The encounter

Leo arrived at work, the familiar buzz of the office greeting him like an old friend. He spotted Mimi at her desk and couldn’t resist the urge to high-five her as he passed. “Morning, superstar!” she called out, her smile infectious.

“Morning!” Leo replied, feeling a surge of energy as he made his way to the elevator. The doors slid shut, and he took a moment to gather his thoughts, mentally preparing for the day ahead.

Once he reached his floor, he settled at his desk, the scent of fresh coffee wafting through the air as he booted up his computer. Just as he was about to dive into his tasks, Mr. Thom’s voice echoed from his office. “Leo! Can you come in here for a moment?”

With a quick nod to himself, Leo stood up and made his way to Mr. Thom's office, a mix of curiosity and anticipation swirling in his stomach. He knocked lightly before stepping inside, ready to hear what his boss had to say.

“Ah, Leo! Good to see you,” Mr. Thom said, gesturing for him to take a seat. “I wanted to discuss the gala preparations with you.”

“Sure, what’s going on?” Leo asked, leaning forward, eager to hear the details.

Mr. Thom leaned back in his chair, a serious expression crossing his face. “The models will be coming in today to check the venue and the wardrobes we’ve chosen. I need you to be on my side during this process. You’ll be the one explaining to the models how the gala will go.

Leo nodded, feeling a mix of excitement and responsibility. “Got it. I’ll make sure everything goes smoothly.”

“Good,” Mr. Thom continued, his gaze steady. “But I have to ask—why do you think the models chose to work with us? Our company isn’t exactly the most popular ," Leo asked .

Mr Thom furrowed his brow, pondering the question. “I’m not sure. Maybe they see potential in us?”

Mr. Thom smiled knowingly. “Actually, one model specifically requested to work with us. I think it’s Jaxon.”

The name hit Leo like a bolt of lightning, stirring a whirlwind of emotions within him. Jaxon, his ex, had chosen to be part of this event, and the implications of that decision sent his mind racing. As he left Mr. Thom’s office, Leo couldn’t shake the question: why had Jaxon chosen their company?

With a deep breath, he returned to his desk, ready to prepare for the day ahead, but his thoughts remained tangled in the past.

As the morning wore on, the office buzzed with activity. Leo tried to focus on his tasks, but his mind kept drifting back to Jaxon. He glanced at the clock, counting down the minutes until the models were scheduled to arrive.

Finally, the door swung open, and a group of models entered, laughter and chatter filling the room. Leo forced a smile, greeting them as they settled in, but his heart raced with anticipation. Where was Jaxon?

“Hey, Leo!” one of the models called out, breaking his concentration. “Are you ready for us?

Absolutely!” he replied, trying to sound enthusiastic. He moved around the room, helping them with their outfits and answering questions, but his eyes kept scanning the entrance.

Just as he was beginning to lose hope, the door opened again. There stood Jaxon, looking effortlessly stylish, his presence commanding the room. Leo’s breath caught in his throat. Jaxon’s gaze met his, and for a moment, the noise around them faded away

As Jaxon stepped into the room, Leo's heart raced, caught in a tumult of emotions he couldn't quite decipher. He loathed Jaxon for the betrayal that had shattered their bond, yet the sight of him stirred a longing that felt almost primal. Memories of laughter and shared dreams flickered in his mind, igniting a fierce desire to bridge the chasm between them with a hug, to celebrate his success as they once did. But the weight of resentment held him back, leaving him torn between the urge to embrace the man he hated most and the need to protect his heart from further pain

He turned away, trying to drown out the memories that threatened to resurface. The laughter of the other models filled the air, but all Leo could hear was the echo of their past—the late-night conversations, the shared dreams, the way Jaxon had made him feel alive.

As he busied himself with the accessories, he felt the weight of Jaxon’s gaze on him, a reminder of everything he was trying to escape. Leo took a deep breath, steeling himself against the tide of emotions, determined to maintain his distance and keep the past where it belonged—behind him.

Everything came to a close after what felt like an eternity, and Leo hurriedly made his way upstairs to grab his coat. He took the elevator that went directly to the ground floor, hoping to avoid any chance encounter with Jaxon. But as the doors slid open, his heart dropped when a hand suddenly gripped his arm, holding him back. He told himself it couldn’t be Jaxon, but when he turned to look, he couldn’t meet his gaze. Instead, he focused on the floor, fighting back the tears that threatened to spill.

Leo,” Jaxon said, his voice soft and familiar, the tone Leo had yearned for over the years. In an instant, tears streamed down Leo’s cheeks, and he felt his face flush with a mix of anger and heartbreak. He shook his head, silently pleading for Jaxon to let him go, but the grip remained firm. Summoning all his strength, Leo finally broke free from Jaxon’s hold and turned to walk away, desperate to escape the flood of emotions.

“Can we talk?” Jaxon called after him, placing a hand gently on Leo’s shoulder. Leo paused, his heart racing as he turned to face him, his expression blank but his eyes betraying the turmoil within. “What should we talk about, huh?” he shot back, pushing Jaxon lightly on the chest, frustration boiling over. “We have nothing to talk about. You made your choice about me the day you left without any explanation.”

Leo’s voice trembled as he continued, emphasizing each word as if they were a dagger. “Of all the things you could do, Jaxon, you LEFT me.” With that, he turned away again, tears smearing down his face, each step feeling heavier than the last as he walked away from the man who had once meant everything to him

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