Page 151 of Now and Forever

“Miguel!”

Not caring who might see us, I wrap him in a hug. This is one surprise I really didn’t expect. My former coworker, pretty boy Miguel, is my boss! After our effusive greeting, Miguel looks at me.

“Not even in your dreams, sweetheart. I don’t mess around with my secretary,” he says jokingly.

That makes me laugh. I sit down, and he sits beside me.

“Since when are you the boss?” I ask, shocked.

“A couple of months,” answers Miguel.

“Seriously?”

“Yes. After they sacked the old boss and her stupid sister two days later, they called me because I was the only one who knew how to work this department. And when I saw I had them by the balls, I asked for the job, and it seems Mr. Zimmerman approved.”

Eric never told me.

“God, Miguel, you don’t know how glad that makes me. This is great for you.”

My friend brushes his hand against my face.

“I can’t say the same for you. I know you left to live in Munich with Zimmerman.” That surprises me again. There’s no reason anyone should know, and he clarifies. “Don’t worry. I bumped into your sister one day, and she told me. Nobody else knows. But what happened? What are you doing back here?”

“We broke up,” I say, aware I need to give him an explanation.

“I’m sorry, sweetheart,” he says.

I shrug.

“It didn’t go well. Mr. Zimmerman and I are too different.”

Miguel muses, “I can see that. But, you know, opposites attract.”

That makes me laugh. My father said the same thing.

Ten minutes later, we’re in the cafeteria. Miguel told my crazy friends Raúl and Paco about my return, and all four of us, like months before, spend a while in the cafeteria updating each other. When I’m back in Miguel’s office and dealing with documents, we hear a few knocks on the door. Miguel and I look at each other.

“Miss Judith Flores, please?” says a courier in a red cap.

I nod and stand stock-still while he hands me a bouquet of colorful flowers. I look at Miguel, and he raises his arms in surrender.

“It wasn’t me.”

When I open the card, my heart skips a beat as I read.

Dear Miss Flores:

Welcome to the company.

Eric Zimmerman

I close my eyes. Miguel comes close and reads the card over my shoulder.

“Wow, the big boss man! Considering you broke up with him, he’s right up to date about your return.”

My stomach twists. My heart beats like crazy. What is Eric doing?

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