Noah’s Monday arrived far too quickly.
I stood in front of the mirror, adjusting the collar of my shirt for the third time while trying not to stare at the scarf around my neck.
It had become a habit over the years, especially whenever I knew there was a chance someone might notice what I kept hidden beneath it.
Today, however, the scarf felt heavier than usual.
I was going back to Ashford Biotech.
Not as a student.
Not as someone desperately searching for a way to finish the degree I had abandoned.
I was going there as an employee.
That should have made me proud.
Instead, my stomach twisted every time I thought about who owned the company.
Adrian.
I quickly looked away from my reflection.
“Stop thinking about him.” My voice sounded ridiculous in the empty apartment, but I needed to hear it.
I picked up my bag and checked the time.
Ethan was already dressed and sitting at the small dining table, swinging his legs while eating the last piece of toast on his plate.
“Daddy, you’re going to be late.” I smiled.
“You’re the one eating slowly.” “I’m thinking.” “About what?” He took another bite before answering seriously, “About dinosaurs.” I laughed.
“Of course you are.” After breakfast, I took him to daycare.
He ran inside almost immediately after giving me a quick hug, and I stood outside for a moment watching him disappear.
Then I turned toward the road.
Ashford Biotech waited across the street.
I took a deep breath and walked toward it.
The moment I entered the lobby, memories of Friday returned.
Adrian standing there.
His eyes on me.
The strange recognition in his expression.
I forced myself to keep walking.
I wasn’t here because of him.
I had responsibilities now.
At the reception desk, I gave my name and received a temporary identification card.
A young woman from Human Resources led me toward the laboratory wing while explaining the basic rules of the company.
“No personal phones inside restricted laboratories,” she said.
“All research documents are confidential.
You’ll also have to sign an additional confidentiality agreement because of the department you’re joining.” I nodded.
“Understood.” We stopped in front of a glass door.
“Your supervisor will explain the rest.” My stomach tightened.
I already knew who she meant.
She opened the door.
The laboratory was enormous, far more advanced than any facility I had ever worked in.
Screens displayed research data across several walls, machines hummed quietly, and scientists moved between stations with focused expressions.
I stared for a moment before remembering that I was supposed to move.
Then a familiar voice came from behind me.
“You’re early.” I froze.
I slowly turned.
Adrian stood several feet away, holding a tablet in one hand.
For a moment, neither of us spoke.
He was dressed more casually than he had been at the headquarters, wearing a dark shirt with the sleeves rolled neatly to his forearms.
His expression was calm.
Mine probably wasn’t.
“Good morning, President Ashford.” His eyebrows lifted slightly.
“You’re formal.” “I’m at work.” “So am I.” I didn’t know how to respond to that.
He walked closer, stopping at a comfortable distance.
“I reviewed your application.” My fingers tightened around the strap of my bag.
“You have an impressive research record.” “Thank you.” “Yet you left university before completing your final year.” There it was.
The question I had been expecting.
I forced myself to meet his eyes.
“It was a personal decision.” Adrian studied me silently.
He didn’t press.
Instead, he handed me the tablet.
“These are the preliminary documents for the project you’ll be assisting with.” I accepted it.
Our fingers almost touched.
I immediately pulled my hand back.
His eyes briefly dropped toward my scarf.
I noticed.
He noticed me noticing.
Neither of us said anything.
Then Adrian looked away.
“Your workstation is at the end of the laboratory.
You’ll work with Dr.
Marcus Lee during your probationary period.” Relief washed through me.
At least I wouldn’t be directly under Adrian.
“Thank you.” He nodded and walked past me.
But just before reaching the laboratory doors, he stopped.
“Mr.
Everhart.” I turned.
“Yes?” He looked at me for several seconds.
“I hope you won’t disappear again.” My heart stopped.
Adrian opened the door and walked away before I could answer.
He couldn’t possibly know.
Could he?
My hand slowly rose to the scarf covering my neck.
Two years ago, I had disappeared because I believed it was the only way to protect myself and my unborn child.
Now I was standing in Adrian Ashford’s laboratory.
And for the first time since returning to this city, I wondered whether disappearing again would even be possible.
I stood there for several seconds after Adrian disappeared through the laboratory doors, staring at the place where he had been standing.
His final words kept replaying in my head.
I hope you won’t disappear again.
Why would he say that?
Did he remember me?
No.
If he remembered everything, he wouldn’t have looked at me yesterday with that uncertain expression.
He wouldn’t have asked Daniel to investigate my records as though I were a stranger.
Whatever he remembered, it wasn’t enough to connect me to the past.
I forced myself to breathe and walked toward my assigned workstation.
Dr.
Marcus Lee greeted me with a brief smile before explaining the research project.
He was patient, professional, and far less intimidating than I had expected.
Within an hour, I was completely absorbed in the work, and for the first time since entering the building, I stopped thinking about Adrian.
That was probably why I was able to make it through the rest of the morning without panicking.
Until lunch.
I was sitting alone in the employee cafeteria, slowly eating while checking a message from the daycare.
Ethan had apparently finished his lunch and was currently playing with blocks.
I smiled at the photo the teacher had sent me, then locked my phone.
“Mr.
Everhart.” I looked up.
Adrian stood beside my table.
I nearly dropped my fork.”President Ashford.” “May I?” He gestured toward the empty chair opposite me.
I hesitated before nodding.
He sat down.
For a few seconds, neither of us spoke.
I wondered if this was how every employee’s lunch went or if Adrian had decided to make mine particularly uncomfortable.
“You seem nervous around me,” he finally said.
I nearly choked on my water.
“I’m not.” “You are.” “I’ve just started working here.” “That’s not what I mean.” I lowered my eyes.
He had always been observant.
Even before I left, he had been able to notice the smallest mistakes in research reports.
Nothing escaped him.
“I suppose you’re still adjusting,” he continued.
“Yes.” His gaze remained on me.
Then he asked quietly, “Where did you go after leaving university?” My heart dropped.
I placed my fork down.
“Another town.” “Why?” “Family reasons.” He watched me for another moment before leaning back.
“You don’t like talking about the past.” “No.” At least that answer was honest.
Something almost softened in his expression.
“I understand.” I looked up in surprise.
He wasn’t asking anymore.
For some reason, that made me even more uncomfortable.
My phone suddenly vibrated.
I glanced at the screen.
Daycare Teacher: Ethan has a small fever.
Nothing serious, but he keeps asking for you.
I stood immediately.
“Is everything alright?” I looked at Adrian.
“My son has a fever.” The words escaped before I could stop them.
His expression changed.
“Your son?” “Yes.” “How old?” “Two.” The silence between us became strange.
Adrian’s eyes narrowed slightly.
“Two?” I nodded.
“He was born two years ago.” Something unreadable crossed his face.
“Go.” I blinked.
“What?” “Go to your son.” “But I’m supposed to—” “I’ll speak with your supervisor.” I hesitated.
“Thank you.” I grabbed my bag and hurried toward the exit.
I didn’t see the way Adrian watched me leave.
I didn’t hear him quietly repeat the words I had just said.
“Two years old…” His expression became distant.
For some reason, that number bothered him.
Perhaps because it matched the amount of time Noah Everhart had been missing from his life.
By the time I reached the daycare, Ethan was sitting quietly on the teacher’s lap.
The moment he saw me, his little arms stretched toward me.
“Daddy.” I rushed over and picked him up.
“I’m here.” His forehead was warm against my cheek.
“I’m okay.” “I know.” I kissed his hair and held him closer.
The teacher explained that his temperature wasn’t dangerously high and that he had probably become overheated while playing.
Still, I couldn’t stop worrying.
“Can I take him home?” “Of course.” I thanked her and carried Ethan outside.
As I walked toward the bus stop, I looked down at his sleepy face.
“You scared Daddy.” He wrapped his arms around my neck.
“Sorry.” “It’s okay.” I held him tighter.
I had spent two years protecting him.
Nothing was going to change that.
Not Adrian.
Not the Ashford family.
Not the past.
But as I reached the bus stop, my phone vibrated.
An email from Ashford Biotech.
Subject: Revised Work Assignment I opened it.
My stomach dropped.
Due to changes in the research division, Mr.
Noah Everhart will temporarily report directly to President Adrian Ashford beginning tomorrow.
I stared at the screen.
“No…” Ethan stirred in my arms.
I closed my eyes.
Of all the things that could have happened on my first day…
This was the one thing I had been trying to avoid.
Now Adrian is going to be Noah’s direct supervisor.
What do you think will happen when they have to work together every day?
And let’s not forget little Ethan!
Every bit of support helps me continue this story!
See you in Chapter 5!
— Ari1