Unexpected Kiss From Stranger

Each day felt longer than the last as Jane waited for Nick's call. She kept herself busy, but her mind always drifted back to him. Scrolling through news articles, she saw his name everywhere—praised for his leadership, admired for his bold decisions. Pride swelled in her chest, but at the same time, a small voice whispered doubts.

Was she still a part of his life? Or was she just someone from his past?

Then, one evening, her phone buzzed.

Nick.

Her heart leaped as she answered. "Hello?"

The moment she heard his voice, warmth spread through her. But there was something else—tiredness, regret.

"Jane," he said softly, "I miss you." He let out a heavy sigh. "I've been so caught up with work… I wanted to call you sooner, but everything's been a mess."

Jane gripped her phone tighter. "It's okay," she said, trying to sound cheerful, even though she had missed him just as much.

"It's not okay," Nick said firmly. "I should have made time for you." There was a short pause before he added, "Come see me tomorrow? Please."

Jane hesitated. It had been a while since they'd seen each other, and now he was the acting chairman of a huge company. Would things be different?

But the sincerity in his voice reassured her.

"Alright," she said, her heart racing. "I'll be there."

The next morning, Jane carefully picked out a formal dress that flattered her figure. She wanted to look her best, not just for Nick, but for herself. Taking a deep breath, she stepped into the towering office building, feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness.

The sleek marble floors and glass walls made everything feel grand and intimidating. As she approached the reception desk, she tried to keep her voice steady.

"I'm here to see Nick," she said politely.

The receptionist gave her a professional smile. "Please have a seat while we inform the chairman."

Chairman.

The title still felt strange. He was still Nick to her—the guy who made her laugh, who knew her favorite coffee order, who once stayed up all night just to talk to her.

As she sat in the waiting area, her fingers curled around the strap of her bag. Would he still see her the same way?

Jane shifted in her seat, smoothing her dress as she glanced around the grand lobby. The anticipation of seeing Nick again made her nervous, but there was something else—an uneasy feeling twisting in her stomach.

Maybe I shouldn't have come.

She exhaled sharply, pushing the doubt away. Just as she stood to adjust her bag strap, she turned—and collided with someone.

"Oh! I'm so sorry!" she gasped, stepping back in surprise.

"It's okay," a smooth, familiar voice responded.

Jane's eyes lifted, meeting the gaze of a man she hadn't expected to see—Paul.

Her breath hitched. Wait… him?

For a moment, Paul just stared at her, his mind short-circuiting as recognition slammed into him. His pulse roared in his ears. It's her. The woman I've been searching for.

Time stretched between them, thick and suffocating. Jane, oblivious to his turmoil, was already stepping away, but Paul couldn't move. His fingers twitched at his side, his heart hammering in his chest.

No. Not again.

"Wait!" he blurted out.

Jane froze mid-step, turning back with confusion flickering in her eyes.

Paul clenched his fists. He wanted to say something—anything—but before he could gather his thoughts, the elevator doors dinged open.

Nick.

A bright, eager smile played on his lips as he stepped out, holding a bouquet of fresh flowers. His heart was racing for an entirely different reason—he had missed her. So much. He just wanted to see her face, hold her, tell her everything.

But then, his world cracked apart.

There she was, his Jane—but what did he just see?

The air left his lungs in a painful rush. The flowers slipped from his grasp, hitting the polished floor with a muted thud.

Jane turned at the sound, eyes widening as she took in the sight of Nick standing there, frozen, his expression a battlefield of emotions—hurt, betrayal, and something deeper… something raw.

Her heart plummeted.

Paul's gaze shifted to Nick, then back to Jane, his mind racing to piece together what was happening. Why does he look like that? Why does she look like that?

Nick's fists clenched, his jaw tightening as jealousy coiled in his gut like a venomous snake. Of all people… why her?

Jane's lips parted, but no words came out. How did this happen?