Becoming strangers again (Lily and Ryan)



RYAN

Work had slowed down considerably at the office, and I thought it was the perfect opportunity to head home early and surprise Lily and the boys. I imagined walking through the front door unnoticed, catching them off guard-it seemed like the best way to spend the weekend, and maybe even the entire week, reconnecting with my family. I hadn't realized how much I needed that time with them until the idea formed in my head.

Just as I was wrapping up for the day, the door to my office creaked open. Harsha, my secretary, entered, followed by a woman who looked vaguely familiar. I couldn't place her face, but I had the distinct feeling I'd seen her before. As I closed my laptop, I gave Harsha my full attention, a silent cue that I was ready for whatever she had to say.

"What do you need?" I asked, my tone making it clear I wanted an introduction to the woman standing beside her.

Harsha, knowing me well enough after all these years, didn't need the direct question. She gestured to the young woman beside her. "This is your new secretary, Mr. Williams."

Ah, that's when it hit me. Harsha had recently gotten married-last month, if I recalled correctly. She'd submitted her resignation shortly after the wedding because she planned to move to join her husband, and it had completely slipped my mind that her last day was approaching.

I studied the woman, and then it clicked-she'd been one of the candidates from the interviews last month. Her file had been among the finalists, though I hadn't paid much attention beyond that.

Rubbing my fingers against my eyes, I stifled a sigh. "I suppose a month is up already."

Harsha nodded, offering a small smile. "Yes, sir. The company's been training her for the past month, and she's performed exceptionally well."

I didn't say anything for a moment, my mind lingering on the fact that Harsha was leaving. She'd been by my side for years, and her efficiency, her calm demeanor, and her sharpness were going to be sorely missed. "I hate to see you go," I said, my voice tinged with genuine regret. I glanced over at the new hire but didn't engage her yet. "Is there any chance I can convince you to stay for another month, at least until things settle down with my father's death and Maya's situation?"

Harsha gave me an apologetic smile, shaking her head. "I've already been away from my husband for a month. I think that's enough time apart for newlyweds, don't you?"

I sighed, acknowledging that I couldn't be selfish. Who was I to keep her from her family? "Your gratuity will be processed shortly, and I've also sent a personal bonus to your account as a small token of appreciation for your years of hard work and dedication."

Her eyes widened in surprise, and her face lit up with genuine gratitude. "Thank you so much, sir. I really appreciate it."

I gave her a nod, finally shifting my attention to the woman standing next to her. "What's your name?" I asked, addressing the new secretary for the first time.

"Ms. Kerry Palmer," she said, standing a little straighter, clearly trying to impress.

"Ms. Palmer," I echoed, observing her. "I assume Harsha has been guiding you through your training, and you've learned a lot from her?" Palmer glanced nervously at Harsha, who didn't acknowledge her. "Yes, sir," she replied, her voice tense. "I promise not to let you down."

I blinked, unimpressed. "That wasn't the question, Ms. Palmer. It only needed a simple yes or no answer."

She licked her lips, flustered, and nodded. "Yes, sir."

Suppressing a groan and hoping for some patience, I shot a quick look at Harsha, who leaned in and whispered to Palmer, "Always use your words." Palmer's face flushed with embarrassment. “I'm sorry, sir,” she blurted out. “I get nervous, and when that happens, I tend to forget things.”

"You ramble too," I pointed out, reaching for my laptop and reopening it. "It's fine to make mistakes, Ms. Palmer, but repeated mistakes are unacceptable."

She nodded quickly, then corrected herself. "Yes, sir."

"You two may leave," I said dismissively. "I'll call if I need anything."

Harsha rose, with Palmer quickly following suit, and they both bowed slightly before exiting my office.

The next day, I had to fly to Canada,

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making sure I arrived on time for a dinner I'd planned as a surprise for Lily. I wanted it to be perfect, sol had someone help arrange everything beforehand. But before heading home, I decided to make a quick stop for a gift. Jewelry was always a safe bet, and I loved seeing Lily adorned in luxurious pieces. I pulled into a jewelry store, greeted by a staff member almost immediately.

"I'm looking for something special," I said. "Something for a woman who already has everything."

The staff member didn't hesitate. With a practiced smile, she gestured toward a nearby glass case. "We've just received a limited edition collection of fine jewelry. If she already has everything, I'm certain she doesn't have these."

Intrigued, I followed her toward the display room. But as we entered, I was met with an unexpected and unwelcome.sight. There, standing, one of the cases, was Lily. She wasn't alone-Dr. Amell, her

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colleague, stood beside her, the two of them closely examining a piece of jewelry, laughing together. From where I stood, they looked far too comfortable with each other.

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"If you'd like, I can show you a few recommendations," the staff member said, but I was no longer paying attention. My focus was entirely on Lily and

Amell.

I shook my head, signaling I didn't need any help. The staff member took the hint and walked away, leaving me in the room with my wife, her colleague, and a few other

just stood there, glaring at Amell. Whatever he was saying had Lily chuckling, and it irritated me to no end.

shoppers. I didn't approach the line

Then, my phone rang, and the sound immediately drew their attention. Lily's eyes widened when she saw me, her expression a mixture of shock and something else I couldn't quite place. Without a word, she sprinted toward me, throwing her arms around my neck.

"How are you in Canada?” she whispered, her breath warm against my ear.

Wrapping my arms around her, I kept my gaze locked on Amell. "Aren't you going to introduce me to your friend?" I asked, my tone sharper than I intended.

Pulling back slightly, Lily nodded and took my hand, leading me toward the man I'd rather not meet. "Ryan, this is Dr. Amell," she said brightly. "He's the colleague I've told you about-the one I'm always complaining about."

Amell offered his hand for a shake, smiling as though nothing was out of the ordinary. "Of course, I know who you are, Mr. Williams," he said, his tone annoyingly casual. "You're hard to miss-always on Forbes."

I grasped his hand, tightening my grip a little more than necessary. "I've heard plenty about you too, Dr. Amell."

He chuckled, seemingly unfazed. "If it's from Lily, I'm sure it hasn't been flattering. She's not exactly my biggest fan."

I finally let go of his hand, draping my arm around Lily's shoulders and pulling her close. "Are you ready to head home?" I asked her, my eyes still fixed on Amell.

Lily glanced at him, as if seeking permission, and something inside me bristled. What was that about? Amell gave her a small nod, and only then did she turn back to me. "Yes, let's go."

Fighting to keep my anger in check, I clenched my jaw. We walked out to the car, and I held the door open for her. She slid inside, making space for me as her driver got in and started the engine. The ride home was tense, and I kept my thoughts to myself until we were finally inside the privacy of

our house.

Once the door shut behind us, I couldn't hold back any longer. “Why did you look to him for permission before leaving?" I asked, my voice deceptively calm.

Lily blinked, clearly picking up on my frustration. "I was just helping him pick out a gift for his sister, like I promised. I glanced at him because I wanted

to see if he was okay with the bracelet I chose, or if we needed to reschedule."

I frowned, my dislike for Amell growing. "I want you to stay away from him."

Lily's lips thinned, her eyes narrowing slightly. "He works with me, Ryan."

"That doesn't mean you have to spend time with him outside of work," I shot back. "I don't like the way he looks at you."

She sighed, clearly frustrated. "Unless you give me a valid reason for why you're acting like this, I'm not going to stop working with him."

How could she not see it? "He likes you, Lily," I said, my voice rising slightly. "It's obvious."

Instead of acknowledging my words, she simply rolled her eyes and walked away.