Blayze

I flipped onto the next page and began reading through, barely paying a close attention to the man in front presenting.

Who says I'm acting? Right now, I sincerely care about you.

Her words popped right back into my mind drawing my attention away from what I was doing. I didn't want to do this. I didn't want to think about her or anything she says but strangely, I couldn't help it.

The memory of her smiling once she saw me holding the sandwich was fresh once again in my head. In that moment, I regretted having done that. She talked so much that I'd wondered for a moment if she would really let me be if I just ate it as she opted but then, she saw me and probably felt I was easily won over.

"My apologies everyone for being late."

I raised my eyes to meet the strange woman making her way towards the table and eventually took her seat on an empty seat three row away from me. She looked my side, stressing a warm smile on her face.

My heart raced. Oddly, it felt very familiar. Her face, eyes and smile. My memory knew it all too well and apparently, so did my heart.

"Always with the cold expression."

Her sentence was all it took to jog my memories, memories I'd boxed and buried deep down. I couldn't stop my eyes from widening as surprise played out on my face.

Nora.

Caden

"Close friends." I repeated nearly in a whisper as I couldn't stop thinking of what she had said. What exactly did she mean by that. There is no way someone like Blayze ever had friends. I mean, I'm his wife but I can barely tolerate his attitude.

"Caden!"

Startled as I got from the loud call of my name, I turned to the owner of the voice to behold the exhausting look on my friend's face.

"Are you really going to seat there all day and worry about your husband's ex?"

"Ex? I told you, she said close friends. They were once close friends which means, they're no longer friends at all." I repeated, clear enough for her understanding but she just stood there and slowly, a light smirk could be seen at the corner of her face. She folded her arms right below her chest.

"Do you really like him that much?"

"Like?" I repeated, my voice heightening a bit. I watched her shake her head as her smirk turned to smile and then a light chuckle.

"Sorry, my mistake. You love your husband so much..."

"Stop it!" I exclaimed almost right away as I stood to my feet. She stared at me, a bit baffled.

Gosh, sometimes, I forget Mia knows nothing about the circumstances surrounding my marriage.

"Um..." I started in an attempt to rectify my earlier reaction.

"... It's not that I don't. I just... I'm just a little curious about this woman. I mean, he never mentioned her." I explained, hoping that was enough to win her over.

Her expression remained the same then suddenly, she bursted out into laughter.

"Caden, I've never seen you look this jealous before."

Jealous?

"You don't need to worry. Blayze is your husband and he'll always be yours." She added, gave me a light tap on the shoulder and walked away.

A light scoff left my lips as I watched her go.

"Jealous. Me?" Ridiculous. No matter how I think about it. It's just ridiculous. How can I be jealous when nothing about him seems attractive enough to me?

We were once close friends.

Her words were back on my mind once more. In irritation, I rolled my eyes away. I've got to stop thinking about what she might have meant by that. We might never run into each other again.

Blayze

I'd barely maintained my composure. I could barely hear clearly due to how fast my heart raced. It was all too sudden. Her appearance. I felt overwhelmed, baffled and at the same time, confused. For years, I'd believed she was gone and it was my fault. How then... who is this woman that looks so much like Nora?

Could it... could it be that she has been... been alive all this time?

My head swirled and I unconsciously folded my hand into a tight fist as if that would help the state I was in.

I knew I was panicking. Something I shouldn't be doing. I didn't want to be found out. I didn't want to be asked if I was alright so as steady as I could maintain, I stood to my feet, neither glancing her side nor looking at any one's face.

"Excuse me for a moment. Go on without me... I'll be back." I managed to speak up, at the same time hoping my voice didn't give away my situation.

No one said a thing but I could feel their eyes on me. Nevertheless, I began my steps out of the room. The first felt shaky but I was quick to stay strong, at least till I get to my office. As I made my way to towards my office, with each step, the memories came flooding in. Bit by bit at first and then a lot stronger. They seemed so fresh.

As soon as I stepped into my office, shutting the door behind me, my breathing grew heavier, each breath seeming like a desperate search for air. My heart ached, excruciatingly that I'm forced to lay a hand on my chest as I hasten my steps towards my desk.

The last drawer, I drew it out and searched desperately within. Finally, I caught hold of the small container. Opening it, I let the pills roll onto my hands. I opted for two and returned the rest. I poured myself a glass of water from the jug, put the pills in my mouth and gulped down the water.

In a few minutes, my breathing normalized and the pain minimized. In exhaustion, I slumped onto my seat, my elbows resting on the desk, I buried my head in my hands, shutting my eyes.

How... Who is she?

There was a knock on the door and I raised my head. I didn't want to see anyone. I wasn't in the mood. The knock came through once more.

"Come in." I heard myself succumbing in the end and I subconsciously prepped myself for whatever was to come next.

As the door opened, my eyes fell on her. Hers met mine and for a moment, she stood, flashing a really simple smile before eventually shutting the door behind her.

As I watched her approach me, her steps, her attire, everything except her face seemed so different, Perhaps, she's just a lookalike.

Once she stood in front of me, silence filled the room. That moment, my feeling went numb. I could feel nothing. I didn't even see the point in taking any action.

"You look pale. Are you okay?" Finally, she broke the silence as she took her seat in front of me.

I didn't answer. I couldn't even look away from her face. I felt too bugged about her presence.

"Who are you... Why do you look so much like her?" In the end, I couldn't help but ask.

"Her?" She repeated as her eyes reflected an emotion. I couldn't tell what that was. There was a dramatic silence on her part.

"I didn't think you would remember her. I'm touched."

Remember her?

"You say that like you're a different person. Are you?" My curiosity grew. No... I wanted, I needed to know the truth. Have all these years been a lie?

Suddenly, a broad smile played on her face.

"Your question sounds like you want me to be this person. You're married and seem to have a perfectly good life going on for you..."

"Are you Nora?" I interrupted, unable to play the word game anymore. Every sentence from her only agitated my worries. I didn't like that.

She stared back at me without uttering a word and that only made me anticipate her reply a lot more as my hands on my lap slowly folded into a tight fist.

"My name is Leslie Banks." She stated and just like that, I felt a little shattered. Slowly letting go of a silent breath I'd been holding in, I looked elsewhere.

I was wrong. She... she's...

"Nora used to be my name a long time ago."

W-what?