AAHANA, though stunned at seeing her old boyfriend, kept a calm composure.
“This is certainly unexpected,” she said to herself, not wanting him to see her surprise, for the meeting was all about business.

There was, though, no mistake about the surprise on his face the moment he saw her and when introductions were made, he held her hand a fraction longer.
“This is quite a surprise,” he said, a pleased look in his eyes, “Didn’t expect to see you in this forum.”
“Same for me,” she said casually and took her seat with the CEO and their management team.

The business of investing and construction of buildings began with in-depth discussions. Aahana did not look Naren’s way, but he forced her attention by asking questions directed to her. He was impressed with her knowledge and expertise and seemed lost sometimes as he listened to her presentation.
Aahana felt a little thrilled that she had left him in such awe and she smiled with the confidence of an accomplished woman.

“He must be wondering,” she said to herself, “How a simple country girl he uncaringly dropped from his life is now a top engineer in a construction company.”
After the hours-long meeting was over, he walked over immediately to her and said quietly, “Can I talk with you a little- outside of business?”
“I don’t think there’s anything of interest—”
“It’s really nice seeing you again after all these years,” he interrupted her.

She smiled and said nicely, “I can’t say the same.”
He nodded his head a little and smiled wryly, “I deserve that and more.”
She didn’t respond to that, not wanting to give life to past memories she had buried, but he continued, “It’s amazing that you’re an engineer. What happened to becoming a doctor?”
She inhaled slowly and answered, “Circumstances sometimes change people.”

“And I guess I played a role in that?”
“You played a lead role in that,” she said silently but answered casually, “It’s all in the past, and I’ve moved on.”
He looked at her for a short moment and said, “You’re just as beautiful and I’m sorry—”
“No,” she interrupted him this time, “I don’t want to hear it.”

She moved away from him, excusing herself to her CEO to go to her work site, not wanting to speak anymore with Naren.
“What would saying ‘sorry’ now do?” she asked exasperated, “and why is he showing interest in me?”
That night as she laid in bed, she thought of that moment when she saw him again after all those years and though she felt no resentment nor bitterness in her heart, there was no joy.
“He took a part of my life that I may never find again.”

Her eyes were just closing in sleep when her phone rang. It was an unknown number so she didn’t answer, but she recognised his voice from a message he left.
“Hey. Sorry to call so late, knowing you probably had a long day. Just want to know how you’re doing.”
“Now you want to know how I’m doing?” she fumed quietly.
He called the next morning and days to follow with invitations to dinner, lunch or just a drink but she picked up none of his calls until her CEO spoke to her.
“I received a report from Mr. Naren Boodhoo that you have not been taking his calls.”
Aahana looked at her boss with surprise.

“What? I’m not working on that building site, so why is he calling me?”
“Maybe it’s something to do with the designs of the building you did some work on and do remember,” the CEO pointed out to her, “Our company was given the contract to work on that billion-dollar project.”

“Yes, sir,” she answered.
That night, when he called again, she answered with a little grimace.
“Hey. Why don’t you want to talk to me?”

“We have nothing to talk about outside of work, and since you reported me to my CEO, what do you need to talk about?”
“Well, I was hoping you could visit the site here in New Amsterdam. Need your expert views on a few designs, and we could also have dinner before as old friends.”
Aahana took a short moment before responding, and she did with a firm tone, “I am working on three sites here. You have top engineers of the company on-site there, and your old friend left years ago, so no dinner.”

“I know I hurt you and I want to tell you how sorry I am.”
She took a deep breath and said, “Nothing of the past matters to me anymore, so whenever you call me, it must be work-related.”
She heard nothing from him for the next three days then her CEO called and told her, “We have to go to Berbice on Thursday.”
“Damn,” she muttered, “Hope he doesn’t ask me to work on that site.”

She knew with that project, if Naren made a proposal for her work there, the CEO would consider it.
Naren and two of the investors met them, and their site tour went well. At lunch, more business was discussed then Naren stated to the CEO, “This project is a massive investment, the first of its kind in the ancient county and operations must run smoothly and on schedule. So, we would need your best engineers on the job.”
“And just as I suspected,” Aahana said to herself.

After a short moment, the CEO responded, “I will ensure you have the best the company has for the project.”
That assurance did not give Aahana a happy feeling, and after lunch, whilst the CEO was conversing with the other investors, Naren said to her, “It would be great having you on this project.”
She knew she had to stand her ground on this and asked him, “Why are you doing this?”
“Doing what?”
“Proposing I work on the site.”

“Because we need the best.”
“You already have the best in those senior engineers with more experience than I have.”
“I’m impressed with your innovative skills and would like to work with you.”

She looked at him, anger rising within her that he would hold the investment over the CEO’s head to have her working with him but she stayed calm and answered him firmly, “I don’t want to work with you.”
He just smiled with confidence, “Your boss may think differently.”

To be continued…