Noelle Kelley kept feeling like this stranger was somehow familiar, but she couldn’t put her finger on why. Her mind started to drift, and it took a sharp, disapproving look from him to pull her back to her notes. Young as he was, Vivian Carter’s new associate clearly had sharp instincts.
Before they wrapped up, Noelle offered to swap contact info on messaging app so they could follow up later. She scanned his details, and a name blinked onto her screen: Jamie Johnston.
Old memories clawed their way to the surface. Jamie Johnston—her one and only rival back in college. She'd walked into university as the top scorer, convinced she'd own both the classroom and the social scene, until Jamie transferred into the CS department and swept past her in their very first round of exams.
Noelle had bragged to Patrick about being a top student, and that claim got crushed fast. Charley Jenkins, of course, didn't let it slide: "You know, computer science people are quick-witted—they excel at whatever they touch," she'd said, making it clear that Noelle's precious 'top student' image didn't hold up against someone like Jamie Johnston, who was acing almost every subject.
In the semesters that followed, Noelle tried to reclaim her spot at the top. But her attention kept fracturing over Charley and Patrick's growing closeness, and her focus never fully recovered. Eventually, she stopped tracking where she ranked, and her memory of Jamie's win went hazy. Still, Jamie remembered her vividly. But why? She'd never posed any real threat to him.
After they connected on messaging app, Jamie packed up his things and said, "I've shared the key points. Go over them carefully. If you have questions, message me, and I'll get back to you when I can."
Jamie didn't ask for any payment, especially since Vivian had made the introduction. But Noelle insisted on treating him to lunch as a token of thanks. Jamie turned her down politely. "I have other commitments—maybe another time."
"Sure," Noelle said, nodding. "But I won't back out. You can count on it."
Jamie let out a low chuckle. "As the esteemed daughter of the Kelley family—and soon-to-be ex-Mrs. Jordan—I'm sure you wouldn't."
Noelle froze, caught off guard. Was her reputation that widespread? Her background that well-known?
She recovered with a casual grace, sweeping a loose strand of hair behind her ear and offering an easy smile. "As the Kelley heiress, I never dodge my responsibilities. As for being Mrs. Jordan—that title's on its way out."
She caught the skepticism in Jamie's eyes and added, a little dryly, "The divorce is almost final."
With a resigned shrug, she swung her backpack over her shoulder and walked off, looking like she didn't have a care in the world.
Jamie stood there, momentarily speechless. The circles they ran in all knew the story: Noelle Kelley's desperate, all-consuming obsession with Patrick Jordan. How many years had she chased him? And now she was claiming she could walk away?
But something in her demeanor told him she meant it.
***
That afternoon, Noelle buried herself in her notes until the early hours. Jamie's guidance was like a triple shot of espresso—potent and eye-opening. Starting over meant setting aside old grudges, and she planned to learn everything she could from him through real case studies.
She slept until noon, then washed up quickly and headed back to Harvest Café.
On the other side of the street, Patrick Jordan sat in his Bentley, watching Noelle breeze into the café and slide into a seat by the window, clearly waiting for someone. A moment later, a tall young man walked in and joined her. Noelle's face lit up with a smile so radiant it felt like a blow.
Women are so unpredictable, he thought. Days ago, she'd shown up at his office looking utterly forgettable. Now she was dressed soft and pretty—for another man.
The way she leaned in, laughed, worked to charm this kid... it was uncomfortably familiar. It was exactly how she used to try to win Patrick over.
Watching her cozy up to the new guy, Patrick's hands clenched hard in his lap.
