Page 21 of My Ex's Best Friend

After the initial awkwardness, we’re back at that night at the dorm, and nothing has changed.

“That’s what you got from all that?”

“It’s also bad form to call your boss the devil on the first day of your job.”

“I’m not working yet.” She shrugs.

“Technically, you are; you just signed a contract,” I point out.

“Ugh.” She takes a step back. She’s almost out of my office.

“Wait,” I say, realizing how wrong my approach is.

The last thing I want is to watch her walk out like this. For years, I’ve dreamed of a redo of whatever happened five years ago. And now that it is finally here, I’m ruining it.

“I had no idea you were the one they hired.”

She raises a brow. “You’re the CEO, aren’t you?”

At least she has stopped walking. Relief shoots through me. Just the sight of her has all those overwhelming feelings come right back.

I missed her so much, but I thought I was over her. My thumping heart says apparently not.

“I was caught up in some things and wasn’t in the country when you were hired. My admin team handled it.”

“I see,” she says. “And you had no interest in knowing who they had hired? The person you’re supposed to work closely with on a high-stakes project?”

I frown. What is she even trying to imply?

“Like I said, I was out of the country. The hire was made last minute, and I wasn’t aware who they had chosen.” I pause then and look her up and down.

She fidgets under my gaze, looking slightly uncomfortable.

Do I affect her? The thought almost brings a smirk to my face before I push it down. The last thing I need right now is to behave childishly.

I’m still standing, so I gesture for her to sit opposite me. “Please sit down and we can talk it out.”

“I don’t see what we have to talk about,” she says, her voice cold, and I see a trace of the woman who stormed out on me the last time I saw her.

She’s still angry at me. I’m not surprised.

I’ve tried to reach out to her many times, but she has always shut me out.

“You’ve already met with HR; the contract is all drawn up and signed,” I say. “It’ll take us a week to nullify it.”

She blanches. “That long?”

“Yes.”

She looks away, not meeting my gaze.

I quickly scan Kiera's resume, my initial surprise giving way to genuine admiration. The wealth of experience and expertise she brings to the table is impressive, to say the least.

Finally, I look up, meeting her gaze. "Kiera, your resume is... really impressive.”

She raises an eyebrow, a hint of skepticism in her expression. "You mean, you didn't bother to check who you were hiring?"

"As I mentioned, I've been away, and the admin team handled the hiring process. I only saw your name when my secretary mentioned Ms. Crofton would be coming in."

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