My Husband had a First Love Who Challenged Me Every Day

I flipped through the yellowing pages, searching for traces of pure affection from a boy hidden in the mess of cramped handwriting.

Maybe it was the beauty of the beginning that makes it so unforgettable.

Back then, it was the carefree days of high school, before Mason James became the powerful figure he was now in the bustling city of Seattle.

He was just a guy struggling to get by, his pride constantly bruised. And during those tough times, there was a girl who appeared by his side, his only comfort when he was down. How could he not fall for her?

[May 17th, 2005. A new student joined our English class today. She’s a girl.]

[May 20th, 2005. The new girl’s name is Sydney Quinn. Nice name, but she’s kind of dumb. She got called out and had to stand for a whole period, blocking my view of the board.]

[June 13th, 2005. Sydney got punished again. I need to request a seat change!]

[June 21st, 2005. Seat change today. Sydney’s my new deskmate. Fine, at least she won’t block the board anymore.]

…

[October 4th, 2005. Someone’s birthday today. Gave her a present – barely. It’s one of those trendy hair clips. Hope she likes it. If she doesn’t, I’ll…]

[April 2nd, 2006. My parents got divorced.]

[April 12th, 2006. Is Sydney even listening in class? I’m juggling a part-time job and tutoring her. It’s annoying!]

[May 2nd, 2006. Exam results are out. Sydney came in third… from the bottom. At least she’s not dead last this time.]

[June 7th, 2006. Whose miserable birthday is it? Oh, right, it’s mine. Ugh. Sydney gave me a gift. So, she remembered!]

As I turned the pages, most of them were about Sydney Quinn, the bright, passionate girl who had stumbled into Mason’s life, bringing him countless precious memories.

There, in a time and place I hadn’t been, someone had already filled Mason’s heart. No matter how hard I tried, I’d always be second best to him.

I hurriedly flipped through the middle and went straight to the last page.

[April 3rd, 2011. She’s not coming back. This is the end.]

Their relationship had fizzled out. Sydney had left for abroad during college, and they never met again. Mason waited for her for four years, and that was it – no more.

Even I, an outsider, couldn’t help but feel sorry for them. Mason must have been heartbroken.

I closed the notebook and placed it back where I found it, as if nothing had happened. After all, I was just a stand-in. Mason was my sponsor, my boss – there was nothing to fight for.

...

I worked at Mason’s company as a secretary. But don’t get the wrong idea – I didn’t get the job through connections. I got in fair and square.

Back then, fresh out of college, I had no clue how tough the real world was. I was full of dreams about making a difference, contributing to society, and being the model employee.

Now? Survival was the only thing on my mind.

Mason was just too strict. Every tiny mistake would have him chewing me out like I’d committed some grave offense.

Honestly, it didn’t take long for me to stop pretending. Let’s be real – being a secretary was just my side gig. My main income came from being someone’s “stand-in,” and that job brought in $20,000 a month.

What? You’re wondering how I found such a lucrative side hustle? Well, let’s just say that information comes with an extra fee.

At the time, I was 23, and after grinding it out for two years, I’d had enough. Honestly, I was ready to quit long before that. Staying at Mason’a company was basically just a cycle of getting yelled at. My blood pressure had never been higher.

During that period, I started questioning myself. My self-esteem took a nosedive, and more than once, I seriously considered throwing a stack of cash at Mason just to shut him up.

Finally, during one of Mason’s business trips, I saw my chance. I handed in my resignation at lightning speed, packed up my things, and bolted.

Even at home, I didn’t sit around. I immediately started job hunting online, and I struck gold fast – got an interview the next day, and before long, I was starting at a new company.

Turns out, I did have skills after all. I showed up to my first day feeling great. After all, every day I didn’t have to see Mason’s face was a good day.

But then I walked into the office… and guess who was sitting there? None other than Mason James himself. Jeez.

I was ready to turn right back around. You know what they say – karma’s real, and it comes fast.

I tried to make myself as small as possible, setting up my desk in silence, hoping the floor would just swallow me up.

But, of course, Mason caught my scent.

“Well, if it isn’t Riley Carter,” he said, strolling over.

“Mr. James, fancy seeing you here…” Awkward didn’t even begin to cover it.

There was a special kind of horror that came with running into your old boss at a new job.

“Relax, Carter,” Mason said with a smirk. “This company’s under my name too. Consider it a homecoming. Just keep working hard like always, alright?”

“Of course, Mr. James!”

I plastered on my most professional smile. When you’re a corporate worker, dignity doesn’t exist. You smile through it all.

New company, new colleagues, same old boss. Just my luck.