Chapter Four
1116 Words
ACE’S POV
“The first batch of the fusion devices will be entering the market soon.”
Nick’s voice cut through the silence as he dropped into the seat across from me.
I gave a brief nod, flipping through the file in my hand. “Mm.”
He didn’t look convinced.
In fact… he looked amused.
“I still can’t believe you ran into your college crush at Daniella’s company,” he said, leaning back with a smirk.
I didn’t respond.
Typical.
“And you just sat there like you didn’t even know her?” he continued. “Ace, that’s fate handing you a second chance, and you’re acting like it’s nothing.”
“Will you shut up?” I said flatly, not looking up. “I’m working.”
“What? I’m helping you,” he scoffed. “Or have you forgotten how obsessed you were when we first got to London?”
My hand paused—just slightly.
Nick noticed.
Of course he did.
“You couldn’t stop talking about her,” he went on, his tone dropping. “And when you couldn’t reach her… you drank yourself senseless.”
I lifted my gaze slowly.
He didn’t flinch.
“You still love her,” he said plainly. “It’s obvious. You’ve never been serious about any other woman. And now that she’s right in front of you again…”
He leaned forward.
“You pretend she doesn’t exist?”
Silence settled between us.
Heavy.
Measured.
Then I exhaled quietly, closing the file.
“I’ll talk to her,” I said at last. “When the time is right.”
Nick let out a short laugh. “And what if she’s already taken? What if she doesn’t feel the same way?”
That question lingered.
Longer than it should have.
“She never knew how I felt,” I said finally, my voice lower now.
Nick shook his head, a grin tugging at his lips.
“For a woman like Elena, you don’t chase,” he said. “You get close first. Become someone she trusts.”
I picked up the file again.
“I know.”
But knowing… and doing… were two different things.
***
“Mr. Damon, are you certain the robot LULU will succeed?”
Mr. Liam’s voice pulled my attention back to the present.
“I am,” I replied calmly. “I reviewed the project. It’s impressive—and it has already passed its first stage. That alone speaks for its potential.”
The door opened.
A waiter stepped in first.
Then Daniella.
And behind her—
Elena.
My grip tightened slightly around the wine glass.
What is she doing here…?
Our eyes met.
And just like that—
Everything else disappeared.
Years.
Distance.
Silence.
Gone.
She looked—
Better.
More refined.
More… captivating.
Her light brown hair fell softly around her shoulders, catching the warm glow of the chandelier. Her green eyes held that same quiet strength I remembered.
Unshaken.
Unchanged.
And yet…
Not the same girl anymore.
“Ace, we’re here.”
Daniella’s voice pulled me back.
I nodded once as they took their seats.
“Gentlemen,” I said smoothly, “this is Daniella Lawrence, CEO of HTC.”
I introduced the directors one after the other.
Then Daniella spoke again.
“And this is Elena Cooper—the product engineer behind LULU.”
My gaze lingered on her… just a second longer than necessary.
“Elena,” Daniella said, “sit down there and go ahead with the presentation.”
She leaned forward slightly.
Composed.
Controlled.
Professional.
And then she began.
The room fell quiet.
Her voice was steady, clear—every word deliberate, every explanation precise.
But I wasn’t just listening.
I was watching.
The way she held herself.
The way she carried the room without trying.
The way she hadn’t looked at me again.
Until—
I noticed it.
Rivera.
Too close.
Too comfortable.
His attention wasn’t on the presentation.
It was on her.
His fingers brushed against her hand.
Once.
Then again.
My expression didn’t change.
But something in my gaze did.
Elena shifted slightly.
Uncomfortable.
And yet… she kept talking.
As if nothing had happened.
Why isn’t she pulling away?
The room stayed quiet.
Of course it did.
No one here would risk disrupting the atmosphere.
Not for something so… subtle.
I leaned back slowly, my jaw tightening.
Reacting now would be careless.
And I don’t make careless moves.
Not in a room like this.
Not in front of people who watch… and remember.
So I stayed still.
But I didn’t ignore it.
I observed.
And I remembered.
The moment she finished—
I stood.
“Excuse me.”
Without waiting for a reply, I walked out.
“What’s wrong?”
Daniella followed me into the hallway.
I turned to her, my expression calm—
But cold.
“Why did you bring your staff when I invited only you?”
She frowned. “Ace, what are you talking about?”
“You made her sit beside Rivera,” I said, my voice low, controlled. “What exactly were you trying to achieve?”
Her expression shifted.
“I brought her because she’s the product engineer,” she replied. “She understands LULU better than anyone. You told me to convince the board—she’s the best person for that.”
“You’re the CEO,” I cut in. “You should be capable of presenting your own product.”
“I am,” she said, her tone tightening. “But Elena delivers it better.”
I exhaled slowly.
Controlling it.
“Don’t forget who approves these investments,” I said. “The board is only involved because of my grandfather.”
Silence.
Then softer—“I didn’t think this would upset you.”
“She’s done,” I said. “Let her leave.”
Daniella hesitated.
Then nodded. “Alright.”
She reached for my hand. “I’m sorry, Ace—”
I looked down at her hand.
That was enough.
She let go immediately.
I turned and walked back in.
The moment I entered, my eyes found her.
Elena.
She had moved.
Away from Rivera.
Good.
I took my seat, my expression unreadable.
Daniella followed shortly after.
“Elena, take your bag,” she said. “You can leave.”
Elena stood.
For a brief moment—
She looked at me.
Something unreadable in her eyes.
Then she turned and walked out.
The door closed.
Silence settled again.
I leaned back slightly, my gaze shifting slowly… to Rivera.
Calm.
Measured.
Final.
Some things don’t need immediate action.
But they are never forgotten.
And when the time comes—
They are handled.
- Writer
