Chapter 2
971 Words
Chapter : The Next Meeting
Light flickered outside Daniel’s windows. His mind raced. He got up and entered his private room.
He checked his watch—9:45 am. Amelia had asked him to meet her by 11 am on the dot. Every second felt like an hour to him.
He wasn’t sure what he was about to hear, but he knew it couldn’t be good.
His phone buzzed. He picked it out. Another message from Amelia.
“I’m here waiting.”
Having dressed up he put his phone away. He pushef the door open with a swift motion.
The restaurant where they were to meet was closed by. Few minutes later, he was at the restaurant.
He swiftly pushed the door open. The atmosphere was calm and warm. Amelia sat at a table near the back. She was alone.
“Amelia,” Daniel said, walking over.
She looked up. For a moment, neither of them said anything. She was still beautiful, he thought in his mind.
The kind of beauty that made his heart bit. But there was a coldness in her eyes that worried him.
She stood, nodding briefly. “Sit.”
He sat close to her. His eyes narrowed. “You said there was something I don’t know. What is it?”
Amelia didn’t respond immediately. She took a deep breath and tapped nervously on the table.
For the first time, Daniel noticed how much she had changed. There was strength in her now than what she used to be.
Something he hadn’t seen even at their last meeting. But there was also something cheerful in her expression.
Finally, she spoke. “Victor isn’t the only problem.”
Daniel’s heart skipped a beat. “What are you talking about?”
Amelia frowned, her voice dropped to a whisper. “You’ve been so focused on him… on what he did… but you never considered that maybe the reason I left wasn’t just him. It was also you. Your neglect. Your indifference.”
Daniel blinked. Her statement hit him harder than he expected. “What? That was not—” He muttered.
“It was” she interrupted, with a steady voice. “You were consumed by your work that you forgot about me. You pushed me away. And by the time I realized it, I was already out.”
Daniel’s body shook. “I never meant to hurt you. You know that. But I was.”
“You were busy, I know. You don’t have to explain yourself. I get it now. But I didn’t then.”
The silence between them stretched on. Daniel felt the weight of her words. It sank deeper into his bone marrows.
“I wanted to fix things,” he f said finally.” I didn’t know how.”
Amelia looked at him strangely. “I don’t know if I can trust you again, Daniel.
You made me feel invisible, like I wasn’t enough. Like my needs didn’t matter.”
The sound of Daniel’s breath became audible. “I’m sorry. I know I can’t change the past, but I swear I’ll do whatever it takes to make it right. Please, let me try.”
Amelia shook her head. “You can’t just fix things with a few words, Daniel. It’s not that simple.”
“Then what can I do?” He asked with a mild smile. “I’ll do anything.” He added.
She stared at him for a moment, then leaned back in her chair. “You can start by showing me that you meant it. “Accepted.”
“No more business games. No more pretending. If you want to fix this, you’ll have to prove it.”
That won’t be a problem. Daniel said without hesitation. “I’ll prove it. Whatever it takes.”
She nodded slowly. “Prove it by staying out of my way. Let me do this my way. This merger—it’s mine.”
Daniel stared vainly with a wink. But, you know...
“But I know what?”
Hum, I will make it up. Take my words.
That you’re not going to control the merger, not anymore. If you really want to fix us, you’ll let me have this place to do it.”
Daniel’s mind raced. She was right. He couldn’t just bulldoze his way through this like he did with everything else.
But the idea of stepping back… letting Amelia take the lead… it didn’t sit well with him. He was used to being in control. But he’d been wrong before.
And if he wanted her back, he needed to show her that he was willing to change.
“You’re right,” Daniel said slowly but firm. “I’ll step back. I won’t interfere. But I’ll be here. Every step of the way. I won’t let Victor get to you.”
Amelia threw a shocking gaze. She searched his eyes for sincerity. Then, after a long pause, she spoke. “You have to understand, Daniel… if you mess this up, it’s over. For good.”
Daniel nodded. He knew. He’d messed up before, and he wasn’t going to make the same mistake again.
“Understood. And I won’t mess it up.”
Amelia stood, walked straight towards the door. “We’ll see next time”
She turned to leave, but before she reached to the door she paused, and looked at him one last time.
“And Daniel…” she said quietly. “You might have won the merger, but you’ve got a long way to go to win me back.”
Daniel sat hopelessly, her words sank into him like a stone into a river. He didn’t know what the future held.
He didn’t know if he could win her back. But he knew one thing: he wasn’t walking away from this fight.
- Writer
