He chuckles. “That’s sweet. I will call her tonight and thank her.” He smiles. A small smile makes its way to myface. I introduced him to my mother last month, and since then, I often find my mother and my boyfriend gossiping about me. It’s cute, but it’s annoying when they gang up on me, like one of each isn’t enough for me.
“So, what’s on the agenda tonight?” he asks, shifting into gear.
“As of now, I will be studying for a while. But after, can we watch this new thriller movie out on Netflix?”
He chuckles. “You know I’m always up for a movie night, especially if it means getting to cuddle with you.” He smirks.
“Huh.” I scoff. “We are not having sex,” I say firmly.
“Okay, we will see.” He smiles smugly. I know he is going to win, but you can’t blame me. I mean, have you seen him? He’s the most drop-dead gorgeous man I know. I am desperate, but that doesn’t mean I have to show it to him. Not that he would care.
The car comes to a stop outside my apartment. “Captain,” I whisper. He looks at me. “I just want you to know that I met you unexpectedly, and I was very annoyed by you, but I would not be as happy as I am today if I hadn’t met you. So, it’s the best thing to ever happen to me. You really brought my life on track.” I smile gently, meeting his eyes.
“I love you Firecracker,” he says softly. “Even clueless, I would still be madly in love with you, Anya.” His eyes sparkle. “I am irrevocably yours.”
I feel my cheeks flush. “How do you always know exactly what to say?”
“Because I know you.” He winks. “Plus, it’s easy when it’s true.”
“I love you, captain.” I peck his cheek.
“I love you, too, Firecracker,” he says, pulling me into a kiss.
∞∞∞
Epilogue
1 YEAR LATER
ANYA
It is my first day as the owner of PureTech—well, I am part owner, but still. Daniel has given me the rights to do whatever I feel will be beneficial for the business. I did not like it, so I told him I would like for him to listen to all my plans before I move on with them. Two brains are better than one, right?
Walking into the meeting room, I take a seat and adjust my laptop on the polished wooden table, making sure everything is in order. The sunlight streams through the large windows, illuminating the space with a warm glow. I take a moment to breathe, reminding myself that I belong here. And it’s just Daniel I will be presenting to, but I fear I will not be able to maintain professionalism. I roll my eyes.As if he will.I did invite Frank, but he canceled at the last moment. When I asked for a reason, he fumbled and said he had to visit the doctor.
I know he’s much better now; the doctors say his condition has miraculously improved. Daniel cried in my arms that night, overwhelmed with gratitude. It wasn’t thefirst time I had seen him cry, but I felt so useless. Seeing him cry, I started crying, too, and in the end, he was the one who had to console me. I laugh softly, rolling the curtains down and switch on the lights.
I settle into the chair, feeling the smooth leather beneath me. It has wheels, and I can’t resist giving it a gentle spin. I pull myself closer to the table.He’s late.I open my laptop to go over the slides of my presentation once more. I frown. He has been too busy these days. I mean, I understand the pressure and the life of a celebrity that comes with his career, but it has never affected our time together in the past six months. It’s only this week that he is always late, and he is secretive about stuff. It’s just not like him.
There’s a knock on the door, pulling me out of my thoughts. I take a deep breath. “Come in,” I exclaim. The door opens, and Daniel steps in. My breath hitches. He’s wearing a sharp navy suit that fits him perfectly, the tailored lines accentuating his athletic build. His hair is tousled as if he’s been running his fingers through it repeatedly, and a shadow of stubble adorns his jaw. “You leave me breathless every time you are in a suit,” I whisper.
He chuckles lightly, but there’s anxiety in his eyes and stiffness in his shoulders. I will have to talk about it with him later. “I take it back!” I exclaim, “This is a highly professional environment, and you are just a stakeholder.” I shake my head to bring myself to my senses.
“Yes, it is.” He smirks, stepping forward and pecking my lips. My eyes widen.
“Do you ever even listen to me?” I ask. My eyebrows furrow.
“Yes, always. That’s why I have been blessed with ears: so that I can hear your voice,” he says, and I huff.
“Why are you late?” I cross my arms against my chest. His eyes roam around my cleavage.Pervert.
“I was trying to find the perfect suit,” he says, rubbing his nape. “You had invited me to our very first business meeting, after all.”
“Well, thank you for the effort.” I give him a flying kiss, which he pretends to catch. “Can we begin?” I ask.
“Yes,” he says, taking a seat next to me. I turn the laptop so that he can see the screen too.
“Alright,” I begin. “I’ve been thinking about some significant changes that could really boost our growth.” Daniel shakes his leg continuously. I rest my hand on his leg.
