Anele wondered if coming back here was a good decision, yesterday she felt empowered and ready to conquer her sanity and the world but maybe she reacted to quickly. As she walked into the company, it hit her that Kyoko owned the company and the building and although her main office was elsewhere, she would bump into her from time to time and even have to sit with her in the same room during company meetings.
" You can do this. You can't keep starting a new life when Kyoko and the Himura's disrupt your current. You have two kids now to think of."
She mumbled to herself with her eyes closed as the lift went up to Hae's office.
"Why did you have to give her a second chance when your first time dating ended painfully Anele?!"
The other staff members had joyfully exchanged greetings with her and eased her anxiety unknowingly as soon as she stepped out of the elevator. Hae walked out to welcome her too when she heard the commotion from inside her office.
" Do you think you can handle being back here and working with me, I can send you to a different department where you'll see less to none of Kyoko."
" No I'll be fine. Unless you want to get rid of me."
" Well... I didn't want to say it.."
Hae joked.
" I do have to warn you though that we have a meeting in the boardroom, with Kyoko in about five minutes and you'll have to sit in with us."
The large, sunlit room was filled with sleek furniture and glass walls, designed to impress clients and guests alike. As she arranged the chairs and set up the projector, her mind raced with thoughts of Kyoko and the complicated history they shared.
"Just keep it together, Anele,"
she whispered to herself, forcing a smile as she placed water bottles on the table.
"It's just business."
The door creaked open, and Hae stepped in, holding a stack of papers.
"Are you sure you're ready for this?"
Anele glanced at her, hesitating for a moment.
"Honestly? No but I don't have a choice."
"True. Just remember: you're here for the kids. You want them to have the best opportunities, and that means navigating this world—even if it's tough."
Hae placed a comforting hand on her shoulder before leaving to grab the final attendees for the meeting. Anele took a deep breath and steadied herself. The last thing she wanted was to let anyone see her vulnerabilities, especially Kyoko.
A few moments later, the door swung open, and Kyoko strode in, exuding confidence. Her sleek hair cascaded down her shoulders, and the tailored suit she wore emphasized her sharp features. Anele's stomach dropped as she caught Kyoko's gaze, which flickered with surprise before settling into a mask of professionalism.
"Anele,"
Kyoko acknowledged, her tone cool and businesslike, as though they were nothing more than colleagues.
"Glad to see you back."
"Thanks,"
Anele replied, forcing a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.
The meeting commenced, and Anele did her best to focus on the agenda. The room filled with discussions about profits, upcoming projects, and client meetings, but Anele's mind was elsewhere—trapped in the echoes of their past. Memories of laughter and late-night talks bled into the sterile atmosphere of the boardroom, clouding her judgment.
As Kyoko presented new ideas for a project, Anele felt an overwhelming tug of nostalgia. The way Kyoko spoke with such passion reminded her of everything that had drawn her to her in the first place. She could still picture their quieter moments together—sipping coffee on lazy Sunday mornings or taking walks hand-in-hand in the park.
"Hae, do you have any thoughts on that?" Kyoko asked, pulling Anele from her reverie.
"Uh, yes—um, just that we should consider..."
Anele stammered, scrambling to contribute to the discussion but as she spoke, her eyes inadvertently flickered to Kyoko, who was already watching her with a mix of curiosity and caution.
Once the meeting wrapped up, Anele's heart raced as she prepared to slip out unnoticed. She hoped the adjoining room, with its large windows overlooking the city, would provide the escape she desperately sought but just as she reached for the door handle, Kyoko's voice, smooth yet firm, stopped
her.
YOU ARE READING
WHEN I NEEDED YOU. ( Lesbian Slow Updates.)
General Fiction" Stupid me. I thought you were different." " But I-" " Get away from me! I don't ever want to see your fat face again." Nothing hurt more than her words and the look of disgust on her face. The one person who she thought would believe her did not...
