Chapter 85: She Doesn’t Remember Him

There was a steady rhythm that sounded from deep within his chest, ringing audibly into his ears. That rhythmic beating thumped faster as his eyes followed the radiant smile on her face as she greeted everyone, the gracefully irresistible manner with which she carried herself, every word she uttered to the people eager to know her. As if she didn’t recognize him or had no idea who he was, she came in front of him.

“Hello, a pleasure to make your acquaintance, I’m Celine Roberts.”

The minute she spoke was the moment he broke out of his daze, that was when he became aware of what was going on, innumerable questions filled his head.

What the hell was she doing here? She was one of the new investors? How? Wasn’t she an actress?

Five years ago she had suddenly seemed to disappear without a trace. Back then he had done everything to get her out of his mind.

He had refused to see or hear anything about her, he had closed himself off from any chance of every hearing even the sound of her name being uttered again, but the more he had done that, the more that feeling had grown, like a shoot growing into a tall and sturdy tree sinking it’s roots deep into the earth, her name had sunk it’s roots into a forbidden spot inside his heart.

In a drunken stupor one night, he recalled driving with an uncontrollable urge to see her, but her apartment was empty.

’…she moved out months ago.’ he recalled a distant voice informing him.

That night he had been under the influence of alcohol, it was the only moment he had been allowed to seek her out, but he had never found her. She had seemed like a ghost who merely existed in his head but never in reality, she had disappeared from his world, truly disappeared from it.

When the haze and unstoppable longing had cleared off, he was glad he didn’t find her because if he had actually found her in that desperate moment he might have ended up doing some things he would actually regret, like telling her how much he couldn’t forget her, how much he longed to have her near, how much he wished to…it was no use thinking back. That night he might have found a way to get into a commitment with her, something he never wanted, it was truly a good thing he hadn’t found her.

But what was she doing here now?

The boardroom was completely still, everyone’s eyes were on both of them but her gaze on him was steady, even formal, like a person she was meeting for the very first time. A sting of displeasure suddenly pierced his chest. Had she really forgotten who he was?

Did everything that happened between them not mean anything to her at all? As he thought this, a quiet voice in his head suddenly asked,

’Why should it matter If it meant nothing to her, does it mean something to you?’

He couldn’t answer that question, all he saw were countless sleepless nights where his heart constantly thought back to her. Countless moments he couldn’t bring himself to kiss another woman, hold another woman or have her in his bed because his mind and body only remembered one.

The displeasure in his chest didn’t ease, it grew even more and slowly morphed itself into anger but he swallowed it down and maintained his expression.

She didn’t remember him? Good, let it stay that way.

With a solemn expression on his face he nodded without even glancing at her outstretched hand, he sat back down on his seat without realizing when he rose, perhaps the very moment she’d walked in, the very moment his heart had dove into frenzy.

“Let’s proceed with the meeting.” He said to everyone, he couldn’t even believe how hoarse his voice sounded but most people didn’t notice.

She didn’t seem to mind the fact that he didn’t take her hand. Ryan quickly went to her like a freaking dog eager to please as he pulled out her chair like a real gentleman and she gave him a grateful smile before taking her seat.

Tristan gritted his teeth and looked away. She wasn’t supposed to smile at that idiot, he was going to take it as encouragement and most certainly start pursuing her.

Tristan didn’t know why he was suddenly feeling angry, extremely angry he almost felt the urge to snap at someone. Occasionally he would raise his gaze to her direction but not once had she turned to him, not once had she looked his way. He hated that and the flirtatious lust in Ryan’s stupid gaze as he kept looking at her.

Grayson Corp was the best In the country and their reputation certainly spread far and wide, it was understandable how anyone with a strong business perception would know it was a wise decision to invest in Grayson Corp because the outcome would yield them astronomical profits.

Tristan was picky with his offers for investment, heck people would give anything to gain his attention and receive entrance into the company…was it chance that Ryan had approved an investment bringing her into his company.

Five years ago every news and traces of her existence had disappeared from his world and Tristan had stopped himself from getting curious about her and cut all ways he might try to find her just to keep his mind sane, to keep his longing at bay.

But now all of a sudden she deemed it fit to burst into his life, wasn’t that breaking their bargain? They had agreed never to see each other again, but she had come back now. Did she truly not remember him or was it all a pretence?

Despite telling himself that her presence wouldn’t affect him, Tristan still found himself glancing in her direction, the meeting and everyone talking in the board room seemed to disappear into the background.

She looked even more beautiful, he thought. Her eyes…her lovely blue eyes that always haunted his dreams and his nightmares, he couldn’t believe those eyes were here, real. Her full round lips still looked just as captivating, just as enticing he couldn’t help but remember how sweet they tasted, he couldn’t help but quietly long for that taste.

Damnit! What the hell was he thinking?

Tristan quickly cleared his thoughts, it was at this moment that the voices in the room travelled into his ears and Tristan realized they were still in a meeting room, the awareness of everyone else present returned.

He cursed internally, why the hell was she here?

He never lost his composure at a meeting before, never lost his own concentration, never at all but with her presence he really couldn’t concentrate. Memories that were supposed to be dead and buried at the back of his mind were suddenly beginning to surface.

Tristan didn’t know when the meeting ended until Kaleb came up to him, he’d kept his eyes on her unable to look away but not once did she actually look at him throughout the whole meeting. It was as if he were no one special and she treated him like the other people in the room…no, even lower than them. She offered them polite smiles, answered questions with a calm astute voice but never acknowledged him.

He had ignored her hand shake earlier, yet he was the one longing for her gaze.

’Get a grip, don’t look at her.’ he chanted to himself but he did look, again and again and she never returned that gaze.

Tristan scoffed internally, it was impossible! There was no way she could have really forgotten him, could she?

“Since you applied for a working position, I’ll help arrange your office, you can choose whatever position you like.” Ryan’s voice travelled to Tristan’s ears as he made to walk out of the board room.

“Thank you very much Mr Blakewood.” She replied courteously.

“Please, call me Ryan after all, we’ll be close from now on since we’re working together.” Tristan suddenly paused his steps as he saw Ryan standing so close to her, it was as if he wanted to glue their bodies together.

“Since I’m still the president of this company, I believe I still have the right to assign whatever position to anyone. Miss Roberts, to my office.” Tristan said standing tall with his back to both of them, after speaking, he walked out of the boardroom.

Kaleb didn’t miss the look of fury in the president’s eyes as Ryan seemed to be getting close to that woman.

Though he didn’t know exactly what happened that night when the boss seemed to steal the bride, one thing was certain…this woman had a strangely strong grip on his boss.

It was unbelievable! Even after five years, it seemed the boss still fancied this woman.

Kaleb wasn’t surprised, she was an incredible beauty. But, weren’t the president’s feelings too obvious? He was already getting jealous seeing her standing with his flirtatious cousin.

Kaleb found the whole concept interesting, the boss was already engaged and all of a sudden, a woman he had feelings for returned. Wouldn’t that get complicated? This would be worth watching. Especially because he was so sure that the president didn’t feel a single thing for that Erica.

Kaleb knew his boss was cold but recently he had begun to doubt his boss’s ability in picking up women. For the past five years he hadn’t seen his boss with any woman except that Erica who was always glued around him, but their relationship was just for show.

Kaleb made a mental note to himself, if the president truly likes this woman even after five years, then he would do everything to make the man get the woman.

Tristan strode into his office impatiently, the look in his eyes was deadly. Kaleb gulped nervously, someone was going to get in trouble.

What the hell was taking her so long? Tristan wondered, did she not hear him say she was to come over to his office immediately? What the hell was so special about that sweet talking Ryan that made her so engrossed in talking to him?

He was about to send Kaleb to go get her when a knock sounded on his office door.

“Come in.” He uttered faster than he was supposed to.

As she pushed open the door to walk in, Tristan felt all the thoughts disappear from his mind immediately he set his eyes on her.

When his daze cleared away, his anger returned in full force as he remembered how nicely she had been chatting with Ryan.

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