Image (In Author's Note): The VAO Building - (On the right is are the common rooms). (And the circular common areas are the group designing spaces).

Image Above: Nataliya

Dedicated to @Atlanta_Stone, thank you so much for following, hitting that cute little vote button up there and encouraging me to write this. Why do you think this chapter's out so soon.

*Not edited*

Nataliya- Now

"Bye Lana..."

"Liya..."

"You better hurry, I bet you don't want to be late for your shift." Lana worked on and off at the same Cafe I did, just different shifts.

I saw her shake her head, giggling as she drove off. Rolling my eyes, I darted up the steps to the building. It wasn't a very tall building, about six very wide floors of a extremely professional glass and marble design. It was beyond me how I managed to become an intern here, I guess work paid off. 

I made my to the common rooms. I was in no way a very important person in this, just an intern hoping to be upgraded to a designer. My boss had sent an email to me earlier, asking to meet him here for an offer. I was the only person here... It felt.... Off. Well, I guess the only thing to do was wait.

I sighed plopping onto one of the seats... Sweet baby jesus, it was so soft. 

"Nataliya, there you are. I had a feeling that you wouldn't be on time." Anthony Carter, otherwise known as Mr. Carter or the few other names I had come up with and shared to a few colleagues. Ranging from; King of the Cubicles, Mr. Meetings, Time Terrorist or my official favorite; Lord of the Lunch Break, a.k.a LLB.

I immediately stood up, pulling my bag farther up my shoulder. "Yes sir, you said you had an offer."

Mr. Carter nodded, he was slightly on the chubby side with his crew cut black hair and light brown eyes. "As a matter of fact yes, we had an offer from a man who owns a few clubs across the country. He would like us to design a new club right here in Chicago."

I raised my brows, the company did design clubs but not as many, mostly condominiums. 

"This man wants a good designer for this, I have many designer who would fit the job but you have very good taste and you are young. You are an intern here for a reason." He stopped and looked at me, "This job offer is for you."

He had something up his sleeve I knew it. There was something in this for me... Well something else, a deal. "What's your deal?"

Mr. Carters eyebrows shot up, just a fraction away from his hairline. "A smart one you are. Well, if you complete this design well and our client is pleased then you will be upgraded to a proper designer and you will have a permanent job. But your schedule will be quite open after this, even with the new offers."

Well... I would getting an upgrade... Yay. But I'd still be working here the same amounts... I had to anyway, there was no arguing.

I nodded.

"Follow me."

He led me to the main meeting room. Huge and fully furnished with comfy chairs and a carpeted floor. With a long table in the middle... It sort of reminded me off the circular common areas, just more serious..

"The meeting doesn't start until thirty minutes, but our client should be here shortly, I will leave you to meet him if he comes along." At that Lord of the Lunch Break was gone.

I plopped down onto one of the mini booths, as my thoughts slowly started to drift towards Alex. Would he look different now? His hair should be the same, almost black and curling just below his ear. His hazel eyes should still have the tell tale golden flecks in them. I sighed softly, he might not even be in town. Lana could have heard anything... It might not even be true. 

I sit at that booth for another five minutes, finally a man appears at the doorway, with a strawberry blonde haired girl by his side. His frame is tall, very tall.... and very broad. Wow. I immediately stand up and make my way to him.

"Nataliya. Come here."

Dammit, Lord of the Lunch Break. I turn around slowly. 

"Our client is here, we still have time before we can offically begin. I will introduce you to him and be on my way."

I followed Mr. Carter to the middle set of chairs where the tall man was with the girl. He asks me to wait at the neighbouring couch, while he talks.

I see him make his way up to the man and says something, gesturing to me.

The man turns around and I finally get close enough to see his face and freeze. I suck in a shaky breath.

Alex.... 

He's Alex... 

Oh my god.... What's he doing here? HIs hair is curling just below his ear and still has the 'I don't give a damn' look. 

He's mesmerizing.

Alex had always be gorgeous. And he still was, more actually. He's got a five o'clock shadow on his jaw and his face is so damn masculine. And his body... holy hell. He's so much taller than I remember and broader. He's not like those men with the extremely bulging muscles that it hurts to look at them, though he's just as strong. He build is lean but filled with muscle. His black button down a bit too tight for his forearm, showing off his muscle. 

God, I can't help staring. The man who I thought that I would never get a chance to see again, the man who I created so many memories with.... is here. 

He nods at Mr. Carter. Then, laughs at something the girl says and those two perfectly placed dimples that I've known for so long appear. 

Slowly his eyes slide over to me. I freeze. My eyes as round as saucers. My breathing coming in short pants, and my heart seems to skip a beat. I wait for him to recognize me.

He doesn't.

He just stares at me, nothing, just a blank void in those beautiful eyes. His face completely blank as his brow creases.

"I'm sorry, are you alright?"

His voice, his deep, melodic, but toe curling voice snaps me out of my daze. It feels as if someone has slapped me across my face and punched my stomach, knocking the air out of me. He doesn't remember me. He was my best friend for more than four years. He was my saviour, he was the only one who ever showed me light in my world of darkness, he was my everything. But... he doesn't know me. 

I don't know what to say, but I manage to rasp, "Ah, no..... I'm sorry. Um..."

Out of the corner of my eye I can see Mr. Carter glaring daggers at me. Oh, he asked my name. 

"Call me Alex," He says, sticking his hand out.

I know... I so know that. But... no. I never thought of this. If I said Nataliya he would surely click. And for some reason I didn't want him to. Say it was my pride or something like that. He always called my Liya, so that just left one option.

"I'm Nat." I say, reaching out to shake his hand. 

The second my hand touches his, sparks shoot up hand up my forearm. I shudder slightly, quickly pulling away.

I can't do this...

I just can't.

"I- I- I need a minute."

And then with a body full of shame, hurt and a heart that seems ready crack, I muster everything that is left in me, and rush out. Muttering sorrys' along the way. 

The girl who was sitting with him, catches up to me at a booth.

"Oh, sorry, do I know you?"

She gives me a small smile and shakes her head, "No, I don't think so. You just seemed upset with Alex, so I thought....." She trails of, looking at me excpectantly. 

She did know Alex, and wow, did that just add to the pain that was already filling me up. I peered over at him, already speaking to someone else, that's it, I was like just a passing person in his life. I ask the girl, "Do you know him?"

She nods, her light blue eyes looking up at me, "Do you?"

Nothing had prepared me for this, yeah he might have been mad at me, sad or something. I even thought that he wouldn't recognize me. But never had I thought that he would just forget me, I meant so much to him, just like he did to me. I guess it seemed that wasn't true.... he just forgot me. 

I look back at the girl, "Not anymore."

At that, I turn and rush out.

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Okay. Wow, I feel your pain, Liya.... The poor girl. She's seen Alex.... and he doesn't remember her. *cries silently, then huffs, determined*

Long chapter... Well for me it is... Now reading it I don't think it is. Just past 1550 words, (only the story).

If you can't see the picture above, click the external link or look at this: 

file:///Users/spandey23/Downloads/BeFunky%20Collage.jpg

And up there is a picture of Nataliya, I finally found one that is sort of mysterious, since well, it's hard to find someone for her... she's one of a kind, just like Alex.

This chapter came out now because of you.... The next chapter will probably be out tomorrow or the day after, school starts, so... yeah.

- Treetop, :)