The Shock of a Lifetime.
Noah’s POV:
My stomach twisted as I walked down the empty hallway, my footsteps echoing against the polished tiles. Apart from the receptionist, the place was eerily quiet, almost suffocating.
Fuck.
How could I have messed this up already?
I tightened my grip on my bag, my pulse hammering in my ears as I approached the towering double doors of the conference room. I was late—on the very day the new CEO was arriving, despite all the warnings we’d received. Of all the ways things could have gone wrong, this was by far the worst possible start.
Taking a shaky breath, I pushed open the heavy doors. The murmur of conversation halted instantly. Every head in the room turned toward me, their gazes sharp, assessing.
Heat crawled up my neck. My hands curled into fists.
“I… I’m sorry for being late,” I stammered, bowing my head as low as I could manage.
Silence. Thick. Unforgiving.
I forced my feet to move, about to step forward when—
“Well, well. Looks like you’re Mr. Noah.”
The voice was smooth, laced with amusement, yet sharp enough to slice through my composure.
My breath caught.
No. No fucking way.
“And here you are, already making an impression?”
Laughter rippled through the room, but I barely registered it. My body went rigid as ice shot through my veins.
That voice.
My head snapped up, eyes locking onto the one person I never thought I’d see again.
Liam Hayes, wait he is the new CEO?
My chest tightened, my heart pounding so loudly I swore the entire room could hear it. Was I dreaming? What the hell is he doing here?
For years, I convinced myself I’d never cross paths with him again. That part of my life was over. A buried memory.
And yet, here he was.
Looking at me like I was nothing more than a stranger.
“Will you keep standing there, Mr. Noah?” Liam’s voice was cold, impassive. “If you’re not ready, you can excuse yourself.”
That indifference. That complete lack of recognition.
Was he serious?
Something inside me twisted—anger, disbelief, something else I wasn’t ready to name.
Clutching my file tightly, I forced my legs to move and hurried to an empty chair. The low hum of amusement still lingered, a cruel echo of my humiliation.
I stole another glance at him.
He hadn’t changed—no, he had.
Broader shoulders. Sharper jawline. A presence that commanded attention. That deep voice. The way he carried himself—self-assured, untouchable.
And yet, somehow, it was still him.
“Mr. Reed,” Liam said, barely sparing me a glance. “I expect my employees to be punctual, and this already tells me you have a habit of being late.” He leaned back in his chair, fingers tapping rhythmically against the desk. “One more slip-up, and you’re out.”
A chill ran down my spine.
The room remained silent, the tension suffocating.
I swallowed hard, forcing down the sting of humiliation. But beneath it, resentment simmered.
This was the same man who broke me. The one who shattered me into pieces.
And now?
He looked at me like I was nothing. Like I had never mattered.
My fingers curled around my pen, gripping it so tightly my knuckles turned white.
Does he really not recognize me? Or is this deliberate?
****
The rest of the meeting blurred into background noise.
My mind wasn’t there—not even for a second. I barely processed the words being spoken, too caught between the pen in my hand and the man sitting at the head of the table.
And the worst part? I counted the number of times he looked at me.
Zero.
He didn’t spare me another glance. Not once. I could feel my chest tightening with each passing second. The weight of it pressed down on me, suffocating, and overwhelming.
Why was I even here?
Why was he here?
The thoughts ran circles in my head until—
“Noah.” The sound of my name pulled me back to reality like a harsh slap. My gaze snapped up.
Liam.
Those piercing green eyes bore into me, sending a fresh wave of unease through my veins.
“Sir,” I responded quickly, my voice unsteady.
“Do you have any contributions to make regarding the analysis?” His expression remained unreadable, but something flickered in his eyes—something calculated. “I’ve heard you always had better judgment on issues like this. Is there any way you think we can improve the supply chain?”
Shit.
My palms began to sweat.
I wasn’t listening. I had no idea what they had been discussing.
Beads of sweat formed along my hairline as I clenched my hands against my thighs.
“Y… ye… I mean, no.” I stopped, inhaled sharply. I needed to regain control. I couldn’t let him see me like this.
A deep sigh escaped my lips as I straightened my posture, forcing myself to focus. Confidence. If I didn’t know what to say, I could at least fake it.
“I mean, I have nothing more to add to the already well-structured analysis,” I finally said, my voice stronger. “I believe you’ve done a perfect job, sir. In fact, with the decisions you’re making, you’ll no doubt be one of the best CEOs this company has ever had.”
I held his gaze as I spoke, willing myself not to look away.
And then—
The corner of his lips twitched.
A smirk.
My stomach dropped.
That alone terrified me.
“That’s a good thing,” he mused. “It shows you’re paying attention.”
Fuck.
I barely resisted the urge to exhale in relief. I had almost blown my cover.
Then—
“The PR manager mentioned something earlier,” Liam said, his tone deceptively casual. “Can you reinforce that?”
My blood ran cold.
He knew. He knew I hadn’t been listening.
That bastard.
A slow, burning anger coiled in my chest.
Why was he doing this?
What joy did he get from humiliating me?
I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction. Not a chance.
“Hm, well, regarding what the PR manager said—” I paused, my brows furrowing as I clutched my stomach.
“Ahh,” I groaned, hunching over slightly, my face twisting in pain.
All eyes were on me now.
“I… I think I need to use the restroom,” I muttered weakly, my voice strained.
Before anyone could react, I bolted from my seat and rushed out of the conference room, one hand clutching my stomach.
Murmurs erupted behind me—confusion, concern.
Perfect.
The moment I reached the restroom, I let out a long, heavy sigh.
That was close.
I leaned against the sink, gripping the edge so hard my fingers ached.
What the hell was that? Why did he call on me? Why the sudden attention after pretending I didn’t exist?
Just as I tried to steady my breathing, I heard it.
A slow, deliberate set of footsteps.
And then—
“You have impressive acting skills, Noah.”
My stomach clenched.
I didn’t need to turn around to know who it was.
Liam.
I forced a weak chuckle, still clutching my stomach for effect. “I… I just feel better now.”
Lie.
Silence stretched between us before he finally spoke again.
“Of course,” he said, his voice dry. “I can see that.”
Then, he took a step closer.
“For future reference,” he murmured, “I don’t appreciate being lied to. Consider this your first and only warning.”
Then, just like that, he turned and walked out, leaving me frozen in place.
The moment the door clicked shut, I slammed my fist against the sink.
Fuck.
