The Cold Edge Of Romance | hj

Chapter Eleven: A New Normal.

The next day, Aria walked into the office with her head held high, determined to act as if nothing had ever happened between her and Joshua. She focused on her tasks, diving into her work with renewed vigor. She was determined to keep her emotions in check and maintain a professional demeanor, no matter how difficult it was.

When she entered Joshua's office to go over his schedule for the day, she kept her expression neutral, despite the turmoil that still simmered just below the surface. "Good morning, Mr. Hong," she said, her voice steady. "You have a meeting at ten, followed by a lunch with the marketing team. I also need you to sign these paperwork by the end of the day."

Joshua glanced up from his computer, his expression unreadable. "Right," he replied curtly, not looking her in the eye. She placed the stack of papers on his desk and turned to leave, feeling a strange mix of satisfaction and frustration. She was handling her responsibilities perfectly, and she was proud of herself for not letting him get to her.

During her lunch break, she found a quiet corner of the cafeteria, enjoying her meal when Mingyu approached her. "Hey, Aria," he said, flashing her a warm smile. "Do you have any plans this weekend? I was wondering if you'd like to go out with me."

Aria felt a flutter of excitement at his invitation. "I'd love to," she replied, her cheeks warming. "What do you have in mind?"

Mingyu grinned. "How about dinner and a movie? I know a great place."

"Sounds perfect!" she said, smiling back at him.

Meanwhile, Joshua, who had been sitting at a nearby table, couldn't help but watch the interaction between Aria and Mingyu. A knot tightened in his stomach as he observed their easy laughter and the way Aria's face lit up at the thought of going out with him. He felt an unfamiliar surge of jealousy, but he quickly shoved the feeling aside. He had already told Aria that she meant nothing to him, and he had to stick to that.

After lunch, Aria returned to her desk, diving into her work. The phone rang, interrupting her concentration. "Hello, this is Aria Sinclair," she answered, keeping her tone professional.

"There's a woman here who wants to see Mr. Hong," the receptionist said. "Can you confirm who she is?"

Aria paused, her curiosity piqued. "May I have her name, please?"

"Her name is Jiwoo," the receptionist replied.

Aria's heart skipped a beat. She recognized the name from Joshua's conversations about his family. "Thank you. I'll let him know she's here."

She walked to Joshua's office and knocked lightly on the door. "Mr. Hong, there's a woman named Jiwoo here to see you. Should I let her up?"

Joshua's eyes flickered with interest. "Yes, let her up immediately."

Aria nodded and left the office, heading back to the reception area. "You can send her up now," she told the receptionist.

When the elevator doors opened, Aria spotted a woman who looked Korean, instantly assuming she must be a relative of Joshua. She smiled and greeted her. "Hello! Mr. Hong is waiting for you inside," she said, motioning toward his office.

"Thank you," Jiwoo replied with a warm smile before stepping off the elevator and walking toward Joshua's office.

As Aria stepped aside, she watched as Jiwoo entered, and Joshua immediately stood up, a broad smile breaking across his face as he pulled her into a warm embrace. "Mom!" he exclaimed, his voice filled with genuine affection.

Aria's heart sank at the sight. It was one thing to watch Joshua be rude and distant, but seeing him with his mother, so soft and caring, stirred a mix of emotions within her. The bond between them was palpable, and she couldn't help but feel a pang of longing for the connection they shared.

"Joshua, it's been too long!" Jiwoo said, pulling back from the hug but still holding onto his shoulders. "I missed you so much!"

"I missed you too, Mom," Joshua replied, his expression softening in a way Aria had never seen before.

Feeling like an intruder in their heartfelt reunion, Aria quietly stepped back to her desk. She glanced over at Joshua's office, unable to shake the feeling of disappointment that lingered in her chest. As she settled back into her work, she tried to ignore the twinge of envy that arose as she thought about Joshua's easy affection for his mother, a stark contrast to the coldness he had shown her.

As the minutes passed, she reminded herself that she had chosen this path-keeping her distance from Joshua emotionally and professionally. Yet, watching him with Jiwoo made her question everything she had convinced herself of. She was determined to stay focused on her job, to keep her feelings at bay, but with every laugh and every soft look exchanged between mother and son, she felt the foundations of her resolve begin to tremble.