Chapter 1 Unexpected Encounters

• "Hello, mom," I say absentmindedly as I answer the call that appears on my cellphone while I'm on my way to work.
• I hadn't even heard the phone, my mind is wondering. Just yesterday, my boss had informed us that the new CEO was going to meet with us today, and that's all I can think about. I believe that changes are good, and boy, do I need a change! I've had few opportunities at work.
• "Dear Ady... I'm just calling to remind you that preparations for Annie's wedding is about to begin. The Clarks not only invited your sister, but kindly included us on their guest list, even you! Aren't they wonderful?" she says, and I can hear the evident pleasure in her voice.
• "Oh yes, mom... umm, yes, about that... umm... I still don't know if I'm going to go because..." I trail off.
• "Don't be silly! This is the event of the year, and they have been excellent friends. I need you to be attentive so that you don't embarrass us in front of the Clarks. I want you to be fully involved in everything they need. Understood? Oh, and please... try to look nice and put together. Have a good day, my dear!" she says hurriedly and then hangs up the phone.
• Great. At least this time she didn't tell me to start a diet or make any other tactless comments.
• Ohhh Annie's wedding, I had completely forgotten. Annie Clark is my sister Fernanda's best friend, and if you ask me, I don't know how they're still friends. My sister is quite self-centered, while Annie is the sweetest woman in the world. The Clark family is quite wealthy, and we are not. My mother has a small hair salon, and my father left us a long time ago. Honestly, I know very little about him.
• The problem with Annie's wedding is that... her brother might come. We had always been friends, and Brandon... well, he was basically the perfect man to me. He was every girl's dream in school, and of course, he was my dream too.
• But it's better not to think about him. I haven't thought about everything that happened in the past for years, although it still hurts, I still suffer from it. I don't want to relive those moments, the most horrible ones of my life. There must be some way I can avoid all the wedding preparations and not see Brandon.
• Annie, she's an excellent friend, but I just... can't. I can't go through this again. Just thinking about Brandon... his eyes, his smile, his voice... it brings up feelings and memories that I don't even want to remember. He was everything to me... and suddenly, he had turned my life into a hell. I couldn't even look at him, or talk to him. How could I?
• I wonder how he's doing? He was the most handsome boy in the world, attractive and intelligent... What will I feel when I see him again... if I see him? No, no Adelaida, don't think about him again. Don't you dare think about Brandon! I can't even imagine seeing him! I don't think I can bear it.
• He'll surely be at his dear sister's wedding, it's impossible for him not to be by her side on such an important day... yes, definitely, I have to come up with an excuse and get out of the wedding plans, even if it upsets my mother and my sister.
• I'm heading to work, Atalant is a large company that offers many services, and my boss recently started creating a small design area to offer it to various clients. It's what I always liked to study, but unfortunately I couldn't. Let's say I'm just starting out and since they needed help, they hired me after seeing my work. I learned a little on my own to handle programs and I'm taking advantage of it to learn. I want to believe that I'm good, I have creativity and I'm eager to show that I can do things well.
• Maybe with this new CEO we'll have new projects! I think excitedly, there's a chance they'll put me in charge of one of them, it's a remote possibility, but it exists. It's what I want most in the world. I have to play my cards right to achieve it. As soon as I arrive at the office, there's commotion about the new CEO, all my colleagues are talking about him.
• "Girls... did you hear that the new CEO is incredibly attractive?" I hear one of my colleagues say.
• "Ohh yes, he's a man in every sense of the word. I saw him yesterday when he met with Mike. He's really handsome: tall, blond, young, with a dreamy tan, a sexy voice, and ahhh single... basically an excellent catch for any girl," says one of the secretaries mysteriously, and immediately all my colleagues start asking her questions, as she was lucky enough to see him before us. Inside, I smile.
• I've been single for a long time, and my ex-partners haven't been the most affectionate and considerate in the world. Well, my two past relationships, not that there were many. They were quite normal, the brief infatuation ended after a few days and... that was it, we quickly fell into routine. I think they got bored of me.
• Not that I think the new CEO will notice me. Not at all. I'm a dreamer, but not that much. No matter how much I have my best look and I know I'm a very pleasant person and a beautiful woman, as my best friend Lizzie keeps telling me... I'm still a woman who doesn't fit the beauty standards. I'm not very tall, I have many curves, but I'm not skinny, I have wide legs, and many hips, a butt... well.
• Of course, I no longer believe that I'm the horror they made me believe in school where they laughed at my weight, I learned to accept myself as I am. At least that's what I repeat to myself mentally.
• "Come on, girls... do you really think the new and sexy CEO is going to notice you? He's a man who plays in another league. Not only is he attractive... but he's really intelligent, and with the best professional trajectory I've seen in years. We literally believe that with his help, he's going to make us grow a lot. So forget about him," Katie says, showing off.
• As you can see, she's not the most pleasant coworker in the world. After that "kind" comment, some of my colleagues argue, others remain silent, simply waiting for the opportunity to get a glimpse of the new CEO, whom we will meet in a meeting in a few hours.
• My boss Mike is particularly stressed about this meeting, he wants everything to go perfectly. I'm not sure why he invited me, I'm not that relevant. Maybe it's because we're short-staffed. Could this be my opportunity? I could learn more and also help them. It would be fantastic. Before entering the room, he makes a request.
• "Adelaida... could you make a copy of the case study of our current clients?" he asks me with his firm voice, without even saying hello.
• He is a slim and short man, but intimidating. He is more or less pleasant with me because I am always willing to help and learn. With my other colleagues, he is quite strict. I am used to his demands, so I go along with it.
• Of course, I rush to my computer and start printing the cases. For several minutes, I run back and forth and regret not wearing more comfortable shoes. I feel the blazer making me hot and uncomfortable.
• But doing my best, I have everything prepared and try to fix my hair, which is in a ponytail. I regret not being able to go to the bathroom. I'm sure I'm blushing and my makeup is not the best, but it's not like I'm going to a fashion runway. It's just a man, no matter how attractive and brilliant he may be... nothing more. He's not here to see me, but the team. He probably wants to see one of our designs.
• As I approach the meeting room, I see that it is closed and some of my colleagues are at their desks. Phew, what a relief! I thought the meeting had started, but it must be delayed. I enter the room happily, without knocking, when I notice who is sitting in the room next to my boss with a captivating smile. He is wearing a perfectly tailored black suit and a white shirt. His hair is perfectly styled and he looks like a million-dollar model.
• "Hello, Ady," he charmingly addresses me, and I am so shocked that one of my papers falls to the floor. It's him, he's here in the meeting room... the owner and master of my torment: Brandon Clark.