Flashbacks Of Love
Alexander's tone was harsh and caustic, and his keen look was set on the huge urban city that could be seen from his office window.
"Make sure you learn everything you possibly can about Rachel Green," he ordered.Her unexpected reappearance emoloyed a significant amount of strain on him, forcing him to have an unpleasant blend of curiosity, regret, and suspicion towards her.
His assistant, Malcolm, who was standing in the doorway, nodded as he became aware of the seriousness of the demand.
"Mr. Sterling, should I prioritize anything in particular?" "Her life after the divorce," Alexander replied, his voice faraway and his thoughts apparently elsewhere.
Start with that boy "Odegaard". Malcolm hesitated for a time, because he was aware of the outcomes that the name may imply.
He quickly concealed his response by nodding his head in a professional manner. "That's alright ,sir" I’ll report back as soon as I have something tangible.” Alexander waived him off, already deep in thought.
The door snapped shut, leaving him in the unpleasant silence of his office. He sat back in his chair, his fingers tapping on the desk.
What was Rachel hiding? And why did the boy look so much like him? . Lost in his thoughts....
Rachel’s flat was dimly lit, the only sound heard was the rhythmic ticking of a clock on the wall.She sat cross-legged on the plush carpet in her living room, a glass of wine in one hand and an old photo album in the other.
The album had been packed away in a dusty corner of her closet, buried beneath boxes of items she hadn’t touched in years.
She had no intention of opening it, but meeting Alexander today had unlocked something she couldn’t quite suppress.
Her fingers stopped over a snapshot of the two of them at the beach, arms wrapped around each other, their smiles wide and genuine.
Five Years Ago
The waves shattered against the coast as Rachel ran over the sand, her laughter carried by the breeze. “You’ll never catch me!” she yelled, glancing back at Alexander, who was hot on her heels.
“Watch me!” he screamed back, his grin as evil as ever. When he finally reached her, he carried her into the air and curled her around, both of them laughing breathlessly.
He laid her down gently, his arms still around her waist. “You’re mine, Rachel,” he muttered, his voice low and full with assurance.
“Always.” She stared up at him, her heart brimming with a love so intense it was nearly unbearable.
“And you’re mine,” she said, cupping his face with her hands. “Forever.” They kissed then, the type of kiss that could make the world disappear.
Present Day
Rachel closed the record at once, the sound echoing in the room. Her chest hurt with the weight of those memories, both beautiful and dreadful.
That love had been real, but it had also been stormy. They had battled as passionately as they had loved, their blazing tempers meeting again and again until there was nothing left but ashes.
She couldn’t let herself go back to that place—not emotionally, and certainly not physically.
ALEXANDER'S POV
In his penthouse office, Alexander glanced at an old photo of him and Rachel on their wedding day.
Her magnificent smile was imprinted into his memory, a stark contrast to the guarded attitude she portrayed now.
“Why did it have to end this way?” he murmured, raking a hand through his hair. The solution wasn’t straightforward, and he knew it.
They had both made mistakes—big ones. His determined need had frequently left her feeling abandoned, and her fierce independence had made compromise practically impossible.
Still, he couldn’t deny that he missed her. The way she used to challenge him, the way she made him feel alive.
And then there was Odegaard. The boy’s likeness to him wasn’t something he could ignore. Alexander laid the photo down and took a large breath.
He needed answers, and he was already digging for them.
--- The next day, Rachel arrived at Sterling Enterprises, her head held high despite the butterflies twisting in her gut.
The first joint meeting of their forced partnership was scheduled, and she knew it wouldn’t be easy.
The lovely conference room was already humming when she entered. She avoided Alexander’s attention, concentrating instead on the team as they prepared for the presentation.
“Good morning,” Alexander said, his tone pleasant yet laced with something she couldn’t quite name.
“Let’s get started,” Rachel said nicely, selecting a seat as far from him as possible. The meeting began, but the ill will between them was evident.
Every decision, every point of debate, was a hidden battleground. “Rachel, your approach here seems overly cautious,” Alexander said at one point, his tone loaded with challenge.
“It’s called strategic planning,” Rachel hissed back, her eyes hardening. “Not everyone charges in like a bull in a china shop.”
Alexander grinned, apparently enjoying the sparring. “Ah, but sometimes the bull gets results.”
Their verbal barbs Amassed curious stares from the crew, but neither appeared to care. Beneath the professional façade, there was an undertone of something far more emotional.
As the class rounded up and the room cleared, Rachel gathered her notes, intending to make a hasty getaway.
But Alexander’s voice stopped her. “Rachel,” he whispered, his tone gentler now. She turned, her expression guarded.
“What is it?” “I’ve been thinking about us,” he began, his words quiet and careful. Rachel froze, her heart racing.
“There is no ‘us,’ Alexander. There hasn’t been for years.” Alexander drew closer, his eyes seeking hers.
“Maybe there should be. Or at least... we should figure out what went wrong.” Before Rachel could react, the door burst open.
Malcolm entered, his face pallid and his manner gloomy. “Mr. Sterling,” he added earnestly. “We’ve uncovered something about Rachel and Odegaard.
You’ll want to watch this.” Alexander’s gaze snapped to Malcolm, then back to Rachel. His jaw tightened, mistrust and interest flaring in his eyes.
Rachel’s breath coupled, her carefully guarded secret was on the edge of exposure!.