The Life we never Planned

Chapter 29

CHAPTER 29

DAMIAN'S POV

I had spent most of the afternoon staring at my computer without actually reading anything on the screen.

That was unusual.

Work had always been the easiest place for me to disappear.

When everything became too loud, I worked.

When I didn't want to think, I worked.

When I had a problem I couldn't solve, I worked until there was nothing left to distract me.

But today, I kept thinking about lunch.

Not Angela herself.

At least, that was what I told myself.

It was the lunch.

The fact that I had actually left the office in the middle of the day without a meeting attached to it. No investors. No clients. No phone calls about business.

Just food.

Conversation.

An hour where nobody expected anything from me.

I leaned back in my chair and looked toward the window.

I couldn't remember the last time I'd done something like that.

Years, probably.

My phone was on the desk.

I picked it up.

I almost sent Angela a message.

Then stopped.

What exactly was I going to say?

I enjoyed lunch.

Too simple.

We should do it again.

Too forward?

I stared at the screen for another few seconds before typing.

Damian: I actually enjoyed lunch today.

I looked at it.

That sounded harmless enough.

I sent it.

Her reply came several minutes later.

Angela: I'm glad. It was nice getting away from work for a while.

I smiled.

That sounded exactly like her.

Professional.

Simple.

No hidden meaning.

I typed again.

Damian: That's what I liked about it.

She replied almost immediately.

Angela: The food?

I laughed.

Damian: That too.

I paused before sending the next message.

Damian: I haven't done anything like that in years. Usually, if I'm eating during the day, I'm either in a meeting or answering emails.

There was a longer pause this time.

Then her response appeared.

Angela: Then maybe you should do it more often.

I stared at the message.

Maybe you should do it more often.

That sounded like an invitation.

It probably wasn't.

With Angela, I had learned not to assume.

Damian: Maybe I should.

I added another message.

Damian: It was actually a good way to get my mind off work.

She replied:

Angela: Then lunch served its purpose.

I chuckled.

Of course she'd turn it into something practical.

I typed:

Damian: I'd like to do it again sometime.

This time, I didn't overthink it.

Her response came a few moments later.

Angela: Sure. If our schedules allow it.

I read that twice.

Schedules.

Not I'd like that too.

Not Definitely.

Just schedules.

I should have been disappointed.

Instead, I found myself smiling.

She wasn't rejecting the idea.

She was simply refusing to make it something it wasn't.

And I respected that.

The next morning, I saw her in the hallway.

She was carrying a folder against her chest, already walking toward the conference room.

"Good morning," she said.

"Morning."

She continued walking.

I fell into step beside her.

"So."

She glanced at me.

"So?"

"Lunch."

Her expression remained neutral.

"What about it?"

"You agreed to do it again."

"I said if our schedules allow it."

"That's practically a yes."

"No. That's practically an if."

I laughed.

"You always have to be precise, don't you?"

"Someone has to be."

We reached the conference room.

She opened the door.

I held it for her.

"After you."

"Thank you."

She walked inside.

I followed.

Before taking my seat, I looked at her.

"You know, you could admit you enjoyed yourself."

She looked up from her documents.

"I did."

That caught me off guard.

"You did?"

"Yes."

"Then why do you make it sound like a business transaction?"

"Because we were discussing work."

I shook my head, amused.

"You really are something."

She gave me a small smile.

"And you're supposed to be reviewing the proposal."

I sat down.

"Right."

She opened her laptop.

I opened mine.

For the next few minutes, we worked.

But every now and then, I caught myself looking across the table at her.

Not because I expected anything.

Not because I thought she felt what I felt.

I simply liked being around her.

And maybe that was enough for now.

I had spent years making every part of my life about work.

Maybe one lunch wasn't going to change that.

But perhaps I could make room for another one.

And if Angela happened to be there when I did...

I certainly wouldn't complain.