Rosalia smoothed her hands over the crisp, navy blue blazer as she stepped into the sleek, modern lobby of Grey Enterprises. The towering glass and steel building was an imposing reality, a testament to the company's wealth and importance.

Taking a deep breath, Rosalia approached the reception desk, her heart pounding in her chest. "Hi, I'm Rosalia Hernandez. I have an interview scheduled with the hiring manager."

The receptionist, a perfectly posed woman suit, gave her a polite smile. "Of course, Ms. Hernandez. The hiring manager is expecting you. Please have a seat, and someone will be with you shortly."

Rosalia nodded, trying to ignore the butterflies in her stomach as she settled into one of the plush leather chairs in the waiting area. She had come too far to let her nerves get the better of her now. This job was the opportunity she had been waiting for, a chance to finally put the past behind her and start anew.

As she waited, her gaze drifted around the lobby, taking in the gleaming marble floors and the abstract artwork adorning the walls.

Rosalia had worked hard to get to this point, to build a successful career and carve out a life for herself. After the messy breakup with Ivon, she had thrown herself into her studies, determined to prove that she was more than just a high school drama. She had excelled in college, earning a degree in business administration, and had since worked her way up the corporate ladder, sharpening her skills and building an impressive resume.

Now, as she sat in the waiting area of Grey Enterprises, she couldn't help but feel a sense of pride and accomplishment. This was her chance to take the next step in her career, to join a prestigious company and make her mark on the world. But with that opportunity came a sense of nervousness, a nagging fear that she might have to confront the ghosts of her past.

The sound of a door opening pulled Rosalia from her thoughts, and she looked up to see a well-dressed woman striding towards her. "Ms. Hernandez? I'm Samantha, the hiring manager's executive assistant. She's ready to see you now."

Rosalia rose to her feet, smoothing her hands over her blazer one more time. "Thank you, Samantha." She followed the woman down the hallway, her mind racing with a thousand thoughts and emotions. This was it – the moment she had been both dreading and anticipating. As she approached the imposing oak doors of the hiring manager's office, she knew that whatever happened next, her life was about to be irrevocably altered once more.

Rosalia took a deep breath as Samantha knocked on the office door and then ushered her inside. The room was spacious and elegantly furnished, with floor-to-ceiling windows offering a breathtaking view of the city skyline.

Seated behind a massive mahogany desk was a woman in her 40s, her dark hair swept back in a sleek ponytail. She looked up and gave Rosalia a warm smile. "Ms. Hernandez, it's a pleasure to meet you. Please, have a seat."

"Thank you," Rosalia replied, settling into the leather chair across from the desk. She tried to ignore the butterflies in her stomach as she met the woman's gaze.

"I'm Natalie Sinclair, the Chief Operating Officer here at Grey Enterprises," the woman introduced herself. "I've reviewed your resume, and I must say, I'm quite impressed with your qualifications and experience."

Rosalia felt a surge of pride. "Thank you, Ms. Sinclair. I'm honored to be considered for this position. Grey Enterprises is a company I've long admired, and I believe my skills and expertise would be a great fit."

Natalie nodded, her expression thoughtful. "Well, let's dive right in, shall we? Tell me a bit about your background and what drew you to apply for this role."

Rosalia hurled into an articulate and confident explanation of her professional journey, highlighting her achievements and the unique stance she could bring to the company. As she spoke, she felt herself relaxing, her nerves gradually giving way to a sense of determination.

The interview continued with a series of probing questions from Natalie, each one designed to assess Rosalia's problem-solving abilities, her strategic thinking, and her ability to thrive in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment. Rosalia answered each question with composure and precision, drawing on her extensive experience and her deep understanding of the industry.

As the interview progressed, Rosalia couldn't help but feel a growing sense of excitement. This was the opportunity she had been waiting for, a chance to prove herself and take her career to new heights. She knew that if she could impress Natalie Sinclair, the door would be open to a world of possibilities.

Finally, Natalie leaned back in her chair, a thoughtful expression on her face. "Well, Ms. Hernandez, I must say, I'm thoroughly impressed. Your qualifications and experience are exactly what we're looking for, and I believe you would be a valuable aid to our team."

Rosalia felt her heart skip a beat. "Thank you, Ms. Sinclair. I can assure you that I'm committed to this role and the success of Grey Enterprises."

Natalie nodded, a small smile playing on her lips. "Excellent. In that case, I'd like to extend a formal offer of employment. We'd be happy to have you join us”

Rosalia's eyes widened in disbelief. "I... I don't know what to say. I'm truly honored."

"You've earned it, Ms. Hernandez," Natalie said, her tone warm and genuine. "We believe you have the skills and the vision to help take this company to new heights. Welcome to the team."

Rosalia felt a surge of delight, mixed with that same twinge of nervousness. As she shook Natalie's hand and accepted the offer, she couldn't help but wonder what other surprises might be in store for her at Grey Enterprises.

“You’d be starting today Rosalia”

“Sure ma'am “ Rosalia replied with a polite smile.

“You just have to–Ivon, you came at the right time”

Natalie looked up and smiled at the person who just walked in.

Rosalia felt her heart pounding in her chest as Ivon Grey stepped into the office, his presence immediately commanding the room. She had not seen him in years, not since their breakup in high school, and the sight of him now sent a jolt of electricity through her.

Ivon's gaze locked with hers, and for a moment, time seemed to stand still. Rosalia could see the flicker of recognition in his eyes, the same intensity that had once drawn her to him so completely.

"Ivon, there you are," Natalie said, oblivious to the charged atmosphere. "I'd like you to meet our candidate for the PR department Rosalia Hernandez."

Ivon's eyes narrowed as he studied Rosalia, his expression unreadable. "Rosalia," he said, his voice low and measured. "It's been a long time."

Rosalia swallowed hard, her mouth suddenly dry. "Ivon," she replied, her voice barely above a whisper. "I... I had no idea you were involved with this company."

The two former lovers stared at each other, the air thick with unspoken emotions. Rosalia could feel the weight of their shared history pressing down on her, the memories of their passionate relationship and its bitter end flooding her mind.

Natalie glanced between the two, a puzzled expression on her face. "I take it you two know each other?"

Ivon broke the silence, his gaze never leaving Rosalia's. "We... went to high school together," he said, his tone carefully neutral.

Rosalia felt a surge of panic. She couldn't bear the thought of Ivon revealing the true nature of their relationship, not in front of this potential employer.

Natalie smiled in content “Well that's good to hear. I'm formally employing her to the PR department I believe she'll be a valuable asset to our team."

Rosalia felt a mix of emotions – excitement at the prospect of this incredible opportunity, and dread at the thought of having to guide a professional relationship with Ivon. She knew she couldn't turn down the offer, not when it meant the completion of so much hard work and sacrifice. But the thought of working alongside Ivon, of having to confront the ghosts of their past, was simply too much to bear.

"Thank you, Ms. Sinclair," Rosalia said, her voice trembling slightly. "I... I'm not sure I can accept this position."

Natalie's brow furrowed in confusion. "I'm sorry, but I don't understand. You seemed so enthusiastic about the role during the interview. What's changed?"

Rosalia glanced nervously at Ivon, who was watching her intently. "It's just... I have some personal concerns that I need to address. I'm not sure I can give this job the full commitment it deserves."

Natalie sighed, her disappointment evident. "Well, that's certainly your choice, but I must say, I'm surprised. This is an incredible opportunity, and I truly believe you're the best candidate for the job."

Rosalia felt a pang of guilt, knowing that she was about to turn down a chance that many would kill for.

"I'm sorry, Ms. Sinclair," Rosalia said, her voice barely above a whisper. "But I'm going to have to decline the offer. I hope you understand."

Natalie nodded, her expression resigned. "I see. Well, I can't say I'm not disappointed, but I respect your decision. If you change your mind, the offer will still stand."

Rosalia nodded, her gaze once again drifting to Ivon. He was watching her silently, his expression unreadable. She knew that she was about to walk away from an incredible opportunity, but the thought of facing Ivon daily was simply too much to bear.

As Rosalia stood to leave, Ivon stepped forward, his eyes locked with hers. "Rosalia”

“Rosalia I need to speak with you. Natalie can you please give us a minute?”

Natalie looked at them intensely before plastering a smile “sure” and then she turned to Rosalia “Please consider my offer” and she strolled out of the office.

Rosalia felt a surge of conflicting emotions as she realized that in her bid for a high tech job, she had stumbled upon Ivon’s company. Grey Enterprises, number one firm in the world with different branches globally.

Ivon's words hung in the air. The man who had once held her heart so completely was now her potential boss, and the weight of that realization was almost too much to bear.

Ivon's gaze was steady, his expression unreadable as he studied her face. "I know this must be a shock," he said, his voice low and measured. "I never imagined we'd find ourselves in this position." and then he snickered.

Rosalia swallowed hard, her mouth suddenly dry. "Neither did I," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "It's been so long, Ivon. I... I don't even know what to say."

Ivon nodded, a hint of sadness flickering in his eyes before it was hidden with a malicious smile "I understand. This is a lot to take in." He paused, his brow furrowing slightly. "But I think it's important that we talk, Rosalia. There's so much that's been left unsaid between us."

Rosalia felt a flutter of apprehension in her chest. The thought of revisiting their tumultuous past was both terrifying and intriguing. "We have nothing to talk about, Ivon, the past is in the past”she said, her voice barely steady.

Ivon took a deep breath. "Well, for starters, I'd like to understand what happened between us all those years ago.” he raked his hand through his hair and walked towards her “we were the perfect couple. Come on, tell me what went wrong”

Rosalia felt her heart skip a beat. What went wrong? Rosalia scoffed internally "I... I don't know, Ivon," she stammered, her mind racing. "This is all so sudden, and I don't know but you won't have to see me again. I won't accept the offer”

Ivon nodded and smiled "Oh you will. In fact you'll be working as my personal assistant”

Rosalia studied his face, searching for any hint of deceit. But all she saw was sincerity and a glimmer of wickedness. "No,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I'm sorry Ivon but I won't be working in your company”

Ivon's lips curved into a smirk. "I wasn't asking”.

Rosalia looked at him in shock “What do you mean? You can't force me into working for you”

Ivon walked close to her and lifted her chin with his pointer finger, his eyes drinking in her small face hungrily.

“Oh but I can. The second you step out of here without accepting my offer, you'll be blacklisted. No company would want to hire anyone shunned by Grey Enterprises. So go on, leave. Your career would end faster than it started”

Rosalia pushed him away and watched as he lightly stumbled backwards with a sinister grin on his face. It was her turn to rake her hand through her hair in frustration. “Why?” she asked with tears glistening in her eyes.

“You broke up with me for no reason and embarrassed me in front of everyone. Consider this my revenge and retribution cause I would make sure you regret the day you ever thought of breaking with me. You start tomorrow and don't be tardy” he answered quietly, eyes filled with hatred before he pushed past her and out of the office.

As Rosalia stood alone in the office, she couldn't help but wonder what the future held. Would this offer be the start of a new chapter, or would it only serve to reopen old wounds? One thing was certain – her life was about to get a lot more complicated.

Meanwhile, Natalie,had been hoping to ask Ivon out for dinner, but she hesitated, knowing that the age gap between them might be a concern. She didn't want to jeopardize her professional relationship with the CEO, so she decided to hold off on making any personal advances, at least for now.

The next day arrived too soon, and Rosalia found herself feeling a mix of anticipation and trepidation as she made her way to the company. As she stepped inside, she spotted him immediately, his tall, imposing figure commanding the room.

Rosalia felt her heart thud as she admired him from afar.

As faith would have it, Ivon turned to her with a smirk, and Rosalia felt a familiar flutter in her chest. "Still checking me out from afar, I see, old habits die slow," he said, his voice low and mocking.

“Good morning Mr Grey” Rosalia greeted and made to walk past Ivon but he grabbed her hand.

Rosalia looked around the lobby in alarm praying no one was paying attention to them. She struggled to free her hand but he held on tight.

“Please let go”

“And where do you think you are going?” Ivon furrowed his brows and squinted his eyes accusingly

“To the PR department. You forced me to work here, remember?” Rosalia whispered with a gritted teeth, look at Ivon heatedly at the thought yesterday's threatening.

Ivon scoffed loudly before dragging her to the opposite direct towards the elevator.

Not wanting to make a scene, Rosalia followed quietly until they were in the elevator and Ivon slammed her on the elevator door while pressing 50.

Rosalia stared up at him with her doe eyes, the blues in them lightening and reminding Ivon of their past.

He groaned and grabbed her wrists before slamming them above her head. Rosalia yelped.

“I remember telling you you'll be working as my,” he paused after enunciating the my “PA and that's Personal Assistant. Meaning you'll cater to my needs” then he took on a low deep tone “both at work and after work”

Rosalie widened her eyes in surprise at the absurdity of his words and then proceeded to struggle while cussing him.

“Let me go! What do you mean by after work Ivon?” she asked “this is not professional. Let me go!” she shrieked and Ivon forcefully placed a kiss on her lips.

“Strawberries, I like”