Fern's Perspective
I sat on a couch in the office lobby, my hands instinctively tightening around the strap of my bag. My interview hadn't even started yet, and all around me, the soft murmur of whispered conversations filled the air as candidates discussed various questions. I stared at my phone screen, but my heartbeat refused to slow.
Suddenly, I heard a familiar name.
"I heard this company was founded by Alpha Giovanni of the Dark Howl Pack. In just a few short years, it's become one of the most influential companies out there," a girl whispered.
"Yeah, I heard his business tactics are as ruthless as he was when he was Alpha of the pack," another added.
"..."
My heart sank, and in an instant, the murmur of voices around me faded. The name echoed in my mind. Giovanni—the man who had touched my heart so deeply, the man who had given me everything, and yet, had left me scarred. How did he end up here? This company was founded by him.
My mind immediately flooded with memories of Giovanni: the sweet, the warm, and even the painful moments. My face paled involuntarily, and it felt almost impossible to breathe. I forced myself to calm down, but the shock and unease hit me like a tidal wave. I looked down at the papers in my hands, fighting back tears, but I couldn't control the turmoil inside. I couldn't lose control here—not in front of everyone.
I excused myself to the restroom, standing up quickly and heading for the bathroom down the hall. The hallway was brightly lit, but each step felt heavy, like the weight of the past was bearing down on me. I leaned against the sink and took several deep breaths, trying to steady myself. In the mirror, my eyes seemed empty, as if they were still caught in a distant but lingering past.
I stood in front of the mirror and took another deep breath, trying to collect myself in the brief pause. My gaze fell upon my reflection.
I was dressed in a simple, professional outfit: a black skirt paired with a white blouse, clean and composed. I wore minimal makeup—just enough to cover the tiredness under my eyes. I knew this interview wasn't just about whether I was qualified for the job. It was about whether I could leave the past behind and start anew.
I mentally reminded myself that this was a fresh start. The past was behind me.
However, as I stepped out of the bathroom and walked down the hall, my heart began to beat faster, almost involuntarily.
Even though I had "faked" my death and left him six years ago, I knew Giovanni's memory would never be erased. But perhaps he had already let go of me. And…
Thinking about how my parents had made a deal with Nuu-Chaah, the moon god, to erase the bond between Giovanni and me, in order to bury my past once and for all, I doubted Giovanni would recognize me as Fern, even if we were face to face.
As I approached the front desk, a wave of nervousness and apprehension washed over me. I quickly straightened my skirt, took a deep breath, and then walked toward the receptionist.
I handed over my interview notice and took a seat in the waiting area. My heart was still pounding violently, but I did my best to appear as calm and composed as possible. Despite the building's modern appearance, I could still detect a familiar scent—one that reminded me of the time I first met Giovanni.
"Diana?"
A soft voice called from behind me, and I spun around to find a formally dressed interviewer standing before me. I stood up and tried to look as composed as possible. "Yes, I'm Diana."
The interviewer smiled and nodded. "Mr. Giovanni has some business to attend to. If you'll wait a moment, please follow me."
My mind jolted at the sound of that name, the name that had once pulled me so deep into its orbit. It was here again, breaking into my world.
I took a deep breath and followed the interviewer through the door.
As soon as I entered the waiting area, my eyes were instinctively drawn to the spacious, ornate space. Through the window, I caught sight of the man behind the desk—Giovanni. He sat there in a perfectly tailored suit, his expression serious, his eyes scanning the room as though lost in thought.
It was only a brief glimpse, but my heart clenched. The familiar face almost made me forget to breathe.
It was him.
Giovanni moved through his paperwork with steady, calm precision, as if the world around him held no importance. In that moment, it felt as if time had frozen. He didn't see me—his gaze swept over the other candidates, never once lingering on me. Still, I unconsciously pressed myself into the corner, hoping he wouldn't notice me.
His eyes were sharp, intense, carrying an unspoken pressure that demanded attention. The overwhelming sense of familiarity and presence left me with a deep ache, as if a world apart from me. My memories came rushing back—he, the man who once dominated my life; those days of sweetness and pain—all of it flashing through my mind in an instant, stealing my breath away.
My body stiffened slightly, and my heartbeat seemed to suddenly quicken. I knew I had to calm myself, but even so, the sight of this man in front of me still caused an inescapable pain to spread through my chest. The sense of familiarity was so overwhelming that it felt like a brand etched into my bones and blood.
I bit my lower lip, forcing myself not to be swayed by my emotions. In an instant, I stood up and prepared to leave, but when I looked up again, I couldn't help but glance at him through the glass. In that moment, it felt as though our eyes met, and my heart skipped a beat, as if the mere contact between us collided silently in the air. However, Giovanni still didn't look at me. He continued speaking to someone, completely unaware of my presence.
I lowered my gaze, trying to avoid exposing myself to his line of sight. No matter how hard I tried to suppress my thoughts and feelings, my mind couldn't erase the image of that man.