YOU'RE THAT ACE?

The conference room was filled with employees, all chatting and speculating about the sudden meeting. Lucian sat in the front row, looking curious.

The HR manager stood up, a smile on her face. "Ladies and gentlemen, we have a special announcement to make. Our CEO, Mr. Ace, will be visiting our office today."

The room fell silent, with all eyes on the HR manager.

"He will be addressing the staff in this conference room," she continued. "We are honored to have him here and look forward to hearing his updates."

The room erupted into murmurs and whispers, with employees exchanging excited glances. Lucian looked around, her eyes shining with curiosity.

What would Mr. Ace be like? What would he say? The anticipation was building...

As the HR manager finished speaking, the room fell silent again, with all eyes fixed on the door. Suddenly, it swung open and I, Mr. Ace, walked in.

Ace POV

The room erupted into applause, and I smiled warmly, nodding to acknowledge the welcome. My eyes scanned the room, and I spotted Lucian sitting in the front row, looking at me with a mixture of surprise and curiosity.

I made my way to the podium, shaking hands with some of the employees along the way. As I reached the microphone, I cleared my throat and began to speak.

"Good afternoon, everyone. I'm Mr. Ace, your CEO. I'm thrilled to be here today to meet all of you and share some exciting updates about the company."

As I spoke, I couldn't help but notice Lucian's reaction. She was listening intently, her eyes fixed on me with a mixture of curiosity and surprise. I wondered what she was thinking, whether she had recognized me from our past encounters.

I continued to speak, sharing updates on the company's performance and future plans. The room was engaged, with employees nodding and taking notes.

As I wrapped up my speech, I scanned the room, making eye contact with as many employees as possible. When my eyes met Lucian's, I smiled, and she smiled back, looking a bit more relaxed.

The room erupted into applause again, and I nodded, feeling grateful for the warm reception. As the employees began to disperse, I made my way over to Lucian, feeling a sense of excitement and nervousness.

"Lucian," I said, extending my hand. "It's great to see you again."

"Ace," Lucian said, her voice barely above a whisper. She looked at me with a puzzled expression, as if trying to recall something.

I smiled, intrigued by her reaction. "Yes, Lucian?" I replied, my eyes locked on hers.

Lucian's gaze searched mine, as if she was trying to see beyond the surface. "I...I think we've met before," she said, her voice hesitant.

My heart skipped a beat. Did she remember me? I leaned in, my interest piqued. "Oh? Where do you think we met?" I asked, trying to sound nonchalant.

Lucian's eyes narrowed, her brow furrowed in concentration. "I'm not sure," she said, her voice trailing off. "But there's something familiar about you..."

I held my breath, wondering if she would remember our past encounters. Did she recall the Ace who had been rejected by Jenny,

Lucian's eyes sparkled with curiosity as she continued to study me. I could almost see the gears turning in her mind as she tried to place me.

Suddenly, her expression changed, and she looked at me with a hint of surprise. "Wait a minute," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "You're...you're that Ace, aren't you?"

I smiled, intrigued by her reaction. "What makes you say that?" I asked, trying to play it cool.

Lucian's eyes locked on mine, and I could see the recognition in her gaze. "I remember now," she said, her voice filled with wonder. "You're the Ace that Jenny used to talk about. The one she...rejected."

I nodded, feeling a mix of emotions. It had been a long time since I'd thought about that painful experience. But seeing Lucian's reaction, I realized that she had been a part of that story, too.

Lucian's expression softened, and she looked at me with compassion. "I'm so sorry, Ace," she said, her voice filled with empathy. "I had no idea it was you."