Chapter 76
1457 Words
CHAPTER 76
DAMIAN
I had expected Angela to be excited about the new office.
I hadn't expected her to become obsessed with it.
By Tuesday morning, she was already there before most people had arrived.
I knew because I had called her.
She answered on the third ring.
“Good morning.”
“Are you at the office?”
“Yes.”
“You're already there?”
“Yes.”
I glanced at my watch.
“It's barely eight.”
“I know.”
“You're supposed to be taking it easy.”
“I am taking it easy.”
“You call getting to a new office before eight taking it easy?”
“Yes.”
I laughed.
“You're impossible.”
“I have work.”
“Of course you do.”
There was a brief silence.
Then I asked,
“Do you like it?”
Her voice changed slightly.
“I love it.”
I smiled.
That answer made me happier than it should have.
“Really?”
“Yes.”
“You sound surprised.”
“I thought you'd complain about something.”
“I have no complaints.”
“That's new.”
“Don't get used to it.”
I laughed.
“So what's your plan today?”
“Set everything up properly. I have two meetings in the afternoon.”
“You already have meetings?”
“I told you I'm working.”
“I know.”
“Then why are you surprised?”
“Because you just moved in yesterday.”
“And?”
“And nothing.”
I leaned back in my chair.
“Do you need anything?”
“No.”
“Angela.”
“I have everything I need.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
“Fine.”
She paused.
“Damian?”
“Yes?”
“Thank you.”
I smiled.
“For what?”
“For yesterday.”
“You don't have to thank me.”
“I know.”
Her voice became quieter.
“I still wanted to.”
I didn't answer immediately.
There was something about the way she said it that stayed with me.
“You're welcome.”
“I have to go.”
“Already?”
“Yes.”
“You're dismissing me?”
“I have work.”
“You're becoming very rude.”
She laughed softly.
“Goodbye, Damian.”
“Goodbye, trouble.”
She ended the call.
I stared at my phone for a few seconds.
Then smiled.
She loved the office.
That was enough for me.
---
By noon, I was sitting in a meeting when my secretary walked in and placed a folder on the table.
I opened it.
My eyes moved over the pages.
A new contract.
A substantial one.
My team had been negotiating it for weeks.
Normally, I would have focused entirely on the numbers.
But my mind kept going back to Angela.
Her new office.
Her desk.
Her company.
The fact that she had paid for everything herself.
She was building something.
And I wanted to see it.
I closed the folder.
“Move the rest of today's meetings.”
My secretary looked at me.
“All of them?”
“Yes.”
“Sir, the investors—”
“Tomorrow.”
He nodded.
“Yes, sir.”
I stood.
“I'll be out for a while.”
---
When I arrived at Angela's office, I didn't announce myself.
I wanted to see her naturally.
The receptionist looked up when I walked in.
“Good afternoon, sir.”
“Good afternoon.”
“Are you here to see Ms. Williams?”
“Yes.”
“She is in a meeting.”
I nodded.
“I'll wait.”
I sat down.
A few minutes later, I heard Angela's voice coming from the conference room.
Calm.
Professional.
Confident.
I looked toward the glass wall.
She was sitting across from two people, going through a document.
She wasn't the woman who had been sitting in my kitchen throwing vegetables at me.
She was an entirely different woman here.
Focused.
Composed.
In control.
I watched her for a moment.
Then she looked up.
Our eyes met through the glass.
Her expression softened slightly.
A small smile appeared on her lips.
Then she turned back to the meeting.
I smiled.
That tiny reaction was enough.
A few minutes later, the meeting ended.
The two clients shook her hand before leaving.
Angela walked toward me.
“You came.”
“I did.”
“You didn't tell me.”
“I wanted to surprise you.”
She looked toward the entrance.
“You've been waiting?”
“Yes.”
“For how long?”
“Not long.”
She gave me a knowing look.
“How long?”
“Twenty minutes.”
Her eyebrows lifted.
“You could have called.”
“I wanted to see you working.”
She folded her arms.
“And?”
“And I'm impressed.”
She looked away.
“Thank you.”
I stood.
“Show me around.”
She hesitated.
Then nodded.
“Okay.”
She walked beside me.
“This is reception.”
“I can see that.”
She gave me a look.
“Let me finish.”
I smiled.
“Go ahead.”
She showed me the conference room, the smaller offices, the kitchen and the storage area.
Then she opened the door to her office.
I stepped inside.
Her desk was positioned near the window.
There were files arranged neatly on one side.
A laptop sat in the middle.
A small plant stood in the corner.
Nothing extravagant.
But everything looked intentional.
“You really like it,” I said.
“Yes.”
She walked toward the window.
“I like being here.”
I watched her.
“That's good.”
She turned toward me.
“I wanted somewhere I could build from the beginning.”
“You are.”
“I know.”
There was confidence in her voice.
I liked hearing it.
I walked toward her.
“You know something?”
“What?”
“I like seeing you like this.”
“Like what?”
“Independent.”
She smiled slightly.
“I've always been independent.”
“I know.”
I reached for her hand.
“I just like seeing you build something that's completely yours.”
She looked down at our joined hands.
Then back at me.
“I want to make it successful.”
“You will.”
“You sound very sure.”
“I am.”
She smiled.
I leaned down and kissed her forehead.
Then her cheek.
She looked at me.
“What?”
“I missed you.”
“You saw me yesterday.”
“That doesn't change anything.”
She shook her head.
“You're very demanding.”
“Only with you.”
She smiled.
I pulled her gently closer.
For a moment, neither of us spoke.
Then she rested her head lightly against my chest.
I wrapped my arms around her.
This was different from the way she used to keep her distance.
She was still Angela.
Still reserved.
Still difficult to read.
But she was letting me closer.
One step at a time.
I kissed the top of her head.
“I like your office.”
“I know.”
“You're very proud of it.”
“I am.”
“You should be.”
She lifted her head.
“I am.”
I smiled.
Then she glanced at the clock.
“I have another meeting.”
I sighed.
“Already?”
“Yes.”
“You're throwing me out.”
“I have work.”
“You're becoming heartless.”
“I was always heartless.”
I laughed.
“No. You're just pretending.”
She gave me a small smile.
“Goodbye, Damian.”
I leaned closer.
“Not without a kiss.”
She looked around.
“Damian.”
“Angela.”
She sighed.
Then kissed me softly.
I smiled against her lips before letting her go.
“Now you can work.”
She shook her head.
“You're annoying.”
“And you like me.”
She turned toward her desk.
“I didn't say that.”
“You didn't have to.”
I walked toward the door.
Before leaving, I looked back at her.
She was already opening her laptop.
Focused again.
Building her future.
And I realized something.
I didn't want to build her life for her.
I wanted to stand beside her while she built it herself.
Because whatever happened between us in the future, I wanted Angela to know one thing.
She could have me.
But she would never need me to become somebody.
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