Seeing Maria's face darkened with horror and turmoil, the director got everyone out of his office without letting Ioan say more.

Who was that, and what had caused such a visceral reaction?

The moment in front of the elevator doors waiting for it to arrive was interminable.

Helena noticed something was wrong, but she had no way of asking because they were not close; they were just some relatives who somehow understood each other.

Ioan instantly felt an iceberg was trying to pull it under, so he dared not say anything. He had no clue where Maria had gone when she left in tears, and seeing her with such an important person, so naturally, somehow made him bitter.

The elevator doors slid open, but Ioan was lost in his thoughts and disconnected from the world around him.

"Aren't you coming in?" asked Helena, standing in with the director. Ah, yes! I'm sorry," he murmured.

Once inside, Helena's curiosity took the lead. "How do you know Maria?" she asked friendly, but she was not.

"She is an acquintance," said him with a half smile.

The dialogue finished way before it could even start. But one thing was sure: they were not just acquaintances; from Maria's reaction, they knew each other well.

The director went on a rampage in the marketing office, and the floors above and below could faintly hear his angry voice. Notice would be arriving right to the CEO's ears.

Meanwhile, Maria was biting her lips, trying not to cry. Seein' Ioan again blew her with a slap of hurtful memories.

She should have noticed when time passed or how she managed the documents. Her mind was clearly a mess.

Kilee returned later than usual. It was past lunchtime, and Maria was still there working. She had not left, nor did she have the appetite.

"Hey Maria, let's go for a bite," said Kilee. She wanted to get out of the place and breathe a little.

"Let's go!" she said, jumping up from her chair and taking the lead to get out. That made Kilee giggle.

"Oh, common, don't laugh," says Maria, pouting with ducky lips, which makes Kilee lose it and start laughing while getting up in the car.

They were clearly happy, and it did not seem like a relationship between a boss and a secretary, but somehow, they were closer. Ioan stood in his car, not far from the building entrance. He had returned from his lunch and was looking at them.

His face showed disapproval. He was unhappy that Maria was slowly standing alone on her two feet.

He tried countless times to contact her without success. While she was fooling around with a rich dude? It was unacceptable.

He was sure she was doing so because she always hoped for love. Her parents kicked her out, her grandparents hated her, and all her exes just used her. He was the only one there for her, and a tiny mistake with his ex couldn't ruin the fact that they were such a great couple.

It was clear the man was starting to distort reality and fantasy.

The two of them reached the restaurant Kilee had taken Maria to on her first day at work. She was happy to be able to get to that place again.

Once inside, they got the same table as the last time. Even if they had grown close in the previous month, at that moment, Kilee felt like they had returned to the beginning.

Fortunately, Chef Maya welcomed Kilee as usual to save them from that silence when she noticed someone with her.

That lovely girl was the secretary who had accompanied her the previous time.

Ragged with happiness, she went to the table and warmly hugged Maria, who did the same. She really hoped to see the chef again.

"Sweetheart, you're here again!" said the chef with a full smile.

"Hello, it's nice to see you again," said maria, nodding. 

Kilee was happy to see that scene but also jealous of the two; she wanted the same treatment.

"Hey, director, what is it? do you also want a hug?" said Maya ironically

"Do not even try." Kilee was ready to step away, but seeing that scene, Maria giggled.

"Don't you have to work?" said Kilee, pointing at the kitchen, making Maya sigh.

"Yeah, I do, then I'll leave you two to continue your date," she said before leaving, blinking at the director. That sentence made Maria blush, and Kilee was satisfied.

The food arrived, and the atmosphere was not tense anymore. They chatted freely: Kilee did not ask anything, even if she was dying with curiosity, and Maria had noticed.

"Can I ask how Ioan got there?" Maria started the conversation, which caused Kilee to choke on her food.

"How do you know him?" asked her back.

"He... is my ex..." Maria said, taking another bite, while Kilee remained with her mouth open. 

"So how did he end there?" asked maria once again.

Kilee wipes her mouth. "He was sent instead of Paul, a man who is usually exchanged once a year between companies," but that started to smell strange. From all people, HIM? Kilee had a weird feeling about all that.

They continued with their meal almost in complete silence, both confused. Then Kilee cleared her throat and, with bitterness, asked, "So... you said...he is your ex?". Maria looked at her and then back at her plate again, and while playing with the fork, she explained everything that had happened so far in her life.

"And so... I ended up working with you," said Maria, smiling at Kilee. "I'm truly grateful, you know!" continued.

Kilee felt her heart skip a beat; she felt like the day they first talked together a few years ago, and she smiled brightly.

"You're still the same even after all that," she said, smiling back at Maria with nostalgia. Maria was confused. They did not know each other in the past, or did they?

"Have we met before?" asked Maria, curious and anxious. She did not want to hide anything from Maria; she had the confirmation she sought. The only idea of Maria getting with someone else made her eager to be that person, so she admitted, "Yes, we have met before."