Chapter Five: The Fine Line Between Past and Present

Ariadne Asselina Ildelfonso POV.

I had spent years perfecting the art of restraint.

Restraint in my emotions.

Restraint in my reactions.

Restraint in the way I let people affect me.

And yet, somehow, he had managed to tear through it in mere days.

Gavyn Del Herrera.

A man I had once loved. A man I had once trusted.

A man who had now reappeared in my life as if he hadn’t destroyed it before.

I gritted my teeth as I stood in front of the glass-paneled conference room, gripping the folder in my hands like it was the only thing grounding me.

Today, we were finalizing the planning stage for the project.

Which meant hours of discussions.

Which meant him.

I inhaled deeply, willing myself to stay calm before stepping inside.

The room was already filled with key members of the team when I entered. Laptops were open, documents scattered across the table, and the quiet hum of conversation filled the air.

Then—

A shift.

A tension.

I felt it before I even saw him.

Gavyn sat at the head of the table, dressed in an effortlessly tailored suit, his fingers tapping lazily against the polished wood.

His eyes found mine instantly.

Assessing. Calculating.

I ignored him.

Instead, I walked toward my seat beside Bella, setting my folder down and flipping it open as if I hadn’t just felt the temperature in the room drop.

"Good morning, everyone," our assistant manager, Mr. Navarro, greeted. "We’ll be reviewing the project roadmap today. Let’s begin."

I kept my focus on my screen, refusing to look up.

The meeting began smoothly.

Discussions flowed.

Numbers were crunched.

Timelines were reviewed.

And then—

"We need to discuss the logistics of the expansion," Gavyn said smoothly.

His voice sent an unwelcome shiver down my spine.

I didn’t look at him. "The logistics team already provided projections. Pages five through seven in the report."

"I’ve read them," he said. "But I have concerns about the risk factor in the overseas expansion."

I kept my expression neutral. "The risk factor is minimal given our research on market trends."

"Minimal doesn’t mean nonexistent," he countered.

I exhaled sharply. "What exactly are you trying to imply?"

The room fell silent.

Bella shifted uncomfortably beside me.

Gavyn tilted his head slightly, amusement flickering in his gaze. "That we should prepare for alternative scenarios."

It took everything in me not to glare at him.

Professional. Stay professional.

I turned to the team. "I’ll make the necessary adjustments and send a revised report by tomorrow."

"Good," he said.

His approval irritated me.

Because it felt like a test.

Like he was pushing, waiting for a reaction.

He wouldn’t get one.

Not this time.

The meeting dragged on longer than expected. By the time we were dismissed, my patience was running dangerously thin.

I gathered my things quickly, intent on escaping before—

"Ariadne."

Damn it.

I turned slowly, forcing a polite smile. "Mr. Del Herrera?"

The flicker in his eyes told me he saw right through my tone.

He gestured to the documents in my arms. "Do you have time to discuss those projections now?"

I clenched my jaw. "I’ll send you the updated version tomorrow."

"I’d rather go through it now."

Of course he would.

I wanted to refuse.

But this was work.

And I refused to give anyone—even him—an excuse to doubt my professionalism.

So I nodded stiffly. "Fine. My office?"

"Lead the way."

The moment the office door shut behind us, I set my files down and took a seat, deliberately keeping my expression blank.

Gavyn, however, took his time.

He glanced around my office as if memorizing every detail, before finally lowering himself into the chair across from me.

I ignored the way he seemed far too comfortable sitting there.

"We need to ensure the backup strategy aligns with our supply chain partners," he said.

I nodded, opening my laptop. "I’ve already drafted an alternative model. I’ll send it over after I make a few refinements."

Gavyn leaned back. "Efficient, as always."

I didn’t respond.

Silence stretched.

Then—

"You’ve changed," he murmured.

I froze.

My fingers tightened around the mousepad, but I forced myself to keep my eyes on the screen.

"Let’s keep this professional," I said coolly.

A low chuckle. "Is that what we’re doing?"

I finally looked at him.

His expression was unreadable, but there was something lurking in his gaze—something that sent a pulse of irritation through me.

"Yes," I said firmly. "This is a professional setting, Mr. Del Herrera."

His lips twitched. "You used to call me Gavyn."

"That was a long time ago."

His amusement faded.

Something flickered across his face—something I couldn’t place.

But I refused to let myself be drawn in.

I refused to let him in.

So I exhaled sharply, straightened, and closed my laptop. "If that’s all, I’d like to get back to work."

Gavyn studied me for a long moment.

Then, to my relief, he stood.

"Of course," he said easily.

I watched warily as he adjusted his cuffs.

But just as he reached the door, he paused.

"Ariadne."

I stiffened.

"Are you happy?"

The question hit me like a blow.

Slowly, I turned to face him. "That’s none of your business."

Gavyn’s gaze softened—just barely—before he nodded once.

"Right," he murmured.

And then he was gone.

I didn’t sleep that night.

Instead, I lay in bed staring at the ceiling, my mind replaying every single moment of the day.

The way Gavyn had looked at me.

The way he had asked that question.

The way his presence still lingered even after he was gone.

I hated it.

Hated that he could still unravel me without even trying.

I clenched my fists.

I had worked too damn hard to rebuild my life.

I wouldn’t let him shake me.

I wouldn’t.

With a frustrated exhale, I sat up, grabbing my phone.

My finger hovered over Shaun’s deleted number before I shook my head and tossed the phone onto the bed.

No.

I refused to be weak.

The next morning, I walked into the office with my walls reinforced.

The project was my focus.

Not him.

Not the past.

Not the questions he made me want to ask.

As I reached my desk, Bella looked up. "Hey, did you hear?"

I frowned. "Hear what?"

Ahsirt leaned in. "The executive board is sending a few employees to London next month for the expansion."

Alexa smirked. "Guess who’s on the list?"

I suddenly felt uneasy.

I slowly set my bag down. "Who?"

Bella grinned. "Me, Ahsirt, Alexa and YOU."

My stomach dropped.

Before I could process it, another voice interrupted—smooth, steady, too knowing.

"Looks like we’ll be traveling together again, kitten."

I froze.

No.

Slowly, I turned—

And met Gavyn’s gaze.

His smirk was faint, but I saw the amusement in his dark eyes.

He knew.

He knew this would happen.

And as the realization settled—

I realized something else, something even worse.

The past wasn’t just knocking at my door anymore.

It had just forced its way inside.

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