The Life we never Planned

Chapter 15

CHAPTER 15

HIS POV

“She's not afraid of you.”

My mother's words followed me long after dinner ended.

I stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows of my office, watching the city disappear beneath the night.

“No,” I replied.

My mother had studied me across the dinner table.

“You like that.”

I hadn't answered.

Because she was right.

Most people were careful around me.

They measured every word. Every expression. Every decision.

Angela didn't.

She challenged me.

She disagreed with me.

She looked me directly in the eye and told me she wasn't interested in entering my world.

I'm here to build mine.

I smiled faintly.

I had never met anyone like her.

My phone rang.

“Sir,” my assistant said, “the preliminary agreement has been sent to Angela's team.”

“Good.”

“There is one more thing.”

“What?”

“The international expansion project will require her to work directly with you for the first few months.”

I looked at the city again.

“Good.”

A pause.

“Sir, there's something else.”

I turned.

“What?”

“Daniel has requested access to the expansion division.”

My expression changed.

“Why?”

“He says he wants to assist with the international development strategy.”

Daniel.

I knew him well enough.

He was capable.

Ambitious.

And smart enough to know when an opportunity presented itself.

But I didn't like the timing.

“Deny it.”

My assistant hesitated.

“On what grounds?”

“Tell him the division is already under my supervision.”

“Yes, sir.”

The call ended.

I walked back to my desk.

Daniel wasn't important.

Not yet.

But I had learned a long time ago that small things became dangerous when ignored.

I opened Angela's proposal again.

Her numbers were excellent.

Her strategy was better.

But there was something I hadn't told her.

The company wasn't simply investing in her expansion.

I had personally requested that her proposal be placed in front of the board.

Three years ago, I had watched her stand on a stage and speak about her company as if she already belonged among the world's biggest entrepreneurs.

Now she was here.

And she was still fighting for her place.

I respected that.

I also knew something she didn't.

The moment her company entered our international network, people would start paying attention to her.

Competitors.

Investors.

Powerful families.

People who would see a young woman with a growing company and assume she was easy to manipulate.

They would be wrong.

But I wasn't going to interfere unless she needed me.

That was the difference between protecting someone and controlling them.

At least, that was what I told myself.

My phone vibrated.

A message from Angela.

Thank you for approving the preliminary partnership. I'll send the revised documents tomorrow.

I stared at the message.

Then typed:

You don't have to thank me. You earned it.

I almost sent it.

Then deleted it.

I typed again.

You're welcome. I look forward to working with you.

I sent it.

A minute later, her reply appeared.

Good. I look forward to proving you right.

I smiled.

Proving you right.

That sounded exactly like her.

I put the phone down.

Tomorrow, she would be back.

And this time, there would be no boardroom between us.

Just two people working toward the same goal.

Or at least, that was what I intended to let her believe.

Because I had already decided something.

I wasn't going to rush her.

I wasn't going to pressure her.

I wasn't going to use my power to make her choose me.

If Angela Williams ever fell for me, I wanted it to be because she chose me freely.

Even if it took years.

But there was one thing I couldn't promise myself.

That I would remain unaffected while another man tried to win her.

And Daniel had already started moving.