I didn't want to go in on Maxine's first day. That would be too weird. However, Kyla did tell me on Monday that Maxine did really well for her first day.

I didn't have work on Wednesday, so I decided that it would be perfect.

I felt my heart racing as I picked up a sandwich from Kyla's favorite gourmet to go grocery store, as well as a black coffee. She had a Keurig at her office, but complained the coffee there was never strong enough.

Kyla is a partner at a law firm. She is 27 years old- she has been a lawyer for three years. Given, her father used to be a partner at the firm. But she is extremely intelligent and great at her job.

The office, which is a smaller, but very nice modern building, is divided into four sections. There is the waiting area, and then each door from the waiting area leads to each partner in the firm. When you opened the door, there was then a large desk- where the paralegal sat at. It looked almost like a mini waiting room itself, with a small couch and a coffee table as well. I was used to seeing Keisha there. Then, behind the desk was another office, which was Kyla's.

I walked into the waiting area, and the receptionist, Gina, greeted me.

"Hi, Bella! Here to see Kyla?" she smiled at me.

"Yes, I brought her some lunch." I held up the paper bag with her sandwich and her coffee.

"How nice of you! You can go ahead into her office. Her new Paralegal is there." Gina said to me.

"Thanks." I smiled at Gina. But my heart was pounding.

I took a deep breath as I opened the door to the room.

I was either going to be in for it- or honestly- have my hopes let down.

But I would never admit that.

I stepped in, and as I did- my eyes locked with a very familiar pair of blue eyes.

I stood there, frozen.

I thought I would know what to do if I saw Max. But now that I was actually there in front of her- I had no fucking idea what to do.

Neither did she, because she sat there at her desk, looking like she saw a ghost.

She still looked like Max- just a bit more professional.

Her black hair, that I could still tell was shorter, was pulled into a small low ponytail. She had on lighter makeup than I was used to seeing, and I saw she had a hoop in her nose.

She wore a black blazer over a black shirt.

I felt butterflies in my stomach as I gazed at her.

She's still so fucking gorgeous.

"Hey! I wasn't expecting you today!"

Kyla's voice snapped me out of my trance, and Max immediately turned to look at Kyla.

"I brought you some lunch." I said, holding out the bag and cup of coffee,

"Hey, your hands are shaking." Kyla said as she walked over and took the bag and cup, "Are you okay, have you eaten?"

Out of the corner of my eye I could see Max staring at us.

"I haven't eaten much, actually." I said, "But I wanted to bring you something."

"Thank you." Kyla leaned in and gave me a kiss on the cheek.

It felt almost wrong to have her kiss me in front of Max.

Who was still very much looking at us.

"Oh, let me introduce you to Maxine!" Kyla said, turning to Max.

Max stood up right as Kyla turned to her.

"Maxine, this is Bella, my girlfriend." Kyla said, smiling.

She has no idea.

How do I play this?

Max had a panicked look on her face.

I spoke. "Kyla, funny story actually. Um, I know Max- sorry, Maxine. We dated in high school."

It didn't seem to phase Kyla. "What a small world!" Kyla said, "You know what, I do remember you mentioning you dated someone named Maxine."

Yeah. I've mentioned someone named Max. A few times.

Max looked at me like a deer caught in headlights. Then she said, "It's good to see you, Bella."

The first words she had spoken to me in years.

Hearing her voice sent a wave of emotions over me. But I had to keep it together.

"It's good to see you, too. Congratulations on the job." I said.

"Thanks." Max nodded, "Um, did you finish college?"

"I did." I nodded, "I'm starting grad school in September. I moved back to the area."

Once again, Max's eyes widened, "Oh. Good for you."

"Thank you." I said.

"Hey, babe. Why don't you come into my office? You can have the salad I brought for lunch." Kyla said to me.

"Sure." I gave her a smile.

Max looked at me, and then sat back down, without another word.

My heart was pounding as Kyla shut the door to her office. Even though the walls were sound proof, she still spoke softly,

"I had no idea that was your ex." Kyla chuckled. She looked amused by the situation. "But you two dated forever ago. It's not weird, right?"

"No." I lied, "It's not weird."

"Alright, cool. Just wanted to make sure. She's doing a great job so far. I also wanted to make sure it's not weird because this Saturday Vinny is taking us all out for dinner for his birthday. I told Maxine she should come. And of course, you will come," Kyla said.

Vinny is the head Partner of the firm, and is known for having extravagant dinners for his birthday each year.

"Of course it won't be weird. I didn't realize it was Vinny's birthday this weekend. It feels like such a short time ago I went with you to his 50th birthday." I said back.

Kyla then started speaking about the restaurant Vinny was having the dinner at, without a care in the world.

When all I could think about was the girl on the other side of the door- who was once my entire world.

After about 20 minutes Kyla looked at her Rolex and said, "I do have a client coming in very soon and I want to ask Maxine what she prepped for it. Want to come over tonight though?"

"Of course." I said.

Kyla gave me a kiss on the lips and said, "Thanks for stopping by. I'll see you tonight."

My heart started pounding again as I walked out of Kyla's office.

Max was staring at the computer on the desk as I started to walk past.

I really didn't think she was going to say anything- until I heard her say, "I guess I will see you around?"

"Oh. Um, yes. You're going to be at the dinner this weekend for Vinny?" I turned around and looked at Max.

She was looking right at me. I couldn't read her expression. "Yes, I will be there. You will too?"

"Yes." I nodded.

"I'll see you then." Max said.

"See you." I said, and then left the room.

When I got into my car, I realized I had been sweating from the interaction.

I felt my heart pounding, and I leaned back against my seat.

"Fuck." I said, my eyes starting to fill with tears.

I didn't think after all this time Max would have this kind of power over me, to make me feel so many emotions at once.

But she did.

And I had no idea how I was going to handle this.

I tried my best to act completely normal in front of Kyla- and she bought it. But on the inside, I was panicked.

On Friday night, I went to Peyton's house. She lives in the same town as me and my parents, in a townhome with Kyle and Savannah.

She works as an X-ray technician at a local hospital where she met Kyle, who is a Physical Therapy Assistant. I really like Kyle, he is great to Peyton and treats Savannah like she is his own daughter. They are getting married in around 6 months, they are having a New Years Eve wedding.

"Hi, Aunt Bella!" Savannah ran and greeted me at the door. Her blonde hair was in two pigtails, and she wore a pink dress.

"Don't you look pretty." I said to her, "Something smells good, did your mom make dinner?"

Savannah nodded, "She made pizza!"

I followed Savannah into the kitchen, where Peyton was.

"Hey!" Peyton said to me, and she came up and gave me a hug. "Savannah and I just ate, do you want a slice of pizza?"

"Sure." I said, "It smells really good."

"It's still hot." Peyton said, putting it on a plate. I took a seat at the kitchen table. Peyton put the plate with the slice of pizza in front of me, and sat down across from me.

Peyton looked at me and then said to Savannah, "Sweetie, why don't you go into the living room and put your dolls in some pretty dresses? Aunt Bella and I will come in soon so you can put on a fashion show for us."

"Okay!" Savannah said, running into the living room and sitting down on the floor.

Peyton turned back to me. "What's wrong?" she asked me.

"Is it obvious that something is wrong?"

"Like I've told you- I know you better than you think." Peyton said.

I sighed, "Kyla hired a new Paralegal." I started to say.

"Okay? Is she hot and are you worried Kyla will like her?" Peyton asked me.

"Let me finish." I said, "Max is her new Paralegal."

Peyton blinked and looked at me. "Max, as in...Max?"

"Yes." I said, "Well, I guess at work she's going by Maxine. But it's her."

"Oh my god." Peyton said, "How are you feeling about this?"

"I'm not going to lie, I've been a wreck. On the inside, of course. It's bringing me right back to where I was four years ago when we broke up. Confused. Upset. Numb, almost." I said.

"Are you going to have to see her at all?"

"Well, I am tomorrow. It's one of the partner's birthday dinners from the firm, and Max will be there. And I'm going with Kyla." I sighed.

Peyton looked at me and said, "Bell. I know how special Max was to you. But I think you need to focus on Kyla. You moved on from Max. This doesn't have to disrupt your entire life."

"You're right." I said, "It doesn't. It doesn't have to completely turn my life upside down."

I wanted to believe those words- I really did.

But it was extremely difficult.