: My Boss

2

The man outside clearly didn't expect my reaction, because he slammed his fist against the door twice more.

I calmly called out to the man on the other side of the door, "If you don't leave right now, I'm calling security."

Even though he was reluctant, Beckett Garrison had no choice but to leave.

My best friend, who had been standing by my side the whole time, was just as shocked.

She stared at me blankly and asked, "Are you really sure this time? You've decided you don't want to be with Beckett Garrison anymore?"

I shook my head.

'It's not that I don't want to be with him. I just have no memory of him at all.'

Seeing the shocked look on my best friend's face, I asked, "So, what's he like? That Beckett Garrison guy from just now."

'Just what kind of man is he, to make the me of this timeline so hopelessly entangled with him?'

The moment I mentioned him, that indignant expression returned to my best friend's face.

"You and Beckett Garrison were classmates in college. You fell for him at first sight, and after that, you went down the path of being a total doormat and never looked back. After graduation, you even moved in with him just to take care of him. But he treated you like nothing more than a free maid, ordering you around! It's been five years! We've all been trying to talk you out of it, but you insisted he was the love of your life, always thinking your devotion would eventually win him over."

I listened quietly to my best friend's explanation, and in doing so, I began to understand the difference between this parallel timeline and my own.

The main difference was the person I loved.

In my original timeline, the one I loved was my boyfriend.

Holden Fairfax.

Now that Beckett Garrison had given me the perfect excuse, I naturally asked the question that was really on my mind.

"So... do you know Holden Fairfax?"

My best friend nodded emphatically. "Of course! Back in school, Holden Fairfax was the campus heartthrob. And after graduation, he started that huge company. Is there anyone from our year who doesn't know him? Besides, you work for him now. Don't tell me you forgot that, too?"

I reached up and touched my forehead. "Right. I remember now."

'Even in this timeline, I want to be with my real boyfriend again.'

The next day, I dressed to the nines, put on a pair of high heels, and walked into the office with a sway in my hips.

3

Thanks to my high-profile outfit, everyone did a double-take as I walked through the office today.

After getting to my desk and finishing my work, I went to see my boss.

I knocked on the door. From inside came a man's deep, magnetic voice. "Come in."

The familiar voice gradually calmed my anxious heart, like a gentle warmth spreading through my chest.

I opened the door and gazed at that familiar, handsome face. 'I couldn't help but feel my heart leap with joy.'

'This is wonderful. After everything, he's here in this parallel universe too.'

I walked respectfully to his desk. "Holden Fairfax."

The man, who had been focused on his screen, looked up at the sound of his name.

My heart clenched under his profound gaze, and I quickly corrected myself.

"President Fairfax."

The gaze in his alluring, almond-shaped eyes softened. "When there are no outsiders, you can just call me by my name."

His words made me unable to contain my excitement, giving me a renewed sense of confidence that I could win him back.

I got straight to the point.

"Can I go with you to the client meeting tonight?"

'I didn't want to pass up any chance to get close to him.'

He watched me in silence, as if trying to discern my true intentions.

"Yes."

After answering me, he looked back down at his work.

Seeing his distant manner, my spirits fell a little.

'After all, in my original world, we were a couple. We were always affectionate, and I was used to him doting on me. It had all become second nature.'

'But now...'

Shaking off my thoughts, I gave him a bright smile. "Well, I'll go get ready then."

"Mm."

'No matter what, as long as he exists in this world, I'll do whatever it takes to get us back to the way we were.'

: What Does It Have to Do with You?

4

I had a client meeting, so I made sure I was fully prepared.

After work, he and I left together in the same car.

It was a strange and wonderful feeling to meet him in another time and space, and to be so close to him.

I couldn't help but sneak glances at him.

No matter the time or space, he was still exactly my type!

As if sensing my gaze, the man looked over at me. The moment our eyes met, my heart raced, and I quickly looked away.

'He doesn't think I'm a creep for staring at him, does he...'

Not long after we arrived at the private room, the client also arrived.

When I saw who the client was, I froze on the spot.

The person who had come to meet us was actually Beckett Garrison. With him was a glamorously dressed woman who looked like a secretary or something similar.

I silently complained in my head, 'What a scumbag.'

The secretary obviously recognized me too. After giving me an intrigued look, she extended her right hand with a coquettish air. "Sienna Sloane, long time no see. You haven't forgotten me, have you?"

I put on a confident smile. "Of course not."

She chuckled and pressed herself even closer to Beckett Garrison's side. "Right. After all, I don't exactly have a forgettable face."

Holden Fairfax casually cut in, "We're here to discuss the collaboration today. This isn't the time for other topics."

Holden Fairfax, who was usually quiet and reserved at dinner tables, seemed to have become a completely different person.

Over a few rounds of drinks, he directly settled the details of the partnership proposal.

But the secretary clearly wasn't ready to let me off the hook. "Sienna Sloane, it looks like you're President Fairfax's right-hand woman. Come on, let's have a drink."

I stared at the large, full glass of baijiu in front of me.

I hesitated. I'm not much of a drinker, after all.

But thinking of Holden Fairfax beside me, I still picked up the glass and was about to pour it down my throat.

But before the liquor could touch my lips...

...a large hand intercepted it.

"A young lady like her doesn't know how to drink. I'll drink it for her."

I watched, wide-eyed, as Holden Fairfax downed the glass of baijiu that was meant for me in one gulp.

The secretary smiled. "President Fairfax can certainly hold his liquor. But in this partnership, your company is clearly getting the better end of the deal. You should both drink to show your sincerity."

This time, the secretary deliberately poured two glasses.

But Holden Fairfax spoke again, his tone light. "If you're going to bring a woman out, there's no reason to make her drink."

As he spoke, he not only drank his own glass but mine as well.

His words made the secretary, who had already had several drinks herself, freeze up.

Still unwilling to give up, she glanced at me. "Sienna Sloane, are you really not going to drink anything to show your appreciation?"

I gave a faint smile. "My boss has spoken. Making a woman the main drinker is the act of a coward."

My comment immediately put the two people across from us in an awkward position.

But...

...who told them to start trouble in the first place?

The atmosphere at the table grew a little strange, but I was too anxious watching Holden Fairfax down one glass after another to care.

I picked up some food with my chopsticks and placed it in Holden Fairfax's bowl. "Eat something. Otherwise, it'll be too hard on your stomach."

As I drew my gaze back, I happened to see Beckett Garrison, who was sitting opposite us, staring intently at me.

His stare made me uncomfortable all over. I coughed lightly, but it was as if he didn't get the hint. He had no intention of looking away.

Finally, I couldn't take it anymore and excused myself to go to the restroom.

Coming out of the restroom, I sighed under my breath.

'I really don't know how my taste in this parallel universe could be so bad, pestering a guy like Beckett Garrison relentlessly.'

I sighed as I walked out of the restroom.

Just as I stepped out, a dark figure suddenly rushed over and pulled me into a corner.

I jumped in fright and instinctively struggled.

When I saw Beckett Garrison's stern face in front of me, my own expression turned cold.

"What do you think you're doing?"

The sparkle in Beckett Garrison's eyes dimmed as he asked me, "What kind of game are you playing?"

"Has your heart changed?"

Seeing him like this, with none of his initial arrogant air, I found it laughable and told him the truth.

"I never loved you, so how could my heart have changed?"

He seemed unreconciled to this, a flicker of anger in his eyes.

"Then what was all that before?"

I thought of how my parallel-universe self had pestered him relentlessly, and I felt helpless.

"My past self did a lot of foolish things. Just forget about it."

In the silence, Beckett Garrison frowned at me and demanded, "Are you in love with that Holden Fairfax?"

I was a little surprised when he asked that. 'Is my crush really that obvious? Is it written all over my face?'

But I'm not afraid of anyone knowing about my feelings.

"I do like him. What does that have to do with you?"

My words seemed to give Beckett Garrison's simmering anger an outlet to explode.

He was so enraged that he even raised his fist as if to smash it toward me.

The difference in strength between a man and a woman is just too great. I wanted to dodge, but it was too late. All I could do was watch helplessly as his fist came flying at me.

"BANG!"

In the end, Beckett Garrison only slammed his fist heavily against the wall.

But the loud noise still made me jump.

He continued to glare at me fiercely.

But just as he was about to make his next move, a magnetic voice sounded without warning.

"Sienna Sloane, what are you and President Garrison discussing over here?"

As the voice spoke, a man appeared beside us, seemingly out of nowhere. One hand was in his pocket, his expression lazy yet full of presence.

He chuckled lightly. "Sienna Sloane, come over here. The entrance to the restroom isn't a good place to discuss business."

I snapped back to my senses, pushed away the dazed Beckett Garrison, and trotted over to Holden Fairfax's side.

While I was relieved to be rescued, my heart couldn't help but start pounding again.

'Did Holden Fairfax hear what I just said?'

'What... what does he think about it?'

Seeing that I was now out of harm's way, Holden Fairfax looked at Beckett Garrison and casually raised an eyebrow.

"President Garrison, since we've finished discussing the partnership, we'll be taking our leave."

Amidst Beckett Garrison's thunderous expression, Holden Fairfax took my hand and led me away without a backward glance.

The whole way, I was on edge.

I wanted to ask him directly, but I was afraid he'd reject me as soon as I opened my mouth.

I was trying to think of how to handle it.

"SCREECH."

The tires made a harsh sound as they skidded on the asphalt. I looked up and saw we were in front of my apartment building.

From the passenger seat, he glanced in the rearview mirror. "We're here."

I pressed my lips together and opened the car door.

After taking a few steps, I turned back, having made up my mind to speak.

"Do you want to come up for a bit?"

'Since I have to face it sooner or later, I might as well let the storm come raging in!'

Holden Fairfax opened his door and got out. I thought he was going to follow me upstairs, but he just came to a stop in front of me.

"Is it over between you and Beckett Garrison?"

Only then did I realize he knew about all the things I had done chasing after Beckett Garrison.

I didn't know if it was because of the alcohol he'd just drunk, but the man's gaze on me was scorching hot.

I wanted him to know.

There was no one else in my heart now. "To be precise, nothing ever started between him and me."

"My past self had some issues with her judgment, but it's better now. I've realized he's not worthy of being with me at all."

Before I could say anything else, the man's devastatingly handsome face suddenly loomed large before my eyes.

My gaze naturally fell upon his warm, soft lips.

'He... he... he...'

'Is he going to kiss me?'

My body went rigid, and I didn't dare move.

'This development... is way too fast.'

But all he did was say in a low voice, "Don't overthink it. Get a good night's sleep."

I couldn't help it; my blush spread all the way to the tips of my ears. "Okay."

'So I was overthinking it.'

'Right... In this parallel universe, we're not a couple. Why would he kiss me?'