He took a step towards me, his eyes locked on my face.

Did he really remember me?

If he did, it would ruin everything.

But then his phone rang in pocket. His gaze snapped away, and without a word, he walked past me.

I let out a low chuckle.

Of course he wouldn’t remember me. Who would?

I was the complete opposite of the overweight, insecure and poor girl they knew.

My dark purple hair was silky straight, falling to my waist. My skin rivaled with porcelain, my waist was almost nonexistent and my curves sharply defined.

I no longer wore glasses too big for my face and my teeth were pearl white and perfectly arranged.

I was beautiful now.

I was the Imani Rodriguez.

It was impossible for him to recognize me.

“Imani?” Justin called my attention.

“Let’s go receive my award.” I smirked and walked into the hall.

They were already giving out awards, but it hadn’t reached my category– Most innovative in Tech.

As I walked to my seat, I could feel eyes on me, gazing in awe or jealousy. Or both.

Not that I minded. I was used to the stares already.

Back then, anytime I stepped into a room, eyes gravitated towards me, but they weren’t filled with awe or jealousy.

They held a condescending look in their eyes. Insulting. Mocking. Ridicule.

How the tides have turned.

The award presenter climbed the stage and called out the nominees in my category.

The only name asides from mine that caught my attention was his. Cody Simmons. CEO of The Sims Industries.

The past had a way of clawing back into the present.

“And the winner is…” the announcer opened the envelope, “Imani Rodriguez.”

A smirk unfurled accross my lips as applause flooded the room.

“Go get it girl!” Justin cheered as I walked to the stage.

I bowed slightly, accepting the award.

When I stood before the mic, the applause died down, “I started this business with a dream. A desire to become someone worth applauding, impacting lives on a global scale.”

My eyes found his in the crowd, and my smile deepened, “And I assure you, this is only the beginning.”

My heart swelled in satisfaction from the frown on his face.

“Thank you!” I smiled and was ushered off the stage with thundering applause.

“Loved the speech girl!” Justin whispered to me excitedly when I took my seat.

“I’m a natural.” I whispered cockily.

From my peripheral view, I could see him looking at me.

A final applause filled the hall and we exited the hall.

“You seem to have an admirer.” Justin gestured towards his direction subtly.

It’s so funny how eight years ago, that phrase would have caused raging butterflies to erupt in my belly.

But the butterflies died on that rooftop along with Laura.

All that is left of her is the rage.

“He won’t be the first nor the last.” I waved it off, nonchalantly.

“Did you contact the real estate agent?” I asked, immediately changing the topic.

“Yes, yes, they’re applying the final touches to the penthouse as we speak.” He said, tapping away at his iPad, “And your meeting with–“

“Miss Rodriguez!” A cheerful voice interrupted from behind us.

“Mr. Alvarez, it’s been a while.” I smiled as the middle aged man approached me.

“Four years went by so fast.” He said wistfully.

“How is Maggie?” I asked

“Still an unrelenting nagger, but I’m stuck with her for life.” He sighed.

“How unfortunate.”

“Terribly.” He chuckled, “I believe congratulations are in order.”

“Thank you.”

“Word is going round that you’re here to stay.” He said, his eyes twinkling.

“I never took you for a gossip, Mr. Alvarez. Maggie must have rubbed off on you.” I said in a playful tone.

“Marriage does that to you, I suppose.” He smirked, then continued, “If you are here to stay, it’s going to make a lot of people uncomfortable.”

I cocked a brow, “Is that so?”

He nodded, “If you choose to dive in this ocean, you must be prepared to swim with the sharks.”

“And are you one of those sharks, Mr. Alvarez?”

He laughed, “I’m more of a stone fish, hiding in plain sight.”

“Diving in after the sharks have had their fill?” I suggested.

“It guarantees survival.” He reasoned, “You’ve already stepped on some toes with this award… try not to step on anymore while you’re here.”

I chuckled, “You’ve known me too long to underestimate me.”

“I could never, but you shouldn’t underestimate them either.”

“I appreciate your concern, Mr. Alvarez, but I know a thing or two about survival.”

I glanced at my Rolex watch, “I would love to keep talking about my adversaries, but I have a meeting to attend.”

“Of course.” He smiled, crinkles forming at the corners of his mouth

I was about to turn, but then I paused, “New York isn’t my scene, it’s too… chaotic.”

New York City dulled in comparison to the finesse of Europe.

And at least in Europe, the streets were not a constant reminder of my tragedy.

So why would I want to stay here?

He snickered, “That, I agree.”

I left him with a smile and returned to Justin.

“Old friend?” He asked as he followed beside me.

“Acquaintance.” I replied.

He nodded, and I was thankful he didn’t press any further.

There were certain things about my past he wasn’t privy to and one of them was my relationship with Mr Alvarez.

“So, dropping my PA hat for two seconds,” he said, his eyes gleaming with mischief.

“No.”

“You haven’t even heard what I want to say!!”

“I’ve seen that look too many times, and it ended in a disaster every single time.” I rolled my eyes

“Girl, it wasn’t that bad.” He rolled his eyes.

“We ran from the police, because someone thought it was a good idea to break into their exes house and release snakes.”

“First off, they weren’t poisonous. Secondly he was a dick, and you know he deserved it.” He pointed out.

“Even though, you have an incredible record of making terrible decisions.”

“Girl, you just won one of the most coveted awards in the industry, we should celebrate!”

Knowing Justin, ‘celebrate’ meant shutting down a club and getting so drunk, we puke up our intestines the next morning.

“I’d much rather sleep.” I said flatly, wearing my shades again once we got to the entrance of the building.

My body guards surrounded us again and led us through the crowd, into the limousine.

“This is what you did in college and let me go to those parties alone!” He pouted.

“You had your boyfriends.”

He sighed dramatically, “My point is, allow yourself to take a break. You deserve it Imani.”

“Stop making this about me, we both know you just want to throw ass in the club.”

“God didn’t bless me with such a fine ass just to sit on it.” He giggled.

I rolled my eyes, a small smile tugging at my lips.

“So…?” He leaned it with hopeful eyes.

I sighed, “If I miss my meeting, you're fired, and I mean it this time.”

He squealed and gave me a suffocating hug, “I swear, you won’t!!”

He turned to the driver, “Take us to the most exclusive club in New York!”

I shook my head, Justin was always the life of the party. And I?

I was nowhere to be seen at the party. Only at competitions and conventions. Always buried in school then work.

People were always confused by our friendship, but you know what they say– opposites attract right?

In about thirty minutes, the car slowed.

“This is where all the celebrities go, I’m sure you’d like it ma'am." The driver said as we pulled up to the entrance of the club.

And when my eyes caught the glowing sign, my fists clenched.

“Welcome to the Hamilton exclusive club.”