The Life we never Planned

Chapter 26

Chapter 26

HER POV

Friday came faster than I expected.

By six in the evening, I was standing in front of my mirror trying to decide whether I had made a mistake agreeing to attend the dinner.

The dress I had chosen was simple.

Black, fitted, elegant, but nothing too dramatic.

I wasn't trying to impress anyone.

I was going because the guest list contained people I needed to meet.

That was all.

I picked up my earrings and put them on.

My phone rang.

"Benedicta."

"Are you ready?"

"Almost."

"How long is almost?"

I looked at myself in the mirror.

"Five minutes."

She laughed.

"You said that twenty minutes ago."

"I was busy."

"Doing what?"

"Changing my mind."

"About the dress?"

"About going."

There was silence.

Then she said, "Angela."

"What?"

"Go."

"I know."

"You're not going there to find a husband."

"I know."

"You're going because you have a business."

"I know."

"Good. Now stop overthinking and leave."

I smiled.

"Okay."

I picked up my handbag.

"See you later."

"Have fun."

I ended the call.

The drive to the hotel took almost thirty minutes.

When I arrived, the entrance was already crowded with expensive cars and people dressed for the evening.

I handed my car keys to the valet and walked inside.

The hotel was beautiful.

Everything looked carefully designed to make people feel important.

Crystal lights.

Quiet music.

People speaking in low voices.

I recognized a few faces immediately.

Then I saw him.

The chairman was standing near the entrance, speaking with two investors.

He looked exactly like someone who owned every room he entered.

His eyes moved across the crowd.

Then they stopped on me.

For a second, neither of us moved.

He excused himself from the conversation and walked toward me.

"You came."

I raised an eyebrow.

"You invited me."

"I know."

"Then why do you sound surprised?"

"I'm not surprised."

He looked at me for a moment.

"You look good."

I wasn't expecting that.

"Thank you."

His gaze stayed on me for another second before he stepped aside.

"Come. I'll introduce you to a few people."

I followed him.

The first introduction was to an investor from London.

Then another from New York.

Then a banking executive who had been looking for opportunities in emerging markets.

The chairman barely spoke during most of the conversations.

He didn't need to.

People listened whenever he did.

And more importantly, they listened when he introduced me.

"This is Angela Williams. She's leading the expansion project."

Not she works for me.

Not she's part of my company.

He made it clear that I was there because of my own company.

I appreciated that.

After several introductions, one of the investors turned to me.

"I've heard your company is expanding aggressively."

"I prefer strategically."

He smiled.

"There's a difference?"

"A very big one."

The chairman glanced at me.

I continued.

"Growth without proper infrastructure creates problems later. I'd rather expand slower and build something that can survive."

The investor nodded.

"I like your thinking."

We exchanged contact information.

Another opportunity.

Exactly what I had come for.

I looked across the room.

The chairman was watching me.

Not intensely.

Not possessively.

Just watching.

When our eyes met, he gave me a small nod.

I returned it.

For some reason, that tiny exchange made me smile.

And I didn't understand why.