DYLAN

TWO WEEKS LATER...

It's been two weeks since Joane joined our team as my secretary, and I couldn't be more impressed with her performance. She's not only incredibly skilled and punctual but also brings a warmth and familiarity that brightens up the office.

It's been two weeks since Joane joined our team as my secretary, and I couldn't be more impressed with her performance. She's not only incredibly skilled and punctual but also brings a warmth and familiarity that brightens up the office.

However, there's something about her presence that keeps stirring up memories I can't quite place. Her voice, her scent, even the way she smiles—it all feels oddly familiar, like echoes from another time. It's intriguing yet puzzling, like trying to recall a dream upon waking.

The information I asked about her did confirm that she was a normal girl, and she looked exactly like her high school pictures. I had never seen her here, nor had I visited Maryland, so where was this feeling coming from?

Despite the mystery, I find myself drawn to her presence. Her familiarity is comfortable, even if I can't fully understand it yet. Perhaps it's a reminder of connections from the past or a sign of something new unfolding.

And if I waved off these thoughts on why she was familiar, then my insomnia grabbed Ruth, our teenage memories, of the way she laughed, during lunch break, or in the halls with a few of her friends. I was her senior, but still, I knew her. She used to piss me off so fucking badly. I used to be this close to grabbing her head and smashing it against the wall, but if he put her attitude away, she was a really pretty girl, hot, smart, and confident. She was troubled, but in a good way. I used to date and fuck around with girls, but her laughter was the one that made the ice melt a bit. I wasn't the party animal type; Miles and Broody were more the ones to throw out house parties and get wasted. I'd like to watch, have drinks, and woo a few girls. Nothing with strings attached, though; Chase was the same, but he remained quieter and was more observant. 

My principal for dating from high school was just to have my way in bed, nothing more and nothing less. A good fuck is what I prefer with females—no strings attached, but for Ruth, I need those strings wrapped around her. 

Miles had a delay with the pictures due to some family emergencies that he had to handle, but he assured me that he would get them to me as soon as possible, and I trust that guy, but I will admit that I broke a glass because I was waiting for them already.

As I steal glances at Joane, meticulously organising files in front of me, I can't shake off the relentless fatigue that's been weighing me down. It seems like I'm barely functioning on the scant few hours of sleep I manage to snatch each night. Ruth seems to have hijacked my usual sleep patterns, leaving me longing for the peaceful slumber I once enjoyed.

Despite the exhaustion, there's a sense of comfort in these stolen glances with Joane. She's a constant presence in my chaotic day, a familiar face that brings a sense of stability. But it's Ruth who occupies my thoughts, her absence in my nights leaving a void I can't seem to fill.

I straighten up, trying to shake off the weariness, and force myself to concentrate on the email I'm drafting. Each word feels like a battle against the fog of exhaustion, but I persevere, determined to push through. 

Without diverting my gaze from the screen, I uttered briskly, "Joane, bring me a large black coffee; make it strong."

"Sure, sir. I'll bring it right away. Anything else?" Joane responded promptly, setting the files aside quickly.

''No, that would be enough.'' I replied, and she left, closing the door behind her.

With a sigh, I close my laptop and lean back in my chair, hoping to steal a moment of respite behind my closed eyelids. But before I can even settle into the brief escape, a knock interrupts the quiet of the room.

Confusion prickles at my tired mind. Surely, the coffee couldn't have arrived so quickly. Who could it be now, intruding on this momentary reprieve?

"Come in," I call out, my voice tinged with weariness and curiosity mingling with irritation.

I looked towards the door and saw Miles coming inside. Hey dude, sorry for the delay," he said, walking towards me. My expressions relaxed, and I rose from my seat and shook his down as he sat down. I didn't expect me today, and no one informed me that we were coming, but he was one of those people who didn't need permission to come.

''Hey, I didn't expect you today; all is well now?'' I asked him while taking the large envelope in my hands.

'' Yeah, all okay now, and I just got back thinking Id drop this by. Tell me about you; you look like you haven't slept in ages. What has that girl done to your poor mind?'' he replied with a small scoff and a laugh.

''That bad, huh?'' I ran a hand down in my hair, and a light chuckle escaped through my mouth.

Miles plopped into the seat across from me, his presence instantly lightening the mood. I chuckled at his comment about my appearance, realising just how worn out I must look.

"Yeah, you caught me," I admitted with a smirk, motioning to the envelope he'd brought. "Thanks for swinging by and dropping this off. And as for me, well, let's just say life's been keeping me on my toes. Besides, I was obsessed with her before you and knew it; she just slipped through my mind when all of this came at once.

''Yeah, I remember that, but are you sure how she will react and have you thought about what she will say?'' He said, looking at me, that his expression had gotten serious.

''I haven't had time. I just want to know what she is doing and just talk once. I need to make her mine,'' I said, even though I don't open up this much, but Miles already knows most of it. "I just hope she understands and gives me a chance to talk to her about things," I added, feeling a mix of nervousness and anticipation. Miles nodded in understanding, knowing how important this was to me.

As I was on the brink of tearing open the envelope, the door swung open, revealing Joane's silhouette. She lingered, an expectant pause hanging in the air, as if awaiting my directive—whether to bid her to linger or to depart.

I nodded and gestured for Ruth to enter. Miles turned around, his serious expression melting away in milliseconds as he caught sight of Joane. A smile spread across his face as she approached, setting down my coffee. I noticed Miles's eyes lingering on her legs.

"Would you like anything?" I asked Miles, suppressing a chuckle at his sudden change in mood.

"Uh, me? No, no thanks," he replied, glancing at me and then back at Joane. "You're the new secretary, right?" he inquired

Joane smiled nervously and replied, "Yes, I am. Anything else, sir?" She turned towards me, and I shook my head slightly. "No, thank you. You can get back to work now," I said coldly.

Miles engaged her in another question, sparking up another conversation. "How long has it been since you started working here?" he asked.

"Oh, it has been a little over two weeks now, sir," she replied quickly with a small smile.

"Oh, please don't call me sir; I'm Miles," he said, extending his hand, which Joane took and shook. I watched them, finding it cute for Miles, but I preferred my employees to focus on their work.

"You guys can have this chat somewhere else. I'd rather have my secretary do her work because these are her work hours, Miles. I hope you respect that," I said curtly, my tone dry.

"Yes, sir, I will get back to my work right now," Joane replied, looking slightly down as she went outside.

As she exited the room, Miles's plaintive whine filled the air, reminiscent of a child denied a favourite toy. "Did you really have to send her away like that?" he protested, his tone tinged with longing. "Look at her; she's adorable, like one of those nerds who wears glasses but still manages to be cute."

"She's my secretary, Miles," I replied, my voice carrying a hint of exasperation. "She's here to work, not to be admired. I don't pay her to sit idle and distract herself. With a resigned sigh, I brought the cup of coffee to my lips, allowing the bitterness to linger on my tongue, matching the bitter undertones of the conversation.

After some eye contact, Miles laughed at himself: All right, mister, cold heart, I'll take my leave now and I might bother your pretty little secretary.'' He winked at me before getting up from the seat and going out.

I clutched the envelope tightly, my heart pounding with anticipation and longing. These photographs held the essence of Ruth, the woman I couldn't shake from my thoughts. With trembling hands, I tore open the envelope, each rip echoing the ache in my chest.

As I pulled out the photographs, the room seemed to fade away, leaving only Ruth's image illuminated before me. Her hair, a cascade of midnight black, flowed like silk around her face, framing eyes that sparkled with mischief and warmth. Those eyes, deep pools of emotion that drew me in, promised secrets and solace in equal measure.

But it was her smile that captured me the most—a radiant beam that could light up even the darkest of days. In each photograph, it danced across her lips, a testament to the joy she brought into my life. I longed to reach out and touch that smile, to feel its warmth against my skin once more.

But as I stared at her image, a wave of sadness washed over me. Ruth was out there somewhere; her laughter and light were hidden from me, and her absence left a gaping void in my world. These photographs were all I had left of her—fragments of a life I feared I might never fully grasp again.

With a trembling hand, I set the photographs down, their edges blurred by tears I hadn't realised were falling. The ache in my chest grew stronger with each passing moment, a reminder of the love I had lost and the hope I still clung to. Ruth was out there, and I would stop at nothing to bring her back into my life once more.

As I sifted through the photographs, my gaze fell upon a snapshot frozen in time, capturing Ruth in a moment of fierce determination. There she stood, poised and confident, donning a helmet in preparation for a race against Miles. The intensity in her eyes spoke volumes, a silent declaration of her unwavering spirit and unyielding resolve.

In that moment, I saw a glimpse of the Ruth I had always known—fearless, passionate, and unapologetically herself. Despite the uncertainty surrounding her past, one thing remained clear: her indomitable spirit had never wavered.

I couldn't help but marvel at her courage and her willingness to dive headfirst into challenges with a smile on her face and fire in her heart. Whatever obstacles she had faced in the past, they had only served to fuel her determination, igniting a flame that burned brighter with each passing day.

As I traced the lines of her determined expression in the photograph, a sense of admiration washed over me. Ruth may have been a mystery, her past shrouded in shadows, but her resilience was undeniable. It was a reminder that no matter what trials lie ahead, her spirit will always endure, a beacon of strength and inspiration for those fortunate enough to know her. 

The questions swirling in my mind multiplied, each one a thread in the tapestry of Ruth's life that I longed to unravel. Where did she work? Was she still in touch with friends from school? The enigma of her past seemed to deepen with each passing moment, yet her beauty remained constant, a beacon of light in the darkness.

As I studied her photograph, I couldn't help but marvel at her beauty—a radiant glow that transcended the limitations of mere pixels on paper. Even from an angle that would render others ordinary, Ruth exuded an ethereal allure, her features a testament to the grace and elegance that defined her.

But amidst the admiration, a pang of longing stirred within me. Wherever Ruth was, whatever she was doing, I yearned to be a part of her world once more. The thought of her being surrounded by friends from school and her laughter ringing out like music in the air filled me with a bittersweet ache.

I made a mental note to delve deeper into her past and uncover the threads that connected her to the world outside these photographs. Perhaps there were clues to her whereabouts and to the life she had built beyond the confines of my memory.

With a sigh, I set the photograph aside, the weight of unanswered questions heavy on my shoulders. Ruth may have left me with more questions than answers, but one thing remained certain: her beauty, both inside and out, would forever hold me captive in its spell.

As I gathered the photos, I felt a mix of determination and nerves. It was time to reach out to my underworld contacts to dig into Ruth's past. I knew it was a risky move; her history might not be all sunshine and rainbows. But I had to know more about her, even if it meant facing some uncomfortable truths.

As I prepared to send the pictures out, I couldn't shake the worry gnawing at me. What if her past was darker than I'd ever imagined? Still, I steeled myself and sent them off. Whatever lay ahead, I was ready to confront it, for Ruth's sake.