CEO Runs Into His College Crush. But This Time, He Refuses to Let Her Slip Away Again

The Unexpected Encounter

Brandon Kensington nearly dropped his coffee. There she was after all these years. Hannah Clark, the woman he spent four years secretly loving in college. The woman who haunted his dreams long after she left without a trace.

Now she was standing in the middle of his company’s towering lobby. She was squinting at a directory like she had no idea she was about to walk straight back into his life. His heart pounded against his ribs.

He wasn’t the same man he’d been back then. He was a broke business major pulling all-nighters. He was watching her from across the library, too afraid to tell her how he felt.

Now he was the CEO of Kensington Enterprises. He was a self-made millionaire who had everything, except the one thing he had let slip away. Not this time. Brandon strode forward before she could disappear again.

“Hannah,”

She turned, her hazel eyes widening in surprise.

“Brandon?”

Her voice was exactly as he remembered. It was soft, warm, with just a hint of disbelief. For a moment neither of them moved. Then she smiled and the air between them vanished in an instant.

“I can’t believe this,” she breathed.

“It’s been too long,” he finished.

She laughed, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.

“Yeah, too long.”

His gaze flickered to the folder in her hands.

“Are you here for an interview?”

She nodded.

“Marketing department, just trying to get my foot in the door.”

Brandon’s jaw tightened. Hannah Clark should never have to get her foot in the door. She was brilliant, talented. She deserved the world and he had the power to give it to her.

Before he could say anything, she glanced at the time.

“I should probably head up. Wouldn’t want to be late for my first impression.”

Brandon hesitated. Part of him wanted to pull her into his office and tell her he could make things easy for her. The other part knew Hannah would never accept a handout.

So he let her go. But as she disappeared into the elevator, one thing was clear. He wasn’t letting her slip away again. Not this time.