~Katherine's POV
Aaron Knight.
He stood there, the sunlight catching the edges of his perfectly tailored dark suit. Sunglasses rested lightly on his face, hiding the intensity of his gaze, but they could not hide the sharp lines of his jaw or the confidence in the way he carried himself. Every inch of him screamed control, influence, and authority. And yet… he was still him.
The same face that had once smiled at me across a messy intern desk, the same eyes that had once looked at me like I was the only thing in his world. Except now, those eyes were hidden behind dark glass, and that small barrier made my heart twist in ways I had not felt in years. My ears started ringing softly, a low hum that seemed louder than it should be.
Mathew stepped forward with his calm, welcoming smile, unaware of the storm brewing just a few feet away. "Mr. Knight. Welcome," he said.
"Mr. Knight." The words hit me like a bucket of cold water. My chest tightened. I felt my throat go dry, and my hands were pressed against each other. Aaron removed his sunglasses slowly, deliberately, and then his eyes found mine.
I couldn't tell how long we stared at each other. One second? Two seconds? Maybe more. Shock flashed across his face, not mild surprise, not curiosity, but real shock, the kind that made it seem as if he had just seen a ghost. My heart pounded loudly enough that I could feel it in my ears, and my throat constricted.
" Stay calm, Katherine." I muttered to myself.
And then my gaze drifted slightly to the side, where movement caught my eye. The other door opened, and from it stepped a woman, smiling effortlessly, confident, polished. She walked toward us with the same calm assurance Aaron radiated, and when she reached us, she extended her hand gracefully.
"I'm Amanda, Mr. Knight's wife," she said warmly, looking at me with a practiced smile.
"Ohh, his wife?" I muttered to myself again.
I forced myself to lift my chin and smile, trying to appear welcoming, even though my stomach had dropped and my mind was spinning. "Welcome… both of you," I said, my voice steadier than I felt.
Mathew stepped forward beside me and gestured politely. "Katherine Prescott is our head lead for the presentation. She will be guiding you through everything today."
Aaron's hand shot forward almost immediately, and for a second, I froze, lost in thought. My mind tried to make sense of him standing there, the past and present colliding all at once. Mathew's voice cut through my fog. "Katherine, please."
I blinked, shook off the moment, and finally reached out to take Aaron's hand. "Aaron," I said, carefully, keeping my smile professional. Then I turned slightly to Amanda, giving her a polite nod as well.
"Thank you," Mathew said softly, and we began to move toward the conference room together.
Once inside, I took my place near the screen, ready to begin. I took a deep breath, trying to calm the flutter in my chest. Despite the nerves, I reminded myself that I knew this material. I had prepared for hours, memorized every chart, and anticipated every question.
"Good morning, and thank you for being here today," I began, keeping my voice calm. "I'm Katherine Prescott, head lead for this presentation. We'll be walking you through our company's growth, plans, and potential opportunities for investment."
I clicked the remote, and the first slide appeared: a clear chart of financial growth over the past three years. I explained each figure, each increase, and each strategy behind it. I could see Aaron watching intently, while Amanda occasionally glanced at him, nodding along.
When I reached the section about expansion plans, Aaron raised a hand. "You mentioned entering new markets," he asked. "Can you explain how you plan to handle the risks associated with such rapid growth?"
I took a deep breath and replied, "We've carefully analyzed each market. For every expansion, we have a risk assessment, contingency plans, and a local operations team ready to manage challenges. We don't move without preparation, and we focus on sustainable growth rather than just speed."
Amanda leaned slightly forward, a curious expression on her face. "And what about your staffing plans?" she asked. "How will you maintain quality with more branches?"
I smiled politely. "We prioritize hiring and training. Our teams are structured to maintain efficiency, and we have mentoring programs in place to ensure every employee aligns with the company's values."
Mathew chimed in gently at times, adding small clarifications or emphasizing key points, but for the most part, I led the discussion. I stayed close to the screen, my hands steady on the remote, my voice controlled and confident, even though inside, my mind was spinning with thoughts of Aaron. Each question felt like a test, not just of the company, but of my ability to remain professional in front of them.
Some questions were straightforward, asking about projections or market strategy, and I answered each with prepared facts and examples. Other questions were more challenging, designed to probe weaknesses or spot gaps in our planning, and I navigated them carefully, explaining not just the what, but the why behind every decision.
Aaron's gaze followed me across every slide, assessing, analyzing, but I refused to let it distract me. Amanda leaned slightly forward now and then, curious and polite, but her presence made the room feel heavier. Even with all of this pressure, I stayed calm. I reminded myself that I knew this company, I knew the numbers, and I knew my ability to present them. Every answer I gave, every chart I explained, reinforced that I was prepared, and I could see subtle nods of approval from both Aaron and Amanda.
When the contracts were finally signed, the tension in the room eased slightly. The formalities had been completed, and everyone started to leave one by one, exchanging polite farewells and smiles. I stepped back, letting Mathew handle the final goodbyes, but stayed behind a little longer, wanting to make sure all the details were clear and that Aaron and Amanda understood everything fully. While I took a moment to straighten the documents on the table. Aaron watched me carefully, his expression unreadable, while Amanda offered a small, polite smile that seemed almost rehearsed.
I was about to excuse myself when Aaron's voice stopped me. "How many years has it been, Katherine?" His tone was calm but carried a weight that made my stomach twist. I froze for a second, gripping the edge of the table. Every instinct in me wanted to step away, to brush past this, but something in his eyes held me in place. "Five years," I whispered, almost to myself.
He took a step closer, his eyes searching mine, and for the first time since he had appeared, he looked vulnerable, human, and confused.
"And you… you have nothing to say to me?" he asked softly, almost pleadingly. My heart raced, memories flooding back in waves: the office, the pain, the abandonment. The anger, the hurt, and the love I once carried all collided inside me at once.