The Life we never Planned

Chapter 36

CHAPTER 35

ANGELA

Saturday came faster than I expected.

I stood in front of my closet, staring at my clothes for longer than necessary.

It wasn't a date.

At least, I hadn't decided what it was yet.

Damian had called it a date.

I hadn't.

That difference mattered.

I finally chose a simple black dress that reached just above my knees, paired with a small handbag and comfortable heels. Nothing too dramatic. Nothing that looked like I had spent hours trying to impress anyone.

I looked at myself in the mirror.

"You're just going out."

I picked up my phone.

A message from Damian was already waiting.

My driver will pick you up at six.

I stared at it.

No unnecessary conversation.

No pressure.

Just information.

I typed back.

Okay.

A few seconds later, another message appeared.

Don't worry about the location. I have everything arranged.

I smiled slightly.

Of course he did.

Damian liked having things handled.

At exactly six, my phone rang.

I went downstairs.

A black car was waiting outside.

The driver stepped out.

"Ms. Williams?"

"Yes."

"I'm here for you."

I nodded and got into the car.

The drive took almost forty minutes.

The city slowly changed as we moved farther from the busy center. When we finally arrived, I looked through the window.

The place was larger than I had expected.

There were lights everywhere, music coming from inside, people dressed up, and several entrances leading into different sections of the venue.

I stepped out of the car.

Damian was waiting.

He wore a dark suit without a tie, his hands resting casually in his pockets.

His eyes settled on me.

For a second, he didn't say anything.

Then he smiled.

"You look good."

"Thank you."

He opened his mouth as if he wanted to say something else, but stopped.

Instead, he gestured toward the entrance.

"Ready?"

"Yes."

We walked inside.

The atmosphere immediately changed.

Music filled the room, but it wasn't overwhelmingly loud. People were laughing, talking, eating, and moving between different sections of the venue.

I looked around.

"This is nice."

"I thought you'd like it."

We passed through the main area before being led toward a private section.

The staff member at the entrance immediately recognized Damian.

"Good evening, sir."

"Good evening."

The man glanced at me, then back at Damian.

"Your VIP section is ready."

"Thank you."

We were shown upstairs.

Our table overlooked the main floor.

I sat down and looked over the railing.

"I understand why you got VIP tickets."

Damian sat opposite me.

"I thought you'd appreciate the view."

"I do."

A waiter came over with menus.

Damian handed one to me.

"Choose whatever you want."

I looked at the menu.

"You say that like you're not paying."

"I am."

I looked at him.

"Then I'll try not to bankrupt you."

He gave me a small smile.

"I'll survive."

I laughed.

It was easy.

That was what surprised me.

There was no awkwardness between us.

No pressure to fill every silence.

We ordered food and drinks, then watched the first performance from our table.

Halfway through it, Damian leaned slightly toward me.

"Do you like it?"

I nodded.

"I do."

"Good."

"You come here often?"

"No."

"So you chose a place you've never been?"

"I heard enough about it to know you'd like it."

I looked at him.

"You really did your research."

"I pay attention."

There was something about the way he said it that made me look away.

Not because I was embarrassed.

I simply didn't know what to say to that.

The performance ended, and the crowd applauded.

A few minutes later, Damian stood.

"Come with me."

"Where?"

"I want to show you something."

I followed him.

We walked through another section of the building until we reached a private terrace overlooking the city.

The view stopped me.

"Wow."

Damian stood beside me.

"Beautiful, isn't it?"

"Very."

For a while, we simply stood there.

No work.

No reports.

No meetings.

Just the city beneath us.

I looked at him.

"You do this often?"

"Do what?"

"Take people places like this."

He turned toward me.

"No."

I waited.

"Then why me?"

His expression didn't change.

"Because I wanted to spend time with you."

Simple.

Direct.

No unnecessary explanation.

I looked back at the city.

I knew Damian liked me.

I wasn't naïve.

I had noticed it in the way he looked at me, the way he remembered small things I'd said, and the way he sometimes found reasons to be around me outside of work.

But liking someone and loving them weren't the same thing.

And I wasn't going to pretend they were.

Still, standing there beside him, I realized something.

I was enjoying this.

Not because he was Damian.

Not because of his money.

Not because of the VIP tickets.

I was enjoying it because I liked his company.

And maybe that was enough for tonight.

"Thank you," I said.

He looked at me.

"For what?"

"For bringing me here."

His eyes stayed on mine for a moment.

"You're welcome."

Neither of us moved.

Then the music from downstairs started again.

Damian glanced toward the door.

"We should go back."

I nodded.

We walked inside together.

And for the first time, I didn't wonder whether this was becoming something.

I simply let myself enjoy the evening.