In high school, I had finally worked up the courage to confess my feelings to my longtime crush. The next day, he disappeared from my life without a word.

Heartbroken and furious, I moved on and started dating someone else, leaving him behind in my memories.

Years passed, and I thought I had buried that part of my life. But ten years later, fate threw us back together—this time, he was my new boss. Not just any boss, but my boss’ boss.

I had no idea how to face him, but one thing was clear: resigning suddenly felt like my best option.

In public, he was the composed and polished leader; in private, he blushed while inviting me to see his kitten at home.

…

Our HR team announced that our new project leader would be joining us today. Everyone appeared diligent and focused on their tasks, but behind the scenes, private group chats were buzzing.

"Did you hear? The new project director is supposedly super handsome!"

"I know, right? Word is, he studied in Frankston, just returned, and he's six foot one tall!"

Someone attached a photo.

"Just snapped this sneakily. What do you think? Handsome or not?"

I opened the photo. It was a candid side profile shot taken through blinds. His nose was tall and straight, and his skin was remarkably fair. That overly refined face seemed to make everything else in the photo blur into the background, leaving him in sharp focus.

I couldn’t hold back and commented, “He’s definitely good-looking. Just seeing that face could lift your mood. But what about his temper?”

"Exactly! If he has a bad temper, no amount of good looks will help. Let’s hope he’s a decent leader!"

Just as we were chatting, the office door swung open. The HR lady walked in with a grin that practically split her face as she announced, "Everyone, come meet our new project director."

Behind her, a tall man in impeccably tailored suit pants that suggested a lean, athletic build, stepped in. His handsome face, adorned with rimless glasses, carried an air of refined elegance.

The man smiled politely as he spoke, “Hello, everyone. I’m Edward Scott.”

Edward Scott?

Hearing that familiar yet distant name, I froze mid-motion, unable to stand up.

I looked up and saw a face that had matured significantly yet still bore a striking resemblance to the boy I remembered.

For a moment, I stood frozen.

It was him?

Over by his side, our manager, Liam Murray, quickly stood and extended a hand.

“Mr. Scott, I’m Liam Murray, head of the Cost Control and Procurement Department,” he greeted, his tone brimming with flattery. “You’re so young and accomplished!”

As the deputy in the department, I hurriedly followed suit, stepping forward to introduce myself.

“Mr. Scott, I’m Yuna White, the deputy in Cost Control and Procurement.”

I wasn’t sure if it was just my imagination, but it felt like his gaze lingered on me for a moment longer than necessary before he quickly looked away.

Our department, being part of a real estate company, was dominated by women. The few men we had were usually contractors and most of them were on the heavier side. So, when someone like him—tall, lean, and devastatingly handsome—suddenly appeared, it stunned everyone into an awkward silence.

Once he left, Liam’s face darkened instantly.

“What are you all staring at? Don’t you have work to do?”

Everyone froze momentarily but quickly lowered their heads and pretended to busy themselves with their tasks. Still, the furious clatter of keyboards made it clear they were all typing away in group chats.

However, I no longer had the mind to pay attention to those messages.

When was the last time I had seen Edward?

It must have been ten years ago.

I couldn’t believe it had been so long. And now, he wasn’t just back in my life—he was my boss’ boss.

Thinking about everything that had happened between us in the past, my cheeks grew warm with embarrassment. I could only hope he wouldn’t hold a grudge over my foolish behavior back then.

With the arrival of our new leader, it was only natural for all the department heads to gather for a welcome lunch.

Nick Chambers from the General Administration Department booked the restaurant. Even though the leaders often clashed in private, they were all on their best behavior now, sitting together with amicable smiles.

I had to admit, Edward had grown a lot over the years. The once reserved boy who rarely interacted with others was now a smooth talker, dazzling everyone at the table. By the end of the meal, the atmosphere was cheerful, at least on the surface.

He didn’t seem to recognize me, treating me the same as everyone else.

While I felt relieved, there was a faint trace of disappointment I couldn’t shake. Maybe it was because we had once been best friends, or perhaps it was the unresolved feelings that had once consumed me.

By the time dinner wrapped up, it was already 2 a.m. Projects like ours were usually in remote areas, and at this hour, getting a cab was almost impossible.

A light drizzle began to fall, and the air carried a crisp, cool breeze.

Unfortunately, I hadn’t driven today. While raising the fare on the ride-hailing app in the hopes of finding a car, Liam suddenly leaned in close.

He was far too close for comfort, smiling suggestively, his eyes clouded with desire—the kind that comes from too much alcohol.

“Yuna, I remember you live near Gerald Road, right? How about I give you a ride home?”

As a mature adult, I understood exactly what he was after.

What I hadn’t expected was for him to have the audacity to target me.

Keeping my expression calm, I smiled and declined, “There’s no need to trouble you, Mr. Murray. My boyfriend will pick me up.”

He must have been drunk, or maybe just in a foul mood, because his face darkened instantly.

Instead of backing off, he started to curse at me.

“Yuna White, what’s your problem? Acting all high and mighty? Do you think you’re better than me?”

Was he just making a drunken scene?

The stench of alcohol wafted from his mouth, and I leaned back in disgust, my brows knitting tightly. People who got drunk weren’t worth arguing with, and I was more concerned about my own safety.

Just as I was about to turn and walk away, a tall figure suddenly approached.

“Mr. Murray, it seems you’ve had quite a bit to drink. It’s best not to drive,” Edward said with a polite smile. He still wore that gentle, considerate demeanor, but his tone carried an undeniable firmness. “Let me arrange for two designated drivers. Miss White, I’ll take you home since it’s on my way.”

He turned to me, his expression and actions remaining polite and courteous. “Miss White, would that be all right with you?”

The moment he got close, I instinctively tensed up. His scent—distinctly masculine—was more assertive than I remembered from high school.

Being caught in this situation by him left me feeling awkward, and the close proximity made me uneasy.

But I knew better than to let pride get in the way of what was best for me. Smiling politely, I nodded. “Then let’s do as you suggest, Mr. Scott. Sorry to trouble you.”

It was obvious Liam was acting out under the pretense of being drunk. The moment Edward arrived, his demeanor shifted entirely. His expression changed in an instant, seamlessly replaced by a polished, ingratiating smile.

“You’re right, Mr. Scott.”

He bowed his head humbly, his expression filled with flattery, as though the man who’d been making a drunken scene moments ago wasn’t him.

Before stepping away, he turned to me with a meaningful look. “Yuna, make sure you send me a message when you get home.”

Suppressing my disgust, I nodded. “Of course.”

With the designated driver taking over, both Edward and I sat in the backseat. After confirming my address, the car settled into an awkward silence.

In the confined space, no matter how much we tried to maintain a respectful distance, it was impossible to avoid the tension.

I turned to the window, pretending to be engrossed in the streetlights and scenery outside, though my mind drifted to the past.

I met Edward in high school.

Unlike the other boys who thrived on attention during those years, he was so quiet he could have been invisible.

However, thanks to his outstanding looks and top-ranking grades, Edward still managed to attract plenty of attention from the girls in our grade.

At that time, I wasn’t interested in him at all. I was too preoccupied with my own academic struggles to care about anything else.

Later, when there was a chance to switch seats, I had a sudden idea and ran to our homeroom teacher to request to sit next to Edward.

And that was how I ended up being Edward’s deskmate for three years.

After spending time with him, I realized his personality wasn’t as introverted as I had imagined. On the contrary, he was even a bit outgoing.

But between the pressures of high school and his family circumstances, he spent most of his free time working part-time jobs to earn money. With little opportunity to socialize, he didn’t have many friends.

When I entered his life, I naturally became his only friend.

We studied together, ate together, and eventually talked about everything.

A handsome teenage boy with top grades and a close bond with me—it was inevitable that my feelings for him would grow over time.

What’s more, as his only friend, I liked to think I held a special place in his heart.

So, after the college entrance exams, I confessed my feelings to him.

I was lost in these thoughts when the car suddenly came to an abrupt stop. The jolt threw me off balance, and I was tossed sideways.

Instinctively, I closed my eyes, bracing for impact, but instead, I felt something warm and soft cushion my forehead.

It was Edward’s palm.

Startled, I quickly pulled back, still trying to process what had happened, when the designated driver spoke with surprise.

“Sir, I’m so sorry. A cat suddenly darted out in front of us.”

We got out to check, and sure enough, there was a tabby cat in the middle of the road.

Its front left paw had been pierced by a nail and was bleeding. It was so thin that its bones were visible beneath its soaked fur, but its belly was swollen, indicating it was pregnant.

The rain falling on its frail body made the poor creature look even more pitiful.

Fortunately, the car hadn’t hit the tabby. It let out a low, warning growl and bared its teeth at us as if trying to intimidate us into leaving.

It seemed to want to escape, but it was too injured and starved to move much, resorting instead to feeble attempts to scare us off.

A pang of sadness welled up in my chest. I wanted to help, but faced with its defensive posture, I hesitated, unsure of what to do.

I glanced at Edward and noticed his expression had turned serious.

“Step back a bit,” he said to me.

Then, in the next moment, he lunged forward, catching the tabby with swift precision.

That was when I noticed he had removed his suit jacket at some point. Now, the expensive fabric was wrapped around the struggling cat, rendering the jacket completely unwearable.

“Yuna, check if there are any nearby pet clinics still open,” he instructed before turning to the driver. “I’ll compensate you for the trouble later.”

About half an hour later, we arrived at a pet clinic. Though it had been closed, the power of money persuaded the owner to come over and open it for us.

By then, the tabby seemed to have realized we meant no harm. It lay quietly, waiting for treatment.

Edward, who had just finished arranging things with the driver, walked into the clinic. I was about to say something to him when my eyes fell on his arm. A large patch of red had seeped through his sleeve. It was obvious he was hurt.

“Your hand…” I blurted instinctively, stepping closer.

As I moved toward him, he looked up at the same time, and at that moment, my forehead brushed against something soft.

I froze, my eyes widening as I realized what it was.

His lips.