CEO Runs Into His College Crush. But This Time, He Refuses to Let Her Slip Away Again
Rekindling the Spark
Brandon spent the rest of the day trying to focus on work. His mind kept drifting back to Hannah. By the time the hiring team sent out their final decision, he was already waiting for the email.
When her name appeared on the list, he exhaled in relief. She had earned it. No favors, no interference. Just Hannah being as incredible as she had always been.
That evening he made sure to be in the lobby when she left.
“Hannah,” he called out as she stepped out of the elevator.
She blinked in surprise.
“Brandon?”
He grinned.
“I heard you got the job.”
Her eyes lit up.
“I did! I still can’t believe it.”
“I can,” he said simply.
She laughed.
“Well thank you, I’m excited to be here.”
Brandon hesitated for a brief second before asking.
“Can I take you to dinner to celebrate?”
She opened her mouth, then hesitated.
“Brandon,”
His stomach clenched. Was she going to turn him down? Had she moved on? But then she gave him a small teasing smile.
“That depends. Is this a CEO taking a new employee out to dinner kind of thing, or a long lost college friends catching up kind of thing?”
He met her gaze, his voice low and certain.
“It’s a man who never stopped thinking about you finally getting his second chance kind of thing.”
Hannah’s breath hitched. For a moment she looked like she might walk away, but then slowly she nodded.
“Okay,” she said softly. “Dinner sounds nice.”
Brandon felt a slow, satisfied warmth spread through him. This time he wasn’t letting her go.
Brandon guided Hannah through the sleek glass doors of an exclusive rooftop restaurant. The city skyline was glowing around them. The maître d’ greeted him by name and led them to a private table.
It was a carefully chosen setting, sophisticated yet intimate and entirely intentional. Hannah took in the view, her fingers lightly brushing the tablecloth.
“This place is…” she trailed off, shaking her head. “I don’t think I’ve ever been anywhere this fancy in my life.”
Brandon leaned back in his chair, watching her.
“You deserve the best.”
A soft laugh escaped her lips.
“I don’t need the best. I just need good food and good company.”
“Then you’ve come to the right place,” he said smoothly.
The waiter poured a deep red wine into their glasses. Hannah studied him, her expression thoughtful.
“You’ve changed,” she said after a pause. “I mean obviously, but I remember you as the guy who used to live off ramen and energy drinks during finals week.”
Brandon chuckled.
“That guy learned a few things along the way.”
“I’ll say.” She gestured around them. “This isn’t exactly dorm room dining.”
“No, it’s not.” He swirled his wine, his gaze unwavering. “But one thing hasn’t changed.”
Her brow lifted slightly.
“What’s that?”
“I still think about you.”
The words hung between them, weighty and undeniable. Hannah’s breath hitched, but she quickly masked it with a sip of wine.
“Brandon,”
He leaned forward, his voice low.
“You disappeared after graduation. No goodbye, no way to find you. And now, out of nowhere, here you are walking into my company like fate decided we weren’t finished.”
She shifted in her seat, her fingers tightening around her glass.
“It wasn’t personal. Life just happened. I had to take care of some things.”
His sharp gaze didn’t waver.
“You could have told me.”
She exhaled slowly, setting her drink down.
“You say that like we were something back then.”
“We could have been,” he countered.
She fell silent, her expression unreadable. A silver tray arrived, breaking the tension as their first course was served. Despite the distraction, Brandon remained focused on her.
“So,” he said, shifting the conversation. “Tell me about you. What have you been up to these past years?”
A flicker of hesitation crossed her face, but then she exhaled as if deciding to let him in.
“After college I moved back home for a while. My dad was sick and I needed to help my family. Then once things settled I started trying to build my career.”
“I bounced between jobs, did a lot of freelance work,” she continued.
Brandon listened intently.
“Why Kensington Enterprises?”
She smiled wryly.
“It’s one of the best in the industry. I wanted a challenge. I didn’t expect to walk in and find you standing there.”
“Neither did I,” he admitted.
The next course arrived and the conversation lightened. They swapped college memories, laughing over old study sessions and unforgettable mishaps. For a moment it felt like time hadn’t passed at all.
But as the night deepened, so did the lingering shadows between them. Brandon set his utensils down, his expression turning serious.
“Hannah, if you hadn’t run into me today, would you have ever reached out?”
She froze, her shoulders tensing.
“I don’t know,” she admitted quietly. “I guess I thought you had moved on.”
He held her gaze, his voice steady.
“I never did.”
A beat passed before she whispered.
“I don’t know what to say to that.”
“Then let me make it simple,” he said, his tone leaving no room for doubt. “I’m not letting you disappear again.”
Hannah swallowed hard. She looked as if she wanted to argue, to resist whatever was pulling them back together, but she didn’t. Instead, she exhaled and gave a small nod.
Brandon reached across the table, his fingers brushing hers.
“Then let’s start over,” he murmured. “No more missed chances.”
Hannah hesitated for only a second before curling her fingers around his.
