Alex walked straight to Eileen's office as his custom was whenever he was in a fix. Her office was right beside his, a space that always smelled faintly of vanilla and paper just like her. It was almost therapeutic. He needed that calm right now.

As he walked in, the first thing he noticed was a bouquet of fresh white roses on her desk, paired with an unopened box of chocolates wrapped neatly in gold foil.

"Someone's got a new suitor?" he teased lightly as he made his way to the chair in front of hers.

Eileen chuckled softly, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "Well, maybe... maybe not," she said with a faint smile the kind that didn't quite reach her eyes. For all her beauty and brilliance, Eileen had never had the best of luck with relationships. She often joked that men found her too independent, too sharp, too much. But Alex knew it wasn't her; it was them.

She leaned forward, folding her hands on the desk. "Anyway, what was all that about? As soon as I saw your mum walk into the building, I knew there was trouble. Talk to me."

"It's Mr. Smith... again," Alex replied, his voice heavy with frustration. He sank into the seat, rubbing the bridge of his nose before recounting what had happened in his father's office. Eileen listened intently, her expression shifting between concern and calculation. She could easily pass as his best friend  because, in truth, she was.

Silence stretched between them for a moment after he finished. The hum of the air conditioner filled the space until Eileen finally spoke. "Alex, your parents may never forgive you if you don't do this. Need I remind you that your legal future is at stake as well? Your father's nearing retirement, and we both know you'll be taking over as managing partner soon. But there'll be nothing left to take over if you let this fall apart."

She paused, watching his reaction. "And besides, like your parents said, Mr. Smith isn't exactly asking you to marry her..."

Alex cut in sharply. "But we both know that's where this is headed. He's always wanted me to marry her  ever since primary school, when she told him she had a crush on me."

Eileen blinked, her eyes widening in surprise. "Wait, what?" she said, leaning forward. "Run that by me again."

Alex sighed and leaned back in his chair. "It's a long story."

He recounted how, back in fifth grade, Lily Smith had been his classmate. He didn't know at the time that his father was already giving legal counsel to Mr. Smith, who was just starting one of his tech subsidiaries. When their parents realized the connection, Alex and Lily quickly became inseparable until everything fell apart.

"She told the entire class including her dad that she had a crush on me," he said, shaking his head with a wry smile. "Everyone teased me for weeks. I was mortified. I stopped talking to her, and never did till she left the school when they moved. I heard her mum died as well when she was in college but well....

Eileen laughed so hard she almost dropped her pen. "You're kidding! After all these years, this is what it's about?" she said, still grinning. "No wonder he's obsessed with this whole thing."

"Yeah, well," Alex muttered.

"Alex and Lily, sitting on a tree, K-I-" she began to sing before he interrupted.

"Eileen, stop it!" he snapped, though a faint smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth. "This isn't funny. What am I supposed to tell my girlfriend? That I'm leaving town to find another woman? That's insane. And even if I do find Lily, what makes you think she'd want to see me? From what I've heard from Mr. Smith, she's cut him off completely. She wants nothing to do with him." He sighed. "I feel terrible for the guy  first his wife dies, now his daughter's gone. But this? This is too much."

Eileen tilted her head, studying him. "I hate to break it to you, but your girlfriend will be the first to leave your sorry ass if you lose everything."

He froze, her words stinging more than he wanted to admit. "Emily's not like that," he said defensively, but Eileen's raised brow said she wasn't convinced.

He ignored her and leaned forward. "Eileen, when I'm in a fix, my solutions come from either you, Dad or mom. This time, it's only you. What do I do?"

She stared at him for a few seconds; her eyes softer now, almost pitying. "Alex, I hate to say it, but there's only one option on the table. Take it, and maybe all this gets resolved. Leave it, and watch your family's legacy crumble to the ground and live with the guilt."

She hesitated, then added, "And just so you know, rumor has it that AB Partners has made an offer to Mr. Smith too. If he doesn't get a response from us soon, he'll gladly take theirs."

A deep frown carved into Alex's face. AB Partne,  his sworn rivals. His father might have brushed them off as competition, but Alex despised them. The last case he lost had been against them, and the defeat had bruised his ego so badly he still hadn't recovered.

"AB Partners, you say?" he muttered. "Ha! Maybe I should just take Mr. Smith's offer after all."

Eileen smiled faintly. She knew exactly which buttons to press. "That's what I thought."

Just then, the door burst open, and one of the paralegals stumbled in, clutching a newspaper. Her face was pale. "Ms. Eileen... you both need to see this."

She held up the front page for them to see. The bold headline screamed across the top:

NEW YORK'S ELITE LAW FIRM - BUILT ON LIES?

Underneath was a photo of their firm's glass building gleaming in the morning sun, framed like a symbol of hypocrisy.

"Oh, shit," Alex muttered, his stomach twisting. "I thought the blogs had moved on from this."

For the past month, their firm had been fighting to recover from a scandal that had nearly destroyed their reputation. One of their senior lawyers had fabricated evidence in a high-profile case and lied under oath. When the truth came out, it was a media storm. The attorney for the plaintiff exposed everything, and headlines had been merciless ever since.

Alex still blamed himself. He had been scheduled to work on that case but had taken a last-minute vacation. The guilt ate at him daily. But no one had suffered more than his father. Known for his integrity  "honest to a fault," the press used to say. Mr. Cromwell had been branded a hypocrite overnight. He didn't leave his room for three days. Three of their major clients had pulled out. And now, if Starlife terminated its contract too, the firm would drown in debt.

Mr. Smith had seen the opening and swooped in with his offer. But now, Alex couldn't help wondering if Mr. Smith himself had something to do with Starlife's sudden change of heart.

"Is this today's paper?" Eileen asked the paralegal. The young woman nodded silently. Eileen sighed, motioning for her to drop it on the desk and leave.

When the door closed, the room went quiet again.

"This is getting worse than I thought," Alex said finally, running a hand through his hair and pacing the floor. 

He walked out of Eileen's office after letting out a loud sigh, his reflection flashing briefly in the glass wall as he disappeared down the hall.

Alex left Eileen's office with his mind made up and his heart pounding. The newspaper headline  NEW YORK'S ELITE LAW FIRM; BUILT ON LIES? still burned in his head as he walked down the glass corridor that led to his father's office. Every step echoed with the weight of his decision.

His father's secretary looked up as he approached. "Mr. Cromwell, your parents are still inside," she said cautiously.

Alex nodded and knocked once before stepping in. The familiar scent of whiskey and polished leather greeted him. His mother sat gracefully on the couch, her posture calm and deliberate. His father, behind his desk, stared blankly at a document.

"Alex," his mother said softly, as if she'd been expecting him. "You came back."

"I have," Alex replied, steadying his voice. "I've made my decision."

Mr. Cromwell finally looked up, his expression unreadable. "And?"

"I'll do it," Alex said simply. "I'll find Lily."

A silence lingered. His mother exhaled, relief flickering in her eyes. His father rose slowly, adjusting his cufflinks before approaching.

"Good," he said. "You're doing the right thing, son."

"Am I?" Alex asked, meeting his gaze. "Because it doesn't feel like it."

Mr. Cromwell's tone softened. "Sometimes, the right thing doesn't feel right until it's done."

His mother stood, brushing a stray curl from her cheek. "Then go before anyone else gets to Smith. AB Partners are waiting for a reason to walk."

Alex nodded. "I'll speak to Mr. Smith today."

"Good," his father replied, his tone clipped but approving. "And, Alex... thank you."

That was all he needed to hear.

The drive to Mr. Smith's office blurred past in streaks of light and restless thought. By the time he arrived, the sun had begun to sink behind the skyline, painting the city gold.

Mr. Smith's office towered over Midtown, all glass and power. The older man stood by the window with a glass of whiskey when Alex entered.

"Alex," he said with a half-smile. "I wasn't expecting you so soon."

"I wanted to tell you in person," Alex replied. "I'll take your offer."

Mr. Smith's expression shifted from surprise to relief. "You don't know what this means to me."

"I have an idea," Alex said dryly. "But I'm not doing this for you. I'm doing it for my father."

Mr. Smith's smile faltered. "Whatever your reason, what matters is that you'll bring her home."

He reached into his desk and pulled out a sleek black envelope. "I just want her back, Alex. The deal, the money all that can wait."

"But you still haven't told me why she left," Alex said.

A shadow crossed Mr. Smith's face. "Some harsh decisions I made ones I deeply regret drove her away."

Alex nodded after a pause. "You'll have her back," he said quietly. "I'll make sure of it."

"I'll have my private investigator send you everything we've gathered; her last known address, and a few photos which are quite old but will give you a good idea. You'll have it by nightfall."

"Alright," Alex said. "The sooner I have the details, the sooner I can leave."

Mr. Smith nodded. "Efficient as always. Just... be patient with her. She's not the same girl you remember."

Alex gave a small nod and left without looking back.

"Book me the earliest flight to Chicago tomorrow morning," he told Eileen over the phone as soon as he got into his car.

"Chicago?" she asked.

"Yes. Mr. Smith's daughter is there."

"Alright. I'll get you on the 8 a.m. flight. Business class, I assume?"

"Yes," he said with a faint smile. "Might as well enjoy this dreadful trip."

Eileen chuckled. "Of course. And Alex... be careful."

"I will."

Back at his penthouse, the city lights shimmered against the windows. Emily's car was already parked outside, and despite everything, the sight made him smile. Inside, she was curled up on the couch watching her usual reality show. She ran into his arms the moment she saw him.

"I've missed you so much,babe" she said, kissing him. "You don't look great, though. Work stress?"

"Yeah," he said, forcing a smile. "A lot's going on."

He sometimes wondered if she'd seen the headlines about his firm's scandal. She'd never mentioned it not once. A part of him thought maybe she just didn't want to upset him but another part ..erm was unsure. 

"I'll be traveling to Chicago tomorrow morning," he said after a pause. "Work trip. Not sure when I'll be back."

"Tomorrow? That's soon." She didn't look away from the TV. "Don't forget to send me some bucks before you go as you usually do."

He laughed softly, though it stung. "You know I will."

As she returned her attention to the screen, Alex climbed upstairs and muttered to himself "that was easier than I thought." He packed a few clothes and his laptop before he saw an email notification. 

He checked his inbox. A new email sat there from one Daniel, Private Investigator.

He clicked it open.

Inside were photos from about 3 years ago and one which looked quite recent. Alex exhaled, staring at the picture a moment longer. "Wow,Lily. She looked more beautiful now," he murmured. 

At the bottom was a note; "Lily Smith. Best graduating student of northwestern university school of law. These pictures are from when she was in university and the recent one is from her graduation. She has been extremely secretive since she graduated so her current address is unknown but I've added a list of possible addresses"

He saw his phone beep as he scanned through the mail. It was Mr Smith. He checked the time "11:03pm," why was Mr Smith calling him at this time? 

"Hello sir" he said when he picked up his phone 

"Alex, I know I shouldn't be calling at this time but please I'm relying on you to maintain my sanity. Do this for me and I'd forever be indebted to you" 

"I won't disappoint, Mr Smith" 

"Thank you, Alex" Mr Smith said finally as he ended the call. 

Alex shut his laptop, turned off the lights, and tried to rest though sleep never came easily.

The next morning, the airport buzzed with life. Alex moved through the crowd quietly, blending in despite his tailored suit. The weight of his decision pressed on him heavier than his luggage.

As the plane taxied down the runway, he gazed out the window at the skyline fading in the distance.

"Goodbye, New York," he thought. "Hello, trouble."

In the quiet of a crisp Chicago morning, an alarm went off in one beautifully decorated apartment overlooking the lake. Lily groaned softly, blinking her eyes open as the soft sunlight streamed through her white curtains. She said a prayer as she lay on her bed; something her late mother always made her do which had stuck with her. 

  It was her first day at work at Barton & Myers LLP, one of Illinois' largest and most respected law firms. Her first day as a junior associate three simple words that meant the world to her.

  She sat up, stretched lazily, and her gaze fell on the small plaque on her bedside table.

  "Lily Smith, Esq."

  A smile curved her lips as she whispered under her breath, "You did this, Lily."

  After all those sleepless nights and all the tears that had soaked her pillow, she'd done it.

  She got dressed; a fitted cream blouse tucked neatly into a high-waisted pencil skirt that hugged her curves with effortless grace. Her dark hair, straightened to a glossy sheen, fell over her shoulders, and her nude heels clicked confidently as she walked through her apartment. 

  There was something about Lily an understated elegance that made people look twice. It wasn't just her beauty; it was her quiet poise, the kind that came from surviving heartbreak and loss yet choosing to rise anyway.

  After a quick stop at her favorite coffee shop on the corner, she was off to work, humming softly to the rhythm of the city.

  "Lilss! Lilss!"

  She turned, recognizing the familiar voice instantly. Only one person ever called her that.

  "Hey, someone's early today," Lily teased, her smile stretching wide as she saw Gillian hurrying toward her, latte in hand.

  "Wellll, I thought I had to make a good impression on my first day," Gillian said, brushing her curls out of her face, "and since someone got me this job, I've got to behave."

  Lily chuckled. She was definitely the "someone." When the managing partner of Barton & Myers had offered her the position, she'd agreed on one condition that he hire her best friend too, which he readily did.

  Well, after graduation, her inbox had been flooded with offers from several prestigious firms, but the junior associate position at Barton & Myers won her heart.

  The two women walked toward the building's glass doors, chatting and laughing as though they owned the world.

  They had been inseparable since law school three years of sharing an apartment, ramen dinners, late-night study sessions, and emotional breakdowns that sometimes ended in laughter, sometimes in tears. Gillian had been there when Lily twisted her arm and had to wear a cast, and when her ex-boyfriend broke up with her two weeks before graduation.

  Through all of it Gillian never left.

  She was the first friend Lily made when she moved to Chicago the one who stood by her through every breakdown, every lonely night, and the long silence that still lingered after her mother's death a year before she moved. Her father had changed after that too much, too fast.

  But that chapter of her life was one she still wasn't ready to reopen.

  For now, it was better left behind like a book she'd promised herself she'd finish one day, but not today.

  As they reached the firm's lobby, they were greeted by the receptionist. "Ms. Smith? Ms. Lee? Welcome. You'll be shown around shortly."

  They were ushered through the offices past rows of glass doors, sleek furniture, and walls lined with awards and framed newspaper clippings. Barton & Myers LLP: Champions of Justice, one headline read.

  By the time they returned to the reception area, Lily's excitement had doubled. One of the senior partners handed her a slim file.

  "These are your first few cases," he said with a professional smile. "We'll see what you can do."

  She accepted it, her heart thrumming with a mix of thrill and disbelief. Her first cases.

  Just then, her phone buzzed in her bag. She sighed and fished it out "Unknown."

  That same number.

  Her finger hovered over the screen. For a moment, she wanted to answer.

  Maybe just maybe it was him.

  She wanted to tell him everything that she'd made it, that she was starting a new life, that his little girl had become a lawyer.

  But no.

  No, he'd made his choice four years ago and she'd learned to live without his approval.

  She silenced the call and slipped the phone back into her bag.

  For now, she would stick to Gillian; her best friend, her sister, her only family now.

  "Who was that?" Gillian asked, noticing her expression.

  "Probably no one," Lily said quickly, forcing a smile. "Come on, let's get to work. There's not much time to waste."

  A few hours later, a secretary appeared at Lily's door as she and Gillian were about to step out for their lunch break. 

  "Ms. Smith,Ms Brooks, Mr. Barton would like to see you in his office."

  She exchanged a quick glance with Gillian before they walked down the hall. The managing partner's office was sleek and tastefully modern. Glass walls, shelves of legal books, and a faint smell of fresh coffee.

  "Ms. Smith,Ms Brooks " Mr. Barton greeted warmly. "I just wanted to personally welcome you again. We're thrilled to have you here."

  "Thank you, sir," Lily replied, straightening slightly.

  He smiled, studying her for a moment. "You know, I was meaning to mention this during the graduation ceremony, you have quite a striking resemblance to Mr. Ray Smith, the CEO of Quantis Global.Ever been told that?"

  Lily's heart skipped. "I... no, sir. I'm not related to him."

  "Ah, I see," he said, still smiling, though clearly intrigued. "Funny coincidence, then."

  Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Gillian waited uncomfortably. Gillian knew exactly what that name meant, and she silently prayed it wouldn't trigger Lily.

  But Lily's expression didn't waver. Her voice stayed calm. "It must be," she said simply.

  The conversation continued for a while before they finally stepped out of the office.

  And as Lily walked back toward her new desk, she told herself she was fine, that the past would stay where it belonged.

  But deep down, a part of her knew the past had a strange way of finding its way back.