Chapter 34 Joining Global
I didn't know which part of me decided to make a decision. Maybe my brain? Instinct? or maybe the part of me that enjoys chaos more than I admit. Either way, I replied to Derek.
{Lunch at Celestine in two hours.}
The text sat there, and my fingers hovered over the send button. I hesitated, unsure if I was making another bad decision or creating another mess.
Ryker's words echoed in my head like a mantra.
'Running away from your fears isn't a solution. It's what cowards do.'
I swallowed, my jaw tight.
I didn't want to be a coward.
Not anymore.
I kept chanting that to myself as I sucked in a deep breath, hitting the send button.
I didn't have to wait for a response because Derek's message popped right in as if he had been staring at his phone, waiting for my text.
{Great. See you soon}
The level of attention from him was alarming. But it made sense. Derek was always business-oriented. Aside from being a manager at a Holland branch, he also had his own modeling agency.
He was quite ambitious.
And right now? It wouldn't be surprising if he only wanted to meet up because of work. Knowing him, he would prove Ryker right.
The hours slipped by faster than I expected, but I wasn't in a hurry to meet him.
We'd agreed on two hours, but I added two more just because I could.
If he really wanted this meeting, he'd wait.
Dressed in a cream silk blazer, matched with a slim black satin camisole and high-waisted wide-leg trousers, I looked effortlessly put together. Calm and composed.
I took my time in front of the mirror, carving out my brows, adding a touch of bronze on my cheekbones, and applying a cool neutral nude lip gloss.
I styled my hair in a low, twisted knot, looking intentional and unfussy.
A slow smile curved on my lips when I caught myself in the mirror.
Elegant. Controlled. Beautiful.
Exactly how I needed to look.
Stepping out of my bedroom, my phone began to buzz with text messages from Derek, asking if I had cancelled on him.
I quickly texted back that I was caught in terrible traffic, then dropped my phone back into my cream colored purse and shut the door behind me.
The house was quiet.
The housekeeper and the cat were nowhere to be found. With how similar they acted, they could be somewhere around the house doing something strange.
I shuffled towards the living room and walked over to the key holder placed against the wall. My fingers brushed over a dozen key fobs until I stopped on the white Range Rover.
Perfect.
All set, I stepped out of the house, my black heels clicking against the tiled floor at every step I took.
Cole was standing outside like always. When he saw me, he gave a polite bow. "Good afternoon, ma'am."
"Afternoon," I said absently, stepping off the curb.
I felt him behind me as I walked over to the parking lot.
"I'll drive myself, Cole."
He stopped, no question asked, which I appreciated.
I didn't need a companion on this. I chose Celestine for a reason. And I chose to see Derek for a reason too.
The last thing I wanted was someone reporting to Ryker about my whereabouts.
I slid into the driver's seat, tossed my purse onto the passenger side.
I ignited the car's engine, willing myself for what was to come.
It was going to be a long day.
••••
{ At Celestine }
He was staring at me from across the table, eyes peering at me, jaw slack.
He had been staring since I walked into the restaurant, slid into the seat opposite him, crossed my legs in silence.
He was in a charcoal suit, hair slightly messy in the way that used to drive me crazy.
Used to.
If it were before Annie came around, I would have been drooling over the sight of him.
Now, he looked like a man trying too hard.
Maybe, because I've been acquainted with someone even more handsome who made Derek's appearance least appealing now.
Ryker had somehow reset the bar.
"Are you planning to talk," I said, fingers tightening on my lap, "or do you need another twenty-four hours to keep gawking?"
"You've changed." He said at last.
I raised a single brow, unimpressed.
"Thanks for the observation. Quite groundbreaking."
"I mean it. You're different from the last time we met."
"Or you mean the time when I still had your last name?"
He didn't reply. Instead, he reached for his glass and sipped from it. His movement, slow but measured.
Without tearing my gaze off him, I reached for my phone, turned on my reminder. "I'll be leaving in an hour. You should start talking."
He dropped his glass. Looking relaxed. "Why? Got business to handle?"
"Who knows?"
"Vanessa..."
"It's Miss Thomas now." I corrected, my eyes devoid of any sort of emotion.
"You don't have to be this hard on yourself."
"Say that again and I'm leaving."
My words only seemed to have stolen the rest of his words. His eyes flashed with disbelief but it soon slipped away as soon as it came.
"Fine." He raised both hands in surrender before dropping them back on the table. "I just want to talk about business."
Of course he did.
"Go on."
He leaned over, voice dropping low. "I think it's time you came back to Global. After all, your contract's still active and won't be expiring soon."