"Shit. It's him." The words tumbled out before I could stop them. After five years of chaos, heartbreak, and trying to put my life back together, Finn was here. Again.
“Maemae…” His voice, deeper and laced with a hint of sarcasm, hit me like a whip. He stood there, a strange contradiction—his hair a little messy, like he’d run his fingers through it too many times, but his clothes annoyingly crisp and neat. The smirk on his face was infuriatingly familiar, like he knew exactly how to push my buttons.
Before I could reply, his expression softened into a more polite smile as someone from the group spoke up.
“Do you two know each other?” Tariq asked, curiosity lighting up his face.
Finn didn’t miss a beat. “Know her? Oh, I know Maemae very well.” He threw a look my way, one that made my stomach churn. There was something unsettling in his tone, a mixture of amusement and… malice?
I swallowed hard, keeping my voice steady. “We went to the same school.”
That was all I could manage before I turned on my heel, muttering something about needing the restroom. I barely made it through the door before the wave of anxiety hit. My chest tightened, and the tears I’d held back for so long spilled over.
The breakup had been messy, but not in the way people might imagine. It wasn’t the screaming or the public drama that stuck with me—it was the way he made me question myself, the way he used me, second-guessing every ounce of trust I’d given him. Finn wasn’t my first heartbreak—that honour belonged to Kaia. Losing her had shattered me in ways I still didn’t fully understand. She was my first love – I believed –, my everything, and when she walked away, she took pieces of me I’d never get back.
But Finn? Finn was the lesson that came, and that lesson led me to Kaia. He was supposed to be the one who helped me move on from feeling lonely, but instead, he was the one who broke the little pieces of me that were still trying to heal.
I looked at my reflection in the mirror, tears streaking my face. For years, I thought I’d moved on. I’d buried both of them—Kaia and Finn—in the past, focusing on myself, on my future. And for a while, I believed I was okay.
Meeting Kaia at university had been the best and worst thing that ever happened to me. She made me feel things I didn’t know were possible, and when I lost her, it felt like my world ended. Even now, I missed her—the way she’d brush her hand against mine, the softness of her kisses, the way she made me feel like I mattered. Seeing her fall into someone else, getting married—it was a heartbreak I was still learning to live with.
And now, as if I wasn’t already drowning, Finn had shown up to remind me of everything I wanted to forget.
I splashed cold water on my face, willing the tears to stop. “Pull it together,” I whispered to myself, gripping the edge of the sink.
But the memories wouldn’t stop. The way Finn smiled at me back then, the way he made promises he never intended to keep, the way he turned out to be just another person who let me down. I thought I’d built walls high enough to keep the past out, but one look at him and they all came crashing down.
I clenched my fists, taking a deep breath. No. I wasn’t the same girl he met before. Not anymore. If Finn thought he could waltz back into my life and stir up old wounds, he was about to learn just how much I’d changed.
With one last look in the mirror, I straightened up, wiped away the tears, and walked out. As I pushed open the door, I collided straight into him. Finn. He was leaning against the wall directly in front of the ladies’ restroom.
I stepped back instinctively, but I didn’t flinch. Not this time. My glare met his smirk head-on. “Seriously? What are you doing here?” My voice was sharp, almost a hiss.
Finn straightened, his smirk fading into something more unsettling—calm, calculated, like he had been waiting for me. “What? Can’t a guy stand here?”
“No,” I shot back, crossing my arms. “Not when the men’s restroom is literally on the other side of the hallway. What the hell are you doing standing in front of the ladies’ room, Finn? Do you think creeping people out is a personality trait now?”
His gaze darkened, his lips curving into a faint smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “Always so feisty. You haven’t changed much, have you, Maemae?”
“I have,” I said firmly, stepping around him. But before I could move past, he blocked my way again.
“You left me,” he said, his voice quieter now, almost hesitant. “You didn’t even give me a chance to explain.”
I froze, caught off guard by the sudden shift in his tone. But then I saw the faint glint of amusement in his eyes, and the moment shattered.
“Move,” I said coldly, my voice steady.
He leaned in just slightly, his smirk returning. “You’re right, Maemae. You have changed. But don’t think for a second I’ve forgotten you. Or what you did.”
I stepped back, my heart pounding, but I refused to show it. “You’re delusional. I’m not yours, Finn. I was never yours.”
His smirk faltered again, and for a brief moment, I thought I saw something raw beneath the surface—regret, maybe. But it was gone before I could make sense of it.
“Guess we’ll see about that,” he said, his voice low and unsettling.
Without waiting for my response, he turned and walked away, leaving me standing there, stunned and shaken. My hands were trembling, my chest tight, but I refused to let the tears come this time.
The tension between us was suffocating as we walked through the glass doors of the building and into the cool evening air. The streetlights flickered to life as I stormed ahead, my steps sharp and hurried. Finn trailed behind me like an annoying shadow, persistent as ever.
“Mae, wait,” he called out, his voice echoing in the empty lobby as we approached the entrance.
I didn’t stop. I didn’t even look back.
“Let me take you home,” he said, catching up to me.
I whirled around, my patience snapping. “What now, Finn? Why can’t you just leave me alone?”
He smirked, unbothered by my anger. “I’m not letting you walk home alone. It’s late. Come on, I’ll drive you.”
“I’ll take the bus,” I snapped. “I don’t need you to play hero.”
“You don’t even like the bus,” he countered, his tone casual but knowing. “I’m not asking, Mae. I’m taking you home.”
“Finn,” I said through gritted teeth, “you don’t get to decide that. I don’t want anything to do with you. Do you understand? Just. Leave. Me. Alone.”
But he didn’t back down. “Mae, it’s been years. I get it—you hate me. But this isn’t about that. It’s dark out, and I’m not letting you wander around on your own.”
I let out a frustrated sigh, my fists clenched at my sides. “Finn, you’re not my guardian, and I’m not your responsibility. So just—”
Before I could finish, he cut me off, his voice rising just enough to turn heads in the lobby. “Mae, stop being so stubborn for once in your life and just let me help you!”
I froze, embarrassment and fury burning through me as I noticed a few people glance our way. My face flushed, and I hissed under my breath, “Fine. If it’ll get you to shut up and stop making a scene, I’ll go with you. But don’t think for a second I’m okay with this.”
His smirk returned, faint but smug. “Deal.”
Without another word, I stormed out of the building, Finn trailing close behind.
.
.
.
The ride was quiet at first, the tension in the air thick enough to cut with a knife. I stared out the window, watching the streetlights blur past, my arms crossed tightly over my chest. Finn’s car smelled faintly of leather and something else—him. The scent was both familiar and maddening.
He broke the silence first. “You’ve always been so stubborn, you know that?”
I didn’t respond, keeping my gaze fixed on the passing buildings.
“You could at least say thank you,” he added, his tone light but with an edge of irritation.
“Thank you?” I scoffed, finally turning to glare at him. “For what? For forcing me into your car like I don’t have a choice? For making a scene in the lobby and embarrassing me in front of my coworkers?”
His hands tightened on the steering wheel, but he didn’t look at me. “For making sure you’re safe,” he said evenly.
I laughed bitterly. “Safe? Really? Do you think this is what safety feels like, Finn? Because it feels a lot like control to me.”
He exhaled sharply, his jaw tightening. “You don’t get it, do you? I’m not doing this to control you. I’m doing it because I—”
“Because you what?” I snapped, cutting him off. “Because you feel guilty? Because you think you can swoop in and play the good guy now? Newsflash, Finn: I don’t need saving. Not from you. Not from anyone.”
The car came to a sudden stop at a red light, and he finally turned to look at me. His eyes were intense, his expression unreadable.
“I’m not trying to save you,” he said quietly, his voice low but steady. “I’m trying to fix what I broke.”
His words hung in the air, heavy and suffocating. I didn’t know how to respond, so I didn’t. Instead, I turned back to the window, biting down on the flood of emotions threatening to escape.
When we finally reached my house, I unbuckled my seatbelt and opened the door without a word.
“Mae,” he called as I stepped out.
I paused, one hand on the door, but I didn’t look back.
“This isn’t over,” he said softly, his voice carrying a weight that made my stomach twist.
I slammed the door shut and walked away, my steps quick and determined. I didn’t look back, but I could feel his eyes on me until I disappeared into the building.
Inside, as I leaned against the closed gate, I let out a shaky breath. My hands trembled, my heart pounding in my chest.
No matter how much I tried to suppress it, Finn had found a way to worm his way back into my life. And I hated how a part of me—no matter how small—still cared.
.
.
.
I reached home and stepped into the quiet of the house. The familiar comfort of the place didn’t soothe me the way it usually did. My mind was still tangled in everything that had happened—Finn’s words, his persistence, his damn presence.
I headed straight to my room, shutting the door behind me with more force than I intended. Dropping my bag on the floor, I sat on the edge of my bed, running my hands through my hair.
“Why now?” I muttered under my breath, the frustration bubbling up. “Why couldn’t he just stay gone?”
The image of his face, that smirk that turned into something darker, replayed in my mind. ‘I will ensure that you are mine again.’ His words sent a chill down my spine, not because I believed him, but because of the arrogance behind them. The nerve of him.
I stood up, pacing the room, trying to shake off the tension. I shouldn’t have let him get to me. I had worked so hard to bury the memories, to move on. And I thought I had. I really did.
But seeing him again had opened wounds I thought were long healed.
I threw myself onto the bed, staring up at the ceiling. Part of me wanted to call someone—maybe Stella or Riley—but what would I even say? That my ex was back and stirring up feelings I didn’t want to deal with? They’d just tell me to ignore him, to stay strong. And they’d be right.
But the ache in my chest didn’t feel so simple to ignore.
I rolled onto my side, reaching for my phone. My finger hovered over Kaia’s contact for a moment.
No.
I set the phone down quickly, the thought of calling Kaia making my stomach twist. I didn’t want to drag her into this. Not when things between us were still… fragile.
Instead, I closed my eyes, taking slow, deep breaths. You’ll be fine, Mae. You’ve handled worse.
But even as I tried to convince myself, I knew the days ahead weren’t going to be easy. Finn wasn’t the type to walk away quietly.
And if he was determined to make me confront the past, I’d have to figure out how to stop him before he tore my world apart again.
.
.
.
It had been six weeks since Finn became my nightmare reincarnated, not just showing up in my personal life but being there in the office too. Working together on the same team was a cruel twist of fate, one I couldn't escape.
Every day at work was like walking on eggshells. Finn had perfected the art of being two-faced. To our other teammates, he was charismatic, helpful, even charming. But when it was just the two of us, his true colors would seep through in subtle ways—a lingering touch as he handed me a file, standing too close during meetings, or casually dropping personal comments that made my stomach churn.
It all came to a boiling point one Friday evening. The office was nearly empty, most of the team having left early to kick off their weekend. I was finishing up some final revisions on a project when Finn approached my desk.
“You’re staying late again?” he asked, leaning on the partition with that infuriating smirk.
I didn’t look up. “Work doesn’t finish itself.”
“You should let me take you home tonight,” he said, his voice dropping into that unsettling tone he used when no one else was around.
I sighed, closing my laptop. “No, Finn. I told you before—stop this.”
“Stop what?” he said innocently, but the look in his eyes betrayed him.
“Whatever game you think you’re playing,” I snapped, standing up and grabbing my bag. “It’s over.”
He stepped in front of me, blocking my path. “You’re making this harder than it needs to be, Mae.”
“Move, Finn,” I said, my voice firm.
Instead of stepping aside, he reached out, his hand brushing against my arm. “You don’t get to run away this time,” he said, his voice low.
I yanked my arm away, my heart pounding. “What is wrong with you? This isn’t high school, Finn. Grow up.”
His jaw tightened, and for a moment, I thought he might back off. But then he leaned in, his voice a harsh whisper. “You think you’re so much better than me now, don’t you? But I remember the real you, Mae. The one who cared about me. The one who loved me.”
“That Mae doesn’t exist anymore,” I said, my voice trembling.
He let out a bitter laugh. “Oh, she does. And I’ll remind you of that, whether you like it or not.”
Before I could respond, I heard a familiar voice behind us.
“Is everything okay here?”
I turned to see Mr. Leo standing in the doorway, his sharp gaze fixed on Finn. Behind him, Mrs. Claire hovered, her expression unreadable.
“Everything’s fine,” I said quickly, stepping away from Finn.
Leo didn’t look convinced. His eyes narrowed as he looked between the two of us. “Mae, I need to discuss something about the project. Do you have a moment?”
“Of course,” I said, grateful for the excuse.
Finn shot me a look, but he didn’t say anything as I followed Leo and Claire out of the room.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” Claire asked once we were in the hallway.
I nodded, though my hands were still shaking. “Yeah. Thanks for stepping in.”
Leo exchanged a glance with Claire before speaking. “If he’s bothering you, Mae, you need to let someone know. Behaviour like that isn’t acceptable.”
I nodded again, unable to find the words.
Claire’s gaze softened as she stepped forward, her tone laced with concern. “Mae, do you need a ride home? It’s getting dark, and I’d hate for you to be out there alone.”
I hesitated, my mind racing. This was the first time I’d interacted with the CEO couple outside of formal meetings or company events. Mr. Leo and Mrs. Claire were the kind of people you only ever saw in polished environments—always composed, their dynamic a seamless balance of authority and grace. They moved through the office like they owned it, which they technically did, but there was something unspoken about the way they commanded respect without demanding it outright.
And now, here they were, offering me a ride home like it was the most casual thing in the world.
I wanted to say no, to stick to my usual routine of calling a cab or waiting for the bus. But a part of me—a small, vulnerable part—felt a flicker of relief at the idea of not being alone. Especially after Finn.
“That’s… very kind of you,” I said finally, my voice quieter than I intended. “Thank you.”
Claire smiled warmly, her expression softening further. “It’s no trouble at all. Come on.”
Leo didn’t say much as we walked out of the building, but his presence was steady and reassuring. I could feel the tension in my shoulders easing slightly as we approached their sleek black car. Claire opened the back door for me, gesturing for me to get in.
“Thank you,” I murmured again as I slid into the leather seat. The interior smelled faintly of vanilla and something expensive I couldn’t place.
As Claire took her seat in the front passenger side and Leo settled into the driver’s seat, I couldn’t help but feel a little out of place. This wasn’t just any car—it was the kind of car you’d see in glossy advertisements, the kind meant for people who lived in a completely different world than I did.
“You live nearby?” Leo asked as he started the engine, his voice neutral but polite.
“Yes, just in Rivendale Heights,” I replied.
Claire glanced back at me with a smile. “That’s not too far. We’ll have you home in no time.”
The car ride was quiet at first, save for the soft hum of the engine. I kept my hands clasped in my lap, staring out the window as the streetlights blurred past. But my mind was far from calm.
This was the CEO couple—Leo, the sharp, no-nonsense leader who everyone in the office respected (and feared, just a little), and Claire, the elegant, ever-composed figure who seemed to have a knack for putting people at ease. I’d heard whispers about their dynamic, how they balanced each other so effortlessly. Seeing them now, in such an informal setting, was surreal.
And yet, they didn’t seem untouchable in this moment. Claire’s earlier concern, the way Leo had stepped in when Finn crossed the line—it felt… human. Kind.
“Mae,” Claire’s voice broke through my thoughts, drawing my attention back to her. “If you ever feel uncomfortable, you can come to us. I mean it. You’re part of this company, and your well-being matters.”
I blinked, caught off guard by the sincerity in her tone. “Thank you,” I said softly.
Leo glanced at me in the rearview mirror, his expression unreadable but firm. “What Claire said. Don’t hesitate.”
I nodded, though I wasn’t sure I’d ever have the courage to actually do that. Still, the fact that they cared enough to say it… it meant something.
The car pulled up in front of my house, and I reached for the door handle, pausing for a moment. “Thank you again for the ride,” I said, glancing between the two of them.
Claire smiled warmly. “Anytime, Mae. Take care of yourself, okay?”
I stepped out of the car, clutching my bag tightly as I watched them drive away. Their kindness lingered, a stark contrast to the overwhelming tension I’d felt earlier with Finn.
As I walked up the steps to my front door, my mind was a whirlwind of thoughts. The CEO couple had seemed so untouchable before tonight, so distant from the lives of their employees. But now, I’d seen a different side of them—a side that made me wonder if, maybe, there was more to them than I’d ever given them credit for.
Still, as I stepped inside and locked the door behind me, the relief of being home was fleeting. Finn’s words echoed in my mind, a reminder that this wasn’t over. Not yet.