44 A Fresh Start Amidst Heartache 44 A Fresh Start Amidst Heartache Hazel's POV The glass building of Cole Industries loomed over me, sleek and imposing against the morning sky. Not as tall as the Sterling tower, but impressive nonetheless. I smoothed down my navy blue dress and took a deep breath. "You've got this," Chloe said, squeezing my hand. "Adrian's going to love you." "What if this is a mistake?" I whispered, doubt creeping in. "What if I can't do this?" "Then you try something else. But first, you walk in there and show them exactly what Sterling is missing" I nodded, straightened my shoulders, and walked through the revolving doors. The security guard directed us to the executive floor on the 25th level. The elevator ride was silent. My stomach churned with anxiety. Just yesterday I was Liam Sterling's assistant. Today I was unemployed, heartbroken, and desperately needing this job. The elevator doors opened to a modern reception area where a smiling woman greeted "Ms. Vance? Mr. Cole is expecting you. Please follow me." She led us to a spacious corner office with floor-to-ceiling windows. A tall man with salt-and-pepper hair stood up from behind his desk, smiling warmly. "Ms. Vance, it's a pleasure. I'm Adrian Cole." He extended his hand. His grip was firm but not overpowering. Unlike Liam's first impression-cold and distant-Adrian exuded warmth. "Thank you for seeing me on such short notice, Mr. Cole." "Please, call me Adrian. And I should be thanking you. Chloe speaks very highly of you, and I've been trying to poach top talent from Sterling for months." He gestured for us to sit down. "I understand you were Sterling's executive assistant?" "Yes, for about three months." "Impressive. That man goes through assistants like water. The fact that you lasted that long speaks volumes about your competence." I shifted uncomfortably. "Actually, he fired me yesterday." Adrian's eyebrows shot up. "May I ask why?" My throat tightened. How could I explain without revealing too much? "There was a… miscommunication. He believed I was involved in corporate espionage." Adrian laughed. "Seriously? You?" He shook his head. "Liam Sterling always did have a flair for the dramatic. Were you?" "No, of course not!" I said quickly. "Then his loss is my gain." Adrian leaned back in his chair. "Chloe mentioned you're a single mother?" "Yes, I have a son. He's two." "I admire that. Raising a child while building a career takes tremendous strength." He smiled. "I have three daughters myself. My oldest is about to start college." The interview continued more as a conversation than an interrogation. Adrian asked about my experience, my skills, and my ambitions. It felt… normal. Respectful. "Well, Ms. Vance, I've heard enough," Adrian said after thirty minutes. "I'd like to offer you a position, but not as my assistant." My heart sank. "Oh." "I believe your talents would be wasted in that role. We have an opening in our sales department. The pay is better, the hours more flexible for a parent, and there's real opportunity for advancement." I blinked in surprise. "But I don't have sales experience." "You managed Liam Sterling without getting fired for three months. That's better sales training than most MBA programs." He smiled. "Besides, any recommendation from the Dalton family carries significant weight here." I glanced at Chloe, who was beaming. 2/6 "Let's say we start you at $75,000 with full benefits. More than you were making at Sterling, I believe?" My mouth fell open. It was nearly double what I'd earned as Liam's assistant. "Mr. Cole-Adrian-that's extremely generous, but why would you take this chance on me?" "Because I believe talent deserves opportunity." He leaned forward. "And because I know Liam Sterling. If he accused you of espionage without concrete evidence, it was for personal reasons, not professional ones." My cheeks flushed, confirming his suspicion. "That's what I thought," he said softly. "So, Ms. Vance, do we have a deal?" "Yes," I said, finding my voice. "Yes, absolutely." "Excellent! Let me introduce you to your new department." The next few hours were a blur. I met Morris, my supervisor-a friendly man with kind eyes and a patient demeanor. He introduced me to the team, including a vibrant redhead named Scarlett who immediately took me under her wing. "Fresh blood! Thank god," she whispered as we toured the department. "Most people here have been working together for ten years. It gets stale." By lunchtime, Scarlett had brought me coffee (remembering I liked it with just a splash of cream), introduced me to half the building, and made me laugh more than I had in days. "Your hair is gorgeous," she complimented as we ate in the company cafeteria. "Those green eyes too! No wonder Adrian hired you on the spot." "It wasn't like that," I protested, but I was smiling. "Girl, Adrian Cole doesn't personally escort new hires around the building unless he's seriously impressed. Trust me, you're golden here." The afternoon passed in training sessions and paperwork. No one yelled. No one made impossible demands. When I made a mistake on a form, Morris simply showed me how to correct it. 3/6 "Everyone messes up sometimes," he said kindly. "That's how we learn." By five o'clock, when people started packing up to leave, I felt disoriented. "That's it?" I asked Scarlett. "We're done?" "Of course! Work-life balance is actually a thing here." She grinned. "Actually, a bunch of us are heading to this Latin dance bar tonight. You should come! Bring Chloe too." "I don't know…" "Come on, it'll be fun! Just for an hour. Celebrate your new job!" Her enthusiasm was infectious. "Okay, maybe for a little while." I texted Chloe, who immediately responded: HELL YES! Pick you up at 8. Walking out of Cole Industries, I felt lighter than I had in days. The job was perfect- challenging but supportive, with better pay and people who seemed genuinely kind. But as I drove to Clara's house to pick up Leo, the temporary high began to fade. Each mile reminded me of Liam. Of his rare smile when Leo jumped into his arms. Of his lips on mine. Of his eyes darkening with anger when he accused me of betrayal. Leo was thrilled to see me, running into my arms the moment I walked through the door. "Mama! I missed you!" "I missed you too, baby." I buried my face in his soft hair, inhaling his sweet scent. "Did you get a new job?" Clara asked, watching us with a smile. "Yes, and it's amazing. Better than I could have hoped for." "I told you everything happens for a reason." She patted my shoulder. "Chloe mentioned you're going out tonight? I'm happy to watch this little one." "Are you sure? You've already done so much-". "Nonsense. Go have fun. You deserve it." After dinner and Leo's bedtime routine, I kissed his forehead as he drifted off to sleep. The sight of his peaceful face-so like his father's-made my heart ache. Liam would never know his son. My decision to keep that secret now seemed permanent. 4/6 44 A Fresh Start Amiast Heartache Chloe arrived promptly at eight, dressed to impress in a slinky black dress. "Ready to dance away your sorrows?" she asked, eyeing my simple jeans and blouse. "Please tell me that's not what you're wearing." I laughed. "No, I brought options. Help me choose?" For the next twenty minutes, Chloe transformed me-styling my hair in loose waves, applying subtle makeup, and selecting a fitted red dress that made me look more confident than I felt. "There she is," Chloe said approvingly. "The Hazel who takes no prisoners." We met Scarlett and her friends at the bar. The music was loud, the drinks were strong, and for brief moments, I almost forgot about Liam. Almost. It was nearly midnight when we returned to Clara's. I checked on Leo, still sleeping soundly, before changing into pajamas and climbing into the guest bed. And then, in the quiet darkness, all the distractions of the day fell away. Liam's face appeared every time I closed my eyes. His voice echoed in my ears. The pain I'd been holding at bay crashed over me in waves. I pressed my face into the pillow to muffle the sound as sobs wracked my body. My new job was a blessing. My friends were supportive. My son was healthy and happy. But my heart was shattered, and no amount of Latin music or career advancement could fix that. Tonight, like every night since he'd walked away, I cried myself to sleep.