The Life we never Planned

chapter 12

CHAPTER 12

HER POV

I didn't regret walking away from Daniel.

Not even for a second.

What bothered me was that I had wasted an entire evening listening to a man explain why my independence was a problem.

I sat behind my desk the next morning, staring at the proposal in front of me.

Numbers.

Projections.

Market analysis.

Things that actually made sense.

Things that didn't require me to question whether I was “woman enough.”

I rubbed my forehead and sighed.

My phone rang.

“Please tell me you didn't murder anyone,” Benedicta said the moment I answered.

I almost laughed.

“No.”

“Then why do you sound like that?”

“Daniel.”

There was silence.

Then—

“What happened?”

I leaned back in my chair.

“He told me I work too much.”

“Okay.”

“He said I'm too independent.”

“Hmm.”

“He said I need to learn how to let a man take care of me.”

Benedicta went quiet.

I knew that silence.

She was trying very hard not to say something stupid.

“He also said a man wouldn't want a woman like me.”

“That man is an idiot.”

I smiled despite myself.

“Exactly.”

“So you're done with him?”

“Completely.”

“Good.”

She paused.

“Because honestly, Angela, I liked him.”

“I know.”

“But after what you told me? Never mind.”

I glanced at the clock.

“I have work.”

“You always have work.”

“Exactly.”

She laughed.

“Fine. Go build your empire.”

I hung up.

For the first time since arriving in Aurelia, my mind felt clear.

Daniel was no longer a distraction.

The only thing I needed to worry about was my company.

And the chairman.

I glanced at the folder sitting on the corner of my desk.

His company.

Our proposed partnership.

That was the reason I was here.

Not Daniel.

Not dating.

Not love.

Business.

I picked up my phone and called the chairman's office.

“Good morning. This is Angela Williams. I need to schedule another meeting with the chairman regarding the international expansion proposal.”

The assistant hesitated.

“I'm sorry, Ms. Williams. The chairman is currently out of the country.”

I frowned.

Again?

“When will he return?”

“I don't have a confirmed date.”

I sighed.

“Alright. Please let him know I'm available whenever he is.”

“I will.”

The call ended.

I stared at the phone.

Something about the whole situation bothered me.

Every time I seemed to get close to an actual opportunity, something happened.

First, he left for an emergency trip.

Then there was Daniel.

Now the chairman was apparently unavailable again.

I shook my head.

I wasn't going to chase anyone.

If they wanted to work with me, they knew where to find me.

I returned to my laptop.

An hour later, I received an email.

FROM: Chairman's Office

My heart skipped.

I opened it immediately.

> Ms. Williams,

The chairman has reviewed your proposal and would like to meet with you personally upon his return.

His office will contact you with a confirmed date and time.

Regards,

Executive Office

I read it twice.

Then a third time.

Personally?

Why?

I closed the email and leaned back.

The man barely knew me.

Yet somehow, he seemed unusually interested in my company.

I didn't know whether that was a good thing.

But one thing was certain.

When he returned, I was going to get answers.

I had no idea that the man behind that email had been thinking about me for three years.

And I definitely didn't know that my next meeting with him was going to change everything.