Chapter 1 - Blast From The Past

Walking down the bustling street, I couldn't believe how quickly things could go wrong.

Just this morning I had been working in my office, and now here I was walking down the street feeling sorry for myself!

After two years at the same job, they had let me go. Why, I couldn't answer. I had been doing well and actually thought I would be eligible for a promotion, instead they had let me go.

I thought back to a few weeks ago when I had broken off my fling with the boss. Obviously, that was the reason behind my sudden termination!

My blood boiled at the thought, but a part of me knew it was my own fault for getting involved with him.

We had an on-and-off fling for the past year, and I had called it off when I found out he had lied to me about his divorce. 

He was still very much married, and I refused to knowingly be the "other woman".

I walked into my favorite coffee shop and ordered a latte and a lunch bagel before taking a seat. I realized gloomily that I wouldn't be able to treat myself like this for a while now that I was out of a job.

My pay had never been amazing, but I was able to come by. It was better than how I had grown up after all; poor and in an orphanage.

I had spent my teenage life excelling at school to ensure I would have a shot at a better life, and the moment I left school I had been fighting every day to get to a point where I could live comfortably.

But alas, the universe had other ideas.

I sighed heavily and picked up my phone, browsing through the job classifieds on a site.

I couldn't afford to wallow in self-pity, I needed to find another job.

I applied for a few secretarial positions, and even though I hated the job, it was the area I had the most expertise in.

If I had studied after school I would have been an art professor, but I had given up those dreams for now.

Paying the bills and being able to feed me seemed far more important than dreams.

I had just shoved a piece of bagel into my mouth when I heard my name called.

"Kenzie!" I recognized the voice immediately, even though it had been a few years since we had bumped into each other.

I forced a smile as I turned to Caleb, my ex-boyfriend who had once been my high school sweetheart.

"Caleb! Hi! Fancy seeing you here."

"Yeah? I'm back in town, helping my dad with one of the companies," he paused to wrap an arm around a beautiful Hispanic woman, "This is Selma, my fiancé."

"Lovely to meet you!" I shook her hand, my eye noticing the large diamond rock on her finger, "How's your dad doing? He must be pleased that you're finally settling down?" 

Caleb came from money, lots of it. His father was a well-known businessman, and one of the most notorious billionaire players. He always had a different woman on his arm.

"He is, but Gramps is pretty pissed with him. Mind if we join you?"

"Not at all," I offered a smile to Selma. Caleb and I had been inseparable since we met at school, I had been fourteen and he was fifteen. We had dated from the ages of fifteen and sixteen to twenty and twenty-one.

Although the breakup was painful, we had always remained on good terms. I knew we weren't meant for one another after that faithful night at my party. I shook my head to try and rid myself of the embarrassing memories.

"Why is your grandfather mad at your dad?" I asked casually.

"Haven't you seen the news? He totaled one of the cars with two hookers in it. The problem was the press caught wind of what they were doing to him in that car!"

My eyes widened, apparently, Mr. Grimes really hadn't changed much.

You see, he had always been charming and handsome. I had harbored a silly crush on him for a very long time. But I knew it was wrong and had never acted on it.

Until the night Caleb's infidelities had come to light.

"Kenz? What's wrong?" Caleb asked.

I shook my head, "Nothing. I'm just thinking how embarrassing that must have been!" 

"It was. but you know Dad, he doesn't care. Grandad is hoping to have Selma and I around and will get some positive improvements out of him."

"Well, let's hope so." I took a sip of my latte.

"You should invite her to the gala," Selma spoke softly.

"Gala?" Oh please no, do not invite me to anything where your father will be!

Caleb nodded, "Yes. Grimes Enterprises will be hosting a charity gala. Selma's right, you should come. I know you always loved charity work."

"Oh, I'll, uh, check if I'm available. Job hunting has me a little swamped."

"Come on, Kenz. Plus, there will be a lot of businessmen there, maybe you can even find a new job?"

He had a point there, "I'll think about it." And I would. I just wasn't sure if it was such a good idea to see Mr. Grimes again.

After what had happened I had successfully avoided him for years, was it time to bite the bullet and see him again?

I looked down at my phone, thinking of the possible job opportunities I could get there, and made up my mind quickly.

"You know what? I'd love to join!"

"Great. I'll email you an official invitation."

I nodded and we said our goodbyes before they left.

I was already second-guessing my decision, but I also realized that this may just be the break I needed in life.

I wasn't about to let anything stop me from getting it. Even a bit of embarrassment!

Once I was done with my bagel, I took my latte and left, taking the subway home.

I knew I didn't have anything that would really stand out at the gala, but I didn't have spare money to waste on dresses, so I'd have to make do with something in my closet.

I decided I would put a simple black dress aside that looked more like sexy office attire than anything for a gala, but it was better than jeans, so it would have to do. I only owned three pairs of work heels, so I put the highest black heels aside with the dress. 

Happy that was taken care of I decided I would have a nap before getting back onto the internet to search for a job.

I was hoping to get a job out of the gala, but I would still keep my options open in case that didn't work out.

Upon waking up, I was greeted with an email from Caleb with an invitation to the charity gala.

I stared at the pretty white and gold design for a few moments before shutting my laptop. I turned my back on it and chewed at my thumbnail, a terrible nervous habit I had always had since I was a young child.

I wasn't sure I could do this. I didn't want to ask Caleb if his father would be there because I knew that would cause suspicion.

Turning around again I opened the laptop and logged onto the internet, typing the gala into the search bar.

I was happy to see the mention of big names who would be there. I was even happier to see that although Mr. Grimes had been the organizer, he was expected not to make an appearance, leaving Caleb to be the main spokesman.

I smiled to myself, convinced that this was a sign sent from the universe to go to the gala.

I quickly sent back an RSVP before shutting the laptop again. 

I warmed up a quick dinner and filled my cat's bowl of food for when he woke up and took a seat on the sofa in front of the television, watching a true crime documentary while I continued with my search for vacancies on the phone.

I felt like things might just work out alright after all, which was a welcome feeling after the shit cards I had been dealt.

I could get a well-paying job with one of the guests and while working for them I could finish my study in art, once that was done I could open a studio and offer classes to young artists.

I was optimistic again for the first time in a long while.

Maybe bumping into Caleb had been fate? I had always believed that life had a way of working itself out, and I was sure there would be some bigger reason behind the way things were currently going.

It was just too slim of a chance to be a coincidence that I had seen Caleb and been invited to the gala.

Life had a plan for me, and I was sure of it.