The Life we never Planned

Chapter 32

CHAPTER 32

ANGELA

By the time I got home that evening, I was exhausted.

I dropped my bag on the couch and headed straight for the kitchen.

There was barely anything in the refrigerator.

I stared at it for a moment before closing the door.

"Perfect."

I picked up my phone and ordered dinner instead.

While waiting, I opened my laptop.

The revised proposal was still on my mind.

I went through the final figures again, making a few small adjustments before saving the document.

My phone buzzed.

A message from Benedicta.

Benedicta: Are you alive?

I smiled.

Me: Barely.

Her reply came almost immediately.

Benedicta: Good. I need you alive tomorrow.

Me: Why?

Benedicta: I have something to tell you.

I frowned.

Me: What?

She didn't answer.

I waited.

Nothing.

I called her.

She picked up on the third ring.

"Why are you being dramatic?"

"I wasn't being dramatic."

"You literally said you have something to tell me and then disappeared."

"I was busy."

"Then why text me?"

"Because I wanted to."

I laughed softly.

"You're impossible."

"I know."

There was a brief silence.

Then she said, "How was your meeting?"

"Fine."

"Just fine?"

"Yes."

"With Damian?"

I leaned back against the couch.

"Yes, Benedicta. With Damian."

"And?"

"And what?"

"Nothing happened?"

I smiled.

"No."

"You're boring."

"I'm tired."

"That's because you work too much."

I gave her a look even though she couldn't see me.

"Don't start."

She laughed.

"Okay, okay. I won't."

We talked for a few more minutes before hanging up.

I placed my phone beside me.

My mind briefly returned to the meeting.

Damian had been completely professional.

There hadn't been anything strange about it.

Yet I couldn't deny that I was becoming more comfortable around him.

Not romantically.

Not yet.

Just comfortable.

I was beginning to understand his personality a little.

He was direct.

He listened when people spoke.

He didn't waste words.

And, despite his position, he had never made me feel like I needed to impress him.

That mattered to me.

My doorbell rang.

My food had arrived.

I got up to collect it.

After eating, I showered and returned to the living room.

My phone buzzed again.

This time, it wasn't Benedicta.

It was an email notification.

The subject caught my attention.

PROJECT UPDATE — ACTION REQUIRED

I opened it.

The company had made another adjustment to the project schedule.

I sighed.

Tomorrow was going to be another long day.

I closed the laptop.

For once, I wasn't going to work late.

I stood and walked toward my bedroom.

My phone buzzed one last time.

I looked at the screen.

A message from Damian's secretary.

Mr. Damian has requested that you review the attached documents before the next meeting.

I opened the attachment.

I stared at the documents for a few seconds.

Then I smiled faintly.

Even when the man wasn't around, there was always something waiting for me to do.

I shook my head and placed the phone down.

"Tomorrow."

Tonight, I was done.

TOMORROW

I was done with my morning work.

I stood and walked toward my bedroom when my phone suddenly rang.

I glanced at the screen.

Benedicta.

I answered.

"Hello?"

Her voice was different.

"Angela, where are you?"

"At home. Why?"

"Are you alone?"

I frowned.

"Yes. What's going on?"

She was silent for a moment.

Then she said quietly,

"Don't panic, okay?"

My stomach tightened.

"Benedicta, what happened?"

"I just got a call from my father."

"What does that have to do with me?"

"He mentioned your name."

I froze.

"My name?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

Another silence.

Then Benedicta took a breath.

"He said someone has been asking questions about you."

My heart skipped.

"Who?"

"I don't know."

"Benedicta."

"I swear, I don't know. My father wouldn't tell me."

I walked back toward the couch.

"What kind of questions?"

"He asked where you work. Who you work for. Who you're close to."

I went completely still.

"Did he say why?"

"No."

"Then why are you calling me?"

"Because he specifically told me to stay away from you."

My fingers tightened around the phone.

"What?"

"He said, and I quote, 'This girl is going to bring trouble to this family.'"

I stared at the wall.

For several seconds, I couldn't speak.

Then Benedicta whispered,

"Angela..."

"What?"

"There's one more thing."

"What?"

"My father asked me if you know a man named Damian."

My blood ran cold.

"What did you tell him?"

"I told him yes."

A pause.

"Then he asked me something else."

I swallowed.

"What?"

Her voice dropped.

"He asked if Damian knows who you really are."

The call went silent.

I couldn't breathe.

Who I really was?

What was that supposed to mean?

And for the first time, a thought entered my mind that I couldn't push away.

Maybe someone had been looking for me long before I ever met Damian.

And maybe Damian wasn't the only powerful man who knew more about my life than I did.