The Life we never Planned

Chapter 34

CHAPTER 34

DAMIAN

I didn't see Angela again for the rest of the day.

That shouldn't have mattered.

It did.

Not enough to distract me from work, but enough for me to notice when I passed her department later that afternoon and saw her office door open.

She was at her desk, focused on her screen.

I stopped.

For a moment, I considered walking in.

Then I continued.

There was no reason.

I wasn't going to invent one.

The following morning, I arrived at the office earlier than usual.

My secretary was already waiting outside my office.

"Good morning, sir."

"Morning."

She handed me my schedule.

"Your nine-thirty meeting has been moved to eleven."

"Fine."

"And Ms. Williams submitted the revised document."

I took the file.

"Anything else?"

"No, sir."

I walked into my office.

The document was better than the previous version.

Cleaner.

More precise.

She had clearly taken the time to go through every detail.

I read it twice.

Then I closed the file.

"Call Angela."

My secretary looked at me.

I corrected myself.

"Actually, no."

She waited.

"I'll speak to her when I see her."

"Yes, sir."

I returned to my work.

At eleven, I finished my meeting.

At noon, another one.

By one, I was beginning to think I wouldn't get a break until evening.

Then my phone rang.

My secretary's number.

I answered.

"Yes?"

"Sir, the client meeting has been pushed to three."

"Cancel it."

"Cancel it?"

"Yes."

She paused.

"Understood."

I ended the call.

I stood and walked out of my office.

I found Angela near the elevators.

She was holding a folder and talking to one of the staff members.

She noticed me.

"Good afternoon."

"Good afternoon."

The other employee excused himself.

Angela looked at me.

"Did you need something?"

"Your report."

She handed me the folder.

"I left it with your secretary."

"I know."

I opened it.

"You made the changes I suggested."

"Most of them."

I looked at her.

"Most?"

"There were two I didn't agree with."

"Why?"

She explained.

I listened.

When she finished, I nodded.

"You're right."

She looked slightly surprised.

"I am?"

"Yes."

I handed the folder back.

"Keep it your way."

"Okay."

We stood there for a moment.

Neither of us said anything.

Then she glanced at the elevator.

"I have somewhere to be."

"So do I."

The elevator arrived.

The doors opened.

Neither of us moved immediately.

I looked at her.

"Are you free this weekend?"

She looked at me.

"It depends."

There was no hesitation in her answer.

I nodded.

"I know a new place."

"What place?"

"They recently opened it. They have live performances, different activities, food, and a few other things."

She listened.

"It sounded like something you might enjoy."

"I've heard about it."

"You have?"

She nodded.

"I'm actually a fan of that kind of thing."

I raised an eyebrow slightly.

"Are you a fan?"

"Yes."

That made the decision easier.

"Good."

She looked at me, waiting.

"I have VIP tickets."

Her expression changed slightly.

"VIP tickets?"

"Yes."

"For the new place?"

"Yes."

She glanced toward the elevator before looking back at me.

"When?"

"Saturday."

She nodded slowly.

I held her gaze.

"It's a date."

For a moment, she said nothing.

Not because she was uncomfortable.

She simply looked like she was processing what I'd just said.

The elevator doors began to close.

Angela stepped inside.

"I'll let you know."

"All right."

The doors closed.

I stood there for another second before turning away.

I wasn't going to push her.

She had heard the invitation.

More importantly, she had heard what I meant by it.

Now the decision was hers.