Past Lovers

A Glamorous Affair

The weeks following the gala were a whirlwind of activity for Megan. She had been promoted at her job at the PR firm, and Michael had thrown himself into his duties as CEO of his company. But despite their busy schedules, they still found time to be together, going on dates and spending lazy weekends lounging around Michael's luxurious penthouse apartment.

One day, as Megan was scrolling through her emails at work, she saw a message from Alex. Her heart skipped a beat as she clicked on the subject line.

"Hey, Megan. I hope you're doing well. I just wanted to thank you again for being so gracious at the gala. It meant a lot to me. I know we haven't always seen eye to eye, but I hope we can put the past behind us and be friends."

Megan felt a twinge of guilt as she read the message. She had been so focused on Michael and their relationship that she had forgotten about Alex. She knew that it wouldn't be fair to Michael to be in contact with her ex, but she couldn't help feeling curious about what Alex had been up to.

After much deliberation, Megan decided to reply to Alex's email. She kept her response short and professional, thanking him for his message and wishing him all the best.

To her surprise, Alex replied almost immediately. Over the next few weeks, they exchanged a few more emails, catching up on each other's lives and reminiscing about old times. Megan found herself enjoying their conversations, but she knew that she had to be careful not to let them turn into something more.

Meanwhile, Michael had been working tirelessly on a new project for his company. He had been tight-lipped about the details, but he had hinted to Megan that it was going to be something big.

One night, as they were lying in bed together, Michael turned to Megan with a glint in his eye. "Megan, I have something to show you."

He reached over to his nightstand and pulled out a folder. Megan sat up, intrigued.

"What is it?" she asked.

"It's a proposal for a new development project," Michael said, opening the folder. "I've been working on it for months, and I think it's going to change the face of the city."

Megan leaned over to look at the papers in the folder. She saw blueprints and diagrams, lists of budgets and materials. She couldn't make heads or tails of it, but she could see the passion in Michael's eyes.

"It looks amazing," she said, placing a hand on his arm. "I'm so proud of you, Michael."

He smiled at her, his eyes shining. "I couldn't have done it without you, Megan. You're my inspiration."

Megan felt a flutter in her stomach at his words. She knew that Michael loved her, but sometimes she still couldn't believe how lucky she was to have him.

Over the next few weeks, Michael's project began to take shape. He spent countless hours in meetings and on conference calls, but he always made time for Megan. They went on dates and took trips out of the city, enjoying the little moments of happiness in their busy lives.

Tonight was the night of the VIP ceremony where Michael would reveal his new development project. She had almost begun to hate these events. Not out of spite or jealousy, but because it meant seeing Alex. They had still been emailing back and forth, but she felt guilty. While the conversations remained platonic, she knew deep down there was something there. 

Why hadn't she told Michael? Well, she knew it was wrong. She should be happy with her life. Michael treats her like a queen; fine gifts, beautiful vacations, penthouses. But she would be lying to herself if she didn't miss the feeling of the low budget, high adventure dates she had back when her and Alex were together.

Her favorite was when they both were in between jobs, they didn't have much and couldn't afford fancy dinner dates. They would go to the grocery store, each with ten dollars in hand, and pick the most obscure foods. They'd come home together and find a way to make a five course meal out of their strange concoctions. While most of these nights ended with someone bent over the porcelain toilet seat, the laughs they had together were infectious. She didn't have those moments with Michael, but she loved the relationship they had. 

They were both successful and could afford the lavish treats. It became a tradition for them to dress to the nines and try different Michelin star restaurants. It was what Mean had always dreamed for in life. Financial dependance with a person she loved, but the parties and wealthy mingling was something she always hated. It never felt genuine.

She knew how much this project meant to Michael, and she was honored that she would be able to witness its unveiling.

The night of the ceremony, Megan got dressed up in a sleek, black cocktail dress and a pair of strappy heels. 

"You look beautiful, my love," Michael exclaimed, looking her carefully up and down. 

With her cheeks turning red from the attention, Megan gave a small "thank you." While she had worked so hard to build her self confidence, she still sometimes didn't know how to accept compliments. 

He smiled, "come on darling, we don't want to be late," leading her out the door.

They finally arrived at the venue; a grand ballroom in the heart of the city.