Chapter 74
1303 Words
CHAPTER 74
ANGELA
By Monday morning, the softness of the weekend was already beginning to feel like something I had imagined.
The moment I stepped into my office, everything returned.
Emails.
Documents.
Calls.
Deadlines.
Decisions.
I dropped my bag on the desk and looked around the small office space I had been using.
It wasn't enough anymore.
I had been thinking about it for weeks.
My own office.
My own brand.
Something that belonged entirely to me.
No Damian.
No family name.
No borrowed influence.
Just my work.
My phone vibrated.
I looked at the screen.
Damian.
I stared at the name for a second before answering.
“Good morning.”
“That's it?”
I smiled despite myself.
“What else should I say?”
“You could say you missed me.”
“It has been less than a day.”
“So?”
I leaned against my desk.
“You're dramatic.”
“And you avoided the question.”
“I didn't.”
“You did.”
I heard the amusement in his voice.
“Did you sleep well?”
“Very well.”
There was a short pause.
“Because of me?”
I laughed quietly.
“You're impossible.”
“I'll take that as a yes.”
“You shouldn't.”
“I already did.”
I shook my head.
“What are you doing?”
“Working.”
“Of course.”
“What about you?”
“Trying to decide whether I should come and distract you.”
“No.”
“That was quick.”
“I have work.”
“So do I.”
“Then work.”
“I am.”
“Good.”
Another pause.
Then he said, “Angela?”
“Yes?”
“Don't work all day without eating.”
“I won't.”
“And don't forget that you're allowed to leave your office.”
“I know.”
“And—”
“Damian.”
He laughed.
“Fine. I'll stop.”
“Thank you.”
“I'll call you later.”
“Okay.”
I ended the call.
For a moment, I stood there looking at my phone.
A small smile appeared on my face.
I put it away.
Then I opened my laptop.
I had work to do.
---
Three hours later, I was sitting across from a property consultant.
“I want something simple,” I said.
He looked through the notes in front of him.
“Office space?”
“Yes.”
“How large?”
“Large enough to grow into.”
He smiled.
“That can mean many things.”
“I don't want something excessive.”
“What kind of business?”
I hesitated for only a second.
“Consulting and project management.”
He nodded.
“Are you looking for a prestigious location?”
“Professional. Accessible. Quiet.”
“And your budget?”
I gave him a figure.
His eyebrows lifted slightly.
“That's reasonable.”
“I don't want to spend money just to impress people.”
“Understood.”
He showed me several options.
One was too expensive.
Another was too large.
A third had a beautiful interior but was in the wrong location.
Then he showed me the last one.
I studied the pictures.
Simple glass entrance.
Modern interior.
Enough offices.
A conference room.
Reception area.
Natural light.
I looked at him.
“This one.”
“You like it?”
“Yes.”
“Would you like to inspect it?”
“Yes.”
He closed the folder.
“I can arrange that this afternoon.”
“Do it.”
After he left, I leaned back in my chair.
For the first time, it felt real.
My own company.
My own office.
My own name on the door.
I wanted it badly.
Not because I wanted to prove something to Damian.
Not because people had questioned whether I could survive without him.
I simply wanted something that was mine.
My phone vibrated again.
A message.
Damian: Lunch.
I stared at it.
Another message appeared.
Damian: That's not a question.
I smiled.
I typed:
I'm working.
His reply came almost immediately.
Damian: So am I.
I shook my head.
You said lunch.
Damian: Exactly.
I typed:
I'm busy.
Three dots appeared.
Then disappeared.
Then appeared again.
Finally:
Damian: I'll bring lunch.
I stared at the message.
Don't.
Damian: Too late.
I laughed.
---
Thirty minutes later, there was a knock on my door.
I didn't need to ask who it was.
“Come in.”
The door opened.
Damian walked in carrying two bags.
He looked at me.
Then at the laptop.
Then back at me.
“You weren't joking.”
“About what?”
“You're actually working.”
I gave him a look.
“What did you expect?”
“I expected you to miss me.”
“I saw you yesterday.”
“Exactly.”
He placed the bags on my desk.
“Eat.”
I opened one.
“You bought too much.”
“I know.”
“Why?”
“Because I don't know what you'll want.”
I looked at him.
“You could have asked.”
“You would have said you weren't hungry.”
“I wasn't.”
He pointed at the food.
“Eat anyway.”
I sighed.
“Bossy.”
“Very.”
He pulled the chair opposite me and sat down.
I started eating.
He watched me.
“Stop staring.”
“Why?”
“It's distracting.”
“I thought I was the distraction.”
“You are.”
He smiled.
I continued eating.
After a few minutes, he noticed the documents on my desk.
“What are those?”
“Office options.”
His expression changed.
“Your office?”
“Yes.”
“You found one?”
“I'm inspecting one later.”
He leaned back.
“You didn't tell me.”
“I was going to.”
“Do you want me to come?”
I shook my head.
“No.”
He didn't look offended.
Instead, he nodded.
“Okay.”
“I want to handle this myself.”
“I know.”
I studied him.
He wasn't arguing.
That surprised me.
“You're not going to insist?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because you told me you wanted something of your own.”
He looked at me.
“And I meant what I said. I want you to have it.”
Something about that made me quiet.
He reached across the desk and took my hand.
“You don't have to become dependent on me just because I'm your boyfriend.”
I looked down at our hands.
“I know.”
“I want you to build something that makes you proud.”
I looked at him.
“I will.”
His thumb moved over my knuckles.
“I know you will.”
For a few seconds, neither of us spoke.
Then he stood.
“I'll let you work.”
“Thank you.”
He walked toward the door.
Then turned.
“Angela.”
“Yes?”
“I'm proud of you.”
My chest tightened slightly.
I nodded.
“Thank you.”
He smiled and left.
I watched the door close behind him.
Then I looked at the documents again.
Something had changed.
Not outside.
Inside me.
I wanted this.
And I wasn't going to apologize for wanting it.
I picked up the phone and called the consultant.
“Hello. About the office we discussed…”
I looked through the glass wall of my current office.
“I'd like to see it today.”
Because if I was going to build my own life, I needed to start somewhere.
And I was ready to start.
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