The Life we never Planned

Chapter 38

CHAPTER 38

DAMIAN

Dinner wasn't supposed to be complicated.

I had no intention of turning it into something it wasn't.

Angela had agreed to come, and that was enough.

My secretary had already arranged the restaurant before I left the office. I didn't need to call Angela with unnecessary details. She knew where to meet me, and I trusted the arrangements.

When I arrived, she was already there.

She was sitting near the window, looking through the menu.

She looked up when I approached.

"You're early."

"So are you."

"I don't like keeping people waiting."

I pulled out the chair opposite her.

"Neither do I."

She smiled briefly and closed the menu.

"How was your day?"

"Long."

"Mine too."

A waiter came over, and we ordered.

For the first few minutes, the conversation stayed simple.

Work.

The restaurant.

The food.

Nothing that required either of us to explain ourselves.

I liked that.

Angela wasn't trying to impress me.

She didn't need to.

She was simply herself.

"What do you normally do when you're not working?" I asked.

She thought for a moment.

"Depends."

"On?"

"On how tired I am."

I smiled.

"So work determines your entire schedule?"

She gave me a look.

"Not entirely."

"What else?"

"Movies. Reading sometimes. Going out with Benedicta."

"Benedicta."

"She's my best friend."

"I know."

She raised an eyebrow.

"You know a lot."

"I make it my business to know the people around me."

She didn't respond immediately.

Then she said, "That sounds exhausting."

"It can be."

The food arrived.

We ate for a while without talking.

There was something comfortable about the silence.

Eventually, Angela looked at me.

"What about you?"

"What about me?"

"What do you do when you're not working?"

I leaned back.

"Very little."

She looked unconvinced.

"Seriously?"

"Seriously."

"You don't have hobbies?"

"I have interests."

"Such as?"

I considered it.

"Traveling when I have time. Reading. Occasionally watching a film."

She smiled.

"So you're not completely boring."

"Occasionally."

She laughed.

It was quiet, but genuine.

I found myself watching her for a second longer than I should have.

She noticed.

"What?"

"Nothing."

She returned to her food.

I looked away.

I wasn't going to make her uncomfortable.

After dinner, we stepped outside.

The evening air was cooler than I expected.

A car was waiting nearby.

Angela looked toward it.

"Are you going home?"

"Eventually."

"Eventually?"

"I thought we could walk for a few minutes."

She considered it.

"Okay."

We started walking.

The street was quieter than the main roads, with restaurants and shops still open around us.

For once, there were no phones ringing.

No meetings.

No people waiting for decisions.

Just the two of us walking.

Angela looked ahead.

"I didn't expect this."

"What?"

"That we'd actually become friends."

I glanced at her.

"Friends?"

She nodded.

"That's what we're doing, isn't it?"

I could have corrected her.

I didn't.

"Yes."

She smiled.

"Good."

We continued walking.

I knew what I wanted.

But I also knew I couldn't rush her into seeing things the way I did.

So I said nothing.

For now, being beside her was enough.

At the end of the street, she stopped.

"I should go."

I nodded.

"I'll have the driver take you."

"You don't have to."

"I know."

She looked at me for a moment.

"Thank you for dinner."

"You're welcome."

She walked toward the car.

Before getting inside, she turned around.

"Good night, Damian."

"Good night, Angela."

The car pulled away.

I watched until it disappeared.

Then I turned back toward the restaurant.

For the first time in a long time, I wasn't thinking about business.

I was thinking about one woman.

And I was beginning to realize that patience might be harder than getting what I wanted.