Old Flames

"Some things… should stay buried."

Serena stood at the edge of the balcony, her eyes scanning the familiar skyline. The world felt different now, as if the universe had shifted in subtle ways. She was starting to feel more in control, more like herself again. Yet, despite the progress she had made, there was a restlessness gnawing at her.

It wasn't her career—she was excelling in her new role, gaining respect, and building a name for herself, separate from the tangled mess of her past. It wasn't Damian, either—he'd been disturbingly quiet, which unnerved her, but she wasn't going to let the fear of his next move paralyze her.

No, the restlessness came from something much closer. It came from Alexander.

Their connection had deepened, though neither of them had spoken it aloud. There was a quiet understanding between them, a magnetic pull that was growing harder and harder to ignore. But just as she had begun to let herself imagine a future with him, a shadow from his past emerged. A shadow named Isabelle.

Serena had first noticed her name on Alexander's phone, a message that flashed across his screen during a meeting. The name didn't mean anything to her at the time, but there was a tension in Alexander's face she hadn't seen before—a haunted look. He had quickly silenced his phone, but Serena couldn't shake the feeling that this woman wasn't just anyone.

Later that day, when Alexander had dropped by her office to go over some logistics, he had seemed distracted. Absent, even.

"Everything okay?" Serena had asked, her eyes studying his face. He looked tired, worn in a way she hadn't seen before.

"Yeah… just some things I need to deal with," he replied, his voice tight, almost distant. His gaze flickered over her before settling on the floor, as though he was battling something internally.

Serena pressed her lips together, unsure whether to push or let it go. But something in the pit of her stomach told her this was more than just a bad day.

"Alexander, if there's something—"

He cut her off with a slight shake of his head. "Don't worry about it, Serena. It's… it's nothing I can't handle."

But the way he said it didn't convince her. She could feel the weight of unspoken words between them, the tension coiling tighter with every second of silence.

That evening, as she was leaving the office, Serena found herself face-to-face with the mysterious Isabelle.

She was tall, statuesque, with dark waves of hair falling elegantly over her shoulders. Her presence was commanding, the kind of woman who drew attention the moment she walked into a room. There was a confidence in the way she moved, a predatory grace that made Serena's skin prickle with unease.

"You must be Serena."

The words were delivered with a smile, but there was an unmistakable edge to them. Serena's heart skipped a beat as she looked at the woman standing before her. There was something familiar in her posture, the way she held herself, like a queen surveying her kingdom. The possessiveness in her tone was impossible to miss.

"And you are?" Serena asked, her voice calm but her mind already racing.

"Isabelle," the woman replied smoothly, as if the name alone should mean something. And suddenly, it did.

This was her. The woman Alexander had been distant about. The ghost from his past. And now she was standing right in front of her, the embodiment of every unspoken question Serena had about Alexander's life before they met.

"I'm sure Alexander has mentioned me," Isabelle added, her eyes narrowing slightly. "We have quite the history together."

Serena's breath caught in her throat, her mind scrambling for a response. Had Alexander mentioned her? No. But that didn't mean there wasn't something there, something he was keeping from her.

"He hasn't, actually," Serena replied, tilting her head slightly, trying to keep her tone light. "But then again, we're both trying to leave the past behind, aren't we?"

The words hit their mark. Isabelle's smile faltered for a moment, but only for a moment.

"The past has a funny way of catching up with you," Isabelle said softly, her voice dripping with meaning. "Especially when it involves someone like Alexander."

Before Serena could respond, Isabelle turned on her heel and walked away, leaving Serena standing there, her heart pounding in her chest.

That night, Serena couldn't sleep. Her mind was racing with possibilities. Who was Isabelle to Alexander? What kind of history did they have? And why hadn't he told her?

The questions gnawed at her, making her restless, uneasy. She didn't want to be the insecure woman who doubted everything, who let jealousy cloud her judgment. But this felt different. This felt like a warning.

The next morning, she decided she needed answers.

Serena found Alexander in his office, going over some documents. He looked up when she entered, his expression softening for a brief moment before he caught the seriousness on her face.

"We need to talk," Serena said, her voice firmer than she expected.

Alexander put down the papers and leaned back in his chair, his brow furrowing slightly. "Okay. What's going on?"

Serena hesitated for a moment, unsure of how to start. But then Isabelle's words echoed in her mind, and the knot in her chest tightened.

"Who is Isabelle?"

The question hung in the air between them, thick and heavy. Alexander's face hardened instantly, his jaw tightening as he looked away. It was a small reaction, but it told her everything she needed to know.

There was something. Something deep.

"Serena… it's complicated," he began, his voice low, strained.

"Then explain it to me," she pressed, stepping closer. "Because I ran into her yesterday, and she didn't seem like someone who was just passing through your life. She seemed… important."

Alexander exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. "Isabelle and I… we were involved. Years ago. Before everything with Damian, before my life became what it is now."

Serena's stomach churned. Involved. The word felt like a punch to the gut, but she forced herself to stay calm. She had to hear this, even if it hurt.

"And now?" she asked quietly.

"Now… it's over," Alexander said, but the way his voice wavered made her doubt the finality of that statement.

"Is it?" she whispered, her eyes searching his for the truth.

For a moment, Alexander didn't answer. He just looked at her, his eyes filled with regret, guilt… and something else. Something she couldn't quite place.

"Serena, I'm not the man I was back then. Isabelle… she's part of a past I'm not proud of. But I swear to you, whatever you're thinking—it's over."

But the uncertainty in his voice betrayed him. Serena could feel it. Isabelle wasn't just some old flame. She was more than that. And she wasn't done with Alexander yet.

That evening, as Serena sat in her apartment, replaying the conversation in her mind, she couldn't shake the feeling that this was just the beginning of a new complication. Alexander's past was resurfacing, and it was going to change everything.

"You can't escape the past," Isabelle's voice echoed in her mind, haunting her.

And for the first time in weeks, Serena wondered if she was strong enough to face what was coming.

"Do you really know him, Serena?" Isabelle's words had been haunting her ever since that encounter, and now, they echoed louder than ever.

But Serena had already made her decision.

"I will find out."