Avoidance of doubt

Mia hurried down the hallway, her mind racing with a mix of frustration and determination. She had planned for every possible scenario in that meeting, except for Andrew. His sudden reappearance felt like a cruel joke. She pushed open the door to the break room, seeking a moment of solace.

"Mia, wait up!" Sarah's voice called out from behind her.

Mia turned to see her friend approaching, concern etched on her face. "You okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. Just... unexpected guests, I guess," Mia said, forcing a smile.

Sarah nodded, her eyes flicking towards the meeting room. "I saw him too. Andrew Weston. Didn't expect to see him here."

"Neither did I," Mia muttered, grabbing a cup and pouring herself some coffee. She took a sip, hoping the caffeine would help clear her head. A subtle scent, familiar and tantalizing, lingered in the air, sending a shiver down her spine. She pushed the thought away, focusing on her drink. "I thought I was done with him."

Sarah raised an eyebrow. "Looks like the universe had other plans. Are you going to be okay working with him?"

Mia sighed, leaning against the counter. "I don't have a choice, do I? I'll manage. I always do."

Before Sarah could respond, the door swung open and Andrew walked in. His presence filled the room, his eyes locking onto Mia instantly. She straightened up, feeling an unexpected flutter in her stomach.

"Mia, can we talk?" he asked, his voice low and serious.

Sarah glanced between them, sensing the tension. "Hey Andrew, nice to see you again," Sarah said with her trademark easy smile, the kind that could light up a room. Andrew returned the smile effortlessly, his charm oozing from every word. "Hey Sarah, you look great, as usual."

Mia couldn't help but roll her eyes internally at Andrew's smooth reply. It was as if he had a charm switch he could flick on at will. She stole a glance at Sarah, who giggled in response, now completely oblivious to the undercurrents swirling around them. Mia couldn't help but think how naive Sarah could be sometimes, falling for Andrew's charm hook, line, and sinker.

"Well, I'll leave you two to it," she said, giving Mia a supportive nod before slipping out of the room.

Once they were alone, Mia crossed her arms, her gaze unwavering. "What do you want, Andrew?"

He took a step closer, a charming smile playing on his lips. "I didn't know you worked here. If I had, I would've approached this differently."

"Approached what differently? Your grand entrance? Your sudden reappearance in my life?" Mia's voice was sharp, but she couldn't ignore the way his presence made her pulse quicken.

Andrew sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Look, I know we have... sort of a history. But we're professionals. We can work together without letting the past interfere."

"Can we?" Mia shot back, feeling a familiar warmth spreading through her body. "Because it doesn't feel like it right now."

He took another step closer, his gaze intense. "We don't have to like each other, Mia. But we do have to work together. Can we agree on that?"

Mia clenched her jaw, trying to ignore the way his proximity affected her. "Fine. We can agree on that. But don't expect me to forget everything that happened."

Andrew's eyes softened, a hint of regret flickering across his features. "I wouldn't ask you to."

With that, he turned and left the room, leaving Mia standing there, legs weak and her heart pounding in her chest. She took another sip of her coffee, trying to steady her nerves. This was going to be harder than she thought.

Mia spent the rest of the day buried in work, avoiding Andrew as much as possible. She focused on refining her pitch, making sure every detail was perfect. By the time she left the office, the sun had set, casting long shadows across the city streets.

As she walked home, her thoughts kept drifting back to Andrew. His sudden reappearance, the way he looked at her, the unresolved tension between them. She had thought she was over it, over him. But seeing him again had stirred up all kinds of feelings she didn't want to confront.

When she finally reached her apartment, she kicked off her shoes and collapsed onto the couch, staring at the ceiling. She needed a plan. A way to navigate this new reality without letting Andrew disrupt her life. She had worked too hard to let anyone, especially him, throw her off course, and having a plan had always helped her in life. It's the only way she knew how to survive.

Mia grabbed her laptop and started typing out her ideas for the series. She would prove herself, not just to Mr. Thompson, but to everyone. Including Andrew. She would show them all that she was a force to be reckoned with.

As the words flowed onto the screen, Mia felt a sense of determination settle over her. This was her chance to shine, to make her mark. And nothing, not even a complicated past with Andrew Weston, was going to stand in her way.