Jai Chen's eyes glazed over as she stared blankly at her computer screen, her mind consumed by thoughts of her past. The marketing campaign for her company's new product launch, which was supposed to be her top priority, was all but forgotten. Her brain, once sharp and focused, now felt like a jumbled mess of emotions.
She found herself mindlessly scrolling through social media, torturing herself with updates from her ex-boyfriend, Yuan. They had been together for three years, and the memories of their time together still lingered, like an open wound. The breakup had left Jai reeling, and she couldn't help but wonder what she had done wrong.
As she scrolled through Yuan's posts, Jai's eyes began to sting. He seemed to have moved on effortlessly, posting pictures with his new girlfriend and bragging about his latest accomplishments. Jai, on the other hand, felt stuck, unable to shake off the feeling of inadequacy that had been plaguing her since the breakup.
Jai's eyes remained on the photo of Yuan and his girlfriend, Mei-Ling, the happy couple's smiles piercing her like a dagger. She felt a pang of jealousy, mixed with a dash of hurt and confusion. Why had Yuan moved on so quickly? Didn't he still love her? The questions swirled in her mind like a vortex, threatening to pull her under.
Just as Jai was about to get sucked into the abyss of her emotions, her phone buzzed, snapping her back to reality. She glanced at the screen and saw a text from her best friend, Jamie. "Hey girl, what's up? You've been MIA all week."
A warm smile spread across Jai's face as she felt a surge of gratitude towards Jamie. He was her rock, her confidant, and her partner in crime. Jamie and his husband, Alex, were one of Jai's favorite couples – their love was pure, kind, and inspiring. Jamie's text was just the distraction Jai needed to shake off the blues.
Jai's fingers flew across the keyboard as she typed out a response to Jamie. "Just work stuff. And Yuan stuff." She hesitated for a moment before hitting send, unsure if she was ready to open up about her feelings.
But Jamie responded immediately, his words a balm to her soul. "Ugh, don't even get me started on that guy. You're so much better off without him." Jai smiled wryly, feeling a surge of gratitude towards her friend. Jamie had always been her biggest supporter, and he never hesitated to tell her the truth.
As she continued to chat with Jamie, Jai's mind began to wander back to her ex. She couldn't help but wonder what had gone wrong in their relationship. Had she been too clingy? Too independent? The questions swirled in her mind like a vortex, threatening to pull her under.
Suddenly, a faint melody echoed in her mind, one that her Nana used to sing to her when she was a teenager. The words came flooding back, a gentle reminder that sometimes, things just don't work out. "Maybe you're just not the one," Jai hummed softly to herself, the words a soothing balm to her battered heart.
The questions continued to swirl in Jai's head, making it hard for her to focus on anything else. She felt like she was drowning in a sea of uncertainty. Just as she was starting to feel overwhelmed, her boss, Rachel, poked her head into Jai's cubicle.
"Hey Jai, can I talk to you for a minute?" Rachel asked, her bright red hair a vibrant splash of color against the drab office backdrop.
Jai nodded, quickly minimizing her social media tabs and trying to look focused. Rachel smiled warmly, her lovely green eyes sparkling with kindness.
"Jai, I know you've been going through a tough time lately," Rachel said, her voice gentle and understanding. "But I want you to know that we value you here. You're an amazing marketer, and we're lucky to have you."
Jai felt a surge of gratitude towards Rachel, who had a way of knowing exactly what to say to make her feel better. "Thanks, Rachel. That means a lot coming from you."
Rachel nodded and snickered, a mischievous glint in her eye. "Now, I have some news to share with you. We've got a new CEO starting next week, and I think you'll really like him."
Jai raised an eyebrow, a sense of trepidation creeping over her. She didn't like where Rachel was going. She was matchmaking her again. First, it was her obnoxious cousin, and now their new CEO?
Rachel smiled mischievously, clearly enjoying Jai's discomfort. "Well, let's just say he's young, charming, and very handsome."
Jai rolled her eyes good-naturedly, trying to play it cool. "Rachel, he's three years younger than I am." She had done her research, spending hours Googling the famous and handsome Logan Luther, who would be replacing their old CEO at Luther-croft, one of the biggest marketing companies in New York City.
Rachel's laughter echoed through the cubicle as she walked out, leaving Jai to her thoughts. Jai couldn't help but wonder what the new CEO would be like. Would he be another Yuan - charming and handsome, but ultimately unfaithful?
The thought sent a shiver down her spine. She had been hurt before, and she wasn't eager to repeat the experience. But what was she thinking? He was way too young for her, and she was way too wary of getting hurt again.
Jai pushed the thought aside and refocused on her work. She had a job to do, and she wasn't going to let her personal life get in the way. She took a deep breath, squared her shoulders, and dived back into her tasks, determined to put the new CEO and her personal worries out of her mind.
~ ~ ~
Jai let out a sigh of relief as she set the grocery bag down on the kitchen counter. She couldn't believe Jamie had scared her half to death. "Gosh, Jamie, you scared me!" she exclaimed, trying to calm her racing heart.
She turned to face Jamie, her eyes widened in shock. "Tell me you didn't get in through the window," she said, her voice laced with a mix of amusement and annoyance.
Jamie rolled his eyes, his mouth still stuffed with popcorn. He tried to open his mouth to respond, but his lips curved into a mischievous smirk instead. "I have the spare keys, remember," he said, his voice muffled by the popcorn.
Jai raised an eyebrow, calling out Jamie's bluff. "Lies!!!" she exclaimed, laughing. She knew Jamie didn't have the spare keys, and she was pretty sure he had climbed in through the window again.
Jai wasn't buying Jamie's excuse, and she knew exactly why. She remembered vividly when Jamie told her he had lost the spare key to her apartment. "Or maybe you got in through the window," she said, raising an eyebrow.
Jamie's voice trailed off as Jai shot him one of her icy glares. "Whatever, I've got tea," Jamie said, changing the subject.
.
They settled in for the night, Jamie picked up the remote control and started flipping through channels. "Hey, want to watch some 'Love in Shanghai'?" he asked.
Jai's eyes lit up. "Yes, please! I've been dying to see what happens next." Love in Shanghai was her favorite series, and she had been eagerly awaiting the next episode.
As the night wore on, Jai and Jamie continued to indulge in their guilty pleasure, swooning over the dramatic plot twists and romantic declarations. But amidst the melodrama, Jamie's question caught Jai off guard.
"So, what do you think about the new CEO?" Jamie asked, his eyes sparkling with mischief.
Jai raised an eyebrow, her expression nonchalant. "Logan? I don't know much about him, except that he's young and handsome."
Jamie chuckled, clearly entertained by Jai's response. "Rachel seems to think you two would make a great couple."
Jai rolled her eyes, her tone dismissive. "Please, Jamie. I'm not interested in dating anyone right now, let alone some young CEO." She emphasized the word "young", making it clear that she wasn't impressed by Logan's age or his CEO status.
Jamie shrugged, his expression neutral. "Suit yourself, but I think you should keep an open mind. You never know what might happen."
Jai smiled wryly, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "I think I'll pass, Jamie. But thanks for looking out for me."
As the night wore on, Jai found herself wondering about Logan Luther, the new CEO. Would he be kind and understanding like his father, or would he be another ruthless businessman? She pushed the thoughts aside, focusing on the TV show and Jamie's company.
But despite her efforts, she couldn't shake off the feeling that her life was about to change in ways she couldn't even imagine.
As the credits rolled on the final episode, Jai stood up, stretching her arms over her head. "Thanks for the movie night, Jamie. I needed this."
Jamie grinned, standing up and hugging Jai tightly. "I gotta run, girl. My husband would have my head off if I don't make it on time."
Jai laughed, hugging Jamie back. "Give him a kiss from me, and tell him I said thanks for lending me his husband for the night."