Strictly Business (Miguel O'Hara x Reader)

Chapter 4: A Second Chance

Five years had passed since everything had happened, and I was sitting in my office, engrossed in paperwork, I heard a familiar voice calling my name. My secretary, Ms. Davis, poked her head through the door, announcing the arrival of someone for the assistant position. Nonchalantly, I told her to let the person in, unaware of the surprise that awaited me.

My heart sank as my eyes widened upon seeing the man who sat down in front of me. It was Miguel. A rush of conflicting emotions swirled within me—confusion, anger, and a myriad of other feelings I couldn't quite put into words.

"M-Miguel?" I stammered, my voice trembling.

Miguel's face lit up with surprise as he recognized me. He couldn't believe the coincidence of fate bringing us together in this way. He had almost forgotten what he felt for me, but now, face to face, the memories flooded back to him: the hurt he caused, his betrayal, and the smashed dreams.

I asked sternly, "What are you doing here?" Mixed emotions tormented me, making it hard to decipher my own feelings.

Miguel took a deep breath to steady himself and replied, "I'm here looking for a job. I've been searching for work for a while now, and this was my last resort. I knew you worked here, but I had no idea you became one of the higher-ups and I thought you'd be in your old department. Congratulations, by the way." He added that last part with a bit of awkwardness.

I looked at him with discontent and disgust, uninterested in his attempt to be congratulatory. I didn't need his approval or acknowledgment of my achievements.

Miguel's eyes lowered, shame evident in his demeanor. "I know I don't deserve it," he said softly. "After what I did, you have every reason not to forgive me. But please, give me a chance at this job. I truly need it. I will work hard to prove to you that I am a changed man."

The frustration and anger surged within me. "I can't believe this, Miguel," I exclaimed, my voice a mix of disbelief and resentment. "I told you that you couldn't fix things. I never wanted to see your face again since then. I'm happy, my daughters are happy, and we don't need you."

Miguel was left speechless, his heart sinking with the weight of his past actions. He knew the depth of his mistakes, but hearing those words from me cut even deeper than he could have imagined.

"You're right," he whispered, his voice tinged with regret. "I can't fix it. I should have made better choices, but there's no undoing the past. I've never stopped thinking about you and the girls, and about how I ruined it all. I'm... I'm so sorry. I don't blame you for never wanting to see me again... But please, I need this job."

Before I could continue, my secretary interrupted, entering the room with the qualifications of the candidate in hand. I forced a smile, pretending everything was fine, not wanting to explain the complicated situation to her. Ms. Davis is young, single, and not the brightest bulb in the box. Even so, she's competent and great at her job, but I don't think she could understand me and my situation. Luckily, she doesn't know how to read the room in any situation, so she wasn't suspicious as she witnessed the scene before her.

"Ma'am," she began, holding out a resume, "here are this candidate's qualifications." She held an excited smile, waiting to see my reaction to the resume.

"I appreciate it," I said, attempting to sound composed. "But I don't think I'll need it. I don't believe this candidate is—"

Once again, my secretary interrupted me, this time with an eagerness in her voice. "I think he'd make a great assistant! He's the only person to sign up who actually has all of your boxes checked off. He's the most and only qualified candidate out of all the people who have applied for this position" she said, not seeming to back down, "plus he's good eye candy." I roll my eyes at the last comment.

Miguel smiled at the flattery, turning to me with anticipation, awaiting my decision.

With a half-hearted smile and a fake, dry chuckle, I realized that there was no escaping this situation without revealing my connection to Miguel. "Fine, I'll take a look," I said, the frustration seeping into my voice. As my secretary left the room, I gripped the bridge of my nose, attempting to conceal my growing irritation.

As I opened the resume, my eyes widened in surprise. Miguel was in fact more than qualified for the job than anyone I've seen yet. I hate to admit it but my secretary had a point. "Damnit, Miguel," I muttered under my breath.

Letting out a frustrated sigh, I held the bridge of my nose, attempting to conceal my growing frustration. "Exactly how badly do you need this job, Miguel?" I asked, trying to remain composed.

Miguel let out a deep sigh, a tinge of distraught in his voice. "Desperately," he replied. "You don't understand. I've been out of work for months. I've applied everywhere, but no one will hire me, despite my experience. I've never felt so lost and alone, and I really need to get back on my feet" His head sank in humiliation as he continued, "I'll work my ass off to redeem myself."

Another deep sigh escaped my lips. Despite my disdain for him, I couldn't help but feel pity. After all, he was the man I had once loved. Miguel's face brightened as he witnessed my momentary contemplation. Perhaps this was his chance at redemption, an opportunity to prove his worth and show me that he could be trusted once again.

"Miguel, look," I said, breaking the silence, my voice a mixture of frustration and compassion. "I will give you a chance." Holding up one finger, I leaned closer, my tone firm. "One chance." I stressed. "The second you mess up, you're out." I saw his faced light up with hope, but soon it went away when I said "But remember, this is not an invitation back into my life, Gabriella's life, or Sofia's life. That's something you'll never earn back," Leaning back in my chair, arms crossed, I continued, "Do we have a deal, Mr. O'Hara?" I make sure to put weight on me calling him that, so he knows I speak with utmost sincerity.

Miguel had a look of relief, but also a look of disbelief. He'd been given a second chance, an opportunity to prove himself. Although, it pained him to hear me call him "Mr. O'Hara,". He realized that any hope of rebuilding our connection was out of the question. Despite the fact that I had made it clear that there was no place for him in our lives, he was determined to make amends in any way he could. Miguel looked up at me, his eyes reflecting a glimmer of hope. This chance was more than he ever expected, and he would make the most of it. "We have a deal," he said, reaching out his hand toward mine. "I promise you won't regret it. Thank you for giving me this opportunity."

Rolling my eyes at his newfound optimism, I stood up slightly and shook his hand. "Fine, you start tomorrow, Mr. O'Hara," I said firmly. "Do not be late. Now, hurry up and leave. I'd prefer to see as little of you as possible." I sat back down, motioning for him to leave with a dismissive hand gesture.

Relief washed over Miguel as he left the office and headed home. The hard part was over, but he knew that from now on, he would be under close scrutiny. His only priority was to prove that he deserved this second chance.

As I watched him leave, I sank back into my chair, overwhelmed by frustration, and a nagging question that echoed in my mind. "What have I gotten myself into?"