The Life we never Planned

Chapter 7

Chapter 7

HER POV

I checked the time on my phone for the third time.

8:47 a.m.

I stared at the message I had saved from yesterday.

Come back tomorrow. I have more questions.

That was it.

No time.

No explanation.

No assistant’s number.

Nothing.

Typical.

I adjusted the strap of my handbag on my shoulder and walked into the headquarters of the company again.

The receptionist recognized me immediately.

“Good morning, Ms. Angela.”

“Good morning.”

“I'll let them know you're here.”

I nodded and took a seat.

I wasn't nervous this time.

Yesterday had been intense, but I had survived it. Besides, I wasn't the type of woman who allowed someone else's reputation to intimidate her.

I had spent years building my company from nothing.

I had pitched ideas to people who laughed at me.

I had sat across from investors who assumed I was too young.

I had walked into rooms where everyone expected me to fail.

So sitting in a chair outside a CEO's office wasn't going to scare me.

Twenty minutes passed.

Then thirty.

I checked my phone.

Still nothing.

Finally, the receptionist approached me.

“I'm sorry, Ms. Angela. There seems to be a delay.”

“A delay?”

“Yes. The CEO isn't available at the moment.”

I frowned.

“He asked me to come back today.”

“I understand.”

I glanced toward the elevator.

Maybe he was in a meeting.

Fine.

I could wait.

Another twenty minutes passed.

I finally stood.

“I'll come back later.”

The receptionist looked relieved.

“Of course.”

I turned and walked toward the elevator.

I was halfway across the lobby when someone stepped out of the elevator at the exact same time.

I didn't see him until it was too late.

We nearly collided.

“Sorry.”

The word left my mouth automatically.

I stepped aside.

He did the same.

And then I looked up.

He was tall.

Very tall.

Dark hair, neatly styled, sharp jaw, broad shoulders, and the kind of face that looked like it belonged on the cover of a magazine rather than in a corporate building.

He wore a perfectly fitted black suit with a white shirt underneath.

No tie.

His sleeves were slightly rolled up.

There was something effortless about him.

Confident.

Expensive.

And annoyingly attractive.

His eyes settled on me.

For a second, neither of us spoke.

Then he smiled.

“Are you alright?”

“Yes.”

I straightened my handbag.

“I'm fine.”

His eyes moved over me briefly before returning to my face.

I was wearing a cream-colored fitted blazer over a simple black dress that stopped just above my knees. My long dark-brown hair fell loosely over my shoulders, and the small gold earrings I wore caught the light whenever I moved.

I wasn't dressed to impress anyone.

I simply liked looking good.

And I knew I did.

My eyes were dark brown, almost black under certain lighting, and Benedicta always said they made me look like I was silently judging everyone.

Maybe she was right.

The stranger's gaze lingered for another second.

Not disrespectfully.

Just long enough for me to notice.

“You're sure you're okay?” he asked.

“Yes.”

I gave him a polite smile.

“Have a good day.”

I started walking.

“Wait.”

I stopped.

He approached.

“I'm Daniel.”

I looked at him.

“Angela.”

His smile widened slightly.

“Angela.”

The way he said my name made something about the moment feel strangely familiar.

But I couldn't place him.

“Nice to meet you,” he said.

“You too.”

I walked away.

I didn't look back.

But Daniel did.

He watched until I disappeared through the glass doors.

He had met beautiful women before.

More than he could remember.

Women who knew exactly how attractive they were.

Women who dressed to get attention.

Women who approached him because of his name, his money, or the people he knew.

Angela hadn't done any of that.

She had barely looked at him twice.

And somehow, that made him want to know her even more.

He glanced toward the receptionist.

“Who was that?”

The receptionist hesitated.

“Ms. Angela. She came to see the CEO.”

Daniel's eyebrows lifted.

Angela.

He repeated the name silently.

For the first time that morning, he forgot where he was supposed to be going.

Because he suddenly wanted to know everything about the woman who had just walked out of the building without giving him a second thought.

And he had a feeling he wouldn't have to wait long before seeing her again.