When high-school sweethearts Joanna Guelas and Cruz Forman are reunited over an interview, their once lost love flame is reignited. As they enter unexplored caves of satisfaction, they are thrown into the deepest pits of hells, with the flames of th...
15h00. Thursday. I'm in my office approving the last of the manuscripts my editors have left on my table. Rosaline, my assistant, knocks politely at my door with "Joanna Guelas, CEO. Guelas Enterprises" printed on it. She is very pretty- a brunette with a fair complexion and a sleek built. She brings with her my schedule and two cups of tea. I had forgotten that we run through my schedule every Thursday. I push aside my manuscripts and sip on my tea as Rosaline discusses my schedule. After a whole discussion of the rearrangements of all my meetings and business lunches, it is now 16h30. As we draw to the end of our little discussion, she reminds me of my highschool reunion in three month's time, which means I'd be away for two or three weeks. But I know how important this is. I haven't seen any of my friends in five years. The last time they saw me, I was a part-time intern at Zachary Publishing, and now at twenty-two, I am now CEO of the same company. Most of my friends are doing rather well- most of them all employed and planning to settle down, but I guess I just haven't found someone who aligns with what James and Todd have imprinted in my head. Strands of my red hair falls loose of my hairtie and covers my "heartless" blue eyes. As I turn to answer the buzzer, I scrape my hand on the side of the table and the blood oozes over my a little too fair skin. I try not to rub off the blood onto my suit.
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"Miss G, your five o' clock is here at reception, are you ready?" asks Rosaline, with some random shuffling in the background. I have an interview with a newly founded magazine company. I organize my table and request for one more cup of tea beofre they send the reporter in. The receptionist, Tarryn, brings me my tea and dashes out without making eye contact. I buzz Rosaline, and before I speak she acknowledges me from my sigh and I hear her directing the reporter towards my office. Through my door, I see a vague, but familiar silhouette. My eyes widen. It can't be him. It can't be. Why didn't I request identification? I look like a mess. He knocks at my door before entering- and as the door pushes open I take a sip of my finely brewed tea. I choke as my eyes meet his. His smile lights up my entire office, and for a CEO, who usually speaks more than she should, I am completely breathless. I stand to welcome him, as I take in the beauty of this man that is Mr Cruz Forman. He's never looked better- welldressed in a black suit with a white shirt and a maroon tie, His hair is the same- short cut, his piercing green eyes still so breathtaking, his smile still so perfect.
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"Ms Guelas, how nice it is to see you again after all this years," He says, as he shakes my hand. Why is he being to formal? "Just Jo," I murmur, and he acknowledges and replies with "Just Cruz." Rosaline buzzes and I tell her to bring him something to drink, he asks for just water. She flushes when she sees Cruz. He smirks. Oh hell to the fuck no. Don't get me wrong, I admire Rosaline, but she'll be on my list if she gets anywhere near Cruz. On the other hand, I don't see a ring on his finger so... We begin with the interview. The usual "To what do I owe my success?" and "what are my plans for the future benefit of myself and my enterprise?" is thrown at me and I answer them without a strain. We begin to catch up, sincing it's been three years since I've seen him. We talk about the reunion. He's going to be there. I blush. "You okay?" he asks, and in his eyes, I can tell he knows exactly what's going on. We reminisce on all the memories we made, especailly all the memories we made when we were in a relationship together. Why is it so hard for us to maintain eye contact with each other? He tells me he's single, and that he's been single since highschool. I was his last relationship in highschool. DAMN. He tells me there was no one that met up to the standard. I relate. No one met up to the standard. "You look amazing by the way. Well you always did," he says, flushed. "The highschool Cruz would've said otherwise." My remark was unintentionally curt. "Jo, I never meant-" I stop him and requests that he continues with the interview because I know that this conversation will get me nowhere. "How is your personal life holding up with all the pressure of being one of the youngest and most successful CEOs in the country?" Cruz asks, as he makes immense eye contact as he sips on his water, as if his life depends on what my response is going to be. I flush. "Is this for the benefit of the magazine, or yourself, Mr.Forman?" I ask. He's intimidated. He gulps down on what's left of his glass of water. "Just Cruz," he says. I get up from my chair and make my way to the front of him, and lean against my desk. I eye the empty glass in his hand and bend over to take it from his hand. I buzz Tarryn, because I clearly don't want Rosaline all over him. She scurries into the office, refills the glass and leaves. As I turn to close the door, I slip. Fuck me. He instinctively rolls his chair over to where I would've fallen, and I end up falling into his lap. This is it. This is going to be the death of me. He strokes my face. I convulse at his touch. "What are you doing?" I whisper. He smiles and bends in. "Making you mine again." He exhales close to my mouth and my hands, almost instinctively, wrap around his neck. "This is quite unprofessional of you, Ms.Guelas," he says. My phone buzzes so I get up, fix myself and answer as if nothing happened. "Guelas," I snap, angry that I was interupted in the middle of my iNtErViEw. It's Rosaline. She reminds me of the time. 18H30. Shit. Cruz notices me looking at my watch and flipping through my manuscipts to find my little sticky note schedule I keep on hand. I look at him apologetically and he nods and begins to pack his stuff. I hang up on Rosaline and walk towards him. I lean against the table as finishes packing. "I have a meeting with the senior editors. It's to discuss the new manuscripts that-" He stops me. "You're a busy lady, Jo. I get it. But I hope you're not too busy to have dinner with me tomorrow at 8." He gets up, walks closer, wraps his arms around me and places a light kiss on my neck. I exhale. "So is that a yes?" He asks, arms still wrapped around me. "8 it is." He smiles, "I'll pick you up from here." He places a kiss on my cheek and turns towards the door. I open it as as he turns to acknowledge me, I am tempted to say something. He squeezes my hand as I open the door. He exits and turns to give me a goodbye look. "This is quite unprofessional of you, Mr. Forman," I blurt. He smiles and fades away around the corner. Wow.
