Chapter 2: The boss

What do you say to the man who broke your heart, the truth is there is nothing you really can say, maybe you had a million things to shout cry and whimper in the moment but as time passes they all fade away. I hate you, why are you doing this, please don't leave me, all these pleas start to seem like the childish cry of a child trying to piece together something that's completely and utterly broken. So as Eponine stood in front of her ex-boyfriend, first love and breaker of her heart, she was very calm.

"Are you doing a bit of last minute shopping", shaking hands leisurely in his pockets, gaze steady, marius projected the image of casual calmness.

"No I just finished work, you saw me standing here 8 hours ago", a tense silence followed.

"right... I thought your dream was to be an architect", Eponine sighed brushing loose strands away.

"I had many dreams back then...but I was naive and foolish", it was Marius' turn to sigh.

"I'm not really sure what to say ..", Marius said nervously

"Then don't say anything, thats good thing about being an ex, it basically makes us strangers… there's no reason to engage in awkward chit chat, I'll go my way , and you go yours just like before",

"Is that what you want ?…"

"I never get what I want….so maybe I should say it's not what I want maybe that way it'll actually happen", Eponine shrugged as she started to move past him, Marius instinctively reached out and grabbed her arm, looking down Eponine gazed at the fingers wrapped around her bare wrist and then her eyes fell to the gold band on Marius' finger.

"We've lived as strangers since that day, nothing has changed", with that Eponine unclasped marius' fingers and walked away never once looked back , and she kept walking straight never looking back, body tense, all the way to her apartment but as soon as she closed the door she crumpled to the ground. There was no crying, no sound, just an indescribable concentration of pain in the center of her chest. By the following morning the pain had subsided but it hadn't gone away, as she got dressed Eponine did everything slowly and with so much effort. Being in pain is bad but knowing there's pain coming your way is so much worse, because you can't prepare, you don't when it's going to hit you or how hard it's going to be, but most of all you, you don't know how long it' going to take you to get back up, and that's how Eponine felt as she floated into work so deep in thought she didn't notice the broad chest coming her way till she was face deep in it, the shock made her stumble back, instinctively she straightened her uniform before looking up into icey blue eyes.

"Don't you watch where you're going?", Eponine frowned.

"Don't you?", the man raised an eyebrow.

"What?"

"You're right, I wasn't watching where I was going, but neither were you, if you had been, you would've avoided me, the only way for us to collide is for both of us to not watch where we're going" a tense silence followed as icy blue gazed into despondent brown.

"You must think you're smart", Eponine frowned

"No, it's just the truth"

"Do you know who I am" Eponine gazed at him intently his skin started to warm up under the scrutinizing gaze,

"Ahh you're the president's son", Eponine stated

"I have a name", the young man stated annoyed, Eponine frowned

"I'm going to be late…" shrugging she started to walk past him when he grabbed her wrist and pulled her back, so close they were almost chest to chest.

"You're rude, aren't you scared you'll be fired", Eponine tilted her head mild amusement in her eyes.

" Strangers aren't scary, it's the people you love you have to fear, you can fire me if you want, it'll be inconvenient but it's nothing scary", yanking her wrist out of his Eponine left the young man dumbfounded .

"What a crazy….", the young man' voice trailed off there was nothing he could even say.

For Eponine it was another zombie-like day at work much to her managers annoyance who was repeatedly shouting remember your T's. lunch was a welcome break.

"You okay , you seem a little listless these days", Eponine shrugged

"I'm fine…", Mimi frowned

"You're such a mystery Eponine… I can't work you out", Eponine smiled lightly.

"It' not intentional I promise", Mimi look unconvinced.

"Well anyway, I have some more exciting news"

"What is it this time"

"They are opening a development department on the top floor of the mall, it'll be office in charge of improving the sales and marketing of the stores and departments that are lagging behind, and the best thing it's open to all employees , how awesome is that"

"Sounds interesting"

"It's more than that, you get a huge pay rise, get an nice desk, business card and no more walking around, and company benefits health care and dental, you should totally apply"

"I don't know about that",

"Uh huh… I've spoken to most of the workers in this mall and you're about 30 IQ points above them all, you should apply"

"hmm mm"

"Above all it's a chance to get away from Mrs tits and teeth", Eponine tilted her in thought

"You think that's a good enough reason to apply for a new job"

"Of course", Eponine nodded

"Fine, why not", Mimi hit her back supportively.

After her shift finished Eponine headed to the third floor to pick up one of the application forms for the development department, as she picked up the form she heard steps behind her.

"Do you really think someone like you, is qualified to work on the top floor", Eponine frowned and took step forward.

" a person like me, what does that mean", icy blue eyes held empty brown eyes.

"A lifeless person, that's what I meant", taking a step forward the blue-eyed young man leaned in extremely closed, Eponine' fingers were digging into the application form, slowly scrunching it up.

"I look at you and there's nothing behind your eyes...are you dead on the inside ?"

AN: aww it's really lovely to see you guys back, I recognize all your usernames, I hope you enjoy this story, it's a bit of a slow burner but I hope you stick with it.