Chapter 7 · He Was Waiting There

After hanging up, I just stared at my phone, unable to snap out of it.

What was he really trying to say?

Was this just business, or was there something more behind it?

Before I could even sort out my feelings, the work group chat exploded.

Johnny dropped the news about the partnership, and everyone started sending their congratulations.

Mixed in with all the messages was one from Archer Foster.

Archer was the producer of another finance show at the station, and he and I had always been rivals.

"Arabella, you're really something. You just landed a huge client like Aureon Intelligence. Guess it takes more than just skills—charisma matters too, huh?" Archer said.

His snarky comment immediately got a few people chiming in.

I frowned, my patience wearing thin.

I knew the gossip about me and Freddie was probably already all over the station.

My meltdown yesterday, plus being handpicked for this partnership today, was more than enough to get people talking.

For the past ten years, I'd worked my butt off, clawing my way up at the TV station, never backing down.

I hated nothing more than getting ahead by anything other than hard work.

But now, all the professionalism and hard work I'd fought so hard for were suddenly tainted by this ridiculous mix-up, leaving a cloud of rumors and uncertainty hanging over everything.

As I was stewing in frustration, my phone buzzed softly.

It was a text from an unfamiliar number. [It's Freddie.]

Those simple words made my heart skip a beat.

I held my phone, feeling a chill run through my fingertips.

Then, a second message popped up. It was a photo.

The picture showed a worn-out signal tower perched on a hillside.

The sunset was setting beside the tower, casting a gentle golden halo over the whole thing.

It was Pinnacle Tower. I recognized it right away.

It looked just like it did in my memories—quiet, unwavering, frozen in time, as if it was still waiting for the person who was ten years late to their meeting.

As I stared at the photo, still stunned, a third message came in. [Pinnacle Tower's still standing.]

[The scenery's even more beautiful than it was ten years ago.]

[Arabella, does our date from back then still count?]

Freddie's last message was like a stone dropped into a calm lake, setting off a thousand ripples inside me.

My finger hovered above the screen, unable to tap out a reply.

'Should I go? Or just stay home?

Logic told me that after ten years, we weren't the same people anymore. Could a date, ten years late, really make any difference?

It'd just be a clumsy period at the end of this absurd story.

But somewhere deep inside, a voice was calling out to me. "Just go, Arabella. Go and give a proper apology to the boy who waited all night at Pinnacle Tower.

"And maybe, after ten years of aimless striving, you'll finally find a real ending for yourself."

I stared at the photo of Pinnacle Tower bathed in sunset for a long, long time.

Then, I took a deep breath and sent a single word. [Yes.]

The moment I hit send, it felt like I'd just closed a ten-year chapter in my life.

My heart was racing—nervous, anxious, but mostly relieved, like the dust had finally settled.

He replied almost right away. [Tomorrow night, 7 PM. Meet me at the east gate of our old school.]

There were no extra words, just straight to the point—classic Freddie.

*****

The next afternoon, I ended my sick leave early and went back to work at the station.

I needed to throw myself into work to steady my nerves.

As soon as I stepped into the office, I could feel all the curious and nosy stares—everyone trying to guess what had happened.

Archer was surrounded by a group, holding court and talking up a storm.

When he spotted me, he made sure to speak louder, just so I'd hear. "Seriously, the gap between people is wild, huh?

"We're out here busting our asses for a decent project, and then there's someone who just catches up with an old classmate and a multi-billion-dollar deal lands right in their lap."

He shot me a pointed look, a mocking smirk on his lips.

The people around him joined in with knowing laughs, and the whole vibe in the room got a little awkward.

Normally, I'd just walk over and shut him down with my track record and professionalism.

But today, I didn't because, honestly, he was half right.

This project really did come from my personal ties with Freddie.

Even though Freddie kept insisting it was all about my professional skills, to everyone else, it just looked like some kind of ambiguous arrangement.

For the first time, on the battlefield where I was supposed to be invincible, I felt utterly powerless.

I walked straight to my desk, head held high, not looking at anyone, and fired up my computer, diving into the mountain of work waiting for me.

I told myself not to pay attention to the rumors.

Chapter 7

After hanging up, I just stared at my phone, unable to snap out of it.

What was he really trying to say?

Was this just business, or was there something more behind it?

Before I could even sort out my feelings, the work group chat exploded.

Johnny dropped the news about the partnership, and everyone started sending their congratulations.

Mixed in with all the messages was one from Archer Foster.

Archer was the producer of another finance show at the station, and he and I had always been rivals.

"Arabella, you're really something. You just landed a huge client like Aureon Intelligence. Guess it takes more than just skills—charisma matters too, huh?" Archer said.

His snarky comment immediately got a few people chiming in.

I frowned, my patience wearing thin.

I knew the gossip about me and Freddie was probably already all over the station.

My meltdown yesterday, plus being handpicked for this partnership today, was more than enough to get people talking.

For the past ten years, I'd worked my butt off, clawing my way up at the TV station, never backing down.

I hated nothing more than getting ahead by anything other than hard work.

But now, all the professionalism and hard work I'd fought so hard for were suddenly tainted by this ridiculous mix-up, leaving a cloud of rumors and uncertainty hanging over everything.

As I was stewing in frustration, my phone buzzed softly.

It was a text from an unfamiliar number. [It's Freddie.]

Those simple words made my heart skip a beat.

I held my phone, feeling a chill run through my fingertips.

Then, a second message popped up. It was a photo.

The picture showed a worn-out signal tower perched on a hillside.

The sunset was setting beside the tower, casting a gentle golden halo over the whole thing.

It was Pinnacle Tower. I recognized it right away.

It looked just like it did in my memories—quiet, unwavering, frozen in time, as if it was still waiting for the person who was ten years late to their meeting.

As I stared at the photo, still stunned, a third message came in. [Pinnacle Tower's still standing.]

[The scenery's even more beautiful than it was ten years ago.]

[Arabella, does our date from back then still count?]

Freddie's last message was like a stone dropped into a calm lake, setting off a thousand ripples inside me.

My finger hovered above the screen, unable to tap out a reply.

'Should I go? Or just stay home?

Logic told me that after ten years, we weren't the same people anymore. Could a date, ten years late, really make any difference?

It'd just be a clumsy period at the end of this absurd story.

But somewhere deep inside, a voice was calling out to me. "Just go, Arabella. Go and give a proper apology to the boy who waited all night at Pinnacle Tower.

"And maybe, after ten years of aimless striving, you'll finally find a real ending for yourself."

I stared at the photo of Pinnacle Tower bathed in sunset for a long, long time.

Then, I took a deep breath and sent a single word. [Yes.]

The moment I hit send, it felt like I'd just closed a ten-year chapter in my life.

My heart was racing—nervous, anxious, but mostly relieved, like the dust had finally settled.

He replied almost right away. [Tomorrow night, 7 PM. Meet me at the east gate of our old school.]

There were no extra words, just straight to the point—classic Freddie.

*****

The next afternoon, I ended my sick leave early and went back to work at the station.

I needed to throw myself into work to steady my nerves.

As soon as I stepped into the office, I could feel all the curious and nosy stares—everyone trying to guess what had happened.

Archer was surrounded by a group, holding court and talking up a storm.

When he spotted me, he made sure to speak louder, just so I'd hear. "Seriously, the gap between people is wild, huh?

"We're out here busting our asses for a decent project, and then there's someone who just catches up with an old classmate and a multi-billion-dollar deal lands right in their lap."

He shot me a pointed look, a mocking smirk on his lips.

The people around him joined in with knowing laughs, and the whole vibe in the room got a little awkward.

Normally, I'd just walk over and shut him down with my track record and professionalism.

But today, I didn't because, honestly, he was half right.

This project really did come from my personal ties with Freddie.

Even though Freddie kept insisting it was all about my professional skills, to everyone else, it just looked like some kind of ambiguous arrangement.

For the first time, on the battlefield where I was supposed to be invincible, I felt utterly powerless.

I walked straight to my desk, head held high, not looking at anyone, and fired up my computer, diving into the mountain of work waiting for me.

I told myself not to pay attention to the rumors.