A Kiss to Remember

Chapter Two- Professional Distance

Lana’s POV

If awkward silence were an Olympic sport, Daniel and I would’ve taken gold.

I sat across from him in his office. The city skyline behind him, resembling a stunning artwork, as golden sunlight poured beautifully onto his desk. He looked completely in control, sleeves rolled up, tie loosened just enough to make it unfair.

He wasn’t the boy I left behind. He was the man who’d built an empire.

“So,” he said finally, fingers drumming lightly against the desk. “You’re our new linguistics consultant.”

I cleared my throat, forcing a smile. “That’s what your HR email said.”

He nodded once, that small smirk tugging at his lips, the same one that used to make my heart skip and my brain malfunction. “You look… well.”

“Paris does that to people,” I said before I could stop myself.

His eyes softened for a second, then shuttered again. “Yes. Paris.” He leaned back, studying me. “You stayed there longer than you planned.”

I hesitated. “Life happened. And you—” I gestured around the office, “—clearly made things happen too.”

He smiled faintly, but there was something guarded behind it. “Extra International grew faster than I expected. We’re expanding into Europe next quarter. That’s why I needed someone fluent in both the language and the culture.”

“And you couldn’t find anyone else?” I teased, trying to sound casual.

He looked right at me. “Not anyone I’d trust with it.”

That shut me up.

For a second, the room felt too quiet. The air between us hummed with all the words we didn’t say — I missed you. I shouldn’t have left. You didn’t come after me.

Instead, he cleared his throat and picked up a folder. “Your office will be on the fifteenth floor. You’ll work closely with the marketing and cultural integration teams. I’d like you to supervise the French adaptation of our curriculum.”

“Of course.” My voice sounded firmly than I felt. “I can handle that.”

He glanced up, his gaze softening again, just slightly. “You always could.”

Before I could think of a reply, there was a knock at the door. His assistant popped her head in. “Mr. Hart, your next meeting is here.”

He nodded. “Thank you, Harper. Give me a minute.”

When she left, Daniel stood, coming around the desk. “It’s good to have you here, Lana,” he said quietly. “Really.”

I stood too, clutching my folder like a shield. “I’m here to work, Daniel. That’s all.”

A soft smile came on his lips which made my chest tighten. “Of course.”

But as I walked out of his office, his voice followed me — soft, almost longing.

“You always say that at the start.”