The Life we never Planned

Chapter 33

CHAPTER 33

ANGELA

I wasn't expecting to see Damian that morning.

Not because he wasn't supposed to be at the office.

He was the CEO.

He could appear whenever he wanted.

I simply hadn't expected him to walk into my department at nine in the morning.

I was reviewing a document when I heard footsteps approaching.

I looked up.

Damian.

He stopped beside my desk.

"Good morning."

"Good morning."

He glanced at the documents in front of me.

"Are you busy?"

I almost laughed.

"I work here."

His mouth twitched slightly.

"I noticed."

I looked back at my screen.

"So, yes."

"I need something."

That caught my attention.

"What?"

"Coffee."

I stared at him.

"Coffee?"

"Yes."

"Your secretary can't get you coffee?"

"She can."

"Then why are you asking me?"

"Because I want to know where you get yours."

I blinked.

That was not what I expected.

"You want coffee from where I get mine?"

"Apparently."

I studied him for a second.

"There's a café downstairs."

"I know."

"Then why ask me?"

He shrugged.

"I've never tried it."

I smiled despite myself.

"You're the CEO and you've never tried the café in your own building?"

"No."

"That's strange."

"I've been told."

He stepped back.

"Are you coming?"

I looked at my computer.

"I have work."

"You can take ten minutes."

I raised an eyebrow.

"Are you ordering me?"

"No."

"Good."

"Then are you coming?"

I sighed.

"Fine."

We walked toward the elevator together.

For the first few seconds, neither of us spoke.

It wasn't uncomfortable.

Just quiet.

When we reached the café, Damian ordered black coffee.

I looked at him.

"That's it?"

"That's what I drink."

"No sugar?"

"No."

"You're boring."

He turned his head toward me.

"You're the first person who's said that to me."

"Maybe everyone else is afraid of you."

He laughed.

A real laugh.

I hadn't heard it often.

"Maybe."

I ordered my usual coffee.

We found a table near the window.

For once, there were no documents between us.

No presentations.

No executives.

No deadlines.

Just two people having coffee.

"So," Damian said, "what do you actually do when you're not working?"

I looked at him.

"Why?"

"Because I don't know."

I smiled.

"You're asking too many questions."

"You don't have to answer."

"I know."

I took a sip of my coffee.

"I read."

"What kind of books?"

"Depends on my mood."

"That's vague."

"It's supposed to be."

He smiled.

"What else?"

"I watch movies."

"What kind?"

"Anything good."

"That's another vague answer."

"Maybe you're asking vague questions."

He leaned back.

"Fair enough."

I laughed quietly.

For the first time since I'd met him, I wasn't thinking about his company.

I wasn't thinking about the projects.

I wasn't thinking about how busy his schedule must be.

I was simply talking to Damian.

And surprisingly, I liked it.

We talked about small things.

Food.

Movies.

Places we'd visited.

Things we disliked.

Nothing important.

Nothing that needed to be remembered.

But somewhere between one conversation and another, I realized something.

Damian was easier to talk to when there wasn't a conference table between us.

And he seemed to realize the same thing.

When we returned upstairs, I stopped beside my desk.

"I should get back to work."

He nodded.

"Me too."

He took a step away, then stopped.

"Angela."

"Yes?"

"That was nice."

I smiled.

"It was."

He nodded once.

Then he walked away.

I watched him disappear down the hallway before sitting back at my desk.

I opened my laptop.

But for some reason, I found myself smiling at the screen.

I quickly shook the thought away.

It was just coffee.

Just a conversation.

Just Damian.

At least, that's what I told myself.