CHAPTER FIVE: THE WALLS AROUND MY HEART
726 Words
Three days passed.
For Jose Hartwell, they passed exactly as every other day had for the last several years.
Meetings.
Reports.
Phone calls.
Signatures.
Numbers.
If anyone had asked her what she did during those three days, she probably wouldn't have remembered.
Work had become more than a responsibility.
It had become a refuge.
A place where emotions were unnecessary and people were merely names on contracts.
It was safer that way.
Safer than trusting.
Safer than caring.
Safer than being hurt.
Yet, despite her carefully structured routine...
One face occasionally wandered into her thoughts.
A man with calm eyes and an irritatingly effortless smile.
Each time it happened, Jose dismissed it almost immediately.
"Focus."
That single word had always been enough.
Until now.
The morning sun streamed through the windows of Hartwell Enterprises as Jose reviewed a financial report.
A gentle knock interrupted the silence.
"Come in."
Her secretary entered with a folder pressed against her chest.
"Good morning, Miss Hartwell."
"Morning."
"The Blackwood Foundation is here."
Jose didn't look up.
"Send another representative."
The secretary hesitated.
"They specifically requested Mr. Adrian Blackwood."
Jose finally raised her eyes.
"...Of course they did."
"Would you like me to cancel the meeting?"
Jose remained silent for a moment.
Cancelling would be easy.
Meeting him would be... inconvenient.
Not because she disliked him.
Because she couldn't quite understand him.
Finally, she closed the report.
"No."
The conference room was quiet when Jose stepped inside.
Adrian was already there.
He stood as she entered.
"Good morning, Miss Hartwell."
She acknowledged him with a nod.
"Mr. Blackwood."
"I hope your week has been productive."
"It usually is."
"I'm beginning to believe you never rest."
"I do."
"When?"
"When I'm asleep."
A faint chuckle escaped Adrian.
Jose looked at him.
"...Did I say something amusing?"
"No."
"Then why are you laughing?"
"I was just wondering if you always answer questions that seriously."
Jose stared at him for a second before replying,
"I've never been told otherwise."
For reasons she couldn't explain...
Adrian found that answer strangely sad.
Their discussion lasted almost an hour.
Unlike most meetings, there were no raised voices.
No competition.
No attempts to outsmart one another.
When Adrian disagreed with one of Jose's suggestions, he explained his reasoning calmly.
Jose challenged his idea.
He listened.
Then admitted she had made a fair point.
That caught her attention.
Most executives would rather protect their pride than admit they were wrong.
Adrian simply smiled.
"I stand corrected."
Jose blinked.
"You admitted that rather easily."
"Being corrected isn't the worst thing that can happen."
She lowered her gaze to the documents.
"No..."
she murmured almost to herself.
"It isn't."
As the meeting came to an end, Adrian gathered his papers.
He noticed the untouched cup of coffee beside Jose.
"It seems coffee keeps you company more than people do."
Jose looked at the cup.
"It never disappoints me."
Adrian smiled gently.
"Coffee gets cold if you ignore it."
She frowned slightly.
"What are you implying?"
"Nothing."
He picked up his folder.
"I just think some things deserve attention before they grow cold."
For a brief second...
Jose wasn't sure whether he was talking about the coffee.
Or her.
Adrian walked toward the door.
Just before leaving, he turned back.
"Thank you for your time, Miss Hartwell."
She nodded once.
"Safe journey."
"I'll see you at the next review meeting."
"We'll see."
He smiled.
"I'll take that as a yes."
Before she could respond...
He was gone.
Jose remained seated.
The conference room suddenly felt larger.
Quieter.
She glanced at the untouched coffee.
Without thinking...
She picked it up.
It was cold.
She sighed softly.
"He was right."
Then she frowned.
"...Why does that bother me?"
Outside, Adrian walked toward his car.
He paused for a brief moment and looked back at the towering Hartwell Enterprises building.
A thoughtful smile crossed his face.
"You're carrying a heavy heart, Miss Hartwell."
He opened his car door.
"I just hope one day...
...you'll trust someone enough to put it down."
The car pulled away.
High above, from her office window...
Jose watched it disappear into the morning traffic.
She didn't know why.
She only knew...
The walls around her heart still stood tall.
But for the first time...
Someone had chosen not to climb them.
Nor tear them down.
He had simply... waited outside.
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