The Life we never Planned

Chapter 31

CHAPTER 31

DAMIAN

I had barely stepped out of the conference room when my secretary fell into step beside me.

“Your next appointment is in forty minutes.”

“Move it.”

She looked at her tablet. “To when?”

“Tomorrow.”

“Yes, sir.”

I continued walking.

“Anything else?”

“The ministry requested your presence this evening.”

“I know.”

She nodded and fell silent.

I checked my phone.

Three missed calls.

None of them mattered.

I had learned a long time ago that most people called because they wanted something from me. Very few called simply because they wanted to speak to me.

Angela was different.

Not because she treated me specially.

Because she didn't.

She spoke to me the same way she spoke to everyone else.

Professionally.

Directly.

And I found that more interesting than I should have.

“Sir?”

I looked at my secretary.

“The dinner tonight. Should I confirm it?”

“No.”

She waited.

“I won't be attending.”

“Understood.”

We reached the elevator.

The doors opened.

I stepped inside.

My secretary remained outside.

“I'll send the revised schedule to your office.”

“Do that.”

The doors closed.

I loosened my cuff slightly and leaned against the back of the elevator.

Angela had been on my mind more than I cared to admit.

Not constantly.

Not obsessively.

Just enough.

There was something about the way she carried herself.

She didn't try to impress me.

She didn't seem intimidated by my position.

And she didn't seem interested in getting anything from me.

That was rare.

Very rare.

The elevator reached the private floor.

I stepped out and walked into my office.

My desk was already covered with documents waiting for my signature.

I sat down.

Work came first.

It always had.

But sometime between signing one document and reviewing another, my eyes landed on the meeting schedule for the following week.

Angela's name was there.

I stared at it for a moment.

Then I closed the file.

There was no reason to rush anything.

I would see her again when business required it.

And for now, that was enough.

Or at least, it should have been.

My phone rang.

I answered without looking at the screen.

“Speak.”

“Sir, the minister is waiting.”

I glanced at my watch.

“I'm coming.”

I stood.

Business was calling again.

And unlike most people, government officials could not simply be told to wait forever.

I picked up my jacket and walked out of the office.

There were decisions to make.

Deals to close.

People to control.

And an empire that had no intention of running itself.

Angela Williams could wait.

For now.