"Mr Reynolds, it is time for the meeting."

Harry jolted slightly upon hearing Aksa's voice over the intercom. Blinking his dry eyes, he realised that he had been staring at the same report for the past hour. He hadn't even moved from the first page. Running his hand over his face, he wondered what had distracted him. He was usually very focused.

"Mr Reynolds?"

"Yes, Aksa?"he said. He'd forgotten what she had said, which was unlike him. He had a feeling Aksa knew that too because she was taking a while to respond. "Aksa?"

"It's time for the meeting,"came her crisp response but he heard the slight question in her voice.

"Meeting? I don't have a meeting." His brows furrowing, he took a look at his watch and shot to his feet. Blinking his eyes in disbelief, the face of his watch showed that it was three in the afternoon. Three! He didn't know why he believed that it was still one. "I will meet you at the elevator,"he told Aksa as he scrambled to recall what the meeting was about.

Usually, he would review any material for a meeting at least ten minutes before and make a move five minutes before if it was in the building. So he was staggered to be leaving exactly on the dot and being unprepared.

This was worse than the first time he presented in front of a group. He hadn't felt this nervous since middle school. Fortunately, this was not an important meeting. However he was still wondering why he had been consumed with the thought of Elena. Not since high school had a woman distracted him so much as she did. And he had spent the entire evening with her until he had to return to his apartment last night.

So why did he miss her?

Shelving that line of thought as he entered the conference room, Harry allowed a sense of anticipation to fill him as his eyes landed on the group of interns starting today. He liked to test the meet them, the ones who would be the next generation of leaders. They were so nervous and yet filled to the brim with drive and ambition. And the fact they were chosen meant they were some of the top students in the country. They reminded him of himself, when he'd thought he had the world in his hand. He had such dreams, such plans. He wanted to travel the world, chance upon new people, new ideas.

But, despite heading Reynolds Shipping not be in his future then, he was utterly content with where he was now. He knew some people would resent having this responsibility suddenly hoisted unto them but he had taken to it like a fish in water. He hadn't realised he had been under utilising his mind until he had to navigate through the shark-infested water of commerce.

These young minds didn't know what they were getting into and he liked that too. Like an older brother pushing the younger sibling into the water, the internship program was always tough from the get go, demanding from them what the real world would. But the program also works to incorporate skills that was specific to their job scope as well transferable skills. The fact that his was one of the most sought after internship programs filled Harry with pride.

And, hearing his name, he also liked to address them during the first week. The surprised and spike in nerves were palpable. He saw many tense up, sitting even straighter as he made his way to the front. They hadn't noticed his entrance since the room had been dark, a presentation having taken place.

The conference room was set like a lecture hall but with not as many rows of seats. The rows were set in half circle with the main focus on the podium at the bottom. There were steps at the ends and middle of the circle. Harry could feel all their eyes on him as he stepped onto the podium and waited for the lights to be on.

Scanning the room, he began his short speech. It was one he had memorised long before today, fortunately. That left him the opportunity to study the interns. One person kept attracting his attention. A young man with dark, deep set eyes. Even from afar, Harry could tell that his eyes were intense, or what some women would term brooding. He must be popular among the ladies.

There was nothing that stood for him, apart from his seriousness. Then why did Harry find it so difficult to keep his gaze away? His eyes kept returning to him, even as all of them filed out. There was something about him that made a part of him stand to attention. The young man reminded him of someone and the fact that he couldn't place him niggled at his mind.

-----@@@-----

The moment he entered his office, Harry immediately looked him up. It was easy enough to do since their pictures had to be taken for their card id; the id allowed them entrance into the building. Pulling up his file, Harry studied his photo. Segmenting his face and examining each segment separately, and then together, he tried to prod and push the answer out of his mind. It was a futile effort. The name always slipped out of his grasp.

Frustrated, he closed the file and returned to his work. He was sorely behind schedule with his distraction earlier. There was a lot to do before meeting Elena later in the evening and he couldn't afford to be diverted. Making up his mind, he switched off his phone and put it away in the desk drawers.

He could definitely meet her on time.

-----@@@------

"Goodnight, Mr Reynolds,"Aksa said by the door.

"Goodnight, Ms Walker,"Harry said, bading an absent goodbye to Aksa. His eyes passing by his watch, he was suddenly aware of the time. Putting down his tablet, he couldn't believe his eyes. Sitting back, he rubbed his eyes. It couldn't be right. His watch had to be wrong. But when he looked at his watch again, and then the clock on his computer, he had to admit defeat. The inky, navy blue sky outside corroborated what his watch was telling him.

It was just past ten at night.

Springing to his feet, Harry threw everything into his briefcase, switching off the computer and lights. Nearly forgetting to set the alarm, he cursed under his breath while he waited for the signal that the alarm was active. Why did his office have to be so special?

He couldn't believe that he had stood Elena up. She'd wanted to introduce him to her boss, show him her workplace. He knew it was a bid to show him that her new job wouldn't put too much of a strain on her. And even though he knew nothing would alleviate his worry, he did appreciate her effort. He had also liked her excitement when he had agreed. And they had agreed to meet at seven.

That had been three hours ago.

-----@@@------

Mixing the ice cream about in her bowl, Elena scowled at her cellphone on the table. She had immediately called her best friend the instance she entered her apartment, placing her on speaker while she made her way to her room and around the apartment. Venting out her humiliation, disappointment, sadness and, oddly, betrayal, she was mad when Gail had defended Harry. Her brows drew closer together when her friend tried to appeal to her logical side.

"Stop it,"Elena said when Gail had to stop and breathe. Her ice cream had melted into one brown sludge with pieces of marshmallow floating about but she didn't care. "I know he's busy. I've worked in the damn company so I know how late he stays back. But-" She had to pause, her voice trembling slightly. "Babe, he promised he'd be there. And I thought I could trust his promises."

"Something must've come up,"Gail said hurriedly. Elena could tell that she was becoming uncomfortable with her impending tears. Some were even trailing down her cheeks.

"Then why didn't he tell me? I called him so many times and all of them went to voicemail. He must've switched it off. If that isn't a sign that he's avoiding me, I don't know what is." The tears had turned into sobs and Elena had a hard time speaking into the phone. "And why would his phone even be turned off? On this evening? Seems so c-coincidental."

"Ah-" Elena waited for Gail to say something but there was silence on the other line.

"See, you can't even come up with a believable excuse,"she cried, sniffing loudly in a bid to quell her tears. Taking her bowl to the sink, Elena poured everything down the drain. The tears had finally stopped but it was more due to her exhaustion than her will. Her shoulders feeling like gravity was trying to pull them down, she said, "I'm going to bed. Just want to forget today even happened."

"But you haven't eaten yet,"Gail protested. "Think about the babies, Elena."

"I-I can't eat anything. I feel like I'm going to throw anything up,"she admitted, not mentioning that she had tried to make a grilled cheese sandwich earlier. But the moment the butter had hit the pan, bile had climbed up her throat and she had been a hairsbreadth from rushing to the bathroom. She was just too upset to eat.

"Alright." She could hear the hesitation in Gail's voice and rushed to placate her.

"If I can eat anything later tonight, I'll text you. Now, goodnight."

-----@@@@------

The pounding on her door jolted her awake. Her mind not fully awake, Elena groggily stumbled out of her bed and went to answer it. It didn't occur to her to check the peephole. A mistake she was making often with Harry.

Because, lo behold, the person at her doorstep was no other than he who had stood her up.

AN: Hey guys. Hope you're well. What do you think about this chapter? And what do you think will happen next? Let me know.

If you want to find out early, the next few chapters are up in Radish and it's totally free. Well, except for those that were updated within the past week. But right now, the next 3 chapters are available. So do check it out. :)

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THANKS