A SECOND CHANCE AT FOREVER Chapter 11: CHAPTER ELEVEN

KYLE

The hum of the office was almost deafening as I leaned back against the polished mahogany table, arms crossed, scanning the faces of my team. The meeting was dragging on longer than it should have—my mind was somewhere else entirely, but I couldn’t afford to show it. Not now. Not when everything was riding on these next few weeks.

"Any updates on the Watson project?" I asked, my voice cutting through the low murmur of conversation. 

Karen, one of my junior staff, cleared her throat before responding. "We’re waiting on final approval from marketing. Shouldn’t be more than a couple of days."

I nodded, my mind elsewhere, running through the possibilities. “Right,” I muttered. "Let’s get this sorted quickly, then." I was about to ask for any other updates when another voice interrupted.

"Everything else is on track, Sir" Mark, my assistant, chimed in. "You’re on schedule for the presentation Friday."

Barely hearing him, I just nodded. "Good. Make sure everything’s ready to go. I don’t want any surprises."

The room fell silent, my gaze sweeping over my team. I should’ve been paying more attention, but I wasn’t. Nothing seemed to hold my focus today. Not the reports, not the progress. Only one thing was on my mind: a certain redhaired

I rubbed a hand over my jaw, trying to focus. She was on my mind constantly now. Since we last spoke, since I’d seen her with another guy.

The idea of her with another man hit me harder than I expected. I had never once thought about it–her moving on with another guy. Hell,it's been two years since our divorce and there is a high chance she is with another man now.

My chest clenched in frustration. No no no 

I shifted my weight, hoping to shake off the unease gnawing at me.

"There is something else sir” Mark said, adjusting his glasses. . “We’ve been getting some feedback from overseas clients. They’re pushing for a few last-minute changes to the proposal, nothing major but something that could affect the timeline if we don’t act fast.”

My eyes flicked over to Mark, suddenly more alert. "How much time are we talking?"

“A couple of days, but if we don’t get it finalized, it could push the whole thing back. They’re worried about the impact on their launch window.”

I let out a sharp breath, then nodded. “Alright, we’ll handle it. Get the team on it, make sure everything’s adjusted before Friday. We can’t afford a delay. We’ll make sure this goes off without a hitch.”

“Got it,” Mark replied, tapping a few notes on his tablet. 

I needed closure. I needed to fix this.

Karen spoke up again. “We also got some preliminary reports back on the market analysis for the new product line. The numbers are strong, but we might need to adjust the launch strategy based on some of the demographic shifts we’re seeing. It could impact consumer engagement."

I tried to focus on her words, my mind struggling to make sense of the numbers she was talking about. "What kind of shifts?" I asked.

“Some changes in regional interest. More engagement in the Midwest than anticipated, which could be a good opportunity to double down on that market. We’re also seeing a slight drop in the West, but it’s not enough to make a huge difference right now. We’ll need to tweak the messaging for that region.”

I nodded, pushing aside the personal thoughts as best I could. "Okay. Get me a report on the regional shifts. I want a plan for the Midwest, and let’s work on strengthening the West side before the launch. No mistakes there."

“Absolutely,” Karen responded, jotting down notes on her laptop.

I stood up abruptly, the motion catching the attention of my team. “That’s all for today,” I muttered, cutting the meeting short. They looked a little confused, but no one questioned me. I didn’t wait for them to speak; I was already out of the room

I headed to my office, my thoughts still tangled with her—Ashley. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t shake the image of her from my mind. She was always there, lingering at the edges of my thoughts, reminding me of the distance that was growing between us. I knew I couldn’t let her slip away. I couldn’t forget her. I had to win her back—no matter the cost. Maybe there was nothing between her and that guy. Maybe they were just acquaintances. Whatever it was, I wasn’t going to stand by and lose her. I was ready to take the smallest chance I had left.

The sound of my office door creaking pulled me from my thoughts, and I didn’t need to look to know who it was. Only one person ever dared to enter my space without knocking.

Her perfume hit me first—a sharp, intoxicating scent that curled in my chest, setting my nerves on edge. A wave of nausea washed over me.

“Hi, Kyle… it’s been a while.” Atlas’s voice was low, seductive. She stepped closer, trailing her hand along my cheek. I shrugged it off, barely sparing her a glance.

I flicked my gaze to her. She was dressed in a tight, revealing green dress that barely covered her, the fabric clinging to her curves like it was made for no one but her. The dress was flashy and unnecessary, the kind of thing you wore when you wanted attention. Her lips, painted the deepest shade of red, curled into a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. 

“I was right,” she continued, tossing her hair over her shoulder with a flick of her wrist. “I thought it was just a coincidence you’ve been ignoring me for months now. But now I see. You really are avoiding me.” She scoffed.

“What do you want, Atlas?” My voice was steady, but I couldn’t help the irritation bubbling inside me. I wasn’t in the mood for her games today.

Her smile shifted, and she took a step closer, her fingers trailing down my chest. The sensation sent a rush of bile up my throat, and I couldn’t control the disgust that washed over me.

“You,” she purred, biting her lower lip as she moved even closer. I pushed her away, the action more forceful this time.

Her face twisted with shock, surprise, and anger all at once. But, as always, she quickly masked it with a sly smile.

“I see.” She nodded, circling me as if she was sizing me up, deciding what to do next. “You’ve changed, Kyle. I don’t know if I like it.” She stopped in front of me, looking me dead in the eye. “But you’re forgetting how this works.”

She snapped her fingers. “The Watson project you’ve been pouring your time into? I could make it so much easier for you. I could get you everything you need, no problem. All with the snap of my fingers.”

I felt the familiar heat of anger coursing through me. She closed the distance between us again, her hand reaching out to trail over my chest. “ In exchange for you, Kyle. That’s all I’ve ever wanted. And now, I’m giving you a chance to make this right.”

“No,” I said, the word coming out more forcefully than I intended. I pushed her back again, this time more violently. “Stop, alright? I’m done with all of your bullshit.”

Her expression faltered for a second, and I saw a flicker of something dark in her eyes, but it was gone as quickly as it appeared. She straightened, running a hand through her hair and giving me a sly, knowing smile.

“You don’t get it, do you?” she said, her voice suddenly colder. “You think you’re done with me, but I’m not done with you. You still need me, Kyle. Don’t forget that.”

I clenched my jaw, my fists tightening. “I don’t need anything from you,” I said, my tone final. “And I sure as hell don’t need you in my life.”

“You think you can just walk away from this, Kyle?” she said, her voice laced with venom. “I can make things very difficult for you. You’re not as untouchable as you think.”

I clenched my fists, trying to keep the rising tide of anger in check. “I don’t need your help. I don’t need anything from you anymore. So get the hell out of my office.”

She hesitated, her expression darkening before she finally gave a small nod, her smile fading into something more sinister.

“Fine,” she muttered, turning on her heel. “But remember this, Kyle. You’re not the only one who can make things happen. Don’t forget who helped you get here. Just don’t come crawling back when things fall apart. I’ll be here. Waiting.”

As she walked out, the door closing with a soft click behind her, I stood there for a moment, taking in a deep breath. My body was tense, every muscle coiled with frustration. Atlas was a force I never wanted in my life again, but the problem was, she knew that. And she was going to use it against me every chance she got.

But I was done. I’d had enough of her. Now, all I had to do was focus on one thing.

Ashley.