Past Lovers

Open The Flood Gates

Megan couldn't help but feel a sense of awe at the sheer scale of the event. There were reporters and photographers lining the red carpet, snapping photos of the guests as they arrived. The ballroom was decked out in elegant decorations, with crystal chandeliers hanging from the ceiling and elaborate floral arrangements adorning every table.

Megan and Michael made their way to a table at the front of the room, where they were joined by some of Michael's colleagues and business partners. They chatted and sipped champagne as they waited for the ceremony to begin.

Finally, the lights in the ballroom dimmed, and a hush fell over the crowd. A spotlight shone on a stage at the front of the room, and Michael stepped up to the podium.

"Good evening, everyone," he began, his voice ringing out clear and strong. "I am honored to be here tonight to present to you my latest project. This development represents the culmination of months of hard work and dedication, and I am proud to say that it is a true testament to the spirit of innovation and progress that our company stands for."

Megan watched with pride as Michael delivered his speech, her heart swelling with love and admiration for him. She had never felt more grateful to be a part of his life.

As the ceremony drew to a close, Megan and Michael made their way to the after-party. They mingled with the guests, enjoying the music and the food, and basking in the glow of Michael's success.

But as the night wore on, Megan began to feel a sense of unease. She couldn't shake the feeling that someone was watching her, and she kept catching glimpses of a familiar face in the crowd.

Finally, as she was making her way to the bar to get a drink, she felt a hand on her arm. She turned around, and her heart skipped a beat as she saw who it was.

"Alex," she said, her voice catching in her throat. "What are you doing here?" She knew why he was here.

"I work for one of Michael's competitors, now" Alex said with a smile. That was a surprise to Megan, Michael never mentioned that Alex had left the company. "I heard about the event and thought I'd come check it out."

She couldn't help, but think that there was more to the story. Did he leave because of her and Michael's relationship? Why had Michael never said anything? Why hadn't Alex said anything over email.

Megan felt a pang of guilt as she looked into his eyes. She had forgotten all about her email exchange with Alex, and now she found herself face to face with him at Michael's event.

"It's good to see you," Alex said, his gaze sweeping over Megan's form. "You look amazing."

Megan felt a blush creeping up her neck as she realized that Alex was staring at her with an intensity that made her feel both uncomfortable and flattered.

It was like all those feelings from years ago came flooding back. She felt childish, as though they hadn't been emailing back and forth. But now, he was here in front of her. Older, more mature, more handsome. 

He reached out to brush her hand on his way to his glass, but he paused. Moments felt like hours and neither of them moved. After all those years, Megan couldn't fathom how something as simple as the touch of a hand could render her paralyzed. 

Michael watched her intently as her eyes remained glued to their hands on top of one another. She remembered where she was. Michael. Charity. Gala. She pulled her hand back with a nervous chuckle.

"I'm engaged, Alex," she said, her voice firm. "I'm with Michael now."

"I know," Alex said with a nod. "I'm happy for you, Megan. Michael is a lucky man."

Megan felt a sense of relief wash over her as Alex backed away, his gaze lingering on her for a moment before he turned and disappeared into the crowd.

The rest of the night passed in a blur of music and dancing, and Megan found herself lost in a haze of happiness and excitement. She had never felt more proud of Michael, and she knew that their future together was bright and full of promise, but she still felt something was wrong.

As the night drew to a close, Megan and Michael made their way back to his penthouse apartment. They collapsed onto the couch together, exhausted but happy.

"I'm so proud of you, Michael," Megan said, her voice soft. "You're amazing."

Michael leaned over and kissed her, his hand cradling her cheek. "I couldn't have done it without you, Megan," he said, his voice low and intimate. "You're my rock, my support, my everything."

Megan couldn't help, but feel the guilt for her thoughts and reservations on their relationship, but it was too late now. She was with Michael. Alex. Michael. 

As they sat there on the couch, wrapped up in each other's arms, Megan couldn't help but think about Alex. She felt guilty for not telling Michael about their email exchange, but she didn't want to cause any unnecessary drama.

She decided that she needed to put Alex out of her mind, and focus on her life with Michael. She had everything she had ever wanted, and she didn't want to risk losing it all by dwelling on the past.