Until We Choose Us

CHAPTER 4 Their First Disagreement

POV: Elena

By 9:15 AM the next morning, I had already changed the event hall proposal twice.

I stared at the presentation on my laptop.

Then I changed it back.

Mia watched from across the office.

“You're doing it again.”

“Doing what?”

“Overthinking.”

“I want the design to be right.”

“You wanted it right yesterday.”

“I have new ideas.”

“You've had the same idea for the last hour.”

I looked at her.

“Are you finished?”

“Not even close.”

I smiled despite myself.

The truth was, I hadn't slept well.

Not because of the project.

Because of yesterday.

Seeing Alex had disturbed something inside me that I had carefully buried.

I didn't want to think about his eyes.

Or his voice.

Or the way he had looked at my presentation.

So I focused on work.

That was what I knew how to do.

At 2:00 PM, I returned to the Crescent Hotel.

The meeting began with the usual discussion.

Schedules.

Budgets.

Materials.

Then the event hall design appeared on the screen.

I immediately noticed the changes.

My stomach tightened.

“This isn't the version I submitted.”

The project manager glanced at his notes.

“The executive team requested some adjustments.”

“Which adjustments?”

He looked toward Alex.

I already knew.

Alex spoke calmly.

“I requested them.”

I turned toward him.

“Why?”

“The ballroom should have a stronger luxury identity.”

“It already does.”

“Not enough.”

I folded my arms.

“You think luxury needs to look formal?”

“I think it needs to reflect the hotel's position.”

“And I think it needs to reflect the guests.”

He looked at me.

“What do you mean?”

“A luxury space doesn't need to feel cold.”

“I didn't say cold.”

“The revised design does.”

There was a pause.

I knew everyone was watching us.

I didn't care.

This was my work.

My reputation was attached to it.

Alex leaned back.

“You're very certain.”

“Yes.”

“You don't have the same market data our team has.”

“And your team doesn't have my creative expertise.”

Mia glanced at me.

I knew I was pushing him.

But I wasn't going to apologize for defending my work.

Alex looked at the screen.

“What would you change?”

I walked toward the presentation.

“I'd keep the original concept.”

“Why?”

“Because the warmth is intentional.”

I pointed toward the design.

“People should walk into the ballroom and feel comfortable. Elegant, but not intimidating.”

Alex studied the screen.

“What if the market expects something more traditional?”

“Then we give them traditional quality without traditional design.”

He looked at me.

For a moment, neither of us spoke.

Then he asked, “How confident are you?”

“Very.”

“And if it doesn't work?”

“I'll take responsibility.”

Something in his expression changed.

He nodded.

“Fine.”

I blinked.

“Fine?”

“Keep the original concept.”

I hadn't expected that.

“But I want the materials and lighting proposal revised by Friday.”

“Done.”

The meeting continued.

The disagreement was over.

But my heart was still beating too quickly.

Not because I had won.

Because arguing with Alex had felt strangely familiar.

Like we had slipped into something we used to know.

After the meeting, I gathered my folder.

I was almost at the door when Alex stopped me.

“Elena.”

I turned.

“What?”

“I wasn't trying to undermine you.”

“I know.”

“I should have discussed the changes with you first.”

I nodded.

“Yes.”

He looked at me.

“You haven't changed.”

I almost laughed.

“I have.”

“No.”

His voice was quiet.

“You just got better at hiding it.”

For a second, I didn't know what to say.

He still remembered me.

Not just my name.

Not just my career.

Me.

That realization made my chest tighten.

I picked up my folder.

“Goodnight, Mr. Vale.”

His expression softened.

“Goodnight, Elena.”

I left before he could see how much hearing my name had affected me.

I returned to the office around 4:30 PM.

Mia immediately looked up.

“So?”

“So what?”

“How was the meeting?”

“Fine.”

“That's not convincing.”

“We disagreed.”

“About?”

“The event hall.”

“Did you win?”

I put my folder down.

“We compromised.”

She smiled.

“That sounds suspiciously mature.”

I laughed.

“It was.”

Then I became quiet.

Mia noticed.

“What?”

“Nothing.”

“You're thinking about him again.”

I sighed.

“Maybe.”

She didn't tease me this time.

Instead, she said, “Just remember that you don't owe him anything.”

I looked at her.

“I know.”

And I did.

I had spent 7 years building a life that didn't depend on him.

I wasn't going to lose that now.

Still, as I looked at the revised proposal, I couldn't stop thinking about something.

Alex had listened.

He had disagreed.

Then he had changed his mind.

That shouldn't have impressed me.

But it did.

And I wasn't sure whether that was a good thing.

That evening, I opened my laptop again.

The event hall design was still on the screen.

I worked for another hour.

Then I closed the file.

My phone was beside me.

I stared at it.

I wasn't waiting for a message.

I wasn't hoping for one.

I didn't want one.

At least, that's what I told myself.

I put the phone face down.

Seven years had taught me many things.

One of them was how to protect my heart.

And if working with Alexander meant seeing old feelings return, then I needed to be careful.

Because there was one thing I knew for certain:

I could work with him.

I could respect him.

I could even forgive him someday.

But I couldn't let myself become that girl again.

The girl who believed that loving someone meant waiting forever.