The Life we never Planned

Chapter 35

CHAPTER 35

ANGELA

I didn't think much about Damian's invitation after I left the office.

At least, that's what I told myself.

There were more important things to think about.

Work.

The report I still needed to finish.

The emails waiting for responses.

The meeting scheduled for Monday.

Those were reasonable things to occupy my mind.

A Saturday outing with Damian wasn't.

Yet somehow, by the time I got home, I had thought about it more than once.

I dropped my bag on the couch and walked into the kitchen.

My phone buzzed.

Benedicta.

Where are you?

I smiled.

Home.

The reply came almost immediately.

Good. I'm coming over.

I stared at the message.

Why?

Three dots appeared.

Then disappeared.

Then appeared again.

Because I want to see you.

I shook my head.

That was Benedicta.

She never needed a reason.

Twenty minutes later, she walked into my apartment carrying two bags of food.

"You look suspicious," she said.

I frowned. "How?"

"You have that face."

"What face?"

"The face you make when something is on your mind."

"Nothing is on my mind."

She put the food on the table.

"That's a lie."

I sighed.

"Fine."

She turned toward me.

"What happened?"

I hesitated.

Then I said, "Damian invited me somewhere on Saturday."

Her eyes widened.

"Damian?"

"Yes."

"Where?"

"A new place that recently opened."

"What kind of place?"

"I don't know exactly. He said there are live performances, activities, food and things like that."

She stared at me.

"And?"

"And he has VIP tickets."

Benedicta slowly smiled.

I immediately pointed at her.

"Don't."

"I haven't said anything."

"Your face did."

She laughed.

"So are you going?"

"I haven't decided."

"Why?"

"Because I don't know if I want to."

She opened one of the food containers.

"Do you like the place?"

"I've never been there."

"But you've heard about it."

"Yes."

"And you said you're a fan of places like that."

I looked at her.

"You were listening?"

"I always listen."

"Unfortunately."

She laughed.

I sat down.

"I just don't want things to become complicated."

Her expression softened.

"Angela, going somewhere with someone doesn't automatically make things complicated."

"I know."

"Then what's the problem?"

I didn't answer immediately.

Because I wasn't sure.

Damian hadn't done anything wrong.

He hadn't pressured me.

He had simply asked.

And when he said it was a date, he had been completely clear about his intention.

That was what made it harder to dismiss.

"I'll decide tomorrow," I said.

Benedicta nodded.

"Fair."

We ate and changed the subject.

Or at least, we tried to.

Later that night, after she left, I stood by my bedroom window with my phone in my hand.

I opened my messages.

Damian's name wasn't there.

I hadn't expected it to be.

I locked the phone.

Then unlocked it again.

I stared at the screen for a few seconds before finally putting it down.

I wasn't in love with him.

I knew that.

But I couldn't deny that I enjoyed being around him.

And maybe that was enough reason to say yes.

The next morning, I made my decision.

When I arrived at the office, I went straight to my desk.

I had barely settled in when my secretary received a message and came toward me.

"Ms. Williams?"

"Yes?"

"Mr. Damian's office asked me to confirm whether Saturday still works for you."

I paused.

So he wasn't going to call me himself.

Of course.

"Yes," I said.

She nodded.

"I'll confirm it."

She walked away.

I looked at my computer screen.

For some reason, I smiled.

Saturday suddenly didn't feel so far away.