Just Business [AnunKamol Fanfic] {ENG}

Chapter 1

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"Miss Kamollak, you have a visitor," Paz, Lovelyn's assistant, announced through the intercom. „I don't have time for visitors today, Paz. Please reschedule them for the day after tomorrow," Lovelyn Kamollak replied curtly, her voice cold and dry.

She sighed, her attention returning to the calculations and documents scattered across her desk.

Dreamchaser Industries—a company she and her former best friend had founded with a shared vision of creating art and entertaining audiences around the globe—was now struggling. Viewership and fan engagement had plummeted in recent months, leaving Lovelyn increasingly worried about the company's future.

Lovelyn was startled by the sudden opening of her office door. A tall woman dressed in a sharp black suit waltzed in, moving as though she owned the place.

Lovelyn braced herself to reprimand whoever had dared to enter without permission. But as the woman raised her head and locked eyes with her, Lovelyn froze.

Because, in truth, the woman did own the place. Standing before her was none other than Atlas Anunta—her former best friend, the one who had disappeared from her life over a year ago.

Lovelyn opened her mouth, desperate to say something, anything. Yet no words came. She closed her lips again and instead let her gaze linger on the face of the person who had once meant everything to her.

Atlas was smiling—a sweet, almost innocent smile. It was the kind of expression that made it seem as though she had never left, as though she wasn't the cause of the deepest heartbreak Lovelyn had ever experienced.

Lovelyn couldn't do this. She felt herself teetering on the edge of breaking. Swallowing hard, she turned her focus back to the papers strewn across her desk, pretending to ignore the woman standing before her.

"Is this how you welcome a friend?" Atlas asked, her tone light, as if nothing had changed. But to Lovelyn, everything had. Paz's eyes darted nervously between her two bosses. She knew she couldn't have stopped Atlas Anunta from entering even if she'd tried—she was too afraid of losing her job. Hoping to diffuse the tension, she spoke up. "I'm sorry, Miss Kamollak. I didn't know what to—" Lovelyn cut her off with a dismissive wave of her hand. "It's not your fault, Paz," she said gently. Then, her gaze shifted to Atlas. "Sometimes," her tone hardened, dripping with venom, "people don't know manners."

A smug grin curled on Atlas's lips. "You're treating me like a criminal," she said with a soft chuckle. "I think we should sit down and talk. Paz?" Atlas turned her attention to the younger woman, confirming her name with a polite yet commanding air.

"Yes, Miss Anunta?" Paz replied cautiously. "You can leave us now. Thank you for your help today," Atlas said, flashing her a warm smile.

Paz nodded, preparing to leave, but Lovelyn's sharp voice stopped her. "There's no need for that, Miss Anunta. Paz will see you out. As I told my assistant, I don't have time for meetings today." Lovelyn kept her tone steady and firm, pride swelling in her chest as she continued, "Not even for you. Feel free to make an appointment. Have a good day."

She shifted her attention back to the work on her desk, signaling the conversation was over.

Atlas's grin didn't falter. "Alright, Lovelyn. I'll see you tomorrow. Have a beautiful day." She turned and followed Paz out of the office, radiating confidence and an almost unbearable lightness, as if she didn't have a care in the world.

Lovelyn stole one last glance at her as the door closed. Atlas looked so calm, so happy, like a feather drifting in the wind. Lovelyn didn't know what unsettled her more: Atlas's sudden return or the strange, detached way she carried herself.