surprise call

Victoria's shoes made a clicking sound on the shiny floor as she walked to her office. Her mind was already busy with the day's tasks, which helped her forget about the arranged marriage she was facing. The office buzzed with activity around her, phones ringing and colleagues chatting. "Ms. Watson?" her assistant called, hurrying after her. "There's a call for you on line two. They say it's urgent." Victoria frowned and checked her watch. It was early for urgent calls. "Who is it?" "They didn't say. Just that you'd want to take this call." Curious, Victoria picked up the phone in her office. "This is Victoria Watson." "Hello, Vicky," a familiar voice said, making her body jolt. "It's been a while." Victoria's breath caught in her throat. She gripped the edge of her desk. "Barry? Is that really you?" She could almost hear his smile through the phone. "In the flesh… well, voice. How have you been, Vicky?" "It's Victoria now," she corrected automatically, her mind racing. "Barry, why are you calling? It's been years." "Can't a guy check in on an old friend?" Barry's tone was light, but something about it made Victoria feel uneasy. "We're not friends, Barry," she said coldly. "Not after what happened." There was a pause. "I know. And I'm sorry. That's… actually why I'm calling. I'm back in New York. I was hoping we could meet, clear the air." She gripped the phone tightly. Memories came back to her – happy times in the park, quick kisses between classes, fights that made her cry, and finally, her heart being broken. The pain felt fresh again. "I don't think that's a good idea," she said, trying hard to keep her voice calm. "Please, Vicky," Barry begged. "Just one cup of coffee. For old times' sake." Victoria closed her eyes. She had conflicting emotions inside her. Part of her wanted to hang up the phone to protect herself from the pain Barry had caused. But another part, a part she had thought was gone, wanted to see him again. "Okay," she said after a long pause. "One coffee. Tomorrow, 3 PM, at our old spot." "I'll be there," Barry said. His voice sounded relieved. "Thank you, Vicky. You won't regret this." When Victoria hung up, she wasn't sure. She sat down in her chair, her mind filled with thoughts and feelings. Why now? Why, when her life was already being changed by this arranged marriage, did Barry have to come back? She took out her phone. She thought about calling her best friend. She needed to talk to someone about this. But what would she say? That her ex-boyfriend, the one who had broken her heart, was suddenly back? Victoria stared at her phone, debating whether to make the call. She could almost hear her friend's voice, full of concern and maybe a hint of excitement at the drama. But would she understand? Would anyone understand the turmoil Victoria was feeling? Somebody knocked on her door, interrupting her thoughts. "Ms. Watson? Your 10 o'clock is here." Victoria took a deep breath and straightened her suit. She pushed her personal troubles aside, adopting her professional demeanor. "Send them in." As her client entered, Victoria pushed thoughts of Barry to the back of her mind. She had a job to do, a career to focus on. She couldn't let her past troubles ruin her future. But even as she discussed business strategies and market trends, a part of her mind kept drifting back to Barry and their impending meeting. As the day went on, Victoria found herself increasingly distracted. She caught herself staring out the window, lost in thought. Her assistant had to remind her twice about an important conference call. This wasn't like her at all. By the time she left the office, Victoria's emotions were a tangled mess. She walked through the busy streets of New York, barely noticing the crowds around her. The city that usually energized her now felt overwhelming. When Victoria reached her apartment, her phone buzzed. It was a text from her mother, reminding her about dinner with the Sebastians the next week and telling her to wear something nice. Victoria leaned against her door, closing her eyes. Barry's return and the upcoming marriage were too much for her to handle. She felt overwhelmed, torn between duty and desire, between the life she'd built and the life she once dreamed of. For the first time in years, Victoria Watson felt completely lost. She prided herself on always being in control, always having a plan. But now? Now she felt adrift, unsure of what to do or how to feel. She moved to her kitchen, pouring herself a glass of wine with shaking hands. The cool liquid did little to calm her nerves. Victoria found herself pacing her apartment, unable to settle, her mind racing with possibilities and fears. What did Barry want? Was he truly sorry? And even if he was, did it matter? She had a life now, responsibilities. She couldn't just throw that all away because her ex-boyfriend decided to show up. What would happen tomorrow when she saw Barry? Would all the old feelings come rushing back? Or would she find that she'd truly moved on? And if she hadn't, what then? How could she go through with the arranged marriage if her heart was still tied to her past? Victoria's phone buzzed again. Another text from her mother, this time with a picture of a dress. "This would look lovely on you for the dinner," the message read. Victoria felt a surge of frustration. Didn't her mother understand that this was about more than just looking nice at dinner? She tossed the phone onto her couch, not bothering to reply. She knew she was being unfair. Her mother thought she was doing what was best for Victoria. But right now, Victoria couldn't bring herself to care about that. As the night wore on, Victoria found herself unable to sleep. She tossed and turned, her mind replaying memories of Barry, imagining scenarios for their meeting tomorrow, worrying about the dinner with the Sebastians. When she finally drifted off in the early hours of the morning, her dreams were a confused jumble of past and future, of Barry's familiar smile and Louis Sebastian's unknown face. Victoria woke up feeling more exhausted than when she'd gone to bed. As she got ready for work, she couldn't help but count down the hours until her meeting with Barry. For better or worse, today would change everything. As she left her apartment, Victoria took a deep breath. She straightened her shoulders, lifted her chin. Whatever happened today, whatever choices she had to make, she would face it head-on. That was who she was. That was who she had to be. But deep down, in a part of herself she rarely acknowledged, Victoria Watson was scared. Scared of the past, scared of the future, and most of all, scared of the choices she would have to make.