Alexandra
“Mommy, are you going to work?” my daughter asks as I help her get dressed for daycare.
“Yes, I am. Are you upset that you have to go to daycare a bit earlier now?”
“No, I’ll be with Anya. She comes early too. Who’s picking me up? Grandma?”
“No, I’ll make sure to pick you up myself,” I say, tying her hair into a ponytail. At least, I really hope I can manage everything. I don’t want to ask Mom for help—she’s not thrilled about my decision to work, especially in Dnipro. “My little ponytail,” I murmur, pulling her into a hug and kissing her cheeks. “I love you. Let’s go, or I’ll be late.”
“Daddy, we’re leaving!” she announces as we pass by the kitchen.
“Uh-huh,” Myron mumbles, standing in the doorway with a coffee mug in hand. “Can’t seem to wake up today. What time will you be back?”
“I’m hoping to pick up Polina by seven.”
“Are you sure you need this job?”
“Yes,” I reply. There’s no turning back now; I’ve already committed.
“Well, good luck then,” he says, disappearing back into the kitchen as we head out.
I walk my daughter to daycare. Even though it’s just around the corner, I cherish our morning strolls. They’re not always cheerful, but each one feels special. I treasure the time we spend together, trying to soak in every moment. I dream of being her main confidante in life. In short, I want to do things differently than my parents did.
After dropping Polina off, I rush to catch the bus. Along the way, I realize my first mistake—heels need to be comfortable. I make it onto the bus and have about fifty minutes to mentally prepare for my first day at work. I’ve waited so long for this. Last winter, I even took a job at a legal firm through one of my father’s contacts, but I quickly realized I’d be stuck signing papers with no real prospects. So, I decided to wait. And now, the wait is over.
I try not to think about Alexander. I’m holding onto the hope that we won’t cross paths. And if he hears about me from Pavlo, maybe he’ll choose to avoid me himself. I convince myself there won’t be any issues and hurry from the bus stop to the office. Today, I’m dressed in a classic look: a black dress and heels. My hair is pulled into a neat bun, and my makeup is understated.
Two minutes before nine, I step into the elevator and head up to the office. The receptionist, Nina, kindly shows me to a small office next to Pavlo Vadymovych’s. She promises to introduce me to the team later, as there’s a morning meeting in just a few minutes. Pavlo arrives almost right after me, in a good mood, which gives me hope for a smooth working relationship. The meeting lasts ten minutes—nothing out of the ordinary. He gives me my first tasks and dismisses everyone.
The team is quite large, all young and full of energy. After just two hours of work, I’m even more certain that I want to stay here. If my probation period goes smoothly, I’d be thrilled to make this permanent. I’ve longed to feel this kind of energy—the buzz and hum of a lively office. I won’t say it’s easy to dive in, but any new beginning takes time and patience.
During lunch break, I step outside. I wander familiar streets and grab a coffee and pastry at a nearby café. As I head back, I feel calmer. In my mind, I’ve pieced together the most likely scenario: Alexander was just visiting Pavlo. He doesn’t work here; he has his own company, one I didn’t even consider when job hunting.
I step into the elevator, and a man rushes in behind me. He doesn’t get a chance to press the button before someone else joins us.
My heart reacts first…
It slams against my chest, forcing me to look up. An indifferent, icy stare sends a chill across my skin. I lower my eyes, and he turns away. He presses the button. My calm vanishes in an instant. Panic begins to stir inside me. Something in my neat little theory doesn’t add up. He’s not just visiting again, is he? Staring at his broad back, framed by a tailored jacket, I can’t believe life has thrown us together like this once more. Who is this encounter for? It’s unnecessary for both of us. We’ve long been strangers to each other. Even his scent, which I once loved so much, is gone. Now it’s different. Heavy. Harsh. Foreign.
The elevator doors slide open. Alexander steps out first, and I trail behind. The sound of my heels echoes in my temples with a sharp, throbbing pain. There’s no running away now, though I wish I could. Near the office door, he pauses, and so do I. Without looking at me, he opens the door and lets me go in first.
I stay silent.
I slip into the office, met by Nina’s warm, welcoming gaze.
“Good afternoon, Alexander Mykhailovych,” she says, shattering the fragile picture I’d built in my mind.
“Good afternoon,” he replies, his stern voice sending a shiver down my spine.
I stop, pretending to rummage through my bag. He walks past and disappears into Pavlo’s office.
“Nina, could you tell me who that was?” I ask, nodding in his direction.
“Alexander Mykhailovych, the owner of our company.”
“Just my luck,” I exhale in despair.
“Don’t worry, you’ll get to know everyone in time,” she says, misinterpreting my confusion.
Before he comes back out, I hurry to hide in my office. I try to focus on the documents Pavlo gave me, but I can’t grasp the meaning of the words. He’s here, just on the other side of the wall… How many sleepless nights did I spend dreaming he’d show up and change everything? How many hopes did I lose? And now, I have no words to say to him. I don’t even want to. If it weren’t for my heart’s foolish reaction, I could probably ignore him altogether. I’m certain this isn’t love—it’s long gone. Some emotions just linger, and that’s why my heart is pounding.
When the door opens, I hold my breath, feeling my silly heart plummet and then race up to my throat. For a few seconds, he looks at me, then steps inside and closes the door behind him. I don’t breathe; it feels like I might shatter into icy fragments under his cold gaze.
“Couldn’t find another place to work?” His words cut into every wounded part of my soul.
“I didn’t know this was your company,” I reply quietly.
“You didn’t know I’m a co-owner?” he says, sounding surprised. “That’s public information.”
“I can leave,” I say, forcing myself not to look away. “That’s not a problem.”
“It’s enough that you’ve shown up again,” he scoffs. I search for something familiar in him, a trace of the Alexander I once loved, but there’s nothing. Standing before me is a complete stranger. Indifferent. Cold. Only his appearance reminds me of who he used to be.
“If we don’t dwell on the past, it won’t bother us.”
“And can you avoid dwelling on it, Sa-sha?” he hisses through gritted teeth.
“Yes,” I say, my voice trembling but my nod firm.
“Fine,” he says, standing up. “Keep working.” He leaves, abandoning me to stew in memories…
Maybe they’ll never fade. Maybe I’ll never breathe freely again. Maybe I’ll never soar on the wings he broke…