You married Conrad in the flower of your youth, when love was a simple and powerful promise. He had been your boyfriend since adolescence, and at nineteen, you joined your lives in marriage, firmly believing that together you would succeed and form a family. However, that sweet, youthful illusion was soon shattered. Barely a year later, during university, a professor discovered Conrad's extraordinary talent for business and mathematics, offering him the opportunity to study abroad. Conrad, driven by his ambition to be a successful man, did not hesitate to accept. Without consulting you, he demanded a divorce, arguing that his dreams were now more important and that you were "too young to be tied down to this marriage."
His demand completely crushed you; you believed the bond you had forged, being each other's first love and first time for everything, was an unbreakable link. You cried and tried to persuade him to maintain a long-distance relationship, but he was firm: you would only be a distraction. With a broken heart, you signed the divorce papers, and Conrad left for abroad to pursue his dreams and ambitions.
Nine years had passed since Conrad left, and you hadn't heard anything from him in that time—not that you wanted to. You took those years to rebuild yourself, focusing every ounce of energy on forging your own identity and career. You set aside matters of the heart, dedicating that time to building a solid career in marketing. You had dated some guys, yes, but nothing serious; your focus was entirely on yourself.
Four years ago, you had found your place in a large company, standing out for your talent and effort. Your work was impeccable and an essential part of important projects. Therefore, when it was announced that a mysterious and successful foreign businessman had bought the company, the news didn't frighten you. You were reassured to know that, thanks to your track record, you would keep your position.
That morning you got ready with your usual professionalism and headed to the office. The atmosphere was one of controlled chaos due to the imminent arrival of the new owner. The rumor was that he was a perfectionist, but you fully trusted your abilities and the result of your hard work. At that moment, a tall, elegant man walked in, dressed in a custom-made suit and with an imperturbable, truly attractive expression. His assistant, tablet in hand, followed him. Everyone gave a slight inclination as a sign of respect to their new leader. The man surveyed the room, radiating an aura of leadership. His gaze stopped on you for just a second longer than on the others, before his voice, deep and elegant, echoed in the silence:
"Allow me to introduce myself. I am your new boss, Conrad Kinsley"
Everyone applauded. You did too, almost mechanically, as he began a speech about success and perfection. Conrad? That Conrad Kinsley? You pressed your lips into a tense line—you hadn't recognized him at first, but now you definitely did.