Chapter 39: Run In.
Jane was hard at work, attending to customers with an energy that hadn’t gone unnoticed. These days, her smile was more genuine, and her body language exuded a newfound confidence.
Her coworkers had also noticed the change, especially Mike, a colleague who had confessed his feelings to Jane some months ago. She had politely turned him down, explaining that she wasn’t a fan of workplace relationships and, truthfully, wasn’t attracted to him. But Jane’s rejection had been so kind and considerate that Mike couldn’t stay upset. She had treated him no differently afterward, and their friendship had remained intact.
Mike had just returned from a trip to Chicago, where he had visited family, and the changes in Jane caught him off guard.
"What’s gotten into her?" he asked one of their coworkers, a woman named Rose.
"You haven’t heard, Mike? Jane has a boyfriend!" Rose replied with a gleeful tone, clearly excited to share the gossip.
"A boyfriend?" Mike repeated under his breath. The news took him by surprise, especially since it hadn’t been that long since he’d confessed to her. While there was nothing he could do about it, the revelation stung more than he’d expected.
Mike didn’t ask any more questions; he knew it would only make things harder for him. Yet doubt lingered in his mind. He remembered her saying, "I wasn’t ready for one," as if she had said it to him just yesterday, though months had passed.
Still, Jane did seem different now. Her happiness was undeniable.
Rose nudged him lightly, snapping him out of his thoughts. "Hey, didn’t she reject you?" she teased, clearly enjoying herself.
Mike took a deep breath, forcing himself to stay calm.
"She’s not just happy—he bought her a new phone and a MacBook! And guess what? Jane made the first move!" Rose added with a grin, clearly intent on provoking him.
Mike shook his head. "Now I know you’re messing with me. There’s no way Jane would do that," he said, relief washing over his face as he dismissed Rose’s claims.
Rose didn’t say anything more. She just smiled knowingly and leaned back, letting Mike stew in his own thoughts. She didn’t need to argue—she wanted him to see for himself.
As Rose watched from a distance, Mike walked toward Jane. She greeted him warmly, her smile as radiant as ever. Rose couldn’t tell whether Jane was oblivious to Mike’s lingering feelings or if she simply didn’t realize how awkward it was to stay friends with someone she had rejected.
Mike, frustrated but determined to move on, had tried hitting on another coworker, Ella. Unfortunately for him, Ella didn’t even spare him a glance. The rejection left him feeling humiliated, earning him what Rose later called "the double L."
Ella, for her part, didn’t bother mentioning Mike’s attempt to Jane. She was used to being hit on and had no interest in serving as anyone’s rebound.
Mike found himself watching Jane from the corner of his eye, still unsure whether to believe Rose’s story. When he caught Jane giggling at her phone, something in him shifted. Maybe Rose was right.
"How long was I gone...?" he wondered, a mix of confusion and regret filling his thoughts.
---
Meanwhile, across town, Calista stood in Kyle’s kitchen, staring into his refrigerator. Her initial excitement faded into mild disappointment at the sight of leftovers and barely any healthy options—exactly what one would expect from a bachelor.
A thought crossed her mind: she could surprise Kyle by cooking him a proper meal. But before she could act on it, her phone buzzed with an incoming call.
Without checking the caller ID, she answered. To her astonishment, the voice on the other end belonged to Lucas Rossini.
"Lucas Rossini?!" Calista thought, her heart racing.
"Hello, Miss Wave. I hope I caught you at a good time," Lucas began.
Calista was too stunned to respond right away. She knew exactly why he was calling—this had to be about the role she had auditioned for earlier that day. There was no way he’d call just to tell her she didn’t get the part.
"H-Hello, Mr. Rossini. This is a good time," she finally managed, her voice trembling with anticipation.
"Excellent. I wanted to be the first to congratulate you on getting the role of Rachel," Lucas announced.
Calista nearly screamed in excitement but managed to compose herself just in time. She couldn’t believe it was happening.
"Thank you so much!" she exclaimed, her gratitude overflowing.
"But I’d like to meet with you in my office to discuss the character in more detail. It’s important to me that Rachel is portrayed exactly as I envisioned," Lucas continued.
His request didn’t strike her as odd. Caught up in the adrenaline of the moment, Calista agreed without hesitation.
"I’ll be on my way immediately, Mr. Rossini!" she said, eager to secure the opportunity.
"Please, call me Lucas. Rossini is my father," he replied, his tone warm and inviting.
"S-Sorry, Lucas. I’ll be there soon," she corrected herself before the call ended.
The moment the line disconnected, Calista let out a loud scream of joy. "I GOT THE PART!" she yelled, only to quickly clasp a hand over her mouth. She didn’t want to draw unnecessary attention to herself—or cause trouble for Kyle.
Grabbing her things, she made her way out of the apartment. In the hallway, she crossed paths with Aiysha, one of Kyle’s neighbors.
Calista didn’t acknowledge Aiysha as she passed by, her mind too consumed with excitement to notice the woman staring after her.
Aiysha stood frozen for a moment, watching Calista’s wild grin with a curious expression. She finally shook her head and muttered to herself, "I wish someone told him these walls are thin..."
The implication was clear: she had overheard everything from the night before.
But more than that, Aiysha found herself impressed. "So that’s his girlfriend," she thought, marveling at Calista’s beauty and energy.
It didn’t surprise her, though. Kyle had a way with words, and it seemed that talent extended to more than just charming clients.
