Anna hurried through the crowded sidewalk, clutching her cup of coffee. It was one of those days where everything seemed to be moving at a faster pace than usual. The scent of fresh pastries from the café mixed with the morning hustle, but Anna didn’t have time to stop. She was late, as always.

Her phone buzzed in her pocket, and she glanced down quickly to check the message. In that moment, fate decided to take a turn. She collided with someone—hard.

“Ugh!” Anna gasped as the coffee flew from her cup, splashing over the stranger in front of her.

She froze, eyes wide, watching as the hot liquid soaked into the man’s tailored suit. His sharp features twisted in disbelief as he stepped back, clearly stunned.

“What the hell is wrong with you?” the man snapped, his voice cold and filled with irritation.

Anna’s heart sank. Of all the mornings… Of all the people she could have bumped into, it had to be him.

“I—I’m so sorry,” she stammered, trying to hide her panic. “It was an accident! I wasn’t looking where I was—”

“You weren’t looking? Are you serious right now?” He cut her off, glaring down at her with such intensity it made her feel like she was the one who had done something unforgivable.

Anna rolled her eyes, irritation quickly rising within her. She didn’t need this right now. “It’s coffee, not acid. It’s not the end of the world.”

The man’s eyes narrowed as he took a step closer, his jaw tightening. “You’re lucky it’s just coffee. This suit cost more than your entire wardrobe, and now I’m going to have to get it cleaned.”

Anna scoffed. “Well, maybe you should have been looking where you were going. I’m not the one who decided to walk around like I own the sidewalk.”

“Excuse me?” His voice was low, his temper obviously flaring.

“I’m saying that maybe if you weren’t so busy looking down your nose at everyone, you’d have noticed me—you know, a person, not just another obstacle in your way.” She crossed her arms, daring him to retort.

The man stared at her, clearly taken aback by her defiant attitude. For a moment, they just stood there, locked in a silent standoff. He opened his mouth to say something, but then he stopped himself.

Anna’s nerves began to jitter as she checked the time. She was so late. “Look, I’m really sorry about your suit, but I’ve got to go.” She dug into her purse and pulled out her credit card, thrusting it at him. “I’ll pay for the dry cleaning.”

The man stared at the card, then back at her, as if he couldn’t decide whether he was more annoyed or amused.

Anna tossed it at him. “I’ll let you deal with that. Have a nice day.” Without waiting for a reply, she turned and hurried off, weaving through the crowd. She needed to get to her get-together. Her friends were probably already waiting for her.

As she disappeared into the crowd, the man stood there, still holding her credit card, his eyes narrowing as he watched her walk away.

Scene 1: Anna at the Gathering

It was already late when Anna finally arrived at the gathering. Her high school friends were waiting at a cozy bar, and as usual, she was rushing in, her mind still racing from the morning’s events. She had promised Suzy she wouldn’t be late, but life never seemed to care about her promises.

The moment Anna stepped through the door, Suzy waved her over from a corner booth, flashing that mischievous grin Anna knew all too well. She gave a sheepish smile, knowing she’d been late, but tried to brush it off as usual.

Anna: "I’m so sorry I’m late, you know how it is. Always running behind."

Suzy shrugged with a teasing smirk.

Suzy: "Typical Anna. I had a feeling you’d show up just in time for the drama to start. Don’t worry, I saved you a seat."

Anna slid into the booth and sighed, grateful for the distraction of her old friends. But as she settled in, she couldn't shake the memory of the "arrogant guy" she had bumped into earlier in the day. His face was still fresh in her mind—the sharp features, the cold eyes that seemed to cut straight through her, and the air of superiority that made her want to slap him just to see if he'd ever crack a smile.

Anna: "You won’t believe what happened to me today, Suzy."

Suzy raised an eyebrow, her interest piqued.

Suzy: "I’m listening. What happened?"

Anna took a deep breath, trying to calm the irritation that was still simmering inside her.

Anna: "So, I’m walking down the street, right? Just minding my own business when I bump into this guy. I mean, I literally ran into him. He was tall, wearing a suit that looked like it cost more than my rent, and just... ugh."

Suzy’s eyes sparkled with curiosity.

Suzy: "Did you apologize?"

Anna: "I didn’t have the chance! This guy had the nerve to glare at me like I’d ruined his entire existence. And when I tried to apologize, he was all like, ‘Watch where you’re going.’ I swear, he looked at me like I was some kind of inconvenience."

Suzy chuckled, but Anna could tell her friend was suppressing a laugh.

Suzy: "Oof. Sounds like you made an impression."

Anna: "Impression? More like I became the target of his irritation. He was so full of himself, like he owned the street or something. I almost told him to get off his high horse, but I bit my tongue. I didn't want to escalate things, you know?"

Suzy raised her glass and leaned in, her smile turning mischievous.

Suzy: "Girl, you sure know how to get under a guy’s skin. What happened next?"

Anna: "He just... walked off like nothing happened. Didn’t even give me the time of day. And the worst part is, I don’t even know who he is! Some arrogant guy in a suit, walking around like he’s too important for the rest of us."

Suzy paused for a moment, eyeing Anna curiously.

Suzy: "Wait, you didn’t recognize him?"

Anna: "No, I swear! He was just some random guy on the street."

Suzy lowered her voice, glancing around as if sharing a secret.

Suzy: "Anna, that ‘random guy’—he's Alex, the new CEO of your company."

Anna blinked, her face going pale as the words settled in. Her mind raced, replaying the encounter in her head. The arrogance. The way he looked at her like she was nothing more than a nuisance. That was the new CEO?

Anna: "Wait, he’s the CEO?!"

Suzy nodded, taking a sip of her drink, clearly enjoying the chaos she was causing.

Suzy: "Yeah, he’s taken over his dad’s company. I figured you’d run into him sooner or later. He's been making quite a name for himself, but no one really talks about his... attitude."

Anna buried her face in her hands, mortified.

Anna: "Oh my god, I was a total idiot. No wonder he looked at me like I was some kind of bug. I was probably just another annoying face to him."

Suzy couldn’t hold back her laughter.

Suzy: "Don’t sweat it. If he’s anything like what you’ve described, he probably doesn’t even care. But next time, maybe try to tone it down a little with the sarcasm."

Anna sighed and nodded, feeling both embarrassed and angry. Of all the people she could have bumped into, it had to be him—the one guy who probably could make her life a living hell at work.

---

Scene 2: Alex and James at the Mansion

Meanwhile, Alex had just pulled up to his family mansion after a long day of flying in from the airport. He'd spent the better part of the afternoon driving around the neighborhood, taking in the area that would now become his base of operations. The grand house loomed before him as he parked his car, already feeling the weight of his responsibilities settling in.

As he entered the house, he was met by his younger brother, James, lounging on the couch, scrolling through his phone.

James: "Back already? That was quick. How’s the city treating you so far?"

Alex dropped his suitcase on the floor, looking exhausted.

Alex: "It’s fine, but that’s not what I want to talk about."

James looked up from his phone, sensing his brother’s frustration.

James: "Uh-oh, sounds like you had an interesting day."

Alex plopped down onto the couch next to him, rubbing his temples as if to ward off the headache that was quickly forming.

Alex: "You have no idea. I met this girl today—her name’s Anna. And let me tell you, I’ve never met someone so annoying."

James raised an eyebrow, intrigued.

James: "What happened? Did she make a scene or something?"

Alex groaned, clearly agitated by the memory.

Alex: "I was just walking down the street, minding my own business, and she bumps into me. Fine, I get it, accidents happen. But the way she acted afterward? It was like I was the one who did something wrong. She didn’t apologize, didn’t even seem to care that she’d nearly knocked me over."

James leaned forward, clearly entertained by his brother’s reaction.

James: "Sounds like she got under your skin pretty good."

Alex: "She did. And when I tried to give her a piece of my mind, she was all sarcastic and rude. She didn’t even know who I was. Can you believe that? Some random girl on the street, acting like I’m just another guy."

James grinned, clearly amused by his brother’s frustration.

James: "Wait, you didn’t recognize her?"

Alex: "No! She was just some random... wait a minute..." Alex’s eyes widened as the pieces began to fall into place. "Hold on. If she didn’t recognize me, then she’s probably one of the employees. Which means she’s probably someone I’ll have to deal with regularly."

James let out a laugh, clearly enjoying the chaos Alex was experiencing.

James: "That’s right. You’ve got a whole team to manage now. And I bet you’re already planning how to deal with her."

Alex scowled, standing up and pacing.

Alex: "I don’t care if she’s an employee. If I ever see her again, I’m going to make sure she knows who she’s messing with. If she doesn’t recognize me now, she will soon enough. And when she does, she’ll regret ever crossing my path."

James leaned back, watching his older brother with a smirk.

James: "Sounds like someone’s got a bit of a soft spot."

Alex: "No. I just don’t like being disrespected. If she thinks she can get away with treating me like that, she’s in for a rude awakening."

James chuckled, shaking his head.

James: "Alright, bro. But remember, she’s just some random girl. Don’t get too worked up over it. You’ve got a whole company to run."

Alex didn’t respond, his mind still reeling from the unexpected encounter. Whether he liked it or not, it seemed like this Anna was going to be a part of his longer than he anticipated.

I spent the entire night replaying yesterday’s disaster. I couldn’t help it—every time I closed my eyes, I saw that look in Alex’s eyes as coffee dripped onto his shirt, like I had just wrecked his whole existence with one clumsy move. Way to make a lasting first impression, Anna.

The worst part? He didn’t even have to say anything. His cold stare and the way he turned away said it all.

And now, I had to go to work. Great.

As I walked into the office the next morning, my stomach was doing flips. I kept glancing over my shoulder, half-expecting to see him lurking somewhere, watching me with those judging eyes.

I walked past my coworkers, who were gossiping about the new CEO, and they all gave me the most awkward smiles. Did they know? My mind was racing, jumping to conclusions. I tried to ignore them, but it was hard not to wonder if my little coffee incident was the topic of their conversation.

Then, as if on cue, the elevator doors opened, and there he was—standing tall, in a perfectly pressed suit, looking like the most intimidating CEO to ever grace the planet.

I froze. There’s no way he’s the new CEO. This is some kind of mistake.

But the receptionist, Janet, was already ushering him toward the meeting room, greeting him with that overly polite smile people put on when they’re trying too hard to hide their nerves.

I quickly ducked into the nearest empty office, hoping he wouldn’t notice me—like that was even possible. Yeah, because I blend in so well, especially when I’m dressed like I’ve had five hours of sleep and a caffeine overdose.

Minutes passed, and the tension in the air only thickened. I could hear the soft murmurs of my coworkers as they gossiped about the new CEO. I’d be curious too, I thought. But all I could think about was how I was going to face him when he finally came out of that meeting. My stomach churned with each passing second.

Then, as if my day couldn’t get worse, I heard the elevator again. My heart skipped a beat as the door slid open.

Of course, Alex walked out—his sharp eyes scanning the office, looking so cool, so in control. And then, his gaze landed on me.

For a second, time seemed to stop. He stared at me like he was trying to decide whether or not to roll his eyes or ask me to leave. The room felt smaller with every second that passed. I wanted to melt into the floor.

Instead, he took a slow step forward. “You,” he said, his voice low and cold. “You work here?”

I nodded, swallowing hard, feeling my throat go dry. "Yeah. Anna."

He gave a half-smile, but it wasn’t friendly. It was the kind of smile that said, I remember you. The one I’d rather forget. “Right. The… coffee incident.”

My face turned a few shades of red. “I—uh, I really didn’t mean to—”

“I know,” he cut me off, raising a hand. “No need to explain. I’m sure it wasn’t intentional.”

I nodded again, my hands starting to shake. His presence was suffocating, like he could see right through me. The weight of his stare was more than I could bear, and I felt the sweat begin to bead on the back of my neck.

Then, without another word, he turned, his suit jacket swaying behind him as he walked away—like he owned the place, which, technically, he did now. "Make sure to clean up next time, Anna," he called over his shoulder, his voice still carrying that underlying coldness that sent a chill down my spine.

I stood frozen, my heart pounding in my chest. I was so caught up in the whirlwind of everything that I barely noticed the phone buzzing in my hand. My gaze flicked down, expecting another work-related notification, but then I saw it. The name on the screen made my pulse spike—no name.

“My office. Now.”

I blinked, staring at the message in confusion. My breath caught in my throat. Who sent this? Who could be calling for me now?

I scanned the room, my heart racing. The air felt thick, suffocating, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong. Then, I felt it—eyes on me. I looked up and froze.

Alex.

He was standing by the door to the meeting room, staring at me with a look so cold, so intense, it felt like a warning. His eyes flicked to the phone in my hand, then back to me, before narrowing into a glare that seemed to strip away every ounce of composure I had left.

The unspoken command in his stare sent a shiver down my spine. I knew exactly what it meant. Come to my office. Don’t make me repeat myself.

My fingers tightened around the phone, the pulse of the vibration now feeling like a drumbeat in my chest. What did he want? What was this about? I tried to ignore the knot that was forming in my stomach, but it was useless. My hands were clammy, my pulse pounding in my ears.

I quickly shoved the phone into my pocket and tried to calm my racing heart. I couldn’t—no, I wouldn’t—go to his office like some obedient employee. But I knew that if I didn’t, things could only get worse.

The air in the office seemed to grow colder, as if everyone had frozen along with me. I took a step toward the door, my feet heavy, my mind whirling with a million thoughts. But before I could think any further, Alex’s voice cut through the tension.

“Anna,” he said, the coldness in his tone sharper than ever, “You’re not going to ignore me, are you?”

I froze. His gaze locked onto mine once more, and my breath hitched in my throat. The world around me felt like it was closing in, the walls pressing tighter and tighter. What did he want from me?