Meant to Collide

8. Love, Lies, and Dinner

The night descends quickly as Jules and her colleagues arrive at the restaurant for the dinner. Feeling the weight of the day, Jules heads to wash her hands. Just as she does, Sky walks in, his eyes locking on her.

"How much longer?" Sky's voice pierced the silence, startling her.

"Yes, boss?" Jules turns, confused.

"I want to wash my hands. Move your purse," Sky commands. Jules, flustered, quickly takes it away. But Sky, still unsatisfied, glances at her again.

"How much longer?" he repeats, this time with irritation.

In her nervousness, Jules steps aside to let him grab the tissues, all while Sky mutters under his breath, "Such a mess." He walks off, leaving Jules bewildered, her eyes following him as he leaves.

Later, seated at the dinner table, Jules is formally introduced.

"This is Jules Parker, our new employee, right?" Mia, the other boss, asks, warmly greeting her.

Jules smiles and greets her back, only for Mia to joke, "Only the newbie has to pay tonight!" Jules freezes in shock, but Mia bursts into laughter, putting her at ease.

The dinner continues with a lighthearted air, except for Sky, who remains distant and aloof. Jules reaches for her food but stops when she catches Sky, lost in thought, staring into the distance. Only when Sky begins to eat does everyone else follow suit.

At one point, Mia offers food to Sky, which Jules notices but decides to keep to herself. Then, as Jules and Sky's chopsticks clash, a tense, eerie music plays in the background.

"In ancient times, when chopsticks clashed, it meant a visitor was coming," Sky says, his Voice breaking the stillness.

All eyes are on him as he adds, "But since this is a Japanese restaurant, we'll be safe."

Mia laughs uncertainly, confirming it was a joke, and the others follow with awkward chuckles. But the moment Sky glares at them, the laughter dies instantly.

Sky picks up a piece of fish and offers it to Jules. "Eat more fish. Omega 3 is good for your brain. It'll help you work harder for me," he says matter-of-factly.

Jules, feeling full, tries to refuse, but Sky's gaze intensifies. "Eat up. Or do you want me to feed you?"

With a gentle nudge from Sophie, Jules hesitantly agrees and eats.

Moments later, Sky excuses himself to take a client's call, and as soon as he's out of sight, the atmosphere loosens. Mia suggests a drink to lighten the mood, and soon enough, everyone is drunk, laughter and slurred conversations filling the air.

Sophie, tipsy and emotional, mutters about Mia being Sky's lover.

"Are they a couple?" Jules asks, surprised.

"Not just a couple," Ava chimes in, "She's his fiancée."

Jules is taken aback. "Fiancée?" The word hits her like a weight, and the music softens, reflecting her sudden internal shift.

Sophie drunkenly vows to crash their wedding, while Jules falls silent, her expression a mix of shock and disbelief. As the night wraps up, Jules and Ava help a drunken Sophie outside, who continues ranting about Sky's contradictory behavior—how he forbids office romances yet is engaged to his business partner. Jules, still lost in thought, nods but can't help but feel conflicted.

Ryan explains how Sky once argued with Mia, causing a drop in productivity, which led to the no-office-romance policy. The group mocks Sky, but Jules steps in, defending him. "The man I know is different... kind, bright, and gentle."

They all laugh, dismissing her words, but Jules can't shake the image of the Sky she once knew.

After bidding farewell, Jules is deep in her thoughts as she walks down the street. Lost in the swirl of memories of the past and the reality of the present, she barely notices the sound of a car horn blaring. The headlights flash too close, and before she can react, Sky swoops in, pulling her out of harm's way just in time.

Her heart pounds, and once again, her eyes lock onto Sky's. Desperation and something deeper reflecting in her gaze. Sky, however, seems puzzled by the look she gives him.

What does this near-collision mean? And where will it lead? Let's find out together.