since she had walked away without a single explanation.

Darren Alaric Vaughn.

The name alone sent a chill down her spine, igniting memories she had spent half a decade trying to suppress. The man she had loved so deeply, the man she had left behind. And now, fate had brought her right back to him.

Swallowing the lump in her throat, she forced herself forward, heels clicking against the marble floor of the grand lobby. The scent of fresh coffee and expensive cologne filled the air, but it did little to distract her from the tension coiling in her stomach. She had prepared herself for this-rehearsed every possible scenario in her mind-but none of it compared to the reality of facing Darren again.

"Ms. Calloway?"

Liana turned sharply at the sound of her name, schooling her features into a neutral expression. A woman in a sleek black suit stood before her, holding a clipboard against her chest. Her gaze was sharp, assessing.

"Yes," Liana responded, keeping her voice steady.

"Mr. Vaughn is expecting you in his office."

The words sent a ripple of apprehension through her, but she nodded. "Thank you."

She followed the woman through the sleek corridors, her pulse hammering harder with each step. Five years apart, and yet she could still recall the last time she had seen him-the raw anger in his eyes, the way his hands had clenched into fists at his sides. He had demanded answers. She had given him none. And now, she was walking straight back into his world.

The elevator ride to the top floor felt agonizingly slow. Liana exhaled quietly, staring at her own reflection in the mirrored walls. Her long dark hair was neatly pulled back, her white blouse crisp beneath her tailored navy blazer. Professional. Composed. As if she hadn't spent the last five years haunted by what she had done.

The doors slid open with a soft chime.

"This way," the assistant instructed, leading her through the lavish executive floor.

Liana's heart pounded as they approached a pair of imposing mahogany doors. The assistant knocked once before pushing them open.

"Ms. Calloway is here," she announced before stepping aside.

Liana inhaled sharply as she stepped into the office.

And there he was.

Darren sat behind a massive black desk, his fingers steepled together as he observed her with an unreadable expression. Time had not softened him. If anything, he looked even more imposing than before. His sharp jawline was set in a hard line, his dark eyes colder than she remembered. The crisp suit he wore fit him with effortless precision, exuding wealth and power in a way that made her painfully aware of how much he had changed. Or perhaps, how much he had hidden from her before.

For a moment, neither of them spoke. The air between them was thick, heavy with unspoken words and unresolved pasts.

Then, Darren leaned back in his chair, tilting his head slightly as he regarded her. "So," he finally said, his voice smooth yet laced with something sharper, something dangerous. "You finally decided to return."

Liana forced herself to meet his gaze. "I'm here for the job."

His lips curled into something that resembled a smirk, but it didn't reach his eyes. "The job," he echoed, as if the idea amused him. "How convenient."

She gritted her teeth. She had known this wouldn't be easy. She had known he wouldn't welcome her with open arms. But the coldness in his eyes, the sheer detachment in his voice, was still a painful contrast to the man she had once known.

"If you have an issue with my employment, I can speak to HR," she said, keeping her tone level.

Darren's smirk faded. "HR doesn't make the decisions here, Liana. I do."

The way he said her name sent a shiver down her spine. It was the first time he had spoken it in years, yet it carried the weight of everything they had left unfinished.

She straightened her shoulders. "Then do you want me to leave?"

A charged silence stretched between them. Darren's gaze never wavered from hers, his fingers tapping slowly against the desk. He was testing her, she realized. Pushing her, waiting to see if she would run again.

Finally, he stood, rounding the desk with deliberate steps. He stopped just inches from her, close enough that she could feel the heat of his presence, smell the faint trace of his cologne-woodsy, familiar, yet distant.

"You left without a word, Liana," he murmured, his voice dangerously quiet. "And now you walk back in here as if nothing happened. Tell me-what exactly are you hoping for?"

Her breath caught. She had expected anger, resentment. But this-this was something else entirely. A storm brewing beneath his controlled exterior.

"I'm here to work," she said firmly.

Darren studied her for a moment longer before stepping back, his expression unreadable once more. "Then work," he said coolly. "But don't expect the past to stay buried."

Liana swallowed hard. She had feared as much.

Because five years ago, she had left with a secret.

And if Darren ever discovered the truth... he would never forgive her.