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CHAPTER 5: Ghosts of the Past

As I hurried towards the television station, my mind was in turmoil. The man in the car – Mr. Stone – his face was etched into my memory, stirring up feelings and memories I had long tried to bury. The resemblance to the stranger from four years ago was uncanny, but could it be him?

I shook my head, trying to clear my thoughts. My memory of that night was hazy at best, clouded by the drugs Alex had slipped me and the emotional trauma that followed. My mind might have been playing tricks on me, desperately seeking connections where none existed.

Still, a part of me couldn't let it go. I thought wryly, wondering if I could have gotten a strand of his hair. A DNA test would put all my doubts to rest. But even as the idea crossed my mind, I knew how ridiculous it was. No matter how familiar they seemed, I couldn't go around snatching hair from strangers.

The imposing façade of the television station loomed before me, and I glanced at my watch, my heart sinking. I was a few minutes late. Silently cursing the rainstorm and my encounter with Mr. Stone, I rushed through the revolving doors, praying that my delay wouldn't cost me this opportunity.

As I hurried across the lobby, a familiar voice stopped me. My blood ran cold as I saw Felix Scott embracing Alex Greer near the reception desk. They hadn't noticed me yet, too wrapped up in their intimate moment.

I felt a twist in my gut, a mixture of old pain and fresh anger. Despite everything that had happened, despite the years that had passed, seeing them together still had the power to hurt me. But I was no longer the naive girl they had betrayed. I squared my shoulders, determined not to let them see how much their presence affected me.

Felix's eyes met mine just as I was about to slip away unnoticed. I saw the shock register on his face, followed quickly by something else – a glimmer of the old desire that had once consumed him. He immediately let go of Alex, taking a step in my direction.

"Natalia?" he called out, his voice a mixture of surprise and poorly concealed interest. "Is that you?"

I paused, weighing my options. Part of me wanted to ignore him, to walk away without acknowledging his existence. But another part, which had grown more robust and cunning over the years, saw an opportunity.

"Felix," I replied coolly, turning to face him. "What a surprise to see you here."

As Felix approached, I could feel Alex's eyes burning into me. Her look was one of pure venom, a cocktail of anger and jealousy that almost made me smile. After all these years, after everything she had taken from me, she still saw me as a threat.

"You look... amazing," Felix said, his eyes roaming over me in a way that made my skin crawl. "What brings you back to the city?"

Before I could respond, Alex appeared at his side, her arm snaking possessively around his waist. "Yes, Natalia," she said, her voice dripping with false sweetness. "Tell us why you've decided to grace us with your presence after all this time."

I met her gaze steadily, refusing to be intimidated. "I'm here for a job interview. But I'm afraid I'm running late, so if you'll excuse me..."

As I turned to leave, I caught a glimpse of Alex's face. The anger in her eyes had been replaced by calculation. I could almost see the wheels turning in her head, plotting her next move. Whatever it was, I knew I'd have to be prepared.

I hurried towards the elevators, my heart pounding. The encounter had shaken me more than I cared to admit. Seeing Felix and Alex together here, of all places, felt like a bad omen. But I couldn't let it derail me. I had come too far, sacrificed too much, to let them stand in my way now.

My heart sank when I reached the floor where the interview was to take place. The room was empty, save for a stern-looking security guard standing by the door.

"I'm sorry," he said as I approached, his voice gruff and unyielding. "The interview session has ended. We don't admit latecomers."

"Please," I said, trying to keep the desperation out of my voice. "I was only a few minutes late. There was a terrible rainstorm, and I couldn't get a taxi..."

The guard shook his head. "Punctuality is crucial in this job, miss. Being late could ruin an entire broadcast. If you can't be on time for the interview, how can we trust you to be on time for work?"

I felt my chances slipping away, panic rising in my throat. This job was more than just a career opportunity—it was my chance to provide a better life for Leo and reclaim the legacy stolen from me.

"I understand the importance of punctuality," I said, my voice softening. "And I assure you, I would not make a mistake again. I've waited years for an opportunity like this. Please, isn't there any way I could still be considered?"

As I spoke, I noticed a change in the guard's expression. His stern demeanor softened slightly, and he glanced towards the closed door of the interview room.

Suddenly, the door opened, and a woman stepped out. She was impeccably dressed and had an air of authority that immediately commanded respect.

"I couldn't help but overhear," she said, her eyes fixed on me. "You have quite a pleasant voice, young lady. It would be a shame to let it go to waste over a few minutes' delay, wouldn't it?"

Relief washed over me. "Thank you," I said, gratitude evident in my voice. "I promise, if given the chance, I won't disappoint you."

The woman nodded, a small smile playing at the corners of her mouth. "Well then, why don't you come in, and we'll see what you're capable of?"

As I followed her into the room, a mix of emotions swirled inside me: relief at being given this second chance, determination to prove myself worthy of it, and a lingering unease from my encounter with Felix and Alex.

But as I took my seat in front of the interviewers, I pushed all of that aside. This was my moment, my opportunity to take the first step towards reclaiming everything I had lost. I thought of Leo and the future I wanted to build for us, and I felt a calm determination settle over me.

I would face challenges ahead– Alex's schemes, Felix's unwanted attention, or the mysterious Mr. Stone – head-on. I had survived betrayal, overcome hardship, and grown more robust in adversity. This interview, this job, this new chapter of my life was just the beginning.

As I began to speak, answering the panel's questions with a confidence I didn't know I possessed, I felt a shift in the air. It was as if the universe was aligning, setting the stage for what was to come. Little did I know how much my life would change or the storms I would have to deal with before finding my way to calmer seas?

But at that moment, as I sat in that interview room with my head held high and my voice strong and clear, I knew one thing: Natalia Greer was back, and this time, she was here to stay.

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