As they stared into each other's eyes, he found it unbelievable that she couldn't recognise who he was. One look at her and he recognised her. Why wasn't her situation the same? Sure, he changed quite a lot but for someone who had hung out with him for quite a while, she should have been able to recognise him.

Perhaps, she had completely erased him from her memories. Why wouldn't she? She never had him in mind in the first place. Erasing him from her memories would be a piece of cake for her. She seemed to have moved on quite well. A part of that thought somehow infuriated him. He felt something ignite within him.

"Tell me, Miss Stuart...how good do you recall numbers, places and...faces?"

She slightly furrowed her brows at the unexpected question. Sometimes, she wondered if all this is still part of the interview. Nevertheless, she was going to give him nothing to complain about.

"Good. It's okay." She replied, trying her best to remain calm.

A strange smirk suddenly grew at the corner of his lips, as he relaxed back on his seat. His eyes remained on her. She found it weird and a bit uncomfortable but her eyes never left his. Eye contact was best to show how confident she is, but she wouldn't deny the feeling of wanting to look away at times. There was something definitely odd about this man in front of her but for some reason, she couldn't figure that out.

"Are you sure, Miss Stuart...are you sure?" He asked, as the smirk had vanished from his face.

Her eyebrows furrowed in confusion. Was she supposed to recall something?

"Um... yes." She replied, still in a state of little confusion. After staring for what seemed like ages, he finally spoke up.

"That will be all, Miss Stuart. You may leave." He told her, as he looked away and down to the paper on his table.

She had to admit; that took her by surprise. A part of her expected some other strange question, mostly official; but now, all of a sudden it's over.

Gently, she moved her chair backward and got up to her feet. She took one last look at him who hasn't spared her another look before she turned away to leave the office. Her mind wasn't at peace. Something strange was going on.

For some reason, he looked familiar and the talk of her ability to recall. Has she actually met this man before and if so, where exactly? She tried to recall the part of his face, piece by piece as if trying to fix a puzzle. She needed to know what this feeling was. It was impossible for her to have worked with him in the past. She would definitely recall working for a billionaire like Mr. Enrico Vos. Then, she mentioned the name. Something does sound familiar in it. That surname. There was a familiarity to it. She knew she had seen it somewhere. Possibly someone else with the exact surname... She suddenly stopped just as she was a few steps away from his table.

Her eyes widened in surprise, as the truth hit her.

Could it...no, it can't be.

She debated within her for a second. Questions flowing in and out of her mind, as she slowly turned back to him.

"T-Tyler?" She asked, confused. A part of her argued that it couldn't be him but watching him suddenly freeze at the mention of that name. She knew it had to be. How could that be possible?

He raised his eyes to her. She finally remembered. He had given up on her actually recognising him; but then again, there she stood staring at him with a confused and mixed look on her face. Her eyes held so many questions; majority of which he was sure would be how he could look so different now. How could he be running a multi-billion company? A part of him wanted to laugh out loud and rub it in her face at how beautifully the tables had turned but he knew that would just be childish of him. He needed to show her how better of a person he now is, without having to sound needy or anything of that sort.

"You do have a good memory after all." He simply stated with a smirk on his face. Not even a thousand dollars could afford the look on her face at the moment. She was dead surprised. He could bet she thought she would never have to cross his path ever again. Unfortunately and for some strange reasons, fate had something else in store.

"Y-you..."

"That will be all, Miss Stuart, and like I said...you may leave my office." He interrupted anything she had in mind to say before looking away from her eyes to continue what he was doing; clearly trying to ignore her presence.

Still taken aback by the whole situation, she slowly turned away from him. She shut her eyes for a second to control her thoughts before she took steps out of the office.

He let out a little sigh as soon as he heard the door shut. He shut his eyes for a second. She, recognising him, wasn't going to change anything. It was too late.

Kiana barely recognised herself as she walked down the street. Nothing within her had been the same since she stepped out of his office. Her legs felt shaky. Her heart raced with a certain type of fear. She had so many unanswered questions and as she tiredly had her seat on a public bench she wondered why. Why does it have to be him? The kid who she rejected years ago. How is it possible that he's now a different man? How did he become a man known by the name Enrico?

She had so many questions but she knew she wasn't going to get any of their answers. The job...she was sure she would never get the job she was looking for. She knew he hated her. She could see it in his eyes. Why wouldn't he? She had embarrassed him in front of the whole school. She left him hanging. She could see her hands quivering so much. Tears had gathered her eyes ready to roll down her cheeks. As she rested her elbows on her knees, she buried her face in her palms wondering what step she was going to take next. This job was her last chance; her last ticket. There were so many expenses, yet so little money to take care of it.

Her mobile phone beeped within her handbag and she raised up her head to deepen her hand into her bag. She took a look at it and realised it was a text message. She read through.

Sandra is refusing to talk to me. I'm sorry, Kiana, but if this continues, you'll have to get a new lawyer.

She let out a huge sigh; shut her eyes for a second as her hand brushed her hair.

She felt so tired. Nothing was working out for her. Nothing was going her way that day. She couldn't afford to lose another lawyer. She quickly redialed the number that just sent her the text message and put the phone close to her ear.

"Hello, uh yes. This is Kiana speaking."

"Kiana, Sandra has done it again." A soft feminine voice came through.

"A-again? What did she do?" Kiana asked, as worry filled her voice.

"She fought an inmate." The woman declared.

"What?" Kiana asked, her eyes widened a bit in surprise.

"Yes. Can you imagine that? How could she do that? She very well knows how delicate her case is as of the moment. Let's forget the least hope for a parole... Her case will never be accepted for an appeal once more with a tainted record like hers." The woman ranted and Kiana brushed her forehead with her hand tiredly at this new trouble.

"Look, Ana, I'm trying my very best here to help, but what good is my best if she doesn't want it. She wouldn't stop with her no-caring attitude and she simply made it clear for me to stay away. She says this is a waste of time." The lawyer ranted on seemingly a bit on the edge by the tone of her voice.

"I know. We both know she's stubborn but I refuse to give up on her. Please give her one more chance; the very last one." Kiana pleaded from the depth of her heart.

She heard the woman on the other side sigh.

"You know I'm very busy but I accepted this case because I believed she needed help. There are several other clients waiting in line for this exact kind of gesture and it's very annoying when one who is given this opportunity misuses it. To get an appeal from the court is not very easy. She herself being uneasy to deal with isn't helping case."

"Please...just one last chance. I'll talk to her. I'll set her straight and then I'll get back to you." Ana pleaded both in her mind as well as with her words. She couldn't afford to lose this exact lawyer. So far, she had been the best to deal with. She didn't accept much and she gave this case her all.

She heard the woman sigh once more before speaking up after much hesitation.

"Okay, fine. You do it your way but remember that time is of the essence here."

"Yes. Thank you very much." Ana appreciated before the call was cut.

She sighed loudly once more as she slightly pushed her head backwards and shut her eyes. For the meantime, her heart was at peace with getting the lawyer to stay, but on the other hand, she had a new problem.

"Urgh! Why did you have to go and fight?" Kiana asked in a whisper, as she felt the weight of the world on her shoulders.

She took one look at the time on her phone and her eyes widened.

"Oh my God, I'm late!" She exclaimed to herself before quickly throwing her phone into her bag. She wiped her cheeks with her palms to remove any tears stains before she got up to leave.

* * *

Enrico couldn't seem to concentrate anymore on his work. He hated the fact that he couldn't stop thinking about what happened earlier. Why did he feel so affected by her presence? Recalling the past now, he strongly believed what he had for her was just nothing but a mere crush. They are now grown adults and he had paved quite a way for himself.

He sighed as he shook his head as if that would stop all his random thoughts. He needed a distraction, so he recalled the parcel he brought in earlier. He drew out the last drawer attached to his table and there laid the parcel. He took it out before shutting it back. He stared at the parcel for a few seconds wondering who it could be from. He wondered if this was like one of the usual gifts from his numerous admirers. Well, he would just have to find out. He unwrapped the gift to first reveal a small piece of paper, then a navy blue straight lined case. He set the case aside to first read the letter.

Dear Enrico,

Last night was beautiful and I know you're not the relationship type. Honestly, neither am I, but I can't seem to get you out of my thoughts. I'd like to meet you once more.

Yours lovingly,
Kerry.

A smirk formed at the corner of his lips as he read through. It was definitely one of his admirers. Kerry. He thought about the name. She had to be the woman he met last night. Truthfully, he didn't care much about who they were or about their names. He just went for anyone he preferred. He set the paper aside. She was asking for more time from him. He opened the case to reveal a sophisticated looking ball pen. He picked it up with his hand to have a closer look at it. It wasn't bad, though not enough to trap him in her web. He preferred to stay away from getting attached to any of the gifts he received.

He relaxed his head back on his seat as he twirled his chair around with his feet. He twirled the pen between his fingers. He needed to make a decision about who his new assistant would be. Most of the applicants did have fault in them and then there is Kiana. She did have an impressive résumé but was that enough for him to hire her. The facts that she seemed okay and had forgotten about him found a way to irritate him. Was he that easy to forget? She didn't, even for once, try in the past to explain her action to him. Apparently, he didn't matter at all. His thoughts didn't count but just hers. The thought of it all made him angry and he tightened his grip on the pen in his hand. All he could see was the colour red. Here lies an opportunity to get back at her for all she put him through. Was he going to take it and ignite the fire in his heart further or was he going to let bygones be bygones?