Part 3The Do-Over Deal

I threw myself into work. I had a second chance at life; I wasn't wasting it on romance.

But on my first day at the office, I saw someone who shouldn't be there.

Sarah.

She saw me and grinned. "Hugh! You're here!"

She was stunning, and her shout drew every eye in the lobby.

I walked over, scowling. "Sarah, what are you doing here?"

She patted a large cardboard box next to her, looking innocent. "I'm starting work here. Can't you tell?"

The room spun. Why? Why can't I shake her off?

My phone buzzed. A text from Dad.

Turns out, after Sarah went home that night, she told her parents she and I were secretly in love and insisted on getting engaged to me.

The parents conferred, decided we were a perfect match, and set it up without telling me.

I saw black spots. The Sarah in front of me felt like a stranger.

I took a breath, shaking off her hand. "If you're working here, do your job. We don't pay people to sit around."

Sarah was proud. She hated having her competence questioned. Humiliating her publicly should make her angry.

I turned to leave.

She grabbed my sleeve again.

I turned back, and she stood on tiptoes, planting a kiss on my cheek.

Her voice was soft, almost spoiling—a tone I hadn't heard in eighty years.

"We're boyfriend and girlfriend, aren't we? Hugh, you're so mean."

The lobby went dead silent. Everyone dropped their jaws.

Me included.

I stared at her, trying to reconcile this woman with my memories. It was the same face, but a completely different soul.

But I'm an eighty-year-old man in a twenty-something's body. I wasn't going to be played by a little girl.

I called the lobby manager over, voice cold. "Where's HR? How did she get in? Did she go through the process? If she didn't pass the interview, kick her out."

The manager looked terrified. "The Chairman brought Miss Vance in personally... we can't..."

I pinched the bridge of my nose.

"Fine. Nepotism looks bad. Make her start from the bottom. Mailroom or something. I'm going to work."

I looked at Sarah, face stone cold. "I didn't know about the engagement, and I didn't agree to it. I'll clear it up with my parents. Please have some self-respect."

I got into the elevator.

Knowing Sarah, she's arrogant. She has sand in her eyes. Me treating her like this in public? She should quit by lunch.

I sat in the CEO's office (well, the VP office for now) and started reviewing files.

I needed to show my parents I could run this place so they'd hand over the reins. I had decades of future market trends in my head. I was going to turn Sterling Corp into a global empire.

Time flew.

Lunchtime. I stretched my aching back and headed to the cafeteria.

As soon as I stepped out, I saw her.

Sarah was leaning against the wall, holding a bento box.

Seeing me, she lit up and ran over. "Hungry? I saw you working so hard you forgot to eat, so I brought this up."

I frowned, pushing the warm box away. "No thanks. We have a cafeteria. And you're not allowed on this floor. Who let you up?"

I glared at the secretary.

Before he could stammer an excuse, Sarah laughed. "I demanded to come up. Don't blame him. I'm your girlfriend; they didn't dare stop me."

Rage flared up.

Before I could snap, she grabbed my hand, eyes watering. "Hugh, you might not believe me, but I really like you. I want to pursue you. Just give me a chance, okay?"

In my last life, if she had said this, I would have died of happiness.

In this life, it just gave me chills.

What the hell happened to her?

People in the hallway were staring, envious.

I was about to reject the bento again when she threw herself into my arms.

I tried to push her away, but she whispered through gritted teeth right into my ear:

"Hugh Sterling, don't think you're the only one who got reborn. If you give me attitude again, I'm telling your dad you're bullying your future wife."