She Took a Temporary Job Abroad, Not Knowing Her New Boss Was the Millionaire Who Broke Her Heart
Shattered Promises and Strict Professionalism
Alina glanced between them, clearly sensing the tension.
“You two know each other?”
“We’re old friends,” Katon said smoothly, recovering quickly. “Could you give us a moment, Alina?”
When they were alone, Belle crossed her arms defensively.
“I should go.”
“Wait,” Katon said, stepping closer. “Please, this is unexpected.”
“That’s putting it mildly,” Belle replied. “I wouldn’t have taken this position if I’d known.”
“I understand,” he said, running a hand through his hair, a familiar gesture that sent an unwanted wave of nostalgia through her. “But you’re here now, and you’re exactly what we need.”
“The company is in the middle of a major expansion. I can’t afford to restart the hiring process.”
“And I can’t afford to work for someone I can’t trust,” she countered.
His eyes darkened.
“That’s fair. What if? What if we kept things strictly professional?”
“You need this job. Alina mentioned you were looking for international experience, and I need someone with your skills.”
Belle hesitated. The position would look impressive on her resume, and finding another opportunity like this would be nearly impossible.
Plus, there was a part of her, a part she tried to ignore, that wanted answers about why he had disappeared from her life without explanation.
“Six months,” she said finally. “My contract is for six months. I’ll stay that long, but we keep things completely professional.”
Relief washed over his face.
“Agreed. Shall we start over? Welcome to Vantage, Miss Taylor.”
The first few days were excruciating. Belle maintained a frosty professionalism, speaking to Katon only when necessary and avoiding being alone with him.
But she couldn’t deny that the job itself was fascinating. Vantage was working on revolutionary sustainable buildings throughout Europe, and Katon’s vision was transforming skylines.
One evening, a week into her employment, Belle was working late finishing a presentation for Katon’s meeting the next day. She thought the office was empty until his voice startled her.
“You don’t have to stay this late,” he said, leaning against her door frame.
“I wanted to finish this,” she replied, not looking up from her computer.
Katon sighed.
“Belle, we can’t work like this for six months.”
“We’re doing fine.”
“We’re not,” he insisted. “Let me take you to dinner. As colleagues. We can clear the air.”
She finally looked at him.
“There’s nothing to clear. You made yourself perfectly clear three years ago when you disappeared without a word.”
Pain flashed across his face.
“It wasn’t what you think. Please, just dinner. One hour of your time.”
Perhaps it was exhaustion, or maybe curiosity, but Belle found herself agreeing. They walked to a small restaurant tucked away on a quiet street far from the tourist areas.
Once they were seated with glasses of wine, Katon looked at her intently.
“I owe you an explanation.”
“You don’t owe me anything anymore,” Belle replied, but her voice lacked conviction.
“Three years ago, I was still building Vantage,” he began. “What you didn’t know was that the company was in serious trouble.”
“The recession had hit us hard, and we were close to bankruptcy. I had investors pulling out and projects being cancelled.”
“That doesn’t explain why you stopped calling, stopped texting, why you completely vanished from my life,” Belle said, the old hurt resurfacing.
Katon took a deep breath.
“My father had a heart attack the same week everything was falling apart professionally.”
“I flew back to Boston to be with him, thinking I’d only be gone a few days. But then the biggest investor in Vantage pulled out completely, and I had to make a choice.”
“Stay and try to save the company, or come back to Chicago.”
“You could have called,” Belle pointed out. “One phone call.”
“I know,” he admitted. “I convinced myself I was doing you a favor.”
“You were just starting your career. You had so much potential. I was facing financial ruin, spending every waking hour trying to save the company.”
“And then when my father died…”
Belle’s anger faltered slightly.
“I didn’t know about your father. I’m sorry.”
“It was a dark time,” Katon continued. “I threw myself into rebuilding Vantage. By the time I came up for air, months had passed.”
“I thought you’d have moved on, and I convinced myself it was better that way.”
“That wasn’t your decision to make,” Belle said quietly. “I deserved better.”
“You did,” he agreed. “I’ve regretted how I handled things every day since.”
“Seeing you walk into my office was, well, it felt like fate giving me a chance to apologize properly.”
The waiter arrived with their food, giving Belle a moment to collect her thoughts. Part of her wanted to hold on to her anger; it had been a shield for so long.
But another part recognized the genuine remorse in Katon’s eyes.
“I accept your apology,” she said finally. “But that doesn’t change our current situation. I’m still your employee, and I’m only here temporarily.”
Katon nodded.
“I understand. Thank you for listening.”
As the weeks passed, Belle found it increasingly difficult to maintain her emotional distance.
Watching Katon work—his passion for sustainable architecture, his genuine care for his employees, his brilliant mind—reminded her of all the reasons she’d fallen for him in the first place.
One month into her stay, Vantage hosted a party celebrating the completion of their latest project, an eco-friendly residential complex.
The event was held on the rooftop of the building with Barcelona’s glittering skyline as the backdrop. Belle wore a simple emerald silk dress, her hair loose around her shoulders.
She was speaking with colleagues when she felt Katon’s presence behind her.
“You look beautiful,” he said quietly.
She turned, unable to stop the slight flush that rose to her cheeks.
“Thank you. This is an impressive achievement,” she added, gesturing to the building around them.
“Would you like a tour of the place? The views from the eastern terrace are spectacular.”
Against her better judgment, Belle agreed. As they walked through the building, Katon explained the sustainable features: solar panels, rainwater harvesting systems, and vertical gardens.
His enthusiasm was contagious, and Belle found herself smiling genuinely for the first time in weeks.
On the eastern terrace, with the Mediterranean visible in the distance, they stood side by side, a comfortable silence between them.
“I’ve missed this,” Katon said softly. “Talking to someone who understands me.”
“Katon,” Belle began, warning in her voice.
“I know, I know,” he said quickly. “Professional boundaries. But can I say one thing?”
“I never stopped thinking about you. Even when I convinced myself letting you go was the right thing, I never stopped missing you.”
Before she could respond, they were interrupted by one of the investors calling Katon’s name. The moment shattered, and Belle was both relieved and disappointed.
The following day, Katon was unusually distant at work, and Belle told herself it was for the best.
But when he announced he would be traveling to Madrid for three days for meetings, she felt an irrational pang of disappointment.
While he was gone, Belle took the opportunity to explore Barcelona properly. She wandered through the Gothic Quarter, marveled at Gaudi’s architecture, and sat at seaside cafes trying to clear her head.
But thoughts of Katon persisted. On the third evening, as she was walking home from a small restaurant, her phone rang with his number.
“Katon?” she answered, surprised.
“Hey,” he replied, his voice tired. “I just wanted to check in. How’s everything at the office?”
“Fine,” she said. “Everything’s running smoothly. Are your meetings going well?”
“Yes, but exhausting. I’d rather be back in Barcelona.”
There was a pause before he added, “I’d rather be where you are.”
The honesty in his voice caught her off guard.
“Katon, we agreed.”
“I know what we agreed,” he interrupted. “But I can’t pretend anymore, Belle.”
“These past weeks working with you, seeing you every day, it’s made me realize what I threw away three years ago.”
Belle closed her eyes, standing still in the middle of the sidewalk as pedestrians flowed around her.
“You hurt me badly.”
“I know,” he said. “And I will regret that for the rest of my life.”
“But I’m asking if there’s any chance you might consider giving me—giving us—a second chance.”
“I don’t know,” she answered truthfully. “I need time to think.”
