I stood in shock, unabled to say anything.

"I want you to make a reservation at Slater Wellness & Spa." Mr. Barlett repeated.

Yes, I heard him the first time. But I prayed I hadn't heard correctly.

"Liz?"

"Um... Yes. We'll stay at Slater Wellness & Spa?"

"Yes. The owner is a close friend of mine. And his hotel one of the best ones in that city. Besides, we will organize a video production, which will be performed there."

"Bradford Slater is your friend?"

"Do you know him?"

Did I know him!? Damn it!  What was I supposed to tell him... That he is my ex-boyfriend's father, and also with whom I was sleeping...

"Yes, I know him. He is the father of my friend." I shortened the story. "Um, Mr. Barlett, I'm afraid I won't be able to come."

"That's not an option, Liz. I need you there."

"But..."

"No 'but'. You and Zara will be there no matter what!"

"Okay. I'm gonna make a reservation."

Mr. Barlett walked out of my office and I clutched my face with hands. Was that really happening?

After I came out of shock and booked a reservation at the hotel, I wrote a message to Kelly.

Even though we no longer lived in the same city, Kelly was still my best friend. And the only one of my old friends who didn't hate me.

"Kells, you will not believe it! 😱"

"What's going on, Liz? 🤔"

"We are going on a business trip with my boss in a few days. Guess which hotel we will stay at 🙀"

"No way! 😱"

"Yes... At Bradford's Hotel... I tried to get out of the trip... But my boss doesn't accept any excuses. He wants me there at any cost..."

"Omg, Liz... Are you ready to meet Mr. Slater again?"

"Nope. But I don't have a choice."

"Maybe at least you'll finally find out why he left without saying anything to you."

"I don't want to open old wounds. I hope I won't run into him at all. Although it turned out that my boss was friends with him. 🤦‍♀️"

"I don't know what to say... Fingers crossed, everything to go smoothly 🤞🤞🤞"

"Thank you, Kelly!"

"Keep me updated 😘"

"Of course 😘"

After we finished our chat with Kelly, I went to Zara's office to tell her about the trip. Considering that she knew about the story of my life, she was almost surprised as I was. Being super kind as always, she tried to reassure me. But how could I be reassured after knowing where we were about to go.

I spent the next two days trying to mentally prepare for it. But how could I? The last place I ever thought I would go to again was that hotel. I wasn't ready. To meet him again. And I was thinking I never would be. After everything that happened. After everything, he did to me. Different thoughts were running through my mind- couldn't I say I was sick? But then, I knew that my boss really needed me on business trips. I was his assistant. He trusted in me. And I couldn't betray his trust.

So, on Tuesday morning, I got on the plane.

"Come on, Liz, smile. This is not the end of the world." Zara was trying to cheer me up. "And honestly, I am so curious finally to see this mysterious Bradford..."

"But I pray to not meet him at all..."

She hugged me over the shoulder without saying anything more. And I leaned my head on her shoulder.

The flight was not long, an hour and a half later we were at the airport.

With each passing second, the ball in my stomach grew bigger and bigger.

"We arrived." Emma Barlett, Mr. Barlett's wife, approached us. "Come on, girls! Let's see this hotel that my husband talks so much about! I need a nice massage right now."

"Mrs. Barlett," I turned to her. "Shania is an excellent masseuse. Make an appointment for a massage with her."

"Please, Liz, call me just Emma." She remarked to me, with her wide smile and kind voice. "Have you stayed at this hotel?"

"Once."

Once. Once, I was there. And this hotel changed my life completely...

After we arrived, while the others were enjoying the beautiful alleys and gardens in front of the hotel, so many memories passed before my eyes.

"You go. I'll be there in a minute. I need to make a phone call." I told the others, trying to win a few more minutes before going there.

And I stood in front of the hotel, gathering strength. But all I wanted to do was run away.

MEANWHILE IN THE LOBBY

"Thomas, Emma, welcome!" Bradford welcomed them.

"I am glad to see you, Brad. You didn't lie. This hotel is a bomb!"

"Everything or nothing. This is my motto."

"Brad, this is Zara Yamall- the Communications Director of my company."

"Hello, Mr. Slater," Zara said as she held out her hand in greeting. "It's nice to finally meet you."

"Finally?" Bradford asked and narrowed his eyes questioningly.

"I meant... it's nice to meet you." She tried to correct herself.

"And my assistant," Thomas Barlett continued. "I believe you know her..." He looked around. "Where is she?"

"I'm here," I replied, joining the others. "Hello, Bradford."

I looked Brad in the eye, trying to look as confident and calm as possible.

"Elizabeth?" Brad exclaimed in surprise.

"Yes, my assistant Elizabeth Turner." Mr. Bartlett finished my presenting.

Brad was looking at me, too. I was trying to read something behind the surprise in his eyes. But what did it matter anyway... Even before, when I was thinking I knew what his eyes were saying, it turned out I was wrong.

Still, there was something... Some kind of vibe of... sadness maybe?

"You can cut the tension with a knife," Zara said which made me break my eye contact with Brad.

"What, Zara?" Mr. Barlett asked.

"Nothing. Don't mind me." She answered him.

Then Brad broke our silence. "I can't believe you are here."

"Believe me, if there was an option for me, I would not come."

"Mr. Barlett, Mrs. Barlett," Zara turned to them. "Let's go to check-in."

And they went to the reception, leaving Brad and me alone.

"I'm sorry, Elizabeth. I'm sorry I left without saying anything..."

Although all this time I wanted to know why... Why did he sleep with Mrs. Moyer after he showed me that he was in love with me... Why then did he leave without telling me anything... Actually, at that moment, I didn't want to hear anything.

"Brad, I..."

"Elizabeth Turner!" Shania's voice interrupted me. "Look at you, I can't believe you are here with all your shine, yet looking so different, so grown-up!"

"Shania!" I hugged her strongly. "And you... you haven't changed at all!"

"Tell me about it... Fighting with the years is a bitch."

We both giggled.

"Well, I won't bother you anymore. Liz, just don't dare to forget to come to me for a massage."

"Maybe tomorrow. But I told my boss's wife, however, to make an appointment with you. So, you can expect her in a while. Just, make sure you won't give her access to any kind of chats..."

"Oh, give me a break!" She replied, unable to stop laughing. "Nobody is perfect!"

And in the way she came, like a tornado, she walked away.

While the smile was still on my face, after our conversation with Shania, I turned to Brad again. And my smile disappeared again.

"When I realized that Leo knew about you and me..." Bradford continued as if Shania hasn't interrupted him. "And when I saw the hatred in his eyes..."

"Brad," But I interrupted him again. "I don't care. Excuse me."

I walked around him and went to the reception, to the others. And I didn't turn around.

"Is everything okay, Liz?" Zara asked me the second she saw me.

"Yes, absolutely. Let's get to work!"

***

And so we spent the day only working. The only thing that could make me forget about everything was my job.

And after we finished the tasks for the day, I went back to my room.

An hour later, Zara texted me to tell me that Mr. Barlett was inviting us to dinner.

"I might skip dinner. I was thinking of walking on the beach." I answered her.

"Do you want me to come with you? "She asked me, ready as always to be my rock.

"No, there's no need, Zara. Don't worry. I'm fine."

"Okay. See you tomorrow."

"Have a good evening 😘"

I got out of bed, put on my jeans and T-shirt, and hurried out to catch Mr. Barlett before dinner.

"Mr. Barlett, it's Elizabeth," I said, knocking on his door.

"Liz, hi."

"Mr. Barlett, thank you for the invitation and I am sorry in advance, but I will skip dinner."

"Okay, no problem." He paused for a moment as if wondering if he should continue at all. "Liz, I don't usually interfere in the personal lives of my employees... But I am sorry, I didn't know about the situation between you and Brad. Zara told me you two had a relationship."

"Oh, good job, Zara..." I muttered to myself after that continued to Mr. Barlett. "It's just a little hard for me to be here again. But I want to assure you that this will not affect my work."

"I didn't even think about it. You are a professional."

"Thank you for your trust! I wish you a wonderful evening."

And as a schoolgirl sneaking behind her parents, I left the hotel, hoping not to meet Brad.

I stood on the beach and stared at the horizon. The emotions inside me raged like the waves of the sea raged. I stood there without moving. The sunset down and the beautiful moon rose. Time meant nothing. I didn't care. It still hurt. I still loved him. And all these years, and even a hundred more, would not change my feelings for him. And they wouldn't change as well the fact that I was such a fool to love him.

"Elizabeth." I heard Bradford's voice behind me.

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath.

"What are you doing here?" I asked him without turning around.

But he took my hand and turned me to him.

Damn it, even after 5 years, even at the age of 45, he still had this devilishly sexy look.

"Your colleague told me where I could find you." He answered me. "Please, listen to me."

"To listen to what, Brad? You want to tell me why you fucked Mrs. Moyer and then left without saying anything?"

"I did what?"